IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR BINDING UP CUT CROPS OR OTHER MATERIALS INTO SHEAVES OR BUNDLES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Whitworth, Engineer, of Longsight, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING
MACHINES AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR BINDING UP CUT CROPS OR OTHER
MATERIALS INTO SHEAVES OR BUNDLES."
Sealed the 19th March 1878, and dated the 24th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Whitworth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th September 1877.
EDWIN WHITWORTH, Engineer, of Longsight, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. " IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR
BINDING UP CUT CROPS OR OTHER MATERIALS INTO SHEAVES OR BUNDLES."
This Invention, which relates to improvements in reaping machines and other
apparatus for binding up cut crops or other materials into sheaves or bundles, has
for its object the combined arrangement of knotting mechanism for tying a knot
upon string, wire, or other material suitable for binding cut crops into sheaves as
delivered by a reaper, or any other material requiring binding, with other apparatus
connected therewith, and consisting principally of an arrangement for carrying a
string or wire around the sheaf or material requiring binding, an arrangement for
compressing the material to be bound, and a receptacle to receive the material
requiring binding.
The knotting mechanism consists of a rod or shaft having a curved or hooked
extremity in a recess, in which is placed a small hook or opening to receive the
binding material, and which hook receives a slight automatic motion from the
turning of the knotter shaft and the action of the binding material. The shaft or
rod has a spiral thread or groove formed on it, which causes it to partake of a to-
and-fro motion when it is rotated. The rotation may be given it by a toothed
pinion connected with the knotter shaft, and gearing into a wheel or segment, to
which motion is suitably communicated from the mechanism of the reaper or other
machine to which the knotting mechanism is applied.

page_text: The mechanism above described ties a knot upon the string or wire, which is
previously passed around the material requiring binding by a gathering arm, as
herein-after described.
I also propose to use a modification of the above mechanism by which part of the
knot is formed while the arm is carrying the string or wire around the material,
and when this arm arrives at a suitable position the string or wire is drawn through
the partly formed knot, which then forms what may be termed a "slip knot."
The above-described knotting arrangements may be placed in any suitable
position on the machine.
The gathering arm is also placed in a suitable position, and receives a recip-
rocating or rotary motion, so that at certain intervals it enters into the cut crop or
material which has been collected and gathers sufficient of it to form a bundle or
sheaf. The arm is formed so as to carry at its extremity an end of wire, string,
or other binding material, which may be supplied from a bobbin carried on the
machine.
The crop or other material as it is thus gathered or brought together by the said
gathering arm is carried against a curved arm or arms (attached to the platform or
table), which compress it into a sheaf, which, when the binding is completed and
the knot tied by the above-described mechanism, is allowed to fall on to the ground,
the curved arms dropping down out of the way.
In place of the harvester delivery as at present used I also propose to use a
reaping machine which may have a self-raking motion, so that the cut crop as it
falls upon the table may be swept therefrom; but instead of carrying it from the
table, as is usual, I place a suitably inclined or curved platform or receptacle to
receive it. Where I use substantially the above-described arrangement for binding it
any suitable delivery may be used, and convenient receptacle formed to receive
the material requiring binding.
I also propose to adapt this binding arrangement to a horse rake, so that the
crop or material may be gathered and carried into a receptacle, and then bound into
sheaves or bundles and delivered to the ground.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin Whitworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd March
1878.
EDWIN WHITWORTH, Engineer, of Longsight, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR
BINDING UP CUT CROPS OR OTHER MATERIALS INTO SHEAVES OR BUNDLES."
This Invention, which relates to improvements in reaping machines and other
apparatus for binding up cut crops or other materials into sheaves or bundles, has
for its object the combined arrangement of knotting mechanism for tieing a knot
upon string, wire, or other material suitable for binding cut crops into sheaves as
delivered by a reaper, or any other material requiring binding in a similar manner,
with other apparatus connected therewith, and consisting principally of an arrange-
ment for carrying a string or wire around the sheaf or material requiring binding,
an arrangement for compressing the material to be bound, and a receptacle to receive
the material requiring binding.
The knotting mechanism consists of a rod or shaft having a curved or hooked
extremity in a recess, in which is placed a small hook or opening to receive the
binding material, and which book receives a slight automatic motion from the
turning of the knotter shaft and the action of the binding material. The shaft or
rod has a spiral or screw thread or groove formed on it, which causes it to partake
of a to-and-fro motion when it is rotated. The rotation may be given it by a
toothed pinion connected with the knotter shaft, and gearing into a wheel or
segment, to which motion is suitably communicated from the mechanism of the
reaper or other machine to which the knotting mechanism is applied.
The mechanism above described ties a knot upon the string or wire, which is
previously passed around the material requiring binding by a gathering arm.
I also use a modification of the above mechanism by which part of the knot is
formed while the arm is carrying the string or wire around the material, and when
this arm arrives at a suitable position the string or wire is drawn through the
partly formed knot, which then forms what may be termed a slip knot.
The above-described knotting arrangements may be placed in any suitable
position on the machine.
The gathering arm is also placed in a suitable position, and receives a recip-
rocating or rotating motion, so that at certain intervals it enters into the cut crop
or material which has been collected, and gathers sufficient of it to form a bundle
or sheaf. The arm is formed so as to carry at its extremity an end of a wire, string,
or other binding material, which may be supplied from a bobbin carried on the
machine.
The crop or other material as it is gathered or brought together by the said
gathering arm is carried against a curved arm or arms (attached to the platform or
table), which compresses it into a sheaf, which, when the binding is completed and
the knot tied by the above-described mechanism, is allowed to fall on the ground,
the curved arms dropping down out of the way.
In lieu of the harvester delivery as at present used I use a reaping machine
which may have a self-raking motion, so that the cut crop as it falls upon the table
may be swept therefrom; but instead of carrying it from the table, as is usual,
I place a suitably inclined or curved platform or receptacle to receive it. Where I use
substantially the above-described arrangement for binding it any suitable delivery
may be used, and a convenient receptacle formed to receive the material requiring
binding.
I also adapt this binding mechanism to a horse rake, so that the crop or material
may be gathered and carried into a receptacle, and then bound into sheaves or
bundles and delivered to the ground.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed

page_text: or carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be distinctly under-
stood I have annexed hereunto three Sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof, and
have marked the same with Figures of reference, indicating similar parts, or parts
having similar functions, wherever repeated, and corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof, that is to say :-
My said Invention is illustrated on the accompanying Drawings in Figures 1 to
20 in various modifications of its adaptation to reaping and other machines, and
each of which will herein-after be fully described.
The several Figures of the Drawings will also herein-after be more particularly
referred to, and they illustrate sufficient only of the machines they are intended to
represent to enable the application of my improvements thereto to be properly
understood.
Figures 1 to 4, Sheet 1, are illustrative of the first modification; Figure 1 repre-
sents a front view, Figure 2 a side view, and Figure 3 a plan view of the application
of this modification as adapted to an ordinary reaping machine.
Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view.
1 represents an inclined surface and receptacle, on and in which the cut crop or
other inaterial is delivered by endless belts or chains from the table of the machine.
2 is a horizontal shaft, which receives motion from the driving mechanism of the
machine, having a keyway 3, in which slides a key of a bevil wheel 4, which is
thus rotated and is free to move along the shaft should it be necessary to move the
receptacle 1 and the mechanism it carries to adapt it to the crop or material with-
out interfering with the driving. The wheel 4 is suitably held at all times in gear
with a wheel 5 on a vertical shaft 6, which it thus drives, and this shaft further
communicates the motion by bevil wheels 7 to a horizontal shaft 8 formed with a
crank 9, which carries the arm 10, which gathers and holds the cut crop to be bound;
a link 11, one end of which is attached to the arm, and the other end of which is
carried by a shaft 12, controlling the motion of the arm. The shafts 8, 12, are
supported by standards 13. The shaft 6 carries a cam 14, which drives the knotter
15 and the cutting-off arrangement 16, as herein-after described. The cam 14 also,
by means of a sliding bar 17 and a crank 18, imparts a rocking motion to a shaft
19, which carries an arm or arms 20, which retains the cut crop while it is being.
collected and compressed and bound. The corn or other cereal as it is delivered on
the receptacle 1 falls on or against the string or binding material, which is unwound
from a bobbin 21, and is grasped by a jaw 22 (herein-after described, see the enlarged
views, Figures 8 and 9, Sheet 2) at the extremity of the arm 10, and is carried by
the upward motion of the arm into a position allowing of the cut crop being
delivered on to it, and by the continuance of the motion of the arm 10 is carried
around enough of the cut crop to form a sheaf. When the arm 10 arrives at the
position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1, the string is in a suitable position
for tieing, and the string carried by the arm 10, and that from the bobbin 21 having
been brought under and against the knotter 15, the latter is turned or actuated from
the cam 14 by a lever 23, which has a toothed segment 24 gearing into a toothed
wheel 25 on the knotter shaft 26. The turning of the knotter 15 causes the string
to be twisted around itself, and part of it laid under a small hook or opening 27,
herein-after more particularly referred to, see the enlarged views, Figures 5, 6, and 7,
Sheet 2. A slide 28, which is also actuated from the cam 14 by a lever 29, and
carries the cutting-off arrangement 16, then comes forward, and pushing against the
strings forces the partly formed knot over the small hooked piece 27, and by this
time the knife 16 arrives against the strings between the knotter 15 and the arm
10, and cuts them, and the slide 28, continuing its motion, clears the knot from the
knotter 15. The arm 10, in passing the string around the sheaf or bundle, comes
against the string from the bobbin 21, which by the forward motion of the arm is
caused to enter its jaw 22, so that when the operations of tieing and cutting the
strings are performed the arm 10 still retains its hold upon the string from the
bobbin 21. The arm 10 then rises ready for another sheaf, and a slot 30 formed in
it, allows of a pause in its motion, and of its still continuing its motion so as to take

page_text: up any slackness in the string when it arrives under the knotter and in a suitable
position for tieing the knot, and the motion also causes the arm to rise, and thus
assists the action of the knotter in placing the string in a proper position for tieing.
The arm may then pause until the knot is completed, or its motion may be made
continuous by contracting the length of its slot 30, which may be done by a movable
piece sliding over the slot, and secured in the desired position by a screw.
The curved arm or arms 20 take the upright position shown in Figures 1 and 2
while the crop is being gathered and bound, and the forward motion of the arm 10
causes the cut crop to be compressed against them, but when the sheaf is bound
they fall down to the position dotted in Figures 1 and 3, and allow the sheaf to be
thrown on to the ground by the arm 10.
The shaft 19 receives its rocking motion by means of its crank arm 18, a pin, 31,
of which enters a slot 32 in a rocking bar 33 (see Figure 4), which is actuated by
the sliding bar 17, which receives its motion from a rib 34 on the cam 14, and which
rib is cut away in one part (see Figure 3) to allow the sliding bar 17 to fall back
under the pressure of the sheaf to allow the arms 20 to fall away from the sheaf.
The rib then forces the sliding bar 17 back to the position shown by the dotted
lines in this Figure, which causes the arms 20 to rise ready for the next sheaf.
In order to suit any variations in the crop or material to be bound, and to regulate
a proper compression of the sheaf, I adapt to the bar 17 a connecting bolt 35, having
an eye 36, which receives a pin 37 of the rocking bar 33, and enters a lug 38
projecting from the bar 17, being secured by lock nuts 39, between which and the
lug 38 is a spiral spring 40, the pressure of which can be regulated by the lock
nuts.
I prefer to use the hook or opening in the extremity of the knotter 15, as shown
in Figures 5, in which the end of the hooked-shaped piece 27 is made inclined inward,
so that when the string is pulled the inclination causes it to be slightly grasped at
41, which facilitates the tieing of the knot. The piece 27 projects rather beyond
the end of the knotter 15, but I do not confine myself to its exact position, as it
may be at the side or beneath, as shown in Figures 6. I also prefer to use the
knotter in the position shown on the Drawings, enabling the knot to be tied as close
as possible to the sheaf or bundle, but it may be placed in any suitable position, or
within the arm 10.
In using the arm 10, having an upward rising motion, the to-and-fro motion of
the knotter may be very slight; in such a case I use a screwed bearing 42, as shown
in Figures 5, or a pin 43 in a groove 44, as shown in Figures 6.
Figures 7 represent another form of knotter, in which the piece 27 is enlarged
and made tubular at its end 45, so as to allow a moving jaw or grasper 46 to be
passed through it.
The action of the tubular portion is as follows:-When the arm 10 carrying a
string has risen to gather a sheaf the knotter is drawn back on to the string and
rotated by the means shown and firstly above referred to, which forms a knot upon
it substantially as above described. This knot or formation is left on the part 45
of the piece 27 until the arm 10 arrives again under the knotter 15, and in a suitable
position for the other string carried in the jaw 22 of the arm 10 to be passed through
45, through which the jaw or grasper 46 has been advanced, and the forward motion
of the arm 10 places the string within the jaw of the grasper, which is then drawn
back, carrying the string through the piece 45; this retraction of the grasper allows
the book piece 27 to move in the direction of the pull, and the tubular piece 45
being tapered, the string on it slips off on to the string which passes through
it; it is then tightened up, and cut off substantially as above described. On the
end of the jaw or grasper 46 I place a small ferule or tube 47, which is capable of
sliding thereon under the control of a spiral spring 48, but is prevented from passing
off it.
When the grasper is moved forward to enter the part 45 of the hook 27 the
ferule 47 strikes against the part 45, and is forced back while the grasper advances
through the part 45. The jaws of the grasper have a tendency to enlarge their

page_text: opening, being made taper, and when the string is placed within the jaws it slides
back, and the ferule 47 is forced forward by the spring 48, and thus causes the jaws
to tighten and retain hold of the string.
Figures 8 illustrate the jaw 22 at the end of the arm 10. 49 is a movable piece
attached to the arm by screws 50; the adjacent sides of this part of the jaw are
serrated, as shewn, so as to retard the tendency of the string to slip out of the jaw.
The part 49 is made to spring when in its place, being cut away at 51, and drawn
tight against the part 22 by the screws 50; the string enters the opening of the
jaws, which spring slightly open to receive it when it is grasped by the serrations.
When the knot is tied and cut a portion of the string is left in the jaw, and when
the arm grasps another portion of string the latter tends to work the ends of
string left in the jaw towards the opening 51, where they fall out, and thus prevent
the jaw from getting clogged by the string ends.
Figures 9 illustrate another form of jaw 22, in which 52 is a small roller contained
in the end of the arm, and having a quick spiral cut on its surface, which makes it
screw-like, and these spirals or threads are cut so as to leave the angle of the threads
as shewn in the cross sectional view. The roller 52 forms one side of the jaw, the
other side (which may be formed of another roller) being formed as a movable part
49, secured to the arın by screws 50, and made to spring or clip against the roller 52,
attached to the inner end of which is a small wheel 53, having inclined grooves 54
cut in its periphery.
The operation of this jaw is as follows:-When the arın 10 has taken the string
around a sheaf, and the latter has been bound, the wheel 53, which projects slightly
beyond the arm in the motion of the latter, is struck by a fixed pin 55 attached
to the receptacle 1 (Figures 1 to 3), and which enters one of the inclined grooves 54,
and causes the wheel 53 to make a partial revolution, which turns the roller 52, and
thus causes the end of the string which has latest entered the jaw to be drawn
further thereinto, and to have a longer hold of it, and also causes the portion of
string which has been left in the jaw from the previous sheaf or binding to be partly
carried out of the jaw, and also drawn nearer to the opening at 51, where, if it has
not been carried out of the jaw by the rotation of the roller 52, it falls from the
jaw. A small wedge-shaped piece 56, contained in an inclined cavity 57 in the
arm 10, allows of the wheel 53 and roller 52 being free to be turned in one direction
only. I taper or round off the outer end of the roller 52, which forms the opening
of the jaw to facilitate the entrance of the string.
Figures 10 to 12, Sheet 1, are illustrative of another modification for gathering
and compressing the cut crop. Figure 10 represents a front view, Figure 11 a side
view, and Figure 12 a plan view of the application of this modification as adapted
to an ordinary reaping machine.
I terminate the receptacle 1 with a fixed curved side 58, which in some measure
takes the place of the curved arms 20 above described (see Figures 1 to 3), and
which is cut away, as shewn in Figures 11 and 13, and has its bottom inclined. 13
is a standard rising from it, and supporting a shaft 6, which by bevil gearing 7
drives a shaft 8, which by bevil gearing 59 drives a plate 9 carrying a crank pin
60, which actuates the arm 10, the link 11 being also carried by a bracket springing
from the standard 13. The lower end of the shaft 6 carries a wheel 5, which receives
its motion from the reaping machine. 19 is a shaft under the receptacle 1, carrying
arms 20, which retain the cut crop as it is collected, and prevent it straggling or
falling about before being bound. These arms have a weight 61 attached to them,
which acts as a counterpoise, so that when the arm 10 comes against the cut crop,
and forces the arms 20 back to the position shewn by the dotted lines in Figures 10
and 12, the cut crop is compressed by the arm 10 against the curved side 58. The
sheaf is then bound, as before described, and the arm 10 rising lifts up the sheaf
and the inclination of the bottom of the receptacle, and its shape causes the sheaf
to slide to the ground, when the counterpoise weights 61 cause the arms 20 to rise
to their former position to retain the cut crop.

page_text: Figures 13 and 14 are illustrative of an arrangement for delivery which I apply
to the ordinary form of self-raking reapers; Figure 13 is a side view; and Figure 14,
a plan view.
62 represents the table of such a machine which I ramp up from the knife bar 63
to the side, which causes the side of the table to be rather more elevated than is
usual. I attach a receptacle 1 to the side of the reaper table in conjunction with an
endless belt 64 carried by rollers 65. When the rakes of the reaping machine sweep
the cut crop from the table of the reaper the crop would in the usual construction
of such machines fall on to the ground, but in this case it falls on to the belt 64 and
receptacle 1. The rakes then rise to clear the arm 10, which is substantially the
same as the arm described in Figures 1 to 3. This arm collects the cut crop, the
collecting of which is facilitated by the action of the belt 64, which runs in the
direction of the arrow, Figure 13. The bracket 13 is attached to the frame of the
machine and carries the arm 10 and a link 11; a shaft 8 drives the crank 9 which
gives motion to the arm 10, and the other end of the shaft 8 has a wheel 66 which
is driven by the reaping machine through a pitched chain. The continuation 67 of
the receptacle 1 I make movable or capable of folding up for convenience in moving
the reaper. When the arm 10 has collected enough of the cut crop to form a sheaf it
is brought against curved arms, as described in Figures 1 to 3, or a curved side, as
described in Figures 10 to 12, and compressed. The arm 10 carries a string from
the bobbin, as before described, and the upward and forward motion of the arm
causes the string to be laid over the cut crop, and the return motion of the arm
places the string around the sheaf, which is then tied and thrown to the ground by
methods substantially as before described.
Figures 15 and 16, Sheet 3, are illustrative of a horse-rake sheaf binder con-
structed according to my Invention; Figure 15 is a front view, and Figure 16 a
side view.
68 represents an endless belt or chain carrying rake teeth 69 running on
pulleys 70, 71, the shaft 72 carrying the latter of which has a pinion 73 at its end
gearing into a spur wheel 74 attached to the travelling wheel 75 of the machine. A
shaft 76 carries an arm 10 which receives a rocking motion from the crank 9, being
actuated by a cam 77 fixed on the shaft 72. The arm 10 is formed of the shape
shown to enable it to gather the cut crop or other material into a suitable position
and form for binding and to carry the string around the sheaf or bundle. The
inclined part 78 of the machine carries rake teeth at 79 for collecting the cut crop,
and the rakes 69 carry the crop collected by those 79 up the incline 78, whence it
falls on to an endless belt 80 forming the bottom of a receptacle 1. This belt is
carried on two rollers 81, 82, the latter of which carries at its end a wheel 83
actuated at intervals by the outside of the spur wheel 74, which is an internally
geared wheel. This intermittent motion of the wheel 83 is effected by covering its
periphery with leather, rubber, or other suitable material, giving it good frictional
contact with the wheel 74, so that the latter which is cut away on a portion of its
circumference, which allows it to clear the wheel 83, which then remains stationary,
at other times by means of its part 84, actuates it. The machine being drawn
forward the rake teeth 79 collect the crop, and the rake teeth 69 on the belt 68
carry it up the incline 78 and drop it on to the belt 80, which is then
stationary; the cam 77 then causes the arm 10, which is then in the position
shewn by the dotted line, Figure 16, to move forward against the cut crop
on the belt 80. The projecting part 85 of the arm 10 carries a string sup-
plied from the bobbin 21, the end of the string being placed in
jaw thereof, and the arm being moved to the dotted position puts the
string in such a position that the cut crop from the rakes 69 falls thereonto,
and the arm 10 coming forward carries the string over the top of the
portion of the cut crop, and thus the string is placed around the sheaf or
bundle. The lower curved portion of the arm collects and compresses the bundle
while it is being tied, which is effected by substantially the same means as those
above described, the motions of tieing and cutting-being derived from the shaft 86.
an end

page_text: When the sheaf is bound the arm 10 rocks back to the dotted position and the
sheaf remains on the belt 80, which then receives motion, causing the sheaf to be
carried in a backward direction and dropped on to the ground, when the belt again
becomes stationary. In this form of machine I prefer to use a large driving wheel 75
and a smaller wheel 87 which runs under the machine so as to prevent the machine
running over the crop. I also purpose to adapt the above arrangement to reaping
machines.
Figures 17 and 18 are illustrative of another form of horse-rake binding machine.
Figure 17 is a front view, and Figure 18 a side view. The driving wheels 75 run
loose on a shaft or axle 86 round which is a hollow shaft 88 carrying two sets of
rake teeth 89, 90. The shaft 88 receives its motion from the pinion 73, gearing into
the pinion 91, actuated by the internally spurred wheel 74, attached to the driving
wheel 75. 92 is one of the shafts of the machine on which I place the bobbin 21
carrying the string which is fed through an eye 93 and fixed jaw 94. The
machine being drawn forward the rake 89 collects a portion of cut crop and
then rises upward, carrying the cut crop; it meets the string at 95, and the notion
of the rake being continued the string is placed around the sheaf and again enters
the jaw 94, which is substantially the same as the jaw 22, and the sheaf is then
bound, the tieing being effected substantially as before described, after which the
sheaf falls to the ground. A curved bar 96 extends across the machine, its object
being to form and compress the bundle. As one set of rake.teeth rises the other set
descends, and, a pause taking place while the sheaf is being bound, allows of the
lower rack collecting sufficient of the cut crop to form a sheaf.
Instead of both sets of teeth being actuated one set, 89, may be stationary, col-
lecting the crop, and 90 be a moving rake, the teeth of which move between those
of 89 and take up the cut crop collected thereby.
The intermittent motion of the rake may be effected, as shewn in the enlarged
views, Figures 19 and 20, in which 86 is the axle, 88 the shaft carrying the rake
teeth, and on the end of which is attached the pinion 73, gearing into the pinion 91,
turning on a stud 97, and gearing into the spur wheel 74, attached to the driving
wheel 75. On the side of the wheel 74 I place a projecting cam rib 98 which is
partly cut away, the object of the rib being to actuate a lever 99 which is centred
at 97, and is attached to a clutch 100 sliding on the shaft 88 and engaging into the
pinion 73. The cam rib 98 actuates the lever 99 at intervals, causing the pinion 73
to alternately run fast and loose on the shaft 88. A spring 101 keeps the lever 99
pressed against the cam rib. The shaft 88 is allowed to turn in one direction
only.
To make the motion of the rake continuous or intermittent at pleasure I place a
lever 102 under the control of the driver of the machine so as to engage with the
clutch lever 99.
I do not confine myself to the binding of cut crops by the above-described arrange-
ments of mechanism, but I use the said binding arrangements for any material
requiring binding, such as tieing up straw from thrashing machines and bundles
of wood.
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,-
First. The application in combination to an ordinary reaping machine of receiving,
gathering, compressing, binding, knotting, cutting, and delivering mechanism, sub-
stantially as above described with reference to, and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4,
Sheet 1, of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The above-described improvements in the knotting mechanism, substan-
tially as described, and as illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, Sheet 2, and the position of
the knotter, as illustrated on the Drawings, enabling the knot to be tied as close as
possible to the sheaf or bundle.
Third. The formation of the jaw ends of the gathering arms, substantially as
described, and as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.

page_text: Fourth. The application in combination to an ordinary reaping machine of the
gathering, compressing, and delivery mechanism, substantially as above described,
with reference to, and as illustrated in Figures 10 to 12, Sheet 1, and in com-
bination with the previously described receiving, binding, knotting, and cutting
mechanism.
Fifth. The application of a similar combination to an ordinary self-raking reaping
machine, substantially as above described with reference to, and as illustrated in
Figures 13 and 14, Sheet 2.
Sixth. The application of a similar combination to a horse rake, substantially
as above described with reference to, and as illustrated in Figures 15 and 16,
Sheet 3.
Seventh. The similar application, substantially as above described, with reference
to and as illustrated in Figures 17 and 18.
And, Eighth. The arrangement of parts for giving a continuous or intermittent
motion to the rakes of such machines, substantially as above described, with reference
to, and as illustrated in Figures 19 and 20.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Whitworth, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
EDWIN WHITWORTH. (L.S.)