An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Binding Bundles of Cut Crops.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 18'h May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 14th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 16th Mar., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Binding Bundles of
Cut Crops.
I, JAMES GEORGE MARTIN, of Castlemilk House, Benjamin Street, Parkville near
Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the binding of sheaves by apparatus attached to a
harvesting machine. Hitherto wire or string has been used for binding sheaves
by machinery. According to this invention the band consists of the butt or stubble
end portions of stalks of the sheaf itself, these stalks being spun into a rope which
is lapped round the sheaf during the art of spinning. The apparatus which I
employ for this purpose may be attached to any suitable harvesting machine and
is generally of the following description.
A hook with a reciprocating feeder travels round the sheaf and gathers from
it straws to be spun by a tapered rotating worm which acis in combination with
a travelling rake or comb which leads the ends of the straws between the webs of
the worm. This apparatus is attached near the lower end of the binder platform
of a harvesting machine which is provided with means of collecting and holding
successive bundles of the requisite size to form sheaves. The appliances for so
collecting and holding bundles form no part of my invention as these are known
and used in harvesting machines, and they necessarily have an intermittent action,
holding the bundle stationary while the arm carrying the binding apparatus travels
round it gathering straws spinning the band winding it on the sheaf tucking in
the end of the band and locking this end before the sheaf is ejected.
The accompanying drawings illustrate apparatus according to my invention.
Figure 4 shows a sheaf, the arm which carries the binding, apparatus round it and
the working gear.
Figure 2 is a view of the arm and apparatus as seen from inside.
Figure 3 is a view of it from outside.
Figure 4 is an end view showing the gathering hook and the end of the tapered

page_text: gure is a side and end view of the end of the tapered worm.
Figure 6 is a section on the line a a of Figure 3.
Figure 7 is a plan, Figure 8 a section on bb of Figure 7, and Figure 9 is an end
elevation of the tucking mechanism.
Figure 10 is a back elevation and Figure 11 a front elevation of the apparatus for
locking the end of the band after it has been tucked in.
Figure 12 is a section on ce in Figure 10.
Figure 13 is a view from below of the band depressor (Z).
Figure 14 is a side elevation of the connecting levers UV HY and lock plate W.
Figure 15 is a section on d d of Figure 14.
Figure 16 is a side elevation, Figure 17 is a front elevation and Figure 18 an end
elevation of the locking needle.
A, the arm or bracket on which the apparatus is supported is bolted to a revolving
disc or plate A fixed on a shaft A2 having on it a sprocket wheel A³ to which an
intermittent motion is imparted from any suitable moving part of the harvester. A* is
a balance weight on the plate A¹ opposite the arm A. B is a toothed ring or wheel
fixed on the stationary frames B₁. With this wheel gear two pinions B2 and B³
which are fixed on spindles B and B which are mounted in bearings on the arm A. The
spindle B² is connected by a universal joint B³ to the rear end of a tapered double
threaded worm C, the front end of which has the shape of a double or S hook as shown
in Figures 4 and 5. This front end of the worm is carried in a tapered socket formed
in an end piece G. The webs of the worin Chave at the periphery a back-
wardly projecting rib as shown in Figure 5. The spindle B of the pinion B³ has
at its front end a bevil pinion B' which gears with a bevel wheel B on a short
spindle B and this spindle has on it a sprocket wheel D moving an endless pitch
chain D which passes round another sprocket wheel D² on to a short spindle D³.
The endless chain D' has at equal intervals projecting pins D so arranged and
moving at such speed that one of them is always just beside the back edge of
each of the webs and one between each pair of webs. The spindle D³ carries
a bevil wheel E gearing with a pinion E¹ on a spindle E². This spindle bas on
its outer end a crank disc E³ the pin of which is linked by a connecting rod E
to a crank arm E' on a spindle E supported in a bracket bearing A³. The spindle E
has on it a segmental finger piece E7 which receives a reciprocating motion so that
it traverses above the hook G¹ and feeds the stubble ends of the stalks to the webs of
the worm C. The end piece G has the gathering hook G¹ on it as shown and it
has a flat lug G for attachment by screws or bolts G³ to the one part of the
arm A and a bevelled flange G₁ secured by bolts C to the other part of the arm.
G is a slide that can be moved inwards or outwards by the thumb screw G' so
that the opening between its end and the hook G¹ can be adjusted to suit the
quantity of cut stalks that the hook G₁ is desired to gather. G8 is a guide plate
having on it a projecting finger G to lead the stalks to the hook G. Findicates
a sheaf in the position in which it is bound and F¹ indicates the band which is
being spun from the butt or stubble end portion of its outer stalks and simultaneously
lapped around the sheaf. A is a plate secured by screws A' to cover the endless rake
mechanism.
4
Referring now to Figures 7 to 18 both inclusive. H is the sheaf holder having
on its front end a bracket H' to receive the locking mechanism. It has also a
slot H which forms a guide for a spindle J carrying at its front end a fork Jand
at its other end a sleeve J². This sleeve has teeth arranged helically on it which
gear into the oblique teeth on a segment lever K to which an intermittent recipro- 5
cating motion is imparted by a cam disc L upon a shaft L' continuously driven
by a sprocket wheel M. A bracket N has at one end a bearing N¹ for the spindle J,
and at its other end a helical bearing P. Q is a ball joint about the middle of
the bracket N to allow play of the bracket in any direction.
In Figures 10 to 18 inclusive, R is a frame bolted by lugs R¹ to the bracket H 5
Figures 7 and 9. On the front flanges R² of Ra sheet metal cover R³ is attached.
A dove tail slot R in R forms a guide for the needle S the pointed end of which

page_text: is made with a hook S¹. The dovetail portion of the needle S has a pin S² to
which is linked the connecting rod T, and a small roller S³ to travel in slots V₁
and W. A lock plate W has a lug W₁ on one side and a slot W' along its centre.
V is a cant lever with a slot V¹. X Y are radial links. U is a connecting lever
having a roller U¹ fitted at one end. U2 is a pin which connects U U¹ X Y and V.
Y is a pin which pivots the radial links X Y on the frame R; O is a dovetail distance
piece, a washer and 03 a pin connecting the ends of WV O and U and distance
piece O. Z is the band depresser lever attached to H2 by bolts Z¹ it has also a
slot Z2 in which roller U₁ works, being depressed by levers U and V.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows. An intermittent motion is imparted
to the sprocket wheel A³ and so to the whole of the binding apparatus. The bundle
of cut stalks F is gathered together and secured in the holder H while the binding
apparatus is stationary with the stubble end within the path of the arm A. When
this arm revolves and the hook Gaided by the feeding finger E' gathers at intervals
a portion of the outer stalks of the bundle the reciprocating finger E' forcing them
inwards between the webs C¹at the S hook end of the worm C. This revolving
twists or spins the stalks into a band F¹ and as the arm A continues to revolve around
the sheaf the rope of spun stalks is payed out until the revolution of the arm
is completed the band then quite encircling the sheaf.
As the holder H is arranged to grip the sheaf immediately in front of the band
the fork J engages the band and simultaneously receives a spiral and forwar
motion from the segment lever K as it is raised by the cam I. By this movement
the band is tucked in. As the lever K descends the fork J is withdrawn from the
band after it has tucked in its end. In order to make the binding more secure,
immediately after the tucking in, the locking contrivance is brought into action. The
hooked needle S receives a reciprocating movement from the connecting rod T worked
by a crank driven by suitable gearing from the harvesting machine. As the needle
descends the roller S working in the slot V₁ moves the levers V and U and as the
roller U of the lever U works in the slot of the depresser lever Z this causes a
downward movement of the depresser lever causing it to press upon the band F¹ and
hold it while the needle is withdrawn along with several straws which it hooks in.its
descent from the sheaf.
++
As the levers return to their original position they cross the point of the needle and
the pin carries the straw from off the needle hook.
It may be readily understood that the new method herein described of binding
sheaves by ropes twisted from the stalks themselves may be effected by mechanism
modified in various ways according to the nature of the crop treated and of the
harvesting machine to which the binding apparatus is applied.
Dated this 18th day of May 18SS
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Binding Bundles of
Cut Crops.
I, JAMES GEORGE MARTIN, of Castlemilk House, Benjamin Street, Parkville near
Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to the binding of sheaves by apparatus attached to a
harvesting machine.
Hitherto wire or string has been used for binding sheaves by machinery. According
to this invention the band consists of the butt or stubble and portions of stalks of the
sheaf itself, those stalks being spun into a rope which is lapped round the sheaf
during the act of spinning. The apparatus which I employ for this purpose may
be attached to any suitable harvesting machine, and is generally of the following
description.
A hook with a reciprocating feeder travels round the sheaf and gathers from it
straws to be spun by a tapered rotating worm which acts in combination with a
travelling rake or comb which leads the ends of the straws between the webs of the
worm. This apparatus is attached near the lower end of the binder platform of a
harvesting machine which is provided with means of collecting and holding successive
bundles of the requisite size to form sheaves
The appliances for so collecting.and holding bundles form no part of my invention,
as these are known and used in harvesting machines, and they necessarily have an
intermittent action, holding the bundle stationary while the arin carrying the binding
apparatus travels round it gathering straws, spinning the band, winding it on
the sheaf, tucking in the ends of the band and locking this end before the sheaf is
ejected.
The drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification illustrate apparatus
according to my invention.
Fig. 1 shows a sheaf, the arm which carries the binding apparatus round it and
the working gear. Fig. 2 is a view of the arm and apparatus as seen from inside.
Fig. 3 is a view of it from outside. Fig. 4 is an end view shewing the gathering
hook and the end of the tapered worm. Fig. 5 is a side and end view of the end of
the tapered worm. Figure 6 is a section on the line a a of Fig. 3. Figure 7 is a
plan, Figure 8 a section on bb of Figure 7, and Figure 9 is an end elevation of the
tucking mechanism.
Figure 10 is a back elevation and Fig. 11 a front elevation of the apparatus for
locking the end of the band after it has been tucked in. Figure 12 is a section on cc
in Figure 10. Figure 13 is a view from below of the band depressor (Z). Figure 14
is a side elevation of the connecting levers UV HY and lock plate W. Figure 15
is a section on d d of Figure 14.
Figure 16 is a side elevation, Fig. 17 is a front elevation and Fig. 18 an end
elevation of the locking needle.

page_text: A, the arm or bracket on which the apparatus is supported is bolted to a revolving
disc or plate A fixed on a shaft A² having on it a sprocket wheel A³ to which an
intermittent motion is imparted from any suitable moving part of the barvester.
A is a balance weight on the plate A¹ opposite the arm A. B is a toothed ring or
wheel fixed on the stationary frames B. With this wheel gear two pinions B and B³
which are fixed on spindles B and B which are mounted in bearings on the arm A.
The spindle B² is connected by a universal joint B³ to the rear end of a tapered double
threaded arm C the front end of which has the shape of a double or S hook as shewn
in Figures 4 and 5. This front end of the worm is carried in a tapered socket formed
in an end piece G. The webs C₁ of the worm C have at the periphery a backwardly
projecting rib as shewn in Fig. 5. The spindle B of the pinion B3 has at its front end
a bevil pinion B' which gears with a bevil wheel B³ on a short spindle B and this
spindle has on it a sprocket wheel D moving an endless pitch chain D¹ which passes
round another sprocket wheel D' on to a short spindle D³. The endless chain D has
at equal intervals projecting pins D₁ so arranged and moving at such speed that one of
them is always just beside the back edge of each of the webs C and one between each
pair of webs. The spindle D³ carries a bevil wheel E gearing with a pinion E¹ on a
spindle E². This spindle has on its outer end a crank disc E³ the pin of which is
linked by a connecting rod E to a crank arm E' on a spindle E supported in a
bracket bearing A³.
The spindle E has on it a segmental finger piece E' which receives a reciprocating
motion so that it traverses above the hook G' and feeds the stubble ends of the storks
to the webs of the worm C. The end piece G has the gathering hook G¹ on it as
shewn and it has a flat lug G2 for attachment by screws or bolts G³ to the one part of
the arm A and a bevilled flange G secured by bolts C³ to the other part of the arm.
Go is a slide that can be moved inwards or outwards by the thumb screw G7 so that
the opening between its end and the hook G can be adjusted to suit the quantity of
cut stalks that the hook G¹ is desired to gather. GB is a guide plate having on it a
projecting finger Go to lead the storks to the hook G. Findicates a sheaf in the
position in which it is bound and F¹ indicates the band which is being spun from
the butt or stubble end portion of its outer stalks and simultaneously lapped around
the sheaf. A is a plate secured by screws A' to cover the endless rake mechanism.
Referring now to Figures 7 to 18 both inclusive H is the sheaf holder having on
its front end a bracket H to receive the locking mechanism. It has also a slot H'
which forms a guide for a spindle J carrying at its front end a fork J and at its
other end a sleeve J. This sleeve has teeth arranged helically on it which gear into
the oblique teeth on a segment lever K to which an intermittent reciprocating motion
is imparted by a cam disc L upon a shaft L' continuously driven by a sprocket
wheel M.
A bracket N has at one end a hearing N1 for the spindle J, and at its other end a
helical bearing P. Q is a ball joint about the middle of the bracket N to allow play
of the bracket in any direction.
In Figures 10 to 18 inclusive, R is a frame bolted by lugs R¹ to the bracket H
Figures 7 and 9. On the front flanges R² of R a sheet metal cover R³ is attached.
A dovetail slot R' in R forms a guide for the needle S the pointed end of which is
made with a hook S'. The dovetail portion of the needle S has a pin S2 to which is
linked the connecting rod T, and a small roller S³ to travel in slots V' and W. A
lock plate W has a lug W on one side and a slot W2 along its centre. V is a cant
lever with a slot V1. X Y are radial links. U is a connecting lever having a roller U¹
fitted at one end. U is a pin which connects U U' X Y and V. Y' is a pin which
pivots the radial links XY on the frame R; O is a dovetail distance piece, O¹ a
washer and a pin connecting the ends of WV O' and U and distance piece O.
Z is the band depresser lever attached to H2 by bolt Z¹ it has also a slot Z2 in which
roller U works, being depressed by levers U and V.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows: An intermittent notion is imparted
to the sprocket wheel A and so to the whole of the binding apparatus. The bundle
of cut stalks F is gathered together and secured in the holder H while the binding

page_text: W nen
apparatus is stationary with the stubble end within the path of the arm A.
this arm revolves and the hook G¹ aided by the feeding finger E' gathers at intervals
a portion of the outer stalks of the bundle, the reciprocating finger E' forcing them
inwards hetween the webs C₁ at the S hook end of the worm C.
This, revolving, twists or spins the stalks into a band F¹ and as the arm A continues 5
to revolve around the sheaf the rope of spun stalks is payed out until the revolution
of the arm is completed the band then quite encircling the sheaf.
As the holder His arranged to grip the sheaf immediately in front of the band the
fork J¹ engages the band and simultaneously receives a spiral and forward motion
from the segment lever K as it is raised by the cam L.
As the lever K descends the fork J' is
By this movement the band is tucked in.
withdrawn from the band after it has tucked in its end. In order to make the binding
more secure, immediately after the tucking in, the locking contrivance is brought
into action.
As the
The hooked needle S receives a reciprocating movement from the connecting rod T
worked by a crank driven by suitable gearing from the harvesting machine.
needle descends the roller S³ working in the slot V moves the levers V and U and as
the roller U¹ of the lever U works in the slot Z2 of the depressor lever Z, this causes
a downward movement of the depressor lever causing it to press upon the band F and
hold it while the needle is withdrawn along with several straws which it hooks in its
descent from the sheaf.
As the levers return to their original position they cross the point of the needle and
the pin U carries the straw from off the needle hook.
It may be readily understood that the new method herein described of binding
sheaves, by ropes twisted from the stalks themselves, may be effected by mechanism
modified in various ways according to the nature of the crop treated and of the
harvesting machine to which the binding apparatus is applied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
is :-
1. The herein described method of binding a sheaf by spinning a band from the
material of the sheaf itself, and at the same time lapping the band round the sheaf.
2. The herein described method of binding a sheaf by a band spun from the butt
or stubble ends of some of the outer stalks of the sheaf, this band being at the same
time lapped round the sheaf, and then having its end tucked under that part of the
band which was first formed.
3. In apparatus for binding sheaves, the combination of a gathering hook and
feeding finger and a tapered spinning worm and travelling rake all arranged on ar
arm which is caused intermittently to travel round the sheaf while it is held stationary
substantially as herein described and illustrated by the drawings.
4. In apparatus for binding sheaves, the combination of an intermittently revolving
arm carrying a gathering hook and feeding finger, a tapered spinning worm and
travelling rake with tucking apparatus, arranged substantially as herein described and
shown by the drawings.
5. In combination with apparatus for binding sheaves of the kind referred to in th
preceding claims, apparatus for locking the end of the band that is tucked i
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 12 to 18 inclusive.
1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.