AN IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR BINDING GRAIN
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Sheldon, of the City and County of New Haven,
State of Connecticut, United States of America, Lawyer, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR BINDING GRAIN."-A communica-,
tion by Albert Goodyear, of Hamdin, in the County of New Haven, and
State of Connecticut, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Sheldon at the.
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd.
September 1865.
I, JOSEPH SHELDON, of the City and County of New Haven, State of Con-
necticut, United States of America, Lawyer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR BINDING GRAIN,".
a communication to me by Albert Goodyear, of Hamdin, in the County of
New Haven, and State of Connecticut, United States of America, to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in machinery for bundling and
binding grain, and consists in automatic mechanism which first twists a. band
of straw, then gathers the grain into a bundle, places the said twisted straw

page_text: band around the said bundle, twisting the two ends of the said bands together
to secure the bundle in similar manner as is usually done by hand.
To enable others to construct and use the machine I will proceed to
describe the same, as illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, which repre-
sent in Fig. 1 a plan or top view; Fig. 2 a front side view; Fig. 8 a back
side view; Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 detached views to illustrate the
forming of the band; Fig. 11 a sectional view, and Fig. 12 a plan view
illustrating the transfer of the band from the place of formation to place of
use; Figs. 13 and 14 the gathering of the grain into a bundle preparatory to
binding; Figs. 15, 16, and 17 securing the band around the bundle, and in
Fig. 18 discharging the bound bundle from the machine. Similar letters
indicate corresponding parts.
A is the frame or bed of the machine, which may be attached to or made
a part of an ordinary reaping machine; B, the driving shaft, supported and
made to revolve in proper bearings C; D is the platform upon which the
grain is placed (automatically from the reaper or otherwise) so as to lie across
the opening in the platform D; E is a box which contains the straw, from which
the band is to be made, and shown in section in Figs. 5 and 6. Through the
said box E is placed a shaft F, provided with fingers a, as seen in Figs. 5, 6,
and 7; this shaft F is made to revolve through the action of a pawl H, operated
by the stud c on the wheel G (see Fig. 1) through the lever d, each revolution
of the wheel G moving the said pawl H from the position in 'black to' that
denoted in red, Fig. 4. In this movement the pawl catches and turn's the
toothed wheel e, which is fixed to. the shaft F, one-fourth round (more or
less), in which movement of the said shaft F a portion of the straw in the
box E is caught by the fingers a, and drawn down from the box, and falls
upon the rack below as denoted in blue, Fig. 5. I is the box in which the
band is formed, and traverses from below the box E, where the band is
formed (as seen in Figs. 11 and 12), to the open
seen in the said Figs. 11 and 12, in red; the said box I is moved by the
action of the cam K, through the levers L, M, N, O, and, in their. operation
moving from the position in black to that denoted in red, see, Fig. 11. As
the said box I returns from its position in red to that in black, (see Fig. 11)
a stud f strikes the lever g, moving it from the position in red to that denoted
in black, which said lever. 9, acting upon the shaft h, turns the said shaft h,
upon which are several fingers i (see Fig. 5), to the position denoted in Fig. 6,
thus. carrying the straw (denoted in blue) from the rack (see Fig. 5) down
into the box J, as denoted in blue, Fig. 6; thus placed in the box one end of
the straw.is grasped by the clasp P, see Fig. 8, the said clasp, is attached to a
space in the platform, as

page_text: lever B; see Figs. 12 and 13. As the box. I comes to the position denoted
in black, Fig. 11; the said clasp P comes against the spring m, which opens
it to the position denoted in black, Fig. 8, and is released to close upon the
straw by the lever'n, bearing down the said spring m, as denoted in red,
Fig. 8; the said lever n is moved to operate thus by a stud r on the wheel R,
the said clasp closing by the action of the spring s, see Fig. 9, this secures
one end of the straw preparatory to twisting the band. At the opposite end
of the box I, see Fig. 9, is placed a twister T, see Fig. 10, which is made to
revolve through the pinion U coming in contact with the toothed wheel W,
see Fig. 12, which said toothed wheel W is made to revolve by a belt running
from the wheel G; the twister T (see Fig. 12), revolving in the direction
denoted by the arrow, gathers the straw with its several teeth or fingers; and
twists the straw 'so long as it' is made to revolve; when sufficiently twisted a
pawl t serves to prevent the band from untwisting; thus completed, the band
is carried by the movement of the box I before described to the open space in
the platform D. Connected with the said box I, and travelling with it, is
placed the gatherer A¹, upon the outer end of which the twister T is fixed's.
Upon the opposite side of the box I is placed the lever B', to which the
clasp P is fixed; the' gatherer 'A' is fixed to a square shaft C', see Fig. 14;
which by the action of the cam. D', through a lever E', and chain wheel F¹,
upon the said shaft C¹; is caused to inake a partial revolution as denoted in
red; Fig. 14; carrying with it the gatherer A¹, and twister T, which holds'one
end of the band to the position denoted in red, Fig. 13, by which movement
of the gatherer the grain lying upon the platform is collected within the curved
part of the said gatherer and pressed into a bundle against the posts G; a
second lever or gatherer A is attached to the shaft: C upon the opposite side
of the box I, see Fig. 12, to aid in gathering the grain. A lever B³, see
Figs. 1 and 14, is secured to the shaft C¹; and turned with the said shaft"
until it' is passed over sufficiently to allow the lever C, see Fig. 14, to be
'drawn down upon it in order to' add to the pressure applied to compress the
bundle; the lever C is operated by the cam D³, through the lever F" (see
Fig. 12), by the same movement of the said" shaft C¹, the lever B' with- the
clasp P holding the other end of the band' is carried up to the position
denoted in blue," Fig. 13: The diagonal position in which the box I is placed,
5 and the relative position which the twister T and the clasp P thereby have"
to each other, is such that when the twister and 'clasp are carried to the
position denoted in Fig. 13, the two ends of the band will be carried to
opposite sides of a second twister H', seen in Figs. 2 and 15. The said
twister H' is caused to revolve. by a band from the wheel R, as seen in

page_text: Figs. 1 and 3, the fingers of the twister H' revolving in the direction denoted by
the arrow will catch the two ends of the band drawing them from the
twister T and clasp P, will twist them, together, and when sufficiently twisted
the hand I, see Figs. 15, 16, and 17, will by the action of the cam K³,
through the lever, L', be turned from the position denoted in Fig. 16 to that
in Fig. 17, and tuck the twisted ends under the band in similar manner as
would be done by hand. When the grain is thus bound, the gatherer, with
the twister T and clasp P, return to the position denoted in black, Fig. 13,
by the action of the cam L, thence the box I with the gatherer and other
parts attached are moved back as before described; to receive and twist a
second band; while the bundle thus bound is left upon, the traps E2 for the
operation of the said trap, see Fig. 18; the said traps are hinged to the frame
at a³, and are supported in; the position denoted in -black by levers F, see
Fig. 8, attached to a shaft G, upon which a spring. denoted in red supports
the traps E, as the lever n descends to release the clasp P as before described;
it (the lever n) strikes the lever H³ on the said shaft G (see Fig. 1), and
turns the said shaft with. its levers F³, and with them the traps E to the
position denoted in red, Fig. 18, which movement of the traps Es permits the
bundle of grain to fall through the platform to the ground beneath, this done,
the release of the lever n from the action. of the stud r, see, Fig. 8, permits 2
the traps by the action of the spring on the shaft G³.to, return to, the position
in black, Fig. 18. When sufficient quantity of grain for a second, bundle:
being placed upon the platform, D as before-described, will, by the continuous
action of the machine be gathered up, bundled, bound, and dropped in like,
manner as the first described, and so continue; so long; as the machine is in 2
motion, and grain supplied thereto. I have described the band as 'clasped
firmly at one end, while the twister T twists at the other end, but a: twister.
may be used at both ends. The machine. may be attached, to an ordinary.
reaper, and receive its power therefrom; or it may be used independent of, a
reaper, power being applied in any convenient or known manner, which will. 3
readily suggest itself to those skilled in the, use of machinery. Many; off-the:
parts of the machine may be changed to improve or modify, the mechanical
workings thereof without changing the general principle herein described.
have described the machine as jautomatically receiving the straw which is to,
form the band, instead of which the straw may be placed in the box I by s
hand. For the convenience or comfort of; the operator a seat, may be applied,
to the platform.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said. Joseph Sheldon, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
March 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
SHELDON, of the City and County of New Haven, State of Connecticut, United
States of America, Lawyer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her,
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Joseph Sheldon, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph Sheldon, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Sheldon, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no,
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully. might make, use; exercise, and vend;. within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and;
Isle of Man, an Invention for." AN IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR BINDING
GRAIN," a communication to me by Albert Goodyear, of Hamdin, in the County-
of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, United States of America, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Sheldon, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed; and.
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Sheldon, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-.
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):
This Invention relates to improvements in machinery for bundling and
binding grain, and consists in automatic mechanism which first twists a band
of straw, then gathers the grain into a bundle, places the said twisted straw
band around the said bundle, twisting the two ends of the said bands together to
secure the bundle in similar manner; as is usually done by hand. To enable others
to construct and use the machine, I will proceed to describe the same as illus-
trated in the accompanying, Drawings, which represent in Fig. 1, a plan or top
view; Fig. 2, a front side view; Fig. 3, a back side view; Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9; and 10, detached views to illustrate the forming of the band; Fig. 11, a

page_text: sectional view; and Fig. 12, a plan view illustrating the transfer of the band
from the place of formation to place of use; Figs. 13 and 14, the gathering
of the grain. into a bundle preparatory to binding; Figs. 15, 16, and 17,
securing the band around the bundle, and in Fig. 18 discharging the bound
bundle from the machine. Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.
.
A is the frame or bed of the machine, which may be attached to or made
part of an ordinary reaping machine; B, the driving shaft, supported and.
made to revolve in proper bearings C; D is the platform upon which the grain
is placed (automatically from the reaper or otherwise), so as to lie across the
opening in the platform D. E is a box which contains the straw from which
the band is to be made, and shewn in section in Figs. 5 and 6. Through the
said box E is placed a shaft F, provided with fingers a, as seen in Figs. 5, 6,
and 7. This shaft F is made to revolve through the action of a pawl H-
operated by the stud c on the wheel G (see Fig. 1), through the lever d, each,
revolution of the wheel G moving the said pawl H from the position in black.
to that denoted in red, Fig. 4. In this movement the pawl catches and turns.
the toothed wheel e, which is fixed to the shaft F one-fourth round (more or.
Jess), in which movement of the said shaft F, a portion of the straw in the
box E is caught by the fingers a, and drawn down from the box, and falls
upon the rack below, as denoted in blue, Fig. 5. I is the box in which the s
band is formed, and traverses from below the box E, where the band is formed
(as seen in Figs. 11 and 12) to the open space in the platform (as seen in the.
said Figs. 11 and 12 in red); the said box I is moved by the action of the.
m K, through the levers L, M, N, O, in their operation moving from.
the position in black to that denoted in red, see Fig. 11. As the said
box I returns from its position in red to that in black (see, Fig. 11), a stud f.
strikes the lever g, moving it from the position in red to that denoted in black,
which said lever 9, acting upon the shaft h, turns the said shaft h, upon which
are several fingers i (see Fig. 5) to the position denoted in Fig. 6, thus carry-
ing the straw (denoted in blue) from the rack (see Fig. 5) down into the
'box I, as denoted in blue Fig. 6; thus placed in the box one end of the straw
is grasped by the clasp P; see Fig. 8, the said clasp is attached to a lever B',
-see Figs. 12 and 13. As the box I comes to the position denoted in black,
Fig. 11, the said clasp P comes against the spring m, which opens it to the
position denoted in black, Fig. 8, and is released to close upon the straw by
the lever n bearing down the said spring m, us denoted in red, Fig. 8;
the said lever n is moved to operate thus by a stud r on the wheel R, the said
clasp closing by the action of the spring s, see Fig. 9; this secures one end
. of the straw preparatory to twisting the band. At the opposite end.of.the.

page_text: box I, see Fig. 9, is placid a twister T, see Fig. 10, which is made to revolve
through the pinion U coming in contact, with the toothed wheel W,.see Fig. 12;
which said toothed wheel W is made to revolve by a belt running from
the wheel G; the twister T. (see Fig. 12), revolving in the direction denoted
by the arrow, gathers the straw, with its several teeth or fingers, and twists the: .
straw so long as it is made to revolve. When sufficiently twisted &: pawlt
serves to prevent the band from untwisting, thus completed the band is carried
by the movement of the box. I before described, to the open space in the plat-
form D. Connected with the said box I, and travelling with it, is placed the
gatherer A', upon the outer.end of which the twister T is fixed; upon the...
opposite side of the box I is placed the lever B¹, to.which the clasp P is.fixed.;
the gatherer, A¹ is. fixed to a square shaft C¹, see Fig. 14, which by the action
of the cam D¹ through a lever E¹ and chain wheel F! upon the said shaft C¹-
is caused to make a partial revolution, as denoted in red, Fig. 14, carrying
with it the gatherer A', and twister T, which holds one end of the band to, the
position denoted in. red, Fig. 13, by, which movement of the gatherer the grain
lying upon the platform is collected within the curved part of the said gatherer,
and pressed into a bundle against the posts G; a second lever or gatherer A².
is attached to the shaft C¹ upon the opposite side of the box I, see Fig. 12,
to aid in gathering the grain.. A lever B³, see Figs. 1 and 14, is secured.to:
the shaft C¹ and turned with the said shaft until it is passed over sufficiently to:
allow the lever C³, see Fig. 14, to be drawn down upon it in order. to add to:
the pressure applied to compress the bundle. The lever Cs is operated by..the.
cam D through the lever. F* (see Fig. 12) by the same movement of the:
said shaft C; the lever B¹, with the clasp. P, holding .the other. end of the:
band, is carried up to the position denoted. in blue, Fig. 18. The diagonal
position in which the box I is placed, and the relative position which the twister,
Tand the clasp P thereby have to each other, is such that when the twister.
and clasp are carried to the position denoted in Fig. 13, the two ends of. the,
band will be carried to opposite sides of a second twister H', seen in Figs. 2
and 15. The said twister H¹ is caused to revolve.by a band from the wheel R,
as seen in Figs. 1 and 3; the fingers of the twister H³ revolving in the direc-.
tion denoted by the arrow, will catch the two ends of the band; drawing. them
from the twister. T and clasp. P, will twist them together, and when sufficiently.
twisted the hands I', see Figs. 15, 16, and 17, will, by the action of the cam.
K through the lever L, be turned from the position denoted: in Fig. 16. to
that in Fig. 17, and tuck the twisted ends under the.band in similar manner.
as would be done by hand. When the grain is thus bound the gatherer with
the twister T and clasp P return to the position denoted in black, Fig...18, by,.
:

page_text: the action of the cam L³, thence the box I with the gatherer and other parts
attached, are moved back as before-described to receive and twist a second
band, while the bundle thus bound is left upon the traps E² for the operation
of the said trap, see Fig. 18. The said traps are hinged to the frame at a³, and
are supported in the position denoted in black by levers F³, see Fig. 3, attached
to a shaft G, upon which a spring denoted in red' supports the traps E;.as
the lever n descends to release the clasp P; as before described, it (the lever n)
strikes the lever H on the said shaft G³ (see Fig. 1), and. turns. the said
shaft with its levers F, and with them the traps E2, to the position denoted
in red, Fig. 18,..which movement of the traps E permits. the bundle of grain
to fall through the platform to the ground. beneath; this done the release of
the lever n from the action of the stud r, see Fig. 8, permits. the traps, by,
the action of the spring on the shaft G,. to return to the position in black,
Fig. 18, when sufficient quantity of grain for a second bundle being placed.
upon the platform D, as before described, will by the continuous action of the
machine. be gathered up, bundled, bound, and, dropped in like manner as the
first described, and so continue so long as the machine is in motion and grain.
supplied thereto..
I have described the band as clasped firmly at one end,.while the twister T
twists at the other end; but a twister may be used.at both ends. The machine
may be attached to an ordinary reaper, and receive its power therefrom, or it
may be used independent of. a reaper, power being applied in any convenient.
or known manner which will readily suggest. itself to those skilled in the
use of machinery. Many of the parts of the machine 'may be changed
to improve or modify the mechanical. workings thereof without changing the
general principle herein described. I have described the machine as automati-
cally. receiving the straw which is to form the band, instead of which the straw
may be placed in the box I by hand. For the convenience or coinfort.of.the
operator a seat may be applied to the platform.
.
Having now fully described the Invention, what I claim is,―
Firstly, the twister T constructed substantially as described, so as to gather
the straw and twist the band in the manner described.
.
Secondly, twisting a band substantially in the manner. described when the
twisting apparatus is combined with the mechanism fór gathering the grain to
be bound into bundles.
'
Thirdly, the twister H, in combination with the band twisting mechanism,
for the purpose specified.
Fourthly, the hand I, in combination with the twister H, substantially.in
the manner and for the nurnose specified.

page_text: Fifthly, the gathering lever A', in combination with the twisting mechanism
for twisting the band, substantially as described. And,
Sixthly, the gathering lever A¹, in combination with a twister H', substan-
tially in the manner and for the purpose specified..
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Sheldon, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of February, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-six.
JOSEPH SHELDON. (L.S.)