IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TYING KNOTS IN OR UPON STRING OR OTHER BINDING MATERIAL, THE SAME BEING ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO HARVESTING MACHINES FOR BINDING SHEAVES OF CORN OR OTHER CUT CROPS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Robert Hay Fisken, of Leeds, in the County of
York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TYING KNOTS
IN OR UPON STRING OR OTHER BINDING MATERIAL, THE SAME BEING ESPECIALLY
APPLICABLE TO HARVESTING MACHINES FOR BINDING SHEAVES OF CORN OR
OTHER CUT CROPS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Robert Hay Fisken
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th November 1877.
THOMAS ROBERT HAY FISKEN, of Leeds, in the County of York. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TYING KNOTS IN OR UPON STRING OR OTHER BINDING
MATERIAL, THE SAME BEING ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO HARVESTING MACHINES
FOR BINDING SHEAVES OF CORN OR OTHER CUT CROPS."
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for tying knots in or upon
string or other binding material, the same being especially applicable to harvesting
machines for binding sheaves of corn or other cut crops.
The tying of knots upon string has been effected by the use of a hooked trigger
fixed upon a bent up or hooked shaft actuated by slide bars having backward and
forward moveinents.
According to the present Invention I employ a hollow rotating bent up or hooked
shaft termed the "knotter shaft" in bearings, in which works another hooked shaft
used for holding the cut ends of the string or binding material until the knot has
been properly made and tied. The knotter shaft has imparted to it by suitable
gearing an intermittent rotating motion, and a to-and-fro longitudinal motion. The
inner shaft partakes also of these motions, but it has an independent longitudinal
motion effected by means of a screw mounted loosely upon a part of the shaft
projecting beyond the knotter shaft, and which screw allows of an independent
rotating motion of the inner shaft within it.
The screw works within a nut, which receives an intermittent rotating motion by
suitable gearing actuated by the main driving shaft of the machine. The object of

page_text: this to-and-fro motion of the inner hooked shaft is to hold and release the cut ends
of the binding material at the proper times.
Upon a concavity of the knotter shaft I mount a trigger lever for throwing the
loop made in or upon the string over the points of the hooked shafts, the proper
motion being given to this trigger by suitable gearing actuated by the main driving
shaft. The string is cut by an eccentric disc or knife, to which motion is imparted
by suitable gearing actuated by the main driving shaft.
The reel carrying the binding material is carried by an arm or lever mounted on
two cranks, and which arm carries the string around the material to be bound. The
lower part of the arm is formed of two parts, one of which carries the string within
the line of the platform upon which the cut crop or material to be bound falls, and
the other of which slides down the outside of the platform, carrying with it the
crop and string into their proper positions previous to the tying of the knot. Upon this
latter part I place a bent projection for compressing the sheaf. I also use an arm
or arms to bear up the sheaf until it is properly tied, and which are moved by
suitable gearing actuated by the main driving shaft. The cranks are geared to-
gether and receive intermittent motion by suitable gearing actuated by the main
driving shaft. The end of the binding material is held by a nipper wheel (or
wheels), which receives an intermittent rotating motion by suitable gearing actuated
by the main driving shaft. When using one wheel I divide its periphery into a
series of planes, upon which I mount nippers, which hold and release the binding
material in moving round. When using two wheels, the binding material is held
between teeth formed on the wheels, which are pressed together. These various
motions follow each other thus -The binding material having been adjusted upon
the lever or arm, and fixed into the nipper wheel, the arm is made to move to its
farthest extent, which draws the string out over the knotter shaft, the crop to be
bound falls upon the string, and the arm moving forward carries the string over the
crop to be bound, and back over the knotter shaft into the nipper wheel, which
moves sufficiently to. lay hold of the string. The knotter shaft moves longitudinally
inward, and one turn round and the inner hooked shaft is drawn in by the screw,
and nips the binding material against the knotter shaft. The knife then cuts the
binding material between the nipper wheel and the knotter shaft, and the same
motion lifts the trigger, and throws the loop over the point of the knotter shaft,
when the arm (or arms) which supports the sheaf falls down and releases the sheaf,
and the knot is drawn fast by the weight of the sheaf. The inner hooked shaft is
then pushed out and frees the ends of the string, and the knotter shaft makes
another turn round, and is pushed out longitudinally, ready to receive the string
for binding another sheaf.
It will be readily seen that the improved knotting apparatus can be attached to
existing harvesting machines, or to any apparatus or machine for collecting cut grain
or crops, and binding them into sheaves.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Robert Hay Fisken in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th May 1878.
THOMAS ROBERT HAY FISKEN, of Leeds, in the County of York. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TYING KNOTS IN OR UPON STRING OR OTHER BINDING
MATERIAL, THE SAME BEING ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO HARVESTING MACHINES FOR
BINDING SHEAVES OF CORN OR OTHER CUT CROPS."
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for tieing knots in or upon
string or other binding material, and which is especially applicable to existing har-
vesting, reaping, thrashing, or other machines or apparatus for collecting corn or
other cut crops or grain and straw, and binding them into sheaves or bundles.
The Invention is illustrated on the accompanying three Sheets of Drawings in
Figures 1 to 9, of which,―
Figure 1 represents an elevation of the improved knotting mechanism; Figure 2,
a plan view thereof; and Figure 3, a side elevation thereof.
Figures 4 to 7 are detail views, Figure 4 representing an enlarged sectional view
of the knotter shaft, and Figures 5, 6, and 7, enlarged views of different modifications
of the nipping wheels.
Figure 8 represents an elevation, showing the application to a reaping machine
of the improved mechanism by which the sheaf is bound previously to being tied
and Figure 9, a plan view thereof.
Before proceeding to more particularly describe the nature of my said Invention,
I would remark that, amongst other methods, the tieing of knots upon string has
been effected by the use of a hooked trigger centred upon a bent up or hooked shaft,
which was actuated by slide bars having backward and forward movements.
Now my present Invention relates to improvements, more especially upon this
class of binding and tieing or knotting mechanism; and in constructing my im-
proved apparatus I form the knotter shaft 1 hollow, and working within it I place
another shaft 2, which is used for holding the cut ends of the string or binding
material until the knot has been properly made and tied; both shafts 1, 2, are bent
up or hooked at one extremity, as shown most clearly at 3, 4, Figure 4. On the
shaft 1, which is bushed in bearings 5, is made fast a pinion 6, which is rotated
to and fro by a segment 7 actuated at the proper times by a lever 8 having a stud
and roller 9 working in the side groove 10 of a cam 11 on the main driving shaft 12,
which receives motion from the main shaft 13 of the machine to which the ap-
paratus is adapted by bevil gearing 14, as partly illustrated in Figure 8; and on
the shaft 2 is mounted loosely a screw 15, which partakes of a to-and-fro longi-
tudinal motion, together with the shaft 1, and has imparted to it a similar motion
by a pinion nut 16, which is rotated to and fro by a segment 17 actuated at the
proper times by a lever 18, which is worked similarly to the lever 8, but from a
groove in the other side of the cam 11. The pinion nut 16 abuts against a
washer 19 loose upon the shaft 2, and adjacent to the inner end of the shaft 1; and
the screw 15 abuts against a pin 20, and is prevented from being rotated by the
regulating parts 21, 22; the latter of which, having facilitity of sliding longitudinally,
permits of the screw 15 having only a to-and-fro longitudinal motion along with
the shaft 2, which, by bearing against the pin 20, it carries in one direction with it,
but prevents it turning with either the shafts 1 or 2. 23 represents a lever
centred at 24, and which works in the peripheral cam groove 25 of the cam 11, and
in the collar 26 of the pinion 6, and gives a to-and-fro longitudinal motion to the
shaft 1.
The shaft 2 is slotted at 27, so as to permit it to have a longitudinal motion
effected inwards by the screw 15, and outwards by a spring 28 independently of the
shaft 1, but it is caused to partake of all rotary motions of the shaft 1 by a pin 29,

page_text: which passes through the same and through the slot 27. Upon the boss 30 en-
circling the shaft 1 is mounted a trigger lever 31, which throws the loop made in or
upon the string over the points 3, 4, of the shafts 1, 2, the trigger 31 being actuated
at the proper times by the knife or cutting lever 32, which is centred at 33, and is
actuated by the cam 34 on the shaft 12, which is bushed in bearings 35. 36 re-
presents the reel which carries the binding material 37; it is carried on a shaft 38
supported by brackets 39 springing from the frame 40 of the machine.
The binding material is carried around the material to be bound by an arm 41,
to which motion is imparted from the shaft 12 by means of a cam 42, which by
means of a stud and roller 43 working in its side groove actuates a lever 44 con-
nected to a crank 45 on the shaft 38, on which the lever or arm 41 is made fast.
The outer part or end of the arm 41 is provided with a counterpart 46, which is
centred thereto at 47, and is brought close to the arm, when the latter is back
to the full extent, by means of a spring 48. The end of the binding material is held
by a nipper wheel 49, which, according to one modification. I make of a polygonal
form, as shown in Figure 5, and I place around its periphery segmental nippers 50,
which are mounted loosely in the wheel, and secured by a plate 51. In this ar-
rangement the string or binding material falls or is placed at 52, and on the wheel
being rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 53, the segmental nipper
adjacent to the string is brought against a guard or block 54, which compresses the
nipper against the wheel, and thus securely holds the string.
The wheel 49 may be made of a circular form, with the inner faces of the nippers
concaved to a similar radius.
According to the modification illustrated in Figure 6, I use two nipping wheels 49
with rounded teeth, which fit each other. These wheels are mounted fast upon
their axles 55 carried by slide blocks 56, which are pressed together by springs 57
arranged within a case 58. One of the wheels receives an intermittent rotary
motion, which, when the string has been placed by the arm 41 at 59, draws it to
the position 60, and holds it fast there; the arm 41 then takes the string around
the material to be bound, and lays it again into the first position 59. Motion being
given to the wheels 49, the strings then come into the positions 61, 60, and are
held fast, the knife 62 being actuated from the shaft 12 then cuts them, and the
arm 41 is ready for another movement.
According to the modification illustrated in Figure 7 I use two disc nipping
wheels 49, mounted fast upon their shafts 63, and bushed at 64; these wheels are
pressed together by a spring 65. The axles 63 are inclined to each other so that
the wheels are always in contact at the side 66. Intermittent motion is given
through the shaft, which is not encircled by the spring 65, and when the string is
placed in the open space at 67 causes it to be drawn tight between the nipping
surfaces at 66; the arm 41 having laid the string around the material to be bound
again places it in the open space at 67, and motion being again given to the wheels
49 the strings are held firmly at 66, and the knife 62 then cuts them between the
wheels 49 and the knotter shaft 1, and the arm 41 is ready for another movement.
The nipper wheel illustrated in Figure 5 is keyed on a shaft 68, on which is a
mitre pinion 69, which is actuated from the shaft 12 by means of a mitre pinion 70,
having teeth only on part of its periphery, so as to give to the pinion 69 the desired
intermittent motion. A ratchet wheel 71 on the shaft 68 and a pawl 72 prevent
the nipper wheel 49 from turning backwards.
The material to be bound is elevated from the platform 73, on which it falls when
cut by an endless band 74 (as is usual in such apparatus, and to which motion is
suitably imparted from the reaper) on to a platform 75, down which it falls against
supporting compressers 76, which are fast on a shaft 77, and are actuated from a
side groove of the cam 42 on the shaft 12 by means of a stud and roller 78 on a
lever 85 connected to a crank 79 on the shaft 77.
The outer part of the arm 41 carries the string 37 within the platform 75, passing
through the slot 80 therein and over the nipper wheel 49 and the counterpart 46,

page_text: which is fitted with a compresser 81, slides down the outside of the platform, car-
rying with it the material to be bound and the string to their proper position
previous to the tieing of the knot; 82 represents the knife bar of the machine.
The platform 75 is adapted to the machine in such a manner that it can be
moved together with the arm 41, so as to adapt the binding mechanism to bind long
or short crops.
"
The above-described motions follow each other thus:-The end of the string 37 is
drawn from the reel 36, threaded through the arms 46, 41, and made fast in the
nipper wheel 49 by one of the nippers 50. The groove of the cam 42, in which the
stud 43 works, is arranged to actuate the lever 44, so as to throw back the arms.
41, 46, to their full extent. In doing so the string is laid over the trigger 31 at 83.
The material being elevated falls on to the string 37, and by its weight carries it.
down till it meets the compressers or supports 76, which are then in the position
shown by the dotted lines. The cam wheel 42 then brings the arms 41, 46, forward
to their full extent, carrying the string over the top of the bundle to be bound; and
again over the trigger 31 at 83, over which it then lies, twice, and into the open
nipper wheel 49 at 52, the arm 4G pressing the string down tight upon the material.
At this stage the peripheral groove 25 of the cam 11 acts upon the lever 23, and
moves the knotter shaft 1 longitudinally inwards, and then the cam groove 10, upon
the side of the cam 11, actuates the segment 7, and so makes the knotter shaft 1 to
have a turn or revolution, which puts a twist upon the strings, and brings a ply
thereof between the jaws 3, 4, of the shafts 1, 2. The groove upon the other side
of the cam 11 then actuates the segment 17, and turns the pinion nut 16, which,
acting upon the screw 15, draws the shaft 2 inward, so as to nip the strings and
hold them fast between the jaws 3, 4. The mitre wheel 70 then actuates the mitre
pinion 69, and causes the nipper wheel 49 to move and hold the strings fast.
this stage the cam wheel 34 acts upon the knife lever 32, so as to bring up the
knife 62, and cut the strings between the nipper wheel and the knotter shaft, after
which the knife lever continuing its upward motion, hits a pin 84 fixed in the
trigger 31, and lifts the latter level with the top or point of the jaw 3 of the
shaft 1, and lifts the loop of the string over it. The groove of the cam 42, in
which the stud 78 works, then actuates the lever 85, and causes the compressers or
supports 76 to take the position shown by the full lines, upon which the bound
sheaf is released and falls, and by its own weight pulls or draws the knot upon the
string fast or tight. The knotter shaft 1, by the action of the cam 11, beginning
again to turn, and the pinion nut 16 also being brought round to its first position,
the inner shaft 2 is pushed out by the spring 28, and the string is released from
between the jaws 3, 4, and the shaft 1 is moved forward longitudinally into its first
position, and thus the operation is completed, the shaft 12 having made a complete
revolution, and being ready to perform another operation.
At
The time for moving the nipper wheel can be varied so as to nip the string or
binding material at the most suitable time; the motion of the knotter shaft can
also be varied.
When wire is used as the binding material the arm 41, instead of laying the wire
over the trigger 31 at 83, lays it between the jaws 3, 4, of the shafts 1, 2, and after
carrying it around the material it again lays it between the jaws 3, 4, and into the
nipper wheel 49 at 52; the latter is then moved sufficiently to lay hold of the wires
at 86. The pinion nut 16 is then made to act upon the screw 15, and cause the
nipping of the wires between the jaws 3, 4; the knife 62 then cuts the wires, the
knotter shaft 1 is then made to move inwardly longitudinally, and then its rotating
motion is effected, and thus the wire is twisted into a knot; the compressers or
supports 76 then release the sheaf, and the apparatus is ready for another
operation.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention,―
1. The combination in self-binding and knotting mechanism applicable to the

page_text: purposes of this Invention of a hollow knotter shaft with an inner hooked shaft for
the purposes of twisting and nipping and holding fast the binding material until
the tieing of the knot is completed.
2. The application and use in such mechanism of the arrangement, in combination
of the hollow knotter shaft and the inner hooked shaft, together with the pinion
nut, screw, spring, and other means of actuating or working the same.
3. The application and use of nipping wheel mechanism of the above-described
constructions, or any modifications thereof.
And, 4. The application and use of a gathering arm made in two connected parts,
one of which travels within the platform, and the other of which slides down the
outside of the platform, and has a compresser combined with it; all being substan-
tially as above described, and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheets of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Robert Hay Fisken, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
THOS. R. H. FISKEN. (L.S.)