IMPROVEMENTS IN BALING PRESSES
Year: 1878

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 BALING PRESSES." A communication from abroad by
Zelora Phillips, of Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America.
Sealed the 1st October 1878, and dated the 2nd August 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALING PRESSES." A com-
munication from abroad by Zelora Phillips, of Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
of America.
My Invention relates to that class of baling presses in which the material to be
compressed into bales is admitted into the press chamber in successive charges, and
alternately pressed and advanced into a bale chamber until the requisite quantity
of material has been packed and baled, and then discharged by means of additional
charges of material from behind.
One object of the said Invention is to provide devices for pressing alternate
charges of material horizontally, and at the same time producing a lateral and
vertical inward squeezing of the material toward the centre of the charge, decreasing
its lateral and vertical size, and also producing an additional longitudinal pressure
in the centre of the pressed material from the commencement of the stroke of the
traverser on the loose material to the end of such stroke, at which point the
material acquires its greatest compression. When the material is forced out of
the press chamber into the larger bale expanding chamber, it is also allowed a
lateral and vertical expansion on all four sides, and I facilitate the introduction of
the tie bands in the press box by means of a follower block, whereby the said ties
are carried across the press box and then conveyed into the bale-expanding chamber
between the completed and the next forming bale by alternate advancement caused
31

page_text: by the alternate charges of pressed material from behind until the said tie bands,
moving in shallow grooves in the inside of the bale-expanding chamber, have
reached an opening in one side of the said bale-expanding chamber, whence they
are drawn out by a hook, and after they are cut the finished bale is tied. The
severed advanced ends of the ties at the front of the forming bale are secured until 5
the next follower block shall bring its portion of the ties to again allow the finished
bale to be tied, and so on with the next forming bales; and I accomplish
by means of a delivery opening, reduced in size at all four sides, the complete sub-
duing of the already baled and partially subdued material by further compressing
it in a lateral and vertical direction, thereby reducing the size of the bale and the I
longitudinal expanding strain on the tie bands, which is an essential feature, pro-
ducing valuable results never heretofore produced.
My Invention consists mainly in the new construction, arrangement, and
application of devices, also in the new combination of old elements, all of which,
singly or combined, are deemed essential in my newly organized baling press, 1
whereby the new and useful results above named are produced.
In the accompanying Drawings,-
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved baling press and power
mechanism.
Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 represent a side elevation, a longitudinal vertical section, 2
a top view, and a perspective view of my improved traverser..
Figure 6 is a horizontal section of the baling press, showing the construction and
arrangement of several particular parts, together with one complete bale and one
that lacks one or more charges of material to make it complete.
Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal section of the baling press, showing several
other particular parts.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the follower block and tie band carrier.
Figure 9 is a partial section of the side of the press box opposite to that shown
in Figure 7, and shews the interior of the side shown in Figure 1.
Figure 10 represents the hook used for drawing out the bale ties.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the Drawings.
A, A, represent the sills of the press to which are attached the press box F, the
bale-expanding chamber C, and the compress subduing chamber C'. The press
box F is provided with a feed aperture H above, and an opening F5 in one side
near the bale-expanding chamber C. The sides F, F, Figure 6, of the press box
are formed tapering, that is to say, an increase in size laterally from the front to
the rear end thereof, and the bottom P, Figure 7, also has an incline from the front.
to the rear end of the press box, and a further inclined extension P¹ to the sills A
and horse platform P². The front or inner open end of the press box F is provided
with an inclined rabbeted groove all around its inner edge, in which on the top,
bottom, and side opposite the opening F are inserted and securely fastened the
inclined unyielding metallic plates F1, F2, F3, and on the side that contains the
opening F the unyielding inclined metallic plate is divided into sections F*, F4,
F, F, with grooves a, a, a, between them, as shewn in Figure 9. All of the
said inclined unyielding metallic plates combined materially reduce the size of the
mouth of the press box F. The bale-expanding chamber C is larger vertically and
laterally than the mouth of the press box F. The sides, top, and bottom of the
bale-expanding chamber are all made solid except one side, which is provided with
an opening X or with slots f³, f³, f³, near the compress subduing chamber C¹.
The other or solid side of the bale-expanding chamber is provided with a series of
shallow longitudinal grooves a, a, a, on the inside which extend from the grooves
a, a, as, in the contracted exit of the press box F to the beginning of the compress
subduing chamber C¹. These grooves are designed to permit the easy passage of
the ties r, 1, 2, and to prevent the pressed material from interfering with the
drawing out of the ties when required, for the purpose of tying the bales, as shown
in Figure 1 by dotted lines, and also in Figure 9. At the end of the bale-expanding
chamber C is the compress subduing chamber C¹, having its two sides, top, and

page_text: bottom contracted by clamps R, R³, R³, R³, secured by binding screws 6', 6%, as
shown in Figure 1.
i
The traverser I, Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, is composed of one or more pieces of wood
to form a strong head, and has a vibrating tucker board K inserted at about the
angle shown, and secured at the rear end by bolts to the traverser. The end K' of
the tucker projects beyond the front end of the traverser, leaving a small space
between it and the top of the rib I', and over all is secured a spring board K³.
The rib I may be of the form shown, or conical, or cylindrical; but I prefer it,
as shown, extending in a vertical line across the front end of the traverser.
The rear end of the said traverser is provided with a slot I³, in which the lever O
is pivoted at g, the head and nut of the said pivot bolt g being so inserted in the
recesses d as not to project beyond the sides of the traverser. At the rear end of
the bottom of the traverser are other recesses 7, in which the trucks L operate,
thereby supporting the traverser and levelling it up, so that its front end shall be
perpendicular, as said traverser moves forward and back on the inclined bottom P
of the press box. The follower block J is smooth on one side, and provided with
tie-carrying grooves a', a², a³, in the other side. It is also provided with a
groove o at one edge, and holes and slots as, as, at the other edge. The handle a¹
is inserted in the holes or slots a5, as, for the purpose of placing the follower block
in the opening F5 of the press box. The lever O is connected by a link N to the
post M, and said post is strengthened by the braces M', M².
The universal joint at the lower end of the lever O is of peculiar construction,
that is to say, the socket casting Q has a projecting knuckle joint y, the front end
of which is rounded off to form a ball that fits in a corresponding socket formed in
the piece S between the two knuckles of said piece as shown by dotted lines in
Figure 1. Each of the knuckles on the piece S is provided with enlongated slots t,
through which the bolt U is inserted and firmly secured in the knuckle y of the
piece Q. By this construction and arrangement of parts the bolt U merely holds
the two sections of the joint together, and the ball and socket receives all the pres-
sure; the lever () is also permitted to have a reciprocating as well as a gradual
upward-and-downward motion as the traverse moves up and down the inclined
bottom P, P¹, and the pitman W is also allowed to rise and fall at the end that is
connected with the lever O, while the other end is being carried around in a
horizontal plane by means of the crank B¹.
The shaft B is vertical and mounted in suitable boxes attached to the sills A, A.
The lower end of the shaft B is provided with a crank B', and the pitman W con-
nects said crank with the lower end of the lever O.
The upper end of the shaft B5 is provided with a ratchet wheel B2, which is
firmly secured to said shaft. The sweep B³ is attached to the upper end of the
shaft B loosely, and is connected with the ratchet wheel B2 by means of pawls B*,
B', as shown.
The pawls B, B4, are held in contact with the ratchet teeth C7 by means of
springs B6, B6, that are attached to the said pawls and also to the lever B. The
lever Bs works loosely on the shaft B5, and is secured to the lever B° by the spring
B', and a connecting rod. When the machine is in operation, and the traverser I
is pressing material into bales, the traverser rebounds as the crank B¹ turns its
front centre, thus causing the crank shaft and ratchet wheel B² to make nearly one-
half of a revolution independent of the lever B³, at the same time the teeth of the
ratchet slide by the pawls B with a quick motion, until the motion imparted to
the crank by the rebound of the traverser is arrested; then the pawls B again
take hold of the teeth C of the ratchet as the horses advance, with the levers B³,
and move the crank around again; thus I an enabled to obtain nearly two strokes
of the traverser to one revolution of the crank, and nearly double the working
capacity of the press.
•
The pawls B may be of the link form, and connected with the sweeps or lever
B³ and lever Be as shewn, or an ordinary ratchet and pawl may be used. The bale
ties r,,, are taken direct from their respective coils and inserted in the holes

page_text: fff of the guide plate G; they are then carried into the press box F through
the side opening F5, then diagonally across the bale-expanding chamber C, and
through the slots f³, f³, fs, and then secured to their respective studs 8, as shown
in Figure 6. Power is then applied to the press and the traverser is moved for-
ward and backward with a gradual upward motion on the inclined bottom P, P¹, as
it advances, and a gradual downward motion as it moves back. The trucks L level
the traverser, and support its rear end, and materially reduce the friction of the
traverser that otherwise, would be detrimental owing to the great combined weight
of the traverser, the lever O, and pitman W. The material to be compressed into
bales is pushed into the aperture H at the top of the press box F, the loose material
assuming a corresponding form to that of the interior of the press box, that is,
narrow at the front end, with an increase in size, both laterally and vertically,
toward the rear end of the press box. The forward motion of the traverser (without
giving the full details) forces the loose charge of material that is in the press box
forward into the larger or bale-expanding chamber C, where it is prevented from
returning to the press box by its expansion vertically and laterally beyond the con-
tracted mouth of the press box. At the same time that the charge enters the bale-
expanding chamber C it comes in contact with the tie bands r,,, 2, and forces them
into their respective grooves a, a, a, that are formed between the sections F4 of
the unyielding metallic plates; and as each successive charge of material is ad-
vanced into the bale-expanding chamber the tie bands 2, 1, 2, are carried forward
in the longitudinal grooves a, a, a, and drawn across the front end of the first
charge. A few charges of material thus introduced into the bale-expanding
chamber serve to form a temporary, bale and to adjust the tie bands for future con-
tinuous work, as shown in Figure 6.
The follower block J is then inserted by means of the handle a into the side
opening F. The vertically grooved side of the follower block comes in contact
with the ties 7, 1, 2, that extend across the opening F³, and as the said follower
block is forced across the press box it carries the ties across in the form of loops,
the said ties being held in the grooves a¹, a², a3, of the follower block, as shown in
Figures 1 and 6. The handle a is then removed, and each additional charge of
material that is compressed gradually advances the follower and the loops of the
ties into the bale-expanding chamber C until the follower arrives at the opening X
or the slots f³, where the loops of the ties are caught by the hook Z, and drawn
outward (the sharp pointed hook readily catches the ties by being inserted in the
groove of the follower block behind the loop). The loops are then cut, the proper
length of material being allowed to tie the bale in front of the follower block, and
the ends of the ties in the grooves a¹, a², a³, of the follower block are drawn out
and temporarily secured to the studs ready for the next forming bale with no loss
of material and very little friction in the grooves a of the bale-expanding
chamber.
By the above-described operation, or by means of sticks introduced at the
opening X or slots ³, that shall extend across the bale-expanding chamber for the
first few charges of material to pack against a partially formed and incompletely
pressed first bale is obtained, and the tie bands are properly introduced into the
bale-expanding chamber, and an end pressure, although at the time not sufficient, is
afforded for the next forming bale. This insufficient end pressure (without here
having reference to other features) is materially increased as the charges are advanced
and pass through the final exit formed by the four tapering adjustable walls of the
compress subduing chamber C¹ where the bale is retarded and squeezed on all four
sides, and the hay broken and condensed, thereby greatly reducing its inherent
elasticity.
The adjustable walls of the final exit also retard the passage of the finished bale
to such an extent that the longitudinal expanding force in the material compressed
between the said final exit and the reduced exit of the press box F, is sufficient to
allow the traverser to press the next charge of material to the required density
without ejecting the finished balė from the final exit; but the further advance

page_text: movement of said traverser, after the densely compressed charge has passed the
contracted exit of the press box, and the material thereby recondensed, overcomes
the resistance of the tapering walls at the final exit, and the finished bale is ejected
in proportion to the advance of the traverser inside of the bale-expanding chamber.
The above are essential features, producing results never heretofore produced.
The loose material after being inserted in the hopper H of the press box F is
pressed between the pressed charges in front and the traverser I as the said tra-
verser advances, at the same time the material is crowded diagonally upward as the
front end of the traverser slides up the inclined bottom P.
The rib I' of the traverser, as it comes in contact with the loose material makes
an indentation vertically across the end of the charge, thus allowing the material at
each edge of the rib 1' to fold around against the end proper of the traverser; and the
inclined sides F, F, of the press box, as the traverser advances, also crowds the material
laterally toward the edges of the rib I and wedge the material between said rib
and the sides of the press box.
The projecting end K' of the vibrating tucker, aided by the spring board K³
above it, also holds the material down as the traverser advances, and a portion of
the material is squeezed into the space i and held there with a confined increasing
upward expanding force as the traverser moves up the inclined bottom P, and
approaches the end of its stroke.
When the charge has been pressed sufficiently to overcome the resistance of the
longitudinal expanding force in the completed and forming bales in the bale-
expanding chamber, the charge is forced through the contracted unyielding sub-
duing exit at the mouth of the press box without moving the finished bale out of
the final exit; then by a further advancement of the traverser into the bale-expanding
chamber C, the whole body of material that is in said chamber is advanced, and the
finished bale is ejected in proportion to the advance of the traverser into the bale
chamber.
As the crank B' turns its front centre, the elasticity of the material in the bale-
expanding chamber re-acts against the end of the traverser, and causes it to rebound
with considerable force, the material following it until arrested by the contracted
end of the press box.
It will be observed that while the charge of material in front of the traverser is
being thrust through the contracted rigid exit of the press box F, and condensing
the material in front preparatory to partially ejecting the finished bale, the first
subduing devices are encountered; that is to say, the unyielding inclined metallic
plates F1, F2, F3, F4, which partially subdue the material as it is still further squeezed
together vertically and laterally while being forced through the contracted mouth
of the press box.
The lateral and vertical expansion of the last charge introduced into the bale-
expanding chamber prevents it from following the traverser beyond the mouth of
the press box, and is materially increased when the traverser I moves back and
withdraws the rib I' from the indentation formed in the face of the charge, thereby
allowing the charge to expand longitudinally more in the centre than at each side,
and forcing the inward indentation outward, thereby crowding the material at each
side of it towards the side of the bale chamber; this lateral expansion of the last
charge is also materially increased as the traverser leaves it by the lateral expansion
of the material that has been wedged against the sides of the rib I' by the tapering
sides of the press box F as the charge was pressed.
The end K¹ of the vibrating tucker also performs its important work just as
the charge has been thrust beyond the contracted unyielding. mouth of the press
box by being forced upward by the compressed elastic material in the groove i
below it, thus tucking the overlapping material upward beyond the top plate F2 in
a positive manner.
The projecting edges of the plate F³, as the material is tucked above and beyond
it, serves to fold the overlapping material as the traverser recedes and the charge

page_text: expands back against the mouth of the press box, thus forming a smooth upper
edge to all charges. The same result is also produced on both sides and bottom.
The downward expansion of the charge is caused by the gradual upward move-
ment of the end of the traverser, as it moves up the inclined bottom P, P¹, while
compressing it, which draws the end of the charge upward, and as the traverser
recedes, it expands downward.
It will be observed from the foregoing that the new and useful results herein-
before specified could not well be accomplished without the aid of the special
devices provided by my Invention, namely, the traverser provided with trucks at
its rear end, a rib in front, and a vibrating tucker, operated as described, in a press
box constructed with tapering sides and inclined bottom, and provided with an
opening in one side to admit a follower, and further provided with the contracted
unyielding exit to the bale-expanding chamber formed with solid unyielding
inclined metallic plates, together with a follower block, and the bale tie continued
in grooves to the point of beginning of the compressing subduing chamber, and the
bale-expanding chamber provided with an opening or slot at one side, and the
other provided with grooves on the inside from the press box to the compress sub-
duing chamber, and a chamber C₁ constructed with four positive resistant tapering
walls, all as shewn and described.
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. In a baling press, the press box, having its exit contracted or reduced in
size by rigid unyielding inclined metallic plates projecting inward from the inner
walls of the said press box, whereby the material forced through the said reduced exit
will be crushed vertically and laterally, and its elasticity overcome or subdued, as
above set forth.
Second. In a baling press, the unyielding inclined metallic plates and sectional
plates attached to the exit of a press box, whereby the said exit is reduced to a
fixed size smaller than the press box and baling chamber, in the manner and for
-the purpose specified.
Third. In a baling press, the metallic sectional plates attached to the inner side
of the press box, between the side opening and end of said press box, and projecting
inward with an unyielding and rigid incline, and provided with grooves between
them, whereby the ties are permitted to enter the bale chamber without contact
with said sectional plates, and whereby the material is crushed laterally and
vertically in its passage through, and at the same time the bale ties are advanced
with the charges into the bale-expanding chamber, as above described.
Fourth. In a baling press, the press box with an exit to the bale chamber
reduced in size, and provided with the side opening, adapted to admit the follower
block and bale ties, and the tie guide plate adapted to receive and guide the ties
into the said opening, and whereby the said ties are carried across the press box, in
the manner and for the purpose above set forth.
Fifth. In a baling press, the press box provided with the side opening and
grooves through the side of the contracted exit, and the guide plate to support and
guide the ties into said side opening, combined with the follower block, whereby
the ties are guided and carried across the press box, and allowed to pass through
the said contracted exit uninterruptedly, and the means whereby the said ties are
carried into the press box through the side opening in the form of loops, in the
manner and for the purposes above described.
Sixth. In a baling press, the traverser provided with a rib on its front end,
whereby the material being compressed is drawn laterally inward toward the centre
as the traverser compresses the same, and allows a lateral expansion outward
when the traverser recedes therefrom, and which traverser is provided with an
inclined vibrating tucker, in combination with the said vertical rib, whereby the
material is tucked upward as it passes the contracted exit of the press box with the
advance movement of the traverser, as above set forth.

page_text: Seventh. In a baling press, the traverser, having the supporting trucks at. its
rear end adapted to level the traverser on the inclined bottom, whereby the front
end of the said traverser is permitted to travel up the inclined bottom with its face
perpendicular, and while compressing the charge longitudinally produce an upward
crowding of the material that will permit the same to expand downward as the
traverser leaves it after passing the contracted exit of the press box, and which
traverser is provided with recesses to receive the said levelling trucks when the
said traverser is operated on the inclined bottom, as above described.
Eighth. In a baling press, the traverser, having the rib at its front end, the
vibrating tucker board and the spring board above all operating on the inclined
bottom, and provided with the levelling trucks, as above set forth and for the pur-
poses specified.
Ninth. In a baling press, the press box furnished with an inclined bottom, in
combination with the traverser mounted on levelling trucks, and which press box is
made wider at its rear end than at its front end, and provided with an exit rigidly
reduced in size, below the size of the mouth of the press box, whereby the charge
of material being pressed by the traverser is forced inward laterally before it is
crushed laterally and vertically, and its elasticity is overcome in passing through
the reduced exit into the bale-expanding chamber, as above set forth, and in which
press box provision is made, whereby the charge of material is squeezed laterally
and vertically inward, as the same is being compressed longitudinally and then
crushed laterally and vertically as it is forced through the contracted exit, as above
set forth.
Tenth. In a baling press, the inclined bottom of the press box in combination
with the traverser on the levelling trucks, whereby the said traverser is permitted
to be drawn backward and maintain its level position, and admit a charge of
material between its front end and the material compressed in the bale-expanding
chamber, as and for the purpose above set forth.
Eleventh. In a baling press, the press box furnished with the feed opening
above and the side opening to receive the follower block, in combination with the
follower block and the traverser operating on the inclined bottom, and which press
box is provided with inward projecting metallic plates, whereby the exit of the
press box is reduced to a size of fixed dimensions and is combined with the enlarged
bale-expanding chamber, whereby the charges of material that have been crushed
vertically and laterally in passing the contracted exit are permitted to expand in
the bale chamber and kept from following the traverser as it recedes, as above set
forth.
Twelfth. In a baling press, the bale-expanding chamber constructed with ono
side, top, and bottom, closed tightly, and the other side provided with an opening
or slots, and whose right side is provided with tie band receiving grooves, as
above set forth.
Thirteenth. In a baling press, the subduing compress chamber, having its walls
tapered on four sides, combined with an enlarged bale-expanding chamber and a
press box with an exit reduced in size to fixed dimensions, whereby the material
that has been crushed vertically and laterally, and compressed longitudinally, and
baled after passing the reduced exit, is farther crushed, and subdued, and the bale
reduced in size, as it is forced out between the four taper walls of the said subduing
chamber, as above set forth.
Fourteenth. The traverser, having a space between the top of its rib and the
bottom of the protruding end of the vibrating tucker, as and for the purpose above
set forth.
Fifteenth. In a baling press, the follower block, having a handle and provided
with the bale-tie receptacles or grooves on one side, and holes or slots and a
vertical groove in its edges, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Sixteenth. In combination with the lever and pitman the universal joint com-
posed of the knuckle posts and the bolt operating in an elongated slot, as and for
the purpose above set forth.

page_text: Seventeenth. The universal joint constructed with a ball-and-socket pressure
joint between the knuckles of the pitman part and the end of the knuckle of the
lever part, and with an elongated slot in the knuckles, and provided with a bolt in
combination with a baling press and power of mechanism, in the manner and for
the purpose set forth.
Eighteenth. In a baling press, the ratchet wheel combined with the crank shaft,
pitman, and lever, with the universal joint, and operated by a loosely pivoted sweep
or lever, and pawls to move the traverser forward as the sweep is moved round, and
at the same time permit the rebound of the said traverser as the crank turns its
front centre to instantly reverse the crank, thereby producing nearly two strokes
forward of the traverser to one round of the sweep, as above set forth.
Nineteenth. In combination with the grooves a formed in the unyielding
sectional plates the longitudinal grooves a formed in the inner side of the bale-
expanding chamber, in the manner and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TIM DADT TATR