IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND SHEAF-BINDING MACHINES"
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Harrison, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND SHEAF-BINDING
MACHINES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Harrison at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st February 1882.
JOHN HARRISON of Ipswich in the County of Suffolk
REAPING AND SHEAF BINDING MACHINES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention has for its object improvements in Reaping Machines and relates
to automatic Sheaf binding apparatus by means of which the attendant can
regulate the size of the Sheaf also to a Sheaf binding apparatus which automatically
makes the Sheaves according to previous adjustment uniformly of the size
required, whatever variations there may be in the crop. And also is applicable to
Reaping Machines in general.
I prefer to arrange the platform of the Reaping Machine with a travelling Apron
or endless bands or chains for conveying the cut crop to the side where the
binding is to be done; and at that side of the platforin I fix an incline up which
the crop is conveyed from the platform of the Machine by means of endless chains
with teeth projecting above the incline. The crop in falling over the upper end of
the incline comes on to a nearly horizontal table (beneath which is the knotting
apparatus) and stops against the string which is being held by the binder arm
above, and the teeth of the chains in passing over the upper roller of the incline
act as packers for forming the Sheaf. At the moment when the binding of a
Sheaf is to commence the packing action of the teeth is arrested by means of a
moveable portion of the incline being made to rise and mask the teeth. The crop
then lies still on that part of the incline until the moveable piece or mask is
lowered and the teeth of the chains again seize the crop and convey it onward for
the next bundle.
Attached to the moveable piece or mask is a curved plate which fills up the
space between the top of the incline and the horizontal table, and when the mask
is in its highest position forms a complete cradle for the crop to lie in during the

page_text: binding, the curvature of this plate is made to suit the sweep of the binding arm.
Just after the mask has reached its highest position the binder arm descends and
penetrates the crop and encircles the bundle with the string; another bar formed
somewhat like a † (and which I will call "the divider") is caused to move so that
in the first portion of its sweep its forward end moves in the path of the forward
end of the binder arm and close behind it; and thus penetrates the crop together
with the binder arm; when the head of the T is opposite the upper end of the
mask the motion of the divider is arrested, and it remains stationary holding back
the crop, while the binder arm passes on below the horizontal table and there
completes the binding, an arm attached to the crank from which the motion of the
binder arm is derived pushes the bundle off the table when the tying is completed.
A compressor bar is centred upon the binder arm, its upper end is guided by a
cam fixed to the just mentioned crank, and its motion is suited to that of the
binder arın so that the bundle is compressed while the knot is being tied. To
assist the end of the binder arm in presenting the string to the knotter in the
right way, a string placer is mounted within the binder arm and is caused to
protrude and catch the string at the proper moment by means of a cain on the
crank arm similar to that for the compressor.
The motions of the binder arm, the divider the compressor and the string placer
are obtained from the Shaft which drives the Apron or chains of the platform and
the incline; the binding mechanism is mounted as a whole to slide upon supports
fixed to the framing of the machine parallel to this Shaft; and the binder frame
carries a Shaft also parallel therewith. The two Shafts are connected preferably
by a pitch chain and the driver wheel with its clutch is made to slide along its
Shaft, being carried along by an arm projecting from the binder frame so that the
chain wheels aro always in line whenever the binder frame is shifted for the
purpose of placing the string at the right part of the Sheaf. On the binder shaft
is a crank arm, upon the crank pin of which the binder arm is pivotted; the
upper end of the binder arm has two rollers and two guide pieces between which
the divider bar slides; this bar is centred at a point a little beyond the range of
the crank arm and horizontally a little below the level of the centre of the crank
shaft. The movement of the crank pin effects the rising and falling motions of
the binder arm and the divider; the other secondary motions arising from certain
curved parts of the divider bar playing between the rollers and guide pieces on the
upper end of the binding arm; the divider being thereby held stationary while the
binder arm takes the bundle, and the forward end of the binder arın being
approximately stationary during the tying of the knot-Upon the crank arm at
one side of the binder arin is fixed a can for controlling the motion of the com-
pressor and upon the crank pin at the other side of the binder arm is a somewhat
similar cam for guiding the motion of the string placer; these two parts thus
derive their motion from the motion of their centres upon the binder arm and
having their ends guided by the aforesaid cams.
The knotting mechanism consists of a spindle to which an intermittent rotary
motion is given, and the end of which is shaped so as to present a lateral notch for
the strings to enter; a moveable tongue is fitted to move within the notch and to
close up against either side of it; the tongue is preferably moved by a bar sliding
in a groove in the spindle and having teeth which engage corresponding teeth at
the back of the tongue, it will be understood that the binder arm and string
placer convey the two parts of the string which encircles the bundle into this
notch, in the knotter spindle, the spindle being held in the right position for the
purpose; the knot is then made as follows. So soon as the strings are within the
notch the moveable jaw closes upon the strings at the side of the notch furthest
from the end of the spindle; the spindle then makes one complete revolution; the
notch moving backwards winds the lower part of the strings round the spindle,
the upper part of the strings is turned downward and slips over the end of the
spindle (which is suitably rounded off for the purpose) and falls into the notch on
the other side of the tongue; the tongue is then moved so as to enclose this part

page_text: of the strings and liberate the parts first enclosed. At this stage the binder arm
is pressing the strings against the string holder situated just below the knotter
spindle, the jaw of the holder now opens; the end of the string previously inserted
is drawn out and the fresh string takes its place; the jaw closes upon it and a
knife is then pushed forward and cuts it off just below the knotter-The knotter
spindle now makes a quarter of a turn more in the same direction as before and
the part of the strings round the spindle slips over the end of the spindle and is
drawn tight in a loop round the parts now held by the tongue; the tongue then
opens and the knot is frec-The motions of the several parts of the knotting
apparatus are obtained as follows.
The crank shaft for the binder arm has a disc attached to its driving wheel; in
this disc is a crank pin on which is hung a rod having a curved slot which plays
upon a fixed stud on the binder frame; at the lower end of the rod are various
projections or cam pieces for working the jaw of the knotter spindle, the string
holder and the cutting knife; this rod has a second curved slot in which plays the
driving pin of a toothed sector which is mounted on a fixed stud on the binder
frame and gears with a pinion on the knotter spindle-In the disc and outside of
the crank pin just spoken of is formed a cam groove; this groove moves on a lever
mounted on a projecting stud on the binder frame, the lower end of the lever is
connected to an arm on a weigh shaft below; this weigh shaft effects the lifting of
the incline or mask and its action is therefore in concert with the rest of the
binding motions.
The tension is regulated as follows-The string box has centred upon its side
two levers, the centres being so situated that the ends of the levers have a sliding
motion one on the other, the end of one lever is fitted with three metal plates and
the end of the other lever with two plates and when in position the two plates of
the latter are between the plates of the former. A holo is drilled through all the
plates so as to be in line with each other when the levers are in their lowest
position; the levers are held upward by a spring attached to the tail of the lower
lever, and the spring is adjustable for amount of tension. The string comes out of
the box through a hole and is rove through the holes in the plates and then through
the tip of the binder arm to the string holder below the knotter spindle.
The spring raises the levers and causes the holes in the plates to move out of
line whereby the string is jammed fast-The binder arm in its descent pulls the
levers down and when the holes in the plates come sufficiently into line the string
begins to slip through. The holes being made large enough to allow a knot to
pass, all inequalities in the thickness of the string are provided for.
The driver wheel of the above mechanism as stated has a clutch by means of
which the Attendant can arrest the motion of the whole of the binding apparatus
when he sees there is not sufficient of the Crop collected to form a Sheaf.
In the case where the size of the Sheaf is determined by the apparatus itself,
according to previous adjustment, the Platform of the Reaping Machine is as before
fitted with a travelling Apron, or other means for conveying the cut crop to one
side, and also an incline up which the crop is conveyed by endless chains with teeth
projecting above the face of the incline, but I dispense with a movable piece for
masking the teeth, and instead thereof I cause the teeth to be withdrawn below
the face of the incline when the packing of the Crop is to cease. I effect
his by forming the teeth somewhat like the letter L; a small roller is
mounted on a stud near the angle of the L, and the teeth are hinged to the pitch
chains at the end of one of the legs; a bar is placed relatively to the pitch chains
o that the rollers on the teeth bear on the bar, and one leg of the is thus made
o project upwards above the face of the incline. Now by raising and lowering
he bar I can cause the teeth to project more or less above the incline or to
lisappear altogether below it. I find it convenient to mount the bars at the lower
nd, upon the spindle which carries the pitch chain wheels, and move the other
nd of the bar only; the effect of which is to cause the teeth to disappear gradually
s they approach the top of the incline. In this modification I also find it more

page_text: convenient to invert the arrangement described in the first part of the Invention;
that is to say, I prefer to mount the binder arm on an axis placed below the
binding table, and the knotting apparatus at the top, above the Sheaf, and the
compressor instead of being a single arm centred on the binder arm, consists of
several arms mounted on a separate axis; the binding table is considerably inclined,
and the compressor arms are placed near the lower end of the same, and so as to
stand up at about right angles therewith-The Crop in being pushed over the
upper end of the incline from the Platform of the Machine is packed down against
the Compressor arms by the teeth on the chains; and it is by this arrangement of
the Compressor that I effect the automatic sizing of the bundles-The spindle on
which the Compressor arms are mounted has a lever and a connecting rod, the end
tho
of which is held in position by a cam wheel on the knotter shaft above;
connecting rod has a slot in which the pin in the lever plays, so that the compresssor
arms and spindle have a certain limited range of movement independent of the
connecting rod. This movement is made use of to shift a moveable part of a cam,
on the cam wheel above mentioned, and allow the spring clutch which drives the
whole of the binding mechanism to fall into gear.
The yielding of the compressor arms is regulated by a spring; the arms are also
adjustable on the spindle, so that the size of the Sheaf being fixed by the setting
of the arms, the bundles must all be packed equally tight before the compressor
arms yield and the binding begins.
When the tying of the Sheaf is completed a depression in the cam causes the
compressor arms to fall and allow the Sheaf to pass off the Machine: a rotating
arm on the knotter shaft effects the discharge of the Sheaf.
As above stated the binder arm is mounted on a shaft below the binding table,
and has a short circular movement for conveying the string upwards through the
crop to the knotter, and returns in the same path leaving a string behind it for the
next bundle. The binder arm moving like a bent radius from its shaft scizes the
crop and forces it against the compressor arms; and the divider is in this case merely
a circular piece nttached to or formed on the back of the binder arm, and being
concentric with the shaft holds the Crop back so long as the binder arm is abovo
the table. On the binder arm shaft is a lever which lowers the bar under the teeth
of the pitch chains at the moment when the binder arm penetrates the crop; the
teeth then do not appear above the incline at the upper end and the packing action
censes; but the Crop is still being straightened and laid evenly at the lower part of
the incline, ready for the next advance. The motion of the binder arm is derived
from a Cam on the knotter shaft which takes hold of one end of a lever centred
on the framing and having a toothed sector at the other end gearing with a sector
on the binder arm shaft. The cam is shaped so as to produce the requisite
pauses and the reversal of the motions at the proper moment.
tho
I have previously described the knotting mechanism as being formed upon
end of the spindle; in the present case I prefer to mount the actual knotting
instrument (constructed with a moveable jaw as above described) in a small casting
which hangs upon the end of the shaft, but is prevented from turning therewith by
a rod attached to any convenient part of the frame. On the end of the knotter
shaft is fixed a disc having teeth in a part only of its circumference for giving the
requisite twist to the knotter, the rest of the circuinference having a raised flange
which serves to keep the knotter steadily in position until the teeth come round
again. The tongue of the knotter is moved by a sliding bar as before described, and
which is kept up against a cam on the disc by a spring. In the casting which carries
the knotter is mounted a short spindle, at about right angles to the knotter shaft
the end of this spindle is forked to embrace the knotter shaft and each arın of the
fork carries a small roller; a cam is formed on the disc so as to engage both these
rollers at once and give a periodical twisting motion to the short spindle, At the
other end of the spindle is an arm in which is a sliding bar, the ends of the arm and
the sliding bar being shaped to form a jaw : the above parts constitute the string holder
The sliding bar is operated by a cam piece placed on the disc so as to open the jav

page_text: and admit the string at the proper moment; and the twisting motion of the short
spindle is to cause the jaw which is holding the string to approach the knotter when
the latter begins twisting, or in other words, to give as much slack to the string
between the holder and the knotter as is required for the knot. When the knot is
completed a knife rises and severs the string between the holder and the knotter.
This knife is an arm on a spindle, also mounted in the knotter casting, and is
likewise actuated by a cam on the disc. On the knife arm is a projecting piece
which reaches the knotter and pushes the knot off immediately after the string is
severed by the knife.
In reaping machines, in which the axes of the bearing wheels are not in line with
each other, when the platform and finger bar are tilted, one end of the finger bar
comes nearer to the ground, than the other, and the cut is not parallel with the
ground. In my improvements I attach to each end of the axle of the main wheel
a toothed sector, and to the side frame I fix two other sectors for those on the axle
to gear with; the teeth of the sectors are shrouded up to their pitch lines, and the
shrouds bear upon each other to give a smooth rolling motion; the ends of the axle
are held by curved guide pieces fixed to the side frames, the curve being part of a
circle whose centre is the centre of the sector fixed to the side frame, and this centre
also coincides with the centre of the first motion shaft, for the purpose of keeping
the driving wheel always in gear. Or each end of the axle may be held to the
centre of the sector on the frame by a link. An arm on one of the sectors fixed to
the axle is connected by a rod and screw to a bracket or standard of suitable height
and fixed upon the draft pole. When the screw is turned the ends of the axle are
caused to move up or down as required; which is in effect raising or lowering the
frame of the machine. The tilting of the finger bar is effected by hinging the draft
pole to the frame, and by altering the angle which the former nakes with the latter
in the usual manner, and the bracket fixed upon the draft pole has such a height
assigned to it, that the movement of the draft pole upon its hinge pin is propor-
tionately conveyed to the sectors on the axle and the level of the knife bar is
thereby preserved.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Harrison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th August 1882.
JOHN HARRISON of Ipswich in the County of Suffolk.
REAPING AND SHEAF BINDING MACHINES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention has for its object improvements in reaping machines; and the
first part of the invention relates to automatic sheaf binding apparatus by means of
which the attendant can regulate the size of the sheaf; and the second part relates
to a sheaf binding apparatus which automatically makes the sheaves, according to
previous adjustment, uniformly of the size required, whatever variations there may
be in the crop. Another part of the invention is applicable to reaping machines in
general.
In applying the first part of my invention I prefer to arrange the platform of
the reaping machine with a travelling apron or endless bands or chains for con-
veying the cut crop to the side where the binding is to be done; and at that side
of the platform. I fix an incline up which the crop is conveyed from the platform
of the machine by means of endless chains with teeth projection above the
incline.
The crop in falling over the upper end of the incline comes on to a nearly
horizontal table (beneath which is the knotting apparatus) and stops against the
string which is being held by the binding arm above; and the teeth of the chains
in passing over the upper roller of the incline act as packers for forming the sheaf.
At the moment when the binding of the sheaf is to commence the packing action
of the teeth is arrested by means of a moveable portion of the incline being made
to rise and mask the teeth; the crop then lies still on that part of the incline until
the moveable piece or mask is again lowered and the teeth of the chains seize the
crop and carry it onward for the next bundle. Attached to the moveable piece or
mask (or otherwise moved in concert therewith) are two curved plates one on each
side of the binder arm which fill up the space between the top of the incline and
the horizontal table and when the mask is in its highest position, form a complete
cradle for the crop to lie in during the binding the curvature of these plates is
made to suit the sweep of the binding arm. Just after the mask has reached its
highest position the binder arm descends and penetrates the crop and encircles the
bundle with the string; another bar, formed somewhat like a T, (and which I will
call the "divider") is caused to move so that in the first portion of its sweep its
forward end moves in the path of the forward end of the binder arm and close
behind it, and thus penetrates the crop together with the binder arm; when the
head of the T is opposite the upper end of the mask, the motion of the divider is
arrested and it remains stationary, holding the crop back, while the binder arm
passes on below the horizontal table and there completes the binding. An arm
attached to the crank from which the motion of the binder arm is derived pushes
the bundle off the table when the tying is completed. A compressor bar is centred
upon a link suspended from a projecting part of the binder arm; its upper end is
guided by a cam fixed to the just mentioned crank and its motion is suited to that
of the binder arm so that the bundle is compressed while the knot is being tied.
To assist the end of the binder arm in presenting the string to the knotter in the
right way, a string placer is mounted within the binder arm and is caused to
protrude and catch the string at the proper moment by means of a cam on the
crank pin, similar to that for the compressor. The motions of the binder arm, the
divider, the compressor, and the string placer are obtained from the shaft which

page_text: drives the apron or chains of the platform and the incline; the binding mechanism
is mounted as a whole to slide upon supports fixed to the framing of the machine
parallel to this shaft and the binder frame carries a shaft also parallel therewith;
the two shafts are connected preferably by a pitch chain, and the driver wheel with
its clutch is made to slide along its shaft, being carried along by an arm projecting
from the binder frame, so that the chain wheels are always in line, whenever the
binder frame is shifted for the purpose of placing the string at the right part of
the sheaf. On the binder shaft is a crak arm, upon the crank pin of which the
binder arm is pivotted; the upper end of the binder arm has two rollers and two
guide pieces between which the divider bar slides; this bar is centred at a point a
little beyond the range of the crank arm and horizontally a little below the level
of the centre of the crankshaft. The movement of the crank pin effects the rising
and falling motions of the binder arm and the divider; the other secondary motions
arising from certain curved parts of the divider bar playing between the rollers and
guide pieces on the upper end of the binder arm; the divider being thereby held
stationary while the binder arm takes the bundle, and the forward end of the
binder arm being approximately stationary during the tying of the knot. Upon
the crank pin, at one side of the binder arm, is fixed a cam for controlling the
motion of the compressor; and upon the crank pin at the other side of the binder
arm, is a somewhat similar cam for guiding the motion of the string placer; these
two parts thus derive their motion from the motion of their centres upon the binder
arm and having their upper ends guided by the aforesaid cams.
The knotting mechanism. consists of a spindle, to which an intermittent
rotary motion is given and the end of which is shaped so as to present a lateral
notch for the strings to enter; a moveable tongue is fitted to move within the
notch and close up against each side of it; the tongue is preferably moved by a
bar sliding in a groove in the spindle and having teeth which engage corresponding
teeth at the back of the tongue.
It will be understood that the binder arm and string placer convey the two
parts of the string which encircles the bundle into this notch in the knotter
spindle, the spindle being held in the right position for the purpose; the knot is
then inade as follows:-So soon as the strings are within the notch, the moveable
tongue closes upon the strings at the side of the notch furthest from the end of the
spindle; the spindle then makes one complete revolution; the notch moving
upwards winds the lower part of the strings round the spindle; the upper part of
the strings is turned downwards and slips over the end of the spindle, which is
suitably rounded off for that purpose and falls into the notch on the other side of
the tongue; the tongue is then moved so as to enclose this part of the strings and
liberate the parts first enclosed. At this stage the binder arm is pressing the
strings against the string holder situated just below the knotter spindle; the
jaw of the holder now opens, the end of the string previously inserted is drawn out
and the fresh string takes its place; a knife is then pushed forward and cuts its
off just below the knotter. The knotter spindle now makes a quarter of a turn
more in the same direction as before and the part of the strings round the spindle
slips over the end of the spindle and is drawn tight in a loop round the parts now
held by the tongue; the tongue then opens and the knot is free. The motions of
the several parts of the knotting apparatus are obtained as follows. The crank-
shaft for the binder arm has a disc attached to its driving wheel; in this disc is a
crank pin on which is hung a rod having a curved slut which plays upon a fixed
stud on the binder frame; at the lower end of the rod are various projections or
cam pieces for working the tongue of the knotter spindle, the string holder, and
cutting knife; this rod has a second curved slot in which plays the driving pin of
a tothed sector which is mounted on a fixed stud on the binder frame and gears
with a pinion on the knotter spindle. In the disc and outside of the crank. pin
just spoken of is formed a cam groove; this groove noves a lever mounted on a
projecting stud on the binder frame, the lower end of the lever is connected to an
arm on a weigh shaft below, this weigh shaft effects the lifting of the moveable

page_text: part of the incline or mask, and this action is therefore in concert with the rest of
the binding motions.
The tension is regulated as follows. The string box has centred upon its side
two levers, the centres being so situated that the ends of the levers when moved up
and down have a sliding motion one on the other; the end of one lever is fitted
with three plates, and that of the other with two plates, when in position the two
plates of the latter are between the plates of the former; a hole is drilled through
all the plates so as to be in line with each other when the levers are in their
lowest position; the lovers are held upwards by a spring attached to the tail of the
lower lever, and the spring is adjustable for amount of tension. The string comes
out of the box through a hole and is rove through the holes in the plates, then
through the tip of the binder arm to the string holder below the knotter spindle.
The spring raises the levers and causes the holes in the plates to move out of line,
whereby the string is jammed fast. The binder arm in its descent pulls the levers
down, and when the holes in the plates come sufficiently into line the string begins
to slip through. The holes being made large enough to allow a knot to pass, all
inequalities in the thickness of the string are provided for.
The driver wheel of the above mechanism, as stated has a clutch by means of
which the attendant can arrest the notion of the whole of the binding apparatus
when he sees there is not sufficient of the crop collected to form a sheaf.
In the next part of my invention the size of the sheaf is determined by the
apparatus itself according to previous adjustment.
The platform of the reaping machine is as before fitted with a travelling apron,
or other means for conveying the cut crop to one side, and also an incline up which
the crop is conveyed by endless chains with teeth projecting above the face of the
incline, but I dispense with the moveable piece for masking the teeth and instead
thereof I cause the teeth to be withdrawn below the face of the incline, when the
packing of the crop is to cease. I effect this by forming the teeth somewhat like
the letter L; a small roller is mounted on a stud near the angle of the L and the
teeth are hinged to the pitch chains at the end of one of the legs; a bar is placed
relatively to the pitch chains so that the rollers on the teeth bear on the bar, and
one leg of the L is thus made to project upwards above the face of the incline.
Now by raising and lowering the bar I can cause the teeth to project more or less
above the incline or to disappear altogether below it. I find it convenient to mount
the bars at the lower end upon the spindle which carries the pitch chain wheels,
and move the other end of the bar only, the effect of which is to cause the teeth to
disappear gradually as they approach the top of the incline.
In this modification I also find it more convenient to invert the arrangement
described in the first part of the Invention; that is to say, I prefer to mount the
binder arm on an axis placed below the binding table, and the knotting apparatus
at the top (above the sheaf); and the compressor instead of being a single arm
centred on the binder arm consists of several arms mounted on a separate axis.
The binding table is considerably inclined and the compressor arms are placed near
the lower end of the same and so as to stand up at about right angles therewith
The crop in being pushed over the upper end of the incline from the platform of
the machine is packed down against the compressor arms by the teeth on the
chains;
and it is by this arrangement of the compressor that I effect the automatic
sizing of the bundles. The spindle on which the compressor arms are mounted has
a lever and a connecting rod, the end of which is held in position by a cam wheel
on the knotter shaft above; the connecting rod has a slot in which the pin in the
lever plays, so that the compressor arms and spindle have a certain limited range
of movement independent of the connecting rod. This movement is made use of
to shift a movable part of a cam on the cam wheel above mentioned, and allows
the spring clutch which drives the whole of the binding mechanism to fall into
gear. The yielding of the compressor arms is regulated by a spring; the arms are
also adjustable on the spindle, so that the size of the sheaf being fixed by the setting
of the arms, the bundles must all be packed equally tight before the compressor

page_text: arms yield and the binding begins. When the tying of the sheaf is completed n
depression in the cam causes the compressor arms to fall and allow the sheaf to
pass off the machine; a rotating arm on the knotter shaft effects the discharge of
the sheaf. As above stated the binder arm is mounted on a shaft below the binding
table, and has a short circular movement for conveying the string upwards through
the crop to the knotter, and returns in the same path leaving a string behind it for
the next bundle. The binder arm moving like à bent radius from its shaft seizes
the crop and forces it against the compressor arms; and the divider is in this case
merely a circular piece attached to or formed on the back of the binder arm, and being
concentric with the shaft holds the crop back so long as the binder arm is above
the table. On the binder arm shaft is a lever which lowers the bar under the
teeth of the pitch chains at the moment when the binder arm penetrates the crop;
the teeth then do not appear above the face of the incline at the upper end and the
packing action ceases; but the crop is still being straightened and laid evenly at
the lower part of the incline, ready for the next advance. The notion of the
binder arm is derived from a cam on the knotter shaft which takes hold of one
end of a lever centred on the frame and having a toothed sector at the other end
gearing with a sector on the binder arm shaft. The cam is shaped so as to produce
the requisite pauses, and the reversal of the motion at the proper moments.
In the first part of the Invention I described the knotting mechanism as being
formed upon the end of the spindle; in the present case I prefer to mount the
actual knotting instrument (constructed with a movable tongue as above described)
in a small casting which hangs upon the end of the shaft. On the other end of the
knotter shaft is fixed a disc having teeth in a part only of its circumference for
giving the requisite twist to the knotter, the rest of the circumference having a
raised flange which serves to keep the knotter steadily in position until the teeth
come round again. The tongue of the knotter is moved by a sliding bar as before
described and which is kept up against a cam on the disc by a spring. In tho
casting which carries the knotter is mounted a short spindle at about right angles
to the knotter shaft; the end of this spindle is forked to embrace the knotter shaft,
and each arm of the fork carries a small roller; a cam is formed on the disc so as
to engage both these rollers at once and give a periodical twisting motion to the
short spindle; at the other end of the spindle is an arm in which is a sliding bar,
being shaped to form a jaw; the above parts constitute the string holder. The
sliding bar is operated by a cam piece placed on the disc so as to open the jaw and
admit the string at the proper moment; and the twisting motion of the short
spindle is to cause the jaw which is holding the string to approach the knotter
when the latter begins twisting, or in other words, to give as much slack to the
string between the holder and the knotter as is required for the knot. When the
knot is completed a knife rises and severs the string between the holder and
the knotter. This knife is an arm on a spindle, also mounted in the knotter
casting, and is likewise actuated by a cam on the disc. On the knife arm is a
projecting piece which reaches the knotter and pushes the knot off immediately
after the string is severed by the knife.
The last part of my Invention (which is applicable to all reaping machines in
which the axes of the bearing wheels are not in line with each other) consists of a
mode of levelling the knife bar when the pitch of the fingers is varied. It is well
known that in such machines when the platform and finger bar are tilted, one
end of the finger bar will come nearer to the ground than the other, and the cut is
not parallel with the ground. In my improvements I attach to each end of the
axle of the main wheel a toothed sector, and to the side frames I fix two other
sectors for those on the axle to gear with; the teeth of the sectors are shrouded up
to the pitch lines and the shrouds bear upon each other to give a smooth rolling
motion; the ends of the axle are held by curved guide pieces fixed to the side
frames; the curve being part of a circle whose centre is the centre of the sector
fixed to the side frame, and this centre coincides with the centre of the first motion
shaft, for the purpose of keeping the driving wheel always in gear. Or the end

page_text: of the axle may be held to the centre of the sector on the frame by a link. An arm
on one of the sectors fixed to the axle is connected by a rod and screw to a bracket
or standard of suitable height and fixed upon the draft pole; when the screw is
turned the ends of the axle are caused to move up or down as required; which is
in effect raising or lowering the frame of the machine. The tilting of the finger
bar is effected by hinging the draft pole to the frame and by altering the angle
which the former makes with the latter in the usual manner, and the bracket
fixed upon the draft pole has such a height assigned to it that the movement of
the draft pole upon its hinge pin is proportionately conveyed to the Sectors on
the axle, and the level of the knife bar is thereby preserved.
And in order that my Invention may be more readily understood I will now refer
to the drawings hereto annexed.
Sheets I and II shew a reaping machine with the improvements described as
the first part of my Invention. Figure 1 is a plan; Figure 2 a side elevation and
Figure 3 a back elevation; Figure 4 shews a portion of the tension regulator
detached and to a larger scale. Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, on Sheet II shew the binding
mechanism to a larger scale.
A is the platform to the side of which is fixed the incline B; C are the pitch
chains, and u. a. the teeth mounted thereon, for conveying the crop from the
platform up the incline; D is the movable piece or mask for stopping the packing
action; E are the curved plates; Fis the binding table; G the binder arm, g g
are the rollers, and h h the guide pieces on its upper end; H the knotting
apparatus; I the divider and S the centre upon which the divider bar is hung;
J the discharger for pushing the tied sheaf off; K. the compressor, centred at t, upon
the spring hanger suspended from the projecting piece u, on the upper part of the
binder arin; L the binder shaft, and b the crank carrying the binder arm by the
crank pin i; c is the cam for guiding the upper end of the compressor; M is the
string placer, centred upon the binder arm at j, and d, is the cam for controlling
its motions; N is the shaft which gives motion to the pitch chains of the platform
and incline; O are the parts of the binder frame which slide upon the beds P, on
the frame of the machine; Q is the pitch chain connecting the shafts L and N;
e is the driver wheel, and the clutch to be withdrawn by the attendant when the
binding apparatus is to stup; R is the arm projecting from the binder frame to
carry the driver wheel e, along with it when the frame is shifted; T is the driving
wheel on the binder shaft; U the disc with the crank pin ke; is the connecting
od with the curved slot m, which plays upon the fixed stud n; the second slot o
guides the driving pin 2 of the toothed sector q, which is mounted on the fixed
stud v; and gears with the pinion w, on the knotter spindle; y and y¹ are the cam
pieces for working the tongue of the knotter by the sliding bar ²; the spring y³,
closes the tongue to the side of the jaw as shewn at y; z is the cam piece for
.opening the jaw of the string holder by the sliding bar e; the jaw closes by the
spring ; 23 is the cam piece for pushing the knife forward; V is the cam groove
on disc U, and which guides the upper end of lever W, which is mounted on the
fixed stud x, the lower end being connected by a rod r, with the arm 8, which slides
along the weighshaft X, when the binder frame is shifted, being carried along by
the arm 8. Arms Y, on the weighshaft X, raise the movable parts D of the incline
at the proper time.
The tension apparatus is seen in Figure 3, but the levers are shown to a larger
scale in Figure 4; 1 is the string box, upon the side of which are pivotted the
levers 2 and 3; the lower one of which is forced upwards by the spring 4. The
end of lever 2 has two plates, and that of lever 3 has three plates; the two plates
of the former lie between the three plates of the latter; 5 are holes in the plates
for the passage of the string; when the levers are depressed into the dotted
position of Figure 4, the holes are nearly in line and allow free passage for the
string, and when the levers are raised the string is jammed by the holes being out
of line, as is clearly shown at 6.
The next part of the Invention is shown on Sheet III. Figure 9 is a plan;

page_text: Figure 10 an end elevation, and Figure 11 a portion of the front elevation. A is
the platform; B the incline; C the pitch chains, with the teeth D, which are
centred on the chains at a, and have rollers at b; E are the bars upon which
the rollers brun; c is the binder arm shaft, and upon this shaft the arın d,
is connected by the rod d', with the arm d², on weighshaft, upon which
are fixed the lifters d', for raising the bars E; the parts for raising and
lowering the teeth are shown in dotted lines in the position when the teeth
are lowered. F is the binding table, in this case consideraby inclined;
G is the binder arm, having the divider bar 1, formed upon it; the dotted lines
show the position during the tying of the sheaf; K are the compressor bars,
anounted upon the shaft M, and jare bars mounted upon the same shaft at each
side of the compressor bars for retaining the ends of the sheaf; g is the lever on
shaft M and g is the connecting rod with the slot g³ in which the pin g³ plays;
the rod g' is attached to pin g³, and has a spiral spring round it which tends to
force the connecting rod g' upwards and also forms the resistance to the com-
pressor arms K; the limit of their independent range being the length of the
slot g²; L is the knotter shaft; T is the driving wheel, and having upon it the
fixed cam ring h, and the movable cam h¹. When the pressure upon the com-
pressor arms overcomes the resistance of the spring, the rod g' rises and pushes up
the cam h¹ into the position shown in dotted lines. N is the shaft which gives
motion to the pitch chains of the platform and incline; Q is the pitch chain
connecting the shafts L and N; e is the driver wheel and f the clutch which is in
this case automatically withdrawn by the cam 1, when a tied sheaf has just been
discharged. The rocking shaft i, has an arm i¹, engaging the clutch f, and another
arm carrying a small roller which meets the movable cam h¹; when the cam h',
is pushed from under the roller by the rod g', the spring f¹, causes the clutch f, to
snap into gear, and the binding mechanism starts. The wheel T, having made one
revolution has pushed the cam ¹, beneath the roller on the arm 22, of the rocking
shaft, and the clutch f, is again pulled out of gear, and the binding mechanism
stops. The compressor arms K, are clamped to the shaft M, by the nuts k, as
When the
shewn in Figure 10, for the purpose of adjusting the size of the sheaf
tying of a sheaf is just completed the roller go, on the connecting rod g¹, arrives at
the part h2, of the cam h, when the compressor arms K, are allowed to fall out of
the way and let the sheaf pass off the machine. The dotted lines show the arms
in the lowest position. J are the dischargers. The binder arın shaft c, receives
motion through the sector l, keyed upon it and gearing with the sector, which is
centred upon the frame and has an arm, guided by the cam 1³, formed upon the
driving wheel T.
The knotting apparatus is mounted in the small casting m, which hangs upon
the knotter shaft L, and is held in position by the hook m¹, attached to the frame;
the cam wheel n, keyed on the knotter shaft L, gives motion to the various parts
of the apparatus at the proper intervals; o is the knotter (seen to a larger scale in
Figure 12); the twisting movement is derived from the teeth o¹, on the cam
wheel n, gearing into the pinion o³, on the knotter; when the teeth o', have passed
the teeth of the pinion, the flange o³, on the cam wheel passes into the recess o*, in
the pinion and holds the latter steadily in position until the teeth come round
again.
The tongue of the knotter is moved by the sliding bar o. as shewn, and the
bar o. is moved at the proper moments by the bar p, coming in contact with the
cam pieces pl. and p² on the cam-wheel n; the spring 2. keeps the tongue of the
knotter closed against the side shewn until moved by the bar p; the vertical
spindle for operating the string holder has the upper end forked and carrying the
rollers q. and q', which bear against the cam-ring q';-r, is the arm fixed to the
lower end of the vertical spindle and carrying the sliding bar r, with a spring ³,
5 for closing the jaw, and a roller, at the end; this roller meets the cam piece
on the cam-wheel n;-8, is the knife bar operated by the roller 8', on the arm 8ª,
coming in contact with the cams, is the pusher mounted on the knife bar, for

page_text: pushing the knot off the knotter when completed.-Various stages of the formation
of the knot are shewn in figures 13 to 18.
The last part of my invention is shewn on Sheet IV-Figure 19 is a side elevation,
and figure 20 is a plan.-a, is the main axle to which are attached the toothed
Sectors b. and b'.; c, and c¹, are the sectors fixed to the side frames;-d, d², are
the curved guide pieces also attached to the side frames ;-the curves of sectors c. c¹,
and guides d, d¹, are struck from the centre of the first motion shaft e;-f. is the
arm on sector b; g, the rod and screw; h, the standard mounted on the draft pole i,
the hinge pin of which is at j.
Having now fully described my invention and the best method at present
known to me of carrying the same into practice, I would have it understood that
what I believe to be novel and of my invention is as follows.―
First, the automatic_sheaf binding apparatus substantially as herein described
and shewn on Sheets I and II of the drawings, by means of which the attendant
can regulate the size of the sheaf.
Second, the automatic sheaf binding apparatus substantially as herein described
and shewn on Sheet III. of the drawings, which automatically makes the sheaves
according to previous adjustment uniformly of the size required.
Third, the combination substantially as shewn in the drawings consisting of
independent binding apparatus set against one side of the ordinary platform of the
machine; an incline upon which the crop is elevated by toothed chains from the
platform to the independent binding apparatus and appliances arresting the
advance of the crop during the tying of the sheaf by masking or withdrawing the
elevating teeth below the surface of the incline.
Fourth, the method of gradually arresting the advance of the crop during the
tying of a sheaf substantially as shewn on Sheet III of the drawings so that while
the crop is stationary at the delivery end of the incline it is still being gathered
and laid evenly at the receiving end preparatory to the next advance-
Fifth, the mechanism substantially as shewn on Sheet I for effecting the
separation of the bundle to be tied from the advancing crop.
Sixth, the knotting instrument having a tongue which closes alternately against
both sides of the jaw in which it works; for the purpose of first holding the strings
while being twisted round the spindle and then holding the strings by the opposite
side of the tongue while the string is cut off and the loop round the spindle is
drawn tight over the part held by the tongue
Seventh, the combination of parts forming the knotting apparatus, for giving
the requisite twist to the knotter and the proper movement to the instruments
concerned in the production of the knot substantially as shewn on Sheet III of
the drawings.
Eighth, the combination of parts, substantially as shewn for effecting the starting
of the binding mechanism by means of the partial yielding of the compressor arms,
lowering the compressor arms out of the way for the discharge of a tied sheaf; and
finally arresting the binding mechanism until the next bundle is collected
Ninth, The tension apparatus substantially as described and shown
3
Tenth, The mode of levelling the knife bar when the fingers are tilted 4
substantially as described and shewn.
In witness whereof I the said John Harrison have hereunto set my hand and
seal this eighteenth day of August in the year of our Londo
L