Improvements in Grain Binding Harvesters.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 16th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 25th May, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Grain Binding Harvesters.
I William MCINTYRE CRANSTON of 36 Worship Street, Finsbury, in the county
of Middlesex, Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
which has been communicated to me from abroad by The Walter A. Wood Mowing
and Reaping Machine Company, of Hoosick Falls, New York, United States of
America, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in automatic grain binding harvesters.
The first part of this invention relates to the conveyor, by which the grain is
carried from the cutting apparatus to the binder; and according to this part of the
invention, the conveyor consists of a single endless apron provided with transverse
slats or cleats the endless apron running over three rollers; one at the grain side of
the machine, one at the bottom, and one at the top of the incline, up which the crop
is conveyed over the master or diving wheel. The upper belt of the single endless
apron is caused to assume the proper angle to ascend the incline by curved irons
overhanging the apron and bolted to the longitudinal sills of the horizontal platform,
and to the sides of the elevator frame. The ends of the transverse cleats secured to
the apron are champered off to pass under the overhanging curved irons and in order
to prevent straws from wedging in between the cleats and the curved irons, the ends
of the latter towards the grain wheel are so bevilled or inclined that the straws will be
carried up over them and not be caught between the cleats and the curved irons.
The three rollers over which the endless apron runs are all positively driven, in order
that there may be always sufficient friction to run the conveyor.
It has been found that grass and straw is apt to work in between the upper and
lower belts of the apron on the horizontal platform and is carried by the lower belt up
over the roller, at the grain side of the machine to fall again on the lower belt and
again be carried around the roller or wound thereon, in either case increasing its size,
and in as much as this roller is positively driven with the other rollers, over which the
endless apron runs, such increased diameter would cause the apron to slip on the
rollers at the top and bottom of the incline rendering the operation of the machine
difficult, or stopping the conveyor.

page_text: To avoid this difficulty a board or piece of sheet iron or other suitable material is
bolted between the upper and lower belts to the longitudinal sills of the Harvester
just in front of the roller toward the stubble side of the machine, and the grass and
straw instead of falling on to the lower apron belt falls on the board which acts as a
receptacle to receive the grass or straw. A cleat is secured to the edge of the board
furthest from the roller and the cleat is inclined to the platform so that the
accumulating grass and straw is forced out between the upper and lower belts upon
the ground, the inclined cleat acting as a wedge.
This board attached in front of the roller at the grain side of the machine is also
useful in that class of harvesters employing a single horizontal apron, and two
elevator aprons, but in as much as the roller in this class of machine runs idle it is not
necessary to have the board, the increased diameter of the roller, which is not
positively driven, not interfering to any great extent with the operation of the apron-
but the necessity of the board in a machine made according to this invention is
apparent.
In order to start the crop up the incline a roller is suspended over the apron at or
near the bottom of the incline and is caused to revolve by suitable driving mechanism
connected with some moving part of the Harvester. This roller is quadrangular in
cross section or of any angular form to better assist in moving the crop forward. The
roller is transversely grooved and in order to prevent the crop winding around the
roller a series of rods of iron are secured to the support from which the roller is
suspended and project around the roller in the transverse grooves up the incline.
In order to hold the crop upon the incline and upon the elevator, a spring float is
suspended from the roller support. This float consists of two sets of parallel bars,
each set fastened rigidly together by cross bars, making a parallelogram. One half
of the float is pivotted to the other half by cross rods at each end so that each of the
parallelograms is permitted an independent yielding movement upwards irrespective
of the other. Two flat pieces of steel are fastened to the roller support and are also
at their upper ends swivelled to each half of the float so that the float is normally
pressed down upon the crop on the incline by the steel rods, but in order that each
side of the parallelogram may yield upwardly independently of the other side, the
steel rods are loosely swivelled to the upper cross bars of the parallelograms at about
the middle point thereof.
The clearer rods surrounding the roller at the bottom of the incline extend up the
incline beyond the lower ends of the bars forming the float in order that the crop may
be moved up in under the float.
The machine is left entirely open at the rear and the heads of the grain or other
crop are not bent back as the crop is being conveyed to the binder; and in order that
the machine may be so open at the rear, the seat, float, roller and deflector or hood at
the top of the incline are suspended entirely from the front of the machine.
The wind board or back board hinged to the rear longitudinal sill of the harvester
and may be rocked on its hinges so as to form a rear extension of the horizontal
platform or may be held in any desired position with reference thereto by the adjust-
ment of the fender rod which is fastened to the wind board and passes through a
clamp on the outside divider. A similar board is hinged to the binder platform at
the top of the incline, so that it may be rocked up on its hinges to act as a wind
board or may form a rear extension of the binder platform to support the heads of
long grain.
On the binder side of the inside divider, a shield is placed over the inside shoe and
the pitman connection to the knife or sickle, the shield projecting outwardly somewhat
beyond the cutters. Above this shield is pivotted on a crank shaft a butter which
forces the butts of the grain back upon the conveyer apron. The movement of the
butter is controlled by a link connecting its upper end, projecting above its pivotal
bearing on the crank shaft with some fixed part of the machine.
The second part of my invention relates to the knotting devices, which comprise
the knotter jaws, the detaching hook, the tucker, the grasper, the knife and the means
for actuating these devices. According to this part of my invention, the knotter

page_text: consists of two curved hooks or jaws, an upper and a lower one. The spindle of the
lower jaw is loosely mounted in the hollow spindle of the former, a pinion is secured
to the upper end of the spindle of the upper jaw and meshes with a rack on the
knotter driving disc of sufficient length to give the knotter hook one complete
revolution, which is all that is necessary to form the knot. The upper hook or jaw is
formed with a downwardly projecting lug, against which the forward end of the lower
hook is forced by a spring secured to the spindle of the upper hook and to the spindle
of the lower hook and the spring is of sufficient strength to cause the two hooks
normally to revolve together.
The spindle of the lower hook is provided on its upper end with a delay arm
secured thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom, and at the proper time during
the formation of the knot, the delay arm takes into an opening in the knotter driving
disc and the revolution of the lower jaw of the knotter is thereby retarded, the upper
jaw advancing ahead of the lower jaw, at this time a cam projection on the periphery
of the knotter driving disc, strikes the rear end of a tucker pivotted on a stud in the
knotter frame between the knotter and the grasper, and the forward end of the tucker
is elevated, pushing the bands up between the downwardly projecting lug on the
upper knotter jaw and the forward end of the lower jaw and the delay arm secured
to the spindle of the latter having been released from the opening in the knotter
driving disc, the spring secured to the spindles of the upper and lower jaws acts to
force the jaws together clamping the grasper ends of the band between them.
The spindle of the upper knotter jaw fits loosely in the spindle of the detaching
hook. The detaching hook projects outwardly at right angles to the spindle and rests
upon the upper knotter jaw which is suitably grooved to receive it. To the upper
end of the detaching hook spindle is secured a pinion which meshes with a rack on
the knotter driving disc of sufficient length to revolve the detaching book one
revolution. The pinion of the detaching hook as well as that secured to the spindle
of the upper knotter jaw is provided with a ledge or shoulder bearing upon a raised
portion of the knotter driving disc to prevent rotation of the pinions except when in
mesh with the segmental racks on the knotter driving disc, when such raised portion
or track is cut away. The racks are so placed on the knotter driving disc that the
knotter jaws start to revolve in advance of the stripper, whose revolution is continued
after the knotter jaws have come to a position of rest, so that the stripper or detaching
hook pushes the loop off the knotter jaws over the ends of the band held between them
as previously specified. The knot is formed in the band and stripped from the hooks
or knotter jaws, by one complete revolution of the knotter jaws and detaching hook,
there being no reverse movement either to form the loop or strip the knot from the
books. The grasper frame is forked or bifurcated. One of the bifurcations is
pivotted to an extension of the main binder frame adjacent to the rear face of the
knotter driving disc, and the other bifurcation is provided, with a friction roller which
takes into a cam groove on the front side of the disc, by which the grasper frame is
swung up on its pivot toward the knotter to give sufficient slack to wrap the hooks
with the band.
The movable jaw of the grasper is pivotted to the grasper frame so as to swing
in a plane at right angles to that of the movement of the grasper frame. The upper
end of the grasper jaw projects upwardly between the bifurcations of the grasper
frame and carries a friction roller which rides on the front face of the knotter
driving disc near the periphery thereof, and in the path of the friction roller there is
a suitable cam projection to positively swing the pivoted grasper jaw to both open and
close the jaw. The lower end of the jaw is hooked shaped and bifurcated and is
swung up against a suitable shoulder formed on the grasper frame provided with a
projection fitting between the bifurcations of the grasper jaw, by which the band is
held over the projection. A knife is secured to the frame of the grasper adjacent to
the grasper jaw toward the knotter, and as the hooked grasper jaw is swung
outwardly away from the shoulder on the grasper frame, it unlooses the old end of
the band and catches the new, passing over the new end, and pulling it up against the
knife when swung inwardly to sever the band, and holding it against the shoulder on

page_text: the grasper frame. The new band passes up over the pivoted grasper jaw, as the
needle arm descends. A spring is interposed between the pivoted grasper jaw and
the grasper frame, and holds the jaw against the band when the intermittently
operated knotter driving disc is at rest. The spring is interposed between the head
of a stud which is journalled in the movable jaw by a ball and socket joint, and a
projection cast on the grasper frame, through which projection the stud passes, and
through which the stud plays freely, as the jaw is swung on its pivot, the ball joint of
the stud allowing such play. The spring occupies such a position with reference to
the frame of the grasper and the pivoted grasper jaw that it has the greatest leverage
to force the pivoted grasper jaw against the band, when the knotter driving disc is at
rest, and the force necessary to overcome the action of the spring and open the
grasper jaw decreases as the jaw opens.
In order that the grasper jaw may not push the band before it, as the jaw is swung
outwardly, and that the jaw may pass over the hand, to grasp it in its retrograde
movement on its pivot and to move it inwardly against the knife and the shoulder on
the grasper frame. A notched plate is attached to the grasper frame on the side
toward the knotter, and the band resting in the notch in the plate is prevented from
being pushed outwardly by the grasper jaw. The third part of this invention relates
to the tripping device and the clutch mechanism connected therewith by which the
packers are brought to rest and the binding devices started and the latter stopped
and the former started.
According to this part of this invention motion is communicated to the packers
and the binding devices by means of a sprocket wheel receiving the motion from
some moving part of the harvester. This sprocket wheel is formed with two clutch
faces on opposite sides thereof, and is loosely mounted on the driving shaft. The
outer end of the driving shaft is provided with a collar formed with a clutch face, the
collar being secured to the shaft. gear wheel is loosely mounted on the driving
shaft, and is also formed with a clutch face, and the sprocket wheel is interposed
between the clutch collar and the clutch gear. The driving shaft is provided on its
inner end with a gear wheel meshing with a gear formed upon one of the packer
wheels to which are pivoted near the periphery thereof the packer fingers which as
the packer wheels revolve are brought in contact with a cam secured to the binder
frame, by which the pivotted packer fingers are held in contact with the grain upon
the binder table and move it forward beneath the tripping arm, but when the fingers
have passed by the cam they do not act upon the grain, but yield backwardly to
withdraw therefrom.
The tripping arm is secured to a crank formed on a rock shaft journalled in
bearings in the upper limb of the binder frame adjacent to the main driving shaft.
The rock shaft on its outer end is provided with a downwardly extending arm which
is secured to an arm yoked over the clutch gear on the binder driving shaft, and
between the clutch gear and some fixed portion of the machine is interposed a spring,
whose tendency is to force the clutch gear into engagement with the constantly
revolving sprocket wheel. The clutch gear meshes with a gear secured to the
knotter driving shaft on the periphery of which is a cam which as the knotter
driving shaft revolves bears against the upwardly extending arm of the yoke and
forces the clutch gear from engagement with the constantly revolving sprocket
wheel, thereby stopping the binder. A spring is interposed between the downwardly
extending arm of the trip rock shaft, and the yoke, and as the clutch gear is being
disengaged from the constantly revolving sprocket wheel, a second projection on the
knotter driving gear engages a projection on the yoke and compresses the spiral
spring between the lower end of the yoke and the downwardly extending arm of the
rock shaft to which the trip is secured; as the binder driving gear continues to
revolve this spring is suddenly released, and continues the separation of the clutch-
gear, and the constantly revolving sprocket wheel, ensuring a total disengagement
thereof. A short shaft provided on one end with a friction roller and on the other
with a shifter is journaled in the upper limb of the binder frame transverse to its
length. The shifter takes into a groove formed in a collar secured to the main driving

page_text: shaft, and the roller into a cam formed on the inner face of the knotter driving gear
wheel. As the binder commences to operate, the can groove operates the shifter to
slide the main driving shaft outwardly or forwardly, thereby disengaging the clutch
collar from the constantly revolving sprocket wheel and bringing the main driving
shaft to a position of rest, and consequently the packing devices. As the grain or
other crop is forced under the tripping arm by the packers, it raises the arm against
the action of the spring, and when the arm has been raised a sufficient distance the
yoke is released from the projection on the periphery of the knotter shaft driving
gear, and the spring interposed between the clutch gear and the machine is free to
act to force the clutch gear in engagement with the constantly revolving sprocket
wheel and thereby start the binder. The main driving shaft may be moved back-
wardly or inwardly to again bring the packers into action either by the cam on the
knotter shaft driving gear acting upon the shifter shaft, or by interposing the spring
to throw the clutch gear into engagement with the constantly revolving sprocket
wheel, between the clutch gear and the grooved collar into which the shifter fork
takes. A forked arm is secured to the binder frame and takes into a groove formed
in the hub of the constantly revolving sprocket wheel to keep the latter in place and
prevent its sliding upon the main driving shaft. The fourth part of this invention
relates to the compressor and drop board, according to this part of this invention the
support to which the drop board is secured is pivoted on a shaft mounted at the outer
edge of the binder platform, independently of the binder driving mechanism. The
drop board support extends below the shaft and is connected by a link with the
forward end of an arm pivoted to the machine beneath the binder platform.
To the inner or rear end of the rocking arm is pivoted a yielding spring cam
projection, and a friction roller is secured to the needle arm to engage during the
initial descent of the middle arm the yielding spring cam, to unlock the toggle joint
formed by the locking arm and its link connection with the drop board support, to
allow the drop board to fall to permit the discharge of the bundle. As the needle
arm continues its descent the friction roller on the needle arm bears upon the rocking
arm forward of its pivot returning the drop board and its support through the
link connection with the rocking arm into an upright position, and the drop board is
maintained in such upright position by the toggle joint connection formed by the
rocking arm and the link, the toggle joint being forced past its centre of motion
against a suitable stop. As the needle arm rises the friction roller secured thereto
bears against the yielding spring cam which yields outwardly therefrom, the lock
formed by the toggle joint not being disturbed.
In order to prevent the drop board falling too quickly a heel extension is secured
to the needle arm, which heel extension bears upon the rocking arm forward of its
pivot, and retards the fall of the drop board.
The compressor is pivoted to the support of the drop board, and a spring is
interposed between the compressor and the drop board support. The compressor
partakes of the movements of the drop board, but in as much as it is pivoted at its
lower end thereto and a spring is interposed between the compressor and the drop
board above the binding platform, the compressor is permitted an independant
yielding movement outwardly against the force exerted thereon by the needle arm
in placing the band around the bundle into the knotting devices.
Tydal: 10th day of In 1990
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said W. M. Cranston.

page_text: Improvements in Grain Binding Harvesters.
I, WILLIAM MCINTYRE CRANSTON, of 36 Worship Street, Finsbury, in the
County of Middlesex, Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention which has been communicated to me from abroad by The Walter A. Wood
Mowing and Reaping Machine Company, of Hoosick Falls, New York, United
States of America 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 improvements in automatic grain binding harvesters.
The first part of this invention relates to the conveyor by which the grain is
carried from the cutting apparatus to the binder, and according to this part of the
invention, the conveyor consists of a single endless apron provided with transverse
slats or cleats, the endless apron running over three rollers, one at the grain side
of the machine, one at the bottom and one at the top of the incline, up which the crop
is conveyed over the master or driving wheel. The upper portion of the single
endless apron is caused to assume the proper angle to ascend the incline by curved
irons overhanging the apron and bolted to the longitudinal sills of the horizontal
platform, and to the sides of the elevator frame. The ends of the transverse cleats
secured to the apron are champered off to pass under the overhanging curved irons,
and in order to prevent straws from wedging in between the cleats and the curved
irons, the ends of the latter toward the grain wheel are so twisted or inclined that the
straws will be carried up over them and not be caught between the cleats and the
curved irons.
The three rollers, over which the endless apron runs are all positively driven in
order that there may be always sufficient friction to run the conveyor. It has been
found that grass and straw is apt to work in between the upper and lower belts of the
apron on the horizontal platform, and is carried, by the lower belt, up over the roller
at the grain side of the machine to fall again on the lower belt and again to be
carried around the roller or wound thereon, in either case increasing its size and
inasmuch as this roller is positively driven with the other rollers, over which the
endless apron runs, such increased diameter would cause the apron to slip on the
rollers at the top and bottom of the incline, rendering the operation of the machine
difficult, or stopping the conveyor. To avoid this difficulty a board or piece of sheet
iron or other suitable material is bolted between the upper and lower belts to the
longitudinal sills of the harvester just in front of the roller toward the stubble side of
the machine, and the grass and straw instead of falling onto the lower apron belt falls
on the board which acts as a receptacle to receive the grass or straw. A cleat is
secured to the edge of the board furthest from the roller, and the cleat is inclined to
the platform, so that the accumulating grass and straw is forced out between the
upper and lower belts upon the ground, the inclined cleat acting as a wedge. This
board attached in front of the roller at the grain side of the machine is also useful in
that class of harvesters employing a single horizontal apron, and two elevator aprons,
but in as much as the roller in this class of machines runs idle, it is not necessary to

page_text: have the board, the increased diameter of the roller which is not positively driven not
interfering to any great extent with the operation of the apron, but the necessity of
the board in a machine made according to this invention is apparent.
In order to start the crop up the incline, a roller is suspended over the apron at or
near the bottom of the incline, and is caused to revolve by suitable driving mechanism
connected with some moving part of the harvester. This roller is quadrangular in
cross section or of any angular form to better assist in moving the crop forward.
The roller is transversely grooved, and in order to prevent the crop winding around
the roller, a series of rods of iron are secured to the support from which the roller is
suspended and project around the roller in the tranverse grooves up the incline.
In order to hold the crop upon the incline and upon the elevator, a spring float is
suspended from the roller support. This float consists of two sets of parallel bars,
each set fastened rigidly together by cross bars, making a parallelogram. One half
of the float is pivotted to the other half by cross rods at each end, so that each of the
parallelograms is permitted an independent yielding movement upwards irrespective
of the other. Two flat pieces of steel are fastened to the roller support and are also
at their upper ends swivelled to each half of the float, so that the float is normally
pressed down upon the crop on the incline by the steel rods, but in order that each
side of the parallelogram may yield upwardly independently of the other side, the
steel rods are loosely swivelled to the upper cross bars of the parallelograms at about
the middle point thereof. The clearer rods surrounding the roller at the bottom of
the incline extend up the incline beyond the lower ends of the bars forming the float
in order that the crop may be moved up in under the float.
The machine is left entirely open at the rear and the heads of the grain or other
crop are not bent back as the crop is being conveyed to the binder, and in order
that the machine may be so open at the rear, the seat, float, roller and deflector or
hood at the top of the incline are suspended entirely from the front of the machine.
The wind board or back board is hinged to the rear longitudinal sill of the
harvester and may be rocked on its hinges so as to form a rear extension of the
horizontal platform, or may be held at any desired position with reference thereto by
the adjustment of the fender rod which is fastened to the wind board and passes
through a clamp on the outside divider. A similar board is hinged to the binder
platform at the top of the incline, so that it may be rocked up on its hinges to act
as a wind board, or may form a rear extension of the binder platform to support the
heads of long grain.
:
On the binder side of the inside divider a shield is placed over the inside shoe
and the pitman connection to the knife or sickle, the shield projecting outwardly
somewhat beyond the cutters. Above this shield is pivotted on a crank shaft, a
butter which forces the butts of the grain back upon the conveyor apron. The
movement of the butter is controlled by a link connecting its upper end projecting
above its pivotal bearing on the crank shaft with some fixed part of the machine.
This part of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 10, in which similar letters
of reference indicate like parts.
According to this part of the invention, the grain is delivered to the binding
device over the master or driving wheel by a single endless apron, which runs
across the horizontal platform and up the incline. The machine is left entirely open
at the rear, not offering any obstruction to the passage of long grain to the binder.
In this way it is possible to construct a harvester of much less depth than those
now in use,
and one which can be accordingly more light in draft and cheaper to
build.
This part of the invention also embraces other devices subordinate to the successful
operation of the single endless apron and the delivery of the crop to the binder, as
will be more fully hereinafter described.
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a machine embodying this part of the
invention, the horizontal platform being shown broken away.
Figure 2 is a plan view.

page_text: Figure 5 is a perspective view of the beater roller.
Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the mechanism for imparting motion to the roller
at the angle of elevation, and from this roller to that at the grain side of the horizontal
platform.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the mechanism for driving the reel, the butter
and the beater roller, from the roller at the top of the incline.
Figures 9 and 10 are details of the guide for holding the endless apron down at the
front of the machine so as to cause it to ascend the incline. The frame work is com-
posed of longitudinal and cross sills to support the operating mechanism. Motion is
communicated from the driving wheel to the counter shaft provided with a sprocket
wheel, over this sprocket wheel, a sprocket wheel secured to the spindle of the upper"
elevator roller, and the sprocket wheel a¹, secured to roller A² a sprocket chain a² passes.
A shaft as is mounted in bearings in the roar platform sill, and has a bevel gear meshing
with a pinion secured to the roller at the grain side of the platform, and a pinion a²
meshing with the gear wheel a³, secured to the spindle of roller A².
rollers A², A2, A3, are all of the same size, and it will be evident from the
previous description that they are all positively driven, insuring the movement of
the apron A which runs over the rollers A1, A2, A³.
The
A board A is secured to the front and rear longitudinal platform sills, and
serves to catch the straw or grass which works in between the upper and lower
belts of the apron, and is carried by the lower belt up over the roller A³, and
prevents the diameter of the latter from being increased by winding up such straw
or grass.
In order to keep the apron down at the bottom of the incline, a curved strip c
is secured to the front sill by means of the perforated lugs co, c, and to the elevator
frame. The horizontal lip of the curved strip overhangs the apron, the cleats of
which are suitably champered off to pass under the overhanging flange. The guide
or strip c has its vertical face inclined at c². This inclination guides the straws or
The
stalks of grain up on the top surface or horizontal portion of the guide c.
horizontal lip or flange of guide c is also heeled at c³. This heel prevents the
straws from being carried under the horizontal flange. It is evident that were the
portion at right angles to the line of travel of the apron, the stalks of straw
resting on the top of the portion 2 would be drawn in under the overhanging flange
by the cleats of the apron. A strip of sheet metal c' is secured to the rear longitudinal
sill at c, c, and to the rear elevator side frame, and overhangs the apron, assisting in
holding the latter down at the rear of the platform, and causing the apron to assume
the requisite angle to ascend the incline. A' is a wind board or sail pivotted to the
rear longitudinal sill, so as to be rocked downwardly on its pivots to form an extension
of the horizontal platform in cutting long grain.
B is
Dis the seat support, supported entirely from the front of the machine. It is
bolted to the bracket D', which is secured to the portion of the gear frame.
the reel post, bolted to the gear frame and to the bracket b.
2, 3, is an elliptical brace bolted to the gear frame, from which it extends
diagonally upward, and surrounds the post B, to which it is bolted at 64. It
extends upwardly from the post B, and is bolted at 65 to a bifurcated brace 66,
which is bolted at its lower end to the seat standard 67. One of the bifurcations of
the rod or brace 6 is bolted to the post B. The reel is supported from the upper
end of the elliptical brace rod 62 63 and the reel post B. The pinion f on the forward
end of the roller A¹ meshes with the pinion 1, which actuates the crank shaft h
carried by h¹. The board H³ extends above the roller A¹, in order that the
grain which shoots up under the deflector or hood H² from the apron A may be by
the butter H moved downwardly to the binder. The hood or deflector H2 is over-
hung from the front of the machine, being attached to an arm which is secured to the
post B. The shaft J is driven from the butter shaft H, with which it communicates
by a universal joint j. The shaft J has a bearing at j¹ in a bracket secured to post B.

page_text: Pinion on shaft J meshes with the pinion j³ on shaft e¹. Pinion on shaft e
meshes with a gear wheel secured to shaft, which has bearings in a bracket j",
pivotted on shaft e¹. The shaft je has bearings in the pivotted reel gearing casing
at K, K¹. The reel shaft K2 is driven through suitable gears on shaft K³ and 7.
The shaft K is mounted in the adjustable swinging reel frame K.
The shaft e¹ carries pinion e³, which drives pinion e¹, secured to spindle e of beater E,
which is supported from bar F, and in a bracket secured to the front elevator side
frame. The bar F is supported from the seat support by a rod or brace g¹. A butter L is
pivotted on a crank arm at l. The crank arm is on the end of the shaft e'. The upper
end of the butter L is connected by a link with the bracket 3 secured to bar F. The
butter L is actuated by the crank, and the lower end of butter L pushes the crop
back upon the apron so that the latter may the more readily elevate the crop.
The roller E is quadrangular in cross section, and is circumferentially grooved at e.
The roller or beater E is to assist the crop up the incline at the angle of the incline.
The rods 9 are secured to the bar F, and aro bent around the roller E in the grooves e³,
and extend up the incline beneath the float. The purpose of the rods g is to
prevent the grain from winding around the roller E, and also to guide it up under the
float rods.
The float consists of the two parallelograms g g', formed of suitable longitudinal
bars g², g³, g*, and 9° and cross bars. The parallelograms are pivottedly connected
together at the upper and lower ends by rods 98 and 9. The purpose of this pivotted
connection is to permit an independent yielding movement of each side of the float,
to accommodate the crop beneath it. The float is held down upon the crop by the
spring rods go gl secured to the float, and at their lower ends to the bar F. The
rods og permit an independent yielding movement of the upper and lower ends of
the float to accomodate the crop passing beneath the float, which holds the crop
down upon the single endless apron.
The second part of this invention relates to the knotting devices which comprise the
knotter jaws the detaching hook, the tucker, the grasper, the knife, and the means for
actuating these devices.
According to this part of the invention the knotter consists of two curved hooks or
jaws, an upper and a lower one. The spindle of the lower jaw is loosely mounted in
the hollow spindle of the former. A pinion is secured to the upper end of the
spindle of the upper jaw and meshes with a rack on the knotter driving disc of
sufficient length to give the knotter hook one complete revolution, which is all that is
necessary to form the knot. The upper hook or jaw is formed with a downwardly
projecting lug, against which the forward end of the lower hook is forced by a spring
secured to the spindle of the upper hook and to the spindle of the lower hook,
and the spring is of sufficient strength to cause the two hooks normally to revolve
together.
The spindle of the lower hook is provided on its upper end with a delay arm secured
thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom, and at the proper time during the
formation of the knot the delay arm takes into an opening in the knotter driving
disc and the revolution of the lower jaw of the knotter is thereby retarded, the
upper jaw advancing ahead of the lower jaw. At this time a cam projection on
the periphery of the knotter driving disc, strikes the rear end of a tucker pivotted on
a stud in the knotter frame, between the knotter and the grasper, and the forward end
of the tucker is elevated pushing the bands up between the downwardly projecting
lug on the upper knotter jaw and the forward end of the lower jaw, and the delay
arm secured to the spindle of the latter having been released from the opening in the
knotter driving disc, the spring, secured to the spindles of the upper and lower jaws,
acts to force the jaws together, clamping the grasper ends of the band between them.
The spindle of the upper knotter jaw fits loosely in the spindle of the detaching
hook. The detaching hook projects outwardly at right angles to the spindle and rests
upon the upper knotter jaw, which is suitably grooved to receive it. To the upper end
of the detaching hook spindle is secured a pinion which meshes with a rack on the
knotter driving disc of sufficient length to revolve the detaching hook one revolution.
B

page_text: The pinion of the detaching hook as well as that secured to the spindle of the upper
knotter jaw is provided with a ledge or shoulder hearing upon a raised portion of the
knotter driving disc to prevent rotation of the pinions except when in mesh with
the segmental racks on the knotter driving disc, when such raised portion or track is
cut away. The racks are so placed on the knotter driving disc that the knotter jaws
start to revolve in advance of the stripper whose revolution is continued after the
knotter jaws have come to a position of rest, so that the stripper or detaching
hook pushes the loop off the knotter jaws over the ends of the band held between
them as previously specified. The knot is formed in the band and stripped from the
hooks or knotter jaws, by one complete revolution of the knotter jaws and detaching
.hook, there being no reverse movement either to form the loop, or strip the knot from
the hooks.
into
The grasper frame is forked or bifurcated. One of the bifurcations is pivotted to
an extension of the main binder frame adjacent to the rear face of the knotter driving
disc and the other bifurcation is provided with a friction roller which takes into a cam
groove on the front side of the disc by which the grasper frame is swung up on its
pivot toward the knotter to give sufficient slack to wrap the hooks with the band.
The movable jaw of the grasper is pivotted to the grasper frame so as to swing
a plane at right angles to that of the movement of the grasper frame.
The upper end of the grasper jaw projects upwardly between the bifurcations of the
grasper frame and carries a friction roller which rides on the front face of the knotter
driving disc near the periphery thereof and in the path of the friction roller there
is a suitable cam projection to positively swing the pivotted grasper jaw to both
open and close the jaw. The lower end of the jaw is hooked shaped and bifurcated
and is swung up against a suitable shoulder formed on the grasper frame provided
with a projection fitting between the bifurcations of the grasper jaw, by which the
band is held over the projection. A knife is secured to the frame of the grasper
adjacent to the grasper jaw toward the knotter and as the hooked grasper jaw is
swung outwardly away from the shoulder on the grasper frame, it releases the old
end of the band and catches the new, passing over the new end and pulling it up
against the knife when swung inwardly to sever the band and holding it against
the shoulder on the grasper frame. The new band passes up over the pivotted
grasper jaw as the needle arm descends. A spring is interposed between the
pivotted grasper jaw and the grasper frame and holds the jaw against the band when
the intermittently operated knotter driving disc is at rest.
The spring is interposed between the head of a stud which is journalted in the
movable jaw by a ball and socket joint and a projection cast on the grasper frame
through which projection the stud passes, and through which the stud plays freely as
the jaw is swung on its pivot the ball joint of the stud allowing such play.
The spring occupies such a position with reference to the frame of the grasper
and the pivotted grasper jaw that it has the greatest leverage to force the pivotted
grasper jaw against the band, when the knotter driving disc is at rest and the force
necessary to overcome the action of the spring and open the grasper jaw decreases as
the jaw opens.
In order that the grasper jaw may not push the band before it as the jaw is swung
outwardly, and that the jaw may pass over the band to grasp it in its retrograde
movement on its pivot and to move it inwardly against the knife and the shoulder on
the grasper frame, a notched plate is attached to the grasper frame, on the side
towards the knotter and the band resting in the notch in the plate is prevented from
being pushed outwardly by the grasper jaw.
This part of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1° to 10° in which similar letters
of reference indicate like parts.
Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of the appliances.
Figure 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of the grasp-
ing and band severing mechanism.
Figure 3 is a perspective of the tucker detached.
Figure 4 is a front perspective of the knotter driving disc.

page_text: Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the grasper and band severer broken away.
Figure 6 is a vertical iongitudinal section through a pin which forms part of the
grasper.
Figure 7 is a bird's eye perspective of the knotter.
Figures 8 and 9° are details of the knotter.
Figures 10° is a perspective view of the detaching hook detached.
A is an intermittently operated binder shaft, revolving in bearings on the upper
limb of the binder frame. The frame C also suitably secured to the upper limb of
the binder frame, and has, journalled therein a short supplemental shaft A¹.
The shaft A on its inner or rear end is formed or otherwise provided with a crank
arm, the shaft A¹ has an opposing crank arm and the two crank arms are connected
by the pin a on which the discharging arm is pivotted at about the middle of its
length and is also pivotted to the link a', a second discharging arm being
similarly pivotted to the link a¹ and to the crank arm a², which is shown broken
away. The link a¹ is pivotted to some portion of the machine.
It is evident, from the description, that as the shaft A¹ revolves, the shaft A will
turn with it, and the discharging arm be raised up over the bundle which is formed
beneath the breast plate, and on a further revolution of the shaft A, will eject the
bundle from the machine.
Firmly secured to the shaft A, so as to turn therewith, is the disc B. The disc B
is provided on its rear face with the segmental racks 1, 2, the circular tracks b³, 1A,
projecting out from the face of the disc, and cut away opposite and adjacent to the
segmental racks 1, 62; the opening toward the centre of the disc from the.
segmental racks, and on its periphery with the cam 66.
In the front side of the disc is formed the cam ledges 67, 10, and the projections 68, 6º.
The disc revolves in the direction indicated by the arrow, Figure 1°.
The breast plate C has a slot through which the needle passes in carrying the
cord to the knotter and is bolted to the frame at C3. The knotter frame G is
rigidly secured to frame C by a bolt C2 passing through the hole (4. The frame C
extends forward or out from the shaft A¹ and has pivoted thereto by the pin A¹² the
swinging grasper frame 1'.
The hollow spindle H (see Figure 10) is journalled in the forward end of the
knotter frame G and revolves freely therein, the plate H₁ resting upon the top, of
the knotter frame G. The spindle H carries on its lower end the plate or
detaching hook, and the bevil pinion H2 is secured to the spindle H.
The hollow spindle J passes through the hollow spindle H, and the bevel pinion J
which is secured to the spindle J forms a continuation of and rests upon the bevil
pinion H2 on spindle H.
1
A plate or shoulder J2 similar to plate H₁ is secured to the spindle J. To the
spindle J is secured the hook J³ and detaching hook secured to the lower end of
the spindle H rests upon the upper surface of the hook J³ and is flush with the
shoulder formed on the hook J³.
The
The hook J3 is formed with the notch the projection 3 and the bevelled hook j
at its forward end and on its underside. The spindle K (Figure 5) turns within
the hollow spindle J and its shoulder rests upon the plate J of spindle J.
arm is pinned securely to the spindle K and projects outwardly and downwardly.
A strong spiral spring K³ is secured to the projection j on the spindle J and
surrounding the upper end of the spindle K is also secured to the arm k². The
lower end of the spindle K is formed or provided with a hook K¹ having a notch k
corresponding to the notch in hook J. and the upper face of the hook ik bears
against the under side. of the hook J3 and the spiral spring K5 forces the forward
end of hook K¹ up against the hook j, the spindle K turning freely within the
hollow spindle J. The straight vertical edges of the plates H¹ and J2 resting
respectively on the circular tracks 6 and 63 prevent the spindles to which they are
secured from revolving, except when the pinions H2 and J¹ come in contact with the
racks 62, 6 where the tracks are cut away.
It will be noticed from an inspection of Figure 1° that as the disc B revolves, the

page_text: .
rack 6 will come in contact with the pinion before the rack 62 is in mesh with the
pinion H2, and the pinion H2 will be revolved after the pinion J¹ has ceased to revolve;
and after the hooks and K¹ have come to rest, in order to strip the knot formed
around the hooks therefrom.
The arm projects beyond the pitch line of the pinion J1 and the downwardly
extending portion of arm k³ takes into the opening 6 as the disc B revolves and
inasmuch as the rack b¹ by which the pinion J¹ is driven, is nearer the periphery of
the disc than the opening 65 is, it is evident that the revolution of the spindle K will
be retarded, and the spiral spring K³ be compressed, and that the hook J³ will advance
ahead of the hook K' until the opening 6 has passed the arm 2 when the spring K³
will again force the forward end k* of the hook K' up against the hook. During
this separation of the hooks J3 and K' the grasper ends of the band have been placed
between and as will be more fully hereinafter pointed out.
F is the tucker. It is pivotted on the stud G¹ secured in the knotter frame G and
has the curved arm f³ extending around in front of the knotter and the heel f² which
at the proper time is depressed by the lug 66 on the periphery of the disc B to elevate
the arm and tuck the strands of the band which rest upon its upper surface, between
the hooks J³, K¹.
The grasper frame I is pivoted, as before stated, on the frame C at A¹². Its lower
end (see Figures 2 and 5) is formed with the shoulder e¹ over which the bifurcated
hooked bevilled end of the grasper E passes, one of the forks e, e, passing each side
of the shoulder e'. The side of the grasper frame adjacent to the knotter is provided
with the knife L and the fork adjacent to the knife as it is moved up against the
grasper frame, severs the band against the knife, the band having been caught by the
hooked forks e, e.
The grasper frame I has at its lower end, adjacent to the knotter the projecting
piece e secured thereto, and the projection e² has the notch e³ in which the band rests
when the grasper frame has been swung up toward the knotter, in order that, as the
grasper E is moved outwardly from the frame I it will not push the band with it, so
that the hooked forks e, e, when the grasper E is swung in toward the frame I will
not catch the band which is to be severed and held in the grasper for the succeeding
bundle. The grasper E is pivotted at D³ to the grasper frame I and has a swinging
movement toward the knotter with the frame I and is also swung transversely to the
movement of the frame I.
The grasper frame I has a projection d' through a hole in which the pin d² freely
passes, and the grasper E is also formed with a ball projection which is recessed to
receive the head of the pin d². A spiral spring d' is interposed between the head of
the pin and the projection d' on the frame I and its action is to force the grasper
jaw against the grasper frame. It will be noticed from an inspection of Figure 2
that when the grasper E is moved away from the frame I, the points 12, ds, and d* are
more nearly in line, and that when the grasper is closed the spring d' is given a
greater leverage to keep the grasper E closed, which is that time when its force is
inost needed to hold the band and that by this arrangement less power is required to
open the grasper against the action of he spring d¹.
The grasper E carries on its upper end, above its pivot D³, a friction roller D
which rides on the forward face of the disc B, near its outer edge, and so as to be
actuated by the cams 68 and 6º.
The arm D of the frame I also carries a friction roller d³ which rides between the
cams 67, 610, on the forward end of the disc B. The office of the friction roller and
cams 6,610, is to move the grasper frame up toward the knotter to give sufficient
slack to wrap the hook, and that of the roller D* and cams 68, 69, to open and close the
grasper.
'The cam 68, stands out from the face of the disc B and the friction roller rides over
the cam 6 to open the grasper and then between the face of the disc B and the cam 68
to close the grasper; so that the grasper may be positively closed. Ordinarily the
spring would close the grasper but it is preferred to employ positive mechanism to
both close and open it.

page_text: The operation of this part of the invention is as follows:-
Suppose the devices to be in position as represented in Figure 1° the binding cord
being held between the shoulder e¹ on the frame I and the grasper E, and passing up
over the grasper E, the stripper h which is somewhat in advance of the hook J³ and
down through the needle arin and the tension device. The grain is forced against the
band and a trip mechanism constructed in any suitable well known way until enough
has accumulated to impart motion to the shaft A which causes the binder arm to rise
and encircle the gavel with the band placing it over the detaching hook
on the hook J³.
which rests
As the disc B revolves, the plates H¹, J2 ride upon the tracks 13, 14, and the
pinions H², J', do not revolve until the rack coming in mesh with the pinion J', the
hooks J³ and K' start to revolve ahead of the stripper and the bands are caught in
the notches in the hooks. The projection then carries the bands leading from the
knotter to the grasper over the bands around the bundle, the bands leading to the
grasper slipping down under the knotter and the grasper frame I being moved up
toward the knotter by the cams 67, 610, and friction roller d³. The rack comes in
contact with the pinion H2 and the stripper hook his caused to revolve.
The arm 2 taking into the opening 65 the revolution of the spindle K is retarded
and the hook J advances ahead of the hook K¹ the opening between the hooks being
opposite the grasper so that the projection 66 at this time depressing the heel f²
elevates the arm of the tucker Fand pushes the bands between and j and when
the arm k² has been released from the opening the spring K³ again moves
against clamping the bands between them.
up
After the pinion J' has ceased to revolve the rack 62 is still in mesh with the
pinion H2 and the stripper continues to revolve past the hook J³ in order that it may
push the loop off the hook and over the ends of the band held between it and k* the
under face of the hook K¹ being flush with the hook in order that the loop may
slide therefrom.
At the proper time during the revolution of the knotter hook and the formation of
the knot the roller D' coming in contact with the cam the grasper E is swung
outwardly releasing the old end of the band, and the forks e, e, pass over the main
band, now lying in the notch e³ and the cam 68 then swings the grasper jaw E in the
reverse direction closing it and the main bani is severed by the hooks e, e, against the
knife and held for the succeeding bundle. The discharging arms have during this
operation been moved up back of the bundle to discharge it, in which act the ends of
the band are withdrawn from between and . The needle arm descends and the
machine is brought to a position of rest, ready for the succeeding bundle
The third part of this invention relates to the tripping device and the clutch
mechanism connected therewith by which the packers are brought to rest and the
binding devices started and the latter stopped and the former started.
According to this part of the invention motion is communicated to the packers and
the binding devices by means of a sprocket wheel receiving its motion from some
moving part of the harvester.
This sprocket wheel is formed with two clutch faces on opposite sides thereof and is
loosely mounted on the driving shaft. The outer end of the driving shaft is provided
with a collar formed with a clutch face the collar being secured to the shaft.
A gear
wheel is loosely mounted on the driving shaft and is also formed with a clutch face
and the sprocket wheel is interposed between the clutch collar and the clutch gear.
The driving shaft is provided on its inner end with a gear wheel meshing with a gear
formed upon one of the packer wheels, to which are pivotted near the periphery
thereof, the packer fingers, which as the packer wheels revolve are brought in contact
with a cam secured to the binder frame by which the pivotted packer fingers are held
in contact with the grain upon the binder table and move it forward beneath the
tripping arm, but when the fingers have passed by the cam they do not act upon the
grain but yield backwardly to withdraw therefrom.
The tripping arm is secured to a crank formed on a rock shaft journalled in bearings
in the upper limb of the binder frame a ijacent to the main driving shaft. The rock

page_text: shaft on its outer end is provided with a downwardly extending arm which is secured
to an arm yoked over the clutch gear on the binder driving shaft and between the
clutch gear and some fixed portion of the machine is interposed a spring whose
temiency is to force the clutch gear into engagement with the constantly revolving
sprocket wheel. The clutch gear meshes with a gear secured to the knotter driving
shaft, on the periphery of which is a cam which as the knotter driving shatt revolves
bears against the upwardly extending arm of the yoke and forces the clutch gear from
engagement with the constantly revolving sprocket wheel thereby stopping the binder.
A spring is interposed between the downwardly extending arm of the trip rock shaft
and the yoke and as the clutch gear is being disengaged from the constantly revolving
sprocket wheel a second projection on the knotter driving gear engages a projection
on the yoke and compresses the spiral spring between the lower end of the yoke and
the downwardly extending arm of the rock shaft to which the trip is secured. As the
binder driving gear continues to revolve this spring is suddenly released and continues
the separation of the clutch gear and the constantly revolving sprocket wheel ensuring
a total disengagement thereof.
A short shaft provided on one end with a friction roller and on the other with a
shifter is journalled in the upper limb of the binder frame transverse to its length.
The shifter takes into a groove formed in a collar secured to the main driving shaft
and the roller into a cam formed on the inner face of the knotter driving gear wheel.
As the binder commences to operate, the cam groove operates the shifter to slide the
main driving shaft outwardly or forwardly thereby disengaging the clutch collar from
the constantly revolving sprocket wheel and bringing the main driving shaft to a
position of rest and consequently the packing devices.
As the grain or other crop is forced under the tripping arm by the packers, it raises
the arm against the action of a spring and when the arm has been raised a sufficient
distance the yoke is released from the projection on the periphery of the knotter shaft
driving gear and the spring interposed between the clutch gear and the machine is
free to act to force the clutch gear in engagement with the constantly revolving
sprocket wheel and thereby start the binder.
The main driving shaft may be moved backwardly or inwardly to again bring the
packers into action either by the cam on the knotter shaft driving gear acting upon
the shifter shaft, or by interposing the spring to throw the clutch gear into engage-
ment with the constantly revolving sprocket wheel between the clutch gear and the
grooved collar into which the shifter fork takes. A forked arm is secured to the binder
frame and takes into a groove formed in the hub of the constantly revolving sprocket
wheel to keep the latter in place and prevent its sliding upon the main driving shaft.
According to this part of the Invention, a constantly revolving sprocket wheel
serves to communicate motion to the packing and binding devices. The hub of this
sprocket wheel is provided on either side with a clutch. Through one of these clutches
motion is imparted to the packers, and through the other the knotting and binding
devices are driven. The clutches which serve to communicate motion from the
sprocket wheel to the binding and packing devices are alternately operated to bring
them into and out of engagement with the constantly revolving driver or sprocket
wheel. Under this arrangement the starting of the binding apparatus stops the
packers, and when the binder shaft is nearing the completion of its revolution the
packers are again started to form the succeeding sheaf.
This part of the Invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 10 in which similar letters
of reference indicate like parts.
Referring to these Figures, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying
this part of the invention.
Figure 2b is a side elevation showing the packers, tripping and actuating devices
and the needle arm shaft.
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the lever for sliding the packer shaft to
disengage the clutch secured thereto from the driver, and to consequently stop the packers.
Figure 4b is a side elevation of the clutches and the driver, also showing part of the
tripping device.

page_text: Figure 5 is a vertical section through the driving gear of the binder shaft.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the driving pinions of the binder, and of the
tripping device for arresting the action of the packer.
Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are views in detail of the tripping devices
A is a binder frame of the usual form of construction. In the upper limb which
is formed hollow the packer shaft A' has its bearings. Outwardly extending
offsets A2 A3 and A4 are also cast integral with or secured to the upper limb of the
binder frame. The binder and the discharging arm shaft is journalled in the
offsets A2 A3 and A. The lower limb of the binder fran.e forms a journal bearing for
the needle arm shaft B to the forward end of which is secured a crank arm B¹, on a
stud in which and on a stud eccentrically secured to the gear wheel is pivotted
a pitman through which the necessary reciprocating movement is imparted to the
needle by the revolution of the gear wheel C to place the band around the centre of
the bundle.
The packer shaft A¹ extends forwardly beyond the vertical binder post, and carries
pinned or otherwise rigidly secured thereto a clutch collar a provided with the clutch
teeth a¹. The sprocket wheel D is loosely mounted on the packer shaft next to the
clutch collar a. The hub of the sprocket wheel is provided on either side with the
clutch faces a¹ d¹ and the inner side of the hub of the sprocket wheel is formed with
the circumferential groove d² into which takes a nose piece P rigidly fastened to the
binder frame, so as to hold the sprocket wheel always in the same vertical plane. The
sprocket wheel runs constantly and is driven by a sprocket chain running from some
suitable constantly running sprocket wheel on the harvester.
Loosely mounted on the packer shaft A¹ is a pinion a² formed with the clutch
teeth a³ to engage with the clutch teeth d' of the sprocket wheel or driver D. The
gear wheel (which is secured to the binder shatt, and through which shaft motion is
communicated to the knotting devices and the discharge arms mesh with the pinion a²
and when the clutch teeth of the latter are in engagement with the clutch teeth d¹ of
sprocket D the gear wheel C is caused to revolve. The packer shaft A' carries on its
rear end a gear wheel or pinion & which meshes with a gear wheel secured to a
shaft which carries the disc 62 62 to which are pivotted the packer fingers which,
coming in contact with the grain delivered by the harvester, compact it against the
tripping arm. It is evident that when the clutch collar a is in engagement with the
clutch teeth a' of the sprocket wheel D, the shaft A¹ will be driven, thereby imparting
motion to the packers. Securely pinned to the shaft A' is a collar a between which
and the clutch pinion a² is interposed a spiral spring a¹³. Journalled in the offset A*
is a lever F which is bent at 12 and carries a friction roller, which takes into a cam
groove on the wheel C. The other end of the lever carries a yoke which fits over
the shaft A¹ and bears against the face of the collar a*. The cam groove f* is
depressed at f and into this depression the roller f rests when the packers are in
operation.
Gis the trip shaft, suitably journalled in the binder frame, and carrying the tripping
arm G which overhangs the binding receptacle, and against which the crop is forced
to start the binding devices and stop the packers. The forward end of the tripping
shaft has secured thereto a downwardly projecting arm H which arm carries at its
upper end the segmental piece provided with the adjusting teeth h¹.
A spiral
spring is coiled around the shaft and one end abuts against the binder frame,
and the other against one of the several adjusting teeth. The lower end of the
arm H carries a pin or stud 3 on which is loosely mounted the lower end of the
yoke H¹ which extending upwardly fits over the hub of the gear wheel a² and abuts
against the collar a turned or otherwise formed on the gear wheel. The gear wheel C
is provided on either side with nuptions or, lugs c c and as the gear wheel Ürevolves
these nuptions c c come respectively in contact with the projections of the
yoke H A strong spiral spring H² is interposed between the lower end of the
yoke H and a washer pinned on the end of the stud.
The operation of this part of the Invention is as follows:―
Supposing the parts to be in the position shown in Figure 1 the collar on the end

page_text: of the shaft A¹ having its clutch teeth in contact or engagement with the clutch teeth
on the bub of the sprocket wheel D, and the clutch teeth on the pinion a² out of
engagement with the clutch teeth d¹. The packer shaft A¹ through the clutch
collar a fast thereto will be revolved, and the packers will thereby be driven. As
soon however as sufficient grain has been forced by the packers underneath the
tripping arm G' to depress the arm H thereby forcing the yoke H' from the lug or
nuption the spring a will be free to act, and will force pinion a² forwardly so that
its clutch teeth will engage with the clutch teeth and the pinion will commence to
revolve, thereby imparting motion to the gear wheel C. As soon as the gear wheel C
starts, the cani will raise the friction ruller f out of the depression f, and the
yoke f being thereby forced against the collar a fast to the shaft A¹ will slide the
shaft forwardly, disengaging the clutch collar a from the clutch teeth a' and
the packers will come to rest. It will be noticed from the abruptness of the cam
groove at that the initial movement of the gear wheel will bring the packers
to rest, and a clear space is afforded in the nelle arm in its ascent to bring the band
around the bundle. As the gear wheel continues its revolution, the knot tyer and
the discharge arms will be actuated to bind the bundle and eject it from the machine.
As the gear wheel C is nearing the completion of the revolution, the lug or nuption c
will come in contact with the portion ³ and the nuption c with the portion h*. The
nuptione is wedge shaped, as shown and is adapted to move the clutch pinion a² out
of engagement with the clutch teeth d¹. As soon however as the portion 6 bears
on the nuption e¹ the wedge shaped nuption c as the gear wheel C revolves will force
the lower end of the yoke H¹ outwardly or forwardly thereby compressing the spiral
Spring H2.
As soon as the portion has been released from the nuption c the
spring H2 will be permitted to act suddenly, thereby overcoming the spring a¹³,
13 than
which it is stronger, and the clutches a³ and d¹ will be totally disengaged.
The shaft A¹ will be also moved rearwardly and the clutch collar a brought into
ngagement with the sprocket wheel clutch a¹, the roller fagain falling into the
depression and the packers again started and the binder stopped, ready for the
accumulation of the succeeding sheaf, and the succeeding operation of the tripping
device. It will be noticed that the nuption c¹ acts as a fulcrum for the yoke lever H¹
in compressing the spiral spring H².
The compression of the spiral spring a¹s throws the packer shaft backwardly, so
that the clutch collar a is again brought into engagement with the clutch teeth a¹ and
the roller again caused to drop into the depression fo.
The Fourth part of this invention relates to the compressor and drop board.
According to this part of the invention the support to which the drop board is secured
is pivotted on the shaft mounted at the outer edge of the binder platform independently
of the binder driving mechanism.
The drop board support extends below the shaft and is connected by a link
with the forward end of an arm pivotted to the machine beneath the binder platform.
A projection is formed on the heel of the needle arm to engage with this last
mentioned pivotted arm in order to cause the drop board, and with it the compressor,
to fall to permit the discharge of the bundle and also to again raise the compressor,
and drop board into an upright position after the discharge of the bundle ready
for the succeeding operation. The pivotted arm beneath the binder platform is con-
nected to the drop board and compressor support by a link, thereby forming a toggle
joint which locks the compressor and drop board in an upright position. It will
be evident that this arrangement of parts does away with much mechanism which
it is necessary to use under the present construction of Grain Binders to impart the
desired movement to the compressor and drop board.
This part of the Invention is illustrated in Figures 1ª to 9 in which similar letters
of reference indicate like parts. In these drawings only so much of an automatic
binder is shown as is necessary to illustrate this part of the invention.
Figure 1 is a rear elevation, the compressor and drop board being in the position
they occupy during the formation and binding of the bundle and the needle arm
being in a position of rest beneath the binding platform.

page_text: Figure 2 is a rear elevation the needle arm being snown as descending and
compressor and drop board being shown as having partly fallen.
Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the needle arm, compressor, and drop board, during
the discharge of the bundle.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8ª, 9ª are detail views.
E is the vertical post of the usual binder frame, in the lower horizontal limb of
which the needle arm shaft has its bearings. Secured to the rear end of the
shaft F is the needle arm G. C is the binder platform, and D a hinged cleat
forming part of such binder platform, the needle arm ascending through a slot in the
hinged cleat, to place the twine in the knotter jaws. A is one of the cross supports
of the binder platform C. Firmly secured to the forward end of the sill A is the
casting H extending upwardly and supporting the binding platform. The casting H
is formed with the bearing for the short shaft hand extending rearwardly forms a
bearing for the needle arm shaft and the rocking arm O. (see Figures 1ª, 2ª and 3a).
Mounted on the shaft h secured in casting H is the casting I (see Figure 2) which
is permitted a rocking motion on shaft h, as will hereinafter be more fully explained.
The hole Figure 6 passes over the shaft h. Casting I is provided with the
holes by which the drop board J is secured to I. The compressor K (see
Figure 7) is connected at k to the arm of the casting I. A pin passes through
the hole in the rod L and through the hole in the compressor, having a longi-
tudinal slot for the reception of the head of the rod L which extends forwardly
through the holes in I. The rod L is formed with the lugs or shoulders, which,
being brought in register with the slots 10 permit the rod L to be inserted through
the hole and the lugs 19710 being turned out of register prevent the rod L from
escaping from I, permitting the rod a movement toward I by compressing the
spring M interposed between the compressor or post K and casting I. The pin or
rod L is provided with two or more holes 7, 11, in order to diminish or increase the
size of the binding receptacle. To the casting H at o is pivotted the rocking arm
and its forward end is connected to the casting I by the link L' (see Figure 4* and 5ª)
the link being secured in the hole of the downwardly projecting ear. The
arm on the inner end is provided with the spring cam projection P (see
Figure 4). The spring cam P is pivotted to the arn O by the longitudinal pivot p
and is formed with the stop p2 (Figure 9) fitting over the arm O, and limiting the
movement of the spring cam in one direction.
Between a downwardly projecting ear p³ on cam P and the lug o' cast on O is
interposed the spiral spring 02.
The arm O is furthermore provided with the friction roller (see Figure 5).
Secured to the needle arm is the casting R by the bolt g and curved slot g¹ in R
by which construction the casting R can be adjusted in relation to the needle arm.
The casting R is on the side of the needle arm adjacent to the rocking arm O and is
formed with the downwardly extending projection on the convex surface of which
the roller rides, its purpose being to secure a gradual descent of the compressor
and drop board contemporaneous with the needle arm.
The casting R is also provided with the friction roller r which operates the rocking
arm O. The casting H is formed with the stop h' see Figure 24 against which the
forward end of the rocking arm O abuts when in position shown in Figure 1ª, and
when in this position the attachınent of the link L' to arm O is below a line joining
the points and ; or past the centre of the toggle joint formed by O and L,
and consequently any movement of the compressor or post K backwardly only
tends to force the forward end of the arm O against the stop /¹.
It will be observed that by forming the casting H with a bearing for the needle
arm shaft, the pivot of the arm Ŏ, and for the shaft h that the devices are
always kept in proper position as regards one another and are not liable to
displacement.
The operation of the device is as follows:-Suppose the parts to be in position
represented in Figure 1ª, the compressor, or post and drop board being locked in the
position therein shown by the toggle joint which has been moved past the centre.
o

page_text: The grain is forced by a system of packers (not shown in drawings) against the
compressor and beneath an automatic tripping lever until sufficient has accumulated
to overcome the trip, and the needle armi G is set in motion in any well known way
and compresses the bundle against K which is permitted a yielding movement back-
wardly (to accomodate an unusually large bundle) against the spring M. During the
upward movement of the needle arm the friction roller secured to the casting R
strikes against the inclined face of the cam P and forces it away from the needle arm,
compressing the spring o² and the lock at the joint is not disturbed. After the sheaf
has been bound, the friction roller r strikes the upper edge of the cam P moved
in its path by spring o² and forces the inner end of arm O downwardly and its outer
end upwardly, thereby overcoming the lock and permitting the post K and drop
board J to fall; and the roller riding on the convex surface of the projection 21 the
downward movement of the post K and drop board J is prevented from taking place,
too quickly, and is made in the same time as that of the needle arm. When the post
and drop board have fallen the discharger F¹ (see Figure 3) eliminates the bundle
from the machine. As the needle arm continues its descent after the discharge of the
bundle, the friction roller bears upon the arm O forward of its pivot o and forces it
downward, and locks it against the stop h¹ ready for the succeeding gavel.
2°
It will be noticed that the compressor and drop board are not connected with any
of the moving parts of the binder, but are maintained in an upright position by the
lock, and that no power is taken from any of the moving parts of the machine to keep
them in an upright position against the force exerted by the needle arm in compressing
the bundle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim as new under the first part of the said Invention is :---
1. The combination with the single endless apron running over rollers at the top
and bottom of the incline, and a roller at the grain side of the horizontal platform, of
means substantially as described for positively driving the rollers.
2. The combination with the positively driven roller at the grain side of the
horizontal platform, of the clearer board A substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with the roller at the top of the incline, and the conveyor apron
running over the roller, of the butter board H, located above the roller, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
4. The combination with the underlying conveyor of the overhanging seat support
and the float suspended from the seat support, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
5. The combination with the beater roller, and the float, of the clearer rods sur-
rounding the beater roller, and extending up the incline beneath the float, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
6. The combination with the single endless apron, of the guide c attached to the
front of the machine, and bevelled or inclined as described.
7. The float herein described, consisting of two frames pivotally connected together,
and spring pressers at or near their upper ends, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
8. The combination with the single endless conveyor, of the hinged board A* and
the float overhanging from the front of the machine, and adapted to press the crop
down upon the apron during the elevation of the crop, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
9. The combination with the single endless apron, of the butter, located at the
angle where the apron begins to ascend the elevator, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
Under the Second part of the Invention
10. The combination of the revolving knotter hook and the revolving stripper hook
concentrically mounted with the knotter hook, substantially as and for the purpose

page_text: 11. The combination of the upper and lower jaws of the knotter, a spring to cause
the lower jaw to revolve with the upper jaw, an arm attached to the spindle of the
lower jaw, the knotter driving disc and a stop thereon to delay the revolution of
the lower jaw, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
12. The combination of the swinging grasper frame, its transversely swinging
grasper jaw, and the knotter driving disc, adapted to both positively reciprocate the
grasper frame and the grasper jaw, as specified.
13. The combination with the swinging grasper jaw E of a sliding pin articulating
with the grasper frame by a ball and socket joint, and a spring interposed between
the head of the pin and the grasper frame.
Under the Third part of the Invention:-
14. The combination with a constantly revolving driver loose on its shaft, and
provided on either side with clutching mechanism, of a clutch rigidly secured to
the packer driving shaft, a clutch pinion also mounted loosely with the driver on
the packer driving shaft, and meshing with the binder driving gear, and mechanism
substantially as described for alternately sliding the packer driving shaft and the
clutch pinion loose on said shaft, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
15. The combination with the packer driving shaft sliding longitudinally in its
bearings, of a constantly revolving driver, provided with a clutch face mounted
loosely on the shaft; a clutch collar fast on the shaft, the binder shaft, and mechanism
circumstanstially as described connected with the binder shaft for sliding the packer
driving shaft as and for the purpose specified.
16. In combination with binder driving gear wheel having lugs on either side, a
yoke pivotted on the clutch pinion for driving the binder driving gear wheel, the
upper end of the yoke having lugs to engage the lugs on the binder driving gear,
and a spring interposed between the lower end of the yoke and the tripping shaft,
when a revolution of the gear wheel compresses the spring, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
Under the Fourth part of the Invention
17. The combination of the compressor post, a rocking arm forming therewith a
toggle joint, and a needle arm adapted to break the lock of the toggle joint on its
initial descent, and on its further descent to again lock the toggle.
18. The combination of the compressor post, a rocking drop board support,
a spring between the compressor and the drop board, the toggle joint to lock the
compressor in an upright position, and a needle arm adapted to break the lock
on its initial descent, and on its further descent to lock the post in an upright
position.
19. The combination of the compressor post, a toggle joint connection therewith,
a needle arm adapted to cause the post to fall through the breaking of the lock,
of a toggle joint and a projection on the needie arm to delay the fall of the compressor,
as specified.
20. The combination with the toggle joint and the needle arm, of the stop / as and
for the purpose specified.