IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES." A communication from
abroad by M. Denizot, of Paris, France, Attorney at Law.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd August 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES."
[A communication from abroad by M. Denizot, of Paris, France, Attorney at Law.]
This Invention relates to an improvements in harvesting machines, and comprises
various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter described.
According to this Invention, the means employed for cutting the grain form an
important feature, and are described as follows, that is to say I provide two
series of blades arranged to operate in the same manner as the blades of a pair of
scissors, or those of a horse-clipper. The lower blades are fixed on the cutter-bar,
and the upper blades are mounted on a screw-pivot, being guided in a sliding piece
which receives an alternate to-and-fro movement which is produced by an excentric
and a connecting rod. The said excentric is placed at the end of a shaft in connec-
tion with the gearing, by means of which motion is imparted to the various parts
of the machine. This gearing is driven by the left-hand large wheel of the
machine which is in contact with the ground, and is caused to gear with the axle
in the forward movement by means of a pawl and ratchet device. This gearing
comprises the following parts, that is to say:-A toothed wheel is keyed upon the
axle of the said driving wheel, and gears with a pinion above. There is another
toothed wheel which is driven by the said pinion by means of a clutch in connec-
tion with a handle. This gear-wheel meshes with a pinion on the driving axle
and there is a bevel gear wheel in connection with the last named pinion by means
of a sleeve, this pinion gearing with a bevel pinion mounted on the excentric
shaft. There is also an upper toothed wheel gearing with the third wheel, 'this

page_text: upper wheel imparting motion to the upper roller which carries an elevating apron
designed to carry up the grain when cut to a sheaf-former, hereinafter described,
or to a binder. The lower roller of the said elevating apron is provided upon its
end and at the right hand side thereof with a toothed wheel, by means of which
motion is imparted to rollers forming part of the mechanism employed for depositing
the cut grain in a horizontal position. This mechanism is constructed as follows,
that is to say-Two small brushes of vegetable whale-bone are mounted upon iron
rods in such a manner that they may be raised or lowered at will by means of a
set-screw, according to the thickness or the height of the grain. The said rods
are attached to a leather belt which passes around two end rollers, hereinbefore
mentioned.
A platform placed directly at the rear of the cutter-bar, and slightly elevated
above the same, receives the grain after it has been cut.
A bar supported on the right and left hand of the machine by two iron rods
keeps the grain in an upright position when it reaches this platform, and the said
bar, which is held in place by set screws, may be raised and lowered to suit the
height of the crop. Instead of this bar I may use an iron rod; moreover Ι may
dispense with the right-hand-side support for the bar, and leave its right hand end
unobstructed, this latter construction being preferable.
Two large end-dividers and one central divider are provided to enter the corn s
to straighten the same if necessary, and to hold it until it is brought upon the
platform and in contact with the supporting bar. A number of small dividers
arranged along the front protect the blades or cutters, and support the cut grain
until it reaches the platform. In consequence of this arrangement the cut grain
arrives upon the platform in an upright position, and rests against the aforesaid
bar or rod.
The aforesaid brushes move transversely from the right hand towards the left
hand of the machine, and lay the stalks or blades of corn upon the lower part of
the endless apron, which having a continuous motion elevates the cut grain and
discharges the same into a device at the rear of the machine, which receives or
collects sufficient grain at a time to form a sheaf, although it does not tie or bind
the same. This device I will hereinafter call a sheaf-former. The apron is provided
with tufts of vegetable fibre which are fixed upon the apron.
This sheaf-former is provided with three troughs or curved depressions. On the
left hand end of the sheaf-former-spindle there is a wheel adapted to receive a
Vaucanson chain, which wheel is in communication, by means of this chain, with
a second and smaller wheel, the number of whose teeth is one third of the number
of teeth in the former one. The small wheel is placed within reach of the driver,
and is furnished with a handle. When the trough or cavity of the sheaf-former,
which is below the discharge end of apron, is full, a turn of the upper wheel causes
the sheaf-former to make one third of a revolution, and thus to deposit the sheaf
on the ground without a shock, and at the same time to present another trough or
cavity to receive the grain sufficient for another. Between the sheaf-former and
the apron is placed an inclined plane upon which the cut grain discharged from the
apron falls on its way to the sheaf-former.
The sheaf former is independent of the driving wheel, and being operated by
the driver the thickness of the sheaf may be regulated according to the will of the
latter. It is moreover provided with devices whereby it may be lifted and supported
well above the ground when necessary, so as to avoid any shock from unevenness
in the soil. The said sheaf-former being independent may be detached and replaced
by binding mechanism.
The horse or other power is applied at the left hand side, as is the case with the
harvesting machines at present in use, but the power required being much smaller
than in any harvesting machine hitherto known, one horse will suffice for drawing
the machine, and the space required for this purpose is thus reduced by one half.
The mechanism for placing the grain in a horizontal position on the machine
forms an essential feature of my Invention, and the rollers thereof are supported
E

page_text: by an inclined frame in such manner that the whole of the parts are slightly
inclined towards the endless apron. This arrangement is most advantageous for
the operation of laying the cut grain into horizontal layers. This throwing down
of the grain is moreover facilitated by the large dividers, the upholding bar or rod
and the platform forming a gentle incline.
The grain when laid down lies horizontally on the upper part of a cage composed
of narrow plates or tongues fixed on the frame of the laying-down mechanism, and
upon this cage the grain remains until it is taken by the endless apron to be carried
to the sheaf former. At the left hand end of the frame there are horizontally
arranged teeth or projections which free the laying down mechanism from the cut
grain, and prevent the latter from interfering with the belt.
This construction admits of the use as a motive power of steam, compressed air,
and of electricity, and for this purpose it is only necessary to give to the sheaf-
former the shape of a fan at the side, so that it will discharge the sheaf towards the
left hand away from the traction devices. In place of the sheaf-former above
described I may employ binding mechanism arranged in the ordinary manner; and
for facilitating the transport of the machine from place to place along the roads
a fore-carriage may be provided which is capable of removal when not required.
By removing the parts particularly applicable for dealing with cut grain after it
has been cut and leaving the cutters the said machine may be used simply for
cutting or mowing.

page_text: WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING-MACHINES."
A communication from abroad by M. Denizot, of Paris, France, Attorney at Law.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a harvesting machine made in accordance with
my Invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the line M, N.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 represent respectively on an enlarged scale a front view, a
plan, and a longitudinal section, shewing the mechanism for laying down the grain
in a horizontal position.
Figures 7 and 8 show the gearing for transmitting motion from the driving
wheel.
Figure 9 shows in elevation the mechanism for operating the vibrating plate of
the sheaf-former.
This Invention relates to an improved harvesting machine, and comprises
various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter described.
According to this Invention the means employed for cutting the grain form an
important feature and are described as follows, that is to say:-I provide two series
of blades arranged to operate in the same manner as the blades of a pair of scissors,
or those of a horse-clipper. The lower blades c are fixed on the cutter-bar and the
upper blades c¹ are mounted and turn upon screwed pivots and are worked by a
sliding piece a, which receives an alternate to and fro movement produced by means
of the disc-crank H and the connecting rod J. The disc-crank H receives motion
from a bevel wheel mounted on the same shaft and actuated by the bevel-wheel y
placed at the end of a shaft I in connection with the gearing, by means of which
motion is imparted to the various parts of the machine. This gearing is driven by
the left hand large wheel of the machine, which is in contact with the ground and
is caused to gear with the axle when moving forward by means of a pawl and
ratchet device. The said gearing comprises the following parts, shewn in Figures 7
and 8, that is to say, a toothed wheel & is keyed upon the axle O of the driving
wheel A and gears with a pinion e above. Another toothed wheel fis driven by
the pinione by means of a ratchet-clutch g. The gear-wheel ƒ meshes with a
pinion / on the driving axle and the bevel wheel i is connected to the pinion h by
means of a coupling. The bevel-wheel gears with a bevel pinion ; mounted on
the shaft I, which carries the small bevel-wheel y (see Figure 1). A toothed wheel k
also gears with the wheel ƒ and imparts motion to the roller b, which carries the
elevating apron or belt F designed to carry up the grain when cut to a device (+
at the rear of the machine, which receives or collects sufficient grain at a time to
form a sheaf, although it does not tie or bind the same; (this device I will
hereinafter call a sheaf-former); or the said apron or belt may carry the grain to a
binder. The roller b' at the lower part of the elevating apron or belt is provided
at one end with a chain-pulley l, by means of which motion is imparted to the
pulleys forming part of the mechanism employed for depositing the cut grain in a
horizontal position. The chain on the pulley passes over the pulley 2, which is
mounted on the same shaft as the bevel pinion o, which transmits motion to the
grooved pulleys p, p, by means of the bevel pinion o¹. The laying down mechanism
is constructed as follows, that is to say, two small brushes of vegetable whale-

page_text: bone q, q, are mounted upon iron rods in such a manner that they may be raised
or lowered at will by means of the grooves in the pulleys p,pl, according to the
thickness or height of the cut grain. The said rods are attached to catgut cords q¹
upon the pulleys p, p¹.
A platform C placed directly at the rear of the cutter-bar, and being slightly
inclined, receives the grain after it has been cut. A bar D supported on the left
hand side of the machine by an iron rod keeps the grain in an upright position
when it reaches this platform, and the said bar, which is held in place by a set-
screw, may be raised and lowered to suit the height of the crop.
Two large dividers at the ends E, E, are provided, which enter the corn to
straighten the same if necessary and to support it until it is brought upon the
platform and in contact with the supporting bar.
The small dividers m, m, protect the blades or cutters c, cl, and support the cut
grain until it reaches the platform. In consequence of this arrangement the cut
grain arrives upon the platform in an upright position and rests against the
supporting bar D. The brushes q, q, move transversely from the right hand
towards the left hand of the machine and lay the stalks or blades of corn upon
the lower part of the endless apron or belt F, which having a continuous motion.
elevates the cut grain and discharges the same into the sheaf-former G, situated at
the rear of the machine. For this purpose tufts of vegetable fibre n, n, are fixed
in transverse rows upon the apron F.
The left hand end of the sheaf-former-spindle carries a small lever X actuated
by means of the connecting rod Y and lever Z. This lever Z placed within reach
of the driver serves for depositing the sheaf upon the ground by rocking the
sheaf-former G, to which is added a vibrating or shaking plate G¹. The movement
of this plate is caused by means of a chain-wheel ³ (see Figure 9) mounted upon
the axle of the roller b. This wheel xl transmits motion to another wheel ac²
mounted upon the same shaft as the cam-plate h¹, which acts upon the rod h³
and causes the vibration of the piece G¹. To lessen the shocks the rod strikes
upon springs t¹ fixed to the plate G¹. This vibrating mechanism is designed to
facilitate the descent of the sheaf, and an iron rod ƒ¹ is placed at the side of the
sheaf-former G for the same purpose.
Between the sheaf-former G and the apron or belt F is arranged a roll of
cloth ³ attached by one end to the sheaf-former G; this cloth is designed to
prevent the cut grain from falling on the ground at the moment when the sheaf
is deposited. For this purpose the roller is provided with a spring and constantly
tends to keep the cloth rolled up. If desired this roll of cloth may be replaced
by india-rubber bands. This device may be replaced by an inclined plane
formed of rigid plates extending from the apron F towards the sheaf-former Ġ.
The sheaf-former is independent of the driving mechanism, and being operated
by the driver the size of the sheaf may be regulated by him. It is moreover
provided with devices whereby it may be lifted and supported well above the earth
when the fore-carriage is attached for transporting the machine from place to place
so as to avoid any shock from uneveness of the ground. The said sheaf-former
being independent may be detached and replaced by binding mechanism.
The horse or other power is applied at the left hand side of the machine, as is
the case with the harvesting machines at present in use, but the power required.
being much smaller than in any harvesting machine hitherto known, one horse will
suffice for drawing the machine, and the space required for this purpose is thus
reduced by one half.
The mechanism for placing the grain in a horizontal position on the machine
forms an essential feature of my Invention, and is shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6 of
the accompanying Drawings. The driving pulleys thereof are supported by an
inclined frame P in such a manner that the whole of the parts are slightly
inclined towards the endless apron F. This arrangement is most advantageous for
the operation of laying the cut grain into horizontal layers; this throwing down of

page_text: the grain is moreover facilitated by the large dividers E, E, the upholding bar or
rod and the platform forming a gentle incline.
The grain when laid down lies horizontally on the upper part of the cage R com-
posed of narrow plates or tongues r, r, r, bent as shown in Figure 6, and fixed at
the back of the laying down mechanism. This cage covers the return track of the
laying down mechanism, and upon it the grain remains until it is taken by the
endless apron to be carried to the sheaf-former.
The lifting of the machine for its transport from place to place is effected by
means of an endless screw a¹ provided with a crank-handle m², and carried by the
support a fixed to the axle of the machine. This screw transmits motion to a
wheel b thereby actuating a sector 63 which winds up a chain, attached at one end
to the divider Ĕ and at the other. end to the said sector. The endless screw is
operated by means of the crank-handle which is placed within reach of the
driver.
This construction admits of the use as a motive power of steam, compressed air,
or electricity, and for this purpose it is only necessary to give to the sheaf-former
the shape of a fan at the side, so that it will discharge the sheaf towards the left
hand outside of the traction devices.
In place of the sheaf-former G I may employ binding mechanism arranged in the
ordinary manner, and for facilitating the transport of the machine from place to
place along the roads the front part may be rested upon a fore-carriage which is
capable of removal when not required.
By removing the parts particularly applicable for dealing with cut grain after it
has been cut and leaving the cutters the said machine may be used simply for
cutting or mowing.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The mechanism for cutting by means of independent knives, the cutting
being facilitated by the large and small dividers, substantially as specified.
Second. The combination of the guards or small dividers for supporting the cut
grain at the lower part, the supporting arm on the large. divider which supports
and guides the upper part of the said grain in the inclined platform on which the
grain advances to the laying-down mechanism, substantially as specified.
Third. The laying down mechanism provided with brushes or pieces which lay
the grain down horizontally by drawing the lower ends of all the stalks in one
direction, substantially as specified.
Fourth. The supporting bar or rod which completes this laying down movement
by causing the upper ends of the stalks to slip down upon it, substantially as
specified.
Fifth. The cage composed of small plates or tongues for protecting the endless
apron where it passes round the lower roller from the falling grain, and allowing
the said apron to take up at the back part of the cage the cut grain laid upon the
lower front part of the said cage, substantially as specified.
Sixth. The endless apron or belt provided with tufts of vegetable fibre or the
like, instead of with hooks for effecting the regular elevation of the grain,
substantially as specified.
Seventh. The device for conducting the cut grain in a horizontal position from
the endless apron to the trough of the sheaf-former, consisting either of an inclined
plane or of an extensible apron either formed of elastic material or acted upon by a
spring, substantially as described.
Eighth. The sheaf-former for receiving the grain from the endless apron,
arranging the stalks of the grain by means of the vibration imparted to the trough
and by its inclination, and depositing the sheaf upon the ground, all substantially
as specified.
Ninth. The combination with the harvesting machine herein before described of
sheaf-binding mechanism in place of the sheaf-former, as specified.

page_text: Tenth. The use of a fore-carriage for supporting the front part of the machine in
order to transport it from place to place, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty second day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
WM RORT LAKE