IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING GRASS, CORN, AND SIMILAR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE, AND FOR GATHERING AND BINDING THE SAME INTO SHEAVES."VISIONAL SPFICATION
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Exall, of Reading, in the County of Berks,
Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
CUTTING GRASS, CORN, AND SIMILAR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE, AND FOR
GATHERING AND BINDING THE SAME INTO SHEAVES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Exall at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 31st
December 1866.
I, WILLIAM EXALL, of Reading, in the County of Berks, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR CUTTING GRASS, CORN, AND SIMILAR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE, AND
FOR GATHERING AND BINDING THE SAME INTO SHEAVES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of an arrangement of machinery that will cut the
crop with ease, gather carefully and bind into sheaves compactly,and deliver
in good order on the ground. A good ordinary reaping machine can be made
to furnish the driving and cutting apparatus for my gathering and binding
machinery, but I prefer to use a thin sharp edged steel band saw or other
belt furnished with proper cutters working rapidly over riggers or rollers
erected on a proper travelling frame. The band cutter works across the
direction of the machine as it is drawn or propelled up the sides and again
across and over the coru or grass, the lower part with its sharp edge and
rapid motion pressing against the stalks being the cutter. I propose to
[Price 8d.]

page_text: sharpen the cutter belt while in motion or at work by means of a revolving
stone or other rubber that can be made to act upon the band or cutters so as
to sharpen at pleasure, and thus give a constant clean cut. For the purpose
of cutting short grass I use, if required, a revolving brush to press the grass
against the cutter until cut, and thence into a proper receptacle. In the case
of corn, as the cut corn falls against the machine it is seized by a system
of travelling fingers or projections, and by them working through proper
guides it is gently carried through a suitable conductor towards the side
or rear of the machine, and when there is sufficient to form a sheaf, a pair
of circular arms carrying suitable tyers or bands are made to embrace and
properly fasten the sheaf, and by means of cams or other suitable mechanism
to deliver it on the ground. I propose to work the machine by horse-
power, as mowing or reaping machines are usually worked, or by hand
power for the smaller machines, while the larger and more complete
machines I propose to work by steam power.
EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWING.
In the accompanying Drawing where similar letters appear in the several
Figs., they refer to the same parts.
a is the drawing shaft for the horse; b, the frame of the machine; c, are
riggers or rollers over or round which the band cutter works; d is a band
saw or belt with cutters for cutting the corn or other crop; e are the carrier
fingers or projections for carrying the cut corn or other crop into the binder
through the passage e¹; f,f,f, drums or riggers over which the band carrying
the fingers e works; g and g¹, drum and strap for setting in motion the straw
carrier 6;
h and h¹, are arms to form and bind the sheaf; i, the cam for
working the binding arms h, h. As this cam revolves it operates on two lever
rods affixed to the binding arms closing h¹, and when the sheaf is tied and
bound either by this motion or by hand opening the arm h which casts the
sheaf off, and by the next motion is ready for another sheaf. k, k, the
ordinary travelling and driving wheel giving motion to a set of wheel
work k¹, k¹, and thus setting in motion the whole machine when worked by a
horse; l, ordinary sustaining wheels; m is the grindstone or rubber placed at
the top of the frame and pressed upon the cutters d at pleasure by means of a
spring and handle or lever m²; n is a hand lever and clutch for throwing
the can into and out of motion as required for binding the sheaf.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Exall in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EXALL, of Reading, in the County of Berks, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Exall, Her special licence that I, the said William Exall, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Exall, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
CUTTING GRASS, CORN, AND SIMILAR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE, AND FOR GATHERING AND
BINDING THE SAME INTO SHEAVES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Exall, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 William Exall, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per.
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in aud by the following
statement:-
My Invention consists of an arrangement of machinery that will cut the
crop
with ease, gather carefully and bind into sheaves compactly, and deliver
in good order on the ground. A good ordinary reaping machine can be made
to furnish the driving and cutting apparatus for my gathering and binding
machinery, but I prefer to use a thin sharp-edged steel band saw or other belt
furnished with proper cutters working rapidly over riggers or rollers erected
on a proper travelling frame. The band cutter works across the direction of
the machine as it is drawn-or propelled up the sides and again across and
over the corn or grass, the lower part with its sharp edge and rapid motion
pressing against the stalks being the cutter. I propose to sharpen the cuttor

page_text: In the accompanying Drawing where similar letters appear in the several
Figures they refer to the same parts.
In Figures 1, 2, and 3, the horses are placed in the front; in Figures 4
and 5 at the rear of the machine.
a is the drawing shaft; b, the frame of the machine; c are riggers or rollers
over or round which the band cutter works; d is a band saw or belt with
cutters affixed for cutting the corn or other crop; e are the carrier fingers or
projections for carrying the cut corn or other crop into the binder through the
passage efff, drums or riggers over which the band carrying the fingers e
works; g and g¹, drum and strap for setting in motion the straw carrier e;
h and h¹ are arms to form and bind the sheaf; i, the cam for working the
binding arms h, h; as this cam revolves it operates on two lever rods affixed
to the binding arms closing h³, and when the sheaf is tied or bound (either by
this motion or by hand) opening the arm h, which casts the sheaf off, and by
the next motion is ready for another sheaf. One mode of tying or fastening
is with a string with a loop formed at each end, one of which loops is carried
through the other by the closing of the arms, and is caught by a hook which
draws it through the loop and effectually fastens the sheaf. k, k, the ordinary
travelling and driving wheel giving motion to a set of wheelwork ³, k¹, and
thus setting in motion the whole machine when worked by a horse;

page_text: 1, 2, ordinary sustaining or travelling wheels; mis the grindstone or rubber
placed at the top of the frame, and pressed upon the cutters d at pleasure
by means of a spring and handle or lever m²; n is a hand lever and clutch
for throwing the cam i into and out of motion as required for binding the
sheaf.
I claim as my Invention,―
First, the cutting, gathering, and binding into sheaf corn or other agri-
cultural produce at one operation, or any two or more of the said processes
together, as required for making up the sheaf tied before delivering from
the machine. •
Secondly, I also claim the mechanism herein described for making and
delivering the sheaf, but do not confine myself to that peculiar system of
cutting or gathering, as the same may be effected by ordinary cutters and
other mechanism as found necessary or advisable in practice.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Exall, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness to the signature
of William Exall,
ARTHUR CHABOT.
WILLIAM EXALL. (L.S.)