Year: 1886

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has reference to harvesting and binding machines, and consists in
certain improvements hereinafter set forth.
In constructing my improved harvester and binder, I employ a stationary
receiving platform provided with a suitable vibrating collecting device working
conjointly with a vibrating packing device to collect and pack the cut grain
gathered upon the platform by the revolving rake arms or beaters and place it in
the stationary binder located in the rear part of the machine. The said collecting
device and packer describe segments of circles and move in opposite directions, to
the end that each successive gavel or beater full of grain shall be collected together
on the platform and delivered by the packer into the binder; each gavel or beater
full of grain being kept separate until delivered into the said binder.. Moreover
each bundle is, while being bound, kept distinct from the succeeding portion of the
grain forming part of the next bundle. In combination with these collecting and
packing devices, I provide a suitable vibrating butting board, the function of which
is to make a uniform and even butt to the bundle and at the same time secure a
proper central position for the band. The binding mechanism is automatically put
into action after the bundle has assumed a given size through the medium of a
starting lever against which the bundle is pressed by the packer; which starting
lever controls the clutch device connecting the binding mechanism with the driving
gear; or the binder may be started by other mechanism. In addition to the fore-
going features in the construction of my improved harvester and binder, there are
a number of important details of construction fully referred to in the general
description hereinafter.
The object of my invention is to form a compact, durable, and cheaply
constructed low-down harvester and binder in which the parts shall be suitably

page_text: Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of same on line y y of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the cams for operating the binding and discharging
mechanism; and
Figure 7 is a side elevation with part broken away of the device for tilting the
platform.
A is the drive wheel and B is its shaft. Cand C¹ are spur wheels and D D' bevel
gears through which power is transmitted from the drive shaft B to the knife bar
crank d which reciprocates the knife bar g supported and carried by the finger
bar fas is customary. E is the frame of the machine and may be made in any
suitable manner; that shown being, perhaps, most suitable. F is the main
receiving platform and is provided on its ends with the outer divider G and
inner divider G. Between the platform and the cutter bar, I prefer to provide
a reeling bar or space F2 which is preferably slightly inclined as indicated in
Figure 3. This bar or space is about one foot or fourteen inches wide. The cam
which guides the reeling arms should be so constructed that the teeth of each reel
arm or heater pass in close proximity to, and follow the surface of this bar before
the reel arms rise to complete their revolution to the front of the machine. The
effect of making each reel arm pass thus accross the reeling bar, is, that an
immediate and complete severance of the grain brought on by each beater is
effected; and draggling or tangling between the gavels brought in by successive
beaters, is avoided. I prefer to incline the bar F so that the rear shall rise a few
inches above the level of the main portion of the platform F to aid in effecting a
complete separation between the gavels brought in by each successive beater.
The arrangement for removing the grain from the platform F into the binder, is
such, that immediately after a gavel or portion of grain is deposited by each reel
beater or arm on to the platform F, that portion so deposited is removed and
carried to the binder and packed under the needle arm separate and distinct from
any other portion of incoming grain. The bundle may be composed of one, two or
more beaters full; each beater full is packed in the binder separately; the number
of beaters full which will be contained in any one bundle will depend on the
thickness of the grain being cut and the size of the bundle desired. The binding
mechanism being brought into operation when the desired quantity for a bundle
is packed under the needle arm, whether it be one or more beaters full. This
distinct removal and packing is effected by two arms M and N, each pivoted at
the rear of the platform; which arms vibrate or reciprocate alternately towards
and from each other. While reciprocating towards each other, the cut grain on the
platform is collected towards the middle of the platform. The arm N carrying the
toothed wheel in its reciprocation, passing over the gathering arm M and while
they vibrate from each other, the grain is all carried by the arm N towards the
binder to a point in front of teeth Z, and by a succeeding vibration of the arm N,
this grain is carried into and packed in the binder.
When the arms M and N are vibrated apart from each other to their limit, the
platform F is left clear and free to receive a new portion of incoming grain from

page_text: the next gathering rake arm or beater. The movement of the vibrating arms M
and N is in exact unison with the movement of the reel arms or beaters so that
while each reel arm is depositing its portion of grain on the platform F, the
arms M and N are at their maximum distance apart; and before the succeeding
reel arm makes its deposit on the platform F, the arms M and N have approached
together and receded, moving the deposited gavel from the front of the platform F.
The gavels deposited on the platform are kept separate until they reach the binder,
and when the binder has received the complement of grain to form a bundle, there
is a clear space under the needle arm (between the bundle about to be formed and
the next succeeding gavel) free from grain. Into this clear space the needle arm
descends in the act of binding the bundle.
1
By the organization and arrangement of my machine, this unison of action
between the reel arms which gather the grain onto the platform and the collecting
arm M and packing arm N, each beater full of incoming grain is separately
removed and packed in the binder and the needle arm descends into a clear space.
This arrangement and organization constitute a leading feature of my invention.
The arrangement of the several parts of my machine is as follows:
F is the grain wheel which supports the outer end of the machine. Hinged to
the rear of the platform F, at M³, is an arm M having its free end, armed with
teeth m so that when the said arm is moved across the platform, describing an are
of a circle, the grain is swept in the direction of the binder; that is to say, from
the grain side towards the stubble side of the machine. G² are guards under
which the arm M passes and by which the grain is insured to fall upon the
platform clear of the teeth m and prevent the grain from being thrown back off
the platform. The arm M is vibrated by a link O¹ placed below the platform and
which connects up through a curved slot o in the platform F with the collecting
arm M. This link O¹ is connected at its other end to a crank O which is rotated
by bevel gears J and H connecting with the drive shaft B. N is a packer carrying
arm which is pivoted at N¹. This arm N is supported some distance above the
platform. The arm N is connected with the arm M by means of the segmental
gears N and M². The reciprocations of the arm M cause a corresponding
reciprocation of the arm N in an opposite direction, so that these arms approach
and pass each other slightly, and then recede from each other during their
respective movements. The free end of the arm N is provided with the packing
teeth W the lower portions of which are provided with pivoted pawls W₁ which
run upon or close to the platform and push the grain towards the binding arm
when the arm N is moving in one direction and pass over the grain when it
vibrates in the other direction. These teeth are preferably four in number and
located between two or more of them; and journaled upon the end of the arm N,
are the finger wheels X having their peripheries provided with fingers or teeth w.
These wheels X are loosely supported upon the arm N and are provided with
ratchets X¹ with which spring pawls Y engage to prevent the said wheels X
rotating when the arm N is vibrating towards the binder, but allow of the
rotation of X when the arm N is passing over the opposite arm M so as to roll
over the cut grain collected at the centre of the platform.
The toothed wheels X are preferably held against rotation when approaching the
arm M by the pressure of the spring pawls Y, or by friction; so that when
moving from the position shown in Figure 2, towards the centre of the platform,
the toothed wheels X sweep or gather the grain, as delivered by the rake arms;
towards the middle of the platform and towards the approaching arm M; thus
by the combined action of arms N and M, the cut grain as delivered by the
beaters is 'compacted at or near the middle of the platform. When the grain
collected between the approaching arms N and M. is sufficiently compacted to offer
a greater resistance than the spring pawls, or friction devices, the wheels X rotate
and.p
1.pass over the gathered grain, the arm N passing above the arm M. As the
arm N-moves back to the position shown in Figure 2, the toothed wheels X being

page_text: held by the pawls and ratchets, moves the collected grain away from the said
vibrating arm M towards the binder, to a part of the platform in the rear of
teeth Z; the platform F between the two arms M and N being then left entirely
clear for the reception of the next incoming beater full of grain. The next
vibration of the arm N, causes the packer pawls W₁ to pass over the grain lying
at one side of the platforin held by the teeth Z. Upon the next vibration of the
arin N, the last laid gavel is carried by the toothed wheels X beyond the teeth Z
and by the same vibration of N the previous laid gavel is pushed forward by the
packing pawls W into the binder under the guard G³ and binder arm PI and
against the movable stop lever S³.
In conjunction with the vibrating arm N which carries the gavel towards the
binder and packs it in the binder, I employ a movable butting board which
straightens each gavel at the butt in the interval while the packing or teeth
pawls W W W₁ are carried by the packer carrying arm N froin the binder,
passing over the grain lying in front of the teeth Z and under the guard G³.
Lis the said butting board which is connected by links L' so that it is caused
to swing in such a manner as to act upon the butts of each gavel as it is left
upon the platform and before it is carried by the packer pawls W¹ W¹ W¹; into
the binder, causing the butts to be moved backward, and at the same time pushing
any extending grain longitudinally, evening the butts as shown in Figure 2, and
also insuring the particular location of the band desired. This butting board may
be provided with ribs to more readily insure a rearward pressure being exerted
upon the butts. The reciprocation of the butting board, is obtained through the
mediation of the link K¹ connected to a crank K which is driven from the gear J.
Its movement is accurately timed with the reciprocation of the arms M and N
so as to act in unison with arm N while passing freely over the gavel and before
pushing each separate gavel into the binder.
The links L' L' which connect the butting board L to the frame of the harvesting
machine at substantially parallel, each acting as a radius bar or link and causing
the butting board to have a lateral parallel movement as an incident to its longi-
tudinal reciprocations which are imparted by the rotating crank K. and link K¹.
The longitudinal movement of the butting board, causes it to travel with the
grain towards the binder, and the lateral parallel movements thereof causes it to
act upon the butts of the grain, making the butts even. The crank K is provided
with a series of holes K whereby its throw may be increased or decreased as
desired and the rear link L¹ connecting with the butting board may be adjusted
in either of the holes of the plate L², thereby varying the distance of the band
from the butt of the bundle as desired; as this adjustment throws the rear end of
the butting board nearer to or further from the needle arm and when acting upon
the butts, it pushes the grain longitudinally in accordance with said adjustment.
The relative longitudinal and lateral movements of the butting board are sub-
stantially the same no matter what adjustment may be given the rear link L'.
P represents the location of the binder.
The needle arm of the binder P is shown at P¹ and is of the usual curved form.
It is secured on cranked shaft S and is operated as follows:
P2 is a double faced cam which operates the various portions of the binder and
discharging device, the inner cam P³ thereof actuating the crank S by means of
pivotted arm S6 and link S7 to oscillate the needle arm while the outer cain P'
rocks the arm S which (through the mediation of link A' and crank A³) oscillates
the discharging lever A¹ which is provided with the loose hinged fingers a. These
fingers are free to fold up when passing forward over the bundle, but when moving
backward, catch and discharge the bundle from under the starting lever S³ on to
the ground at the rear of the machine on the rear of the driving wheel, turning
the bundle at right angles to the line of the rear of the machine. T is the cord.
box and t is the band tension device. P³ is a shaft connecting the cam P² with,
the gearing R R by which it receives its power of rotation from the drive shaft B.

page_text: The bevel gear R¹ is loose upon the shaft P³ and is intermittently connected there-
with through the agency of the clutch device shown in Figures 4 and 5. The
bevel gear R¹ is provided with an arm Po furnished on its end with a roller p*.
This roller revolves about the shaft P³ constantly while the machine is in motion.
and has no effect until the lever R2 is pulled aside and the pawl R³ having the
foot p is thrown down in front of the roller pe by spring p³ which is coiled about:
the fulcrum p of the said point which is journalled to the crank shaped hub
piece P secured to the shaft P³. p is a stop which prevents the shoe p³ being
thrown too far outwardly and the extension p' projects sufficiently far to catch
upon the lever R₁ to trip the pawl P. When the lever R2 is drawn aside, the
shoe p is thrown down and the next rotation of the wheel pe causes a rotation of
the said shaft by coming in contact with the foot pa and the rotation of said
shaft will continue until the lever R is allowed to move back into position so as to
catch upon the pawl and throw it out of contact with the roller. The lever R
may be operated by the driver through the agency of the link r and crank r²
secured to the foot board 2, or it may be actuated automatically by the starting
lever S. by means of the crank S¹ secured thereto and the rod S hinged to said
crank and having its free end bent so as to form a catch s¹ and a cam part &.
When the starting lever S³ is oscillated against the pressure of the coil springs S³, the
rod S is drawn backward pulling back the lever R' against the tension of the spring
and upon a continuation of this backward movement after the binder mechanism
has been thus put into operation, the cam portion 8 of the rod S rides upward
upon the supports 8³ raises the rod S until the lever R2 is again freed, allowing it.
to be quickly drawn back and act to throw the pawl P5 out of contact with the
roller p on the end of the arm Pe arresting the rotation of the shaft P³ and conse-
quently, the action of the binder. Any other form of intermittent clutch device
may be used if desired, but I prefer the construction shown. B is a clutch con-
necting the drive wheel A with the drive shaft B and is thrown in or out of action
by the spring lever B being held in either position by the said lever being placed
upon either side of the catch b¹. U is the tongue or pole and is hinged to the
frame E and also braced by the link U Pivotted to the frame E at U, is a
lever U³, its outer end being connected to the pole at u² and its inner end being'
provided with the rack U* having a guide slot us. Meshing with the rack U³, is
a pinion U which is secured to a shaft U passing through the slot u³ and
journalled in the bearings V V₁; the latter of which is provided with a notched
disc or wheel v. The end of the shaft U next to the driver's seat, is provided.
with a spring crank handle which catches in the notches of of the disc U and also
acts as the crank to rotate the pinion U when raising or lowering the inner end
of the lever U when tilting the platform to cut high or low.
While I prefer the construction shown as being found most suitable in practice
to accomplish the objects desired, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself
thereto as it may be modified in various ways without departing from my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated
to me by my foreign Correspondent I declare that what I claim is ;
;
First. In a harvesting machine the combination of the platform and the binding
devices with a pivotted vibrating collecting arm adapted to sweep across the plat-
form from the grain side when collecting the cut grain, a reciprocating arm carrying
a packer and adapted to receive the grain from the advancing collecting arm and
deliver it to the binder, the said packer being adapted to approach towards and
recede from the collecting arm, reel arms or beaters to deposit each gavel upon the
platform, when the said packer and collecting arm are farthest from each other, and
operating mechanism to actuate said parts whereby their movements .shall be
properly timed, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
j

page_text: Second. In a harvesting machine the combination of the platform and the
binding device, with a pivotted collecting arm adapted to sweep across the platform
from the grain side when collecting the cut grain, a reciprocating arm carrying a
packer adapted to approach the collecting arm and receive the grain therefrom, and
to retreat and deliver it to the binder, and a vibrating butting board arranged to
act upon the butts of the grain during its transit to the binder, substantially as and
for purpose specified.
Third. In a harvesting machine the combination of the platform and the binding.
devices, with a pivotted collecting arm, adapted to sweep across the platform from
the grain side while collecting the cut grain, a reciprocating arm carrying a packer
adapted to approach the collecting arm from the other side of the platform and
receive the grain therefrom as said collecting arm advances and then to retreat and
deliver it to the binder and a vibrating butting board arranged to act upon the
butts of the grain during transit to the binder, reel arms or beaters, to deposit each,
gavel upon the platform when the said packer and collecting arm are farthest from
each other, and operating mechanism to actuate said parts whereby their move..
ments shall be properly timed, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. In a harvesting and binding machine the platform and cutters in combi-
nation with the usual gathering reel or rakes to deliver the cut grain back upon
the platform, collecting devices adapted to sweep across the platform and collect
each gavel before the next succeeding one falls and deliver it to the binder and an
adjustable butting board hinged or pivotted to the machine by parallel bars aud
operated by means of crank and pitman connected to the board between the points
of connection of the bars with the board substantially as described, to straighten
the butts of the gavel during their passage to the binder and control the location of
the band around the bundle, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. In a harvesting machine the platform, the binder and suitable rake or
reel arms to deliver the cut grain on to the platform in combination with a
collecting device to pass across the platform and deliver the grain to one side
leaving the platform clear for the next gavel, and a packer adapted to reciprocate
between the binder and collecting device, said packer being provided with two sets
of prongs or fingers arranged in advance of each other, each set acting on different
gavels, whereby, when one set is receiving the gavel from the collecting device, the
other set is receiving the gavel previously acted upon by the first set, and whereby
both gavels are simultaneously advanced toward the binder, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
Sixth. A device for collecting cut grain and moving it over a platform of a
harvesting machine consisting of a vibrating arm to which one or more wheels
armed with fingers or teeth are journalled in combination with means to reciprocate
said arm and means to prevent the toothed wheels rotating in one direction but
allowing of their rotating in the other direction when passing the pivotted collecting
arm, whereby they roll over the collected grain without disturbing it and in moving
in the opposite direction they are locked against rotation and move cut grain with
.them, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Seventh. In a device for collecting cut grain and moving it over a platform, the
combination with a reciprocating collecting arm of a vibrating arm to. which one
or more wheels: armed with fingers or teeth, are journalled, in combination with
means to reciprocate said arm, and means to prevent the toothed wheels rotating
when the arm is moving towards the binder; springs or friction devices whereby
the rotation of the wheel is prevented, when the arm is moving in the other
direction or gathering the grain, and until the resistance offered by the collected
grain, is greater than that offered by the spring or friction devices, when the
wheels are allowed to rotate and pass over the gavel, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
Eighth. A packer for a harvester and binder consisting of a vibrating arm
having its free end provided with toothed wheels adapted to turn when passing

page_text: the pivotted collecting arm and having pawls to prevent said wheels rotating when
the arm is moved in the other direction, and projecting arms arranged in front
of the wheels and provided with gravitating pawls, whereby, as the packer carrying
arm is moved, the toothed wheels move the grain forward, and upon the next
movement in the same. direction, the pawls push the grain still further forward,
thereby keeping each gavel separate and causing an extended movement of the
grain with a limited throw of packer carrying arm, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
Ninth. A packer for a harvester and binder consisting of a vibrating arm
having its free end provided with toothed wheels adapted to turn when passing the
pivotted collecting arm and having pawls to prevent said pawls rotating when
the arm is moved in the other direction, and projecting arms arranged in front of
the wheels and provided with gravitating pawls, whereby, as the packer carrying
arm is moved, the wheels move the grain forward and upon the next movement in
the same direction, the pawls receive and push the grain still further forward,
thereby keeping each gavel separate and causing an extended movement of the
grain with a limited throw of packer in combination with a vibrating butting
board adapted to act upon the grain while in transit to the binder, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
Tenth. A packer consisting of the vibrating arm N having toothed wheels X
provided with ratchet wheels X' and spring pawls Y, in combination with the
arms W having gravitating pawls W₁, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Eleventh. The packer consisting of vibrating arm N provided with toothed
wheels X and arms W provided with gravitating pawls W¹, in combination with
the vibrating butting board L, hinged to links L, operating rod K' and crank K,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Twelfth. The packer consisting of vibrating arm N provided with toothed
wheels X and arms W armed with gravitating pawls W₁, in combination with the
vibrating butting board L hinged to links L¹, means to adjust the butting board
to or from the packer operating rod K¹ and crank K, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
Thirteenth. The packer consisting of vibrating arm N provided with toothed.
wheels X and arms W armed with gravitating pawls W¹, in combination with the
vibrating butting board L, binged to links L', means to adjust the butting board
to or from the packer, operating rod K' and crank K and means to vary the throw
of the said butting board, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fourteenth. The packer consisting of vibrating arm N provided with toothed
wheels X and arms W provided with pawls W, in combination with vibrating
butting board L hinged to links L', operating rod K¹ and crank K, the platform F,
vibrating collecting arm M provided with teeth m, gearing M2 N³, connecting the
packer carrying arm N and collecting arm M, crank O and link O¹ to vibrate said
collecting arm, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fifteenth. The packer consisting of toothed wheels X and the projecting arms W
provided with pawls W¹ forming two sets of teeth to act upon the grain in
combination with the binder or needle arm, and the guard G³ under which the
packer works and through which the needle arm descends, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
Sixteenth. The packer consisting of toothed wheels X and the projecting arms W
provided with pawls W₁ forming two sets of teeth to act upon the grain in
combination with the binder or needle arm, the vibrating collecting arm M adapted
to sweep the grain across the platform to the packer, and teeth Z on the plat-
form over which the grain is swept by the gathering arm, and by which it is
prevented from moving back while the packer carrying and gathering arms recedes
to gather and carry a fresh gavel to the binder, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.

page_text: Seventeenth. The combination of the collecting arm M, the packer carrying
arm N and the needle arm, and the devices for starting said needle arm, and
operating mechanism whereby the collecting, the packer carrying, and the binder
arms are caused to work in unison so that the needle arm shall descend between
the arms W W W while holding the complement of grain for one bundle and
before the first gavel for the next bundle is delivered to the binder, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.