IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR BINDING SHEAVES AND TRUSSES
Year: 1883

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LETTERS PATENT to James Howard. of Bedford in the County of Bedford
Agricultural Engineer, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM
FOR BINDING SHEAVES AND TRUSSES the result partly of a communication
to him from abroad by J. William Twentyman of Christchurch New Zealand
and partly of invention and discovery made by him
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Howard at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October 1883.
JAMES HOWARD, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford, Agricultural Engineer,
'IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR BINDING SHEAVES AND TRUSSES" [the result
partly of a communication to him from abroad by J. William Twentyman of
Christchurch New Zealand and partly of invention and discovery made by him]
This invention relates to mechanism for binding sheaves and trusses, and has
for its objects to simplify the construction and increase the efficiency of such
mechanism.
The said invention comprises improvements in those portions of the sheaf or
truss binding mechanism which are employed for the purpose of holding or grasping
one end of the cord or string with which the sheaf or truss is bound,
It further comprises improvements in the apparatus described in the specification
of former Letters Patent granted to myself and Edward Tenney Bousfield, and
dated January 27th A.D. 1883 N° 462, whereby the breaking of the machinery
when a sheaf or truss becomes entangled with the throwing off or releasing
mechanism is prevented.
In carrying the said invention into practice I dispense with the transversely
sliding bolt and its roller, the cam for actuating the same, the pawl and pawl
lever, and the catch spring of the notched grip-wheel or gripper disc hitherto used
in the apparatus described in the said former specification, and in the sheaf binders
for which Letters Patent have been previously granted to myself and Edward
Tenney Bousfield, dated September 22 A.D. 1881 N° 4092 and August 26
A.D. 1882 Nº 4093, and I obtain the necessary motion by forming upon the knotter

page_text: cam a series of cogs or teeth into which is geared a suitable pinion, intermittent
in its action and fitted upon a shaft carrying at its extremity a worm gearing into
a pinion fitted on the axle of the gripper disc. By this improvement I obviate all
two and fro motions and obtain the desired results by rotatory mechanism.
To provide for the adjustment of the gripper-disc which has hitherto been
accomplished by a screw thread upon the transversely sliding bolt, I propose to
cast on the face of the gripper disc a series of notches, and form upon the under-
side of the head of the bolt forming the axle of the disc and pinion a projection
or projections to fit into the notches on the gripper disc; the shifting of the disc
to cause the bolt to take into one or other of these notches will give the required
space between the gripper disc and the grip or clamp for the string.
To prevent breakage when a truss or sheaf becomes entangled I provide lever
appliances arranged in such a manner that any accumulation of straw carried over
through entanglement or otherwise will strike the said appliances and automatically
disengage the trussing mechanism from the machine.
I accomplish this object by placing a clutch upon the shaft carrying the packers,
which shaft is actuated by a pitch-chain from the machine; this clutch is connected
by suitable levers placed above the trussing or sheafing mechanism, so that when
the straw is carried over as described the clutch is disengaged. A lever or other
suitable device is provided whereby the clutch may be thrown out of gear by the
attendant.

page_text: In the apparatus described in the said former specification and now used in the
sheaf binders for which Letters Patent have been previously granted to myself
and Edward Tenney Bousfield and dated September 22nd A:D. 1881.N° 4092 and
August 26th A.D. 1882 N° 4093, there is a transversely sliding bolt and roller, &
cam for actuating the same, a pawl and pawl lever, and a catch spring arranged in
combination with a notched grip-wheel or gripper disc..
I now modify this apparatus as follows, that is to say, I provide for imparting
the required motion to the gripper disc by forming upon the knotter cam a, a
series of cogs or teeth b into which is geared a pinion c; this pinion is fitted upon
a shaft d carrying at its extremity a worm e which gears into a worm pinion f
fitted on the axle or shaft g of the gripper disc h. The knotter cam has a rotary
movement, and the teeth are arranged thereon in such a position as to turn the
pinion intermittently and thereby actuate the gripper disc at the proper times to
co-operate with the other parts of the knotting mechanism. I therefore avoid all
reciprocating or to-and-fro motions of these parts, and obtain the desired results
by rotatory mechanism alone.
To provide for the adjustment of the gripper-disc, which has hitherto been
accomplished by a screw thread upon the transversely sliding bolt, I attach to or
form on the interior of the boss of the gripper disc h, a projection or key h¹ which
is adapted to enter either of the notches, 1, 2, 3, 4 formed in the head g' of the
axle or shaft g. If desired this arrangement may be modified by forming the
notches in the gripper disc and providing the shaft or axle g with a projection
adapted to enter the said notches. By shifting the disc h to cause the projection or
key to enter one or other of the notches the required adjustment is obtained
between the two parts forming the gripping device or clamp viz, the gripper disc
and the part A, to ensure the proper retention of the cord or string thereby.

page_text: My improvements relating to the prevention of injury to the machine when a
truss or sheaf becomes entangled with the mechanism consist in providing means
whereby the entangled sheaf or truss will effect its own liberation; or will arrest
or stop the action of the said mechanism before any injury occurs. The means
whereby the sheaf or truss is made effectual for the above purpose may be varied,
but a very advantageous arrangement for carrying this part of my invention into
practice is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of a straw trussing machine provided with this
mechanism, and
Figure 6 is a front elevation of the same.
In this arrangement I provide lever appliances whereby any accumulation of
straw carried over through entanglement or otherwise will strike the said appliances
and automatically disengage the trussing mechanism from the part of the machine
whereby it is driven.
A clutch is placed upon the shaft & operating the packers l, which shaft is
driven by a pitch chain m from the machine. The said clutch is connected by the
levers nn and rods o, o with a lever p placed above the trussing or sheafing
mechanism, so that when the straw is carried over as described by the arms q q
the knotter cam a the clutch j will be disengaged and the mechanism which derives
its motion from the shaft k will stop.
of
A rod or any other suitable device may be connected with the lever n' so that
the clutch j may at any time be thrown out of gear by the attendant. This part
of my invention may be applied in substantially the same manner to a sheaf
binding machine
Having thus fully described my said invention and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practise I wish it understood that
I claim
First. The improvements in and relating to the knotting mechanism substantially
as described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 of the drawings, and for the
purposes specified.
Second. Providing means or appliances whereby a trussing or sheaf-binding
machine, when a truss or sheaf becomes entangled in the mechanism, will be
thrown out of gear by the entangled truss or sheaf itself coming into contact with
Buch appliances.
Third. The automatic releasing devices as described with reference to Figures 5
and 6 of the drawings.
In Witness whereof I the said James Howard have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty-first day of April in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.
JAMES HOWARD (L.S.)