IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Marshall, of Gainsborough, in the County of
Lincoln, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING
MACHINES AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 1st September 1876, and dated the 18th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Marshall at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th March 1876.
<<
IM-
JAMES MARSHALL, of Gainsborough, in the County of Lincoln, Engineer.
PROVEMENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
These improvements relate to appliances for cutting the bands of sheaves, and in
feeding the sheaves thus cut and loosed into thrashing machines by mechanical
means.
According to the first part of my improvements for cutting the bands I employ
revolving steel discs with serrated edges; these are fixed in a convenient position
under the feed board, and are driven by bevil wheels, belts, or other suitable
mechanism from the other revolving parts of the machine. These discs are arranged
to overlap each other, and the feed board is constructed in two parts, the upper
portion being fixed on a hinge with suitable springs between it and the lower board.
The discs work through the lower feed board, and the upper board, which is
shorter than the lower one, comes up to the edge of the discs, thus a depression of
the upper board exposes the sheaf to the action of the discs, cutting the band as it
passes forward on to the lower feed board.
To carry the sheaves past the discs and ensure the bands being cut, either a
ribbed or irregular shaped roller or revolving cam is placed over the upper board in
such a way as to exert a slight pressure on each sheaf, and carry it forward to the
feeder.
The mechanical feeder constructed and arranged in accordance with my Invention
consists of a revolving roller fitted with spikes arranged in proximity to the lower
feed board, and as the loosened sheaves fall on this board they are carried round by
the spiked roller towards a line of oscillating forks, which spread out the grain
regularly in its passage to the thrashing drum. These oscillating forks are readily
adjustible to suit the various descriptions of grain.
The band cutting apparatus previously described may be used either in com-
bination with this or any other suitable mechanical feeder.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Marshall in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
September 1876.
JAMES MARSHALL, of Gainsborough, in the County of Lincoln, Engineer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
These improvements relate to mechanical appliances for cutting the bands of
sheaves of wheat and other grain, and in feeding the sheaves thus cut and loosed
into thrashing machines by mechanical means.
According to the first part of my improvements for cutting the bands I employ
revolving steel discs with serrated edges; these are fixed in a convenient position
under the feed board, and are driven by bevil wheels, belts, or other suitable
mechanism from the other revolving parts of the machine. These discs are arranged
to overlap cach other, and the feed board is constructed in two parts, the upper
portion being fixed on a hinge with suitable springs between it and the lower board.
The discs work through the lower feed board, and the upper board, which is shorter
than the lower one, comes up to the edge of the discs, thus a depression of the upper
board exposes the sheaf to the action of the discs, cutting the band as it passes
forward on to the lower foed board.
To carry the sheaves past the discs and ensure the bands being cut, either a
ribbed or irregular shaped roller or revolving cam is placed over the upper board in
such a way as to exert a slight pressure on each sheaf, and carry it forward to the
feeder.
The mechanical feeder constructed and arranged in accordance with my Invention
consists of a revolving roller fitted with spikes arranged in proximity to the lower
feed board, and as the loosened sheaves fall on this board they are carried round by
the spiked roller towards a line of oscillating forks, which spread out the grain
regularly in its passage to the thrashing drum. These oscillating forks are readily
adjustable to suit the various descriptions of grain.
The band cutting apparatus previously described may be used either in com-
bination with this or any other suitable mechanical feeder.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into practice I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation; Figure 3, a sectional
side elevation; Figure 2, an end elevation; Figure 4, an inverted plan of the feed
board or table; and Figure 5 shows the flyer or roller to be used in lieu of or in
conjunction with the hood.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The feed board a is fitted with a
second board b, hinged at one edge, and held up a short distance from the lower
board by a spiral spring c. Under the main feed board, and projecting through it,
are fixed three revolving steel discs with serrated edges, marked d², d², and d³; these
run in opposite directions and overlap each other, and a revolving motion is com-
municated to these discs from the other mechanism. The attendant picks up the
sheaves with an ordinary fork or otherwise, and drops them on the lower edge of
the upper board. The weight of the sheaf compresses the spiral spring c, and thus
allows the band of the sheaf to come in contact with the then projecting revolving
discs ;
these cut the band and allow the sheaf to fall forward on to the lower
board a, when it is carried on to the feeder by means of the revolving prongs e.
When the feeder is required to work on loose grain that is not bound into sheaves
the belt driving the disc spindles is taken off, and the upper board b is fixed in its
highest position by means of the handle and screw f, and thus becomes a rigid plat-
form for the grain to pass over.
The feeder consists of a revolving toothed barrel g, over which a set of adjustable
oscillating prongs h work. Over the feeder is placed a light sheet-iron hood i, held

page_text: up by spiral springs j, and any one falling over the apparatus depresses this hood,
which thus protects the cutting discs. An arrangement is also made for holding
down the hood in the position shown in Figure 3 when the machine is not working.
In lieu of or in conjunction with the hood above described a ribbed or irregular
shaped flyer or roller may be used, as shown in Figure 5. This mechanism protects
the discs, and also carries forward the sheaf to the feeder.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice, what I claim is,-
First. The use and application of revolving discs for cutting the bands of sheaves
in connection with the feeding apparatus of thrashing machines, substantially in the
manner herein-before described and represented in the Drawings annexed.
Second. I claim the arrangement and application of the spring boards over the
discs, and the mechanism connected therewith, substantially as and for the purposes
herein-before described and shown in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Third. The improved arrangement and construction of the spiked roller for feeding
thrashing machines in combination with the oscillating prongs for spreading out the
grain, substantially in the manner herein-before described and shown in the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
In witness wheroof, I, the said James Marshall, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness to the signature of the said
James Marshall,
FRANK G. WILEMAN,
Landsfield Lane,
Gainsborough.
JAMES MARSHALL. (L.S.)