IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES."-A com-
munication from abroad by James Fraser Gordon, of Rochester,
New York, United States of America, Machinist.
Sealed the 9th September 1873, and dated the 24th May 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 24th May 1873.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES,"
a communication, to be as follows:-
The said Invention has for its objects the harvesting of grain, and
binding it into bundles by means of soft wire or other suitable bands,
and its general operations are, cutting the grain, conveying it by an
endless revolving apron upon a platform to an elevating carrier by

page_text: which it is lifted over the driving wheel or wheels and delivered to the
gaveling apparatus, dividing the ascending grain stalks on the elevator
from those delivered to the gaveler; and, lastly, encircling the gavel
with a suitable band, and cutting off and twisting together the ends of
the same preparatory to dropping the bundle upon the stubble.
The said Invention consists more particularly in a gaveling and
binding apparatus, and its combination with a harvester of that class
designed to collect the grain upon the cutting platform, and elevate it
over the driving wheel, and in the application of an automatic device by
which the grain when elevated is separated into successive quantities
sufficiently large to form gavels of proper size, and it includes a
vibratory or oscilating binding arm which carries the band around the
gavel, and also a twisting and cutting apparatus, the same being
operated in combination.
Devices for forming, holding, and steadying the gavel, are also
embraced in this Invention, and such a combination and arrangement of
mechanical means as shall co-operate to produce the required move-
ments of the parts at the proper time.
In this improved machine I adopt the aforesaid general plan of
cutting and elevating the grain, an add thereto a revolving gaveler
which acts in combination with a stationary curved apron to collect the
cut grain into gavels and a set of dividing fingers, which in the mean-
time check the ascending mass of grain till the gaveler has time to
discharge its load to the binder. I also provide guiding slats and arms,
which lie upon the grain stalks as they ascend and pass to the gaveler
for the purpose of protecting them from the action of the wind or other
influence which would tend to displace them, and make the gavels
uneven or difficult to bind.
'
The gaveler delivers the bundle upon the binding wire, and an auto-
matically vibrating binding arm passes the wire around it and draws the
ends of the band into a twisting device, thus compressing the bundle.
The twister acts to clamp the ends of the applied band, twist them
together, and cut off the wires, allowing the bundle to drop upon the
stubble. A set of balancing fingers is also provided under the binding
wire for the purpose of steadying the bundle during the operation of
binding. These drop down to discharge the bundle.

page_text: The movement necessary for the parts of the gaveler and binder are
obtained by means of cams, gear wheels, and ratchets driven either
directly or indirectly from a single shaft, which may be detached at
pleasure from the driving wheel, while at the same time the carrying
and elevating devices are in constant action, being driven from a gear
wheel upon the driving wheel. By this means the grain may accu-
mulate upon the gaveler until the binding apparatus is thrown into gear
by the attendant, and thus the size of the bundle may be regulated at
pleasure.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th November 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
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 HARVESTING MACHINES," a communication to me from
abroad by James Fraser Gordon, of Rochester, New York, United
States of America, Machinist, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, 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 Scal Patent Office within six

page_text: calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, forming a part of this Specification :-
The said Invention has for its objects the harvesting of grain, and
binding it into bundles by means of soft wire or other suitable bands,
and its general operations are, cutting the grain, conveying it by an
endless revolving apron upon a platform to an elevating carrier by
which it is lifted over the driving wheel or wheels and delivered to the
gaveling apparatus, dividing the ascending grain stalks on the elevator
from those delivered to the gaveler; and, lastly, encircling the gavel
with a suitable band, and cutting off and twisting together the ends of
the same preparatory to dropping the bundle upon the stubble.
The said Invention consists more particularly in a gaveling and
binding apparatus, and its combination with a harvester of that class
designed to collect the grain upon the cutting platform, and elevate it
over the driving wheel, and in the application of an automatic device by
which tho grain when clevated is separated into successive quantities
sufficiently large to form gavels of proper size, and it includes a
vibratory or oscillating binding arm which carries the band around the
gavel, and also a twisting and cutting apparatus, the same being
operated in combination.
Certain devices for forming, holding, and steadying the gavel are also
embraced in this Invention, and such a combination and arrangement of
mechanical means as shall co-operate to produce the required move-
ments of the parts at the proper time.
In this improved machine I adopt the aforesaid general plan of a
cutting and clevating the grain, and add thereto a revolving gaveler
which acts in combination with a stationary curved apron to collect the
cut grain into gavels, and a set of dividing fingers which in the mean-
time check the ascending mass of grain till the graveler has time to
discharge its load to the binder. I also provide guiding slots and arms,
which lie upon the grain stalks as they ascend, and pass to the gaveler

page_text: for the purpose of protecting them from the action of the wind or other
influence which would tend to displace them, and make the gavels
uneven or difficult to bind.
The gaveler delivers the bundle upon the binding wire, and an auto-
matically vibrating binding arm passes the wire around it, and draws
the ends of the band into a twisting device, thus compressing the bundle.
The twister acts to clamp the ends of the applied band, twist them
together, and out off the wires, allowing the bundle to drop upon the
stubble. A set of balancing fingers is also provided under the binding
wire for the purpose of steadying the bundle during the operation of
binding. These drop down to discharge the bundle.
The movement necessary for the parts of the gaveler and binder are
obtained by means of cams, gear wheels, and ratchets driven either
directly or indirectly from a single shaft, which may be detached at
pleasure from the driving wheel, while at the same time the carrying
and elevating devices are in constant action, being driven from a gear
wheel upon the driving wheel. By this means the grain may accu-
mulate upon the gaveler until the binding apparatus is thrown into gear
by the attendant, and thus the size of the bundle may be regulated at
pleasure.
Reference in the following description to the grain side of the
machine is understood to mean that portion which moves in and cuts
the grain; and reference to the stubble side, that portion which moves
over the stubble, and upon which the operation of binding is per-
formed.

page_text: A, Figures 1 and 3, is the framework which supports the various parts
of the said machine, including the finger bar B, reel C, and their con-
nections; the said frame is hung by means of suitable boxes a upon the
axle of the drive wheel D. Motion is communicated to the recipro-
cating cutter bar by means of the crank shaft t, which is driven by a
spur wheel on the drive wheel, and a clutch may be arranged upon this
shaft to be thrown out at pleasure. At the rear of the finger bar,
and in such a position as to receive the falling grain, is placed the
endless revolving apron E, Figure 1, which may or may not be provided
with transverse strips, as shown, and which passes over suitable rollers at
the extremities of the platform. This apron acts to convey the cut grain
into a position at the inner end of the finger bar to be caught by teeth
upon endless elevator belts F. These elevators are sustained and driven
by suitable rollers at the top and bottom, and act to convey the grain
over the drive wheel to the stubble side of the machine delivering it to a
gaveling apparatus. The teeth upon the belts F project between ribs or
slots 6, 6', Figures 1 and 3, which are secured at the inner end of the
platform, and are bent in such a shape at their upper ends as to extend
over the upper elevator belt roller, and fasten to the edge of the apron G.
The ascending grain stalks therefore lie upon these ribs, and are moved
along by the elevator fingers. After being lifted the grain slides down
the inclined portion 6¹ of the ribs.
Independent ribs or grain guides c are provided corresponding in
number and lateral position to the ribs b, their lower extremities being
secured to the vertically adjustable bar d, and their upper ends resting
upon the ribs b, as shewn. The grain in ascending passes under these
guides, and their clasticity retains it upon the ribs b against the action
of the wind or other disturbing influences. A chute board e is hinged
to the bar d, and is capable of being swung upward independently of the
latter, whereby crinkled or twisted grain stalks are guided under the
bars c. A rock bar på has suitable bearings upon the frame A, and long
fingers q³ of metal, or other heavy material, secured to it rest upon the
grain as it passes down the incline 6¹, and it will be seen that since
the guides c project above these fingers the grain stalks are guided
and kept in position during their entire passage to the gaveling
apron G.
At a suitable point upon the incline 6 I provide the dividing fingers f
which are secured to an oscillating bar, having bearings upon the frame

page_text: of the machine. These fingers swing between the ribs 6, 6', and are
actuated by a cam 9, Figure 3, upon the shaft h by means of rock arms i
and connecting link.
H, Figures 1 and 3, is a gaveler composed of a number of parallel
arms secured at or near their centre to the shaft j. These arms swing
close to the apron G, as indicated by the dotted arc, Figure 1, and
the grain that falls from the incline 6' rests upon these arms, and is
retained in the angle between them and the apron G. A number of
ribs are provided on the apron G, between which the ends of the
arms H pass. By this means the grain stalks are kept away from the
face of the apron, and prevented from dropping down between the ribs
and the ends of the gaveler arms. The dividers fare thrown up by the
cam g when sufficient grain has been delivered to the gaveler to
form a bundle, and the ascending mass of grain stalks are thus
checked until the gaveler has completed its movement, as herein-after
described.
For the purpose of preventing the accumulation of the cut grain upon
the incline 6¹ a revolving picker I is located over it having suitable
bearings. The fingers of this picker extend into the grain and move it
along, and also push off that which remains on the incline after the
divider is raised, and thus complete the division of the stalks. The
picker may be driven from the main axle or from the shaft ť in any
convenient manner Hanging loops 7, embracing the picker shaft,
prevent the winding of straw upon it.
The gaveler shaft j has an intermittent rotary motion imparted to it
by the following means :-J, Figures 1, 3, and 4 is a chain wheel
which revolves loosely near the extremity of the shaft h above men-
tioned. This shaft receives motion from the driving axle by means of
bevel wheels E, Figure 3, and just within the wheel J is provided with a
cam K (shewn in an obverse position in Figure 4), upon either side of
which the reciprocating yokes and m are located. These yokes move
at right angles to each other, or nearly so, as shown, and are attached
by means of friction rollers journaled upon the yokes, and resting upon
the periphery of the cam. The chain wheel n is likewise loose upon
5 the shaft j, and moves the latter in one direction only by means of
the ratchet and pawl o, Figure 3, shewn also in dotted lines in Figure 2.
This ratchet has only two teeth whereby any impulse given to the

page_text: wheel n greater than one-half, and less than one revolution, will
cause but one-half a revolution of the shaft j and gaveler.
The cam K is so formed that the yokes 7 and m are stationary during
one-quarter of a revolution of the former at both extremities of their
throw, and consequently the parts actuated by them partake of the same
intermittent motion. The yoke is guided in its reciprocations by the
rod p secured to its upper extremity, and the pitman q is pivoted to the
said rod and to a crank pin r, Figure 4, on the wheel J. Thus it will be
seen that the chain wheel partakes of the intermittent motion of the
yoke 1, and the stroke of the crank, being considerably more than that
movement the chain wheel oscillates about one-third of a revolution.
But the wheel n driven from J by a chain k is about one-half the
diameter of J, and consequently receives somewhat more than one-half
a revolution from it, the movement of the gaveler however being
always just half a revolution by means of the ratchet o before men-
tioned. By the reciprocations of the yoke an impulse is given to the
chain wheels alternately backward and forward, thus rendering the
movements of the gaveler intermittent; and it will be observed that the
advance of the latter is effected in one-quarter of a revolution of the
cam K and shaft h.
An automatic stop t, Figures 1 and 2, is provided upon the frame of
the machine to act upon the disc u secured to the gaveler shaft. This
disc has two indentations on opposite sides, and the stop t is forced into
either of them by means of a spring under it. As the gaveler swings
over the stop holds it in position to receive the next gavel, and sustains
the weight of the same while the gavel underneath is being bound. The
stop is withdrawn by means of the crank upon the extremity of the
shaft h, which is linked to the pivoted arm w, Figure 2. To the back of
this arm there is pivoted a dog x, the oscillation of which is checked in
one direction by the pin y, shewn in dotted lines, upon the arm, and
against which it is retained by a suitable spring. By the revolutions of
the crank reciprocating motion is imparted to the arm w, and the
movement of the latter in one direction causes the descent of the stop t
by means of the beveled or cam-shaped edge of the dog x. When the
cam returns the dog swings freely over the pin z, as indicated by dotted
lines in Figure 2. The crank is so arranged with relation to the
cam K that the withdrawal of the stop occurs just previously to the
action of the chain wheels upon the gaveler.

page_text: The binding arm L is secured to the rock shaft a¹, Figures 1 and 3,
to which motion is imparted by the aforesaid cam K and yoke m through
the rock arm d¹ and link c¹. The binding wire 8, Figures 1, 3, and 7, is
wound upon a reel M, and passes thence over a guide roller e¹ upon
the
upright N to the end of the binding arm; it is shewn in Figure 1 caught
in the twister which lies just below the apron G. The arms of the said
gaveler are so arranged that the binding arm and wire may pass between
them, and the said arm being adjustable along the shaft a' its position
must always be between some of the gaveler arms.
It is obvious that as soon as the gavel is formed the gaveler H may
swing around in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, and allow the
gavel to drop upon the binding wire, the opposite end of the arms H
assuming the position necessary to receive the grain from the incline 6'
for the next gavel, and at the same time confining the gavel lying upon
the binding wire, and assisting to retain it in position while being
bound. It will also be seen that the binding arm may swing in toward
the twister, and encircle the gavel lying upon the wire, as indicated in
Figure 7. The gaveler arms H are made quite wide, and extend equally
on each side of the shaft j, whereby the grain stalks resting upon their
upper edge are sufficiently separated from those being bound below,
the head of the binding arm to have free passage without becoming
entangled in the straw, as indicated in Figure 7.
A wire tension devise is arranged upon the upright N, which consists
of a pressure roller f¹ acting to press the wire against two stationary
rollers on the upright. The tension is controlled by an adjusting screw
or a spring upon the bearings of the roller f¹. As the binding arm
moves to its outer position it comes in contact with the stud v³, which
is connected to the roller f¹, and the pressure of the latter is thereby
removed from the wire. The object of this action is to allow the gavel,
as it drops upon the wire, to carry the latter with it downward, as indi-
cated in dotted lines in Figure 1, whereby the gavel is more readily
encircled by the binding wire. The extremity of the binding arm is
slotted, as shown in Figure 7, to receive a small friction roller, around
which the wire passes, as indicated.
Balancing fingers n² are arranged under the binding wire 8, and are
secured to the rock bar extending along the lower edge of the board O.
This rock bar is operated by the cam g through a suitable link and rock

page_text: arm, and the fingers when thrown up, as shown in Figures 1 and 7,
steady the heads and buts of the bundles while being bound. Upon the
completion of the binding process the cam allows the fingers to drop by
gravity, and discharge the bundle.
A shield or board O is placed immediately below the gavel apron H, and
the wire-twisting apparatus is arranged upon horizontal timbers, shewn
broken away in Figure 5, just behind it. The openings g¹ through this
board are in the same horizontal line as the slot h³, Figure 5, in the
twister, and as the arm L is adjustable along the shaft a¹ any of the
openings g¹ may serve for the entrance of the said arm to the twister,
the latter being also adjustable along its supporting timbers. By means
of this lateral adjustment of the binding devices upon the frame of the
machine the position of the band around the bundle may be accomo-
dated to grain of different lengths.
1
The twisting apparatus consists of the following parts, namely, two 1
clamping jaws, one of which retains the end of the wire while the gavel
is being encircled by the binding arm, the other holding both ends of
the band, while a peculiarly shaped revolving hook cuts off and twists
them together. The saddle, Figures 5 and 6, is attached to the frame R,
which supports the parts of the twister, and is provided upon
its upper
face with a plate P¹ having a slot h¹. One end of this slot is slightly
wedge shaped, as shewn, and at this point a transverely sliding jaw S,
Figures 5 and 6, is placed, and is arranged to move in a groove o¹ just
under the top plate P¹. The jaw S clamps the ends of the band against
the lips k³, as indicated in Figure 13, and by means of the slot o¹, open 2
at the outer end, any foul matter which might work in between the
lips k³ is pushed out by the jaw, thus ensuring the clamping of the wire.
It will be seen that if the slot o' is not allowed to become clogged or
filled up with foul matter the jaw S will kink the band, as shewn in
Figure 13, thus preventing the ends from slipping out after they have
been released by the lower jaw, and cut off by the action of the hook,
and during the twisting operation.
Another jaw T moves parallel to the jaw 8, its extremity shutting
into a shallow groove in the fixed jaw U, as indicated by dotted lines in
Figure 6. Springs j', k¹, are coiled upon the projecting spindles of the
jaws S and T, and assist in retaining them in their seats, and also take
up any slack which may occur by the action of the parts.
V isa lever

page_text: which is pivoted to each of the jaw spindles, and is connected by a link
at one extremity to the bell crank W, which in turn is pivoted to the
yoke X. This yoke has a reciprocating motion imparted to it by the
compound cam P, m³, Figures 5, 6, and 9, rollers n being journaled
upon it, one of which extends over upon the periphery of the larger
cam, while the other is made shorter, and rests upon the lesser cam, as
shewn. The compound cam is splined upon the shaft p', which has
suitable bearings upon the frame of the machine, and receives its motion
by means of the spur gearing wheels Y, Z, the latter of which is keyed
to the shaft h before mentioned. The extent of the reciprocation of the
yoke X is such that when the inner clamping jaw T is closed the
centre q¹ becomes a fulcrum for the lever V, and the jaw S is thereby
opened, and conversely when S is closed the centre 1 becomes the
fulcrum, and T is opened.
Immediately over the jaw T I provide the finger es, which is attached
to the sliding plate f*, and motion is communicated to the latter by
means of the pivoted lever g², the lower end of which is linked to the
jaw T, as shown. When therefore the jaw is withdrawn the finger e² is
withdrawn in the opposite direction, thus leaving a free passage for the
introduction of the wire, as herein-before described. But when the
jaw T moves up to clamp the wire the finger e³ also advances, and keeps
the latter from slipping out or springing away from the jaw, and also
forms a ledge over which the wire is drawn when the binding arm
retreats. By this latter action the wire cannot work along the edge of
the jaw, and become detached therefrom by the draft upon it. A
stationary finger o³ is also provided just within the rear edge of the
jaw T by means of which the end of the wire is held in front of the jaw,
and prevented from flying out when cut off.
The twisting hook 8¹, Figures 5, 6, 7, 10, and 11, is secured to a shaft t¹,
which is operated by bevel gear wheels from the shaft u¹. This hook
receives several revolutions in one direction for twisting, and the same
number in a reverse direction when the parts return to their position,
and for the purpose of holding it securely upon its spindle it is threaded
to screw upon the latter right handed, and a nut is screwed against it
left handed, as shewn in Figure 10. It will be seen that in whichever
direction the hook revolves any strain upon it tends to tighten it upon
the spindle,

page_text: The knife ¹, Figures 10, 11, and 12, rests against a flange & formed
upon the journal box of the twister, and an opening is provided in it,
which is fitted to the shaft just underneath the hook &¹. The shaft is
shouldered under the knife, and by means of the secure fastening of the
hook it is plain that the face of the latter is always retained close
against the knife. The twisting hook is provided with projecting
fingers v¹, and immediately within them with a wedge-shaped slot w¹,
into which the wire is drawn as the hook begins to revolve, as indicated
in Figure 7.
A groove 10³, Figure 11, is cut circularly around the hook slightly
deeper than the inner edge of the wire slot, as shewn by dotted lines,
Figure 10, and a clearer x³ is pivoted at the end to the flange s², the
inner extremity being quite sharp, as shewn. This sharp edge is pressed
down upon the cylindrical shank of the hook by a suitable spring y¹.
As the twister revolves in the direction of the arrow, Figure 10, the
wires caught in the slot w' pass freely under the point of the clearer,
but when the twister is reversed the clearer acts to push out the wires,
straws, or other refuse matter that may be in it. By this means the
hook is always clear ready to grasp the wires at the next binding. The
inner one of the fingers v² acts in connection with the stationary knife z¹
to cut the wires, and the object of the peculiar construction of the latter
is to obtain sufficient strength of the parts to obviate the separation of
the cutting face, and thereby the pinching of the wire between them,
without cutting. The centre of the shaft is located as near as possible
in a line with the lower edge of the slot ¹ in the twister, as indicated in
Figure 5, at which point the wires are clamped by the jaw S.
The motion necessary to operate the twister and shaft u¹ is obtained
from the toothed segment A³, Figures 1, 3, 5, and 8, which is hinged at
one extremity to a convenient stud or shaft, and is provided with an
internal cam upon its face, as indicated in Figure 8. Into this cam a
pin a³ upon the gear Y projects, and imparts an oscillation to the seg-
ment. A pinion upon the countershaft C¹ meshes into the segment,
and a gear D¹ upon the counter drives the shaft u¹ by means of a suitable
pinion, and the proportions of the segment and gear wheels are such
that the twister receives about four revolutions at each impulse.
The movement of the twister hook is however completed in about
one-half of a revolution of the shafts hand p³, and this is accomplished

page_text: by forming one-half of the cam A¹ concentric with the revolution of the
crank pin a², while the remainder is V shaped, as shown in Figure 8,
the forward movement of said hook occurring while the said crank pin is
passing from 3 to 6³, and the reverse movement from 6 to ď². Since
the motions of all the parts of the binding apparatus are derived either
directly or indirectly from the shaft it follows that a bundle is bound
at each revolution of the same, and all the parts thus timed together.
The parts of the twisting apparatus upon the shafts u¹ and p¹ are splined
thereon, whereby the former may be adjusted longitudinally along its
supporting timbers, so as to correspond with any required position of the
binding arm on the shaft a¹.
The operation of this Invention is as follows :— -The grain having been
cut in the usual manner falls over upon the revolving apron E, from
which it is elevated by the carrier F over the driving wheel upon the
ribs b, b, and delivered to the gaveler H. Meanwhile the binding
arm L has by the revolutions of the shaft h been forced into the
twisting apparatus, and the end of the wire caught in the jaw T in the
manner herein-after described. At the proper moment the cam g
throws up the dividing fingers f, stopping the ascending mass of
grain, and immediately thereafter the chain wheel J acts by means of
the cam K to give the gaveler a half revolution in the direction of the
arrow, Figure 1. The gavel is consequently dropped upon the binding
wire, its weight, together with the pressure of the gaveler H, drawing
the latter down, as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 1, in position for the
action of the binding arm, the fingers n³ being thrown up, so as to
balance the gavel as before described. At this instant the binding arm
moves toward the twister, drawing a quantity of wire from the reel M,
and carrying it around the bundle, and through one of the openings g
into the slot h¹ of the twister.
During the time occupied by the above movements the jaw T has
been held closed and the jaw S open by means of the circular or sta-
tionary portions of the cam A, m³, and connections. When however the
binding arm has reached the extremity of its movement, see Figure 9,
the lesser cam m¹ imparts a quick thrust to the jaw S by means of the
lever V with q¹ as a fulcrum, jaw T still retaining its hold on the end of
the wire. As the cam advances the jaw S firmly clamps the wires
against the fixed jaws ³, and the centre, becomes a fulcrum whereby
the jaw T is opened, and the fingers e are withdrawn to admit the wire,

page_text: which is strained along the lower edge of the binding arm, as shewn in
Figure 7. While the jaw T is being opened the twisting hook begins to
revolve in the direction of the arrow in Figure 10, the initial part of its
movement causing the strands of the wire to be pulled downward toward
the edge of the knife z¹, and thereby bringing them into direct line with
the clamping jaw T, and cutting them off. By this means also the
short end previously held by the said jaw is swept out of the jaw, and
drops as it is cut.
During the twisting operation the jaw T is closed by means of the
elevation in the cam, the jaw S retaining its hold of the strands.
The finger e advances and ensures the clamping of the wire, which now
has been cut off, the end depending from the slot in the extremity of
the binding arm. While this action is taking place the ends of the
applied band have been twisted together by the hook 8¹, the slight
"dwell" or rest in the cam at allowing time for this operation
before the jaw S opens. As soon as the wires are cut, and the end pro-
jecting from the binding arm clamped, the latter begins to return to its
former position, and meantime the cam having advanced to m³,
Figure 9, the fulcrums ¹, q', change, the jaw S is opened, the motion.
of the twister is reversed by the cam A¹, the fingers n³ drop, and the
bound bundle falls upon the stubble. The shalf h has now made ono
complete revolution, and the parts are returned to their former position
to operate upon the next gavel already gathered upon the gaveler H.
It will be seen that the fingers j, k, on the clamping jaws tend to close
the said jaws, and therefore the latter will always clamp the wire unless
prevented by the action of the cam. This arrangement is designed to
ensure the constant holding of the wire by one or the other of the jaws,
the springs acting to take up the slack motion when the lever V changes
centres, and also to compensate for the wear of the parts. These springs
also alternately assist the fulcrums r³, q, to change by holding the jaws
in their seats during that part of the movement of the lever V in which
the change occurs.
The speed of the shaft h is intended to be such that the binding and
gaveling devices when in constant action may dispose of the heaviest
grain without difficulty; and it is obvious that some means for con-
trolling such action becomes important when it is desired to harvest
grain having lighter straw. To accomplish this object the grain

page_text: carriers E, F, are driven by suitable pulleys and belts from the counter-
shaft, which in turn is driven from a spur wheel fixed to the driving
wheel. But the gaveler and binding apparatus are driven from the
shaft h, which is actuated by the bevel wheels, herein-before mentioned,
direct from the driving axle. The driving wheel is loose upon the axle,
and a sliding clutch D³ engages with its counterpart upon the wheel.
The clutch D is splined upon the driving axle, and by means of a
suitable arrangement of levers may be under the immediate control of
the driver. Thus it will be observed that the action of the elevators
may be constant, delivering the grain to the gaveler H, while the
binding apparatus may only act when the clutch D2 is thrown in by the
operator.
By suitable changes in the twisting apparatus twine for the bands
may be used in place of the wire, if found preferable, the other parts of
the machine remaining essentially the same.
Other equivalent devices may be substituted for the picker I, if
desirable, the object being some means for assisting the grain down the
incline 6', and aiding in completing the division.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Twenty-fourth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
5
Witness,
H. J. NOONE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)