IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEAF BINDING APPARATUS FOR REAPING MACHINES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Harrison, of the Orwell Works, Ipswich, in the
County of Suffolk, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEAF BINDING
APPARATUS FOR REAPING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Harrison at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th June 1880.
_JOHN HARRISON, of the Orwell Works, Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEAF BINDING APPARATUS FOR REAPING MACHINES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus applicable to reaping
machines for binding the sheaves automatically as they are delivered at the back
of the machine, and the improvements relate to the means employed for passing the
string or wire round the sheaf or bundle, and to novel methods of forming the knot
when string is used, and of giving the requisite twist to the ends when wire is
used.
The improvements when applied to a reaping machine with the revolving rakes,
and when using string for binding the sheaves, consist of an upright frame (to be
attached to the rear of the machine and drawn along with it) having at each angle
a chain pulley, and upon these four pulleys is mounted an endless pitch chain.
One of the pulleys receives motion from some part of the machine, and when in
gear the pitch chain is kept moving uniformly in one and the same direction, and
at a speed proportional to the speed at which the machine is drawn along.
Attached to the pitch chain and forming a long link in the name is a clip for
holding and conveying one end of the string; guides are placed at suitable points
round the upright frame for holding the string in the form of a large loop, while
the sheaf is being pushed partly through the upright frame by the revolving rake
of the machine.
To each side of the upright frame is attached a separate piece forming together
a platform for the reception of the sheaf from the machine; they are placed a
short distance apart so as to leave a slit for the passage of the string. The clip
attached to the endless chain as above-mentioned makes a complete circuit (from

page_text: the point where a sheaf is supposed to have just been tied) as follows:-At the
point of circuit just indicated the clip is travelling below the platform from the
rear towards the front; it rises by the forward upright, the string being retained
by the holders, then passes from front to rear along the top rail of the upright
frame and down by the rear upright; it then passes below the platform and there
engages the part of the string it had previously left behind it. When the clip is
moving along the top rail it comes in contact with a trigger which releases the
holders which retained the string while the clip was ascending at the forward
upright, and from this moment the clip is drawing the string tight round the
sheaf until it takes up the other part of the string. A short distance beyond the
point where the clip has hold of both parts of the string is placed the apparatus
for forming the knot, to be presently described.
The tying is effected at uniform tension, whatever may be the size of the sheaf
or bundle to be tied, as follows:-The string in the ball is placed in a box near
the bottom of the rear end of the upright frame, and passes through a hole in the
box, next between a pair of discs pressed together by an adjustable spiral spring
(forming a tension regulator), and then over a pulley mounted on the end of a
lever, which is centred near the top of the rear upright of the frame so as to
sweep to and from the rear of the frame in the plane of the pitch chain. The
motion of the lever is derived from the pitch chain pulley at the top of the rear
upright. This pulley is keyed to its spindle, at the opposite end of which is a
pinion; this gears into a spur wheel mounted upon a stud on the frame and fitted
with a crank pin. The lever is carried by a short spindle, upon the opposite end
of which is keyed an arm having a curved slot, in which the crank pin upon the
spur wheel plays and determines the motion of the outer end of the lever. This
motion is so arranged that the end of the lever with the pulley is at its lowest
point at about the instant when the clip releases the string holders, soon after
which the lever commences its upward movement. By this combined movement
of the clip and the lever the corn which lies spread out on the platform is drawn
to one side, and when the clip has hold of both parts of the string is compressed
into a compact bundle. The amount of compression the bundle receives is
determined by the tension regulator, as the lever at first takes up the slack of the
string, and when the tension on the bundle is sufficient to overcome that of
the regulator the lever in its further movement draws only so much string out of the
box as the bundle has taken up; bundles of all sizes are therefore tied equally
tight. In order to give a little elasticity to the string while the knot is being
tied the lever above spoken of is not directly keyed to the spindle, but is centred
upon an arm, the end of the lever next the spindle being held up against a stop by
a spiral spring.
The clip, as before stated, is formed as a long link in the pitch chain, one side
being furnished with a spring jaw for gripping the end of the string, and the tail
of the jaw having a projecting stud which comes in contact with a fixed cam in
the knotting apparatus for the purpose of liberating the end of the string, and
taking a fresh gripe of the string for the next sheaf at the proper moment. The
opposite side of the link is a plate which is formed to enter and pass freely along
a channel formed in the knotter, so as to keep the clip steady during its passage.
At the back of the said plate is a projecting piece which sets the knotting apparatus
in operation.
The instrument for forming the knot is a rotating hook, shaped somewhat like
a short but sharp cow's horn with an upward curve at the tip. This horn or hook
is formed nearly at right angles with the axis on which it turns, and which is
placed quite at the thick end. A movable piece or jaw passes through a slot in
the hook, being centred on a cross pin so as to open and shut in the plane of the
axis; the jaw is extended through the thick part of the hook, and has a tail which
projects a little distance beyond the axis; a notch is formed in the jaw for the
string to lie in when the jaw is closed. To form a knot the string must be

page_text: presented to the hook parallel with the axis of rotation, and then bent round the
hook at about a right angle; the hook then makes one revolution, and thus takes
a single turn of the string round it, the tail piece of the jaw comes in contact with
a fixed cam and holds the jaw open, so that on the completion of the revolution the
string will lie between the jaws; the tail pioce passing clear of the cam at this
moment the jaws are closed by the pull of the string round the hook, and on
continuing the pull the string slides off the hook and closes upon the loop which
the jaws retained, and so forms the knot. In the knotting apparatus as applied
to the reaping machine the above described rotating hook is mounted in the end
of a lever or radius bar, which turns upon a stud fixed to the lower part of the
upright frame and beneath the delivery side of the platform in such a position that
at the middle of its sweep it will be at about right angles with the string. To the
axis of the rotating hook is fixed a small pinion, which engages a rack curved to
the sweep of the radius bar and fixed to the frame. The radius bar is held by a
spiral spring up against a fixed stop, so that the rotating hook is held in the proper
position to receive the string. The clip advancing with the string passes between
the rotating hook and the centro of the radius bar, and the projecting piece on the
link which the clip forms engages one end of a lever which is centred upon the
radius bar, the opposite end of said lever coming in contact with a fixed point on
the frame. The radius bar is thus moved by the clip indirectly, and in such
manner that the rotating hook advances at about the same speed as the clip. The
radius bar and the rack which causes the hook to revolve are fixed in a plane
slightly inclined to that of the string, for the purpose of allowing the clip to pass
under the rotating book on arriving at the knotting apparatus, and also for
bringing the opened jaw of the hook down to the level of the string on the
completion of the revolution. At this point, where the jaw closes upon the string
and the knot may be said to be formed (with the exception of being drawn tight),
the tail of the jaw of the clip comes in contact with the cam on the framo of the
knotting apparatus, by which the jaw is opened and the end of the string slips out
and the other part of the string slips in and takes its place; the jaw closes upon it
and immediately afterwards the clip passes under a fixed knife, so placed as to cut
the string and liberate the tied sheaf or bundle.
The drawing of the knot off the rotating hook and pulling it tight is effected by
a vibrating arın or fork which descends upon the sheaf at. the instant the string is
cut, seizes it by the string and tosses it clear of the platform. The arm is mounted
on a compound joint fitted with suitable cams at the top of the forward upright of
the framo, and receives motion from a cam on the spurwheel which operates the
tension lever before described. When a tied sheaf has been thrown off the arm
rises in a curve to the top rail of the upright frame, where it remains stationary
until the next sheaf is ready for delivery.
The apparatus above described is attached as a whole to the rear of the reaping
machine by a long hinge bolt at the forward part of the upright frame, the rear
being carried by a trailing swivel wheel. The apparatus may be moved by a stop
lever along the forward hinge bolt to and from the delivery end of the platform of
the reaping machine, so that the string may be laid round the bundle at the proper
place.
When wire is to be used for binding the sheaves the knotting apparatus abovO
described requires some change of parts, or may be replaced by a separate apparatus
for twisting the ends of the wire.
The general arrangements for laying the wire round the bundle and drawing it
tight are the same as above described for string. The wire, wound on a reel as
usual, is more conveniently placed at the top of the rear of the upright frame, und
the carriage for its reception is provided with a spiral spring and adjusting scrow
for giving end pressure, so that the reel itself becomes tho tension regulator. The
clip which carries the end of the wire is slightly modified in the form of the jaw,
and has also fixed upon it a moving blade for cutting off the wire. At the proper

page_text: point in the traverse of the clip the tail of this blade comes in contact with a fixed
cam, and the blade is made to sweep across the jaw of the clip just where the wiro
is held and so cuts the wire off.
The twisting apparatus is very similar to the knotting apparatus above described,
but instead of the rotating hook there is mounted at the end of the lever a pinion
having a notch cut from one of the spaces between the teeth into the body of the
pinion and a little obliquely to the radius. Upon the upper face of the pinion is
mounted at a considerable inclination with the plane of the pinion a small wheel
with projections long enough to reach across the notch, and the distance between
the projections is such that when the side of one of them is placed vertically over 1
the end of the notch the next projection will also reach across the notch.
The action of this instrument is as follows:-
The clip having hold of both parts of the wire passes below the pinion, and tho
wires being slightly splayed apart (by the size of the bundle above) enter the notch
of the pinion one after the other; the first wire pushes against a tooth of the little 1
wheel and comes to the end of the notch, and when the second wire comes into the
notch there is a tooth or projection of the little wheel between them. The pinion
is then set in motion (as above described in the knotting apparatus) and makes
about two and a half revolutions, whereby the wire is twisted both above and below
the tooth of the little wheel. At this moment the wire is cut and the delivery fork
seizes the sheaf, by the upward pull of which the little wheel in the pinion owing
to its inclination is pulled round, and lets the loop in the wire slip off the tooth
and out of the notch in the pinion.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Harrison in the Great Soal Patent Office on the 18th December
1880.
JOHN HARRISON, of the Orwell Works, Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEAF BINDING APPARATUS FOR REAPING MACHINES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus applicable to reaping
machines for binding the sheaves automatically as they are delivered at the back
of the machine. And the improvements relate to the means employed for passing
the string or wire round the sheaf or bundle, and to novel methods of forming the
knot when string is used, and of giving the requisite twist to tho ends when wire
is used.
The improvements when applied to a reaping machine with revolving rakes, and
when using string for binding the sheaves, consist of an upright frame (to be
attached to the rear of the machine and drawn along with it) having at each angle
a chain pulley, and upon these four pulleys is mounted an endless pitch chain.
One of the pulleys receives motion from some part of the machine, and when in
gear the pitch chain is kept moving uniformly in one and the same direction, and
at a speed proportional to the speed at which the machine is drawn along. Attached
to the pitch chain, and forming a long link in the same, is a clip for holding_and
conveying one end of the string. Guides are placed at suitable points round the
upright frame for holding the string in the form of a large loop while the sheaf is
being pushed partly through the upright frame by the revolving rake of the
machine. To each side of the upright frame is attached a separate piece, forming
together a platform for the reception of the sheaf from the machine; they are
placed a short distanco apart so as to leave a slit for the passage of the string.
The clip attached to the endless chain, as above mentioned, makes a complete
circuit (from the point where a sheaf is supposed to have just been tied) as
follows: At the point of the circuit just indicated the clip is travelling below the
platform, from the rear towards the front. It rises by the forward upright (the
string being retained by the holders), then passes from front to rear along the top
rail of the upright frame, and down by the rear upright; it then passes below the
platform, and there engages the part of the string it had previously left behind it.
When the clip is moving along the top rail it comes in contact with a trigger,
which releases the holders which retained the string while the clip was ascending
at the forward upright, and from this moment the clip is drawing the string tight
round the sheaf until it takes up the other part of the string. A short distance
beyond the point where the clip has hold of both parts of the string is placed the
apparatus for forming the knot, to be presently described. The tying is effected at
uniform tension, whatever may be the size of the sheaf or bundle to be tied, as
follows:-The string in the ball is placed in a box near the bottom of the rear end
of the upright frame, and passes through a hole in the box, next between a pair of
discs pressed together by an adjustable spiral spring (tho tension regulator), and
then over a pulley mounted on the end of a lever, which is centred near the top of
the rear upright of the frame, so as to sweep to and from the rear of the frame in
the plane of the pitch chain. The motion of the lever is derived from the pitch
chain pulloy at the top of the rear upright. This pulley is keyed to its spindle, at
the opposite end of which is a pinion; this gears into a spur wheel mounted upon
a stud on the frame, and fitted with a crank pin. The lever is carried by a short
spindle, upon the opposite end of which is keyed an arm having a curved slot, in
which the crank pin upon the spur wheel plays and determines the motion of the
;

page_text: outer end of the lever. This motion is so arranged that the end of the lever with
the pulley is at its lowest point at about the instant when the clip releases the
string holders, soon after which the lever commences its upward movement. By
this combined movement of the clip and the lever the corn which lies spread out
on the platform is drawn to one side, and when the clip has hold of both parts of
the string is compressed into a compact bundle. The amount of compression the
bundle receives is determined by the tension regulator, as the lever first takes up
the slack of the string, and when the tension on the bundle is sufficient to overcome
that of the regulator the lever in its further movement draws only so much string
out of the box as the bundle has taken up; bundles of all sizes are therefore tied
equally tight. In order to give a little elasticity to the string while the knot is
being tied the lever above spoken of is not directly keyed to the spindle, but
is centred upon an arm, the end next the spindle being held up against a stop by a
spiral spring.
The clip, as before stated, is formed as a long link in the pitch chain, one side
being furnished with a spring jaw for gripping the end of the string, and the tail
of the jaw having a projecting stud, which comes in contact with a fixed cam in
the knotting apparatus for the purpose of liberating the end of the string and
taking a fresh grip of the string for the next sheaf at the proper moment. The
opposite side of the link is a plate, which is formed to enter and pass freely along a
channel formed in the knotter, so as to keep the clip steady during its passage.
At the back of the said plate is a projecting piece, which sets the knotting apparatus
in operation.
The instrument for forming the knot is a rotating hook, shaped somewhat like
a short but sharp cow's horn, with an upward curve towards the tip. This horn
or hook is formed nearly at right angles with the axis on which it turns, and
which is placed quite at the thick end. A moveable piece or jaw passes through a
slot in the hook, being centred on a cross pin so as to open and shut in the plane
of the axis. The jaw is extended through the thick part of the hook, and has a
tail, which projects a little distance beyond the axis; a notch is formed in the jaw
for the string to lie in when the jaw is closed. To form a knot the string must be
presented to the hook parallel with the axis of rotation, and bent round the hook
at about a right angle; the hook then makes one revolution, and thus takes a single
turn of the string round it, the tail piece of the jaw comes in contact with a fixed
cam and holds the jaw open, so that on the completion of the revolution the string
will lie between the jaws; the tail piece passing clear of the cam at this moment
the jaws are closed by the pull of the string round the hook, and on continuing
the pull the string slides off the hook and closes upon the loop which tho jaws
retained, and so forms the knot.
In the knotting apparatus as applied to the reaping machine the above described
rotating hook is mounted in the end of a lever or radius bar which turns upon a
stud fixed to the lower part of the upright frame and beneath the delivery side of
the platform, in such a position that at about the middle of its sweep it will be at
about right angles with the string. To the axis of the rotating hook is fixed a
small pinion which engages a rack curved to the sweep of the radius bar and fixed
to the frame. The radius bar is held by a spiral spring up against a fixed stop, so
that the rotating hook is held in the proper position to receive the string. The
clip advancing with the string passes between the rotating hook and the centre of
the radius bar, and the projecting piece on the link which the clip forms engages
one end of a lover which is centred upon the radius bar, the opposite end of said
lever coming in contact with a fixed point on the frame. The radius bar is thus
moved by the clip indirectly, and in such manner that the rotating hook advances
at about the same speed as the clip. The radius bar and the rack which causes the
hook to revolve are fixed in a plane slightly inclined to that of the string, for the
purpose of allowing the clip to pass under the rotating hook on arriving at
the knotting apparatus, and also for bringing the opened jaw of the hook down to

page_text: the level of the string on the completion of the revolution. At this point where
the jaw of the hook closes upon the string and the knot may be said to be formed
(with the exception of being drawn tight), the tail of the jaw of the clip comes in
contact with the cam on the frame of the knotting apparatus by which the jaw is
opened and the end of the string slips out, and the other part of the string slips in
and takes its place, the jaw closes upon it and immediately afterwards the clip
passes under a knife so placed as to cut the string and liberate the tied sheaf or
bundle. The drawing of the knot off the rotating hook and pulling it tight is
effected by a vibrating arm or fork which descends upon the sheaf at the instant
the string is cut, seizes it by the string and tosses it clear of the platform. This
arm is mounted on a compound joint fitted with suitable cams at the top of the
forward upright of the frame, and receives motion from a cam on the spur-wheel
which operates the tension lever before described. When a tied sheaf has been
thrown off, the arm rises in a curve to the top rail of the upright frame where it
remains stationary until the next sheaf is ready for delivery.
The apparatus above described is attached as a whole to the rear of the reaping
machine by a long hinge bolt at the forward part of the upright frame, the rear
being carried by a trailing swivel wheel. The apparatus may be moved by a
stop lover along the forward hinge bolt to and from the delivery end of the
platform of the reaping machine, so that the string may be tied round the bundlo
at the proper place.
When wire is to be used for binding the sheaves the knotting apparatus, above
described, requires some change of parts, or may be replaced by a separate apparatus
for twisting the ends of the wire. The general arrangements for laying the wire
round the bundle and drawing it tight aro the same, as above described, for string.
The wire wound on a reel, as usual, is more conveniently placed at the top of the
rear end of the upright frame, and the carriage for its reception is provided with
a spiral spring and adjusting screw for giving end pressure, so that the reel itself
becomes the tension regulator. The clip which carries the end of the wire is slightly
modified in the form of the jaw, and has also fixed upon it a moving blade for
cutting off the wire. At the proper point in the traverse of the clip the tail of
this blade comes in contact with a fixed cam, and the blade is made to sweep across
the jaw of the clip just where the wire is held, and so cuts the wire off.
The twisting apparatus is very similar to the knotting apparatus, above described;
but instead of the rotating hook there is mounted at the end of the lever a pinion,
having a notch cut from one of the spaces between the teeth into the body of the
pinion and a little obliquely to the radius. Upon the upper face of the pinion is
mounted at a considerable inclination with the plane of the pinion a small wheel,
with projections long enough to reach across the notch; and the distance between
the projections is such that when the side of one of them is placed vertically over
the end of the notch the next projection will also reach across the notch. The
action of this instrument is as follows:-The clip having hold of both parts of tho
wire passes below the pinion, and the wires being slightly splayed apart (by the
size of the bundle above) enter the notch of the pinion one after the other; tho
first wire pushes against a tooth of the little wheel and comes to the end of
the notch, and when the second wire comes into the notch there is a tooth or
projection of the little wheel between them. The pinion is then set in motion (as
above described in the knotting apparatus) and makes about two and a half
revolutions, whoreby the wire is twisted both above and below the tooth of the
little wheel.
At this moment the wire is cut and the delivery fork seizes the sheaf by the
upward pull, of which the little wheel in the pinion, owing to its inclination, is
pulled round and lets the loop in the wire slip off the tooth and out of the notch
in the pinion.
And in order that my improvements may be fully understood I will now proceed

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings shows several views of parts of my
improvements as applied to a reaping machine with revolving rakes, and when
string is used for binding the sheaves.
Parts referred to aro indicated by the same letters in all the Figures.
Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 an elevation, shewing the attachment of my
improvements to the reaping machine. A is the ordinary platform; B is the main
driving wheel; C is a pitch chain wheel on the main wheel, and D is a pitch chain
by which the binding apparatus is set in motion; E is the upright framo, and
u, b, c, and d, are the four chain pulleys; e is the endless pitch chain. The pulley a 1
receives motion by the pitch chain D; fis the clip forming a long link of the
chain e; g are guides or holders for the string. F and G are the two pieces attached
to the upright framo E, to form together a platform for the reception of the sheaf
to be tied. Figures 3 and 4 serve to show how the string is carr ed round the
bundle. Figure 3 shows 'the position of the clip f when a sheaf has just been tied, 1
and taking this as the commencement of a circuit the clip advances in the direction
of the arrows, laying the string i against the holders g in succession ; when the
clip arrives at the position shewn in Figure 2, it comes in contact with the
trigger, by which the string is released from the holders g, from this moment the
clip begins to draw the string tight round the bundle. Figure 4 shows the clip 2
descending the rear upright of the frame just before it engages the other part of
the string.
In this position the bundle E has been drawn by the string i tight up against
the curved part of the platforms F and G. The tension of the string is regulated
as follows is the box containing the ball of string; is the tension regulator; 2
Z is the lever for taking up the slack when the string is released from the holders g.
The motion of the lever is derived from the chain pulley cat the top of the rear
upright.
The mechanism for this purpose is shewn to a larger scale in Figure 5, which is
a back view of the upper left hand corner of Figure 2, and in Figure 5*, which is a 3
cross section of the knotter hook. The pinion m is keyed on the spindle of the
chain pulley c, and drives the internal spurwheel 2, which turns upon the stud o,
fixed to the frame. The wheel n has a crank pin p which plays in the curved slot
of the lever q. The lever q is keyed to a short spindle which turns in a bearing
fixed on the top of the frame E, and to which is also keyed the arm s. The
lever is centred at t upon the arm 8, and is pressed against the stop u by the
spring v. The string i passes from the tension regulator k round the pulley wat
the extremity of the lever 1, and thence under a pulley which is fixed on the
frame. Figure 2 shows the position of the lever when the clip fis just about
to release the string from the holders g. Figures 3 and 4 shew the positions of the 4
lever when the clip is at other points in its circuit, and froin which the taking up of
the slack and the regulation of the tension of the string will be readily understoort.
The clip is shewn to a larger scale in Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9, with portions of the
pitch chain e, of which it forms a long link; 1 is the jaw for gripping the string;
2 is the projecting stud in the tail of the jaw which comes in contact with the 4
fixed cam 3; in the knotting apparatus (indicated by a dotted line) 4 is the plate
which passes along the channel in the knotter, and 5 is the projecting piece which.
sets the knotter in operation. Figures 10, 11, and 12, show three positions of the
clip fin its circuit; Figure 10 when ascending at the forward part of the frame,
Figure 11 when passing along the top rail to the rear, and Figure 12 when i
descending at the rear upright. It will be seen that in Figures 10 and 11 the
string lies outside of the projecting horn 6 of the fixed jaw of the clip f. As the
clip passes round the chain wheel c the string falls under the horn 6, as seen in
Figure 12, and is thus carried in the required position towards the knotter.

page_text: "
Sheet II. of the Drawings shows the knotting apparatus, Figures 1 to 5 shewing
the arrangement when string is used, and Figures 6 to 15 the modifications when
wire is to be used. The same letters refer to the same parts in all the Figures, but
have no connection with the letters in the various Figures of Sheet I.
In Figures 1 to 5 a is the rotating hook; b is the moveable jaw with the
projecting tail; c, d, is the radius bar centred upon the stud e; f is a pinion fixed
on the axis of the rotating hook; g is the rack; h is a spiral spring which holds
the radius bar & against the stop i; jis the lever centred upon the radius bar at k,
and l is the fixed point on the frame for the end to press against, and m is the pin
or stud which the clip strikes against to set the knotter in motion; n is the fixed
cam for opening the jaw b of the rotating hook; o is the fixed knife for cutting the
string.
Figures 14 and 15 shew the clip for conveying the wire; 1 is the moving blade
for cutting the wire, being held back by the spring 2, and moved across the jaw of
the clip by the tail pin 31 coming in contact with the cam 4 fixed at the proper
place on the frame; p is the pinion mounted in the end of the radius bar d, having
the notch a for the admission of the wires; r is the small wheel mounted upon the
pinion p. Figures 8 to 13 shew clearly the successive positions of the two wires s
and t from their entering the notch 7 until the twisting is completed.
The mechanism for operating the delivery arm J is shown to a larger scale in
Figures 5, 13, and 14 of Sheet I. 1' is a cam attached to the spur wheel n
(Figure 5); 2¹ is a bent lever centred at 3' upon the frame E, and carries a small
roller 4' at the extremity; this roller runs upon the outer surface of the cam 11; a small
roller 5' is fixed upon the side of the cam so as to strike the lover 2' and act against
the bent part of the same from about 6' to 7', a connecting rod 8¹ is attached to the
upper end of lever 21 and conveys this intermittent motion to the delivery arm J.
The sweep of the arm J is indicated by dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. Figures 13
and 14 show how its motion is controlled; 9 is a bracket attached to the frame Ẹ,
having a vertical pin 10 upon which a casting 11 turns; this casting has a boss placed
at an inclination, and in which the pin 12 of the pocket 13 which carries the arm J
turns. The arm J is centred on a pin 14 in the pocket 13, and has a spiral spring
under the end as shewn, to allow for variation in the thickness of the bundles.
The connecting rod is attached by a universal joint 15 to a short arm projecting from
the pocket 13. So long as the roller 41 at the end of the bent lever 21 is upon the
circular part of the cam 1', the arm J is, quiescent, and its motion commences when
the roller 5' strikes the lever 21 at about 6. The pull of the connecting rod 81
first causes the pocket 13 to turn upon its pin 12, the check piece 16 being at that
time in contact with the stop plato 17, when the projection of the check piece 16
has passed below the plate 17 the pin 14 strikes the boss of the bracket 9 and
prevents further downward motion of the arm; the movement is then transferred to
the vertical.pin 10 and the arm J moves horizontally when the check piece 16
arrives at the notch 18 in the stop plate, the pressure upon the bundle and the
spring cause the arm to rise until the projection of the check pièce 16 is again
above the stop plate 17. The return horizontal motion then commences and the
arm J resumes its quiescent position.
The attachment of the above apparatus as a whole to the reaping machine is seen
in Figure 1. K is the long hinge bolt held by suitable supports L projecting from
the rear of the machine; M is the trailing wheel which supports the rear of my
improved apparatus.
Having now described my improvements and some of the methods of carrying
them into practice at present known to me, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details hero described and shown upon the
Drawings, but what I claim as of my Invention is,―
First. The method of laying the string or wire round the bundle to be tied by
means of an endless pitch chain, substantially as described and shown.
Second. Laying out and holding the string or wire in the form of a large loop

page_text: while the bundle is being placed on the binding platform, substantially as described
and shewn.
Third. The clip, forming a link in the endless chain, with moveable jaw for
gripping the end of the string or wire and conveying the same round the bundle,
and with projecting horn for seizing the other part of the string or wire and
conveying both parts of the string or wire towards the knotter, substantially as
described and shown.
Fourth. Effecting both the collection and compression of the loose bundle by the
binding string or wire, substantially in the manner described and shown.
Fifth. The means employed for taking up the slack of tho string or wire in
combination with the above described means for passing the string or wire round
the bundle.
Sixth. The knotting apparatus caused to move forward by the clip advancing
wsth the two parts of the string or wire, and also caused simultaneously to revolve
to form the knot.
Seventh. The knotter with its peculiar form of hook and moveable jaw actuated
by a cam whereby a knot may be formed by a single rotation of the knotter axis,
substantially as described.
Eighth. The modification of the same knotting apparatus, as described, for giving
the requisite twist to the wires when wire is used.
Ninth. In the apparatus for twisting the wires the pinion having a slot for the
admission of the wires and carrying a small wheel so mounted as to insert one of
its teeth between the wires.
Tenth. The means employed for cutting the string or wire.
Eleventh. The means employed for removing the tied bundle from the binding
platform.
Twelfth. The means employed for laying the string or wire round the bundle at
the proper place.
In witness whereof, I, tho said John Harrison, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
TOUL TADDISON