Improvements in Sheaf Binding Harvesters.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sheaf Binding Harvesters.
I FRANK EALAND TODD of Minster View Duncombe Place in the City of
York Agriculturalist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates chiefly to the mode of gathering and binding grain or other
similar crops into sheaves.
I will first describe the invention as an attachment following behind and
working in combination with an ordinary manual back delivery reaper, it being of
course understood that the same may, when built as a new machine be placed
differently as afterwards described.
The invention consists, primarily, of a binding receptacle, horizontally placed,
preferably of a cylindrical or partly cylindrical form in which a shaft, having fixed
gathering arms, revolves carrying the accumulated grain, afterwards mentioned,
over both itself and the "knotter.' The grain in its passage presses against and
carries along with it the string, which thereby embraces it, and falls across the
shaft and into the jaws of the "knotter" which is placed above the shaft and
receives motion from it. One of the before mentioned arms, suitably curved,
acts as
a guide for the string. The shaft may have complete, intermittent,
alternating or variable rotary motion imparted to it by suitable and known
means.
This
The grain enters the receptacle from below, supplied to it preferably, by an
endless canvas web, or by other well known means; it is then received by a
revolving shaft, upon which, fixed arms acting against suitable guides, deliver
the grain within the receptacle and within reach of the gathering arms.
shaft is practically the first motion shaft, being connected with the main driving
wheel by suitable gear, by preference admitting of varying speeds, and having
also an ordinary ring coupling or universal joint, and in turn imparts motion to the
binding and knotter shaft, to the roller actuating the canvas web, and also to the
variable tension regulating the string supply, by means of suitable and well known
stop or intermittent motion.
The loose end of the string is led from the supply, through the variable tension,
and up to the "knotter" jaws above the shaft first mentioned, where it is grasped.
As the grain enters the receptacle, it accumulates between the string which slackens
to accomodate it and a division or parti-wall through which the gathering arms
enter.
The knotter" consists of a volute coil, of steel or other suitable material,
mounted upon a standard through which the first mentioned shaft passes. The
coil may be roughly described as square in section, but may be modified to reduce
friction. The coil has by preference one complete turn and a half turn, the inner
and free end terminating in a spring jaw which clamps and cuts the string, one
side of the jaws forming a pair of scissors. From the centre of the coil, a suitably
slotted arm rotates, enclosing two sides of the coil within its slot, and a projection
at the end of the slot follows the outer edge of the coil for the greater part of its
radius.
Motion is imparted to the said slotted arm by a rod or shaft fixed at a right
angle, which passes through a short standard and terminates in a pinion gearing
with a mutilated cog or bevel wheel actuated from the first mentioned shaft.
The gripper, which may be of any suitable and well known form, is placed
slightly apart from the knotter, and may consist of a standard supporting spring

page_text: jaws, inside which a clamp, worked from the shaft first mentioned, grasps the loose
end of the string.
The double string, grasped by the gripper, is laid across the commencement of
the coil. The slotted arm then rotates the necessary distance forcing the string
lying at one side under the inner coil, and that on the other side, when half or
two thirds of a revolution is reached, beneath the outer coil. A loop is thus
formed upon the coil, which being pressed forward is forced over the jaws at the
free end, which will then have received the string. The slotted arm thereby
compresses the jaws cutting the string, and strips the knot towards the sheaf. As
the slotted arm passes, the jaws relax and the sheaf falls.
A suitable cover, with slot to guide the string to the gripper jaws, enclosing the
knotting apparatus, may be added.
My invention is placed across one end of a platform hinged to and following
behind an ordinary manual back delivery reaper, in such a manner, that the rear
end of the gathering platform falls upon its edge, and enables the grain to be
raked onto my additional platform. An endless canvas web on rollers as above
mentioned, then carries the grain to the receptacle, from which it is afterwards
discharged as a bound sheaf on the other side clear of the machine. The rear end
of the platform may be supported on a castor wheel.
My invention when built as a new machine consists substantially as previously
described combined with a new. arrangement of old and well known parts. The
platform with canvas web, is placed as usual immediately behind the knife bar.
The grain may then be elevated over the main wheel to my binding receptacle
placed on the other side and actuated from it: but I prefer to remove the main
wheel and place it behind my binding receptacle, supplying a castor wheel to
occupy its former position or forward of it. A suitable hinge will regulate the
draught and retain to the machine its character practically as a front geared
machine. The grain wheel may be placed as usual. The first motion shaft
previously described will be driven from the rear, and will in turn impart motion
to the cutting knife, and also to the reel, by suitable and well known -gear, in
addition to the other shafts already described.
Dated this Twenty third day of March 1801
FRANK E. TODD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sheaf Binding Harvesters.
I, FRANK EALAND TODD, of Minster View, Duncombe Place, in the City of
York, Agriculturalist, 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 :-
My invention relates chiefly to the mode of gathering and binding grain, or
other similar crops, or substances into sheaves or bundles, whereby the operation of
passing a string around a sheaf, and the end thereof retained preparatory for the
next sheaf, is greatly simplified.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will describe the same
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. is a plan of a "sheaf binding harvester," constructed according to my
invention,
Fig. 2. being a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 3. is a rear end view, showing position of string laid into the retainer, also
of the sheaf whilst being tied.
Fig. 4. front end view showing adjustment of reel.
Fig. 5. plan of my machine attached behind a manual delivery reaper.
Fig. 6. shows side view of adjustable attachment of same to reaper.
Fig. 7. the variable tension upon an enlarged scale.

page_text: The several operations of cutting the grain crop, and causing the same to fall
upon an endless travelling canvas web, by means of a revolving reel above, need
only be briefly described, as they will be readily understood upon reference to the
drawings, and, except as to the general arrangement thereof, are well known, and
therefore form no special part of my invention, and may be placed differently as
found expedient.
A short shaft A. driven direct from the main wheel, by means of a pinion
capable of being readily thrown in and out of gear, transmits motion to shaft B.
by spur gear B and B which in turn operates the reciprocating knife, and also the
reel.
A sprocket wheel S. upon shaft A. transmits motion to the driving roller, S'
actuating the canvas web by means of a pitch chain which may be covered by a
broad strap or guard. Shaft D afterwards described is also driven from shaft A. by
means of a belt and conical pulleys, and the speed regulated by means of a fork O.
(Fig. 2.) or by other known means preferably, by which the speed may be varied
from an adjoining shaft whose motion is continuous.
The reel is supported as usual upon a series of double and cranked levers L.
and L' Figs. 2. and 4. capable of adjustment from the driver's seat in the rear of the
machine, by means of connecting rods- and below the platform.
A short shaft C. transfers motion from shaft B. to spindle I. which actuates the
reel shaft by means of spur and chain gear as shown. The wheels J. being
connected together run loose on a spindle. An ordinary "butter" b. is fitted upon
the platform P. (Fig. 1.) driven by bevel gear from the roller spindle S¹.
The "knotter" may be of any suitable form, or type, actuated by means of
mutilated cog & bevel gear from the shaft D. above or upon which it is placed, but
as I do not claim the same as part of my invention, it will not be further described
but I prefer to use a "knotter" forming the subject of a separate invention
by me.
In Fig. 5. my invention is shown attached behind an
reaper, and receives the grain when raked from the
additional platform as shown. The various parts viz.
knife, and reel are here dispensed with.
•
ordinary manual delivery
reaper platform, upon my
the shaft B. reciprocating
In order to accomodate long or short grain, the point of attachment K. may be
altered by means of the bolts K' and also by the bolt M. upon which the machine
turns, or is pivoted, so that my additional platform may be nearer or further away
from the reaper as required.
The edge of the reaper platform, when freed by the foot, may either rest upon
the edge of my platform, or be held suspended at any convenient angle by a stop,
whilst the sheaf is being raked therefrom.
My invention consists primarily of a binding receptacle within, which the
shaft D. having fixed gathering arms D' rotates, and may be actuated from either
side as convenient. The receptacle may be said to consist of a semi-cylindrical
platform P and parti-wall, preferably of sheet iron, having slots through which
the gathering arms D¹ enter, and a frame above, supported from one or both
sides.
This frame at the lower extremity terminates in a sharp wedge-shaped
point "d," serving the double purpose of a sheaf divider, and string extension
arm.
The remainder of the frame is bent into a semi-circle, as shown, and forms
the packer, or sheaf compresser p. and to which a parti-cylindrical cover, or wind-
screen may be attached.
The variable tension for regulating the pressure upon the string, may be
actuated from any convenient shaft, and is shown in Fig. 2. upon the end of
shaft D when I prefer it.
Fig. 7 shews the same on an enlarged scale. A cam E. upon the end of the shaft D.
acts upon a spring surface F. which is regulated by means of a screw bolt, and
nut F through a slot in the bed plate.

page_text: The string passing through the guides H. H. and between the cam, and the
spring-surface, is either sufficiently retarded, or allowed to run freely from the
supply as required, and elsewhere explained. The string being led through
the variable tension, and along the extension arm d. the loose end is placed in the
"retainer," or "gripper," above the shaft D.
The grain carried by the canvas web, is delivered within the binding receptacle,
and on to the platform P. where it accumulates loosely beneath the string h. (Fig. 3.)
which slackens to accomodate it.
The gathering arms above described, enter through the slots in the parti-wall
and platform P. pressing the accumulated grain before them; this-meeting the
sharp point of the sheaf divider-d. separates on either side, and the grain retained
within the receptacle, pressing the string before it, is forced upwards against the
semi-circular packer p. by the arms which project beyond whereby the grain is
compressed, at the same time, the string which until now has been running freely,
through the variable tension is retarded, or held, thereby materially helping in the
compression of the sheaf.
The arms continuing their revolution carry the sheaf s. Fig. 3. over the
shaft D, and the knotter, where it drops, and hangs suspended, as shown, until the
knot is tied, with the string delivered into the retainer, the sheaf afterwards
falling away by its own weight, before the arms D' arrive at a point to prevent it.
It will be seen that the shaft D. and gathering arms D', one of which acts as a
guide to lead the string within reach of the retainer, completes one revolution to
form each sheaf, and the size of the sheaf, is regulated by the speed at which the
said shaft is driven.
Having now particularly described, and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a sheaf binding harvester, a shaft having three or more gathering arms,
revolving within a binding receptacle, and combining in one the heretofore several
operations, of separating the sheaf from the inflowing grain, elevating and com-
pressing the same, passing a loop of string around the sheaf, and depositing
the same into the retainer, and actuating the "knotter," substantially as heretofore
described.
2. In a sheaf binding harvester the variable tension, acting in combination with
the gathering arms, and packer substantially as above described.
3. In a sheaf binding harvester, the combination of a sheaf divider string
extension arm, and sheaf compressor, in one fixed part, and forming part of my
binding receptacle, substantially as heretofore described.
4. The general construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially
as heretofore described.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1891.
FRANK E. TODD.