Year: 1885

page_text: I ADAM CARLISLE BAMLETT of Thirsk in the County of York Agricultural
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
.
This invention has for its object improvements in harvesting machines.
To so reduce the width of sheaf binding reapers, that they shall pass readily
through ordinary farm gateways I mount the road wheel in a rectangular frame
and in its rear and parallel with its axis I provide an intermediate shaft driven by
either pitch chain, or tooth gearing and to keep the two shafts the proper distance
apart I use radius bars, on one or both sides of the road wheel; they are placed
around the main axle at one end and around the bearings of the intermediate shaft
at the other end and in one of them is fixed a shield for preventing dirt falling
into the gearing.
The main axle has a pinion fixed on both ends gearing into curved racks fixed
to the sides of the rectangular frame for the purpose of raising or lowering the
machine.
The axle bas also a worm wheel fixed on it which gears into a worm mounted
in bearings on one of the radius bars furnished with a handle by which means the
main axle can be made to traverse up and down the curved racks.
On the intermediate shaft I place 1st a small pitch chain pulley for driving the
reel-and 2nd a bevil wheel which gears into a pinion on a spindle provided at its
outer end with a crank and pitch chain pulley for driving the mechanism for
cutting and conveying the crop to the binding table and for binding it into
sheaves.
The knife is driven through a rocking lever its front end projecting through a
slot in the finger bar to the knife eye, to prevent this slot becoming choked up
I form a shield over it which slopes' down to the knife.
The corn when cut, is conveyed to the elevators by a travelling apron in the
usual manner. The elevators consist as usual of a pair of travelling aprons but
they are set in a vertical or nearly vertical position and at the upper end of these
elevators are mounted rotary packers which receive the crop direct from the
elevators and pack it against the starting prong which starts the binding
mechanism when sufficient corn to form a sheaf has been packed, in which the
outer elevator is pushed outwards at its upper end by a lever acted on by a cam
on the main binder spindle. This same lever also partially rotates the cams that
rn

page_text: control the packers thus suspending their packing action during the operation of
binding the sheaf. This movement of the elevator suspends the elevation of the
grain during the operation of binding the sheaf; the elevator is returned to its
normal position by springs acting on its ends. sometimes make the width
between the two elevating aprons greater at the upper end that at the lower so as
to straighten the crop before advancing to the packers.
The packing and binding mechanism is carried in a frame which is mounted
immediately over the road wheel on pivotted radial footed legs so that it can be
readily moved backwards or forwards so that the binding twine may be placed
round the sheaf in the proper place whether the corn be long or short. This is
accomplished by a lever mounted on the framing of the machine and attached to
the binder frame. I mount the driver's seat in a novel position viz in the front of
the machine outrigged on a pivotted or sliding bar so that it may readily be
brought inwards for going through gates.
To simplify and render more effective the binding mechanism I actuate the
rotary string retainer by toothed gearing; one wheel mounted on the retainers axis,
gearing into another wheel on a spindle mounted in bearings at right angles to the
axis of the string retainer. On this spindle I mount a star wheel-having six
points corresponding to the six notches in the string retainer. I fix an arm
provided with a friction roller and a screw adjustment on the main binder spindle.
At every revolution it brings the friction roller into contact with the star wheel
causing it and the string retainer to partially rotate sufficient to hold the string.
The stationary part of the string retainer I make from sheet steel bent into a
U shape so that it possesses sufficient elasticity to enable me to dispense with the.
separate spring now used. I drive the knotter spindle through skew bevil
gearing this enables me to mount it in a better position for forming the knot.
Dated this 11th day of Sontombar 188k

page_text: I, ADAM CARLISLE BAMLETT of Thirsk in the County of York, Agricultural
Engineer 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:-
'
This invention has for its object improvements in harvesting machines.
To so reduce the width of sheaf binding reapers that they shall pass readily
through ordinary farm gateways I mount the road wheel in a rectangular frame and
in its rear and parallel with its axis I provide an intermediate shaft driven by either
pitch chain or tooth gearing and to keep the two shafts the proper distance apart
I use radius bars, on one or both sides of the road wheel; they are placed around
the main axle at one end and around the bearings of the intermediate shaft at the
other end and in one of them is fixed a shield for preventing dirt falling into the
gearing..
The main axle has a pinion fixed on both ends gearing into curved racks fixed
to the sides of the rectangular frame for the purpose of raising or lowering the
machine.
The axle has also a worm wheel fixed on it which gears into a worm mounted
in bearings on one of the radius bars furnished with a handle by which means the
main axle can be made to traverse up and down the curve racks.
On the intermediate shaft I place 1st a small pitch chain pulley for driving the
reel and 2nd a bevil wheel which gears into a pinion on a spindle provided at its
outer end with a crank and pitch chain pulley for driving the mechanism for
cutting and conveying the crop to the binding table and for binding it into
sheaves.
The knife is driven through a rocking lever its front end projecting through a
slot in the finger bar to the knife eye, to prevent this slot becoming clioked up
I form a shield over it which slopes down to the knife.
The corn when cut, is conveyed to the elevators by a travelling apron in the
usual manner. The elevators consist as usual of a pair of travelling aprons but
they are set in a vertical or nearly vertical position and at the upper end of these
elevators are mounted rotary packers which receive the crop direct from the
elevators and pack it against the starting prong which starts the binding mechanism
when sufficient corn to form a sheaf has been packed in; then the outer elevator
is pushed outwards at its upper end by a lever acted on by a cam on the main
binder spindle. This same lever also partially rotates the cams that control the
packers thus suspending their packing action during the operation of binding the
sheaf. This movement of the elevator suspends the elevation of the grain during
the operation of binding the sheaf; the elevator is returned to its normal position
by springs acting on its ends. I sometimes make the width between the two

page_text: elevating aprons greater at the upper end than at the lower so as to straighten one
crop before advancing to the packers.
The packing and binding mechanism is carried in a frame which is mounted
immediately over the road wheel on pivotted radial footed legs so that it can be
readily moved backwards or forwards so that the binding twine may be placed
round the sheaf in the proper place whether the corn be long or short. This is
accomplished by a lever mounted on the framing of the machine and attached to
the binder frame.
To simplify and render more effective the binding mechanism I actuate the
rotary string retainer by toothed gearing, one wheel mounted on the retainers
axis, gearing into another wheel on a spindle mounted in bearings at right angles
to the axis of the string retainer. On this spindle I mount a star-wheel having
six points corresponding to the six notches in the string retainer. I fix an arm or
wheel provided with a friction roller on the main binder spindle. At every
revolution it brings the friction roller into contact with the star wheel causing it
and the string retainer to partially rotate sufficient to hold the string. The
stationary part of the string retainer I make from sheet steel, bent into a U shape
so that it possesses sufficient elasticity to enable me to dispense with the separate
spring now used-I drive the knotter spindle through skew bevil gearing-this
enables me to mount it in a better position for forming the knot.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings herounto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing parts of a sheaf binding reaper or harvesting
machine constructed in accordance with my invention.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a vertical section through the finger bar and shows one of the fingers,
the knife and other parts in connection therewith.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the knotter known as the Appleby knotter.
Those parts only to which my improvements apply are fully shown.
Figure 5 is an end elevation of the knotter and illustrates my method of driving
the string retainer and the knotter spindle.
Figures 6 show the stationary part of the string retainer.
In Figures 1 and 2 a is the road wheel and b is a rectangular frame forming part
of the main frame of the implement in which the wheel a is carried. c is the finger
bar fixed to the frame b. d is an intermediate shaft carried in bearings on the
frame b. ee are radius bars capable of movement around the axis d, one of these
carries a shield e¹. At their fore ends the radius bars embrace the main axis f, on
which the road wheel is able to turn freely. 9 9 are curved racks fixed to the
frame b, with these pinions fixed upon the axis f engage. f¹ is a worm wheel fixed
on the axis fand a worm h engages with it. When this worm is turned by means
of a handle applied to it the frame b is raised or lowered, and so the distance of the
finger bar c from the ground is adjusted. a¹ is a chain wheel fixed to the road
wheel a, by means of a pitch chain it drives a chain pulley d fixed on the inter-
mediate shaft d which also carries a bevelled wheel d³. The wheel d² engages with
a bevelled pinion on the axis i. is a crank on this axis for giving motion to
the knife working on the finger bar c, and this it does in a well known manner by
means of an intermediate lever. The crank piu is fixed in a disc is, which at its
periphery is suitably formed to receive a pitch chain k, and by means of this chain
it drives the axes of the elevators which consist as usual of a pair of endless
aprons 12 13 distended upon rollers carried in suitable frames. The pitch chain k
also drives an axis which gives motion to the binding and packing mechanism
it also drives an endless apron which brings the cut crop from the platform to the
elevators. The outer elevator is movable and is able to assume the position
;

page_text: indicated by dotted lines. A coiled spring shown in Figure 2 connects the two
elevator frames so that the elevator 3 assumes the position indicated by the full
lines whenever it is left free to do so. m is the frame which carries the packing
and binding mechanism; it is supported by legs m¹ m¹ and its position can be
adjusted and set nearer to or further from the front of the machine in order that
the tie may be made near the centre of the sheaf whether the crop be long or short.
m² is the binding table which supports the sheaf whilst it is being bound-it is
carried upon the frame m.
The binding and packing mechanism is for the most part of the ordinary
description and I only show in the drawings the portions to which my improve-
ments relate. The cut crop is brought from the platform of the machine upon the
apron n it ascends between the elevator aprons 12 and 13 and on arriving at the top
of the elevator it is caught by the packing prongs o and driven forward into the
space between the packing table m² and the slotted guard plate p. When a
sufficient quantity to form a sheaf has been accumulated in the packing space
between m³ and p the pressure of it causes the starting prong (not shown) to yield,
and by the usual suitable connections the binder spindle q is then brought into gear
with the moving parts and it then operates the mechanism by which the sheaf is
bound. The binder spindle has upon it a disc q¹ in the periphery of which is a
recess to receive a small roller mounted upon a lever r. This lever has its fulcrum
upon the frame m at m* so that as soon as the binder spindle commences to move
the lever is thrust into the position indicated by the dotted lines; it does not
return until the rotation of the binder spindle is completed and the spindle again
comes to rest. The upper end of the lever r is connected, as is seen in Figure 2
with the outer elevator frame which consequently, while the binding operation is
in progress, is caused to occupy the position shown by the dotted lines. The same
movement of the lever r affects the packing prongs o. The prongs are carried by
discs upon an axis which rotates continuously, they are jointed to these discs and
are only held in a radial position whilst they pass the cams 8; the tail o¹ of the
packing prong then bearing against the surface of the cam. When the parts are in
the position indicated by full lines in Figure 2, the packing prongs act efficiently to
propel the crop forward into the packing space and each packing prong as it comes
round continues to operate until its tail o¹ gets clear of the cam s, the packing prong
then passes out of the packing space. The cam a is connected by a link with an
arm, upon the lever and when this lever assumes the position indicated by
dotted lines the cam s is raised to a position also indicated by dotted lines in the
drawing. The packing prongs then although still revolving cease to operate to
drive the material forward and the binding is not interfered with by crop coming
forward upon the table. The reel by which the standing crop is laid towards the
finger bar c. is driven by an endless chaint passing around a chain pinion d³, on
the intermediate axis d; this chain is led by guide pulleys to another chain wheel
upon an axis u which is in the immediate neighbourhood of the axis of the reel and
parallel with it-the reel axis is shown at vit is driven from the axis u by a short
endless band or chain.
By the arrangement of the parts as shown in these figures the width of the
machine is reduced; the intermediate shaft being in rear of the main wheel and
the crank shaft again behind the intermediate shaft. The binding and packing
mechanism is also arranged to occupy little space the table being over the main
wheel and the elevator aprons nearly upright.
In Figure 3 c is the finger bar c¹ is a finger and c³ is the knife. The kuife c
receives its motion as already stated from a lever here marked c³ actuated by the
crank ². This lever projects through a hole formed for it in the finger bar c, and
it enters a recess at c* in the knife. w is the guard or shield which I apply to
prevent the cut crop entering the slot in the finger bar to choke it.
In Figures 4 and 5 g is the binder spindle and A is the rotary string retainer of
the Appleby knotter. I actuate this string retainer more simply than heretofore

page_text: by providing upon it a bevelled pinion A¹ and to gear with this I provide a
pinion B¹ upon a spindle B at right angles to the axis of the string retainer.
B is a star wheel upon the axis B. To operate this star wheel I provide a
wheel C or it might be simply an arm up the axis q. A roller C¹, on this arm
coming against the teeth of the star wheel turns it through the space of one tooth
for each rotation of the wheel corresponding to one operation of the binding
mechanism. The wheel C. is also made to lock the axis B so that it may not from
any accidental cause rotate except at the proper time. I provide for this purpose
a locking barrel B³ upon the axis B, and the sides of this barrel fit against the
periphery of the wheel C. When however the roller C¹ operates against the teeth
of the star wheel B³ a recess in the periphery of the wheel comes up to the
barrel B³ and then (but at no other time) the barrel and with it the axis B is able
to turn.
D is the knotter spindle, it has upon it a bevelled pinion D¹ by which it is
driven from the axis q. To effect this driving a bevelled wheel is fixed upon the
axis q and it gears with the pinion D¹. The teeth of this gear do not extend
completely around the wheel for an intermittent and not a continuous motion is
required. In these features however my apparatus resembles an ordinary Appleby
knotter, the improvement is in the position given to the knotter spindle and in
the means for driving it. The spindle D it will be observed does not as usually in
Appleby knotters radiate from the axis q and the pinion D¹ is driven by a wheel
on the axis q provided with bevelled skew teeth in place of ordinary radial teeth.
The pinion D also has skew teeth to correspond. The knotter when its spindle is
thus arranged operates inore advantageously than when the spindle is radial. E is
the stationary part of the string retainer usually this part is moveable for a short
distance to and from the part A and is pressed by a spring, but in my arrangement
the part is fixed in the position shewn it is made preferably of sheet steel and is
sufficiently elastic to allow of its sides springing apart to the extent requisite to
permit of the end of the string being carried between these spring sides and the
rotating part A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The arrangements of parts as shown in Figures 1 and 2 connecting the road
wheel with the frame and imparting movement therefrom to the operating
mechanism by which arrangement this gear is caused to occupy less lateral space
than heretofore.
2. The arrangement substantially as described of the elevating and collecting
mechanism in such manner that the packers take the crop immediately from the
elevators and convey it on to a packing table immediately over the road wheel.
3. The combined arrangement substantially as described by which the binder
spindle when in motion alters the position of one of the elevator frames and
arrests the packing by operating cams in connection with the packing prongs.
4. The method of operating the reel substantially as described from an inter-
mediate shaft in rear of the road wheel by a pully on this axis and an endless
chain or band.
5. The general arrangement of mechanism substantially as illustrated by
Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings.
6. The combination with the finger bar and knife of a shield substantially as
shown by Figure 3 of the annexed drawings.
7. The method substantially as described of actuating the rotating string retainer
of the knotter by gearing it by bevelled wheels with an axis at right angles and
imparting motion to this axis at suitable times from the binder spindle.
8. The method substantially as described of rotating the string retainer by
gearing it with an axis at right angles and providing upon this axis a star wheel

page_text: the teeth of which are struck at suitable times by a roller or projection on an arm
or wheel carried by the binder spindle.
9. The improvement in the knotter consisting in forming the fixed part of the
string retainer of sheet steel or like elastic material and so that the sides yield
apart when the string is carried between them by the rotating part of the retainer
whereby the necessity for an independent spring is avoided.