Improvements in Grain Binders.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1886.
Complete Left, 30th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 3rd June 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by CYRUS H. MCCORMICK, Junior, of Chicago, in the
County of Cook, and State of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Grain Binders.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON Fel. Inst. P.A. of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors 6, Lord Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster and 323 High
Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of
his invention to be as follows:-
Usually in grain-binders which employ cord as the band material and unite the
ends of the band in a knot, the tying-bill makes at least a complete revolution in
forming the knot, and is brought to a stop with its jaws trending transversely across
the slot in the breast plate or decking through which the binder-arm plays and the
cord is admitted, necessitating the use of a stripper, pulling transversely of said slot,
to wrench the knot from the jaws and tighten it in advance of the moment the
gavel is ejected. In one or two instances the knotter or tying bill has finished its
revolution with its jaws pointing or trending outwards in the direction of the length
of the slot, so that the stress of the sheaf, as it is forced from the machine by the
ejectors, will pull the knot from the jaws and tighten it in so doing. This, however,
involves some danger that the strands of the next band may slip past the knotter
before its revolution from that starting point commences in the next tying operation,
unless a gate is provided to close the slot and retain the strands until the revolution
cominences.
In the present invention it is proposed to control and actuate the knotter in such
manner that it shall start from a position transverse of the said slot, and where it will
certainly stop the cord strands by forming itself a gate across the slot, and shall
finish the tying operation and come to a stop when its revolution is but partly com-
pleted and with its jaws trending outwards in the direction of the length of the slot in
the breast-plate, so that the forcible ejection of the sheaf may tighten the knot, and
then immediately after shall move forward to the end of its revolution and there
remain to await the next binding operation, with its jaws again barring the passage
of the clot

page_text: In the past year or so a novel form of holder has been introduced and become
known under the term of "crown-disk-holder." This holder consists of a disk with
an upturned notched flange saddled by a shoe, and has heretofore been mounted upon
a spindle parallel with the tyer-spindle. It requires that the cord strands shall be laid
by the binder arm in the notch nearest the tying-bill and close to the shoe which
saddles the flange, but in practice, owing to the position of its spindle relatively to the
tyer-spindle it has proven that there is great liability of the binder-arm laying the
strand last brought up into both that notch and the notch opposite, so that when
the holder-disk begins a revolution the strand will be pulled aside close to the eye of
the binder-arm and may be sprung out of the notch that is just entering the show so
as not to be grasped, or not firmly grasped. To remedy this it is proposed herein to
incline the holder-spindle so as to raise the side of the holder-disk nearest the tying-
bill and depress the side furthest therefrom, thus ensuring that the cord-strands laid
by the binder-arm, while they fall into the notch in advance of the shoe, cannot by
any possibility reach the opposite notch. Novel means are also adopted to actuate
the holder as well as the tying-bill.
Another difficulty experienced in this class of binders is that the strand being
placed about the gavel by the binder-arm occasionally becomes entangled in the grain
ind is pushed to one side, so that it does not properly reach the knotter, or so that
the binder-arm slips past it in the cord slot and then bars its proper approach to said
knotter. This has usually been provided for by the employment of a tucker either
upon the binder-arm, and operated by a cam near the heel of said arm, or else
above the breast-plate, and operated by an irregular flange or groove upon the tyer-
cam, involving extra mechanism and extra weight. It being an object to place
minimum of labor on the tyer-cam and to reduce the weight and number of parts
as much as possible, those just enumerated are dispensed with and a breast, shoulder
or enlargement, is formed upon the binder-arın at such a point that it will practically
close the cord-slot on the side adjacent to the grain without passing therethrough,
thus pushing the strand before it, as the binder-arm carries it around the gavel,
and bringing it up close to the tying-bill.
a
The general structure of the machine is or may be of the type followed in the
McCormick binders for the past three or four years, the binder arm being mounted
upon a rock-shaft beneath a slotted decking or grain-chute, and provided with the
usual concentric guard-finger, above which decking is a breast-plate forming the top
of the grain-passage or packing-chamber and also slotted for the play of the binder-
arm and having ribs alongside each under edge of said slot to lift the waist of the
gavel from contact with the plate. Above the breast-plate is the tyer-shaft, sup-
ported as usual in an overhung arm from the post-frame. A bracket sleeved upon
this tyer-shaft and braced by a stay-rod leading to a support on the harvester-frame,
depends from said shaft and has its feet bolted to and supporting the breast-plate.
A bearing formed in this bracket receives the spindle of the knotter or tying-bill
which, as usual, is formed with a rigid jaw and a pivoted jaw, the latter being
controlled by means of a spring-cam, which acts upon the outer side of its heel-
extension, to close it and a fixed cam upon the stock or bracket, which acts upon the
inner side of said heel extension to temporarily open it in order to receive the crossed
ends of the band, the action of the spring cam immediately succeeding to close the
jaws, grasping these ends and holding them while the loop is drawn over them.
At the upper end of the tyer-spindle is secured a bevel-pinion having upon its hub
two delay shoes in different planes and at an obtuse angle to each other, the lower
shoe being intended to hold the knotter at rest during the long interval preceding
the next binding operation and the upper shoe having for its object to lock it
temporarily in position while the bundle is being ejected, before it reaches its original
or starting point. The teeth of the pinion are cut away from the initial end of the
upper shoe to near its rear end, forming a gap, one wall of which is about flush with
said shoe, and the other wall of which is formed by a tooth of the pinion near said
rear end, all for a purpose that will presently appear.
Upon the tyer-shaft is mounted the tyer-cam consisting of a wheel or disk provided

page_text: on the face adjacent to the tyer-spindle with a segment-rack, not having, as usual,
sufficient teeth to give the tyer a complete turn, but less than that number, so that as
the tyer-pinion passes off the rack the jaws of the knotter will stop in a position
trending outwardly along the slot in the breast-plate or in the general direction of
said slot. Beyond this rack, to engage with the upper shoe of the pinion is a delay-
ledge of such length as to allow the ejector-fingers which come in contact with the
gavel at the moment the shoe rides upon the initial end of the ledge, to complete their
action just as it reaches the further end. At this latter point is located a solitary
tooth, which, entering and passing along the gap in the pinion engage with the rear
wall, or gear tooth and revolves said pinion just sufficient to bring the knotting jaws
to a position completing a revolution, or their original or starting position, pointing
right across the line of the slot in the breast plate, when the second delay-shoe on the
pinion falls upon a succeeding delay ledge, described on a greater radius than the
first, to prevent interference, by which the knotter is locked in position until its
pinion engages with the segment in the next tying operation.
That portion of the slot in the breast plate through which the binder-arm plays
is straight, as usual, but adjacent to the knotter it becomes oblique trending
toward the knotter spindle, or rather forming a finger, projecting from the side
furthest from the spindle into a recess or cut away portion beneath said spindle
and terminating opposite, or almost opposite, to its axis, at which point the slot
returns slightly inward for a space, beneath and about parallel with the knotter
jaws in their transverse position then curves gradually outward and obliquely
away from the knotter in the direction of the trend of its jaws when their pinion
runs off its segment and the first shoe engages with its ledge. Thus when the
knotter is stopped at the conclusion of the binding operation with its jaws directly
across the general line of the slot, the cord-strands, as they are laid, first by the
recession of the binder-arm and then by its approach, will be deflected along the
upper or inner edge of the finger and laid on the chin of the knotter close to its
spindle and retained there, whether they escape past the end of the finger or remain
upon it to be carried thereover and into the lower return reach of the slot by the.
revolution of the knotter. The slight inward or return curve of the slot prevents any
tendency of the strands to slip along towards the nose of the knotter should they
escape from the finger and, in any event, the knotter jaws in their transverse position.
so completely close the slot that the strands are absolutely barred from passage until
they have been tied, while the oblique continuation of said slot allows the band to be
pulled from the knotter when the latter has stopped in its outwardly trending
position.
The just mentioned oblique reach of the slot, coupled with the transverse position
of the knotter while the band is being laid, will of course insure that that strand which
is grasped in the holder and is paid out in the recession of the binder-arm, imine-
diately after the sheaf has been ejected and the knotter has reached its second or
starting position, will be properly deflected and placed upon the chin of the knotter
close up to the spindle in the most favorable position for tying, but, as already.
suggested, it often happens that the strand brought up to be laid alongside of that
first or holder-strand in the rise of the binder-arm gets entangled with or pushed
aside or retarded by the grain, so that it lags behind the arm and at the moment it
should enter the oblique reach of the slot is barred therefrom by the arm itself and so
is not properly presented to the knotter. There are objections to the use of a cord-
tucker on the arm itself to obviate this, because it weakens the arm, and, with its
accessories, adds so much additional weight, to the machine; and an independent
cord-tucker above the breast-plate, operated from the tyer-cam, although perhaps
involving less weight, does involve additional mechanism and some additional weight,
and, although it forces the strand into position for the effective action of the knotter,
often does so by pulling slack from the receptacle, leaving that part that is blocked
by the binder arm as slack in the band. These forms, and all their operative
mechanism, are herein dispensed with by forming a breast or enlargement upon the
shank of the binder-arm at such a point that as this arm rises it will travel close to.

page_text: and practically follow the slot or space along the under side of the ribs, which have,
for some distance, a curved outline that facilitates this action. The breast will reach
the slot sufficiently in advance of the moment when the liability of the strand to be
deflected by the resistance of the grain occurs; it will so effectually close and follow
this slot that the strand cannot slip past but will be pushed before it until the arm
ceases its movement at which time the shank of the arm is at the outer extremity of
the straight reach of the slot, and the strand will therefore pass readily into the
oblique reach and be deflected by the finger towards the knotter-spindle to rest upon
the chin alongside the other strand and parallel therewith; the revolution of the
knotter of course immediately succeeds this.
Outside of the bearing for the tyer-spindle the supporting bracket has oblique
bearings for the holder-spindle, the lower bearing being near to the tyer-spindle, or
only at such distance therefrom as to bring the holder-disk close to the tying-jaws,
while the upper one throws the end of the holder spindle near to the periphery of the
tyer-cam. The holder consists of a circular plato or disk, of proper diameter, having
at, or near, its periphery an upturned rim or flange provided with a series of forwardly
sot notches, giving its solid portion the appearance of rounded saw teeth with their
shoulders set in the direction of revolution. This disk, generally called a crown-disk,
is saddled on the side nearest to the knotter by a stationary shoe, the sides or flaps of
which pass beyond the bottom of the notches slightly and the inner walls of which
come close to the nose of the knotter-jaws when the revolution of the knotter spindle
has brought them around to a position pointing directly at the shoe. The inclined
position of the holder-spindle lifts the holder disk so as to raise the flange on the side
adjacent to the knotter or rather to sink the flange on the opposite side, as that
nearest the knotter should retain about its usual height in relation thereto, bringing
the disk in a plane oblique to the line of the second strand of cord stretched between
the knotter and the nose of the binder-arm when the latter has encircled the gavel,
with its inner side intersecting said line, and since proper construction requires that
the knotter should come close to the inner surface of the breast-plate and that the cord
should be grasped and held sufficiently low down to enter between the knotter-jaws
when they are open, it is found advisable to cut away the outer part of the breast-
plate to allow the further side of the holder-disk to pass therethrough in order to
obtain the proper inclination.
The positive grasping of the cord between the unyielding surfaces would, owing to
the uneven thickness of the cord and the defects known even in the best of binding
cord, result often in imperfect binding and escaping bundles. It has always therefore
been found necessary to provide for a yielding contact between the holder-disk and
its shoe, whatever their construction. This is accomplished herein by permitting the
holder spindle to slide in its bearings and placing between the lower bearing, or
thimble thereon, and a nut adjustable upon the screw-threaded portion of said spindle
beneath its upper bearing, a strong coiled spring encircling the spindle, the effect of
which will be to hold the disk up against its shoe with a force determined by the
adjustment of the nut, but permit it to yield for varying thickness of cord or for
lumps or defects found therein.
Heretofore the shoe has been bolted to the bracket or stock, at a distance from the
holder-disk and has extended thereto from this point of attachment but, in the
present invention, it is formed with a hub, to embrace the holder-spindle loosely and
the stock is recessed above the disk to receive the hub. A dowel-più passing through
a portion of the stock, alongside the bearing for the spindle enters a recess in the web
connecting this hub with the shoe proper and thereby holds it against rotation with
the spindle. Thus, in assembling the parts, the hub of the shoe is slipped over the
spindle and the spindle then placed in its bearings, when all parts of the holder are
secured together by the same means that retain the spindle from slipping out of such
bearings. The flaps or depending walls, of the shoe have also been heretofore made
to terminate on the same radial line at their rear, but to permit the ready escape of
the fag ends of the cord and to cause them to drop outside of the crown-disk instead
of being retained in the cup formed thereby, the inner flap is cut away in advance

page_text: of the other, so that it shall release the portion of the fag grasped by it in advance of
the outer one, thus ensuring that the rotation of the disk shall push the fag towards
the outer side and that it shall be dropped from said outer side when released by the
exterior flap of the holder.
To the extreme upper end of the holder-spindle adjacent to the periphery of the
tyer-cam, is pinned or fastened a pinion, which, in the present instance has twice
the number of interdental spaces as are found notches in the crown-disk. At the
outer edge of the cam, either upon its face or its periphery, is described a ledge
engaging with said pinion, and which for a distance corresponding with the interval
between the severing of the cord and the starting of the tyer and holder in the
ensuing binding operation, is so described either upon a concentric curve,
if upon
the face, or upon a radius, if it is upon the periphery, as to act as a delay-ledge and
hold the pinion stationary and the holder disk consequently immovable but at a point
corresponding relatively to the initial movement of the knotter this ledge terminates
and is succeeded by a short oblique or spiral ledge which enters the next interdental
space of the pinion and causes it to turn sufficiently to carry the notch in the crown-
disk, in which the cord has been laid, beneath the shoe and clamp the cord, and then
the succeeding interdental space is engaged by the insetting initial end of the first
named flange or delay-ledge. In travelling along this oblique initial reach of the
delay-ledge the pinion will be given an additional turn equal to one interdental space,
the purpose of which is to carry the strands, which have now been seized by the
knotter and clamped between its jaws, against the knife and sever them, then the
holder comes to rest and is held at rest by the delay-ledge until the succeeding
knotting operation commences.
The knife just mentioned, is clamped to the stock in such position as to bring its
cutting edge close against the outer walls of the holder-shoe, between it and the
knotter, but a little behind the point where the cord strands rest at the moment of
the temporary stoppage of the holder when the open tying-jaws receive and close
upon them. The starting of the holder the instant that the tying-jaws have closed
and the cord strands are securely held therein, carries these end strands along the
inner edge of the shoe and immediately against the knife, and they are thereby
severed, leaving the main strand still grasped between the shoe and the crown-disk.
The stationary knife cannot be employed to the best effect when the knotter spindle
and holder-spindle both lie in a common plane parallel with the plane of movement
of the binder-arm, and therefore the holder-spindle is placed in a plane further
removed from that of the binder-arm, say about a half an inch, which ensures certainty
in the operation of the knife.
In operation, supposing the end of the cord to have been already grasped in the
holder in binding the previous sheaf, and the binder-arm to be still in its highest
position and the knotter to have reached its position of rest with its jaws pointing
transversely across the cord-slot and closing it, the binder-arm recedes, laying the
cord strand in the notch in the holder-disk just in advance of the clamping shoe
thence over the chin of the knotter, and then upon the deflecting finger in the cord-
slot, and finally sinking beneath the decking to its own position of rest. Grain is
then fed against the strand of cord stretched from the holder to the nose of the
binder arm and across the passage way or packing chamber between the breast plate
and decking, until sufficient has accumulated to form a sheaf, when the binder-arm
rises, carrying the cord up around the gavel, through the slot in the breast-plate,
which, as already stated, is closed by the enlargement or breast on the shank of the
arm so as to push the strand along before it, and finally laying it upon the deflecting
finger, over the chin of the knotter alongside the first strand, and in the same notch
in the disk in which the first lies. The arm comes to a stop, and immediately the
revolution of the tyer-cam, which, by means of its provisions for delay, has held the
holder and. the knotter stationary until that moment, brings the gear-segment into
engagement with the knotter spindle and the first oblique ledge at its periphery into,
one of the interdental spaces of the holder-pinion, and the knotter and holder begin
to revolve, the revolution of the holder-disk carrying the two strands of cord beneath

page_text: =
the shoe and laterally toward the knotter spindle so as to meet the knotting-jaws as
they come around. At the proper moment these jaws open to receive said strands, at
just which time the holder-pinion reaches the end of the oblique ledge which has been
actuating it, the knotter reaches the spring-cam and its jaws are immediately closed,
grasping the strands which have been received between them and their revolution at
once ceases, leaving them directed outwardly along the slot in the breast-plate, and
now the second oblique ledge at the periphery of the tyer-cam, which has already
engaged with the holder-pinion, begins to act thereon, turning the disk a slight
distance further, carrying the strands against the stationary knife edge and severing
them, when it also comes to a stop and is thereafter held at rest by the delay length
of its actuating ledge. As soon as the strands are severed the ejector-fingers, by this
time brought round by the revolution of the tyer-shaft, strike the sheaf and push it
forcibly from the machine wrenching the knot from the tying-bill as they do this.
Then the knotter-pinion is struck by the solitary tooth and turned just sufficiently to
bring the bill to its starting position, with its jaws across the cord-slot and the lower
delay-shoe resting on the outer delay-ledge to lock it in position until the succeeding
binding operation.
Deted this 20th day of In 100g
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: A communication from abroad by CYRUS H. McCORMICK, Junior, of Chicago, in the
County of Cook, and State of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON Fel. Inst. P.A. of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Usually in grain-binders which employ cord as the band material, and unite the
ends of the band in a knot, the tying-bell makes at least a complete revolution in
forming the knot, and is brought to a stop with its jaws trending transversely across
the slot in the breast-plate or decking, through which the binder-arm plays and the
cord is admitted; necessitating the use of a stripper, pulling transversely of said slot,
to wrench the knot from the jaws and tighten it in advance of the moment the
gavel is ejected. In one or two instances, the knotter or tying-bill has finished its
revolution with its jaws pointing or trending outwards in the direction of the length
of the slot, so that the stress of the sheaf, as it is forced from the machine by the
ejectors, will pull the knot from the jaws and tighten it in so doing. This, however,
involves some danger that the strands of the next band may slip past the knotter
before its revolution from that starting point commences in the next tying operation,
unless a gate is provided to close the slot and retain the strands until the revolution
commences.
In the present invention it is proposed to control and actuate the knotter in such
manner that it shall start from a position transverse of the said slot, and where it will
certainly stop the cord-strands by forming itself a gate across the slot, and shall
finish the tying operation and come to a stop when its revolution is but partly
completed and with its jaws trending outwards in the direction of the length of the
slot in the breast-plate, so that the forcible ejection of the sheaf may tighten the knot,
and then immediately after shall move forward to the end of its revolution, and there
remain to await the next binding operation, with its jaws again barring the passage of
the slot. As it would not sufficiently wind the cord by itself in such movement, prior
to the first stop, the holder is caused to bend or wrap the strands laterally about the
knotter spindle to anticipate the coming around of the jaws.
In the past year or so a novel form of holder has been introduced and become
known under the term of "crown-disk-holder." This holder consists of a disk with
an upturned notched flange saddled by a shoe, and has heretofore been mounted upon
a spindle parallel with the tyer-spindle. It requires that the cord-strands shall be
laid by the binder-arm in the notch nearest the tying bill and close to the shoe which
saddles the flange, but in practice, owing to the position of its spindle relatively to the

page_text: -
tyer-spindle, it has proven that there is great liability of the binder-arm laying the
strand last brought up into both that notch and the notch opposite, so that when
the holder-disk begins a revolution, the strand will be pulled aside close to the eye of
the binder-arm and may be sprung out of the notch that is just entering the shoe so
as not to be grasped, or not firmly grasped. To remedy this it is proposed herein to
incline the holder spindle so as to raise the side of the holder-disk nearest the tying-
bill, and depress the side furthest therefrom, thus ensuring that the cord-strands laid
by the binder-arm, while they fall into the notch in advance of the shoe, cannot by
any possibility reach the opposite notch. Novel means are also adopted to actuate
the holder as well as the tying bill.
Another difficulty experienced in this class of binders is that the strand being
placed above the gavel by the binder-arm occasionally becomes entangled in the grain,
and is pushed to one side, so that it does not properly reach the knotter, or so that
the binder arm slips past it in the cord-slot and then bars its proper approach to said
knotter. This has usually been provided for by the employment of a tucker either
upon the binder arm, and operated by a cam near the heel of said arm, or else above
the breast-plate, and operated by an irregular flange or groove upon the tyer-cam,
involving extra mechanism and oxtra weight. It being an object to place a minimum
of labor on the tyer-cam and to reduce the weight and number of parts as much as
possible, those just enumerated are dispensed with, and a breast, shoulder or enlarge-
ment is formed upon the binder arm at such a point that it will practically close the
cord slot on the side adjacent to the grain, without passing therethrough, thus
pushing the strand before it, as the binder-arm carries it around the gavel, and
bringing it up close to the tying-bill.
In the drawings:
Figure 1, is a vertical sectional elevation of so much of a binding attachment
embodying the invention as is necessary to an understanding thereof.
Figure 2, is a plan view from above, showing breast-plate, knotter and holder with
their spindles in section, and the tyer-shaft and cam removed.
Figure 3, an elevation in section on the correspondingly numbered line in the first
figure, looking from the grain side.
Figure 4, a detail of the outer or lower end of the breast plate.
Figure 5, a section through the cam on the line 5-5, of figure one.
Figure 6, a vertical section through the holder and its spindle bearings.
Figure 7, a section through breast-plate and binder-arm as indicated by like
numerals in first figure, looking from the stubble side.
Figure 8, an enlarged detail of the crown-disk and its shoe.
Figure 9, a detail of the knotter-pinion and its shoes.
Figures 10, 11, and 12, diagrammatic projections of the tyer-cam, and knotter to
explain the method in which the latter is actuated, and
Figures 13, 14 and 15, views in rear and stubble-side elevation and in section, of a
modification of the invention for the purpose of actuating the holder.
A represents the decking of a binding attachment, or that part which forms the
flooring of the grain chute and B is the binder-arm niounted upon a rock-shaft there-
beneath and provided with the usual concentric guard-finger. Above this decking
and forming the top of the grain-passage or packing-chamber, is the breast-plate C
also slotted for the play of the binder-arm and having ribs calongside each under.edge
of said slot to lift the waist of the gavel from contact with the plate, and above the
breast-plate, is the main tyer-shaft, D, supported as usual in an overhung arm from
the post-frame. A bracket D¹ sleeved upon the tyer-shaft and braced by a stay-rod d
leading to a support on the harvester-frame, depends from said shaft, and has its feet
bolted to and supporting the breast plate. A bearing d¹ formed in this bracket
receives the spindle of the knotter or tying-bill E, which, as usual, is formed with a
rigid jaw e and a pivoted jaw e', the latter being controlled by means of a spring-
came, which acts upon the outer side of its heel-extension, to close it, and a fixed
cam upon the stock or bracket, which acts upon the inner side of said heel-extension
to temporarily open it in order to receive the crossed ends of the band, the action of the

page_text: spring-cam immediately succeeding to close the jaws, grasping these ends, and holding*
them while the loop is drawn over them.
At the upper end of the tyer-spindle is secured a bevel-pinion F having upon its
hub two delay-shoes fand f¹, in different planes and at an obtuse angle to each other,
the lower shoe being intended to hold the knotter at rest during the long interval.
preceding the next binding operation, and the upper shoe having for its object to lock
it temporarily in position while the bundle is being ejected, before it reaches its
original or starting point. The teeth of the pinion are cut away from the initial end
of the upper shoe to near its rear end, forming a gap f, one wall of which is about
flush with said shoe, and the other wall of which is formed by a tooth of the pinion
near said rear end, all for a purpose that will presently appear.
Upon the tyer-shaft is mounted the tyer-cam G, consisting of a wheel or disc
provided on the face adjacent to the tyer-spindle with a segment-rack g, not having, as
usual, sufficient teeth to give the tyer a complete turn, but less than that number, so
that as the tyer-pinion passes off of the rack the jaws of the knotter will stop in a
position trending outwardly along the slot in the breast-plate or in the general
direction of said slot. Beyond this rack, to engage with the upper shoe of the pinion
is a delay-ledge g¹ of such length as to allow the ejector-fingers G¹ which come in
contact with the gavel at the moment the shoe rides upon the initial end of the ledge,
to complete their action just as it reaches the further end. At this latter point
is located a solitary tooth gwhich, entering and passing along the gap in the
pinion engages with the rear wall or gear tooth and revolves said pinion onward just
sufficient to bring the knotting jaws to a position completing a revolution, or their
original or starting position, pointing right across the line of the slot in the breast-
plate, when the second delay-shoe on the pinion falls upon a succeeding delay-ledge g³
described on a greater radius than the first, to prevent interference, by which the
knotter is locked in position until its pinion engages with the segment in the next
tying operation.
That portion of the slot H in the breast plate through which the binder-arm plays
is straight, as usual, but adjacent to the knotter it becomes oblique, trending toward
the knotter-spindle, or rather forming a finger h projecting from the side furthest
from the spindle into a recess or cut away portion beneath said spindle and termi-
nating opposite, or almost opposite, to its axis, at which point the slot returns slightly
inward for a space, beneath and about parallel with the knotter-jaws in their transverse
position, then curves gradually outward and obliquely away from the knotter in the
direction of the trend of its jaws at the moment that their pinion runs off its segment
and the first shoe engages with its ledge. Thus, when the knotter is stopped at the
conclusion of the binding operation with its jaws directly across the general line of
the slot, the cord-strands, as they are laid, first by the recession of the binder-arm and
then by its approach, will be deflected along the upper or inner edge of the finger
and laid on the chin of the knotter close to its spindle and retained there, whether
they escape past the end of the finger or remain upon it to be carried thereover, and
into the lower returning reach of the slot by the revolution of the knotter. The slight
inward or return curve of the slot prevents any tendency of the strands to slip along
towards the nose of the knotter should they escape from the finger and, in any event,
the knotter jaws in their transverse position so completely close the slot that the
strands are absolutely barred from passage until they have been tied, while the oblique
continuation of said slot allows the band to be pulled from the knotter when thé latter
has stopped in its outwardly trending position.
The just mentioned oblique reach of the slot, coupled with the transverse position
of the knotter while the band is being laid, will of course ensure that that strand
which is grasped in the holder and is paid out in the recession of the binder-arm,
immediately after the sheaf has been ejected and the knotter has reached its second or
starting position, will be properly deflected and placed upon the chin of the knotter
close up to the spindle in the most favorable position for tying, but, as already
suggested, it often happens that the strand brought up to be laid alongside of that
first or holder-strand in the rise of the binder-arm gets entangled with or pushed
R

page_text: aside or retarded by the grain, so that it lags behind the arm, and at the moment it
should enter the oblique reach of the slot is barred therefrom by the arm itself, and
so is not properly presented to the knotter. There are objections to the use of a cord-
tucker on the arm itself to obviate this, because it weakens the arm, and, with its
accessories, adds so much additional weight to the machine; and an independent cord-
tucker above the breast-plate, operated from the tyer-cam, although perhaps involving
less weight, does involve additional mechanism and some additional weight, and,
although it forces the strand into position for the effective action of the knotter, often
does so by pulling slack from the receptacle, leaving that part that is blocked by the
binder-arm as slack in the band. These forms, and all their operating mechanism are
herein dispensed with by forming a breast or enlargement i upon the shank of the
binder-arm at such a point that as this arm rises it will travel close to and practically
follow the slot or space along the under side of the ribs, which have, for some distanco,
a curved outline that facilitates such action. The breast will reach the slot
sufficiently in advance of the moment when the liability of the strand to be deflected
by the resistance of the grain occurs; it will so effectually close and follow this slot
that the strand cannot slip behind but will be pushed before it until the arm ceases its
movement, at which time the shank of the arm is at the outer extremity of the straight
reach of the slot, and the strand will therefore pass readily into the oblique reach and
be deflected by the finger towards the knotter-spindle to rest upon the chin alongside
the other strand and parallel therewith; the revolution of the knotter of course
immediately succeeds this.
Outside of the bearing for the tyer-spindle K, the supporting bracket has oblique
bearings for the holder spindle, the lower bearing k being near to the tyer-spindle, or
only at such distance therefrom as to bring the holder-disk close to the tying jaws,
while the upper one k¹ throws the end of the holder-spindle out near to the periphery
of the tyer-cam. The holder consists of a circular plate or disk, K¹, of proper
diameter, having at, or near, its periphery an up-turned rim or flange provided with a
series of forwardly set notches giving its outline the appearance of rounded saw
teeth with their shoulders set in the direction of revolution. This disk, generally
called a crown-disk, is saddled on the side nearest to the knotter by a stationary
shoe L, the sides or flaps of which pass beyond the bottom of the notches slightly,
and the inner wall of which comes close to the nose of the knotter jaws when the
revolution of the knotter-spindle has brought them round to a position pointing
directly at the shoe. The inclined position of the holder-spindle lifts the holder-disk
so as to raise the flange on the side adjacent to the knotter or rather to sink the flange
on the opposite side, as that nearest the knotter should retain about its usual height in
relation thereto, bringing the disk in a plane oblique to the line of the second strand
of cord stretched between the knotter and the nose of the binder-arm when the latter
has encircled the gavel, with its inner side intersecting said line so as to receive the
strand in a notch at that point, and since proper construction requires that the knotter
should come close to the inner surface of the breast-plate and that the cord should be
grasped and held sufficiently low down to enter between the knotter-jaws when they
open, it is found advisable to cut away the outer part of the breast plate as at L to
allow the further side of the holder-disk to pass therethrough in order to obtain the
proper inclination.
The positive grasping of the cord between unyielding surfaces would, owing to the
uneven thickness of the cord and the defects known even in the best of binding cord,
result often in imperfect binding and escaping bundles. It has always therefore been
found necessary to provide for a yielding contact between the holder-disk and its shoe,
whatever their construction. This is accomplished herein by permitting the holder-
spindle to slide in its bearings, and placing between the lower bearing, or thimble
thereon, and a nut i, adjustable upon the screw-threaded portion of said spindle
beneath its upper bearing, a strong coiled spring & encircling the spindle, the effect
of which will be to hold the disk up against its shoe with a force determined by the
adjustment of the nut, but permit it to yield for varying thickness of cord or for
lumps or defects found therein.

page_text: Heretofore the shoe has been bolted to the bracket or stock, at a distance from the
holder-disk, and has extended thereto from this point of attachment, but, in the
present invention, it is formed with a hub m, to embrace the holder-spindle loosely
and the stock is recessed above the disk to receive the hub. A dowel-pin m¹ passing
through a portion of the stock, alongside the bearing for the spindle enters a
recess m³ in the web connecting this hub with the shoe proper, and thereby holds it
against rotation with the spindle. Thus, in assembling the parts, the hub of the shoe
is slipped over the spindle and the spindle is then placed in its bearings, when all
parts of the holder are secured together by the same means that retain the spindle
from slipping out of such bearings. The flaps, or depending walls, of the shoe have
also been heretofore made to terminate on the same radial line at their rear, but to
permit the ready escape of the fag ends of the cord, and to cause them to drop outside
of the crown-disk instead of being retained in the cup formed thereby, the inner flap
is now cut away in advance of the other, so that it shall release the portion of the fag
grasped by it in advance of the outer one, thus ensuring that the rotation of the disk
shall push the fag towards the outer side, and that it shall be dropped from said outer
side when released by the exterior flap of the holder.
To the extreme upper end of the holder spindle, adjacent to the periphery of the
tyer cam, is pinned or fastened a pinion N, which, in the present instance, has twice
the number of interdental spaces as are found notches in the crown-disk. At the
outer edge of the cam, either upon its face or its periphery, is described a ledge n
engaging with said pinion, and which, for a distance corresponding with the interval
between the severing of the cord and the starting of the tyer and holder in the
ensuing binding operation, is so described either upon a concentric curve, if upon the
face, or upon a radius, if it is upon the periphery, as to act as a delay-ledge and hold
the pinion stationary, and the holder-disk consequently immovable; but at a point
corresponding relatively to the initial movement of the knotter, this ledge terminates
and is succeeded by a short oblique or spiral ledge n¹ which enters the next interdental
space of the pinion and causes it to turn sufficiently to carry the notch in the crown-
disk, in which the cord has been laid, beneath the shoe and clamp the cord, and then
the succeeding interdental space is engaged by the insetting initial end n² of the first
named flange or delay ledge. In travelling along this oblique initial reach of the
delay-ledge the pinion will be given an additional turn equal to one interdental space,
the purpose of which is to carry the strands, which have now been seized by the
knotter and clamped between its jaws, against the knife and sever them, when the
holder comes to rest and is held at rest by the delay-ledge until the succeeding
knotting operation commences.
The knife O, just mentioned, is clamped to the stock in such position as to bring its
cutting edge close against the outer wall of the holder-shoe, between it and the
knotter, but a little behind the point to which the cord-strands have been carried by
the revolution of the crown-disk at the moment when the open tying-jaws receive and
close upon them. The continuing onward movement of the crown-disk from the
instant that the tying-jaws have closed, and the cord-strands are securely held therein,
carries these end strands along the under edge of the shoe and immediately against
the knife, and they are thereby severed, leaving the main strand still grasped between
the shoe and the crown-disk.
The stationary knife cannot be employed to the best effect when the knotter-spindle
and holder-spindle both lie in a common plane parallel with the plane of movement
of the binder-arm, and therefore the holder-spindle is herein placed in a plane further
removed from that of the binder-arm, say about a half an inch, which ensures
certainty in the operation of the knife.
In operation, supposing the end of the cord to have been already grasped in the
holder in binding the previous sheaf and the binder-arm to be still in its highest
position, and the knotter to have reached its position of rest with its jaws pointing
transversely across the cord-slot and closing it, the binder-arm recedes, laying the
cord-strand in the notch in the holder-disk just in advance of the clamping-shoe;
thence over the chin of the knotter, and then upon the deflecting finger in the cord-

page_text: slot, and finally sinking beneath the decking to its own position of rest. Grain is
then fed against the strand of cord, stretched from the holder to the nose of the
binder-arm and across the passage-way or packing-chamber between the breast-plate
and decking, until sufficient has accumulated to form a sheaf, when the binder-arın
rises, carrying the cord up around the gavel, through the slot in the breast-plate,
which, as already stated is closed by the enlargement or breast-plate on the shank of
the arm so as to push the strand along before it and finally laying it upon the
deflecting-finger, over the chin of the knotter alongside the first strand, and in the
same notch in the disk into which the first has been belayed by the previous recession
of the binder-arm. The arm then comes to a stop, and immediately the revolution of
the tyer-cam, which, by means of its provisions for delay, has held the holder and the
knotter stationary until that moment, brings the gear-segment into engagement with
the knotter-pinion and the first oblique ledge at its periphery into one of the inter-
dental spaces of the holder-pinion and the knotter and holder begin to revolve, the
revolution of the holder-disk carrying the two strands of cord beneath the shoe and
-laterally towards and past the knotter-spindle in opposition to its revolution so as to
tend to wrap them thereabout, and meet the knotting-jaws as they come around. At
the proper moment these jaws open to receive said strands, at just which time the
holder-spindle reaches the end of the oblique ledge which has been actuating it, and
the revolution of the disk momently ceases. Then the knotter reaches the spring-cam
and its jaws are immediately closed, grasping the strands which have been received
between them, and their revolution at once ceases, leaving them directed outwardly
along the slot in the breast-plate, and now the second oblique ledge at the periphery of
the tyer cam, which has already engaged with the holder-pinion, begins to act thereon,
turning the disk a slight distance further, carrying the strands against the stationary
knife-edge and severing them, when it also comes to a stop and is thereafter held at
rest by the delay length of its actuating ledge. As soon as the strands are sovered
the ejector-fingers, by this time brought around by the revolution of the tyer-shaft,
strike the sheaf and push it forcibly from the machine wrenching the knot from the
tying-bill as they do so. Then the knotter-pinion is struck by the solitary tooth and
turned just sufficiently to bring the bill to its starting position, with its jaws across
the cord-slot, and the lower delay-shoe resting on the outer delay-ledge to lock it in
position until the succeeding binding operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a grain-binder, a tying-bell, which in the tying operation start from an
initial position transverse of the cord-slot and makes a partial revolution to lay the
strands to form a knot and grasp the crossed ends thereof, then momently stops with
its jaws trending in the direction of the length of said slot, to permit the knot to be
wrenched therefrom by the ejection of the sheaf, then advances to its initial position
and stops.
2. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a tying-bill and
mechanism which actuates it to revolve from its position of rest, transverse of the
cord-slot, to a point where its jaws trend outwardly in the direction of the length of
said slot and then temporarily stops it, then again actuates it to bring it to its original
or starting position.
3. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the breast-plate, the
slot therein for the play of the binder-arm carrying the cord, the tying-bill and its
pinion, and a wheel having a delay-flange or surface which locks said bill in position
with its jaws across the cord-slot and barring the passage of the cord, a segment rack
which rotates said bill from that position to a point where its jaws trend outwardly in
the direction of the length of the slot, a delay-flange or surface which locks the bill
temporarily in the last mentioned position, and a tooth at the meeting point of the
two flanges which carries the bill onward to its original or starting position.
4. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a tying-bill, its pinion

page_text: having delay-shoes upon its hub at an obtuse angle to each other, the tyer-cam with
its two delay-flanges engaging respectively with said shoes, a segment-rack on said
cam of such length that it gives the bill a movement from its primary position
transversely of the slot in the decking to a position where its jaws trend outwardly
therealong, and a solitary tooth by which the bill is carried onward to its original
position after an interval of rest.
5. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the tying-bill,
mechanism which gives a partial revolution from a position transverse of the cord-slot
to a position trending outwardly along said slot, the ejector-fingers acting to expel
the bound sheaf while the bill is in said latter position, and mechanism operating to
move the bill onward to its original or starting position when said sheaf is expelled.
6. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the tying-bill, its
spindle, the pinion fixed to the upper end of said spindle, two delay-shoes upon the
bub of said pinion in different planes, and at an obtuse angle to each other, the gap
in the pinion parallel with one of said delay-shoes, and the revolving wheel or tyer-
cam having a delay-flange to engage with one of the shoes and lock the bill in position
transversely of the cord-slot, a segment rack at the end of said delay-flange to rotate
the pinion until its jaws reach a position trending outwardly along said slot, a second
delay-flange to engage with the other shoe and hold the pinion and bill temporarily in
such position, and a tooth at the end of said delay-flange which enters the gap and
revolves the pinion onward until the bill reaches its original position.
7. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the tying bill, its
pivoted jaw, the fixed cam acting on the heel-extension of said jaw to open it, the
spring cam acting thereon to close it, and actuating mechanism arranged and operating
in such manner that the bill starts from a position transverse of the cord-slot, is rotated
until it has seized the cord, and then stops with its jaws trending outwardly in the
direction of the length of said slot, then rotates onward to its starting position.
8. The combination substantially as herein before set forth, of the slotted breast-
plate, the deflecting finger in said slot, the tying-bill, and actuating mechanism
controlling said bill in such manner that it closes the slot below said deflecting finger,
while the cord is being laid and is then revolved, forming the knot, to a point where
its jaws trend outwardly in the direction of the length of said slot, and temporarily
stopped while the bound sheaf is ejected, then again moved onward until it reaches its
original position.
9. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the breast-plate having
a slot which runs directly outward for the space required by the play of the binder-
arm, then is deflected toward the knotter-spindle to form a finger, then returns slightly
inward and finally runs obliquely outward, a knotter or tying-bill the jaws of which
normally project transversely of the trend of said slot and along the inward return, a
holder on the outer side of said knotter, and mechanism which actuates said knotter
to move from said position to a point in its rotation, where its jaws trend outwardly
along the slot beyond said finger, then after an interval of delay carries it onward to
the original position.
10. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the cord-knotter,
of the crown-disk-holder, revolving upon an axis oblique to the axis of the knotter-
spindle so as to bring the inner side of the holder relatively higher than the outer
side.
11. The combination substantially as herein before set forth, with the knotter and
with the cord carrying arm, of a crown-disk holder arranged in a plane oblique to the
line of the cord stretched between the knotter and the eye of the binder-arm when
the latter has finished its encircling movement, with the outer side of the disk
farthest from that line, whereby the cord-strands will be laid in the notch adjacent to
the knotter only.
12. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the tying-bill and its
spindle, the clamping-shoe, and the crown-disk mounted at the foot of a spindle which
flares away from the knotter-spindle so as to bring its head at a greater distance from
the head of the knotter-spindle, than is its foot from the foot of the latter, whereby

page_text: the side of the crown-disk adjacent to the knotter is raised relatively to the other
side.
13. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the tying-bill and its
spindle, the binder-arm, the crown-disk mounted at the foot of a spindle, which flares
away from the foot of the tyer-spindle, and a clamping-shoe embracing the rim of the
crown-disk on the side adjacent to the knotter, whereby the disk-holder is brought into
inclination with the line of the cord between the tying-bill and the nose of the binder-
arm, when the latter has finished its encircling movement.
14. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the tying-bill, the
crown-disk mounted upon the foot of a spindle which flares away from the foot of the
knotter spindle, the shoc embracing the rim of the crown-disk on the side adjacent to
the knotter and the stationary knife bearing against the outer side of said shoe
whereby the cord is severed in the continued revolution of the crown-disk after the
tying operation is completed.
15. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the tying-bill of
the crown-disk mounted upon a spindle that is set in a plane further from the plane of
movement of the binder-arm than is the knotter-spindle, the shoe embracing the rim
of the crown disk on the side adjacent to the knotter, and the stationary knife bearing
against the outer side of said shoe between it and' the knotter.
16. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the tying-bill, the
crown-disk mounted upon the foot of a spindle that flares away from the foot of the
knotter-spindle and is set in a plane further from the plane of movement of
the binder-arm than is the knotter-spindle, the shoe saddling the rim of said disk
on the side adjacent to the knotter, and the stationary knife between the holder and
the knotter:
17. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the crown-disk its
spindle, the socketed bearing adjacent to said crown-disk, the shoe having a hub
which sits into said socket and receives the spindle, and means for preventing the
rotation of said shoe, whereby the shoe is secured by the disk and its spindle.
18. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the crown-disk, its
spindle, the socketed bearing for said spindle adjacent to the crown-disk, the shoe
having a hub fitting into said socket and receiving the spindle, and a dowel-pin passing
through the hub, and into a seat in the web connecting the shoe and the hub.
19. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the crown-disk, its
spindle, the socketed bearing for said spindle adjacent to the crown-disk, the shoe
having a hub fitting in the socket in said bearing and receiving the spindle of the
crown-disk, the coiled-spring encircling the spindle above said bearing, and the adjusting
nut turning upon a screw thread cut in said spindle beyond the spring, whereby the
crown-disk, the spindle and the shoe are all retained in position by said spring
and nut.
20. The combination substantially as herein before set forth, with a crown-disk holder,
of a shoe saddling its notched rim and having the inner flap cut away in advance of
the outer flap whereby the fag ends of cord will be first released by the inner flap,
that they may be thrown to the exterior of the holder by the further clamping action
of the outer flap.
21. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the tying-bill, the
cord-holder, the slotted breast-plate and the vibrating binder-arın with a shoulder or
breast on its stock arranged to come.close to and move along the under edge of said
slot towards the termination of its band placing movement practically closing it, to
push the strand of cord in advance of said arm.
22. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth of the tying-bill, the
cord-holder, the slotted breast-plate having a deflecting-finger in its slot adjacent to
the knotter, and the vibrating binder-arm having a breast or shoulder on its shank,
arranged to come close to and move along the under edge of the slot in the breast
plate, toward the termination of the band placing movement, practically closing it, to
push the second strand of cord before it and against the deflecting finger.
23. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the tying-bill, the

page_text: cord-holder, the slotted breast-plate, the ribs at each side of said slot beneath the
breast-plate formed with a curve as set forth, practically concentric with the axis of
the binder-arm, and the breast on the shank or stock of said binder-arm arranged to
sweep the slot along, and in close proximity with said curved portion to push the
second strand of the band before the arm.
24. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the tying-bill, of
the crown-disk-holder, the stationary knife pressing against the holder-shoe between the
holder and the tying-bill and mechanism actuating the crown-disk at the outset of the
revolution of the tying-bill in forming the knot to carry the cord strand beneath
the shoe, and onward until, at the termination of said tying movement, they are
brought against the stationary knife whereby they are severed.
25. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the crown-disk-
holder, and its spindle, of a pinion fixed to the head of said spindle, and a cam-flange
upon and adjacent to the periphery of the tyer-cam fitting into the interdental spaces
of said pinion whereby the crown-disk is actuated.
26. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the holder-disk
and the holder-spindle, of a pinion fixed to the head of said spindle, and the cam-
flange at the periphery of the tyer cam having the concentric reach n whereby the
pinion is held against revolution, and the spiral or outsetting reaches n', n², whereby
said pinion is revolved to operate the disk for grasping and severing the cord-
strands.
27. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the tying-bill, its
pinion, the intermeshing teeth and delay-ledges upon the tyer-cam, whereby said bill
is revolved to a position trending outwardly, to form the knot, and is then stopped and
finally carried onward to its starting position and stopped, of the crown-disk-holder,
its sloe, the holder-spindle flaring outwardly from the foot of the knotter-spindle, the
pinion upon the head of said holder-spindle having double the number of interdental
spaces that there are notches in the crown-disk, and the flange upon the periphery of
the tyer-cam engaging with the interdental spaces of said spindle and having a long
delay reach to hold said pinion and disk stationary, while the knotter is at rest, an
oblique reach to revolve said pinion, one notch to clamp the cord at the time the
knotter begins to revolve, and a second oblique reach to continue the revolution of
said pinion, another notch after the tying-bill has laid the knot and temporarily stopped,
to carry the strands against the stationary knife and sever them.
28. The combination with a tying-bill which stops at the end of its knotting
movement, with its jaws trending outward in the direction of the extended slot through
the breast-plate, of a cord holder, which carries the end strands laterally towards and
past the tyer-spindle in opposition to its movement, to bend them thereover, and
anticipate the coming around of the tying jaws.
29. The combination with a tying-bill driven in one direction only, and stopped with
its jaws trending outwardly as soon as the crossed ends of the band are seized, of a
shield or breast-plate separating it from the grain passage, and having a cord slot that
extends past the bill and permits the cord strands to be carried therepast, while still in
the grasp of the holder, and a discharge arm, or arms which acts while the bill is at
rest in this outwardly trending position.
Dated this 90th dow of Anril 1887