IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES, WHEREIN THE STALKS OF WHEAT OR OTHER CEREALS ARE ARRANGED IN BUNDLES OR SHEAVES, AND TIED OR BOUND
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Melville Thomson Neale, of Southsea, in the County of
Hants, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES,
WHEREIN THE STALKS OF WHEAT OR OTHER CEREALS ARE ARRANGED IN
BUNDLES OR SHEAVES, AND TIED OR BOUND"
Sealed the 20th April 1877, and dated the 27th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Melville Thomson Neale at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th January 1877.
MELVILLE THOMSON NEALE, of Southsea, in the County of Hants " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES, WHEREIN THE STALKS OF WHEAT OR OTHER
CEREALS ARE ARRANGED IN BUNDLES OR SHEAVES, AND TIED OR BOUND"
This Invention relates to harvesting machines provided with apparatus for forming
the stalks into bound bundles or sheaves
My improvements have reference to,--
First The beating of the uncut stalks down towards the knives by means of
revolving beaters (which may be feathering), and carrying the cut stalks backwards
on the platform by means of a revolving and feathering rake (or 1akes), the common
centre about which the beaters and rake or rakes revolve radiating about another
centre in such a manner as to cause the lake or rakes to move back the stalks on
to an appropriately formed part of the platform into a suitable position for being
gathered up into a bundle or sheaf
Secondly. The gathering the stalks together for tying by means of a reciprocating
fork or rake operating in conjunction with guides so arranged as to collect and hold
the stalks in a compact form ready for tying
Thudly Means whereby when the stalks are so gathered and held a twine carier
or pair of spring pincers is or are caused to carry the binding material round the
collected stalks to bind the sheaf
Fourthly The simultaneous formation by a pan of loopers having rotary motion
of two loops in a part of the binding material intermediate between the reel and
the twine carrier oi spring pincers, the passing the end of the binding material

page_text: through these loops after it has been conveyed round the collected stalks, and the
completion of the knot by a tension device so actuated as to diaw the knot tight
When the spring pincers which have called the binding material round the stalks
have arrived at a suitable position a pan of reciprocating pincers darts through the
loops, seizes the end of the binding material, which has been carried round as afore-
The loopers are
said, and holds it fast, and the spring pincers release their hold
now immediately withdrawn, leaving the loops on the reciprocating pincers, a tube
or pusher then forces the loops off the reciprocating-pinceis over-the end- of the
binding material, and the tension device draws the knot tight When the twine
carrier takes hold of the binding material near the knot and commences its rotatory
movement for binding another set of stalks the binding material is severed by a
suitable knife or cutter, thus allowing the completed sheaf to fall to the ground,
a portion of the guides having moved inwardly to permit of its exit
Fifthly The arranging the tying apparatus on an adjustable frame or carriage,
BO as to provide for the efficient binding of stalks of various lengths
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Melville Thomson Neale in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
July 1877
MELVILLE THOMSON NEALE, late of Southsea, in the County of Hants, now of
Richmond, in the County of Sunley. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES,
WHEREIN THE STALKS OF WIIEAT OR OTHER CEREALS ARE ARRANGED IN BUNDLES
OR SHEAVES, AND TIFD OR BOUND
"
This Invention relates to hai vesting inachines provided with apparatus for forming
the stalks into bundles or sheaves
In the improved machine the uncut stalks having been beaten down towards the
knives by means of revolving beaters (which may be feathering) and cut, are moved
backwards on to an appropiately formed part of the platform into a suitable
position, and are then gathered together for tying by means of a reciprocating fork
or lake, operating in conjunction with guides, so al langed as to collect and hold the
stalks in a compact form ready for tying Whilst the stalks are so held the binding
material (hereinafter called the twine) is carried ound the collected stalks to bind
the sheaf, and by a pan of loopers having rotatory motion two loops are formed
simultaneously in a part of the twine intermediate between the reel and the twine
carrier pincers
When the twine canier pincers, which have carried the twine round the stalks,
have arrived at their normal position (by which I mean then position of rest) a
pan of reciprocating pincers daits through the said loopers and loops to seize that
end of the twine which has been carried round as aforesaid, then a tube (which I
call the sheath) closes the pincers so as to hold the twine fast, and the twine caller
pinceis release then hold. The loopers are now immediately withdrawn from the
twine, leaving the loops on the reciprocating pinceis sheath, the reciprocating
pince's icture to a certain distance within the sheath carrying the end of the twine
with them, a pusher then forces the loops off the sheath, over that part of the twine
whose end is still held by the reciprocating pincers, and a tension device diaws the
knot tight When the twine caurier takes hold of the twine near the knot and
commences its rotatory movement for binding another set of stalks the twine is
severed by a suitable knife or cutter The reciprocating fork having ietured, and
the guides having moved into a suitable position, the reciprocating pinceis now
retire a little further within the sheath open antomatically, and release the end of
the twine, allowing the completed sheaf to fall to the ground.
The tying apparatus is arranged on an adjustable frame or carriage to provide for
the officient binding of stalks of various lengths.

page_text: Fig 1 of the Drawings is a side olevation of a portion of a harvesting machine”
embodying my improvements
Fig 2 is an olevation of the front end of the machino,
Fig 3 is an elevation of the back end
Fig 4 is a plan
Fig 5 is a view alewing (detached from the main portion of the machine) portions
of the mechanism for holding the stalks, passing the twine around them, forming
the loops, and tying the knot The said mechanism is here shewn as it is seen by
an observer standing at the back of the machine In this view the cam shaft herein-
after described is in the definite position which agrees with the relative positions of
the various cams as they are drawn in Figs 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12
Fig 6 is a view shewing in cross section the can shaft, and in side elevation the
cam and sling, which operate the loopers, also the cam piece and other parts for
nctuating the twine carrier, pincers, and tail piece
Fig 7 is a view shewing in cross section the cam shaft, and in side elevation the
cam and tappet lover, which operate the spring tension device
Fig 8 is a view shewing in cious section the cam shaft, and in side elevation the
cam and tappet lever, which operate the pusher
Fig is a view shewing in cross section tho cam shaft, and in side elevation the
cam and tappet lever, which oporate the reciprocating pincers
Fig 10 is a view shewing in cross section the cam shaft, and in side elevation the
cam and tappet lever, which operate the sheath of the reciprocating pincois
Fig 11 is a view shewing in cross section the cam shaft, and in side elevation
the cams and tappet lever, which operate the reciprocating fork or take, whereby the
stalks are gathered into the guides and me there held whilst being bound
Fig 12 is a view shewing in cross section the cam shaft, and in side elevation
the cam and the cam sling, which operate the guides wherein the stalks are held
whilst being bound
It will be observed that Figs 6 to 12 inclusive are drawn to a laiger scale (being
a quarter of the full size) than the preceding Figs, and that in all these Figs (e.,
Figs 6 to 12) the cam shaft is in one and the same position, which position agrees
with the position in which that shaft is shewn in Fig 5, thus Figs 6 to 12 indicate
the relative positions of the several cams on then common shaft
Fig 13 is a plan shewing half size the reciprocating pincers, then sheath the
pusher, and other parts
In the machine the part a (Fig 13) connects directly on to the part al of Fig 9
The part b (Fig 13) connects directly on to the part of Fig 10 The part c (Fig 13)
connects directly on to the part cl of Fig S
Fig 14 is a side elevation, and Fig 15 is a plan of the reciprocating pincers
without their sheath The part a (Figs 14 and 15) connects directly on to the
part al of Fig 9
Fig 16 is a sectional plan of the sheath of the reciprocating pincers, shewing at d
the slot through which the projecting pait a of the pincers passes
Fig 17 is an end view of the reciprocating pinceis, then sheath, and other parts
forming a guide for the sheath, and this view also shews the connection of the part a
of the pincers a² of the tappet lever that is shewn in Fig 9
Fig 18 is a half size side elevation, partly in section, of the twine cartıcı apparatus,
herein-after referred to as the "twine carrier
"
Fig 1S is a view at night angles to Fig 18, or in other words, shewing the parts
as seen from behind the machine
Fig 19 is a detached plan view, half size, shewing the under side of the twine-
carriei pincers
Fig 20 is an edge view of the knife holder and of the knife which severs the
twine after the sheaf has been bound and the twine has been again seized by the
twine-carrier pincers
Fig 21 is a side view of the knife holle and knife The knife holder slides in

page_text: the groove e (Fig 19), and is fixed in the sleeve ƒ (Fig 18), as shewn in dotted
lines at small
Figs 22 to 29 inclusive illustrate the process of forming the two loops simultane-
ously by means of the two loopers
Figs 22, 24, 26, and 28 are bottom views, each shewing the lower extremities of
the two loopers Figs 23, 25, 27, and 29 are coresponding side views
It will be observed that in the Drawings my Invention is shewn applied to a
reaping machine of well known construction, to this reaping machine, apart from
my improvements herein-after described, I lay no claim, and I would reinark that I
have shewn only so much of this well known machine as is needful to illustrate the
manner of carrying my Invention into practical effect The machine in question
is constructed with a main ground or diving wheel 1, inside of which is a circular
rack 2 (Fig 1), which drives a pinion 3. This pinion is placed loosely on a shaft 4,
round which is coiled a spiral sping At the further end of the pinion 3, and inside
one side of it, is a double toothed clutch fork, which, when the pinion 3 is permitted to
actuate a pin fixed at the end of the shaft 4, turns and works the said shaft in such
a manner as to give reciprocatory motion to the reaper knife, as herein-after
described, but when the machine is backed, the pinion 3 does not actuate the said
pin, hut passes over it in the manner of a ratchet
At the outer end of the shaft 4 are two bevel wheels 5 for driving another shaft
6, at the end of which 18 a disc 7 diving a connecting rod 8, which gives the
reciprocating action to the reaper knife
There is also an indirect handle action on the shaft 4, by means of which the
pinion 3 is withdrawn, not quite out of the rack 2, but away from the pin that is
hxed at the end of the shaft 4, which action when used, although it causes the
pinion 3 to 1otate loosely on the shaft 4, prevents it from actuating that shaft, and
thus throws the knife action out of gear
According to my Invention, the rack 2 also drives a pinion 9, which is placed on
a shaft 10, and is provided with a double-toothed clutch arrangement similar to that
of the pinion 3, so that when the pinion 9 is backed or withdrawn, it does not
actuate the shaft 10, but when the pinion 9 is in gear with the pin on that shaft, it
does actuate the shaft 10
The pinion 9 has a cucular groove in it into which fits a clutch fork 11, which is
attached to a spring-stop level and quadrant 12, which, when the lever is pulled
forward, withdiaws the pinion from and prevents its actuating the pin on the shatt
10 When the lever 12 is pushed hoine, the pinion 9 is moved into gear with the
pin on the shaft 10 By means of this lever arrangement, the whole of the working
parts of the machine, with the exception of the reaper knife, can be thrown in or
out of gear
The shaft 10 per forms two functions, that is to say, it drives the rake or brush
13 and the beaters 14, 15, 16, heiein-after described, and it also dives a long shaft
17, herein called the cam shaft, which shaft actuates the whole of the sheaf-binding
apparatus For the first of these purposes, a pair of bevel wheels 18 19 provided,
which dives another shaft 19, which shaft, by means of another pan of bevel
wheels 20 at its top, drives a horizontal shaft 21 At the inner or platform end of
the shaft 21 is carried a square shaft 22, to which are attached the rake and beaters
13, 14, 15, 16 The shaft 21 is connected with the shaft 22 by the universal joint
23, and dives the beater and take aims 24 The beaters are composed of narrow
flat boards or of rods, and are for the purpose of bearing down the heads of the corn
towards the knife in the usual manner The 1ake 13 is jointed at 30 to one of the
four pans of arms 24, and may be constructed of tines of wood, or tines of bass (as
a brush), or of other materials, as will be readily understood
At the extremity of the shaft 21, but independent thereof, is an eccentric 25, to
the strap 26 of this eccentric is attached one end of a rod 27, whose other end is
Jointed at 29 to an arm 28 fixed to the brush 13 By these means, the brush 13 is
caused to retain a nearly vertical position whilst passing over the first put 31 of

page_text: the platform, on which the wheat or stalks first fall after being cut by the reaper
knife. This part 31 of the platform is attached to the knife bai 32 in which the
eaper knife moves
One end of the square shaft 22 is shewn supported by a standard 33, having in
it a hole in which rovolvos the axis of the square shaft, but the shaft or axis of the
brush and beater arms may be supported entirely from that side of the machine at
which the tying and binding apparatus is situated, thus dispensing with tho
standard 33
The platform is formed in two parts connected together, the first part 31 is curved
longitudinally to suit the curve described by the brush 13, and is also curved
transversely for the purpose of gradually bringing the stalks together in a compact
mass as they approach the centre of the compound platform
The second part 34 of the platform is somewhat lower than the first part 31, and
forms an arc of a cucle at right angles to that described by the beater and rake
arms 24 The part 34 is grooved or corrugated for the purpose herein-after
described
At the rear end of the part 31 of the platform is a moveable screen 35 which is
capable of being moved in or out as may be required, according to the length of
stalk to be bound, and is for the purpose of preventing the stalks from being shot
over too far by the brush 13
The binding and tying apparatus, with its fiamework, is supported by a horizontal
frame or bed 36 The portion 36* of this bed 36 is planed on its face and edges to
receive the upright framework 37, which canes the binding and tying apparatus
The upught part 37 is adjustable along the bed 36 as required, for the purpose of
tying different lengths of stalks, and to this end is actuated by a hand-wheel nut
39 caned on the horizontal fiame or bed 36, and fiee to rotate, so as to move
endwise the screw 38, one end of which is fastened to the frame 37
The shaft 10, by means of a pinion 40, operates a spur wheel 41, which revolves
on a stud fixed to the horizontal frame 36 With the wheel 41 is cast a bevel
pinion 42, which gears into the bevel wheel 43, and thereby dives the shaft 17
This shaft is supported by bearings 44 carried by the frame 36
On the shaft 17 is fixed a cog wheel 45, which actuates two intermediate cog
wheels 46, 47, the boss of the cog wheel 47 carries a quadrant 48 (revolving on
the same axis as the wheel 47), which quadrant, at certain intervals, gears into and
works a pinion 49 attached to the shaft 50, on which shaft is fixed the arm 51 of
the twine cartier, which is thus caused to make one complete revolution each time
the quadiant passes the pinion 49, the number of teeth on the quadrant being the
same as the number on the pinion The arm 51 is made in two parts scrowed
together, the screw holes 51 are alike and equidistant, and the screws 51b are
interchangeable, so as to permit of the twine-cainer pincers being moved to and
fixed into then proper position to agree with the adjustment of the frame 37 by
the screw 38 and wheel 39
The arm 51 carries at its extreme end a tube 52, inside which are the twine-
carrier pincers 53 and then sleeve ƒ The pincers 53 are kept out in their normal
position (Fig 18) by a spiral spring 54 arranged inside the tube 52, as shewn in
Fig 18
Over the pincers 53, and inside the tube 52, passes the sleeve of carrying the
knite holder 55, and its small knife 56, which slide backwards and forwards in a
recess e cut into and along the under side of the stem of the pincers 53, and along
then jaws. Afhxed to the outer tube 52 are two supports which carry a rod or
"tail piece" 57, which slides in those supports, and is kept in its outward position
by a spring 58
"
Attached to the upright sliding frame 37 is a bracket 59, which is so placed in
regard to the cams that as the frame 37 is moved, the cams slide along the shaft 17
and retain then proper relative positions
On the cam shaft 17 a number of cams (see Figs 6 to 12 inclusive) are placed
These cams give the vanicus motions required for the binding and tying operations.

page_text: These cans are kept together, and prevented from turning independently of the
shaft 17, by a long feather key common to the whole of the cams, and secured at
its respective ends to the corresponding end camus The feather key fits into a
groove in the shaft 17 Hence the cams are capable of being moved together
along the shaft 17 (retaining their relative positions to one another and to the fiame
37) when the upright frame is moved for the purpose of adapting the apparatus to
any special length of stalk to be tied 60, 61, 19 the loop-lifter device The
projecting part-61; once during each revolution-of-the shaft-17, stukes a-pro-
Jection 62 of a level 66, thereby moving that lever to one side, and so actuating a
connecting 1od 64, which is jointed to the end of a small lever 65 fixed on a spindle
66 which moves the loop lifter 67
A spiral sping attached to the lever 63 and to the pusher guide 104 keeps the
loop lifter 67 noimally in a downward position, in which it remains until the pio-
Jection or tappet piece 61 causes it to use, when the said projection oi tappet piece
has passed, the spring causes the level 63 and its attachments to return to their
noi mal positions 68 is a tappet fixed on the side of a cam 69 herein-after
described The tappet 68 once during each revolution of the shaft 17 strikes and
moves to one side a lever 70, thereby causing that lover to proportionately move
another lever 71 which carries two projections or tappets 72, 73 The tappet 73
engages in a niche 74 m the sleeve ƒ (Fig 18) of the twine carrier pincers 53
The tappet 72 engages in a similar niche in the tail piece 57, so that when
the tappet 68 is moving the levers 70, 71, the tappets 72, 73, on the lever 71
are causing the twine carrier pincers 53 and the tail piece 57 to move back-
wards, or withdraw both in the same direction, and when the tappet 68 releases the
levers 70, 71, a spring 58* causes the said levers 70, 71, the twine carrier pincers 53,
the sleevc f, and the tail piece 57, to smartly return
It should here be obseived that the formation of the twine carrier pincer tube 52
1s such as to permit of the following three actions during onc stroke, that is to say,
one backward movement of the levers 70, 71, causes the sleeve f to withdraw and
open the pincers 53, and simultaneously to draw back the knife holder 55 and
knife 56, and also by the pressue of the back of the sleeve on the end of the
pincer bai 53* to carry bodily back the pincers themselves, thus getting them out
of the way at the moment requned
The levers 70, 71, are centied in the upright or moveable frame 37
The am 51
canes the tail piece, pincers, sleeve, and othci parts away from the lever 71 and
1ound the collected stalks at the proper tune, meanwhile leaving the said level in
its normal position
The cam 69 on the shaft 17 is a double cam (see Fig 1), and is formed as shewn
Fig 6, so that during each revolution of the shaft 17 the said cam gives one
upward and one downward motion to a sling 76, reciprocating in a vertical plane
and kept in such plane by a suitable guide 77 The sling 76 is connected by a
1od 78 to a toothed quadiant 79 which gears into a rack 80 on the side of a
frame 81 This frame (81) canes the two loopuis 82, 83, which are geared togetlier
by means of a pan of cog wheels 84 These cog wheels are alike
Thus the up-
waid and downward movement of the sling 76 causes the loopers 82, 83, and then
frame 81 to also make an upward and a downward movement The looper 82 19
formed with a slot 85 passing three-quarters 1ound the looper (see Fig 5), in this
slot works a pin 86 fixed to the fianie 37, and thus as the loopers descend together
the looper 82 is rotated to the left, and being geared as described with the other
loopers 83, the latter is simultaneously rotated to the night The two loopers having
been thus caused to simultaneously make three-quarters of a complete rotation the
pin 86 enteis one or other of the straight parts 87, 88, of the slot in the looper 82
By thus arrangement the looper 82, 83, are caused during then downward move-
ment to fall fauly across the twine, as shewn in Figs 22 and 23, before commencing
then notations As they 1otate they successively assume the respective positions
shewn in Figs 24 and 25, in Figs 26 and 27, and in Figs 28 and 29 Having
anved at the relative positions shewn in Figs. 28 and 29 the two loopers now

page_text: descend with the loops on them until they arrive diectly opposite to the iocipro-
cating pincers 89 (Fig 5c) The loop lifter 67 then seizes the twine as shewn in
Figs 28 and 29, and raises it to enable the reciprocating pincers to pass freely
between the two loops of twine as herem-after described
Fig 54, Sheet 6, shews to an enlarged scale (about full size) the lower portion of the
loopers with the two loops formed thereon, the loop lifter, the fore ends of the re-
ciprocating pincers, then sheath, and the pusher, in the positions they respectively
occupy immediately before the loopers commence to use and leave the loops on the
pincer sheath
The whole of the moveable flaming 81 which carries the loopers 82, 83, moves
up and down on a guide har 90 placed in a vertical position 91 is a cam which
once during each rotation of the shaft 17 forces outward a lever 92 (whose fulcium
is at 93), and keeps the said lever in such outward position during the greater part
of the revolution of the cam shaft 17 The object of thus retaining the levei 92
outward is to keep the spring tension herem-after described clear of the loopers
whilst the latter are descending 94 is a spring whereby the lover 92 is drawn
towards its normal or inward position When released by the cain 91 the lever 92
returns rapidly towards the frame 37 to the spring lover 92 is connected by means
of a slot joint 95, a slide 96 sliding in suitable guides fixed on the guide bar 90 At
the end of the slide 96 are carried a pulley 97 and a roller 98, betwen which the
twine passes on its way to the twine carrier pincers 53 99 is a cam also aanged
motion for the
The lever 100
on and actuated by the shaft 17 This cam gives to a lever 100
most part very similar to that given by the cam 91 to the lever 92
whose fulcrum is at 101, is at el connected, as already described, to a rod 102 (sec
Fig 13) This 1od is jointed to the sliding pusher 103, which slides on to the guide
bat 104 fixed to the upright fiaining 37 The lever 100 is connected by a spring to
the frame 37 in the same way as the level 92 is connected to that frame by the
spring 94
The cam 99 allows the spring of the lever 100 to impart two inward motions of
different degices to the said lever 100, and during more than half the revolution of
the cam shaft 17 the said cam keeps the said level and the pushet 103 in then out-
ward positions
105 18 another cam on the shaft 17 This cam (clearly shewn in Fig 9) actuates
a lever 10G on the same fulcrum as the lever 100 To the part a' of the lever 106
is attached, as aheady explained, the part a of the reciprocating pincers 89 The
lever 100 is connected to the frame 37 by a spring in the same way as are the
level 92 and 100 The spring (not shewn) constantly draws the lever 100 towards
the frame 37 The cam 105 allows the lever 106 during each revolution of thie
shaft 17 to move rapidly inwand once and forces it outward to nearly its extreme
position, retaining it there during about one seventh of the shaft's revolution; then
the cam forces the lever out to its fullest extent, in which position it remains during
more than one-half the revolution of the shaft 17 During this last mentioned
period the reciprocating pincers 89 are confined within then sheath 107.
108 is another cam on the same shaft 17, and actuates a lever 100 connected, like
the lever 92, by a spring to the frame 37 To the part of this lever is jointed the
part b of the link 110 (Fig 13) The link 110 is connected to a stud piece 111
which is attached to the pincer sheath 107. The cam 108 allows the lever 109
once during each revolution of the shaft 17 to fly to its innermost position, where it
remains during rather more than one-fourth the revolution of the said shaft, then
the lever is forced to its most outward position, where it remains during rather less
than one-half the revolution of the shaft 17
For this purpose
It is necessary that the lever 109 after having assumed its innermost position
should be retained there until it is forced out by the cam 108
a pin 112 is placed on the side of the tappet of the lever as shewn in Fig 10, which
pin takes into a groove 113 in the face of the cam 108
I will now describe the construction of the pincers S9, then sheath 107, and the
pusher 103, which are actuated respectively by the cams 105, 108, and 99, as

page_text: ali cady explained The pincers 89 consist of a cylindrical stem piece 89ª, at one
end of which is formed a lug a for the purpose herein-before refered to To tho
other end of the stem piece are jointed the jaws 89b in such a manner that by their
spring 89 they can be moved apart to the extent shewn in Fig 15. The outer side
of each jaw is recessed and fitted with a spring 89d as shewn These springs operate
in connection with the sheath 107 as herein-after described
The sheath 107 is a thin steel tube formed with a stud piece 111 as described,
and with a slot d in its under side, in which slot the lug a of the pincers travels
Each side of the sheath is slotted at 107" to receive the springs 89% of the pinceis 89
so as to allow the pincers to open and thus release the twine when the pincois are
diawn back to the fullest extent The sheath works in the pusher 103, which
acts as a guide, and the extremity of the stud piece 111 works in a slotted guide 115
connected to the frame 37 The pusher 103 works on the guide bar 104 as already
explained
116 and 117 are two cams carrying between them a duplex lever 118 with
tappets 119 and 120 shewn more particularly in Fig 11 These cams are on the
shaft 17 The lever 118 (whose fulcrum is at 118*) is connected by a compound
connecting rod 121 to the reciprocating fork or cross lake 122, and moves it once
backwards and once forwards along the grooves of corrugations of the second
pait 34 of the platform during each revolution of the shaft 17 The period of rest
of the fork in its inward position is rather longer than the time occupied by the
shaft 17 in making half a revolution, thus giving time for the binding of the sheaf.
The fork 122 18 sumounted by a counterbalancing weight 123
On the connecting rod 121 is a short spiral spring 124, which allows the said rod
to lengthen telescopically, that is to say, that when any undue strain comes upon
the rod owing to resistance offered to the rake by a large sized sheaf, the sping
will be compressed and will allow the cams to complete then evolution
125 is another cam also placed on the shaft 17, this cam gives a to-and-fio or
backward-and-forward motion to a sling 120, which passes round the boss of the
cam, and at one end is jointed to a lever 127 This lever is firmly fixed to a small
shaft 128, to which are attached the curved guides 129, 130
These guides rise and fall once during each revolution of the shaft 17, that is to
say, the weight of the guides keeps the tappet 131 always against the edge of the
cam 125, so that owing to the form of the cam the guides remain in their lowest
position during about one-sixth of the revolution of the shaft 17, at which tune
they drop the sheaf and during fully two-thirds of the revolution of the shaft they
are kept in then highest position to admit of the stalks being forced into them by
the fork 122, and held there whilst being bound
The recl of twine or string 132 is called on the top of the upright framing 37,
and one or both of its axes is provided with a spring bearing to exert the necessary
amount of friction to prevent the reel unwinding the twine too freely
The spring bearings may be made adjustable, the twine is led down from the
reel through a guide 133 to a pulley 134 at the end of a slotted arm 135, which
aim is jointed to a fixed centre on the guide bar 90 of the frame 81 A pin 136 on
the looper frame S1 takes into the slot of the arm 135, and causes the said arm to
vibrate as the looper frame moves The object of the aim 135 is to slacken the
twine whilst the loops are being formed From the pulley 134 the twine pursues
the course illustrated more clearly in Fig 5c, that is to say, it is led down to a
holding device 137, this holding device is shewn (about full size) in Figs 5a and 5b
It is composed of two flat discs h and 2, formed with rounded edges The disc his fixed
on to an axis The disc is loose on the said axis, and is pressed towards the disc h
by a nut, having two projections n, o, at 11ght angles to each other This nut has
a quick thread fitted to a screw on the axis k This axis is fixed by a nut m to
a bracket 140, attached to the frame 37 The twine runs ficely between the discs
h, v, until the fiame 81 has reached the bottom of its stroke, whereupon a stinker
138, attached to the said frame, strikes the piu 139 of the projection n of the nut 4,
and by turning it on the screw axis & causes the disc to press the twine against

page_text: the disc h, thus holding the twine between the two discs; when the twine is to be
released by the holding device a striker 141 affixed to the rake lever 118 strikes
another pin on the arm o, and returns the nut l, allowing the disc 2 to resume its
previous position From the holding device the twine passes over a pulley 142
5 This pulley, in order to be capable of descending independently of the fiame 81, is
carried by the lower end of a rod working in a tube 143, attached to the looper
frame 81 This 10d is enlarged at its upper end, and below the enlargement is sur-
rounded by a long spal spring in compression. This spring keeps the rod
normally within the tubo The object of this arrangement is to prevent the
Obicaking of the twine through any undue strain
From the pulley 102 the twine passes down to and under a pulley 144 (fixed on
the guide bar 90), thence over the pulley 97 and under the roller 98 to the twine
carrier pincers 53 145 is the axis of the rake 122, this axis is supported and
stayed by tie rods 148, as shewn 146 is a ratchet plate; and 147 a pawl ar-
ranged at the front end of the twine carrier shaft to enable the twine carrier arm
to rest definitely in its norinal position after the quadrant 48 has left the pinion 49.
OPERATION OF THE MACHINE
The stalks on being cut by the reaper knife fall on the part 31 of the platform,
and are swept at regular intervals by the rake or brush 13 on to the second part
34 of the platform, where they fall compactly across the grooves or corrugations,
the object of which is to keep the stalks well above the lower extremities of tho
fork teeth, so that the said teeth in the collecting operation shall not miss any of
the stalks The reciprocating fork or cross lake 122 sweeps the stalks up into the
guides 129, 130 which have previously risen to the position shewn dotted in Fig 3
to receive the stalks, and wherein they are compressed into the form of a sheaf The
twine carrier aim 31 then immediately revolves in the direction of the arrow, Fig 3,
around the collected stalks, cariying the twine between its pincers 53. As the arm
51 goes round the stalks the twine (intermediate between the icel 132 and the
pincers 53) falls over the end of the tail piece 57, and just before the twine carrier
pincers finish their circular course the loopers 82, 83, descend together and pass
over that part of the twine in which the loops have to be formed, as shewn in
Figs 22 and 23, immediately afterwards, and when the twine carrier pincers have
stopped, the loopers whilst still descending revolve sufficiently to form the two loops
as described, with reference to Figs 24 to 29 inclusive, as the loopers descend, and
whilst the loops are being formed, the loop lifter 67 rises and lifts a portion of the
twine between the loopers, as shewn in Figs 28 and 29, until on the loopers
arriving at the bottom of their stroke (with the loops still on them) the reciprocating
pincers 89 dart forward and pass between the prongs of the loopers and through
the loops (Figs 5d, 28, and 29), then these pincers open automatically, and their jaws
pass respectively over opposite sides of the twine which has been carried round by
the twine carrier pincers 53, and which part of the twine, by being carried over the
point of the tail piece 57, has now assumed a nearly vertical position so as to be
easily seized by the reciprocating pincers 89 when they close They are shewn
closed in Figs 5d, 28 and 29
Immediately after the reciprocating pincers 89 have darted forward, as described,
their sheath 107 moves over them and causes them to close, and in closing the
pincers grip the aforesaid presented end of the twine. At this moment the twine
carrier pincers 53 let go their hold and recede, carrying with them the tail piece 57,
which thus gets out of the way of the twine. Simultaneously the loopers 82, 83,
rise and leave their loops on the sheath 107, and the reciprocating pincers 89 recede
into the sheath, carrying the end of the twine with them, the pusher 103 now darts
forward a short distance over the sheath 107, pushing the loops with it, the position
at this moment of the loops, the pincers, then sheath, and the pusher are shewn
in Fig 13 During the last-mentioned operation of the pusher the reciprocating
pincers 89 are still receding, and are so drawing the twine tightly around the
stalks. When a certain amount of tension has been attained the pusher 103 by a

page_text: further movement pushes the loops off the sheath 107 on to the twine whose end
is still held by the reciprocating pincers 89, and the spring tension device acting
almost simultaneously with the pusher 103, at the same instant as the loops are
pushed off the sheath, excits a tightening action which draws the loops into a tight
knot, Fig 13b shows the position of the reciprocating pincers and other parts at
this moment As the spring tension device comics for ward to a point nnmediately,
above the pusher 103 the portion of the twine extending from the knob (now at or
near the extremity of the pusher) to the spring tension device 18 m a direct vertical
At this
line, or nearly so, and is opposite the jaws of the twine carier pincers 53
moment the said pincers and their knife 56 nove smartly for ward immediately
below the spring tension roller 98, thus the twine is simultaneously severed by the
knife and seized by the pincers The lake 122 now recedes and the guides 129, 130,
drop The reciprocating pincers are now moved back in their sheath until the
springs 80d enter the slots 107, whereupon the pincers open and release the end of
the twine and the tied sheaf falls to the ground at the side out of the course of the
next traveise of the machine
It is to be remarked that the genuing is so proportioned as that during each
forward notation of the cam shaft 17 the shaft 21 makes one complete rotation,
the wheel 47 and the quadrant 48 make one rotation, and the twine carrier shaft
makes one complete rotation, the movement of the latter being intermittent
I would remark that the Drawings shew the machine as I have constructed it,
but it will be evident that modifications in detail may be made, as for instance,
that two or more of the cams may be cast or mado in one piece, that face cums
may be substituted for some of the spring levers and edge cams for giving some of
the motions, and that some of the parts, such as brackets, shewn as being made
separate and fixed to the frames, may be formed in one therewith, also that in lieu
of the reel 132 with spung bearing or bearings a box containing a ball of twine
may be substituted
Having described the nature of my Invention and the mode of carrying the same
into practical effect, I would remark, that in the Specification of a former Patent
granted to me the 3rd August, 1876, No 3102, there is described apparatus for
carrying binding material round a collection of stalks, forming two loops in a
portion of the binding material, intermediate between the end that has been cari ied
iound the collection of stalks and the reel, and passing through the said loops the
end of the binding material that has been caried round the stalks It is a dis-
tinctive feature of my present Invention that the two loops are formed simul-
taneously, I desue also to have it understood that save and except as heroin-after
mentioned, I do not intend to claim any of the mechanical parts of the apparatus
herein-before shewn and described when taken separately and apart from the
combination or application thereof in manner and for the purposes herein described,
but what I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as socured to me
by the Letters Patent first herein-before in part recited 15,-
1 The use in combination with the foreward part 31 of the platform and
apparatus for moving the stalks over it of the rearward part 34 of the platform of
the curved form described, on to which the stalks are moved into position for being
gathered up into a bundle or sheaf, as above set forth
2 The combination with the curved rearward part 34 of the platform of the
reciprocating fork and guides operating as descubed, whereby the cut stalks that
have been moved on to the said part 3 of the platform are gathered together, are
held whilst they are bound, and are subsequently delivered
3 The combination of parts constituting the improved apparatus herein-before
referred to as the "twine carrier," constructed, arranged, and operating as describod,
whereby the twine or other binding material is passed around the .collected stalks
and is after waids cut, as explained
4. The method of forming two loops in the twine or binding material, simul-
taneously as described
5. The uso, in combination with the apparatus for simultaneously forming two

page_text: loops, and apparatus whereby the end of the twine on binding material is passed
through the said loops, of the improved tension device constructed, arranged, and
operating as described, whereby the formation of the knot is completed and the end
of the twine or binding material is presented to the twine carriei pincers, as and
for the purpose specified.
6 The combination of parts constituting the improved harvesting machine, con-
stiucted, arranged, and operating as shewn in and described with reference to the
accompanying Diawings
In witness whereof, I, the said Melville Thomson Neale, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Loid
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
MEI.VILLE T NEALE (LS.)