IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENING IRON BANDS ON BALES, AND IN FASTENERS OR TIES FOR THAT PURPOSE, AND ALSO IN LEVERS OR IMPLEMENTS TO BE USED THERE- WITH FOR EFFECTING THE FASTENING
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Matthew Augustus Soul at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th
August 1867.-A communication from abroad by Jones Saunders, of
Alexandria, in Egypt, but formerly of Greenwich, in the County of Kent,
Engineer.
I, MATTHEW AUGUSTUS SOUL, of No. 3, Leadenhall Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENING IRON BANDS ON BALES, AND IN FASTENERS OR
TIES FOR THAT PURPOSE, AND ALSO IN LEVERS OR IMPLEMENTS TO BE USED THERE-
WITH FOR EFFECTING THE FASTENING," a communication to me from abroad by
Jones Saunders, of Alexandria, in Egypt, but formerly of Greenwich, in the
County of Kent, Engineer, to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the more securely and more tightly
fastening iron bands on cotton or other bales or packages compressed by
mechanical means so as to retain the said bales at the size to which they were
compressed, preventing their "giving out," and thereby effecting a great
saving in freight, while the operation of fastening the bands is much more
quickly performed than can be done by any of the modes of fastening hitherto

page_text: This Invention consists in making the ties or fasteners of such an improved
construction and shape that they admit of the instantaneous application of a
peculiarly shaped lever (which is used much in the manner of a button hook)
for the purpose of bringing together the ties which are fitted one to each end
of the band. By the application of the lever they are caused to automatically
close one upon the other and securely fasten the bands which this plan of
fastening admits of being made shorter than usual.
To render the Invention readily understood the ties will now be described.
Out of iron plates. pieces are cut resembling an oblong figure with a triangle
on one side, that is to say, the outward configuration of these pieces has what
may be called a base. From each end of the base the sides rise at first
perpendicularly, making the shape so far oblong; then the sides incline to
each other, making this part angular; before the sides meet (which they would
otherwise in a point) the figure terminates in a short line, which short line is
parallel to the base which connects with the ends of the perpendicular sides,
that is to say, that the figure thus formed is an oblong with what would be a
triangle above it, only that the upper part of the triangle is cut away. In the
oblong part is cut away an oblong slot which is formed by cutting away three
sides and folding the oblong piece thus obtained backwards towards the
base, thus increasing its thickness. A short notch or slit is next cut perpen-
dicularly upwards from the oblong slot to admit the hook of lever; and lastly
the upper part of triangular part is cut away so as to form a hook or claw and
prevent the edge cutting the band. I also cut a short notch in this claw to
admit of the passage through it of blade of lever. The lever for fastening
these ties is made something like a sword blade curved, and having its
extremity or point curved so as to form a small hook, or having a nick cut out
for the some purpose. The lever may be provided with a handle.
It is proposed to use these ties and lever in the following manner :-One
tie is to be attached to the top end of the band by passing the end-of-band
through the slot in the tie and fastening it on its own part with the hook of the
tie downwards and inwards to the bale; and another tie to the bottom end of
the band with its hook upwards and outwards; then the lever is to be put
through the top tie with the blade lodged in the notch or slit of the tie about
four inches from the point of it, which same point of the lever is to be entered
into the notch or slit of the lower tie, depress the lever blade by pressing on
the bandle of it, the top tie will then run up to the lower tie of its own accord
by reason of its slipping up the lower edge of the blade of the lever towards
its point, and will automatically fasten or hook into the other, release the lever
by elevating it, and the band is tightly fastened and holds the bale even to the

page_text: density it has in the press, thereby effecting an enormous saving long desired
by those using cotton and other presses.
It will be obvious that the ties may be varied in their shape or construction
and yet be capable of being operated by the improved lever herein described,
and that the levers may also be altered somewhat in construction, and yet
retain the power of operating ties formed to be used therewith, as, for example,
instead of being made in section like a sword their section may be square or
round gradually tapering or diminishing towards the hooked part.