IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAIN BINDING MACHINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Edward Vaughan, of 67, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GRAIN BINDING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by Moses Aaron
Keller, of Brockport, New York, in the United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Edward Vaughan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th July 1881.
GEORGE EDWARD VAUGHAN, of 67, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAIN BINDING MACHINES." A. commu-
nication from abroad by Moses Aaron Keller, of Brockport, New York, in the
United States of America.
This Invention presents certain improvements in mechanism in automatic grain
binders for packing the grain as it comes from the gleaner or elevator into bundles,
and in means for compressing the bundles for the purpose of binding the same; in
mechanism for operating the compressor and automatically starting the binding
mechanism, and mechanism for automatically locking and unlocking the com-
pressor; it further relates to mechanism for discharging the bound bundles from
the machine; also in mechanism for uniting the ends of the applied band, and
means for holding and cutting the binding cord, and in the general and particular
construction and operation of the parts and combination of parts. In order that
the nature of the said improvements may be clearly understood I will proceed to
describe their construction and operation, having reference to the accompanying
Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan of the said improvements, showing
them adapted to a gleaner known as the "Excelsior Gleaner."
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, taken on the line Z, Z, of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side elevation next to the drive wheel, taken on the line Y, Y, of
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a rear side elevation of the gleaner and binder complete, showing
the bundle discharger in the act of pushing the bound bundle off the table.
Figure 5 is a sectional plan of the packing mechanism and its operating
gears.
Figure 6 is a reversed view of the bundle pusher as applied to the bundle in
pushing it off the table.

page_text: Figure 7 13 a top plan of the binang ana compressing mechanism
off arm.
Figure 8 is a side view of the compressor locking mechanism, and
Figure 9 is an end view of parts of the same.
Figure 10 is a side view of the automatic tripping mechanism, and
Figure 11 is an end view of the same.
Figure 12 is a transverse section of the binding needle.
Figure 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.
Figure 14 is a longitudinal section of the compressor locking mechanism.
Figure 15 is a vertical longitudinal section of the knot tying mechanism, and
Figure 16, a side view of the knotter in full size.
Figure 17 is a top plan of the tyer plate with the holder pivoted thereon.
Figures 18, 19, and 20 are detail views of the holder and cutter, and
Figure 21 is a side view of the same all complete.
Figure 22 is a side clevation of the knotter frame or box, cord holder and cutter,
and its operating gears.
Figure 23 is a transverse view of the tyer and holder gears.
Figure 24 is a side view of the automatic switch cam for operating the lever
that operates the holder.
Figures 25 to 30 inclusive represent the underside of the knotter hook in its
various stages during the operation of tying the knot in uniting the ends of the
applied band.
In the Drawings A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H represent the main frame of the
gleaner part, I the driving wheel, and J, K, the supporting wheels.
In the rear of the elevator, and near the centre of the same, is fixed to the main
frame the packer frame H; the forward end is supported by the stay C¹, which is
bolted to the arch iron B. Mounted upon the frame H are two geared shafts b'
and b, which are provided at their ends with cranks a¹, a³, a³, a¹. Upon these
cranks are mounted the two packers J, J, the crank shafts being geared together
by a single pair of spur gears will thereby cause the said cranks to revolve in
opposite directions to each other. The cranks being so arranged and secured upon
the shafts that they stand in opposite directions to each other on the two shafts,
as well as the two cranks on the same shaft, the packer arms being provided with
a long link or slot for the rear cranks to work in. The front crank shaft, which
is next to the elevator, revolves towards the elevator, and the rear cranks revolve
from it; this causes the curved ends of the packers to throw outward in their
downward move, and in their progress will gather and convey the grain backward
toward and against the compressor F¹. The continued revolution of the crank
shafts will cause the packers to fall back and rise out of action at the moment the
front crank has reached its lowest point. By this plan of operating the cranks it
will readily be seen that the packers are entirely freed from the pressure of the
packed grain as they rise out of action, so that there is no tendency to shell the
grain, as is the case with the single crank packers.
Another advantage is gained by the two crank shafts revolving in opposite
directions to each other, much shorter cranks can be employed, yet producing a
greater traverse of movement to the packer points than could be obtained by a
single crank of twice the stroke; and by the link or slot in the arm of the packers
power is gained just when it is most needed, namely, when the packers come under
pressure; at that moment the rear crank is moving outwards in the link or slot of
the packer arm, thereby gaining leverage. It has been fully demonstrated by
actual tests in connection with the other style of packers that this packing
mechanism has double the power to pack a bundle with less than half the
power necessary to operate other styles. Much tighter binding can be done,
thereby saving binding material, and preventing litterings in handling the sheaves.
When the packers have accumulated sufficient grain over the binding needle to
form a bundle, the grain will have pushed the compressor F¹ (which at its lower end
is rigidly mounted upon the end of the vibrating shaft O", see Figure 7) backward

page_text: until the coupling rod U moves the trip lever U", the opposite end of the said
lever acting on the underside of the shipper rod y releases the shipper y, the
spring S will now drive the clutch H2 in gear with the constantly revolving
wheel M. This will compel the shaft H to rotate, and thereby set in motion the
binding mechanism. The lever N, which is at one end pivoted to the main frame
and having a vibratory motion by means of the crank pin with its friction roller
which works in the semi-elliptical groove will impart motion.
A rod or pitman P depends from this lever, and is connected with the crank o
upon the rock shaft of which subtends the grain table and carries the binding
needle E¹. The said binding needle will now be brought up around the bundle of
the packed grain, the binding cord passing through the eye of the needle carries
the cord over the bundle and presents it to the tying mechanisto. The cam disc L
now acts upon the clutch traveller L" driving the clutch H out of engagement
with the crank sleeve a³, thereby stopping the packers until the cam L has made a
complete revolution, when the clutch traveller will fall into the notch of the cam
disc and until the binding needle has resumed its position beneath the table, when
the spring S2 will cause a reengagement of the clutch with the crank sleeve a³, and
again starting the packing mechanism. Motion is imparted to the tying mechanism
by means of the intermittent gear wheel R₁ which is rigidly secured upon the
shaft H gearing with the wheel R" of the cam cylinder T'. The said cylinder is
provided with a spring switch T¹ and a cam T', the office of the latter is to
communicate motion to the rack bar and pinions of socket shaft 1 (see Figure 2
and 15). The socket shaft coupling with the hollow knotter shaft which carries at
its lower end the curved hook a and horn b; in this hooked shaft is pivoted the
vibrating jaw c which carries a stem through the hollow shaft which projects
sufficiently up to receive the spring e and the regulating collar t. This collar is
secured to the stem, one end of the spring being fastened to the said collar and the
other to the hollow shaft. The location of the spring tends to hold the jaw c
The
closed against the hook except at certain times, as will appear further on.
loop of the cord is drawn off the hook a by means of the hook J, which is held
against the hook a by the spring I as the hook a rotates backwards.
The cord holder g takes its motion from the lever p, which connects at its lower
end with the holder bar by means of the hook m and screw stud n having its
fulcrum at 9, and its upper end being provided with a roller which acts against the
switch T As the said switch revolves with the cylinder T¹ the action of the
roller upon the switch moves the lever for one revolution of the cylinder to
the right. The next revolution will move the lever to the left (vice versa), the
spring Tacting to hold the switch in its opened and closed position,.as the roller
passes out.
The holder bar g is provided with a projection g¹ which has for its function to
hold the cord one time against the notched plate fat the right and the next time
at the left. The stationary cutter plate f¹ also acts to hold the sliding holder in its
place. In this plan of construction of the holder it is evident that there is no
danger of clogging the same, as there is no danger of the end of the cord being
caught the second time, the holder having but one movement for each bundle, when
the jaw therefore opens to release the end of the cord it remains open until the
next bundle is being bound, and vice versa.
A spring is arranged to bear against the pivoted holder plate f should there
be any undue tension on the cord during the operation of tying the knot, the
spring will yield and prevent the breaking of the cord; it also acts to keep the
cord taut between the knotter hook and the holder to assure of the cord being
drawn into the hook when a knot is being tied. Upon the shaft H at the end
opposite the cam T is a crank 2 which carries a roller R2 at its inside which
engages with the lever R, see Figure 11, and forces the compressor F against the
bundle just previous to and while the knot is being formed, thereby slacking the
tension upon the cord to prevent breaking the same, and thus cause the bundle to
be more compact and tightly bound.

page_text: Just as the lever R reaches its limit of throw it unlocks the compressor by
forcing the latch l'against the inclined projection, and disengages the latch
with the arm or lever T. The bundle discharger F2 now forces the compressor
back by forcing the bundle against it. The bundle having passed out the com-
pressor returns to its normal position for the next bundle, the latch plate ¹¹ and
the compressor F' being rigidly secured upon the rock shaft o", the lever T being
pivoted upon the end of the same shaft. The spring U being secured to both the
lever and shaft in such a manner to return the compressor immediately the bundle
has passed out, the latch plate " partaking of the same motion, is again locked to
the lever T, thereby locking the compressor F¹ in its normal position. The size of
the bundles may be varied by shifting the rod U from hole to hole in the
lever T.
Near the centre upon the shaft H is rigidly secured the intermittent bevel
gear G, which meshes into and drives the wheel Gu; this latter gear carries a
shaft which is journaled in the casting L², and communicates motion to the
gears G². Rigidly secured to one of these gears is the S shaped horn F², which
is arranged at such an angle to the horizontal line of the table that it will
pass over the buds of the bundle, and down behind the bundle near its middle, the
gears being so timed in relation to the binding mechanism that the said horn will
eject the bundle from the machine just as the tying is completed.
Pivoted upon the end of the needle shaft o, and close to the side of the needle,
is a hooked shaped cut off arm D, which by means of the spring D₁ will rise and
pass through the grain with the binding needle until the point of the said cut off
arm comes in contact with the shield plate J', when it will remain stationary,
causing a thorough separation of the grain as the needle continues to ascend, and
pressing the bundle towards the compressor. When the needle recedes it will draw
back with it the cut off arm by means of a pin i (see Figure 2).
Owing to the irregularity of the binding cord and its necessity of working free
and easy through the guide holes of the binding needle, I have constructed the
body or web part of the said needle in a double form, as shown in Figures 12 and
13. By this plan of construction the needle can readily be cast without a core,
leaving the cord passage straight and smooth.
Motion is communicated to the packing mechanism from the vertical bevel shaft
that drives the elevator by means of the bevel gears W and inclined shaft U¹.
Rigidly secured upon the upper end of the said shaft is the bevel pinion M¹, which
meshes into and drives the combined bevel and internal cog-wheel M.
A spur
pinion rigidly mounted upon the end of the shaft H³, which shaft is journaled in
the bracket M², the shaft H³, and double cog wheel M, are in constant motion while
the machine is in operation. The intermittent motion of the packers and tying
mechanism is obtained by means of the clutch mechanism before described. I will
now explain the manner of operating the machine. The ball of the binding cord
is placed in the box a¹³, the end of the cord brought from the underside of the table
and placed in the needle in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 13; the end is
then brought up over the knotter hook a, and the end fastened into the holder.
The cord now is in position as shown in Figure 2, the packers moving the grain
back between the table P' and shield J, pushing with it the binding cord. When
enough grain has been accumulated against the compressor to start the binding
mechanism, the binding needle ascends, encircling the bundle, and places the other
part of the cord upon the knotter hook and into the open jaw of the holder, and
comes to rest while the knot is being tied. The knotter hook now revolves to the
right; the guide horn b causes the cord to pass under the hook, and forms a loop
around it while the hook continues to revolve. The pin d of jaw c comes into
collision with a stop on the underside of the casting t, and causes the jaw c to open
from the hook a. That portion of the cord which constitutes the band on the
bundle is thrust by the action of the hook a into the hook ' of the tyer plate h,
holding back that portion of the cord, thereby aiding the book a to receive the
ends of the cord. The hook having advanced far enough to receive the cord, as

page_text: shown in Figure 27, now moves in the opposite direction. The spring e on the
stem of the jaw c now closes the said jaw on the cord and clamps it against the
hook. At this instant the holder releases the end of the cord, and grasps and
severs the other. The hook a continues to move back, and the hook J draws the
loop off the hook a in the manner shown in Figure 29, and the knot is completed,
as represented in Figure 30.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention, and the
manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the said Inven-
tion is,―
First. In a gleaning and binding machine the combination of the gleaning and
elevating mechanism, of a packing and automatic binding mechanism located in the
rear of the gleaning and elevating mechanism to receive, pack, and bind the grain.
in bundles of uniform size, substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth.
Secondly. In a gleaning and automatically operating binding machine the inter-
mediate driving shaft U for operating the automatic packing and binding mechanisms,
deriving its power from the gearing of the binding mechanism, substantially as
hereinbefore set forth and described.
Thirdly. In a grain binder the combination of the frame H³, having mounted
thereon two crank shafts 6, 6%, with cog wheels I, I, revolving in opposite
directions of the packers J', J, mounted thereon and actuated by the said crank
shafts, whereby the incoming grain is fed and compacted into a sheaf preparatory:
to binding the same, substantially as herein before set forth and described.
Fourthly. In combination with the frame H and packing mechanism of a tying
mechanism mounted upon or secured to the said frame, and operating in combi-
nation with a vibrating binding needle, substantially as hereinbefore set forth and
described.
Fifthly. In combination with binding mechanism automatically started by
pressure of the accumulated sheaf, of a series of reciprocating packers J¹, J
mounted upon and actuated by two crank shafts revolving in opposite directions,
whereby the grain is accumulated and packed into a sheaf, substantially as herein-
before set forth and described.
Sixthly. The packers J, J", provided with the slots of the equivalent for the
rear cranks, operating in combination with the front cranks, in the manner and for
the purpose substantially as hercinbefore described and set forth.
Seventhly. In combination with the yielding compressor F¹, of its shaft, the
locking and unlocking mechanism in the form described, whereby the compressor
is automatically unlocked as the tying is completed, to allow the bound bundle to
pass out, and then again is locked in its normal position, substantially as herein-
before set forth and described.
Eighthly. The horizontal vibratory shipper y¹11, spring y", rod y, locking plate y¹,
tripping lever U11, clutch H2, and spring S', operating in combination with the
compressor F and its intermediate mechanism, whereby the binding mechanism is
automatically and periodically set in motion by the pressure of the accumulated
grain, and again put out. of action at the conclusion of each binding operation,
substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described.
Ninthly. The combination of the automatically operating compressor F¹, vibrating
binding needle E¹, of a series of reciprocating packers J, J", actuated by two crank
shafts revolving in opposite directions, whereby the incoming grain is fed and
compacted into a sheaf preparatory to binding the same, substantially as herein-
before set forth and described.
Tenthly. The combination of the wheel M revolving loose upon its shaft, a
sliding clutch mounted upon the same shaft, and the horizontal vibrating shipper
3, adapted and operated to engage and disengage the said clutch with the wheel M,
substantially as shewn and described.
Eleventhly. The combination of the wheel M revolving loose upon its shaft,
provided with the internal gear at its side, a pinion arranged to mesh into the said

page_text: internal gear, and a shaft H³ secured to the said pinion, whereby motion is
communicated to the packers, substantially as hereinbefore set forth and
described.
Twelfthly. The combination of the shaft H³, the cranked sleeve a mounted loose
upon the said shaft, and a sliding clutch upon the same shaft to engage and disengage
with the cranked sleeve, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-
before set forth and described.
Thirteenthly. The combination of the intermittently revolving shaft Ho, the
intermittent gear wheel G rigidly mounted thereon, the intermittent gear G,
nitre gears G¹, and horn F", the whole being arranged and combined for operation
substantially as hereinbefore described for the purpose set forth.
Fourteenthly. The combination of the shaft H with the crank Q and roller R²,
the pivoted lever R, rod S, lever T, with its locking mechanism and shaft o¹¹,
whereby the compressor F¹ is actuated substantially in the manner and for the
purpose hereinbefore set forth and described.
Fifteenthly. The cord holder composed of the slotted and notched plate f, sliding
holder bar g, having the rigid double faced holder g¹, and the double cutter plate fi
combined, constructed, and arranged for operation, substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described. .
Sixteenthly. The combination of the tyer plate h, the vibrating holder plate f
pivoted thereon, and provided with the sliding holder bar g, double cutter plate fi,
and spring f, substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described.
Seventeenthly. The combination with the knotter hook a, the tying plate h
provided with the hook h', whereby the cord constituting the band around the
bundle is held back for the purpose of aiding the hook a to receive the ends of the
cord, substantially as herein before set forth and described.
Eighteenthly. The tying plate h having the hook h¹, and arranged immediately
under the knotter hook a, so that the said hook may lodge the cord on the hook h²,
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth and described.
Nineteenthly. The holder bar g moving in the horizontal hinged plate f pivoted
on the tying plate h, the said holder being operated by the automatic switch T" of
the cylinder T¹ and pivoted lever p, combined with the knotter hook a and vibrating
needle E¹, substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described.
Twentiethly. The hollow shaft with its curved hook a and rigid horn b, vibrating
jaw c, spring e, and stop pin d, combined for operation substantially as herein before
described and set forth.
Twentyfirstly. The disengaging hook J pivoted to the casting t, and having its
end turned up to receive the spring I for the purpose of holding the hooked end
against the knotter hook a, substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described.
And Twentysecondly. The combination of the knotter hook a, the socket shaft
pinion 8, sliding rack bar r, and rotating cam T4, whereby a vibratory rotation is
cominunicated to the knotter hook, substantially as hereinbefore set forth and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Edward Vaughan, have hereunto se
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord On