IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES." A communication from abroad
by Samuel Johnston, of Brockport, New York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th December 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES."
[A communication from abroad by Samuel Johnston, of Brockport, New York,
United States of America.]
This Invention relates to harvesting machines, and comprises mechanism which
operates in a manner so as to gather, cut, and bind the grain, and discharge the
same; the chief features of the said improvements are as follows, that is to say:-
First. The arrangement of the reel which gathers the grain to the cutters so that
it will also move the cut grain back on the platform to the proper distance to
ensure its being bound at or near the middle of the bundle.
Second. Devices for the adjustment of the extent of the sweep of the reel on the
platform before rising out of the way of the binding mechanism, so as to adapt its
action to grain of various lengths, and ensure the proper presentation of the grain
to the binding mechanism at all times.
Third. The vibrating or swinging divider on the inner sido of the said machine,
so as to operate in conjunction with a compressing device attached to a gathering
device of a rotating frame, between which compressor and swinging divider the
grain is compressed in readiness for binding.
Fourth. The employment of an oscillating band carrying arm attached to a
rotating frame to place the band around the bundle which is compressed, and
bring it in position to be properly secured around said bundle.
Fifth. Mechanism by which the band is secured when passed around the bundle
as explained above.
Sixth. Cutting mechanism to sever the band after it has been placed around the
bundle and secured.

page_text: Seventh. A discharging rake so operated that it discharges the bundle from the
revolving platform after the band carrier has released said bundle.
Eighth. The arrangement of the gearing which rotates the reel, and the con-
tinuously revolving platform and binding frame which carries the binding
mechanism band carrier and compressing arm, so that said band carrier and
compressing arm shall be made to pass across the front of the platform, moving the
cut grain in front of it in the interval between the passage of one reel arm and the
succeeding arm.
Ninth. Mechanism by which the continuously rotating platform is thrown in
and out of gear, it being so constructed that the said rotating platform can only be
freed from revolving when the binding mechanism, compressing arm, and band
carrier are at the back of the machine, so as to be out of the sweep of the reel
arms.
Tenth. A compressing band operated by the compressing arm band carrying
arm and a spring, so.that the bundle is compressed prior to passing the band around
the same and securing it there.
In carrying the said Invention into practice, I provide a bevel gear wheel which
is mounted upon and secured to the driving shaft, and which gears into a bevel
gear wheel secured upon another shaft, and gives a rotary motion to the reel arms
by means of another set of bevel wheels. The reel arms are provided with teeth
wherewith to gather the grain. One of the reel cams may be moved upon its
centre by means of a lever which is secured in any desired position by a rack. By
the proper movement and adjustment of this lever, the reel arms move a greater
or less distance back upon the platform, by which adjustment the band is made to
pass around the desired part of the grain when in the form of a bundle. The
relative proportions of the gearing which drives the reel arms and the gearing for
driving the binding mechanism across the front of the platform is such that the
binding mechanism passes from right to left on the platform across the front in the
interval between the passage of two successive reel arms across the front line or
track, pursued by the binding mechanism, compressing arms, and band carrying:
arm, so that the reel arms shall not throw the grain on top of the binding
mechanism, compressing arm, and band carrying arm whilst they are travelling
across the platform.
The bevel gear wheel which is secured to the driving shaft meshes into a third
bevel wheel, which in turn puts in motion a pair of bevel wheels through the:
agency of a shaft, one of which causes a shaft to rotate. Upon the opposite end of
said shaft is a small bevel wheel which meshes into a larger wheel which is
provided with a cam way, the object of which will be hereinafter explained. The
last named wheel is secured upon a vertical hollow shaft which rotates in bearings
and imparts a rotary motion to a binding frame which carries the binding
mechanism and other parts directly related thereto. At one end of the said
binding frame is pivotted a toothed segment, having a projecting piece carrying a
roller which travels in a cam way, imparting an oscillating motion to the toothed
segment which meshes into a pinion, causing a rotating motion of said pinion, and
also to a hollow shaft upon which it is secured, and an oscillating motion to a band
carrying arm which is secured to the last named shaft at the other end. This shaft
rotates in bearings. A small pinion is secured upon a shaft rotating within the
last named hollow shaft which acts as a bearing to said shaft. The upper end of
this shaft is formed into or has secured to it a compressing arm which oscillates
with motion corresponding to that of the last named shaft and pinion. The pinion
is rotated by means of a segmental rack frame which is pivotted, and has an
oscillating motion imparted to it by an arm carrying a roller which moves in a cam
way. Secured to or forming part of the oscillating rack is an arm which moves a
discharging rake by means of a rod and crank, so that the bundle when completed
and bound is discharged from off the revolving platform. Pivotted to the binding
frame is a plate which has a fulcrum. This plate is provided with a cam way and
two crank pins, and is oscillated upon its fulcrum in a horizontal frame by rollers

page_text: striking cam pieces. One of these rollers is longer than the other, and is acted
upon by one portion of one of the cam pieces for the purpose of throwing one
roller inwardly, and thereby be within the range of the other cam piece.
Upon one end of the binding frame is the binding mechanism proper, which
mechanism is operated directly by the said plate or oscillating piece. The crank
pins impart motion simultaneously to rods or bars (supplied at their extremities
with crimping jaws) only in opposite directions, thereby causing said jaws to close
upon each other. These jaws are kept from moving laterally by a box. The jaws
are V shaped, and are supplied with teeth, so that the teeth of one may pass
between the teeth of the other, thereby allowing said jaws to close tightly upon a
metallic ribbon, crimping it in the manner hereinafter described. The band is
held by an excentric band holder, which is kept tight by a spring. The metallic
ribbon is held in a box, and is then given half a turn and passed between rollers,
which crimp it. The said metallic ribbon is fed to the crimping jaws by means of
a ratchet wheel and pawl, which is operated by one of the jaws. One roller is kept
tightly against the other roller by a spring. These rollers crimp and feed the
ribbon through a slot, where the jaws crimp it around the two ends of the bands,
and at the same time one of the crimping jaws cuts the ribbon by forming a knife
edge of the slot. Working in one of the cam ways is a pin, which imparts motion
to a rod operating a toggle joint, with a final result of an oscillating movement to
a lever and head, the object of which is to force the bands which have been carried
in front of a guide and band holder between said guide and band holder by means
of pieces of one of the heads which holds them, and finally after the jaws have
crimped the ribbon around the bands knives cut the band immediately above
the band holder, and thereby set the bundle free when it is discharged by a rake.
A piece pushes the bands within the grasp of the metallic ribbon before the jaw
comes into action, and thereby ensures the encircling of the bands by the ribbon.
When the band has been cut by the knives the end of the band is held tightly
between a guide and an excentric jaw, which forms the band holder, and is ready
for the next bundle. The band for binding the grain is held upon a reel, and from
this supply it passes over a small idler through the hollow shaft, and then over a
roller on a compressing spring rod, which is held in bearings on the binding frame,
and from this rod it passes over a roller in the extremity of the band carrying arm,
and then between the band holder and guide, where it is securely held. The
compressing band is held by a nut, and passes over a roller in the compressing arm
and a roller in the band carrying arm. The tension of the compressing band is
given by a spring.
The inner divider is composed of three parts. One part is hinged to a stationary
part and is moved to and fro upon a part which is attached to a lever, which is
operated by a cam way, in which a roller which is secured to the said lever moves.
Hinged to the end of the first part is a part which moves with the first part, and
also has an additional motion imparted to it by a cam through the agency of a
roller and lever.
By arranging the driving mechanism on the side of the driving wheel opposite
to the binding mechanism the great weight of the platform with its binding
mechanism is balanced to a certain extent.
The shaft which operates the binding frame through the agency of bevel gearing
is thrown in and out of gear with one of the bevel wheels by the following means,
that is to say :-
Secured to the said shaft is a pinion and grooved wheel, which wheel is provided
with a projection which presses against one tooth on the bevel wheel last
mentioned. The projection is prevented from backward motion by means of a
spring. In addition to this clutch there is another and smaller one between the
grooved wheel and said bevel wheel. Meshing into the pinion is a gear wheel
carrying upon it a cam. Situated over the cam is a roller attached to a bell crank
lever, which is kept up by a spring. A lever works in a bearing, and moves a

page_text: second bell crank lever which is provided with jaws, which fits into the groove in
the wheel attached to the pinion.
The gearing is so constructed that the wheel gearing with the pinion makes the
same number of revolutions as the revolving platform and binding mechanism.
To throw the binding mechanism and revolving platform out of gear the lever is
pressed down, and the roller moves upon the cam until the diameter of said cam
suddenly diminishes when the roller and lever are depressed; the roller striking a
partition of the cam brings the pinion and the wheel gearing therewith to rest.
At the same time the two bell crank levers produce a lateral motion of the pinion
and the grooved wheel carrying the clutch which throws it out of contact with the
tooth of the bevel wheel, which revolves idly until the pressure is removed from the
lever, when the spring raises the roller and releases the cam, and at the same time
throws the projection into contact with the aforesaid tooth which sets the binding
mechanism into action once more. By this means of throwing in and out of gear
the binding mechanism, it is readily seen that the compressing arm and band
carrier can be brought to rest only at the back of the machine, and out of the sweep
of the reel arms. The knife bar is operated by a gear wheel which is secured to
the driving wheel through the agency of a pinion shaft and bevel gear wheels. A
pinion slides upon a shaft, but revolves with it, and may be thrown in or out of
gear at will by the lever.
The driving wheel may be thrown in or out of gear with the driving shaft by
the clutch and lever.
The rotating platform and binding mechanism move from the grain to the stubble
side, but by a slight modification the reverse movement can be imparted to the said
platform and its appendages, but not with quite so good a result.
In the place of the binding mechanism described, a inodification can be substituted
in which a wire band is used, and which is described as follows:-
At one point of the binding frame is pivotted a toothed segment with a
projecting piece carrying a roller. This roller as the frame is revolved strikes
against cam pieces, giving an oscillating movement to the toothed segment, thereby
communicating motion to a pinion and wire twister which is secured to the binding
frame. The outer extremity of the wire twister is formed into the shape of a spiral
screw, whose purpose is to seize the wire at the proper time and by revolving twist
it, and afterwards cut it off by pressing it into contact with a knife located near
the shank of the spiral. The wire holder is formed of a slotted spring and the
lower part of a bearing by which the wire is firmly beld; the wire is thrown into
the wire holder and against the twister by a fork in the following manner :-
The fork is attached to or forms part of an arm, which is joined to a sinaller arm on
which a roller is mounted. The outer end of the arm is secured to the binding
frame. As this frame revolves the last named roller strikes a projection or stop
which causes the larger arm to be drawn inwardly, the fork carrying the wire with
it into the wire holder and twister. As the frame continues its revolution the
roller at length strikes the cam, by the action of which the arm is drawn back to
its first position.
In place of the inner divider previously described, a modification thereof may be
employed constructed as follows, that is to say :-
The stationary part is the same as in the other case. Hinged to one part is
another part the bottom of which is composed of teeth, and secured to the top of
one part is a rod. The compressor is operated in precisely the same manner as the
first named part in the other divider. It is bent over at the top forming a loop
through which the band carrier may pass in the act of compressing and binding the
bundle. Before the compressing band is passed around the bundle an arm moves
toward the gavel, compressing it prior to the action of the compressing band and
binding arm. After the bundle is tied it is carried on the butts striking the teeth
of the tooth part, which give way, oscillating said part upon the hinge.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
June 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES."
A communication from abroad by Samuel Johnston, of Brockport, New York,
United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in harvesting machines, and comprises
mechanism which operates in a manner so as to gather, cut, and bind the grain,
and discharge the same. The chief features of the said improvements are as follow,
that is to say :-
The arrangement of the reel which gathers the grain to the cutters so that it will
also move the cut grain back on the platform to the proper distance to ensure its
being bound at or near the middle of the bundle.
Devices for the adjustment of the extent of the sweep of the reel on the platform
before rising out of the way of the binding mechanism, so as to adapt its action to
grain of various lengths, and ensure the proper presentation of the grain to the
binding mechanism at all times.
The vibrating or swinging divider on the inner side of the said machine so
arranged as to operate in conjunction with a compressor or compressing device
attached to a gathering device of a rotating frame, between which compressor and
swinging divider the grain is compressed in readiness for binding.
The employment of an oscillating band carrying arm attached to a rotating framo
to place the band around the bundle which is compressed, and bring it in position
to be properly secured around said bundle.
Mechanism by which the band is secured when passed around the bundle, as
above stated, and in combination therewith cutting mechanism to sever the band
after it has been placed around the bundle and secured.
A discharging rake so operated that it discharges the bundle from the revolving
platform after the band carrier has released the said bundle.
The arrangement of the gearing which rotates the reel, and the continuously
revolving platform and binding frame carrying the binding mechanisın, band carrier,
and compressing arm, so that the said band carrier and compressing arm will be
caused to pass across the front of the platform, moving the cut grain in front of it,
in the interval between the passage of one reel arm and the succeeding arm.
Mechanism by which the continuously rotating platform is thrown in and out of
gear, the said mechanism being so constructed that the said rotating platform can
only be freed from revolving when the binding mechanism, compressing arm, and
band carrier are at the back of the machine, so as to be out of the sweep of the
reel arm.
A compressing band operated by the compressing arm, band carrying arm, and a
spring, so that the bundle is compressed prior to passing the band around the same
and securing it thereon.
In the accompanying Drawings,-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a harvesting machine embodying my
improvements.
Figure 2 is a vertical section through the mechanism by which the band is
placed around the bundle and secured.
Figure 3 is a plan of the same.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the machine shewing the driving mechanism.
Figure 5 is a plan, and
Figure 6, a plan partly in horizontal section of the said driving mechanism.
Figure 7 represents in section the gearing which onerates the cutting har

page_text: -
Figure 8 is a plan of the mechanism by which the inner divider is operated.
Figure 9 is a plan of the cam which operates the binding mechanism.
Figure 10 is a plan of the plate operated by the cam shown in Figure 0, which
plate imparts motion to the binding mechanism.
.
•
Figures 11, 12, and 13 are detailed views of the mechanism which oscillates the
shafts carrying the compressing arm and band carrier.
Figure 14 is an elevation of the compressing arm and band carrier, and the
compressing band.
Figures 15, 16, and 17 are elevations partly in section, and a porspective view,
shewing the mechanism by which the continuously rotating platform is thrown in
and out of gear.
Figure 18 is an elevation partly in section of the device by which the band is
supplied to the band carrying arm.
Figures 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 are detailed views of the binding and sovering
mechanism.
Figure 25 shows the metallic ribbon in its various forms before, during, and after
being operated upon by the binding mechanism.
Figures 26, 27, and 28 reprosent a modified form of binding mechanism, which
is applied to this machine when wire is used in the place of cord.
Figure 29 is a modified form of inner divider.
A reprosents the platform; B, the driving wheel, and C the guide cam for the
reeling mechanism of a harvesting machine; D is a cover to the binding mechanism,
and is supported by and revolves with the binding frame E; Fieprosents a bevel
gear wheel, which is mounted upon and secured to the driving shaft G, and which
gears into a bevel gear wheel g secured upon a shaft g', and imparts a rotary
motion to the reel arms H, H, by means of another set of bevel wheels g³ and y³.
The said reel arms are provided with teeth wherewith to gather the grain. The
reel cam C may be moved upon its centre by means of a lever p, which is secured
in any desirable position by a rack p'. By the proper movement and adjustment
of this lever p the reel arms move a greater or less distance back upon the
platform A; by this adjustment also the band is caused to pass around the desired
part of the grain when it is in the form of a bundle. The relative proportions of
the gearing which drives the reel arms, and the gearing for driving the binding
mechanism across the front of the platform is such that the binding mechanism
passes from right to left on the platform across the front in the interval between
the passage of two successive reel arms across the front line or track pursued by
the binding mechanism, compressing arms, and band carrying arm, so that the
recl arms shall not throw the grain on the top of the binding mechanism, the
compressing arm, and the band carrying arm whilst they are travelling across
the platform.
The bevel gear wheel Fl which is secured to the shaft G meshes into a bevel gear
wheelf, which in turn imparts motion to a pair of bevel gear wheels f¹, f, through
the agency of its shaft. The bevel gear wheel ƒ on one end of the shaft I causes
it to rotate. Upon the opposite end of the said shaft I is a small bevel wheel i
which meshes into a larger wheel J provided with a cam way j, the object of which
will be hereinafter explained.
The bevel gear wheel J is secured upon a vertical hollow shaft K which rotates
in bearings k, and imparts a rotary motion to the binding frame E which carries
the binding mechanism and other parts directly related thereto. At one end of
the said binding frame E and at a point e is pivotted the segmental rack L, having
a projecting piece / carrying a roller l' which travels in a cam way M, and imparts
an oscillating motion to the said segmental rack L. The teeth of this rack mesh
into or gear with the pinion N and impart a rotating motion to said pinion, and
also to a hollow shaft n upon which it is secured at one end, and an oscillating
motion to the band carrying arm n¹ which is secured to the shaft n at the other
end; this shaft n rotates in bearings n³, n³. O is a small pinion secured upon a
shaft o rotating within the hollow shaft n which acts as a bearing to said shaft.

page_text: The upper end of this shaft o is formed into or has secured to it a compressing
arm which oscillates with motion corresponding to that of the shaft o and
pinion O. The pinion O is rotated by means of a segmental rack frame P which is
pivotted at e, and has an oscillating motion imparted to it by the arm p³ carrying
a roller p¹ moving in a cam way q. Secured to or forming part of the oscillating
rack P is an arm q which moves a discharging rake q³ by means of a rod or bar q²
and crank q³, so that the bundle when completed and bound is discharged from the
revolving platform.
Pivotted to the binding frame E is a plate R which has its fulcrum at e¹; this
plate R is provided with a cam way r and two crank pins 71, 7, and is oscillated
upon its fulcrum e¹ in a horizontal plane by the rollers 73, 74, striking the cam
pieces S, S¹. The roller ³ is longer than the roller *, and consequently is acted
upon by one portion 8 of the cam piece S₁ for the purpose of throwing the roller
inwardly to be within the range of the cam piece S.
Upon the end of the binding frame E farthest from the shaft K is the binding
mechanism proper, which mechanism is operated directly by the oscillating piece R
above described. The crank pins r¹ and impart motion simultaneously to the
rods or bars T, T¹ (supplied at their extremities with crimping jaws) but in opposite
directions, thereby causing said jaws to close upon or move towards each other.
These jaws are kept from moving laterally by the box t. The said jaws are V-shaped
and are supplied with teeth, so that the teeth of one may pass between the teeth of
the other, thereby allowing said jaws to close tightly upon the metallic ribbon t',
crimping it in the manner hereinafter described.
The band is held by the excentric band holder 2 which is kept tight by the
spring. The metallic ribbon t' is held in the box U, and is then given half a turn
and passed between the rollers u, u¹, which crimp it into the shape shewn in
Figure 23. The metallic ribbon t¹ is fed to the crimping jaws T, T', by means of
the ratchet wheel and pawl u³ which is operated by the jaw T¹. The roller u' is
kept tightly against the roller u by the spring u³. These rollers u and u¹ crimp
and feed the ribbon t¹ through the slot t where the jaws T, T¹, crimp it around the
two ends of the bands, at the same time one of the crimping jaws is caused to cut
the ribbon by forming a knife edge of the slot #. The various shapes taken by
the ribbon are shewn in Figure 25. In the box U it is straight as at 1, the rollers
u, u, crimp it as shown at 2, the crimping jaw T crimps it as shewn at 3, and when
the two jaws T, T¹, come together the final result is shewn at 4 and 4¹; working in
the cam way r in the plate R is a pin v, which imparts motion to a rod V operating
a toggle joint V1, V2, with a final result of an oscillating movement to the lever
and head V³, V4, whose fulcrum is at V5, the object of which is to force the bands
that have been carried in front of the guide and band holder t between the said
guide and the band holder by means of the pieces v³, v³, of the head V* which holds
them; finally after the jaws T, T', have crimped the ribbon t¹ around the bands, the
knives and to cut the band immediately above the band holder, and thereby
set the bundle free when it is discharged by the rake 7³. The piece t pushes the
bands within the grasp of the metallic ribbon before the jaw T¹ comes into action,
and thereby ensures the encircling of the bands by the ribbon. When the band
has been cut by the knives v' and to, the end of the band is held tightly between
the guide to and the excentric jaw t which forms the band holder and 13 ready for
the next bundle. The band for binding the grain is held upon a reel k¹, and from
this supply it passes over a small idler ² through the hollow shaft K, and then over
a roller on the compressing spring rod which is held in bearings on the binding
frame E, and from this rod k³ it passes over the roller in the extremity of the
band carrying arm n', and then between the band holder t and guide where it
is securely held.
The compressing band K' is held by the nut / and passes over the roller k³ in the
compressing arm, and the roller in the band carrying arm as shewn in Figure 14.
The tension of the band K' is given by the spring rod k³.
The inner divider is composed of three parts. The part W is hinged to the

page_text: stationary part at w, and is moved to and fro by the part w¹ which is attached to
a lever w² whose fulcrum is at w, and by the cam way in which the roller w
which is secured to lever w³ moves. Hinged to the end of the part W is a part W'.
which moves with the part W, and also has an.additional motion imparted to it by
the cam w³ through the agency of a roller and lever.
By arranging the driving mechanism on the side of the driving wheel B opposite
to the binding mechanism the great weight of the platform with its binding
Imechanism is balanced to a certain extent
The shaft I, which operates the binding frame E, through the agency of bevel
gearing 18 thrown in and out of gear with the bevel wheel ƒ by the following
means, that is to say :-Secured to the shaft 1 is a pinion Z¹ and grooved wheel,
which wheel is provided with a projection ¹, which presses against the tooth a on
the bevel wheelf. The projection is prevented from backward motion by means
of a spring. In addition to this clutch mechanism there another and smaller one
between the grooved wheel and the bevel wheel ƒ, as shewn in Figure 16.
Meshing into the pinion Z¹ is a gear wheel Z, carrying upon it a cam ; above
this cam z is a roller ¹ attached to a bell crank lever b, which is kept up by the
spring b¹. The lever b works in a bearing 68 and moves a second bell ciank
lever b, which is provided with jaws which fit into the groove in the wheel
attached to the pinion Z'; these levers are shewn in Figure 17.
The gearing is so constructed that the wheel Z makes the same number of
revolutions as the revolving platform and binding mechanism.
As shewn in Figure 16 the binding mechanism and revolving platform are in
gear with the shaft G. To throw them out of gear the lever is pressed down and
the roller moves upon the cam z until the diameter of the said cam suddenly
diminishes when the roller s' and lever b are depressed; the roller ¹ striking the
partition of the cam brings the wheels Z and Z¹ to rest. At the same time the
two bell-crank levers b, 62, produce a lateral motion of the pinion Z³ and the grooved
wheel carrying the clutch x¹, which motion throws it out of contact with the
tooth of the bevel wheel ƒ. This wheel then revolves idly until the pressure is
removed from the lever b, when the spring baises the roller and releases the
cam, and at the same time throws the projection a¹ into contact with the tooth x,
which sets the binding mechanism in action again. By this means of throwing in
and out of gear the binding mechanism it will be readily understood that the
compressing arm and band carrier can be brought to rest only at the back of the
machine and out of the sweep of the reel arms H, ¤
The knife bar is operated by the gear wheel G₁, which is secured to the driving
wheel B through the agency of the pinion g', shaft g³, and bevel gear wheels gª
and g. The pinion g* slides upon the shaft g5 but revolves with it, and may be
thrown in or out of gear at will by the lever d
The driving wheel B may be thrown in or out of gear with the shaft G by the
clutch d and lever d¹.
The rotating platform and binding mechanism, as shewn, move from the grain to
the stubble side, but by a slight modification the reverse movement can be imparted
to the said platform and its appendages, but not with quite so good a result.
In the operation of the machine grain is pressed on the cutters by one of the reel
arms, and then back on to the platform to ensure its being bound at or near the
middle of the bundle. A second and third reel arm carry the grain to the same
point.
Immediately after the third reel arm has carried the grain to that point, and in
the interval before the fourth reel arm has caused the grain to fall on the platform,
the rotating shaft K causes the compressing arm and band carrier to pass across the
platform from right to left, thus avoiding the cut grain being thrown upon thei
while revolving, which is of the first importance in the application of a rotating
binding apparatus in connection with a revolving reel.
The grain being thrown upon the platform the compressing arm o¹ descends, and
shortly afterwards the inner divider W presses the grain together; then the cam wo

page_text: actuates the part W¹ and completely presses the grain; then the band carrier
descends, and the compressing band presses the grain tightly while the band for
binding is passed around the bundle and pressed between the band holder & and
the guide to by the head V. The metallic ribbon being fed between the jaws T, T',
the piece t pushes the bands back within the metallic ribbon, and then the crimping
jaws T, T, close and crimp this ribbon around the band, and at the same time cut
it off from the rest of the ribbon forming a metallic slip. The knives v² and to then
cut the band, leaving the end secured within the band holder and ready for the
next bundle. The cutting movement is imparted to the knife v¹ by the action of
the end of the cam-way in the plate R. Upon severing the band the rake q³
discharges the bundle from the platform and the same operations are repeated.
During this operation of binding, the platform and binding mechanism revolve
carrying the bundle with them. Just before the discharging of the bundle the
band carrier ascends and allows the rake 2 full action.
Instead of employing the binding mechanism above described I in some cases
employ a modified form of the same, as shewn in Figures 26 to 28, in which a wire
band is used as follows:-
At the point C of the binding frame E is pivotted the toothed segment c¹ with a
projecting piece carrying a roller c³. This roller c³ as the frame E is revolved
strikes against the cam pieces h, h', giving an oscillating movement to the
segment c¹, thereby communicating motion to the pinion h³ and wire twister h³,
which is secured to the binding frame E. The outer extremity of the wire
twister h³ is formed into the shape of a spiral screw, whose purpose is to seize the
wire at the proper time, and by revolving twist it and afterwards cut it off by
pressing it into contact with the knife h* located near the shank of the spiral. mis
the wire holder formed of a slotted spring, and the lower part of the bearing m',
by which the wire is firmly held The wire is thrown into the wire holder and
against the twister by a fork m³ in the following manner :-
The fork is attached to or forms part of an arm m³ which is joined to a smaller
arm m², on which a roller m³ is mounted. The outer end of the arm m³ is secured
to the binding frame E.
As this frame E revolves the roller m strikes the projection or stop me, which
causes the arm m³ to be drawn inwardly, the fork m² carrying the wire with it
into the wire holder and twister. As the frame E continues its revolution the
roller m³ at length strikes the cam m², by the action of which the arm m³ is drawn
back to its first position.
In place of the inner divider previously described the one shewn in Figure 29
may be used. It performs precisely the same function.
The stationary part of the said divider is the same as in the other case. Hinged
to the part W² at W is a part Ws, the bottom of which is composed of teeth, and
secured to the top of the part W is a rod W. The compressor We is operated in
precisely the same manner as the part W' in the other divider. It is bent over at
the top forming a loop through which the band carrier may pass in the act of
compressing and binding the bundle. Before the compressing band is passed
around the bundle the arm We moves toward the gavel, compressing it prior to the
action of the compressing band and binding arm. After the bundle is tied it is
carried on the buts, striking the teeth of the part W³, which give way, oscillating
said part upon the hinge W.
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 combination with a revolving rake and reel of mechanism for con-
trolling the length of sweep of the successive arms to bring grain of different
lengths into the proper relation to the binding mechanism to receive the band at
the middle, substantially as above set forth and as shewn in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The binding mechanism herein shewn and described, in combination

page_text: with a rotating platform, all operating substantially as above set forth and for the
purpose specified.
Third. The combination of the revolving gathering compressing device and band
carrier so arranged and operating as to gather the grain into a bundle and hold it
for binding where it falls upon the platform, substantially as above set forth and
for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The inner divider composed of the parts W and W', in combination
with the cam for controlling the motion of the part W¹, substantially as above set
forth and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The combination in a harvesting machine of a compressing device attached
to or moving with a rotating frame and a vibrating inner divider for compressing
the grain into a bundle, substantially as herein described.
Sixth. The combination with a vibrating inner divider of a compressing arm
which has a rotating movement upon a vertical axis to carry it against the divider,
and an oscillating movement upon its own pivotal point to gather and release the
grain, substantially as shewn and described.
Seventh. The inner divider, composed of the parts W², W³, and Wº, constructed
and operating substantially in the manner above described and for the purpose
specified.
Eighth. The compressing band, in combination with the spring rod ³, the
compressing arm and the band carrying arm, substantially as above set forth and
for the purpose specified.
Ninth. The combination with the oscillating band-carrier, moving with the
rotating frame, of suitable band securing and cutting mechanism, substantially as
above described.
Tenth. The oscillating band carrier n moving with the rotating frame and
oscillated by suitable mechanism during such rotation to carry the band around the
bundle of grain, substantially as above set forth.
Eleventh. The feed rollers u, u, so constructed that in the act of feeding the
metallic ribbon they crimp the said mbbon into the form shewn in the Drawings,
substantially as above described.
Twelfth. The band holder 2 so constructed that its outer or holding edge is
excentric with reference to its fulcrum, and holds the band with a firmer grip as
its tension becomes greater, substantially as above described.
Thirteenth. The crimping devices T, T', in which the jaws are V-shaped, and
are provided with teeth whereby they can close tightly, substantially as above
described.
Fourteenth. The combination of the revolving gathering compressing device,
band-carrier, binding mechanism, and discharging rake, substantially as above set
forth and for the purpose specified.
Fifteenth. The combination of the band carrier and its oscillating shaft, the
rotating frame upon which it is carried, and the rake for ejecting the bundle after
it is bound, substantially as above set forth and as shewn in the Drawings.
Sixteenth. The combination with the platform of a harvesting machine and a
discharging rake of two overhanging oscillating arms mounted upon a suitable
frame or carriage, and controlled by mechanism which causes one arm to descend
at the outer or grain side of the platform, sweep around behind the cutter bar, and
gather the grain against the inner divider, then actuates the other arm to descend
and grasp the bundle, and finally gives them a further movement to the rear, where
they are opened, and the bundle is discharged by the rake, substantially as above
described.
Seventeeth. The arrangement of the gearing of the rotating reel arms H and the
gearing of the revolving frame which carries the binding mechanism, so that the
binding mechanism shall pass across the front of the platform moving the cut grain
in front of it in the interval between the successive passage of two arms of the reel,
substantially as above described.
Eighteenth. The mechanism for throwing in and out of gear the revolving

page_text: platform and binding mechanism, and consisting of the following parts, namely, the
gear wheels Z, Z, the cam z, ², the roller 2¹, the levers b, b, the spring b², the bevel
or driving wheel ƒ, and the clutch x, x', all operating substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Nineteenth. The combination in a harvesting machine of an oscillating com-
pressing arm and an oscillating band-carrying arm mounted upon a suitable frame
or carriage and controlled by mechanism which causes the compressing arm to
descend at the outer or grain side of the platform, sweep around behind the cutter
bar, and gather the grain against the inner divider, then actuates the band carrying
arm to place the band around the bundle, and finally gives them a further move-
ment to the rear, where they are opened and the bound bundle is discharged,
substantially as above described.
Twentieth. The construction and arrangement of the driving mechanism so that
its weight comes upon the side of the driving wheel opposite to the cutting and
binding mechanism, substantially as shewn and described.
Twenty first. The spiral twister constructed and arranged in combination with
the cutter, as above described and as shewn in the accompanying Drawings for the
purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)