AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR DRAWING OR THINNING PLANTS SOWN OR PLANTED IN DRILLS OR OTHERWISE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Mackie, Engineer, Royal Insurance Buildings,
Leeds, Yorkshire, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR DRAWING
OR THINNING PLANTS SOWN OR PLANTED IN DRILLS OR OTHERWISE."
Scaled the 28th July 1876, and dated the 4th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Mackie at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th February 1876.
"IM-
JOHN MACKIE, Engineer, Royal Insurance Buildings, Leeds, Yorkshire.
PROVED MACHINE FOR DRAWING OR THINNING PLANTS SOWN OR PLANTED IN
DRILLS OR OTHERWISE."
رو
That this improved machine will draw out or cut any proportion or the whole.
number of plants sown or planted in drills or rows or otherwise. This is done by
means of a series of clips or clasps jointed between the centre and periphery of
one or more clip or clasp wheels. These clip or clasp wheels rotate on one or both
sides of the plants to be removed. The clips or clasps may be either mechanically
closed transversely at the point where the wheel comes in contact with the ground
by one or more cams or eccentrics, or by their own gravity, for the purpose of
taking hold of the plant to be removed. The plant being thus operated on by the.
clips or clasps is removed or drawn out of the ground by the rotary motion of the.
wheel. The rigid pressure of the closing cam against which the clip comes in.
contact may be relieved, if found desirable, by a spring of metal, wood, india-
rubber, or of any other material with sufficient elasticity that may be found
suitable for the purpose. The holding part of the jaws of the clips or clasps may'
be of varied forms, and constructed of different materials, as may be found suitable
to give a biting, holding, or cutting power to the jaw of the clip when closed. I
prefer and consider as most suitable for this purpose metal, wood, india-rubber, or
leather. A vibrating motion may be transmitted to the clips or clasps by means of.
the irregular surfaces of the cams against which the clips or clasps come in
contact.
The wheel or wheels on which the clips or clasps are hinged are arranged.
concentric with the wheels that carry the weight of the machine, power being
transmitted from these wheels to the clip or clasp wheel by means of either
gearing, pullies, or pitch chain. By so doing the clip wheel which is counter-
balanced by a weight or spring can be made to press lightly on the ground over
which it has to travel. The plants removed by this improved machine may be
[Price Gd.l

page_text: delivered into a receiver placed at the back, front, or side of the machine, or
dropped on the ground, as inay be found most suitable. This improved machine
may be constructed to operate on one or more rows of plants to suit the power at
the disposal of the operator. This method of taking hold of the plant by means
of clips or clasps could be arranged to raise root crops, such as turnips. The clips
or clasps, after operating on the plants or roots, are opened mechanically or by
their own gravity ready for the next operation of being closed on the wheel
rotating.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Mackie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th July
1876.
JOHN MACKIE Engineer, of the Royal Insurance Buildings, Leeds, Yorkshire.
"AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR DRAWING OR THINNING PLANTS SOWN OR PLANTED
IN DRILLS OR OTHERWISE."
That this improved machine will draw out or cut any proportion on the whole
number of plants sown or planted in drills or rows, or otherwise. That this is
done by a series of clips or clasps (A, A, Figure 1), jointed between the centre and
periphery of one or more clip or clasp wheels (B, B, Figure 1). These clip or
clasp wheels (B, B, Figure 1) rotate on one or both sides of the plants to be
removed. The clips or clasps (A, A, Figure 1) may be either mechanically closed
transversely at the point where the wheel comes in contact with the ground by
one or more cams (C, Figure 2) or eccentrics, or by their own gravity, for the
purpose of taking hold of the plant to be removed. The plant being thus
operated on by the clips or clasps (A, A, Fig. 1) is removed or drawn out of the
ground by the rotary motion of the wheel. The rigid pressure of the closing
cam (C, Fig. 2), against which the clip (A, Fig. 2) comes in contact may be
relieved, if found desirable, by a spring of metal, wood, india-rubber, or of any
other material, with sufficient elasticity that may be found suitable for the purpose.
The holding part of the jaws of the clips or clasps (A, A, Fig. 1) may be of
varied forms, and be constructed of different materials, as may be found suitable to
give a biting, holding, or cutting power to the jaw of the clip when closed. I
prefer and consider most suitable for this purpose metal, wood, india-rubber, or
leather. A vibrating motion may be transmitted to the clips or clasps (A, A,
Fig. 1) by means of the irregular surfaces of the cams (C, Fig. 2), against which
the clips or clasps (A, A, Fig. 1) come in contact.
The wheel or wheels (B, B, Fig. 1), on which the clips or clasps (A, A,
Fig. 1) are hinged are arranged concentric with the wheels (D, D, Fig. 1)
that carry the weight of the machine, power being transmitted from these
wheels (D, D, Fig. 1) to the clip or clasp (A, A, Fig. 1) wheel by means of either
gearing pullies (E, E, Fig. 1) or pitch chain. By so doing the clip wheels
(B, B, Fig. 1) which is counterbalanced by a weight (F, F, Fig. 1) or spring
can be made to press lightly on the ground over which it has to travel. The plants
removed by this improved machine may be delivered into a receiver placed at the
back, front, or side of the machine, or dropped on the ground, as may be found
most suitable. This improved machine may be constructed to operate on one or
more rows of plants to suit the power at the disposal of the operator. This
method of taking hold of the plant by means of clips or clasps could be arranged
to raise root crops, such as turnips. The clips or clasps, after operating on the
plants or roots, are opened mechanically or by their own gravity ready for the next
operation of being closed on the wheel rotating.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the best means 1 am
acquainted with for carrying the same into practice, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein shewn and described so

page_text: long as the particular character of any part of my Invention be retained, but what
I claim is,-
1st. The mode of operating upon the plant for the purpose of its removal.
2nd. The introduction of clips or clasps hinged in a wheel or drum rotating
on one or both sides of the plant to be removed, and the mode of working the
same.
3rd. The flexible jaws by which the plant is clasped for the purpose of
removal.
4th. The removal of the plant with but little disturbance of the ground beyond
that attached to the roots of the plant removed.
5th. The gathering up of the removed plants into a box or other receptacle
instead of leaving them upon the land.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Mackie, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
ה זו זז
JOHN MACKIE. (L.S.)