IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING CUT CROPS INTO SHEAVES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adam Carlisle Bamlett, of Thirsk, in the County of
York, Agricultural Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REAPING MACHINES AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING CUT CROPS INTO
SHEAVES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adam Carlisle Bamlett at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th, May 1881.
ADAM CARLISLE BAMLETT, of Thirsk; in. the County of York, Agricultural
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING
CUT CROPS INTO SHEAVES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in reaping machines and
apparatus for binding cut crops into sheaves.
For this purpose the corn is carried by a horizontal web which is driven from
the standing corn side of the machine to the elevators; from them it is received by
a roller carrying an endless pitch chain armed with prongs fixed or hinged.
The pitch chain carries the corn downwards between itself and a guard which
bangs by a hinge joint at its upper end, the lower end of the guard is curved and
brought towards and nearly up to the lower roller, over which the pitch chain runs.
The prongs on the side of the pitch chain, which is next the guard, pass through
slots in a sliding plate, which can be moved upwards or downwards; the lower end
of this plate inclines away from the pitch chain towards the guard. The corn
carried downwards by the pitch chain accumulates between the lower end of the
guard and the sliding plate, and as it accumulates the lower end of the guard is
moved away from the pitch chain, and when sufficient corn has been accumulated
the guard puts into gear by a clutch motion the binding mechanism.
By raising or lowering the sliding plate, and so enlarging or diminishing the size
of the receptacle in which the corn is collected, the attendant can vary the size of
the sheaf

page_text: In place of making the lower end of the slotted plate to incline away from the
pitch chain, the slotted plate might be straight and the prongs be binged to the
pitch chain and formed with tail pieces to rest against and be held in position by
an under or back plate. By making this plate to slide upwards or downwards so
that the tail pieces may sooner or later pass beyond the end of the plate, and so set
the prongs free to turn and clear themselves from the corn, the size of tho sheaf
can be increased or diminished.
The binding mechanism consits of three sets of arms on an axis, which is caused,
as herein after described, to make one third of a revolution each time the binding
mechanism is brought into action. One set of arms then sweeps the unbound
sheaf on to the binding table and against the binding string. The unbound sheaf
is then compressed and held by a compressor, and the needle arm carrying the
binding string descends and carries the string around the sheaf and to the knotting
mechanism.
The sheaf compressor is pivotted with the needle arm, and being acted on by a
spring descends with tho needle arm; the compressing part may be hinged and tho
two free ends connected by some elastic material, or it may be rigid and work in
connection with an under compressor actuated by a cam or tappet.
The knotting mechanism consists of a coiling hook mounted on a tube, and
within a tubular casing, and having intermittent rotary motion around the tube,
and longitudinal motion along the tube.
At some distance below the knotter tube the string is taken hold of by a gripper
carried on a short sliding bar; this bar carries at one end a rack gearing into a
pinion on the axis of a circular knife or saw, the bar is moved endwise and carries
the string against the knife or saw, and at the same time the knife or saw is caused
to revolve and cut the string; a prong on the gripper causes the string to be vertical
when cut, and the ends of uniform length. The coiling hook of the knotter is also
at the same time caused to turn and to lap the ends of the string around the tube
for about one third of a revolution; it then makes a pause, and after the string has
been cut it makes a complete turn and carries the ends of the string entirely
around the tube, and afterwards moving forward brings them in front of the end
of the tube and places them into a notch or hook in a rod which protrudes from
the hook. The notched or hooked rod is then made to retire within the tube,
which may be contracted for a short distance in from the end, so that the string
shall get held for a time and prevented slipping from the hook; the coil round the
tube is also pushed off by a longitudinal movement of the coiling hook, thus
completing the knot. The end of the tube is formed with a step in it, and is
inclined uniformly to the axis of the tube, the incline starting at the bottom of the
step and ending at the top of the step. In this way the loop of string around the
tube is not pushed off all at once from the end of the tube, but is pushed off
gradually whilst the knot is being tightened up by the drawing in of the hook.
As the coiling hook commences to turn it carries the string under the casing
tube which puts friction upon the string and prevents the ends escaping from the
hook.
The various rotary and longitudinal motions are given either by a drum or plate
fitted with suitable gearing, cam paths, cam faces, locking gear, levers, and springs.
A cam face may be used to draw the ends of the string within the tube, and another
cam face may actuate the gripper, the return movements being effected by springs.
The needle is formed with a tail piece, which is acted on by a cam on the axis of
the crank that actuates the gathering arms.
The axis of the gathering arms is actuated by a ratchet wheel, upon it being acted
upon by a pawl carried by an arm which can swing around the axis.
The arm is
swung to and fro by a revolving crank. Each time that the receptacle herein-
before mentioned gets filled it moves a clutch and couples the crank axis with an
axis which is driven continuously; the clutch is kept in gear until the crank bas
made one complete turn. Every revolution of the crank causes the gathering arms

page_text: to make one third of a revolution, and also causes the remainder of the mechanism
to complete the compression and binding up of the sheaf.
The reel is mounted in bearings on arms on a spindle, and held in variable
position by a lever connected to an arm or segment on the spindle.
When it is desired to deliver the corn in a swathe, the binding mechanism is
removed, and by suitable inclines, running belts, and pullies, the corn in its descent
from the elevators is made to assume a position at about right angles to the
machine's course, and is deposited on the ground in a continuous swathe.
Binding apparatus constructed as above described can also be used with gathering
apparatus to bind into sheaves crops which have previously been cut by a reaping
machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
blie said Adam Carlisle Balett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th November 1881.
ADAM CARLISLE BAMLETT, of Thirsk, in the County of York, Agricultural
¡Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING
CUT CROPS INTO SHEAVES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in reaping machines and apparatus
for binding cut crops into sheaves.
For this purpose the corn is carried by a horizontal web, which is driven from
the standing corn side of the machine to the elevators which deliver it continuously
to the binding mechanism.
The binding mechanism consists of three sets of arms on an axis, which is
caused, as hereinafter described, to make one third of a revolution cach time the
binding mechanism is brought into action. One set of arms then sweeps the
unbound sheaf on to the binding table and against the binding string, and comes
into position to collect another sheaf. The unbound sheaf is then compressed and
held by a compressor, and the needle arm carrying the binding string descends and
carrics the string around the sheaf and to the knotting mechanism. The sheaf
compressor is pivotted with the needle arm and being acted on by a spring descends
with the needle arm. The knotting mechanism consists of a coiling hook mounted
on a tube and within a tubular casing, and having intermittent rotary motion
around the tube and longitudinal motion along the tube.
At some distance below the knotter tube the string is taken hold of by a gripper
carried on a short sliding bar; this bar carries at one end a rack gearing into a
pinion on the axis of a circular knife or saw; the bar is moved endwise and carries
the string against the knife or saw and at the same time the knife or saw is caused
to revolve and cut the string. The coiling hook of the knotter is also at the same
time caused to turn and to lap the ends of the string around the tube for about one
third of a revolution; it then makes a pause, and after the string has been cut it
makes a complete turn and one third more, and carries the ends of the string
entirely around the tube, and afterwards moving forward brings them in front of
the end of the tube and places them into a notch or hook in a rod which protrudes
from the hook. The notched or hooked rod is then made to retire within the tube,
which is contracted for a short distance in from the end, so that the string shall
get held for a time and prevented slipping from the hook. The coil round the
tube is also pushed off by a longitudinal movement of the coiling hook, thus
completing the knot. The end of the tube is formed with a step in it and is
inclined uniformly to the axis of the tube, the incline starting at the bottom of the
step and ending at the top of the step; in this way the loop of string around the
tube is not pushed off all at once from the end of the tube, but is pushed off
gradually whilst the knot is being tightened up by the drawing in of the hook.
As the coiling hook commences to turn it carries the string under the casing
tube, which puts friction upon the string and prevents the ends escaping from the
hook,
The various rotary and longitudinal motions are given by a drum with cam
paths, can faces, locking gear. A cam face is used to draw the ends of the string
within the tube and another eam face actuates the gripper, the return movements
being effected by springs. The needle is formed with a tail piece, which is
acted on by a cam on the axis of the crank that actuates the gathering arms.
The axis of the gathering arms is actuated by a ratchet wheel upon it being
acted upon by a pawl carried by an arm which can swing around the axis. The

page_text: arm is swung to and fro by a rovolving crank; every revolution of the crank
causes the gathering arms to make one third of a revolution and also causes the
remainder of the mechanism to complete the compression and binding up of the
sheaf.
When it is desired to deliver the corn in a swathe the binding mochanism is
removed, and by suitable inclines, running belts, and pullies, the corn in its descent.
from the elevators is made to assume a position at about right angles to the
machine's course and is deposited on the ground in a continuous swathe.
Binding apparatus constructed as above described can also be used with gathering
apparatus to bind into sheaves crops which have previously been cut by a reaping
machine.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
Figure 1, which is divided and appears on Sheets 1 and 2, is a back view of the
machine and shows the general arrangement of the apparatus; many of the parts
shown and others which are not shown are such as are usual in reaping machines,
and no special reference to them is required.
The crop as it is cut by the cutting apparatus falls upon an endless travelling
apron A passed around rollers A', A', and of these the roller next to the standing
corn is driven by the endless chain A. From driving the roller A' next to the
standing corn it results that the underside of the apron A is kept taut and does
not sag down onto the platform, and the weight of the crop on the upperside of
the apron keeps it sufficiently strained to travel properly around the rollers.
Altogether the driving the receiving apron A by the roller against the standing
corn is a great improvement on the usual method of driving by the other roller or
that next to the main carrying wheel of the machine.
The carrying apron A delivers the cut crop to an elevator consisting of two other
aprons B, B, between which it is carried up. The straw remains approximately
horizontal whilst held between the aprons B, and so it is delivered at the upper
end of the inclined table C. Upon this table it is collected into bundles or sheaves
by certain arms upon an axis D which moves intermittently. The bundle is formed
at E, and it is then swept on into the position F, which it occupies whilst being
bound and tied. Here the bundle or sheaf is supported by prongs G, and when
the operation is complete the prongs are released and permit the bundle or sheaf
to fall on to the ground by the side of the machine. H is an endless travelling
apron passing over rollers at its upper and lower ends; it can be set in a more or
less inclined position. The apron H serves to guide the crop as it descends from
the elevator, and as the bundle at E forms its end rests against this apron, and in
such a position that the tie shall afterwards be made at or near the middle of the
sheaf; I is the cam shaft, from which the binding and tieing parts receive their
movements; one sheaf or bundle is formed and another is bound and tied during each
rotation of this shaft. The shaft I carries a crank pin I' which by a connecting
rod 12 gives motion to a driving lever and pawl 1, engaging with a ratchet D' on
the axis D, and so during part of the revolution of the shaft I the axis D makes
one third of a turn. D is a stop pawl. D³, D³, are arms which are fixed to the
axis D, and D3, D3, are other arms jointed to the arms D³, and they are controlled
by a stationary cam K, so that in some positions they lag behind the arms D³,
and in others they close up against them. Thus each pair of arms are together as
they pass the upper end of the elevator in descending to their operative position.
The arm D then lags behind, and it stops in position to separate the bundle already
formed from the corn descending from the elevator, and to collect another bundle
at E upon it. The other arm D of the pair meanwhile passes on and sweeps the
bundle previously formed into the position F; L is a string box from which the
ticing string is supplied; L' is a tension spring to keep the string uniformnly tight,

page_text: and L² is an eye at the end of a fixed rod, from which the string passes down to
the needle or outer end of the needle arm.
Figures 2 and 3 are opposite side elevations of the binding and tieing parts.
The remaining Figures of the Drawings shew separate portions of the
apparatus.
The group of Figures marked 4 represent the arms D° and D³, their axis D and
parts in immediate connection therewith; Figures 5 represent the cam by which
the arms D³ are controlled.
The group of Figures marked represent the details of the ratchet and pawl
apparatus by which the axis D receives its intermittent motion, and here I would
remark that the propelling and lagging arms D2, D3, are not of my Invention, but
my improvement in relation thereto consists in the triple combination and the
method of propulsion by the ratchet and driving pawl.
In Figures 2 and 3 a is the needle and needle arm, the latter having its
fulcrum a; b is the compressor jointed to the needle arm at 6', and also con-
nected by the spring b². Details of the parts a and b are shewn by the group of
Figures marked 7. c is a cam on the cam shaft I; it receives a bowl carried
upon the end of the needle arm, and so this arm and the compresser receive their
movements. The compressor is brought down upon the bundle or sheaf as soon as
it arrives at the position F, and squeezes it together ready for tieing, whilst the
needle or end of the needle arm carries down the string immediately behind the
bundle or sheaf. d is the rotary tier or knotter; it operates within a stationary
tubular casing e, and there is a slot or hole e' in the part e through which the
needle a passes in descending; f is the gripper. Before further describing these
parts I will trace the course taken by the string; commencing at the fixed cycl
the string passes down and is threaded through eyes a², a², of the needle, as is
shewn in Figure 7. The string passes from the front or face of the needle next to
the sheaf which is being bound through the upper eye of the needle to the rear,
and then descends along the back of the needle which is grooved to receive it.
The string returns to the front by the lower eye, and passes down more or less
directly to the gripper, according to the position of the machine at the time.
the needle be up then the string descends from it through the opening a¹ in the
casing tube e of the knotter to the stud fi on the gripper, where the string termi-
nates. The string passes beneath the stud f¹, and the end stands up in front of
it and is held by the pressure upon it of the finger f*.
If
The group of Figures marked 8 give the details of the knotter and parts
immediately connected with it, and Figures 9 represent the gripper.
When the string is in the position stated above, the bundle or sheaf as it is passed
forward from the position E to the position F, comes against the string and deflects
it, so that the string then passes around the outer side of the sheaf or that which
lies against the prongs G, and when the needle descends (as it does immediately)
on the other side the string becomes lapped completely around the sheaf. The
needle has projections a³, ³, upon it to cause a portion of the string to stand clear
of the needle in a position to be readily taken by the knotter and gripper. The
needle in descending pauses when this part of the string is opposite the knotter,
and its tubular axis d' advances and makes one third of a rotation. Its coiling
hook d is thus caused to catch and hold the needle string and the other string
which lies side by side with it in the hole c¹. The strings being thus securely held
by the coiling hook the gripper draws back, and its spring finger f2 is made to open
away from the stud f' by the arm fix upon it, which comes against a stop upon
the frame.
The needle further descends so as to bring the part of the string between the
projections a³, a³, in front of the stud fi in position to be gripped. The gripper
then advances, and releasing the string it previously held, grips this string between
the projections a³, a³, of the needle. The gripper has teeth upon it at f³, and these
when the gripper having got hold of the string further advances, engage with the

page_text: teeth of a pinion g' upon a vertical axis g which is carried in a fixed bracket g³,
and is armed with a circular knife or cutter g³ at its upper end.
Details of these parts are given by the Figures 10.
Thus the gripper causes the knife to revolve and brings against its edge the
5 string which it holds in front of the stud f1, and of which just previously the
coiling hook also has taken a secure hold. The knife severs this string between the
coiling hook and the gripper, dividing the portion around the sheaf from that in
the needle, of which latter the end remains, held by the gripper.
Immediately the string is divided the hook d² again commences to rotate, and it
carries the ends of which it has hold completely around the stationary inner tube d³,
and whilst doing so the hook d² retires so as to pass the ends behind the strings
which go off to the sheaf. The coiling hook then again advances and throws the
ends into the notch dx in the head of the rod d', which at this time is protruded
from the end of the inner tube d³. The rod d' then moves back and draws in the
ends of the string through the loop which has been formed around the inner tube d³,
whilst at the same time d¹ advances and pushes the loop over the end of d³.
And here I would remark that in its general features this knotter is not of my
Invention, but the improvements which I have made respecting it are as
follows:-
I cut the end of the tube d³ obliquely and form a step or nose upon it, as is seen
at d³x, and I arrange the movement of d¹ so that it shall not overlap this nose, but
shall advance sufficiently far to cause the loop to run off over the inclined end
at d³, but remain hanging on the nose or point whilst it is tightened by the
backward movement of the rod d. By this means I control the position in which
the knot is formed and do not, as heretofore, leave it to chance where it may
happen to tighten. And to render the tightening of the knot more effectual I make
the head of the rod d' so nearly to fit the end of the tube d³ that a considerable
strain put upon the string as the rod d' recedes with the loop lying in the
notch d**. This strain tightens the knot, and when this is effected the ends of the
string are completely released by the head of the rod d entering a part ³×× of the
tube ds, which is of larger internal diameter. I roughen the sides of the head of
the rod d in order to obtain an effective friction on the string without making the
head too tight a fit in the tube d³.
The group of Figures marked 11 shews the cams and other parts upon the cam
shaft I, and parts in immediate connection therewith. Amongst these is the
compound cam by which the coiling hook and the gripper are actuated. h is this
cam, and the groove h¹ in it is that by which the endwise motion is given to the
knotter tube d¹. The tube d¹ is embraced by the collar d³ which sits on the top of
the cylindrical part of the cam, and carries a bowl dx which enters the cam groove.
Rotary movement is imparted to the tube d' by the pinion teeth * upon it
engaging with the corresponding teeth h² on the cam h. The tube d' is also locked
and held stationary in the intervals between its rotary movements by the triangular
block do, which then rests upon the part h³ of the cam. There are portions cut
away from this part of the cam to allow the tube d¹ to turn at the proper times.
This part of the cam also supports the prongs G in position to receive and hold the
sheaf whilst it is bound. An arm on the axis of the prongs rests on the cam, and
an opening in the cam allows the prongs to yield to the weight of the sheaf, and
fall onto the ground at the proper time. Details of the prong G are shewn by the
Figures 12. The part h' of the cam operates the gripper, a bowl upon which is
kept up to the cam by a spring. The incline 5 at the other end of the cam
operates the rod d, a bowl upon a rock shaft i, shewn in Figure 11, being held up
to the cam by a spring, whilst another rock shaft which carries the rod dis
connected with the rock shaft i by a link.
Figures 13 shew separately the portion of the frame of the machine which carries
the knotter and gripper with their cam.
The return movements of several of the parts as above described are effected by

page_text: springs, but they may be rendered positive by suitably altering the forms of the
can.
Figures 14 and 15 represent the arrangements which I make for delivering the
corn in swathe. The binder is detached, two rollers M and N are mounted in its
place. They carry belts having on them projections which convey the corn after
it leaves the elevating rollers B, B, downwards under the guides O, O. When it
reaches the bottom a hinged rod P retards the butts of the corn, while the heads
are carried round or outwards by the bar Q and deposited on the ground in a
continuous swathe. This bar Q is so arranged that it can by the lever R be moved
backwards or forwards to suit long or short crops.
In order to prevent the swathe being deposited on the ground when turning at
the corners of the field, where it would be trampled on by the horses, a series of
prongs S are mounted on an axis T, and raised out of action or lowered into action
by the lever U which is placed conveniently within the driver's reach.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,—
First. My method of actuating the carrying apron A by driving the roller A¹
next to the standing corn.
Second. My improved apparatus for binding cut crops into sheaves, substantially
as described.
Third. My improvements in the knotting apparatus consisting in the form given
to the end of the tube d³, whereby the knot is caused to be retained upon a point
or nose whilst tightening, and the means by which the tightening is effected,
substantially as described.
Fourth. My improved sheaf forming and carrying apparatus, consisting of the
three fold double arms D2, D3, on an axis propelled by a ratchet and driving pawl,
substantially as described.
Fifth. My arrangement for side delivery in swathe, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adam Carlisle Bamlett, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty second day November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
וחחר Tי"ד
חב 5T בד
A. C.
C. BA
LETT.
(1.5.)