IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Johnston, of Brockport, New York,
United States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings,
London, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING
MACHINES."
Sealed the 11th January 1876, and dated the 16th September 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Johnston at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 16th September 1875.
I, SAMUEL JOHNSTON, of Brockport, New York, United States of
America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING
MACHINES," to be as follows:
-
My Invention relates, first, to a harvester in which a compressing rake
acting intermittently, an outer divider opening under the wing board,
and a gathering rake geared with the compressing rake are so con-
structed and arranged as to automatically gather, compress, and deliver
in bundles to the binder the grain to be bound.

page_text: The object of the said Invention is to reduce the amount of labour
required to bind grain when the binder rides upon the machine.
The machine has a driving wheel with an internal gear wheel
geared with a bevel pinion, which actuates a double bevel wheel. This
double bevel wheel drives the gathering rakes by means of a shaft and
pinions and a crown wheel. To the axis of the said double bevel wheel
is fixed a crank arm, to which is attached the end of the ratchet bar.
The other end of this ratchet bar is attached by a hinge joint to a link
or radial arm pivoted to the under side of the platform. The said ratchet
bar slides in a loop. The ratchet bar is actuated by means of the crank
arm, and the ratchet end of the bar at each revolution of the crank arm
is thrown into gear with the ratchet wheel, and causes its revolution
through a path equal to ½ of its circumference. The rake is attached
to the axle of the said ratchet wheel. The grain is gathered by the rake
head into a sheaf or bundle, and is tightly compressed against a com-
pressing board placed upon the binder's table. The compressing rake
remains at rest during two-thirds of the time of each revolution of the
double bevel wheel, and during that period of rest the sheaf is bound by
the binders on the binder's stand. The crank arm in revolving again
throws the said ratchet bar into gear with the ratchet wheel; the com-
pressing rake is thereby again revolved, and the bound sheaf is thrown
from the binder's table to the ground by the rake head, and so the
intermittent action of the rakes continues.
The said machine has an outer divider, which is open under the wing
board to allow the passage of the arms of the compressing rake. The
gathering rakes have teeth, which serve to brush the cut grain back from
the cutting bar into the path of the said compressing rake. The pro-
portions of the aforesaid double bevel wheel and driving pinion, and the
pinion which drives the gathering rakes are such that the arms of the
said compressing rake are operated between the arms of the gathering
rake in such a manner as to enable the compressing rake to pass suffi-
ciently near the cutters to gather all the grain and at the same time
allow the teeth of the gathering rake to approach the cutters near
enough to gather the grain and brush it back into the path of the
compressing rake to keep the cutters clear without the interference or
contact of one rake with the other.
Another part of my Invention relates to the construction of harvesting

page_text: machines to gather the grain into sheaves or gavels, and to bind the same
automatically.
According to this part of my said Invention I construct the platform
with a concave or trough-shaped portion, into which the grain is pushed
by the rake. This trough-shaped portion is hinged to the platform, so
that it can be allowed to fall down clear of the same when the automatic
binding apparatus is not used.
One peculiar feature of this part of my Invention is the construction
of the rake with folding or contracting and expanding heads, which
permit the rake to adjust itself to the shape of the platform as it pushes
the grain into the same. The said rake heads are made in three pieces
hinged or jointed together. The central piece is connected to the reel in
the usual manner, and the outside pieces are free to move on the pins or
pivots, whereby they are connected to the said central piece. As cach
rake head comes upon the platform it opens and lies flat on the same,
but as it passes over the concave portion of the platform its joints or
pivots allow it to adapt itself to the contracted width of the concave
portion of the platform, whose sides compress the bundles of grain.
between them as they are forced forward by the rake. The combined
reel and rake is driven through chain gear from the main shaft, and the
rakes are kept always in a horizontal position while revolving by means
of a small shaft geared by bevel pinions with the rake journals and with
the shaft of the reel.
The automatic binding apparatus consists of the following parts:-
A curved arm which draws the binding wire from a reel fixed in any
convenient part of the machine is arranged at the rear of the platform
to slide to and fro and vibrate over the aforesaid concave portion of the
same. As the sheaf is pushed over this portion the said curved arm is
raised and drawn back, so that the gavel or sheaf may be pushed freely
into the position for being bound; but when the sheaf or gavel arrives
in this position the arm moves forward and downward, passing the wire
around the gavel. The rear end of the said arm slides in a swiveling
eye attached to the platform or frame, and its motion is imparted to it
by a lever, which is moved to and fro by a crank geared with the main
shaft, or by other suitable means. The forward end of the said arm has
a finger or holder which grasps the binding wire, and as the arm places
this wire around the bale this finger places the end of the wire upon the

page_text: other part thereof ready for the twisting of the two parts of the wire
together to fasten them around the sheaf. The twisting device is a
roughened bar, arranged in combination with the said holder or finger,
and connected to one end of a bell-crank lever, whose fulcrum is a
pin fixed in the said vibrating arm. The other end of this bell-crank
lever is connected with a rod, which extends along the top of the said
arm, and whose other end has a longitudinal slot through which projects
a pin or stud fixed on the frame or platform. As the arm slides to
and fro this slotted rod moves with it a certain distance without
actuating the bell crank, but when the end of the slot comes in contact
with the said stud or pin the bell crank is turned on its fulcrum, thereby
causing the said roughened bar to move and roll the wire upon the arm,
thereby coiling or twisting the two parts of the said wire together. At
the same time a knife arranged on the said arm comes in contact with a
fixed knife, and thereby cuts the wire. Then the arm rises and releases
the sheaf or gavel, which is pushed from the platform as a fresh one
advances to be bound.
In some instances I modify this automatic binding apparatus as
follows, that is to say :-I pivot the arm which places the wire around
the sheaves or gavels upon a slide fitted to work to and fro upon the rear
end of the platform. This slide carries the reel from which the wire is
taken. The said slide also carries the twister, which is a series of teeth
or prongs carried by a pinion, which is fitted on a pin or stud on the
slide, and is geared with a fixed rack, whereby the said pinion and teeth
or prongs are rotated as the said slide moves to and fro. The stud or
pin on which this pinion rotates has a slit through one side, in which
the wire is inserted by the vibrating arm and held while being twisted.
The said slide and arms are provided with knives or blades for cutting or
dividing the wire. The said arm is provided with an extension, which as
the slide moves to and fro comes in contact with fixed studs or
projections, and thereby causes the movement of the said arm upon
its pivot.
According to another modification of my Invention the automatic
binder is constructed as follows:-A rotating arm is fixed on the end of
a shaft geared in connection with the main shaft of the machine. This
rotating arm is of such a length that its periphery moves in close
proximity to the aforesaid concave portion of the platform. The wire
reel is mounted on a rod fixed near the said rotating arm, and the wire

page_text: is passed over or through a suitable guide from the reel to the said arm,
which is provided with a clamp for holding the wire. The twister is a
two-pronged spiral implement arranged upon the said arm in com-
bination with the clamp, and caused to rotate and twist the two parts of
the wire together at the proper time. The rotation of this twister is
effected by a peculiarly shaped cam fixed on a tube, through which the
shaft of the said arm passes. This cam is inactive except at the time
when the two parts of the wire are brought together around the sheaf or
gavel by the said arm, and then acts on a vibrating toothed segment,
which is geared by bevel pinions with the said twister, thereby causing its
rotation. The said arm also carries a knife or blade, which acts in com-
bination with a fixed blade to cut the wire after the same has been
twisted around the sheaf or gavel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Johnston in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 16th March 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
JOHNSTON, of Brockport, New York, United States of America, now of
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Samuel Johnston, Her special
licence that I, the said Samuel Johnston, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel Johnston,
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, excrcise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Samuel Johnston, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands

page_text: and scals, 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 Samuel Johnston, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification:-
My Invention relates, firstly, to a harvester which has a compressing
rake acting intermittently, an outer divider opening under the wing
board, and a gathering rake geared with the compressing rake, so con-
structed and arranged as to automatically gather, compress, and deliver
in bundles to the binder the grain to be bound, thereby reducing the
labour of binding,
This part of my Invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the
Drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a harvester or harvesting machine;
Figure 2 is an end view of the same; Figure 3 is an under side view
of the said harvester; Figure 4 is an elevation of parts of the same.
A is the main frame; A¹ is the platform; B, the cam guide; C, a
revolving jointed, tri-armed, intermittent, compressing rake, carrying
upon the extremities of the jointed arms angular toothed rake heads
C¹, C³, C³; D is the outer divider, D' the wing board, and D² an opening;
E is the central hub of the compressing rake, E' is a box; G, a ratchet
wheel; H, a ratchet bar; I, a radial arm; J is the grain wheel; K is
the grain wheel bracket; L is the binder's stand; M, M, are the binder's
stand bars; N is the binder's stand table; O is a compressing board;
P is an inner divider; Q is a binder's support; R, R', R³, R³, are the
gathering rakes; T is a hood shaped rake guide; U is the rake guide
cap; V is a crown wheel; W is a tilting lever; Y is a tongue; X is a
driving wheel, X' an internal gear wheel with bevil pinions; a is
the tilting lever standard; b is the gear shifter clutch with ratchet
teeth; c is a double bevil wheel, to whose axis is attached a crank
arm c¹ which carries the ratchet bar H; e is a bevil wheel with spur
pinion attached, working in the internal gear wheel X'; f is a bevil

page_text: pinion which drives the cutter; h is the driver's seat; Q' is a binder's
support and stop for holding the rake arm; s, 8, 8, are elbow guides
with rollers &¹, 8¹, s'; is a pinion attached to the shaft which gears
into the double bevil wheel c; m is a pinion attached to the shaft /;
is a loop holding the ratchet bar; is the cutter bar.
q
As the said machine advances motion is communicated from the
driving wheel X to the internal gear wheel X', and thence to the bevil
pinion X, which actuates the double bevil wheel c; this double bevil
wheel drives the gathering rakes R, R¹, R², R³, by means of the pinion k,
shaft l, pinion m, and crown wheel V. To the axis of the double bevil
wheel c is fixed a crank arm c¹, to which is attached the end of the
ratchet bar H. The other end of the ratchet bar II is attached by a
hinge joint to the link or radial arm I, which link is pivoted at o to
the under side of the platform A'. The ratchet bar H slides in a
loop 7, and is actuated by means of the crank arm c'; and the teeth of
this bar at each revolution of the crank arm engage with the ratchet
wheel G, and revolve it through a path equal to a third of its circum-
ference. The rake C is attached to the axle of the ratchet wheel G;
the toothed rake head c' will therefore be carried in its first revolution
from the position marked 1 to the position marked 2 in Figure 1; the
continued revolution of the crank arm c¹ disengages the ratchet bar H
from the ratchet wheel G, and whilst the crank arm c¹ completes its
revolution the compressing rake C remains at rest. The grain is
gathered by the rake head C¹ in its transit from the position marked 3
to the position marked 1 into a sheaf or bundle, and is tightly com-
pressed against the compressing board O and placed upon the binder's
table N. The compressing rake remains at rest during two-thirds of
the time of each revolution of the bevil wheel c, and during that period
of rest the sheaf is bound by the binders on the binder's stand L. The
crank arm c¹ in revolving again throws the ratchet bar H into gear with
the ratchet wheel G; the compressing rake is thereby again revolved,
and the bound sheaf is thrown from the binder's table to the ground by
the rake head C, and the intermittent action of the rakes continues.
The outer divider D is open under the wing board D', to allow the
passage of the arms C', C, C³, of the compressing rake C. The
gathering rakes R, R', R², R³, have tecth a, a, a, which serve to brush
the cut grain back from the cutter bar into the path of the com-
pressing rake C. The proportions of the double bevel wheel c, and.

page_text: driving pinion k, and the pinion m which drives the gathering rakes,
are such that the arms C², C², C³, of the compressing rake are operated
between the arms R, R', R², R³, of the gathering rake in such a manner
as to enable the compressing rake to pass sufficiently near the cutters
to gather all the grain, and at the same time allow the teeth of the
gathering rake to approach the cutter near enough to gather the grain
and brush it back again into the path of the compressing rake, to keep
the cutters clear without the interference or contact of one rake with
the other.
Another part of my Invention relates to the construction of harvesting
machines, with devices for gathering the grain into sheaves or gavels,
and binding the same automatically.
One form of an improved binder constructed according to this part
`of my said Invention is illustrated in Figures 5 to 10, in which
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a receiver and automatic binder,
sheving a portion of the main frame of the machine and driving
wheel Figure 6 shews a cam and binding arm; Figure 7 shews a
holder and twister; Figure 8 shews the gearing which gives motion to
the said twister; Figure 9 shews the holder and cutters of my improved
binder; Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, are drawn to an enlarged scale; Figure 10 is
a side view of the said machine with the binder detached.
The said automatic binder is constructed as follows:-A rotating
arm a is fixed on the end of a shaft b geared in connection with the
main shaft of the machine. This rotating arm a is of such a length
that its periphery moves in close proximity to the concave portion of
the platform or receiver A¹. The wire recl or spool c is mounted on a
rod d fixed near the said rotating arm a, and the wire is passed over or
through a suitable guide e from the reel c to the said arm a which is
provided with a clamp or holder for holding the wire. The twister ƒ is
a two-pronged spiral implement arranged upon the said
bination with the clamp or holder, and caused to rotate and twist the
two parts of the wire together at the proper time. The rotation of this
twister is effected by a peculiarly shaped cam fixed on a tube through
arm a in com-
which the shaft 6 of the arm a passes. This cam is inactive except at
the time when the two parts of the wire are brought together around the
sheaf or gravel. It then acts on a vibrating toothed segment j (clearly
shewn in Figure 8) which is geared by bevil pinions j', j, with the said

page_text: twister, thereby causing its rotation. The said arm a also carries a
knife or blade k, which acts in combination with a fixed blade
(Figure 9) to cut the wire after the same has been twisted around the
sheaf or gavel. My improved binder is attached to the main frame of
the machine by bolts passing through the projection A on the receiver A'
(see Figures 5 and 10).
A modification of my improved apparatus for gathering the grain
into sheaves or gavels is illustrated in Figures 11 to 15, in which
Figure 11 is a plan, and Figure 12 a front elevation of the machine
provided with this modification of my apparatus; Figure 13 shows the
standard or support of the raking apparatus and the mechanism for
driving the same, drawn to an enlarged scale; Figures 14 and 14° shew
the rake and platform; Figure 15 is a side elevation shewing the
positions the rake assumes during its revolution.
According to this part of the said Invention I construct the plat-
form A¹ with a concave or trough-shaped portion into which the grain
is pushed by the rake b. An auxiliary trough-shaped portion a with a
table a¹ attached to it is hinged to the platform A', so that the said
portion a and table a' can be kept in the position shewn for binding by
hand, and can be allowed to drop clear of the same when the automatic
binding apparatus is used.
One peculiar feature of this part of my Invention is the construction
of the rake b, with folding or contracting and expanding heads, which
permit the rake to adjust itself to the shape of the platform A¹ as it
pushes the grain into the same. The said rake heads are made in three
piece b, b, b, hinged or jointed together. The central piece b¹ is con-
nected to the reel by the arms b', and the outside pieces 62, 63, are freo
to move on the pins or pivots 65, whereby they are connected to the said
central piece b'. As each rake head comes upon the platform it opens
and lies flat on the same, but as it passes over the concave portion of
the platform its joints or pivots allow it to adapt itself to the contracted
width of the said concave portion, whose sides compress the bundles
of grain between them as they are forced forward by the rake. The
combined reel and rake is driven through chain gear, clearly shown
in Figure 13, from the main shaft, and the rakes are kept always
in a horizontal position while revolving by means of a small shaft c

page_text: platform A', the said curved arm is drawn back to the rear of the said
receiver, so that the gavel or sheaf may be pushed freely into the
receiver B in the position for being bound; but when the sheaf or
gavel arrives in this position, the arm moves forward and downward,
passing the wire around the gavel.
The rear end of the said arm a slides in a swivelling eye b attached to
the platform or frame, and its motion is imparted to it by a crank c
which is rotated through the medium of toothed wheels d, e, geared with
the main shaft f of the machine or by other suitable means. The
forward end of the said arm has a finger or holder a¹ which grasps the
binding wire, and as the arm a places this wire around the bale, this
finger places the end of the said wire upon the other part thereof, ready
for the twisting of the two parts of the wire together to fasten them
around the slicaf.
from the pin
The twisting device consists of a rack bar g geared with the pinion /
fixed on the shaft ¹. On the lower end of this shaft is a bevel pinion i
which is geared with the twister on the arm a. The said twister is a
bevil pinion with a slot, into which the wire is inserted by the binder
arm. The said rack bar has at its outer end a longitudinal slot g¹
through which projects a pin or stud b' fixed on the swivelling eye b.
The twister is thus turned by the rack bar g, which receives motion
on the said swivelling eye b, that works in the slot g' on
the rack bar g. As the arm a slides to and fro this slotted bar g moves
with it a certain distance without actuating the pinion h, but when the
end of the slot g¹ comes in contact with the said stud or pin, the pinion h
is turned thereby, operating the twister, and coiling or twisting the
two parts of the said wire together. At the same time a knife k, pivoted
on the arm a at k¹, comes in contact with a projection on the bar g,
and thereby cuts the wire. Then the arm a rises and releases the sheaf
or gavel which is pushed from the receiver as a fresh one advances to be
bound.
Having thus fully described the said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim in and forming
part of a harvesting machine,-
First. The tri-armed intermittent compressing rake revolving over the
platform of the machine, as above described and for the purpose

page_text: Second. The outer divider with an opening under the wing board as
above described, and for the purposes specified.
Third. The gathering rakes provided with teeth in combination with
a rake for removing the cut grain from the platform, as above
described.
Fourth. The gathering rakes and the compressing rake relatively so
geared and arranged that the arms of one revolve between the arms of
the other without contact or interference with each other.
Fifth. The peculiarly constructed grain receiver shewn in Figures
11 and 12 in combination with the platform and with any suitable rake 1
mechanism, as herein set forth and for the purpose specified.
Sixth. The jointed rake constructed as described and arranged and
operating in combination with a platform constructed as described to
gather and compress the grain, as herein set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the compressing rake and platform of 1
the adjustable binder's platform and table, as herein set forth and for the
purpose specified.
Eighth. The compressing rake shewn in Figures 12 and 15 so con-
structed and arranged upon a harvesting machine, that as it revolves the
rake arms are caused by the mechanism herein described or by other 2
suitable mechanism to maintain throughout their revolution a position
parallel or nearly parallel with the surface of the platform, for the
purpose specified.
Ninth. The rake arms and their driving mechanism, constructed and
arranged in the peculiar manner specified, whereby this horizontal 2
position is maintained throughout their revolution, in combination with
the jointed rakes and peculiarly constructed platform, as herein set
forth.
Tenth. In a harvesting machine the combination of a jointed or
folding rake and peculiarly constructed platform with mechanism for 3
automatically binding the sheaves or gavels.
Eleventh. The automatic binding, twisting, and cutting-off mechanism
constructed as shewn in Figures 5 to 10 of the Drawing, or the modifi-
cations thereof shewn in Figures 16 to 22, or in Figures 23 to 26,

page_text: arranged and operating in combination with the other parts of the
machine, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Johnston, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.