IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Patterson, of Beverley, in the County of
York, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING
MACHINES."
Sealed the 5th June 1854, and dated the 5th December 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Patterson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 5th December 1858.
I, JOHN PATTERSON, of Beverley, in the County of York, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENT}
IN REAPING MACHINES" to be as follows:-
My improvements in reaping machines have reference to the cutting
apparatus, and consist,
First, in the use of a fixed cutter or cutters, having the cutting edge
jagged or serrated, this jagged or serrated edge being straight, zig-
zag, or wavey:
Second, in the use of a series of moving or reciprocating angular
fingers or gatherers, which during their back and forward motion press

page_text: the grain to be cut against the fixed cutter, thereby constituting an
efficient cutting apparatus.
The fingers or gatherers (which project a little in front of the cutting
edge) enter the corn, &c., much more easily by virtue of the recipro-
cating motion than the fixed fingers in ordinary machines.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Patterson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN PATTERSON, of Beverley, in the County of York, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Patterson, Her special license
that I, the said John Patterson, my exccutors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Patterson, my executors,
administrators, or 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
REAPING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Patterson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, 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 John Patterson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say:-
My said Invention relates to an improved arrangement and con-
struction of the cutting apparatus in reaping machines, and consists,
First, in the use of a fixed cutter or cutters, having the cutting edge
jagged or serrated, this jagged or serrated edge being straight, zig-
zag, or wavey:
Second, in the use of a series of moving or reciprocating angular
fingers or gatherers, which during their lateral reciprocating motion
press the grain to be cut against the fixed cutter, thereby constituting
an efficient cutting apparatus. The fingers or gatherers (which project
a little in front of the cutting edge) enter the standing grain or other
crop much more easily by virtue of the reciprocating motion than the
fixed fingers in ordinary machines.
Figure 1, of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, represents a side
elevation of a portion of a reaping machine, fitted with my improved cut-
ting apparatus. Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of the same, showing
the moveable fingers and fixed cutter; and Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are
full sized details of the cutting and cutting actuating mechanism, which
will be herein-after described. The same letters of reference refer to
the corresponding parts of the several Figures on the Sheet of Draw-
ings. A, is the framework of the machine supported by the large and
small running or carrying wheels B and C. The large wheel B is fast
on the short spindle D, which works in suitable bearings in the frame-
work. This spindle has keyed on to it the large spur wheel E, which
gears into the spur pinion 1, fast on the short shaft G; a bevil wheel
H is also keyed on to this shaft, which gears into the bevel pinion I,
fast on the upper end of the vertical shaft J. This shaft works in
bearings K, fitted to the supporting frame L, and carries at its lower
extremity a slotted crank or disc M, shewn in detailed edge view at
Figure 3, and in corresponding plan at Figure 4. To the under side of
this crank or disc is attached by means of a bolt and nut (passing
through the slot N,) the end of the connecting rod 0, which is forked

page_text: at the opposite extremity, and connected to one end of the sliding
finger bar P, as shown in detail at Figure 5. Figure 6 represents.. a
transverse section of the finger bar and cutter; and Figure 7 is a cor-
responding plan of a portion of the same, shewing two of the fingers or
-gatherers Q, in their places. The gatherers are rivetted or otherwise
secured to the bar P, and are made to overlap and project underneath
the cutter blade R, as shewn in the section Figure 6, sufficient space
being allowed, for it to work perfectly free over the blade, without
touching it. The cutter blade is fixed instead of moveable, and is secured
to the bar S, which is bolted to the front edge of the platform T. The
-finger bar P has guides U, bolted or otherwise secured to it, as shewn
in Figure 6, which guides work in suitable guide slots or openings
formed in the platform of the machine, such slots being. of sufficient
length to allow of the requisite traverse of the finger bar. The ma-
chine is raised or lowered by means of the hand wheel V, the boss of
which is formed with an internal thread, which takes into the screw
thread of the spindle W, connected at its lower extremity with the
steering wheel X. This wheel is actuated by the lever handle Y, for
the purpose of guiding the course of the machine. In reaping by this
apparatus, the forward progressive movement of the machine, with the
. lateral reciprocating movement of the fingers or gatherers, causes the
latter to enter the standing crop in oblique lines, or in an angular
direction, as represented by the red and blue dotted lines in Figure 7.
These fingers gather the grain into bundles, and press it against and
draw it along the cutting edge of the knife, the cut grain falling on to
the platform, in the ordinary manner.
my
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not
confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which
I have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be
inade therefrom, without deviating from the principles or main features
of my said Invention, but what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent,.is,

page_text: First, the application and use in reaping machines of a fixed or
stationary cutter or cutters, having the cutting edge jagged or ser-
rated.
Second, the application and use of reciprocating fingers or gatherers
for collecting the grain, and pressing it against the cutter or cutters.
Third, the application and use in reaping machines of reciprocating
angular fingers or gatherers, in combination with a fixed or stationary
cutter or cutters, having the cutting edge jagged or serrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Patterson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Third day of June, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four.
JOHN PATTERSON. (L.S.)