improvements in Machines for Picking up and Binding Cut Crops.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
improvements in Machines for Picking up and Binding Cut Crops.
I, OLE JOHAN ANDREASEN, of 6, Schönbergsgade, Copenhagen, in the Kingdom of
Denmark, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
nanner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
scertained in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to machines for picking up and binding crops lying in
swaths, the characteristic features of my improved machine being-
1. The combination with the ordinary elevator belt of a second elevator belt
arranged above it and provided with pins or teeth for carrying up the crop whereby
I ensure that the crop gathered by the picking up teeth shall not accumulate on
these teeth but be immediately grasped by the elevator belts and carried up between
them in a steady and uniform manner to the binding machine.
2. The arrangement of the picking-up teeth on separate revolving arms, so that
each tooth can follow the varying surface of the ground and consequently always enter
below the crop even where the field is very uneven, whereby the surface is more
effectively raked than can be performed by gathering machines as hitherto used, the
picking-up teeth of which are all arranged on a common frame so that on rough
ground they cannot get under the material lying in depressions or holes.
3. The arrangement of stationary but adjustable guide-bars at the side of and on
a level with (or a little in front of) the upper ends of the picking-up teeth and
between the latter and the lower elevating belt, the said guide-bars being provided
partly to prevent the crop from sliding away between the teeth and this belt and
partly to prevent pressure on the upper ends of the teeth, when the crop is passing
them.
In the accompanying drawing,-
Figure 1 is a side view of the machine; and,
Figure 2 is a plan, the carrying-belts being removed:
Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views drawn to an enlarged scale and illustrating a
modification.
The frame A of the machine is supported partly by the shaft C having two
wheels B, B and partly by the two rollers or wheels D, D, which may move around
the vertical spindles E. The frame A carries rollers a, a for the ordinary elevator-
belt F and rollers b, b for the special elevator-belt G, lying above and running
parallel to the belt F, the belt G being provided with pins or teeth c, c.
The elevator-belts are moved, in a known manner, in the direction shown by the
arrows see Figure 1-for instance by means of a belt d which passes around the
pulley H, mounted on the shaft C, and around the ends of the upper rollers a and b,
the said belt d being further led over guide-rollers and 2 and over an adjustable
tension or tightening roller i.
The two wheel standards E can be adjusted in a known manner so that the
foremost part of the frame and consequently also the picking-up teeth may be
adjusted towards or away from the ground according as to whether the crop is heavy
or light. Instead of having two rollers D, a single one running in one side of the
frame, may be used.

page_text: The crop lying in swaths is picked up by picking-up teeth T, which are inclined
upward and rearwardly. As soon as the crop has been lifted up on these teeth it is
caught by the pins or teeth c, c of the upper carrying-belt G and by these carried to
the lower carrying-belt F; the two belts then carrying the crop upwards and finally
releasing it, when the upper end of the carrying-belt F has been reached. The crop
then slides down the table B¹ to the binding mechanism.
The
The picking-up teeth T, of which four are shown on the drawing are each inserted
in a ring or socket 1 in which the tooth may be adjusted and fixed by screws.
ring 1 is mounted on a bar or arın 2 which by means of a bolt and nut can be
fastened at the desired angle in a shoe 3 having a curved slot and fixed to a square
shaft N, along which the shoe can be adjusted, when its fastening-screw is loosened.
Each of the teeth T is arranged adjustably on an independent square shaft N, and
each of the said shafts is connected by means of a shoe K with one end of a har or
arm M, the other end of which is fastened to a socket P, all the said sockets P being
mounted loosely on the shaft carried in adjustable bearings on the frame A.
The arms M are arranged in pairs on each side of the machine, and the shafts N
have different lengths so that the teeth T, mounted on these shafts are equally
spaced over the width of ground covered by the machine.
If desired the arms M may extend beyond the sockets P and outside these be
provided with counter-weights to balance the teeth, so that their pressure against the
ground is as little as possible.
The teeth T can be adjusted on the square shafts N according to the length of the
straw to be picked up, the adjustment being effected by moving the shoes 3 along
the shafts. The said teeth T may also have any desired shape. It is, however,
preferable to provide them with two lateral branches t, t, see Figure 2, on which the
crop slides up on the stationary but adjustable guide-bars v, which are arranged on
both sides of the inovable picking-up teeth, and the front surfaces of which are at
the same level as, or a little in front of, the teeth and the upper parts of which
extend to the lower end of the elevator-belt F. The upper ends of the said guide-
bars are formed as horizontal arms which are fastened into fastening pieces k, k.
All the said pieces k are adjustably mounted on a cross-bar m carried in brackets n
on the frame A.
The said guide bars, as hereinbefore stated, are arranged partly to prevent the
crop lifted by the picking-up teeth from sliding away between the said teeth and the
carrying-belt, and partly to prevent pressure on the upper ends of the teeth, when
the crop is passing them.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a modification of the upper elevator-belt G wherein the
single, broad elevator-belt is replaced by several narrow belts G¹ each provided with
elevator teeth or pins c and passed around the rollers b, b at some distance from each
other-see Figure 4.
The bearings for the axis C¹ of the lower roller 6 are fixed on the underside of the
frame A in such a manner that the points of the elevator pins c will pass near to the
picking-up teeth.
On the surface of the roller b are cut longitudinal slots forming bearings for bars
or axles a¹ provided with teeth c¹, stronger and longer than the teeth c, and which
are arranged in such a manner that they will pass between the belts G' when the
roller b and said belts are rotated.
On the end of each axle a¹ is fixed a crank b¹ on the free end of which is
mounted a roller d', running in a cam-shaped groove of a cam A¹ fixed to the
frame A. Consequently if the roller b is rotated the axles a¹ are oscillated in the
roller, because the rollers on the cranks are forced to run in the groove of
the cam A¹, and consequently the position of the teeth c¹ will be constantly varied
relatively to the surface of the roller b.
By means of this arrangement the strain on the teeth c of the elevator-belts G¹ is
considerably diminished; as the strong teeth c¹ on the axles a¹ take the crop from 5
the picking-up teeth and carry it upwards until it is taken by the teeth c.
At this

page_text: moment the position of the teeth c¹ will be such, that they leave the crop, which
then is carried away by the elevator-belts.
The last described arrangement is very advantageously used in heavy and close
crop as the teeth of the elevator-belts are less likely to be bent or broken and the
belts themselves less liable to be injured than when the elevator belts take the crop
directly from the picking-up teeth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be. performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a machine for picking up a crop lying in swaths a series of picking-up teeth
so as to oscillate independently of each other and an elevator for conveying the
material to the binding mechanism, the said elevator consisting of an ordinary
elevator belt and of a second elevator-belt arranged above and running parallel to
the first or ordinary belt and which is provided with teeth, which take the crop
lifted by the picking up teeth and lead it between the belts which carry it to the
binding mechanism, substantially as described.
2. In a machine of the kind referred to in the preceding claim independently and
adjustably mounting the picking-up teeth on separate arms so that the said teeth
can follow the uneven surface of the ground substantially as described.
3. In a machine of the kind referred to in Claim I the arrangement of stationary
adjustable guide-bars at the sides of the movable picking-up teeth, partly to prevent
the crop from sliding away between the teeth and the carrying belt and partly to
prevent pressure on the upper ends of the teeth when the crop is passing them,
substantially as described.
4. In a machine of the kind referred to in Claim 1 the modification wherein
several narrow elevator belts having elevator teeth are employed, the lower roller
over which the belts run being mounted in bearings below the frame of the
machine, in the surface of which roller are slots or bearings for shafts or axles, to
which are fixed teeth which project from the parts of the roller not covered by the
belts the said shafts carrying crauks having rollers running in a cam-shaped groove
on the frame in such a manner that the said shafts and their teeth are oscillated,
when the roller and the belts are rotated so that the teeth on the said shafts shall
take the crop from the picking-up teeth and carry it upward to the teeth of the
elevator belts and leave it when these teeth have taken it, substantially as
described.
Dated the 13th day of January 18ae
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.