IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEAF-BINDING MECHANISM CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR Use AS AN ATTACHMENT TO A REAPING MACHINE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Howard, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford,
•
Agricultural Engineer, and Edward Tenney Bousfield, of the same Place,
Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEAF-BINDING MECHANISM
CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR Use AS AN ATTACHMENT TO A REAPING MACHINE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Howard and Edward
Tenney Bousfield at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th
February 1880.
JAMES HOWARD, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford, Agricultural Engineer,
and EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD, of the same Place, Engineer.
" IMPROVEMENTS
IN SHEAF-BINDING MECHANISM, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR ŪSE AS AN ATTACHMENT
TO A REAPING MACHINE."
Our Invention relates to improvements in mechanism for binding or securing
sheaves of corn or grain with bands of wire, string, or other material.
The said improvements, though chiefly designed to be employed in place of the
binding mechanism described in the Specification of our former Letters Patent, dated
20th September, A.D. 1878, No. 3726, and in machines of the class therein specified,
may be advantageously applied or adapted to other harvesting machines. The
apparatus described in our said former Specification comprises a binder arm and
means for operating the same in a peculiar manner, also novel devices for twisting
and cutting the wire.
The first part of our present Invention is designed to still further improve this
apparatus or mechanism, that is to say, it has for one of its objects improvements in
the construction and action of the binder-arm whereby the sheaf-band, when passed
around a sheaf, is more certainly directed to and placed in the twister, pinion, or
whirl; and for another object improvements in the construction and operation of
the twisting and cutting mechanism.
In carrying this part of our Invention into effect we prefer to form the part of
the binder-arm which passes the band around the sheaves similar to that shewn in
the said former Specification, but at the rear end, that is to say, the end or part to
which the radius rod is connected, we provide it with a cam groove; this groove.
receives a stud, or a roller mounted on a stud, projecting from the said radius rod.
Paino 1 471

page_text: This rod has at its extremity or end farthest from its fulcrum a slot through which
passes a pin or stud fixed in the said binder-arm. By the slotted connection of the
end of the radius rod with the binder-arm, in conjunction with the cam and roller
connection of these parts previously described, the motion of the said arm imparted
to it by the crank will be so controlled that its point or extremity in descending
will pass under and beyond the said twister pinion to the full extent required, and
in ascending it will move quite clear of the same, the band being thus brought into
the best position to ensure its being properly 'twisted.
In order that the cutting off or severing of the band after the twisting of the
same may be easily and conveniently effected we use a twister pinion formed in
two parts, or two separate pinions, fitted closely together, with teeth or cogs which
act conjointly to shear or cut the wire as one part or pinion turns faster or in
advance of the other, after the wire has been twisted by the said pinion.
According to this part of our said Invention we use a twister pinion supported in
a bearing, as described in the said former Specification; we divide this pinion into
two parts, as above specified, both parts being fitted to turn freely on a central stud
which keeps them properly in place. The wheel which drives the said twister
pinion has its toothed rim of a width equal to that of the two parts of the said
divided pinion, excepting at one place, where two teeth are omitted on one half of
its width; at the point where this break or gap is left in the said wheel we provide
the same with a cog or tappet arranged to engage with the pinion's flange, which is
toothed for this purpose. This action of the said tappet on the pinion causes the
motion of the flanged half of the same to be retarded; the teeth of the two parts
thus act as shears and cut the wire band.
The second part of our said Invention relates to mechanism or apparatus for
binding or securing the sheaves with hempen or other fibrous or textile bands
instead of wire.
According to this part of our Invention we substitute for the twisting and cutting
devices above described knotting and cutting mechanism of novel and peculiar
construction; this mechanism comprises two revolving devices which act as hooks
and forceps, and which we term knotting hooks.
We prefer to use an improved form of knotting hook which has two jaws. One
jaw is formed or fixed on the shaft or spindle of the hook, and the other jaw is
jointed to the said shaft; this jaw has an extension provided with a roller which is
arranged to work as the hook rotates in contact with a fixed cam, whereby the said
juw is opened at the proper times to admit the string or cord between the two jaws.
A spring is provided to close the said jaw. The said hook also has curved or
inclined surfaces which guide the string and act in conjunction with the said jaws
in the formation of the knots; the said hooks are arranged one above the other, or
in any convenient relative position, and are turned continuously, that is to say,
without reversing them. These hooks are arranged below the platform in such a
position relatively to the binder-arm that the latter will lay the cord or string
properly upon them. In combination with the said knotting hooks we arrange a
forked bar or lever which guides the cord or string, and causes the same to assume
the required positions with regard to the revolving knotting hooks.
This guide bar or lever has a reciprocating or vibrating movement imparted to it
by a cam which makes one revolution for or during the binding of each sheaf. The
said cam is preferably attached to or connected with a toothed wheel which gears
with a pinion on one of the hook shafts, this gearing being so proportioned that the
knotting hooks make two revolutions for each revolution of the said cam.
We also arrange in combination with the said hooks and guide-bar a string
cutter, by preference a vibrating lever, moving on the same centre or fulcrum as
the string-guide, and so arranged that after its cutting action it is drawn back by
the cam which actuates the said guide, a spring being provided to give to the said
cutter the necessary rapid movement for severing the cord or string. A catch or
stop retains the said cutter until released from the said stop by a projection on the
cam or by other suitable means.
P

page_text: In the operation of this mechanism the sheaf is deposited on the table in the
usual manner; the cord or string is taken from two reels and passed around the
sheaf by the binder-arm. When a loop is formed on each knotting hook by
the revolution or rotation of the same to a certain distance the cord, by the further
rotation of the hooks, will be drawn taut between them.
At the proper times the said cutter is released from the control of the aforesaid
stop; the spring then imparts to it n rapid movement by which the taut string
between the knotting hooks is readily severed. The knot formed by one hook
secures the band upon the sheaf, and the knot formed by the other hook re-unites
the two ends of the cord from the upper and lower reels.
Another part of our Invention relates to the adaptation or application of our
improved knotting or tying devices to sheaf-binding machines, wherein the binding
mechanism and the frame or table on which it is mounted have a reciprocating or
to-and-fro movement. For this purpose we mount the said knotting devices upon
a moving frame under the grain table, and we employ a fixed rack with horizontal
teeth geared with the driving wheel of the knotting hooks. We provide in combi-
nation with this driving wheel a ratchet wheel and pawl so arranged that the
knotting hooks will rotate only during the movement in one direction of the frame
or table which carries the binding mechanism.

page_text: We prefer to form the part of the said binder-arm which passes the band around
the sheaves similar to that shewn in the said former Specification, but at the rear
end, that is to say, the end or part to which the radius rod b¹ is connected, we
provide it with a cam groove b². This groove receives a stud or a roller b
mounted on a stud projecting from the said radius rod. This rod has at its
extremity or end farthest from its fulcrum a slot b, through which passes a pin
or stud be fixed in the binder-arm b. 6ª represents a rod or bar parallel to the
bar 6', but on the opposite side of the binder arm b, to assist in supporting the
roller b³. The slotted connection of the end of the radius rod with the binder-
arm b, in conjunction with the peculiarly formed cam groove connection of these
parts, affords the means whereby the motion of the said arm, imparted to it by the
crank b', will be so controlled that its point or extremity in descending will pass
under and beyond the twister pinion c to the full extent required, as shewn in
Figure 1, and in ascending it will move quite clear of the said pinion, the band
being thus brought into the best position to ensure the proper twisting of the
same.
In order that the cutting off or severing of the band after the twisting of the
same may be easily and conveniently effected we use a twister pinion c constructed
as shown in Figures 4 to 8, that is to say, this pinion consists of two parts c¹, c³,
or two separate pinions fitted closely together, with teeth or cogs, which act con-
jointly to shear or cut the wire as one part or pinion turns faster or in advance of
the other after the wire has been twisted by the said pinion. This twister pinion
is supported by a bearing or plate a below the plate a, as described in the said
former Specification. Both parts of the said pinion are fitted to turn freely on a
central stud c³, which keeps them properly in place. The wheel d, which drives
the said twister pinion, has its toothed rim of a width equal to that of the two
parts c, c, of the said divided or double pinion,, except at the part d', where two
teeth are omitted on one half of its width, thus forming a break or gap. At the
point where this break or gap is left in the said wheel we provide the same with a
cog or tappet arranged to engage with the pinion's flango c*, which is formed
with teeth for this purpose. The action of the said tappet on the pinion, which
is clearly illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8, causes tho motion of the part c¹ of the
pinion to be retarded at the desired time, whilst the part c² continues to revolve.
The teeth of the two parts thus act conjointly as shears and cut the wire
band.
The second part of our said Invention, which is illustrated in Figures 9 to 17,
relates to mechanism or apparatus for binding or securing the sheaves with hempen
or other fibrous or textile bands instead of wire. According to this part of our
Invention we substitute for the twisting and cutting devices abovo described
knotting and cutting mechanism of novel and peculiar construction. This
mechanism comprises two revolving parts e, which act as hooks and forceps, and
which we term kuotting hooks.
We prefer to use the improved form of knotting hook shown in Figures 14 and 15,
but we wish it understood that these devices may be modified to any extent
which will not impair the operation of the same for the purpose herein specified.
The said hook, as shown, has two jaws e', e². The jaw c'. is formed or fixed on the
shaft or spindle e* of the hook, and the jaw e2 is jointed to the said shaft at e³;
this jaw e has an extension c* provided with a roller c, which is arranged to work
as the hook rotates in contact with a fixed cam f, whereby the said jaw is opened
at the proper times, as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 14, to admit the string or
cord between the two jaws. eo represents a spring to close the said jaw when the
roller e leaves the cam surface f. The said hook also has curved or inclined
surfaces at e, which guide the string, and act in conjunction with the jaws e¹, e³,.
in the formation of the knots. The said hooks c, c, are arranged one above the
other, as shown; or one may be arranged outside of or beyond the vertical plane
of the other, or in any other convenient relative position, and the said hooks turn
in one direction only, that is to say, their motion is not reversed during the

page_text: working of the machine. These hooks are arranged below the platform in such a
position relatively to the binder-armb that the latter will lay the cord or string
properly upon them and in front of the jaw e², as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 9.
In combination with the said knotting hooks we arrange a forked bar or lever y,
Figure 12, pivotted at g', which lever receives the cord or string and guides
the same into the required positions with regard to the revolving knotting
hooks e.
This guide bar or lever g has a reciprocating or vibrating movement imparted to
it by a cam h¹, which makes one revolution for or during the binding of each sheaf,
that is to say, this cam acts upon a roller g³ on the slide g², which travels back and
forth in suitable guide ways g', and is connected to the said guide bar by a link g³.
The said cam is preferably attached to or connected with the toothed wheel h,
which gears with a pinion e on the lower hook shaft, the said pinion es gearing
with the pinion e on the upper hook shaft; this gearing is so proportioned that
the knotting hooks make two revolutions for each revolution of the gear wheel h
carrying the cam h¹.
We also arrange in combination with the hooks e and guide-bar ga string cutter,
consisting preferably of a vibrating lever i moving on the same centre or fulcrum g'
as the string-guide, and connected by a slotted link or rod i to the pin g* on the
slide 9. This string cutter is so arranged and combined with the slide g² and the
guide bar g that after its cutting action it is forced back by the cam h¹ which
actuates the said slide, a spring being provided to give to the said cutter the
necessary rapid movement for severing the cord or string. A pivotted catch or
stop i, Figure 13, is provided with a projection at , which retains the cutter i, as
shewn, until its release, which is effected by the upward movement imparted to
the end of the stop by a projection or tripper on the cam h', or by other
suitable means; the cutter is then thrown forward by the spring is, and severs the
string.
Instead however of employing the reciprocating string cutter or knife i we in
some cases dispense with the same, and form a knife edge between the prongs of
the guide bar g, as shewn on an enlarged scale at 9°, in Figure 13ª, so that when
the string is drawn taut between the hooks e to tighten the knots upon the latter
this knife edge will sever such string. g* represents a rocess adapted to receive
the string, and prevent the premature severing of such string.
We will now proceed to describe the mechanism for imparting a reciprocating or
to-and-fro movement to the frame or table a carrying the binding mechanism, and
for actuating the string or cord severing devices; ; represents a shaft, to which
motion is imparted through suitable gearing from the driving wheel of the machine.
This shaft is provided with a sprocket wheel, which imparts motion to an endless
band or pitch chain k running over pulleys . The shaft j is also provided with a
pulley which gears with a toothed wheel / fixed upon a shaft 1. On the front
end of this shaft l' is fixed a crank 12, from which a connecting rod 3 extends to a
pin or stud fixed on the table a. a*, a*, are anti-friction guide rollers to facilitate
the movement of the said table; represents a sprocket wheel, over which the
chain passes, the said chain being held in engagement with the said wheel by a
roller This wheel turns upon the fixed stud or journal supported in a
bracket depending from the frame a, and the wheel k has cast or otherwise fixed
to it a toothed pinion gearing with a wheel m° attached to the shaft m.
This
shaft m carries at its front end a cam m³, in the groove of which works a roller n¹
carried by a rocking lever n pivotted at n** to the table a. This lever n is attached
at n³ to a connecting rod n³ secured at its upper end to the crank n' on the binder
arm carrying shaft b°; o represents the compressing arm secured to a rock shaft o';
this rock shaft is provided with an arm or lever o³ fitting over a rod or bar o³,
which is slotted at 0%, and is provided with a pin or roller at o³; o³* represents a
spring, which constantly tends to force the arm o³ down. This compresser or
compressing arm is operated by the cam m', and also by a supplementary cam m*
through the medium of the roller 0%. This supplementary cam serves to increase

page_text: the compression of the sheaf, and thereby relieves the tension on the band or string
during the tying of the knot, the object being to increase the tightness of the
binding; o represents a pin on the bar o³, with which an arm or projection n* on
the connecting bar or rod n³ engages, as hereinafter described.
To impart motion to the knotting hooks e carried by the moving frame a under
the grain table a toothed wheel p is secured upon the shaft carrying the gear
wheel which rotates the said hooks, and is adapted to gear with a fixed rack p
secured to the main frame of the machine. In order to prevent the rotation of the
hooks e during the advancing movement of the frame a towards the grain elevators
we arrange within the gear wheel ha disc h³ provided with a spring pawl h which
is adapted to engage with a tooth ³ as soon as the frame a commences its retro-
grade movement. This pawl, however, in the advancing movement of the frame
has no effect upon the wheel h, which therefore remains idle. To further ensure
the immovability of this wheel h during such advance of the frame we sometimes
employ a spring he secured to the frame a and forked at its upper extremity to
engage a pin on one face of the said wheel.
To ensure the drawing of the knot from the lower knotting hook e above the
upper surface of the table, after the cord or string is severed between the two
knotting hooks, we employ in combination with the binder arm ba plate or bar q,
which in the upward movement of the said binder arm is adapted to clamp the
string or cord firmly against the pulley 68. To effect this clamping action wo
connect the said bar qat q' to a slotted arm q² secured to the binder-arm b, and
arrange between the collar or part 3 of the same and a fixed support q' a spring q³
which tends to constantly force the said bar toward the pulley 69. Upon the end
of the arm 22 is a roller q which, when the binder arm is descending, runs on the
lower surface of a cam projection 97 and holds the bar q away from the roller 68.
As soon however as the binder arm commences to rise after the bundle is secured,
the knots tied, and the string between the latter severed, the roller in such upward
movement of the binder arın passes over the upper surface of the cam q7 and clamps
the string firmly against the roller 6, so that the binder armn draws with it the knot
from the lower hook beyond the upper surface of the frame a; q³ represents a spring
switch to direct the roller from the upper to the lower surface of the cam q' when
the motion of the binder arm is reversed.
The operation of this improved binding mechanism is as follows, that is to say :-
When the parts are in the position shewn in Figures 9 to 12, and during the
movement of the table a towards the grain elevators, the knotting hooks e are
prevented from any accidental change of position by the retaining spring he and
stop 7, and the wheel h runs loose upon its shaft, as the pawl * on the disc h³ fixed
to the said shaft does not engage the hook h³. When motion is then imparted to
the shaft the sprocket wheel and pinion on the same impart motion to the
chain and the gear wheel . This wheel, through the crank and the rod P, causes
the table a carrying the binding mechanism to advance toward the grain as it
descends from the elevators, and as the said mechanism approaches the end of its
travel the cam m³, to which motion is imparted by the chain and wheel, operates
the rocking lever n and draws down the binder arm, thereby passing the cord
around the bundle or sheaf and in front or outside of the jaws e² of the knotting
hooks e. At the same time the cam ml, through the rod or bar o³, depresses the
compressor o, thereby compressing the sheaf or bundle of grain. On a further
revolution of the crank the table a commences its retrogrado movement, and the
rack p gearing with the pulley ? turns the shaft carrying the disc h³ and pawl h',
which then engages the tooth h and imparts motion through the wheel h to the
pinions es ande on the knotting hook spindles. As the hooks rotate, and after
the binder arm has passed the string in front of the jaws e², the guide bar g first
moves the string in a direction away from the jaw e', and on their further révo-
lution the string becomes twisted around the said jaw, the inclined surfaces e
causing the said string to pass upon the part cº of the hooks. On a further
revolution of the 'hooks the rollers come in contact with the cam surfaces ƒ and

page_text: the jaws are opened. At this moment the cam surface h¹ leaves the roller g³ and
the spring ge draws the slide g³ back, thereby causing the guide bar g to bring the
string into such a position as to enter between the jaws e¹, e, on the further
revolution of the hooks the knots being then tightened. The tripper h² then raises
the bar and the spring i impels the knife forward and severs the string. At the
commencement of the retrograde movement of the binding mechanism the roller o³
engages with the cam m and causes the compressor to impart a further com-
pression to the sheaf beyond that effected by the cam m'. As soon as the string is
severed the said roller o leaves the cam m* and the rod o³ is then raised by the
action of the periphery of the said cam on the roller o³ sufficiently for the pin o° to
pass over the arm n*. This arm n* during the further upward movement of the
bar n³ raises the compressor to the position shewn in Figure 9 to enable the bound
sheaf to be freely discharged.
Instead of employing two rotating hooks as above described and taking the string
from an upper and lower reel we in some instances use one hook only, as shewn in
Figures 18, 19, and 20, and a single reel. In place of the lower hook we use a
toothed wheel u supported in a suitable bracket u¹ upon the frame or table a and
carried backwards and forwards with the same. The upper surface of this wheel
rotates in close contact with a fixed knife edge v, and the lower surface of the said
wheel in close proximity to a flat surface at v', between which and the said lower
surface of the wheel the end of the cord is clamped when the string is severed after
the knot has been tied between the wheel and the hook e. To facilitate the
clamping of the string between such lower surface of the wheel and the flat surface
at we prefer to slightly chamfer or bevel the edge of the said surface towards
which the wheel travels in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 18, and
we also slightly bevel or round off the meeting edge of the teeth of the wheel, so
that the string passes freely in between the wheel and surface v' at the commence-
ment of each partial movement of the said wheel, and becomes firmly clamped as
the said wheel continues such movement. Upon the axis of the wheel u is placed
a vibrating lever w provided with a spring pawl tl adapted to engage the said
wheel u. This lever is so arranged that at the proper moment during the movement
of the table it will come in contact with a fixed stop on the frame of the machine,
and impart motion to the wheel u to the extent of one tooth.
The operation of these devices is as follows, that is to say :-After the knot has
been tied in the string around the bundle in substantially the same manner as with
the knotting devices hereinbefore described, the lever w comes in contact with the
stop on the frame, and through the pawl w' causes the toothed wheel u to revolve a
distance equal to one tooth. This wheel in the first part of its movement carries
the cord connected to the binder arm b in and clamps it between the lower surface
of the wheel and the surface v¹. At the same time the two ends of the string
which has been passed around the sheaf and tied by the hook e are severed below
the knot by the knife edge v and the meeting knife edge on the tooth of the pinion,
and the sheaf is then discharged. The binder arm b then risos, the end of the string
being clamped and retained between the wheel and surface v¹ as above explained.
In this rising movement the string is passed between two of the teeth of the wheel u
and in front of the hook e. The binder arm then travels toward the grain elevators,
encircles the grain with the string, and returns into the position shewn in Figure 19,
passing the string between the teeth within which the clamped end of the string
already lies. The hook e is then rotated, and in combination with a guide bar or
lever g, as above described, effects the tying of the knot; the string is then severed
as described and the above operations are repeated.
We do not however confine ourselves to the particular form of clamping dovices
above described, as any other suitable means may be employed in combination with
the rotating hook e to retain the end of the string in position preparatory to binding
a fresh sheaf.
We will now proceed to describe a modification of the devices for operating the
binding mechanism which we may use instead of that above described, and which

page_text: affords the means for obtaining a central thrust. This modification is illustrated in
Figures 21 to 23. We dispense with the cam m³ connecting rod and crank,
and employ an endless chain r to effect the same purposes. This chain passes
around sprocket wheels *, r, one of which is driven by suitable gearing from the
driving shaft j; r² represents a pin or stud secured to or forming a part of the
chain, and adapted to enter the slot s' in a lever or arm & secured upon a shaft 82
This shaft carries at its forward end a crank 8³ secured to the aforesaid bar n³
and rod o³, as shewn; t represents a bracket secured to the underside of the frame a
and provided with a slot t'in which the stud moves up and down during the
revolution of the chain r. By the employment of the chain rand stud² inserted
in the slot s' of the lever s we ensure the proper advance movement of the binder-
arm b towards the grain when the said stud moves in the direction of the arrow 1,
Figure 22, and as the pin passes around the pulley * by its continued action on
the lever a it ensures the necessary downward movement of the binder arm to pass
the string around the grain and also of the compressor o; the pin then travels
in the direction of the arrow 2, and by its action on the bracket t causes a retrograde
movement of the frame a and the binder arm and other parts, the tyeing and
Bevering operations being effected during this movement.
travelling around the pulley raises the binder arm and compressor into position
The pin in then
to again advance and bind another sheaf. This arrangement admits of being
worked under the binder table, and the power is transmitted to the table at the
point where the resistance is balanced, and the motion is attained with a minimum
of twisting or torsion.
Having thus fully described our said Invention, and shewn how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, we wish it understood that
we claim as our Invention the above described improvements in sheaf binding
mechanism, that is to say,-
First. The improved construction and combination of the parts of the mechanism
for imparting the desired motion to the binder_arm, substantially as described
with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings and for the purpose
specified.
Second. The improved wire twisting and cutting device consisting of the double
or divided pinion, supported by its flange in a plate or bearing attached to the
table, and arranged in combination with and actuated by a toothed wheel which has
a gap or break in its teeth and a tappet so arranged relatively to the two parts of
the said pinion as to cause one part to move in advance of the other and thereby
sever the wire, substantially as set forth.
Third. The improved knotting mechanism and cutting devices operating as herein
described, and actuated by the means shewn or by other suitable means for the
purpose specified.
Fourth. The improved mechanism for imparting the desired motions to the
binder-arm, the compressor, and the knotting and cutting devices in combination
with a reciprocating table, substantially as above set forth.
Fifth. Providing our improved string-binding mechanism with means for ensuring
the drawing up of the lower knot above the table after the tying of each sheaf or
bundle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Howard, for myself and on behalf of
the said Edward Tenney Bousfield, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Twenty fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.