IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY BINDING CUT CROPS INTO SHEAVES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William McIntyre Cranston, of No. 36, Worship Street,
Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY BINDING CUT CROPS INTO SHEAVES."
A communication from abroad by the Walter A. Wood Mowing and Reaping
Machine Company, of Hoozick Falls, in the State of New York, United States
of America.
Sealed the 27th January 1880, and dated the 8th October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William McIntyre Cranston
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th October 1879.
WILLIAM MCINTYRE CRANSTON, of No. 36, Worship Street, Finsbury, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY
BINDING CUT CROPS INTO SHEAVES." A communication from abroad by the
Walter A. Wood Mowing and Reaping Machine Company, of Hoosick Falls, in
the State of New York, United States of America.
The apparatus which constitutes the subject matter of this Invention is adapted
to be attached to or constructed as a part of any harvester or reaper, which is con-
structed to receive the grain as it is cut on an apron or other device capable of
effecting continuous, or practically continuous, delivery on to a binding platform or
table, the apparatus being also applicable to binding straws leaving a threshing
machine.
It is automatic in its operation, is also organized that the sheaves when
bound are practically uniform in bulk or size, requires no special attention from
the operator to control or regulate its movements, employs twine or string as a
binder, and is equipped with a device for accomplishing the fastening of the band
by tying a knot in the string.
The several groups of devices, each of which has its own appropriate function to
perform, and which in the aggregate constitute an automatic organism for binding
loose cut straw or grain into bundles or sheaves may be summarized as follows:-
1. Special appliances for gathering the cut straw as it is received upon the
binding table, and packing the same so as to get a firm solid sheaf as a condition
precedent to wrapping and tying the same with the binding cord or twine.
2. Special mechanism for arresting the operation of the gathering and packing
devices last named, and simultaneously bring into action the devices for passing

page_text: the binding twine around the sheaf thus accumulated and made ready to be tied;
such special mechanism for arresting the gathering, and packing, and starting the
binding operations being dependent upon and governed in its operation by the
size or bulk of the compressed unbound sheaf so accumulated.
3. Mechanism for operating the needle arm, the office of either of which is to
carry one end of the binding cord around the unbound straw into position for it to
be seized by the twine grasping and severing device, and to hold the binding cord
during the operation of tying the knot.
4. Special device for simultaneously seizing and severing the binding twine or
cord and mechanism for operating the same.
5. Apparatus for grasping the two ends of the binding cord between their several
points of attachments to the grasping device and the eye of the needle arm
respectively, and the straw which said binding cord encircles, and for tying said
two ends into a knot.
6. Devices for elevating the lever or arm by means of which in part the sheaf has
been compressed and held during the binding process so as to clear the path of
delivery of the bound sheaf from the machine.
7. Special appliances together with the means for operating the same, whereby
the bound sheaf is expelled from the machine.
8. The group of co-operative devices for tying the knot in the binding cord, and
special provisions for operating the same.
9. Special provisions for regulating the supply of the binding cord to the binding
apparatus and for governing the tension of the same in the process of paying out.
The several working parts of the binding apparatus are mounted in or upon a
wood or iron frame, and fall within dimensions of from five and a half to perhaps
eight feet in length, from two to three feet in width, and from three to four feet in
height. Such frame is attached to the harvester for convenience so that its length
shall be at right angles with and at a convenient elevation above the finger bar or
cutting apparatus. Within this frame and arranged parallel with its length are
three principle shafts which carry the several gears, cams, and other devices, by
means of which appropriate movements are imparted to the several active members
of the machine. Continuous motion is imparted to the main driving shaft through
a sprocket wheel placed at or near one end thereof from the harvester proper if
fitted to one by means of a chain. Upon the same shaft at some suitable point in
its length is placed a small spur gear, one side of which engages with a clutch gear
upon the shaft which drives the rotary devices for gathering and compressing the
straw preparatory to binding, which devices may be designated as rotary packing
tingers, and the opposite side thereof engages with and rotates another clutch gear
upon the shaft carrying the several cams, gears, segmental gears, cranks, and other
devices for operating various other parts of the apparatus.
The several groups of devices herein before numerically referred to in serial order
commencing with the provisions for receiving, collecting, and compacting the straw
upon the binding platform preparatory to the manipulations thereupon subsequently
to be performed are here referred to. For the purpose stated a sliding clutch is
provided upon the shaft which rotates the packing fingers, which clutch is fitted
to engage with and with the shaft upon which it slides, be driven by the clutch
gear or gear clutch first above described. Upon the same shaft are attached so as
to rotate with it two discs at suitable distances apart, each of which disc carries a
series of gathering and compressing fingers. Such discs are placed so that such
packing fingers will act upon the straw about midway of its length, and immediately
opposite or in rear of the compressing arm against which when in operation it
forces and compacts the loose grain or straw. The gathering and compressing
fingers are each pivoted to the discs above named, and have a feathering movement
similar to the paddles of a feathered wheel of a vessel, so arranged that they main-
tain a radial position with respect to their axis of revolution only while in the act
of gathering in and compacting the straw which is to form the sheaf.
They also perform the additional function of suspending their run action and

page_text: bringing into service the mechanism which takes the straw at this point, binds it,
and delivers the sheaf from the machine, which office is accomplished by reason of
the compressor arm being crowded back against a tripping lever on account of the
excessive accumulation of straws between the packing fingers and the compressing
arm or lever, which backward movement of the compressor through the inter-
mediate connecting mechanism effects the slipping of the sliding clutch, so as to
throw the packing fingers out of action, and at the same time and by same means
throw the sliding clutch upon the cam shaft into engagement with the second
gear clutch first above described, and thus bring into play consecutively the several
devices for binding and delivering the sheaf.
Upon the end of a cam shaft is a crank, the wrist pin of which works in a slot
of a vibrating lever, one end of which lever is pivoted to some convenient part of
the frame of the machine, and the opposite end is attached to a rod which is con-
nected at its other end to a crank upon one end of the rock shaft which carries the
reciprocating needle arm. Through these appliances the appropriate motions are
imparted to the needle arm in carrying the binding cord into position to be seized
by the grasper and by the knotting and tying devices. The needle arm is made
somewhat in the form of a sickle, and has an eye near its point through which the
binding cord runs while the apparatus is at work.
The device for severing the binding cord and at same stroke seizing and holding
one of the ends of the cord after such bisection, consists of a tool similar in form to
a hook headed spike, but having that portion answering to the top of the head of
the spike bevelled so as to present an inclined plane or surface to the binding cord.
The shank of this grasping tool works or slides in a socket and has motion imparted
to it from its rear end. The under side of the hookheaded projection is roughened
or corrugated, and when in action may be drawn up against a similar corrugated
shoulder or abutment, and the binding cord is firmly held by being confined
between the two roughened surfaces. The hook headed portion of this tool works
between two cheeks, one of which consists of a chisel shaped cutting edge for
severing the cord and the other acts similarly to one jaw of a grip (the hook head
of the tool acting as the other), between which the the binding cord is jammed or
confined when the needle arm retreats from its position after the binding of a
sheaf.
The cord grasping and severing device last described, is located above and a
little in front of the sheaf, and along side of the path of the needle arm when it
brings the binding cord up into position to be acted upon. Close by but just in
rear of this and directly over the sheaf is placed by the tying device, which consists
of a hollow vertical shaft with pinion at top through which it receives its motion,
and at bottom it carries a sickle shaped arm provided at its extremity with a barb
shaped hook.
This sickle arm works in conjunction with a correspondingly curved arm situated
immediately beneath and in contact with it, and attached to the lower end of the
shaft which revolves within the hollow shaft above mentioned. The hollow shaft has a
rotary reciprocating movement, and such movement performs the several offices of first
catching both ends of the binding cord, and in process of partial revolution making
a loop in such double cord around the two sickle shaped arms, and then by hooking
on to the double cord again and retreating draws said last named double cord or
the ends thereof through the afore mentioned loop, thus forming a knot and
securely binding the sheaf. The loop above referred to through which the ends of
the cord are drawn, is manipulated in part by a disengaging hook which prevents
its withdrawal from position when the ends of the cords may be drawn through it,
and also assists to draw the loop off the sickle arms whereon it was formed. After
the sheaf has been bound it becomes necessary to elevate the compressing lever for
the purpose of leaving an unobstructed way for the delivery of the sheaf from the
binding platform. This is done substantially as follows:-The upper end of the
compressing lever is pivoted to the free end of a lever of the third class, having its
fulcrum on the frame at the back side of the machine; beneath this lever is placed

page_text: another lever of the third class pivotted at the fulcrum end on the front_side of the
machine frame directly opposite the first named fulcrum.
The free end of the bottom lever is connected by a stirrup or coupling to the
upper lever at a point nearest the fulcrum end thereof. At a point over the cam
shaft motion is imparted to the bottom lever from a cam on said shaft, by which
means through the agency of the upper lever, the compressing lever may be
elevated sufficiently to permit the sheaf to be successfully delivered clear from the
machine.
The pathway for the delivery of the bound sheaf having been cleared, the next
step is to accomplish is the expulsion of the same from the machine. To do
this I have provided a rock shaft underneath the binding table which is actuated
intermittently by means of cranks and pitman connections dependent in their
operation upon the rotation of a segmental gear on the cam shaft, which in
turn engages with and drives the segmental pinion gear upon the crank
shaft to which said pitman is attached, said rockshaft is armed at its inner
extremity with a crescent shaped arm which plays up through the slot in the
binding platform, and when brought into action by a quick action directed against
the bundle expels the same from the binding platform..
The binding cord or twine is stored in a suitable case in balls as the same come
from the twine factory. Thence the cord is conducted through suitable guides to
the device by which the tension is regulated and through which passes. This
device consists of a flat steel spring provided at its back with an adjusting set
screw, by means of which said spring may be put in adjustinent with reference to
the surface of the plate between which and the spring the binding cord passes
from the twine box to the needle arm. In connection with said tension spring is
provided a device for setting the spring up tightly against the cord as it passes
through and thus arrest its further progress. This becomes necessary while the
knot tying devices an in operation for the purpose of keeping the cord taut so
that the knot may be tightly drawn up. Such device consists of a rock shaft
placed beneath the binding platform having one end thereof cranked to work
against the under or backside of the tension spring, and the other end thereof
similarly cranked for the attachment of a pitman or connecting rod, one end of
which works against a cam on the cam shaft.
All the movements of the several devices above enumerated, exclusive of the
main driving shaft, and its rigidly fastened attachments being either intermittent
or reciprocatory in character, a variety of subordinate special devices are provided
for establishing appropriate inter-dependent relations, connections, and movements
there, between the construction, attachment, and mode of operation of which may
be varied without in any sense departing from the essential principles or plan of
operation of the Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William McIntyre Cranston in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th March 1880.
WILLIAM MCINTYRE CRANSTON, of Worship Street, Finsbury, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY BINDING CUT
CROPS INTO SHEAVES." A communication from abroad by the Walter A. Wood
Mowing and Reaping Machine Company, of Hoosick Falls, in the State of New
York, United States of America.
The Improved apparatus which constitutes the subject matter of this Invention
is adapted to be attached to or constructed as a part of any harvester or reaper,
which is organized to receive the grain as it is cut on an apron or other device
capable of effecting continuous or practically continuous delivery onto a binding
platform. In its use a cord or string is employed for binding the sheaf, and the
ends of the band are fastened by being tied in a knot. It is so constructed that
the recurrence of action of the binding mechanism proper is dependent upon, and
is solely governed by the volume and density of the sheaf. As the straw or cut
grain is received on the binding platform from the harvester it is seized by
gathering wheels and thrust forward against a binding cord, which is distended
athwart its path. The tension of the binding cord is so adjusted by the tension
device, that it will pay out from the ball or spool only in obedience to such a
degree of strain put upon it in process c compacting a sheaf, as is essential to
secure a firm bundle when bound. As such compacting process proceeds the
binding cord gradually yields and pays out until the bundle has attained such size
that by its magnitude it is caused to impinge against the compressing arm, which
in consequence is thrust backwardly against a tripping lever, which lever by its
action arrests to the gathering and packing machinery and starts the binding
machinery. To accomplish the binding of the sheaf the binding cord (having
previously been passed through the needle arm, and seized by the grasping and
severing device) is carried by the needle arm around the bundle, and is brought into
position nearly parallel to that portion of the cord which is held by the grasper.
In this situation those portions of the binding cord which will constitute the ends
of the severed band will lie in position to be manipulated by the knot tying
devices. At this stage of the process the knot is tied in the two ends of the band,
and simultaneously the band is severed from the main cord. The bound sheaf is
then discharged from the machine, and the several parts resume position pre-
paratory to collecting and binding a new bundle, as will hereinafter be fully set
forth.
.
The construction and operation of the machine may be ascertained by reference
to the accompanying Drawings, wherein Figure 1 exhibits a plan view of the
improved grain binder detached from the barvester or reapers; Figure 2 shows a
front elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the
appliances for collecting and compacting the straw into the bundle, and the means
for stopping the gathering wheels and starting the binding mechanism; Figure 4
is an end elevation of the machine showing the appliances for controlling the
tension device, actuating the needle arm, compressor, and discharging arm;
Figure 5 shows in transverse elevation the apparatus for transmitting motion to
and governing the action of the knotting mechanism; Figure 6 exhibits the con-
struction of the tension device, and the means for elevating the compressor arm;
Figure 7 is a top view of the knotting mechanism detached from the machine;
Figure 8 is a view of the same in elevation projected from Figure 7; Figure 9 is a
plan view of the base plate which supports the knotting mechanism, showing also
such parts of the knotting mechanism as fall below the plane of the horizontal trans-
verse section shown, which section is taken on the line 1-2, of Figure 8; Figure 10 is

page_text: a view in elevation projected from Figure 7 of the side of the knotting mechanism
opposite to that shown in Figure 8; Figure 11 is a perspective view of the device
for grasping and severing the binding cord, and shows the grasper in the act of
seizing the binding cord; Figure 12 shows in perspective the position of the cord
as held by the grasper after the severance of the sheaf band, and the retreat of the
needle arm; Figure 13 is a longitudinal vertical section through the shafts, which
carry the looping arms; Figure 14 is a transverse horizontal section taken through
the friction head shown in Figure 13; Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19, exhibit in
inverted plan views the several positions successively assumed by the knotting
devices, and the binding cord during the operation of tying the knot in the band.
To facilitate a clear understanding of the construction and operation of this grain
binding apparatus, I have shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings general views
in plan and elevation of the complete organization. The remaining Figures are
mainly designed to show only such parts of the organism as co-operate to perform
soine certain specific function or functions, and in each of these Figures such details
of other adjacent or surrounding parts are omitted as would tend to confuse the
illustration, or interfere with a clear comprehension of either the construction or
operation of the parts under consideration.
The operative parts of this machine are mounted in or upon a suitable frame, as
seen in Figures 1 and 2. Motion is imparted to the main driving shaft A. from
some prime mover on the harvester by means of belt and pulleys, gears, or as in this
case by a chain and sprocket wheels, one of which is shown at A¹ on main driving
shaft A. Upon the inner end of shaft A is the main driving pinion A². This
pinion engages on the back side (which is the side towards the harvester) with the
clutch gear As, which gear I designate the "gathering pinion." Gear A rotates
freely at all times on gathering shaft A. The hub of the gathering pinion is
constructed as one half of a clutch, the other half sliding on a feather on shaft A².
Said movable half is shipped into or out of engagement with its counterpart by
means of a shipping fork a pivoted upon the main frame, and which is controlled
in its action by shipping lever A³. Said shipping lever As is pivoted on shaft A as
a fulcrum, and is controlled in its action by the periphery of clutch cam A³, a portion
of which is recessed away as at a. This recess or notch co-operates with the lug a
of lever As, which lug constantly bears or impinges against the periphery of clutch
cam A. The back end of shipping lever A is provided with a diagonally bevelled
face i, which works against or in conjunction with a correspondingly bevelled face
on shipping fork a'. These bevelled faces are so constructed that when the back
end of shipping lever A³ is elevated, shipping fork a' is thrust to one side, carrying
with it the sliding member of clutch H, which is thus thrown out of engagement
with its fellow member. Upon shaft A' are rigidly attached two rotating disks A³,
A³, which I designate "gathering wheels." Upon the opposite inside faces of these
wheels are pivoted so as to oscillate freely upon their axis, the hooks A7, A7, A7, A7.
Each of these hooks is constructed with a curved outwardly projecting claw
or finger a and a tongue b. Tongue b is armed with a small projecting wing a¹.
Upon the rim and arms of the gathering wheels A5 at certain prescribed points are
constructed the stops a", a, a, a¹¹, and as, a³, a³, a³. Between the stops a" and
a³ the wings a' oscillate, so that they thus determine the limits of oscillation of the
hooks A. When wing a' is thrown back so as to strike the stop a³, as shown, at
the top of the wheel in Figure 3, the packing finger a falls below the periphery of
the rim of the gathering wheel, and will then pass under the guard a* without
obstruction, Guard as is provided to depress the packing fingers if in any event
they should rotate up to that point in an erect position. For the purpose of
controlling the action and position of the packing fingers from the moment they
enter the current of incoming grain until they emerge therefrom, I have constructed
fixed cams Aº, Aº, which are permanently attached to some part of the frame of
the machine, and carry the journal bearing for one end of shaft A'. This cam is
substantially of the shape shown in Figure 3. The top edge of cam A lies in the
path of the advancing edge of tongue 6 of hook A'. The remainder of its periphery

page_text: to the extent of about the quadrant of a circle is concentric with the axis of gathering
wheels A, A. As the gathering wheel revolves it brings the edge of tongue b
around against the top of the edge of cam A, as shown on right of Figure 3. The
further progress of the wheel A³ will cause tongue 6 to be thrown around into
position, when wing a' will meet stop a", and it will then assume the position
shown at the bottom of the gathering wheel in Figure 3. When in this position
the packing finger a is extended radially as regards the axis of the gathering wheel,
and in such position as most advantageously to take up and carry forward the cut
straw with which it may come in contact, and crowd or force the same forward
against the binding cord. This duty it persists in performing when the machine is
at work, until enough straw or grain has been thus accumulated and compacted to
forin a sheaf.
The appliances provided for controlling the action of shipping lever A³, whereby
the compacting devices are stopped, and the binding mechanism started, and vice
versa, are the following, named in the order in which the results are produced:-
The compressor A", which is hereinafter more fully described, is suspended opposite
or in front of the middle part of the bundle, and is so arranged that when it is
carried forward by the bundle or sheaf, its outer edge will impinge against a
projection a at one end of the latch tripper A¹. To the other end of said latch
tripper is a similar projection all which works against the latch arm a of the shipping
latch A Shipping latch A¹¹ is shown in inverted plan and side elevation in
Figure 3. It is pivoted to a bracket attached to the main frame, as seen in Figure 1,
and its front or nose ond is adapted to enter and ride between the hub flange
and cam Bange of the two members of clutch H¹. The spring A¹ and set screw a¹9
are provided and adjusted as shown. The first for holding the shipping latch to
its duty in contact with clutch H', and the last to regulate the tension of spring A12.
On the under side it is provided with a guard spring aº, of which the lateral thrust is
exerted towards or against the side of the flange of clutch cam A. When the
shipping latch All is elevated so that spring as forces clutch cam A³ into engage-
ment, guard spring a will spring out so that the under edge of the outer end
thereof will ride upon the edge of flange cam a³. This is to prevent the shipping
latch from being forced back into its previous position, under the influence of latch
spring A, until binding shaft S has revolved to a point, when fange cam as has
passed by the end of guard spring aº. After flange cam as has passed such point,
shipping latch A" drops back into the space between the two clutch flanges and
remains in such position until the rotation of shaft S brings cam flange as around
to the point where it will impinge against the side of spring aº. Its further rotation
from this point will cause the two members of clutch H³ to be forced out of engage-
ment when the further rotation of shaft S will censo.
The action of cam flange a with reference to shipping cam clutch Aº either into
or out of engagement is simultaneous or nearly so with the action of the recess or
notch a upon the end of shipping lever AB, whereby clutch H is thrown into or
out of engagement, the arrangement being such that when notch a6 acts to open
clutch H flange cam a³ on the opposite side of the same member will close clutch
5 H and start the binding mechanism. Upon or near the end of shaft S are arranged
the several appliances for imparting motion to the compressor, needle arm, tension
device, and discharging arm. The segmental gear B carries on one side of one of
its arms the friction bowl B'. At each revolution of shaft S this friction bowl
encounters in its path the arm B' of rockshaft B. On the opposite end of said
O rockshaft is a similar arm B³ cranked at its outer extremity, as seen in Figure 2.
This cranked portion as arm B³ vibrates impinges against the outer edge of com-
pressor A, and at a certain stage in the binding process causes the compressor to
approach the advancing needle arm, thus causing the accumulated straw or cut
grain to be grasped between them. Such advanced position of the compressing arm
5 is maintained during the tying of the knot in the band.
Upon the outer end of shaft S is fitted a crank C, the wrist pin of which works
in the irregular slot of oscillating lever C³. Said lever C¹ is pivoted at its fixed end

page_text: at c³; to its movable end is pivoted one end of connecting rod C². The opposite
end of said rod is pivoted to the crank pin of crank C³ which is fitted on the outer
end of the shaft C, which shaft at its other end carries needle arm C³. By these
provisions an intermittent rotating reciprocatory motion is imparted to said needle
arm. A portion of the length of the slot in slotted arm C¹ is concentric with the
axis of shaft S, so that while the crank pin of crank C is traversing such
concentric portion the needle arm will remain stationary, which condition of things
obtains during the operation of tying the knot in the band.
Upon the inside of the hub of crank C upon shaft S is the cam E, the periphery
of which is of two concentric arcs, the office of the larger of which is to release all
tension upon the string or binding cord as it is drawn from the ball or spool and
the smaller one to throw the tension on. This is accomplished through the agency
of said cam E, friction bowl e at the end of connecting rod E¹, and rockshaft E³.
Shaft Es is cranked at both ends; at E to receive the connecting rod E¹, and at
to provide means for operating the tension spring e. The details of the tension
device are more clearly shown Figure 6, and consist of a double lip spring e³
pivoted at e upon a wire or center pin, around which one end of said spring es is
returned. Beneath such returned lip works the thumb screw e by means of which
the tension is regulated. The opposite end of said tension spring is bent around
as at et, thus constituting a hook shaped lip within which the crank e² of rockshaft
E3 works. The normal force of the spring e is exerted so as to cause its upper
surface to bear against the under face of the socket plate in which it works, and
the cords is carried from the twine box or spool through between the pinching
face of spring e³ and the socket plate, thence under stay bolt c of the needle arm,
around web c', and through the eye c² of the needle arm to the grasper F¹³, as seen
in Figure 6. The position of the parts as shown in this Figuro are as when the
bundle has just been discharged, and when the needle arm is about to retreat the
tension spring es being now applied. By recurring to Figure 4 it will be seen
that when cam E is rotated so as to bring its larger concentric edge to bear against
friction bowl e it will through connecting rod E¹ cause rockshaft E to be partially
rotated, thus bringing crank e² to bear against lip, thereby causing the
same to be depressed so that cord & will run through freely. This is necessary
while the needle arm is backing off to provide the requisite binding cord to span
the interval constantly lengthening between the grasper and the needle eye until
the needle arm has receded to the limit of its backward movement.
The apparatus for discharging the bundle from the binder after the binding cord
has been severed, consists of the segmental gear B, segmental pinion D, crank D',
pitman D, crank D³, rockshaft D, arm socket D', and discharging arın De
Immediately following the retreat of the needle arm the toothed face of segmental
gear B engages pinion D, which commences to rotate. A semi-rotation brings the 4
discharging arm De from its position in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 6,
and the completion of its revolution will return it to its position below platform P.
Arm De is provided with a suitably shaped crosshead D which strikes the bundle
about midway or near the band, and by a smart blow casts it clear from the
machine.
The transmission of motion to and mode of operating the knotting devices and
the grasper are shown in Figure 5 in elevation. Their location in the machine is
seen in Figures 1 and 2. Next to clutch cam A' on shaft $ segmental gear Fis
fixed. This I have designated as the knotting gear. The toothed section F1 of the
rim drives seginent pinion F. The shaft F at the end opposite F is cranked as 5
seen at F, Figure 5. To this crank pitman F' is attached and its other end
connects with the oscillating toothed sector arm F which is pivoted at f¹¹. The
toothed sector F7 takes into the knotting pinion F8 and by its reciprocating
movement communicates a reciprocating motion to the knotting pinion and its
several attachments. Upon the side of gear F against a notch or recess cut in its 5
edges is bolted or fastened the cam G, shown in separate plan view in Figure 5.
The edge of the rim of gear F is fitted for the friction bowl G¹ to run against and

page_text: is recessed away opposite cam G for the passage of said bowl. Friction bowl G¹ is
attached to lever G2 which is pivoted to stand G³ upon the main frame. At the
lower end of lever G2 is attached a swivel nut. By an adjustable connection G³
this swivel nut is connected with lever G which is pivoted at its upper end to a
projection from main standard F³. The lower end of C enters a slot in the
stern of the grasper F. When in the course of its revolution the cam G encounters
friction bowl G₁ it forces the same into the recess in the edge of the rim, thereby
causing the grasper to be driven through its socket, which movement effects the
release of one end of the cord which constitutes the sheaf band and simultaneously
seizes the main cord preparatory to severing the same so as to release the other
end of said band. As bowl G₁ emerges from the said recess in the edge of rim of
gear Fit effects a reverse movement of grasper F15 which movement simultaneously
severs the sheaf band from the main cord thus releasing the bundle and grasps
and holds the end of the main cord preparatory to the binding of another sheaf.
The details of the construction of the knot tying devices and their mode of
attachment to and adjustmont in the machine may be clearly ascertained from an
inspection of the details shown on Sheet 5 viewed in connection with Figures 1
and 5. The principal knot tying and cord cutting devices are attached to a stock
or casting F, which in turn is bolted to another casting F³ attached to the frame
of the machine. Casting F³ I term the main standard. Beneath this is adjusted
and fastened the base plate FD, which is securely bolted to main standard F³.
Figure 9 shows base plate F in plan, and also exhibits the relative positions of the
knot tying devices and grasper in relation to the base plate. The knot tying
devices consist of a hollow shaft F, to the upper end of which bevel pinion Fs is
attached, and to the lower end the upper looping arm f¹. Within this hollow
shaft revolves a central shaft F23, to the upper end of which is attached the friction
head F, and to the lower end the lower looping arm. On the upper face of the
bevel pinion is cut a short concentric groove n¹ shown in Figures 13 and 14.
From the under side of friction head F projects a short stud n, which stud
moving within said concentric groove determines the limit of rotary movement of
the lower looping arm in reference to the upper looping arm fl. To a boss on
stock F is attached the friction clamp spring Flo, the jaws of which encompass
friction head F, and prevent the looping arm f2 from shifting position during the
tying operation. The two looping arms, shown in plan in Figure 16, are of sickle
shape, and the extremities of the two, as shown in Figures 10 and 13, resemble in
form the two mandibles of an eagle or bird of prey. The upper looping arm has
at its extremity a retroverted barb or hooking claw f³, and when the upper looping
arm is turned backward said barb shuts back into a slanting slot or groove fin
the end of lower looping arm f2. From the above resemblance I have designated
such claw, hook, or barb the upper mandible, and the grooved extremity of the lower
looping arm the lower mandible. Movement of pinion F8 in one direction separates
the two mandibles as in the act of seizing the binding cord, and the contrary move-
inent of said pinion will close them firmly, so that anything grasped between them
will be securely held.
On the backside of stock F" and immediately underneath the grasper is pivoted
the detaching spring f³. It is constructed with a hook f', the office of which is to
catch and hold the loops first formed on the looping arms, and as the looping arms
execute their secondary or backward movement to draw said first formed loop off
from the looping arms over the loop subsequently formed and held between the
mandibles. It is shown in Figure 18 in the act of performing this function. This
detaching spring is wrought flat so that it can yield vertically as the looped cord is
passed under the hook, at which stage its hook end is elevated into the recess fo
in Figure 10. While in this elevated position lateral movement is impossible, as
the shoulders of the recess prevent it. Its lateral position and its lateral move-
ments in part are under the control of spring F20, the force of which is exerted
in the direction of the knotting devices. The hook guard fo is provided to keep
the point of hook ƒ' down against the looping arms so that the first formed loops

page_text: may not slip through under the point of the hook while the last formed loops are
being drawn through the same.
The
Upon a stud projecting from the stock or knotting standard F" is pivoted the
grasper socket F. This socket has an oscillatory movement on said stud, towards
and from shaft F12, which movement is regulated and controlled in part by the
spring F, the force of which is exerted to throw said socket back or away from
shaft F. This provision is made to avoid breaking the binding cord during the
operation of drawing up the knot just previous to severing the band.
appliances for seizing, cutting, and grasping the end of the cord are shown in
Figures 11 and 12. The grasper F15 is a steel bar or blade of rectangular shape
in cross section having its front end wrought into the form of a backwardly hooking
shaped jaw, the inner egde or face of which is transversely serrated to correspond
with the serrations F" of the socket F, against which said jaw works. The
grasper is set at right angles with the lay of the binding cord when presented to it
for its manipulation. Its front end is bevelled, so that when said bevelled end is
thrust against the cord it will cause the same to be forced down under such
bevelled face, and between the jaws of the grasping devices, as in Figure 11. On the
side of the grasper socket towards the knotting devices is attached the cutter F,
the face of which forms one wall of the way in which the grasper slides, and against
the sharpened end of which the side of the grasper jaw works. When the grasper
is suddenly drawn back the cord is seized by the grasper jaw and drawn up
against the cutting edge of the cutter F and severed, the end of the cord remaining
between the grasping and socket jaws is retained therein by the serrations F21, so
that it cannot slip or be drawn out as long as the grasping jaws are held firmly
together. After the cord has been severed and the needle arm has retreated the
end of the binding cord remains gripped by the grasper, and held in the manner
shown in Figure 12. To prevent injury to the cord by attrition or abrasion against
the edge of cutter F17 the cutter guard Fle is attached to the side of the cutter, the
projecting end of which prevents the cord from coming in contact with the cutting
edge of the cutter. The projection f is provided to prevent the cord from getting
behind the guard spurs when it is carried by that point by the needle arm.
The knotting apparatus as last above described is bolted or fastened to the main
standard F5, so as to bring it into the position over base plate F1, shown in Figure 9.
The parts of said Figure shown in cross section are a top view of bottom portion of
the section taken on line 1-2, of Figure 8. The needle arm is here shown in the
position it occupies when it has carried the cord up into position preparatory to
binding a bundle which is supposed to occupy the loop L. The looping arms are
shown as just commencing their rotation. The direction of the cord may be traced
as commencing at the grasper or at F, and running thence backwardly under
guard spur over the looping arms f¹, f, thence down through an aperture in
base plate F, down around the bundle, as seen at L, from this point back through
the base-plate opening, up over the looping arms along side the portion of the cord
first described, forward under guard spur f8 to the under side of the eye c² in the
point of the needle arm, and thence back through the needle arm, as indicated by
dotted lines in Figure 6 to the tension device and twine ball or spool.
After the bundle has been bound the compressor arm A¹ is elevated by means of
the compound levers A15, A16, and cam A¹, on shaft S, so as to leave the way for
the discharge of the bundle free and unobstructed. The position of the levers A15
and A when at rest is shown at Figure 3, and when elevated to permit the discharge
of a bundle their position is seen in Figure 6. The supply of binding cord or twine
is kept in the barrel or box T, placed on any convenient part of the machine. It is
conducted thence through suitable twine guides, as at t and t", Figure 2, to the
tension device, needle arm, and knotting devices, as before described. The mode of
operation of this machine is substantially as follows:-
To thread the machine preparatory to setting it in operation the end of the
binding cord is carried from the twine barrel T through the guides t, t¹, and
through guides provided therefor on the underside of the machine to the tension

page_text: device, through which it is passed, and thence behind stud c, around web c',
through the needle eye c. The end of the cord being held securely, shaft S is
given a single revolution, the result of which is that the needle arm 05 carries the
thread up into position as in the act of binding a sheaf. Here the cord is seized
by the grasper, and is drawn back, and held between the grasping jaws, the surplus
end being cut off. As the needle arm retreats it leaves one end of the cord held by
the grasper while it lays the cord itself over or across the upper side of the looping
arms of the knotting devices, and leaves it stretched from this point across the
interval to the eye of the needle c³. The machine is now ready to commenco
operations. The cut grain, as it is delivered onto platform P from the harvester, is
seized by the fingers a, a, of the gathering wheels, and deposited against the binding
cord in the space beneath the base plate F" and the platform, and this operation of
packing the bundle continues until the sheaf has attained such proportions that
further addition to its bulk by the gathering wheels forces the compressor arm A
against the projection a¹ of latch tripper A", the opposite end of which, im-
pinging against latch arın al, causes the shipping latch A" to be elevated, thus
permitting coil spring a18 to force cam clutch A into engagement. The moment
this is accomplished, and shaft S commences its revolution lug a³ of shipping
lever A³ is depressed, and consequently clutch H is thrown out of engagement, and
the action of the gathering wheels ceases, simultaneously the inner concentric part of
cam E moves around so as to permit the tension spring e, which checks the free
transit of the binding cord through the tension device to act, thus impeding the
passage of the cord through the spring socket, and creating such a degree of
tension on the cord as will be necessary to accomplish the tying of a second knot.
In the meantime the needle arm C has been moving up on the back side of the
bundle, while gear B has rotated, so that friction bowl B has come in contact with
arm B of rockshaft B³. The further progress of bowl B₁ elevates arm B³, and
consequently swings arm B³, which is cranked at its lower extremity against the
compressor arm A 14, compelling it to advance toward the approaching needle arm,
the bundle being then clasped between the two arms immediately under the knot
tying apparatus. While the movements just described have been transpiring, flange
cam as has rotated to a point in advance of the end of guard spring a³, thus per-
mitting shipping latch A" to drop into the interval between the hub and cam
flanges of clutch H. At this stage the needle arm has moved forward, and come to
a rest in the position indicated in elevation in Figure 4, and in plan in Figure 9;
the position of the binding cord being substantially as shown in Figure 9, except
that the looping arms of the knotting device have made no advancement. Crank
pin C has now entered the concentric portion of the slot of lever C', hence the
needle arm will remain stationary until the crank pin has traversed such concentric
portion. Next in order the toothed faced F of gear F engages with the segment
pinion F, and toothed sector F, F7, initiates the reciprocatory movement of
knotting pinion F and its appurtenances. It will be seen from Figure 5 that the
first half revolution of pinion F2 will impart motion to knotting pinion F³ in one
direction, and that the remainder of the revolution will impart a retrograde move-
ment, and return the several parts to the position occupied at the outset of the
movement. The operation of the knotting devices and the manipulation of
the binding cord from this point forward, will be more readily traced in
Figures 9, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19, of Sheet 5. In Figure 9 the parts are shown
in right plan view but in Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 they are shown in
inverted plan. The point of the needle arm is not shown in the five Figures
last named as it remains stationary during the whole time, but its position
would be nearly parallel with the straight portions of the cord, shown with the cye
on the right of the grasper and pointing away from the looping arms. Figure 15
shows the position of the cord and knotting devices at the moment the pinion F*
commences its movement. The cord s passes from the grasper jaw out under (as it
appears in this series of inverted views) the looping arms, thence up around the
bundle forming the loop or band L, and back again over the looping arms to the

page_text: needle eye. Clamp spring F10 prevents the rotation of the lower looping arm until
the rear end of slot n' has moved up to the pin or stud n, Figure 14. This move-
ment of the upper looping arm in advance of the lower, opens or separates the two
mandibles, preparatory to their moving around to grasp the binding cord
which is to form the secondary loop. A quarter revolution of the looping arms
brings the guard spur f8 into the position shown in Figure 16. The point of said
spur passes below the double cord, and as the rotation progresses it will be seen
that the double cord so cast under the spur f8 will slip over the hub of the looping
arm f2, and when the looping arms have advanced to the position shown in
Figure 17, which is the limit of their advance movement, it will be seen that the
double cord so passed around the looping arins and slipped over the hub will have
formed a complete noose around the looping arms, which noose I have designated
as the primary loop. It should here be observed that loop Z, in process of formation,
passed under the hook f7, which was forced up into the recess fo, Figure 10, so as
to permit said loops to pass under it. That part of the cord where it leaves the
looping arms and passes around the bundle below the base-plate will be carried
around into the notch n in the base-plate, as seen in Figure 9, which prevents the
same from slipping or getting misplaced during the subsequent processes of tying
the knot. In executing the last part of the movement just described, the man-
dible f will have passed over that part of the double cord connecting the grasper
and needle eye with the looping arins, as seen in Figure 17. At this point the
retrograde movement of the pinion F's commences. Looping arm f* will remain
stationary for a moment, while the mandiblo 3 having in its retreat caught the
double cord within its grasp rotates backwardly until said double cord is firmly
grasped between the two inandibles. The further retrograde movement of the
looping arms carries loop around so that it is caught by the detaching hook f
which retains a secure hold upon it. During the retreat movement of the looping
arms the point of the detaching book f' is by means of the guard f" prevented from
lifting so that the loops might escape thereunder, and at the same time sides or
bears against the convex or outside edge of the looping arm f¹, consequently, as
arm retreats, the point of detaching hook f7 is carried further and further away
from the hub of the hook, still being controlled in its action by hook guard f" and
spring F20. After the mandibles have grasped the double cord and commenced
their retreat movement such cord assumes the form of another loop ¹, which I
designate the secondary loop, as seen in Figure 18. In process of forming the
secondary loop and carrying it around in position preparatory to drawing it through
the primary loop, a certain amount of binding cord is used up, and inasmuch as
neither end of the band has been released such take-up is compensated for by the
oscillation of grasper socket F" on its pivot, which oscillation or yielding permits
the grasper socket to be drawn by the binding cord towards the knotting devices.
At this stage of the proceedings, while the grasper socket is drawn one side, as
stated, cam G encounters the bowl G' of lever G2 and in passing it brings the
grasper F15 into action. As it is thrust out of its socket the end of the band,
shown in Figure 17 as grasped at Fª, is released and the bevelled end of the grasper
traverses the other or parallel cord, bringing the same under the hook jaw of the
grasper, as seen in Figure 11. The withdrawal of the grasper within its socket
will effect the severance of the connection between the sheaf band and the stock
end of the binding cord by drawing the binding cord up against the cutting edge
of the knife or chisel F, whereby the same will be severed, as shown in Figure 12.
The same backward movement of grasper F15 which effects the cutting of the
cord also grasps the remaining end between the grasping jaws, as at 1, same
Figure. The further backward movement of the looping arms carries the secondary
loop as grasped between the mandibles through the primary loop, which remains
impaled on the point of detaching hook f', as shown in Figure 18. Hook '
completes the tying of the knot by casting the primary loop entirely off the ends
of the looping arms and over the secondary loop as held by the mandibles,
the weight and elasticity of the dependent bundle being sufficient to draw

page_text: the knot tight enough that it will not untie. The bundle is then left
hanging by the last loop to the mandibles, as seen in Figure 19. Pending this,
bowl B has run off arm B2 of rockshaft B³, which permits arm B³ to fall back, thus
leaving the compressor A¼ free to recede from the bundle. Needle arm C³ now
retires from action stretching behind it across the looping arms f' and ƒ³, as it
recedes, the cord 8, as shown in Figure 6. At same time cam A" acts upon the
system of levers A16, A15, with which the compressor A¹ is connected at a¹. By
such action the compressor is lifted so as to leave an unobstructed pathway for
the delivery of the bound sheaf. Discharging arm D is then brought into action
by the engagement and co-operation of segment gear B with segment pinion D,
and the intermediate mechanism and coming up in the rear by a sinart blow
delivered against the bundle discharges it from the machine, and then retires from
action. While the discharging arın is retreating the compressor A¹ desends into
its normal position again. At this stage of proceedings the flange cam a³ will have
come into contact with guard spring a³, and in passing it cam clutch A will be forced
out of action, and the rotation of shaft S, with its appurtenances will cease; at the
same time, through the action of shipping lever A8, clutch H will be thrown into
engagement, and the action of the gathering wheels and packing fingers will be
resumed.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the binding mechanism will act only
when a bundle has been gathered and compacted by the gathering wheels so large
and dense that its bulk impinges against the compressor arm, and thereby elevates
the shipping latch A", and starts the shaft S, and that this is independent of the
attention of the attendant.
The volume and density of the bound sheaf may, within certain limits, be pre-
determined by the tension put upon latch spring A by set screw a¹, and also by
the tension put on the binding cord s as it runs through the tension device by the
set screw e Both set screws are or may be used to increase or diminish the
amount of resistance to be overcome by the packing fingers in compacting the sheaf
against the cords, and in crowding the same back against the compressor arm, a
smaller amount of straw being necessary to accomplish the working of the shipping
apparatus when the tension on springs A¹ and e' is light than when it is intense.
This binding apparatus is equally well adapted for binding thrashed straw, which
may be supplied or fed to it in any convenient way, the machine being driven by
manual or any other power; and it is obvious that its use may extend to the
binding or bundling of other material analogous in its character to straw without
departing from or varying the principles of the Invention or modifying the general
character or mode of operation of the apparatus.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the
improvements in apparatus for binding cut crops into sheaves, as herein before
described and shown in the annexed Drawings.
Secondly. I claim all modifications or equivalents for the sheaf binding apparatus
herein before described with reference to the annexed Drawings, which embrace one
system of devices for gathering and compacting the bundle, and a separate system
of devices for binding and discharging the same from the machine; when said
systems are arranged to act alternately and independently of each other, and are
adapted to be regulated as regards their relative starting and stopping by a
common shipping device so arranged as to control the actuating members or driving
devices of the respective systems; the action of which shipping device is determined
and controlled when the machine is operating by the volume and density of the
sheaf and the influence thereof upon the agencies provided in connection therewith
for actuating such shipping device.
Thirdly. I claim the arrangement and combination of devices for tying the knot
in the binding cord herein before described with reference to Figures 5, 7, 8, 10, 13,
14, and 15 of the annexed Drawings, and any modification thereof, having adjacent

page_text: looping arms upon the ends of concentric shafts to which a reciprocating rotary
movement is imparted for the formation of the primary loop of the knot and
grasping devices upon the outer ends of said arms for seizing the cord and drawing
the loop thereby formed backwardly through the primary loop in combination with
a hook for detaching the primary loop from the looping arms.
Fourthly, I claim the system of mechanism berein before described with reference
to Figures 8, 11, and 12 of the annexed Drawings, and any modification thereof, for
grasping and holding the binding cord and also for cutting the same, which
embraces a severing and grasping implement in the saine tool in combination with
a swinging socket arm or equivalent device, in or through which said tool has a
reciprocating movement, and a fixed knife for cutting the binding cord.
Fifthly. I claim the combination of devices shown and described for controlling
the action of the cam clutch which drives the binding shaft S, consisting of the
cam a and notch a, spring a¹8, and shipping latch A", working under spring A,
in combination with shipping lever A³ and shipping fork a².
Sixthly. I claim the arrangement and combination of devices for regulating the
tension on the binding cord hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2, 4,
and 6 of the annexed Drawings, and any modification thereof, wherein the cord is
passed under a spring jaw, the dormant tension of which is susceptible of adjust-
ment by a local appliance, and the intermittent tension is regulated and controlled
by appliances operated by the shaft (or some appurtenance thereof) which drives
the binding mechanism.
In witness whereof, I, the said William McIntyre Cranston, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent,
40, Fleet St.,
London.
W. M. CRANSTON. (L.S.)