Improvements in and relating to Presses for Baling Straw and similar Materials.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application. 15th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 14th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Presses for Baling Straw and
similar Materials.
We, HERBERT CHURCHILL CAPEL, Engineer, and JOHN HASKINS LADD,
Manufacturer, both of 116 Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The main objects of our invention are to provide a press for baling straw in its
full length as it leaves the thrashing-machine, and to construct a baling press with
mechanism whereby the operations of feeding the straw from the thrashing-machine
into the press, forming the straw into bales and delivering the said bales from the
press, and, in some instances, also the fastening of the bale-ties will be automatically
performed.
Our improved press is however applicable for baling straw fed into the same by
hand, and also for baling other materials.
Our said invention is chiefly designed to improve the construction and increase
the efficiency of perpetual or continuous presses, such as are described in the Specifi-
cation of former Letters Patent granted to the said H. C. Capel and dated
2nd October A.D. 1886 No. 12558.
One feature of our said invention is the provision of suitable mechanism whereby
the straw or other material will be fed automatically to the press thus obviating
the necessity of employing manual labour for this purpose.
We sometimes arrange the baling press in combination with a thrashing-machine
in such a manner that they will both be driven by the same engine or motor,
and the straw discharged from the thrashing-machine will be fed directly into the
press.
If desired
For effecting the automatic feeding of the material into the press, we in some
instances, employ one or more travelling cloths or aprons upon which the straw
or other material is laid or is allowed to fall from a thrashing-machine and whereby
the said material is conveyed to an aperture in the top of the press, which aperture
is in front of the ram when the latter is at or near the rear end of its stroke or
movement. The straw thus fed to the said aperture falls through the same into
the baling chamber in front of the ram when the latter is moved back.
we arrange another travelling apron or cloth over the material to be fed into
the press.
The said travelling aprons or cloths may, if desired, be provided with
pins or fingers which will engage with the straw and ensure the effectual carrying
forward of the same. In other instances we provide in place of the said aprons
or cloths, suitable reciprocating feed-bars provided with pins or fingers and so
arranged that they will engage alternately in their forward movement with the
straw or other material to be fed into the machine.
Over the said aperture through which the straw or other material is fed into the
press by the delivering apron or feed-bars, we provide a curved casing into which
the straw will be forced by the feed-mechanism while the ram is at the forward
end of its stroke or movement, and from which the straw will fall or spring into
the baling-chamber when the said ram is moved backward far enough to open the
said aperture. It may be advantageous, in some cases, to provide suitable means
for expelling or discharging the straw from this casing into the baling chamber
when the ram terminates its rearward movement.
To ensure compactness of the bales, we provide at the side of the travelling apron
or of the reciprocating feed-bars suitable vibrating arms or boards which will
alternately operate to strike the butt-ends of the straw and thus lay the pieces of
straw so that their butt-ends on either side are practically in the same plane. We

page_text: thus avoid the formation of bales which are abnormally thick at or about the
middle of their width and very thin at the sides.
In some instances we provide suitable mechanism whereby, in place of the ordinary
followers, bent tubes or other suitable devices will be automatically thrust across
the baling chamber at the proper times, so as to permit the passage of the bale ties
through the said chamber between the bales.
Another feature of our said invention consists in providing suitable means whereby
the wires, ropes or strings for forming the bale-ties will be automatically passed
through the baling chamber, and thus placed around one bale and laid in front of
the next bale. By this part of our invention, we are enabled to dispense with the
followers usually employed in perpetual or continuous presses. We find it advan-
tageous to use for this purpose reciprocating or oscillating needles, which will engage
with the said wires, ropes or strings, cr which have eyes through which the said
wires ropes or strings are passed. These needles are arranged to be operated in
such a manner that at the proper times they will carry the said wires or strings
through the baling-chamber. And we provide oscillating arms or levers or suitable
clips or other devices adapted to engage with the said wires or strings, when passed.
through the baling-chamber by the said needles and to draw the bight of the wires
or strings sufficiently far through the baling-chamber, to enable the bale-ties when
severed from the said wires or strings to be properly fastened or secured around the
bale. In commencing to operate the press, the wires or strings are, in the first
place, passed around the front of the baling-chamber so that they project beyond
the top or side of the said chamber a sufficient distance to enable them to be secured
to the inner ends of the bale-ties when the latter are severed from the wires or
strings.
The fastening of the said bale-ties may, if desired be effected by hand in the
usual manner. We find it advantageous, however, to provide automatic tying or
fastening mechanism for securing the said bale-ties. For instance we provide
mechanism whereby the two ends of the bale-tie will be seized and twisted together
and then released. When such self-tying mechanism is employed, the apparatus
will operate continuously to feed the straw from the thrashing-machine into the
press, to form the straw into bales of the desired size and to pass the bale-ties
around the bales and fasten or secure them thereon, and to deliver the bales from
the press.
We sometimes provide means for automatically controlling the action of the
mechanism for passing the bale-ties through the baling-chamber so that the said
mechanism will be operated only when it is necessary to pass a bale-tie through the
said chamber. For instance we employ a wheel which will be rotated by the straw
or other material as it is moved forward in the press by the ram, so that, when a
bale is formed in the press the said wheel will by means of a stop-lever or pawl or
other suitable device, ensure the operation of the mechanism for passing the bale-
ties through the baling-chamber. We can however provide other suitable means
for passing the said wires or strings through the baling-chamber. When string is
employed for tying the bales, we sometimes provide automatic knotting mechanism
somewhat similar to that used in sheaf binding and trussing-machines, for fastening
or securing the bale-ties.
In some cases we construct the baling-chamber without sides so that the width of
the bale will not be limited as in an ordinary press, but will vary according to the
length of the straw which is being baled.
By constructing and arranging the press in the manner above described, we pro-
vide for effecting great economy in respect of both time and labour, and thus greatly
reduce the cost of baling the straw. We are, moreover, enabled to very effectually
form the straw in its full length into bales.
Dated this 15th day of Mar 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
improvements in and relating to Presses for Baling Straw and
similar Materials.
We, HERBERT CHURCHILL CAPEL, Engineer, and JOHN HASKINS LADD,
Manufacturer, both of 116, Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The main object of our invention is to construct an automatic baling-press, that
is to say, a press provided with means whereby the operations of feeding the straw,
hay or other material into the baling or pressing chamber, forming the said material
into bales and delivering the said bales from the press, and, in some instances, also
the passing of the wire or string around the bales and the fastening of the said wire
or string, will be automatically performed.
Another object of our said invention is to adapt an automatic press for baling
straw in its full length as it is delivered from a thrashing-machine.
Our improvements are chiefly designed to increase the efficiency of perpetual or
continuous presses, such as are described in the Specification of former Letters Patent
granted to the said Herbert Churchill Capel and dated 2nd October A.D. 1886,
No. 12,558. Our said improvements are, however, applicable to other forms of
baling-presses.
One feature of our present invention is the provision of suitable mechanism
whereby straw, hay or other material from a continuous supply will be fed auto-
matically into the baling or pressing-chamber as required, thus obviating the
necessity of employing manual labour for feeding in separate charges of the
material.
Another feature of our said invention is the provision of suitable means whereby
the string or wire for securing the bales will be automatically passed through the
baling-chamber, and thus placed around one bale and laid in front of the next
succeeding bale. By this part of our invention, we are enabled to dispense with
the followers usually employed in perpetual or continuous presses.
The fastening or tying of the wire or string around the bales may, if desired, be
effected by hand in the usual manner. We find it more advantageous, however, to
provide automatic mechanism for performing this operation. When such automatic
tying or fastening mechanism is employed, the apparatus will operate continuously
and automatically to feed the straw, hay or other material into the baling or
pressing-chamber, to form the said material into bales of the desired size, to pass
the wire or string around the bales and fasten or secure the same thereon, and to
deliver the bales from the press.
We sometimes provide means whereby the action of the mechanism for passing
the wire or string through the baling-chamber will be automatically controlled, for
example, by the straw or other material as it is moved forward in the press, so that
the said mechanism will be operated when but not until the charge of material
required to form the bale has been pushed forward by the ram.
Our said invention, moreover, comprises other improvements hereinafter set
forth.
"In the accompanying drawings we have shown how our said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is an underside view of one form of our automatic baling-press, some of
the parts being removed.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line x, x Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front end elevation of the said press, partly in transverse section, on
the line y, y, Figure 2.

page_text: Figure 4 shows a portion of Figure 1, drawn to an enlarged scale, and
Figure 5 shows a portion of Figure 2, drawn to the same scale as Figure 4,
illustrating details of construction.
Figures 6 and 7 are longitudinal sections drawn to an enlarged scale, showing, in
two different positions, a device hereinafter described for tying or twisting together
the wires for forming the bale-ties.
Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the said device, partly in transverse section, also
drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 9 is a plan, and
Figure 10 a side elevation, showing another form or modification of our improved
baling press.
Figure 11 is a section on the line a¹, x¹, Figure 9, drawn to an enlarged
scale,
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section,
2, Figure 12, and
Figure 13 a transverse section on the line 2,
Figure 14 a horizontal section on the line 3, 3, Figure 13, showing the devices
for fastening together the ends of the bale-ties and severing such bale-ties from
the wires.
Figure 15 is a side elevation, showing a further modification of our automatic
feed-mechanism.
Figures 16 and 17 show, in side elevation, wires fastened by the apparatus shown
in Figures 1 to 8, and by that shown in Figures 9 to 14 respectively.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the frame of the press which may be mounted upon suitable wheels to
facilitate its transport. B is the baling-chamber; C is the ram or plunger. This
ram is coupled, by means of connecting-rods D, with a crank-pin E' firmly secured
in two toothed wheels E, which are fixed upon short shafts E, and which are
driven by means of pinions F fixed on a shaft F' connected, by a belt or otherwise,
with a suitable engine or motor. G is a hopper into which the material to be fed
into the baling-chamber is delivered. H indicates the position which the shakers
of a thrashing-machine should occupy relatively to the press when the latter is
arranged to bale the straw delivered from the said thrashing-machine.
C
a, b, b' are endless travelling cloths or aprons which are mounted upon suitable
rollers, and are driven by means of a chain e and chain-wheels d from the shaft F
The travelling cloth or apron a is so arranged that any straw or other material
laid upon the same or allowed to fall thereon from a thrashing-machine, will be
conveyed thereby to the space between the cloths or aprons b, and will be fed
down between these cloths or aprons to an aperture in the top of the baling or
pressing chamber, which aperture is in front of the ram C when the latter is at or
near the rear end of its stroke or movement, so that the straw or other material
will be fed through the said aperture into the baling-chamber B in front of the
said ram C. The roller e around which is passed the cloth or apron b, is adjustable
with the lower part of the said cloth or apron towards and away from the cloth or
apron. The said roller e is, for this purpose, mounted in a frame f arranged to
slide to and fro upon the top of the baling-chamber. The forward end of this
frame is curved, as shown in Figure 2, so that it corresponds to the shape of
the adjacent surface of the roller e¹ of the cloth or apron . Springs are
provided which tend to keep the lower end of the cloth or apron 6 close to
that of the cloth or apron, and which produce the required pressure between
these cloths or aprons to ensure the feeding of the material into the baling-
chamber. Suitable boards may be provided for supporting the cloths or aprons
where necessary. The forward end of the feed-aperture is made with a knife-
edge, if desired, so that any straw or similar material that may extend through
the said aperture when the ram is moved forward, will be cut by the said
knife-edge and the ram. To provide for taking up the slack of the cloth or
apron b, when the roller e and frame fare moved backward, the said cloth or

page_text: apron is passed over a roller e then beneath a weighted roller e³, which is free
to move up and down with the bight of the cloth or apron in which it is placed,
and then over a roller et.
To ensure compactness of the bales, we sometimes provide, preferably at the
sides of the hopper G or of the travelling apron a, suitable vibrating arms or
boards which will alternately operate to strike the butt-ends of the straw, and
thus lay the pieces of straw so that their butt-ends on either side are practically
in the same plane. We thus avoid the formation of bales which are abnormally
thick at or about the middle of their width and very thin at the sides.
The mechanism shown in Figures 1 to 5 for automatically applying to the
bales the wires for securing the same, comprises reciprocating needles adapted
to engage with the wires J supplied from reels J2 at the top of the press, in such
a manner that, at the proper times, they will carry the said wires through the
baling-chamber. The ram C is formed with slots Cat its forward end, in which
the needles can work when the said ram is at or near the forward end of its
stroke or movement, and which are made just wide enough to admit the needles, so
that the wire cannot pass between a needle and the side of the corresponding slot.
The said needles g are mounted upon a rod or bar g' above the baling chamber.
For operating the said needles, we find it advantageous to employ the mechanism
shown in the drawings, which comprises cranks fixed upon a horizontal shaft h¹
and coupled, by yielding or elastic links or connecting rods 2, to the rod or barg
carrying the said needles. A pinion is fixed upon the shaft and is geared with
a toothed wheel & mounted upon another horizontal shaft ¹ on which it is free to
turn. On this shaft k¹ are fixed arms or cranks 2 which are coupled, by means of
links or connecting-rods k³, to cranks fixed on the short shafts E2, so that, in the
rotation of the said shafts E2, an oscillating or rocking motion will be imparted to
the shaft. Another arm m is also fixed upon the shaft and carries a pawl m¹;
this pawl is adapted to engage with a ratchet-wheel m² fixed on the toothed wheel k,
when its engagement therewith is permitted by a device controlled by the
movement of the straw or other material through the baling-chamber. This
device comprises a wheel n which is fixed upon a shaft n', and the periphery of
which extends a short distance through the bottom of the baling-chamber B, so
that the straw or other material, as it is forced intermittently through the said
chamber by the ram C, will turn the said wheel n and shaft n' about their axis
On this shaft n' is mounted a cam n² provided with a slot n³ in which works a pin
or.stud n' fixed in the wheel n, so that the said cam and wheel are capable of
turning through a small angle independently of each other for the purpose herein
after specified. A rod o is fitted to slide to and fro in suitable guides so that it
may be moved by the cam n² into the path of the pawl m', as indicated by dotted
lines in Figure 5, to prevent the engagement thereof with the ratchet-wheel m².
This rod o is acted upon by a spring of which tends to draw it out of the path of
the said pawl. The cam n² is so formed and arranged, that, during the formation
of a bale, it will retain the rod o in the position shown by the dotted lines and
thus prevent the engagement of the pawl with the ratchet-wheel m²; but, as
soon as the required quantity of straw or other material to form a bale has been
fed into the press and pushed forward by the ram, the depression or notch in the
cam n² will be brought in line with the rod o, which will, by the reaction of its
spring o¹, be moved into the said depression or notch, as shown by full lines in
Figure 5, thus permitting the pawl m¹ to engage with the ratchet-wheel m² and
partially rotate the said ratchet-wheel, and consequently the toothed wheel k for
operating the needles g.
To provide for the movement of the rod o into the path of the pawl m¹ before
the said pawl again engages with the ratchet-wheel, a lever pis pivoted upon the
shaft n', and a pawl' p¹ is pivoted to one arm of this lever and is adapted to enter
the depression or notch in the cam at one side of the rod o. The other arm of the
said lever p is coupled to one end of a sliding rod p², the other end of which bears.
against a cam på fixed on the shaft . Or the said rod p² may be connected with

page_text: P,
an excentric fixed on the said shaft /'.
A. spring p is provided which tends to
hold the pawl p against the cam n² and also, through the medium of the lever
to hold the rod p² against the cam p³. By these means, in the rotation of the
shaft, the lever p will be turned upon the shaft n by the rod p², and the pawl pl
will thus be caused to turn the cam n² independently of the wheel n through
a sufficient angle to ensure the movement of the rod o into the path of the
pawl m¹.
The periphery of the wheel n is, if necessary, milled or otherwise roughened to
ensure its rotation by the straw or other material pushed through the baling-
chamber by the ram. If lesired, the shaft n¹ may be connected with a wheel
adapted to be moved by the straw or other material, such connection being made
by a device whereby the relative speed of the said shaft and wheel may be varied;
to regulate the length of the bales.
We provide a suitable locking device for preventing accidental rotation of the
toothed wheel and ratchet-wheel m² during the rocking motion of the shaft A
and pawl-carrying arm m, while the pawl m is held out of engagement with the
said ratchet-wheel. For example, we provide a spring bolt of in the end of the
rod o next the wheel k, and we form holes in the hub of the said wheel, into one or
other of which holes the said bolt, will enter, after the said wheel has been partially
rotated by the pawl m'. The said bolt o² is made with a V-shaped or conical end
so that, when the said wheel is turned by the pawl m', the said bolt will be auto-
matically disengaged from the said wheel; in this movement of the bolt, its spring
will be compressed, and, will by its reaction, cause the said bolt to enter the next
hole in the wheel at the termination of the partial rotation thereof. The said
bolt is, however, so formed and arranged that, when the rod o is moved into the
path of the pawl m³, as above described, the bolt o² will be pushed further into the
hole in the wheel, so that a square or cylindrical part of the said bolt will enter
the hole and thus effectually prevent any movement of the said wheel until the
rod o is moved out of the path of the pawl m', and the square or cylindrical part of
the said bolt is thus drawn out of the hole.
9
The wires J fed through the baling-chamber by the needles are to be fastened
to other wires J¹ supplied from reels beneath the press. For effecting the fastening
or securing of the wires around the bales, the following mechanism is provided, that
is to say A wheel & having teeth around say one-third of its periphery, is fixed
upon the shaft and is adapted to engage with and rotate a pinion g' fixed upon a
shaft 2. The wheel 9 is, moreover, formed with a segmental piece adapted to
enter a corresponding groove or recess in the pinion q' and thus prevent rotation of
the latter while out of gear with the wheel a well-known manner.
in
On the
shaft are fixed bevel-pinions geared with other bevel-pinions, each of which is
suitably connected with a device for twisting the wires together as hereinafter
explained.
9,
One of these twisting devices is shown more clearly in Figures 6, 7 and 8. A
toothed wheel is formed or fixed on the bevel-pinion and is geared with a
pinions having a radial slot s which extends from the periphery of the said pinion
to a short distance beyond the centre thereof, and which is adapted to receive the
wires J, J when situated one above the other, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. t is a
slotted block or casting which is secured to the underside of the press, and through
which is passed the lower wire J. The pinion s is fitted to rotate in the said
block t. The needle g corresponding to the said twisting device is adapted to feed the
upper wire J into this slotted casting t, and to hold it and the wire J firmly therein
while the said wires are twisted together by the rotation of the pinion s.
To ensure
the placing of the upper wire J in the slotted casting t at one side of the lower
wire J, we find it advantageous to provide the lower end of the needle g with
grooved rollers g² at one side thereof, and to make the other side thereof bevelled
or inclined so that the wire will always be moved into the grooves of the rollers g².
The slot s' in the pinion s is of sufficient width to admit the wires side by side,
except at the part 2, where the said pinion is provided with projections one at

page_text: each side of the said slot, between which the wires can only enter one above the
other.
We prefer to so construct and arrange the parts that greater tension will be put
upon the upper wire J than upon the lower wire J¹; the twisted portion of the
said wires will then rise or tend to rise into the space between the corresponding
bale and the next succeeding bale. Suitable means may, however, be provided for
bending the twisted portions of the wires in any other desired direction so as to
permit each bale to be pressed closely against the bale immediately preceding it,
without injuriously affecting the twisted portion of the wires.
To provide for arresting the forward movement of the straw or other material
upon the cloth or apron a, during the operation of the ram, we arrange a board G₁
to slide up and down between suitable guides in the hopper G, and we couple this
board by connecting rods G2 to the cranks 1. We thus ensure an intermittent
supply of the straw or other material as required.
To obviate the liability of the needles to injury in case of resistance to their
downward movement from any cause, and to permit the rotation of the cranks while
the needles are holding down the wires, we employ, as above stated, elastic or
yielding connecting-rods, which may be constructed in any suitable manner.
•
The operation of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 8 is as follows, viz. :-
Before starting the press, the upper wires J are passed through the baling-
chamber and secured to the lower wires J', so that the straw may be pressed by
the ram into the bight or loop thus formed. The straw from the shakers H of the
thrashing-machine falls upon the cloth or apron a which conveys it to the space
between the cloths b, b' these cloths feed the said material directly into the
baling-chamber while the ram C is in rear of the feed-aperture. During the
forward stroke of the ram, the delivery of the straw into the space between
the cloths, is prevented by the board G', which is withdrawn when the ram
commences to move backward or when the said ram, in its forward movement, has
passed the feed-aperture of the baling or pressing chamber B. As each successive
charge of straw is pushed forward by the ram, the wheel n is turned about its axis,
so that, when the desired quantity of straw to form the bale is fed into the baling-
chamber and pushed forward by the ram, the rod o will be moved by its spring o
so as to permit the pawl m¹ to engage with the ratchet-wheel m² and operate
the mechanism for passing the wires J through the baling-chamber and fastening
them to the corresponding wires J¹. These operations are effected during the
latter part of the forward and the first part of the backward or return stroke
of the ram.
The feeding and pressing of the material is then continued until
another bale is formed, which is secured in like manner. The finished bales are
pushed out of the press one after another by the succeeding bales, and the wires
must then be cut between the adjacent twisted portions thereof to separate the bales
from each other.
In the modification of our invention shown in Figures 9 to 14, we provide for
forming each bale-tie from a single wire or string and for automatically feeding the
said wire or string through the baling-chamber without the necessity for the
employment of a needle or similar device which has to move into the path of, or
through slots in the ram. We provide, moreover, for severing the bale-ties from
continuous lengths of wire.
In the apparatus shown in Figures 9 and 10, we employ feed-rolls
u¹ which are
adapted to feed the bight of the wire J through the baling-chamber B. Three
wires Jare employed in the apparatus shown, and are supplied from reels J
suitably supported above the press. Each of the said wires is passed one or more
times around a grooved wheel or pulley ² the rim or periphery of which is
supported upon its hub by means of suitable springs, so that, when any sudden
stress is put upon the wire, the rim or periphery of the said wheel or pulley may
yield or move towards the hub thereof, and the reaction of the springs will then force
it back to its original position. We thus avoid breakage or straining of the wire
by reason of the inertia of the reel J when the feel-rolls commence. to operate. For

page_text: driving these feed-rolls and for uniting or fastening the ends of the wires or bale-
ties, we provide the following mechanism, that is to say:-A chain-wheel v is fixed
upon one of the shafts E2 and is connected by a chain with another chain-wheel v³
fitted to rotate upon the shaft 3 carrying the bevel-wheels ³ for operating the
twisting devices. A disc-crank ³ is fixed upon the shaft q2 and has pivoted thereto
a pawl which is adapted to engage with a shoulder or projection on the chain-
wheel ² when permitted to do so by a device hereinafter described, controlled by
the movement of the straw or other material through the baling-chamber. This
device, like that hereinbefore described for a similar purpose, comprises a wheel n
the periphery of which extends a short distance through the bottom of the baling-
chamber, and which has attached to it a cam n² for controlling the movement of a
sliding-bar o. The said bar o, in this case, acts upon the pawl through the
medium of a lever pivoted at to the frame of the press. A spring bolt is
carried by an arm fixed upon the said shaft 92, and is adapted to engage with the
cam n² and turn the same through a sufficient angle to cause the movement of
the bar o so as to move the lever us into the path of the pawl & and thus ensure the
disengagement of the said pawl from the chain-wheel on the completion of a
revolution of the shaft g², thus preventing further rotation of the said shaft until
another bale has been formed.
A wheel having teeth around a portion of its periphery is fixed upon
the shaft and is adapted to engage with a pinion u attached to a chain-wheel u
which is connected by a chain with another chain-wheel fixed upon the axle of
the feed-roll ". The wheel and pinion are formed and arranged substantially
as above described with reference to the wheel 7 and pinion 7', so as to prevent
rotation of the said pinion while out of engagement with the teeth of the
wheel u³.
w, ware rods which are coupled at one end to a cross-bar ¹, and are provided
at the other end with suitable hooks adapted to engage with the bight of
the wires, for the purpose of drawing the said wires forward to the twistiny and
cutting devices. The said cross-bar is arranged to slide to and fro in
longitudinal slots A' in the frame A, and is coupled, by means of links or connecting-
rods w², to crank-pins fixed in the wheel u³ and disc-crank
One set of the twisting and cutting devices which we find it advantageous to use
in this modification of our invention, is shown more clearly in Figures 12, 13 and 14.
The wire J from the reel J is, in this case, passed between the feed-rolls, u¹ and
through the baling-chamber before the press is started. The said wire then
extends downward beneath the said chamber, and the bight of the wire will be
moved forward during the formation of the first bale, so that the free end of the
said wire will, when the bale is formed, lie within a slot J3 in a plate or casting
beneath the baling-chamber, the bottom of which is slotted to permit. the passage
of the wires through it. The wire J is then fed through the baling-chamber by
the rolls u, u and passes through the said slot J³. The hook ³ of the rod w is
arranged to move to and fro in the slot J3 and also in the slot J in the plate or
casting .J+.
When at the rear end of its stroke or movement, the hook 3 enters a
recess J6, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 14, thus permitting the bight of the
wire to pass downward, beneath it, so that, in its forward movement, it will engage
with the wire and draw it along the slot J and through the twisting and cutting
device. This device comprises bent levers y, y', which are pivoted at and are
operated by means of cams ³ fixed upon the shaft 2 on which are fixed the
wheels,These levers are held against the cams by means of suitable weights
or springs, and are arranged to push the wire J from the slot J into the slot s¹ in
the pinion, the said wire being forced downward into the said slot by the inclined
surface of each lever y or y, acting in conjunction with an inclined surface J' on
the plate or casting J. The levery is so arranged in combination with a suitable
edge J on the plate or casting J that it will sever the bale-tie from the continuous
length of wire. The ends of the bale-tie, while thus held by the levers, y', are
twisted by the rotation of the pinion s as above described. The continued forward

page_text: movement of the bale draws the twisted portion of the wire out of the pinion s.
Or we may
if necessary, provide suitable means for forcing the said wire out of
the pinion, for instance, rods or arms attached to the short arms of the levers y, y'.
In Figures 9 and 10, we have also shown a modified arrangement of our
automatic feeding mechanism. K is a ram or plunger arranged to move up and
down between guides K' in front of the cloth or apron a. This plunger K has
secured thereto a plate K2 which covers and closes the aperture in front of the
said cloth or apron a except when the said plunger is raised above the said cloth or
apron; the latter can then feed the straw or other material into the space beneath
the said plunger, by the downward movement of which such material will be forced
into the baling-chamber. The said plunger K is coupled by means of links K³
to levers L fixed on a shaft L', which is supported in suitable bearings attached to
the frame A, and on which is also fixed a slotted lever L2 worked by the crank-
pin E fixed in the toothed wheels E. The operations of the moving parts are so
timed that the plunger K will descend during the rearward movement of the ram C
and will remain down until the forward end of the ram has passed the said plunger.
In Figure 15, we have shown a further modification of our feed-mechanism, in
which a segmental shutter is employed for closing the feed-aperture during the
operation of the ram. This shutter is pivoted at 2¹ and is coupled to a rod 2
A board G may,
worked by means of a crank-pin 3 fixed in the chain-wheel v.
if desired, be coupled to the said rod z² to arrest the movement of the straw or
other material along the hopper G during the operation of the ram.
We do not limit ourselves to the arrangement of the tying or fastening
mechanism beneath the press as shown in the drawings, as it is evident that we can
arrange the said mechanism at the top or at either side of the press as may be
found most convenient, such modifications being made in the means for transmitting
motion to the said mechanism as may be rendered necessary by the change of
position thereof. When the wire or string is to be passed through the baling-
chamber horizontally, it is evident that the slots in the ram must be horizontal.
It is obvious, moreover, that our improved mechanism for automatically applying
and fastening the wire or string can be advantageously used in baling-presses in
which the feeding of the material into the baling-chamber is effected by any other
suitable mechanism, or by hand; and also that our improved automatic feed
mechanism can be used with advantage in baling-presses in which the bale-ties are
applied and fastened by hand.
We can, moreover, further modify the construction of our improved apparatus, if
desired, without departing from the nature of our said invention. For instance
the aforesaid travelling aprons or cloths may, if desired, be provided with pins or
fingers which will engage with the straw and ensure the effectual carrying forward
of the same. Or, in place of the said apron or cloths, suitable reciprocating feed-bars
may be used having pins or fingers, and so arranged that they will engage,
alternately, in their forward movement, with the straw or other material to be fed
into the press.
We can, moreover, provide other suitable means for passing the wires or strings
through the baling-chamber and for fastening the bale-ties. When string is
employed for tying the bales, we sometimes provide automatic knotting-mechanism
somewhat similar to that used in sheaf-binding and trussing machines, for fastening
or securing the said string around the bales.
The action of the mechanism for automatically passing the wire or string through
the baling-chamber, or of that for fastening the bale-ties may be automatically
controlled by other convenient means. For instance by a pawl and ratchet-wheel
or other device actuated intermittently by the ram in its to-and-fro movement. Or
we can use an endless travelling belt which is provided with pins extending into the
baling-chamber and which will be operated by the material passing along the said
chamber.
In some instances, we provide suitable mechanism whereby, in place of the..
ordinary followers, bent tubes or other suitable devices will be automatically thrust
13

page_text: across the baling-chamber at the proper times so as to permit the passage of the
bale-ties through the said chamber between the bales.
In the drawings we have shown the baling-chamber without sides so that the
width of the bale will not be limited as in an ordinary press, but will vary according
to the length of the straw which is being baled. We can, however, make the said
chamber with sides, if desired.
By constructing a baling-press in the manner hereinbefore described, we provide
for effecting great economy in respect of both time and labour, and thus greatly
reduce the cost of baling the straw or other material. We are, moreover, enabled
to very effectually form the straw in its full length into bales.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it understood
that we claim :-
First. An automatic baling-press, that is. to say, a baling-press wherein the
operations of feeding the straw, hay or other material into the baling or pressing
chamber, compressing the said material, and passing and securing or fastening the
wire or string around the bales, are automatically performed without the aid of
followers.
Second. A baling-press provided with suitable means for automatically feeding
into the baling or pressing chamber, straw, hay or other material continuously
supplied from a thrashing-machine or otherwise.
Third. A baling-press in which suitable provision is made whereby the passing
of the wire or string around the bales and the securing or fastening of the said wire
or string will be automatically effected without the necessity for the employment of
followers.
Fourth. A baling-press provided with suitable means whereby the action of
mechanism for passing the wire or string through the baling-chamber, or of
mechanism for securing or fastening the wire or string around the bales, will be
automatically controlled, for the purpose above specified.
Fifth. A baling-press wherein the action of the mechanism for passing the wire
or string through the baling-chamber, or of the mechanism for securing or fastening
the wire or string around the bales, is controlled by the straw or other material as
it moves along the baling-chamber, for the purpose above specified.
Sixth. An automatic baling-press adapted for baling straw in its full length as it
leaves a thrashing-machine, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Seventh. A baling-press provided with means for automatically passing a wire
completely through the baling-chamber in rear of each bale and uniting the said
wire to another wire, substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Eighth. A baling-press wherein the wire or string is automatically fed through
the baling-chamber without the aid of a needle, hook or other device which has to
enter such chamber with the said wire or string.
Ninth. A baling-press provided with suitable means for automatically severing
bale-ties from a continuous length of wire or string and securing or fastening such
bale-ties upon the bales.
Tenth. The combination, with the baling-chamber and the ram, of means whereby
the bight of a wire or string will be automatically fed through the said chamber
without the use of a needle, hook or other device which has to enter such chamber
with the said wire or string, and means for cutting or severing from the said wire or
string the piece thereof surrounding the bale, and for securing or fastening its ends
together, substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Eleventh. The employment, in a baling-press, of a ram provided with slots
through which the wire or string may be fed while the said ram is at or near the
forward end of its stroke or movement, for the purpose above specified.
Twelfth. The improved automatic feed-mechanism constructed substantially as
described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 or to Figures 9 and 10 or to Figure 15
of the drawings, for the purpose above specified.

page_text: Thirteenth. The improved mechanism constructed substantially as described
with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 or to Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings
for automatically passing the wire or string through the baling-chamber.
Fourteenth. The combination, with the mechanism for automatically passing the
wire through the baling-chamber, of the mechanism for automatically securing or
fastening the said wire around the bales, substantially as set forth.
Fifteenth. The combination, with the mechanism for passing the wire or string
through the baling-chamber, or with the mechanism for securing the said wire or
string around the bales, of the improved device constructed substantially as described
with reference to Figures 1 to 5 or with reference to Figures 9, 10 and 11 of the
drawings, whereby the action of such mechanism will be controlled by the straw or
other material as it moves along the baling-chamber.
Sixteenth. The automatic baling-press constructed substantially as described
with reference to either of the forms or modifications illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, and operating as above specified.
Dated this 14th day of March 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.