IMPROVE- MENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Alfied Marshall and Jacob
Monks at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th February 1877.
WILLIAM ALFRED Marshall, of Bridgwater, in the County of Somerset, and
JACOB MONKS, of Fishponds, Bristol, in the County of Gloucester "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
"
Our Invention relates to improvements in reaping and mowing machines, and
consists principally in the employment of an endless band knife having a con-
tinuous motion and making a clean sharp cut like that of a scy the, instead of the
ordinary reciprocating cutters which it is well known act like shears, and when
blunted, which soon happens, bruise or tear off the plant instead of severing it by
a clean sharp cut, which in the case of grass has a prejudicial effect on its sub-
sequent growth This endless band knife may be used either alone or in com-
bination with a guard or protector somewhat similar to the ordinary finger bat, or
other wise constructed, as hereafter described
The Invention also consists in certain details hereafter refered to in the con-
stiuction and operation of the machine, which is composed of a light frame,
preferably of angle iron, and is supported on two or more carrying wheels
The
machine is constructed as light as possible, consistent with stiength, the employ-
ment of the endless band knife having a continuous motion in the same direction,
enabling a very light machine to be used, capable of being propelled and operated
by one or two men
The endless band knife passes 1ound pulleys mounted on the frame, preferably
four in number, two at the upper and two at the lower part, upon which the band
is stretched to a rectangular figure, transversely or otherwise, to the direction of the
machine The lower horizontal part of the band knife is the operating part for
the time being, it travels close to the surface of the ground at a height regulated
by adjusting the pulleys on the frame, or by adjusting the frame on the carrying
wheels, provision being made for either adjustment The pulleys on which the
band knife runs are furnished with indian-rubber on the periphery, and are
flanged to keep the knife in position upon them One or more of the pulleys may
have a spring attachment by which to maintain an elastic pressure sufficient to
keep the band knife at the proper tension
The operating part of the knife, viz, that near the ground, may be combined
with a finger har somewhat similar to the ordinary finger bar, but of much lighter

page_text: construction, to prevent the knife being deflected, and serve as a protection against
stones or other obstructions, and to ensure the cop being properly presented to the
action of the knife, or a plain grooved bai may be used as a guide and support for
the knife, and small anti-friction rollers may be introduced behind the knife at
suitable intervals along the bai
When the knife is used without any finger or other bar a lever carrying a roller
may be arranged near the middle of the machine so that it may, if desired, be
brought down on the band knife at the desired monent to press it down and make
it work close to the ground in hollow places
The machine is propelled and the band knife driven by a winch handle at the
back of the machine on a longitudinal shaft geared by suitable multiplying gear
with one of the pulleys on which the band knife runs, whereby the knife is
driven at a high speed The shaft is also geared by worm and chain or other
geaning with the carrying wheels to propel the machine at the same time Change
wheels may be employed to adjust the speed of the knife relatively to the progress
of the machine to suit the nature of the crop
The sharpening device, consisting of a 1otary stone or stones, is arranged on the
upper part of the frame and driven by the same shaft, and so applied to the edge
of the knife as to produce and maintain continuously the desired edge similar to
that produced on a scythe by hand
Another part of the Invention relates to a platform consisting of an endless web
and a fixed guide or fence for use when the machine is employed as a reaper. The
endless web or platform is also diven by gearing from the machine, and the guide
or fence is arranged obliquely so as to gather the corn towards and discharge it at
the back or at one side of the machine in a compact form The speed of the
endless web platform is such as to carry the cut coin before it falls at once towards
the back, where the space on the platform is contracted so that the cut corn is
kept upright and is discharged in a compact form with the heads of the plants all
one way