IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR GATHERING AND BINDING CORN AND OTHER CUT CROPS INTO SHEAVES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Woolnough and Christopher Kingsford, both
of Kingston, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR GATHERING AND BINDING CORN AND OTHER CUT CROPS
INTO SHEAVES."
Sealed the 28th December 1878, and dated the 18th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Woolnough and
Christopher Kingsford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
18th October 1878.
WILLIAM WOOLNOUGH and CHRISTOPHER KINGSFORD, both of Kingston, in
the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR GATHERING AND
BINDING CORN AND OTHER CUT CROPS INTO SHEAVES."
Our Invention relates to machinery for gathering and binding corn and other
crops into sheaves, either separately or in combination with a reaper or reapers.
At
The arrangement for tying the corn into sheaves inay be described as comprising
two portions. The first is for gathering the stalks of corn into a bundle or sheaf
and holding and compressing them into form while the string or other suitable mate-
rial is bound round them. This arrangement consists of a lifting arm or arms, one of
which carries a pair of nippers near the point free to oscillate on a centre of motion,
and in connection with the nippers is a knife or shears for cutting the string.
the extreme point of said lifting arm is an arrangement for holding the string while
the knot is being tied, for which purpose two cones come together when the corn is
compressed, or other suitable means may be adopted. When the stalks of corn have
been deposited into said arms the latter are made to rise and carry the sheaf up to
a second set of arms which meet the sheaf and compress it into form. These arms
are fixed on to a shaft which has a certain amount of elasticity in order to accom-
modate itself to various quantities of material or size of sheaf. When the corn is
thus compressed the second or tying arrangement comes into operation. This con-
sists, first, of a curved fork, which has imparted to it a vertical and oscillating motion

page_text: as well as a rotatory motion, and said fork takes hold of the string or other binding
material, and by means of the motion which it receives, as aforesaid, forms it into a
loop and, secondly, of a pair of reciprocating nippers which advance and pass
through the said loop and take hold of the free ends of the string and draw them
back, thus forming a knot.
The operation is performed as follows:-The string from a bobbin or reel passes
over a spring detention pulley or pulleys, the end of which is held in the jaws of
the oscillating nippers attached to the arm, and when the arm descends to receive
the sheaf of corn the string is drawn out with it and the corn is deposited upon the
string. On the arm rising the string is brought round and over the sheaf, and the
double string enters the cleat or holder, which is situated at the extreme end of the
arm. In this position the fork takes up the doubled string and twists it into a
loop, at the same time drawing forward the oscillating nippers which hold one part
of the string, also drawing a sufficient amount of string from the reel for forming
the loop. At this stage the oscillating nippers let go the string, and immediately
take hold of the string which comes from the reel, cutting the same on the sheaf
side, holding the end in their jaws ready for another operation; at the same time
the reciprocating nippers advance and take hold of the two liberated ends of the
string and draw them through the loop. All the parts then return to their normal
positions, and the knot is tightened as close as possible to the sheaf by means of a
spring, lever, or fork arrangement, the bound sheaf falling to the ground behind the
machine.
For collecting the stalks of corn either separately or in combination with a reaper,
and depositing the same into the arms of the tying apparatus, herein-before
described, we proceed as follows:-
First. In cases where it is required to pick up the corn as it lies in swathes on
the ground we construct a series of partly-curved but nearly horizontal bars hinged
to the rear framing of the machine, and regulated as to distance from the ground by
means of a hand lever, or otherwise. Above said collecting bars is suspended a rake,
which receives an oscillating motion from a crank action, which raises the rake on
its backward stroke, and depresses it below and between the collecting bars on its
forward stroke, thus sweeping before it the corn in sheaf quantities and depositing
it into the arms of the tying apparatus aforesaid.
Second. In cases where it is required to use the tying apparatus in combination
with a reaper or reapers.
Reapers are now generally made to deliver the cut corn at the side, and are con-
structed with rakes, which at stated intervals sweep it in sheaf quantities off from
the platform on to the ground, falling out of the track of the machine when it
makes its next course.
In order to accommodate the tying apparatus, herein-before described, to any of
these reapers and fit it so that the tying shail act in accordance with each delivery
of a sheaf we construct a nearly horizontal receiving platform formed of bars hinged
to a convenient part of the frame of the tying apparatus, and so arranged that when
a sheaf quantity of corn shall fall upon it the weight of same shall put the machinery
into gear with the driving wheel supporting the apparatus independent of the reaper,
when the platform will rise or rear and shoot the corn into the arms of the tying
apparatus. The operation of compressing and tying the sheaf of corn is then per-
formed by one revolution of the driving wheel, and the several parts return to their
normal positions, and remain so until another quantity of corn has been deposited
on the platform. In place of a driving wheel as usually constructed we use in some
cases a roller or rollers, which ensure the motive power being transmitted, which
otherwise might be uncertain when the wheel passes over a furrow or broken
ground. This machine is towed behind an ordinary reaper, and works automatically
in conjunction with it, or we construct the receiving platform fixed to the reaper,
in which case the tying gear receives its motive power from the reaper and in
accordance with each delivery of corn. The receiving platform and tying apparatus
can either be attached to those reapers which deliver at the side by means of rakes,

page_text: or those which deliver behind by means of a reel carrying beaters. In the first
case the platform is composed of curved bars, above which is suspended a rake
working concentrically or nearly so with the curved bars of the platform, and made
to swing by means of the crank action, as herein-before described, sweeping before
it the corn which has been delivered on to it by the reaper, and depositing it into
the arms of the tying apparatus. By this arrangement the tying gear may be
actuated by the driving wheel of the reaper, or by an independent wheel or wheels.
In the latter case the tying would be put in gear by the action of the rake motion
attached to the reaper, and in co-operation therewith.
In the second case we fix the curved platform at the back of the reaper with the
tying apparatus attached, and in order to cause the corn to be delivered on to the
back platform in sheaf quantities by the reel attached to the reaper we construct
the said reel with two or more dummy beaters and one rake or brush, which rake
or brush is made to advance and recede at certain portions of its revolution,
whereby the corn is intermittently pushed to the rear of the platform proper on to
the rear platform in sheaf quantities, and is then compressed and tied into a sheaf
by the apparatus, as herein-before described.
By the last described combination a large portion of the weight of the machine
is behind the main driving wheel, to counterbalance which we fix the knife bar or
beam in advance of the driving wheel, and pivot the frame which carries the said
beam on or near the main axle of driving wheel, thus enabling the driver to raise or
lower the knives without altering the level or position of the machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Woolnough and Christopher Kingsford in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 18th April 1879.
WILLIAM WOOLNOUGH and CHRISTOPHER KINGSFORD, both of Kingston, in
the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR GATHERING AND
BINDING CORN AND OTHER CUT CROPS INTO SHEAVES."
Our Invention relates to machinery for gathering and binding corn and other
crops into sheaves, either separately or in combination with a reaper.
The Invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
Drawings.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of tying apparatus, constructed according to our
Invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical side view of same.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a convertible machine constructed according to our
Invention for either picking up corn as it lies in swathes or bundles on the ground,
as shewn in full lines, or for working in combination with a reaper, as shewn in
dotted lines, and binding the corn into sheaves.
Figure 4 is a part plan of the shafts which support the rocking gear.
Figure 5 shews the clutch arrangement for automatically putting the machinery
in motion, and
Figure 6 is a full plan of the machine when employed in combination with a
reaper.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the Figures.
The arrangement for tying the corn into sheaves may be described as comprising
two portions; the first is for gathering the stalks of corn into a bundle or sheaf and
holding and compressing them into form while the string or other suitable material
is bound round them.
This arrangement consists of a curved lifting arm a, Figures 1 and 2, fixed on a
shaft b, said shaft also carrying two or more light arms a', a¹, Figure 6, and two or
more retaining arms a², a², which consist each of a pair of reversed hooks formed
with a slot in centre and swinging loosely on the shaft; the arm a carries a pair
of nippers consisting of a forked spring c fixed to an oscillating centre and enclosed
in a sheath c, which sheath being kept up by a spring closes the nippers and
retains the spring, but on the sheath being depressed the nippers open their jaws
and release the string or other binding material.
At the point of the lifting arm a is a movable jaw or cleat for holding the string;
the part is hinged on the centre d' and the part d² is hinged on the centre ;
at the end of the part d are two cross pins, rollers, or cones, between which the end
of the part de passes, said end being furnished with a hook; when these parts are
in their normal position (as shewn by dotted lines) the hook protrudes beyond the
pins or cones, but when in the position shewn the hook is drawn towards the pins
and thus confines and holds the string and sheaf in close proximity to where the
knot is to be tied. The oscillating nippers and movable jaws aforesaid are con-
nected by a link. e is the compressing arm or arms which come into operation and
meet the sheaf and compress it into form when the arm a lifts it into the position
shewn in Figures 1 and 2; these arms are fixed on to a shaft which has a certain
amount of elasticity, in order to accommodate itself to various quantities of
material or size of sheaf, or by means of an elastic connecting rod e, as shewn,
Figure 3.
The second portion or tying arrangement consists of a fork of the form shewn
at f. Figures 1 and 2, which has imparted to it a vertical and oscillating motion by
means of the lever and a rotatory motion by means of the pinion f working in
a curved rack ƒ³, the teeth of said pinion increasing in inclination from nearly a
inclined to about an angle of 45°; g shews the reciprocating
straight tooth to one

page_text: nippers, which may be made straight or curved as shewn. These nippers consist of
a bar g passing through bearings; the fore part of said bar is formed into a pair of
holding jaws working on a centre, the tail end of which being curved or having a
projection formed thercon passes through the clip g² which has a limited motion,
so that the nipper jaws are opened and closed again immediately prior to the com-
pletion of both the forward and backward stroke; g³ is a forked spring which takes
its motion from the reciprocating nippers by means of a connecting link with a slot
at one end, or by a catch g, as shewn; h, h, h, are the knives for cutting the
string, and consist of three by preference, say two on one side and one inter-
mediately placed between on the other side; said knives are fixed at a short
distance from each other, and so arranged that when the string is pulled up or
pressed between them it is cut by one or other of the knives; f' is a lever for
working the rocking bar f5; f" shews the connecting rod for giving motion to the
reciprocating nippers; is a curved plate for depressing the sheath of the
oscillating nippers; f8 is a hook for taking hold of the string and passing it
between the knives; and f° is a curved fork for guiding the string into the jaws of
the oscillating nippers. The whole of the above-mentioned parts may be actuated
by the shaft i, which takes its motion from a camj on the shaft k.
is the frame or case which carries or encloses the tying apparatus, and which
may be fixed at any convenient position to suit the crop to be operated upon;
attached to said frame or case is a reel or bobbin 1, containing the string or other
suitable binding material; 12 is a tension bar fitted with eyes or sheaves, as shewn,
Figure 3; and is a spring bar similarly fitted and fixed on a shaft, which receives
an oscillating motion from the shaft by means of a connecting rod 1; 1³ is a
spring brake which stops the reel from revolving when applied to its periphery.
The operation is performed as follows:-
-
The string from the bobbin or reel passes through the sheave in the centre of the
tensión bar, from thence to the sheave at the end of spring bar, then down to end
of tension bar, the free end being fixed in the oscillating nippers passing between
the jaws at the point of the lifting arm a, and when the machine is at rest the
string takes the position shewn in the side view, Figure 3.
As soon as a bundle of corn is thrown on to the string the arm a rises and at the
same time the tension bar 12 moves in an opposite direction, by which movement
the two parts of the string are brought round the sheaf into the jaws or cleat of
the lifting arm, which on arriving at the end of its stroke, as shewn in Drawing,
Figure 1, presents the double string to the twisting fork f, the sheaf in the
meantime being compressed by the arm'e; the fork then twists the string into a
loop, at the same time pulling up the parts & and d², which by their joint action,
as herein-before described, confine and hold the strings, and when the fork has
attained the position shewn in Drawing the reciprocating nippers pass through the
loop and take hold of the strings, one of which is held by the oscillating nippers
and the other passes over the jaws of the said nippers and lies ready to enter them
as soon as they open and release the retained end of the string aforesaid, which
operation is accomplished by the pressing plate f' which pushes down the sheath of
the oscillating nippers, and by the same movement passes the hook fs below the
strings. As soon as the lever f* begins to make its return stroke the said hook
pulls the strings into the knives and severs them, and at the same time the reci-
procating nippers draw the ends through the loop which detaches itself from the
fork, and the knot which is thus formed is pressed down close to the sheaf by the
springs The operation being complete the compressor recedes and the arm
(carrying the oscillating nippers which now hold the end of the string coming from
the reel) falls back to its normal position, as shewn in Figuro 3, and the bound
sheaf falls to the ground.
For collecting the stalks of corn either separately or in combination with a reaper
and depositing the same into the arms of the tying apparatus herein-before described
we proceed as follows:-
In cases where it is required to pick up the corn as it lies in swathes or bundles

page_text: on the ground and deposit the same into the arms of the tying apparatus herein-
before described, we construct a machine substantially as follows:-m is the driving
wheel or wheels; one or both may be put in connection with the gearing of the
machine by means of a pawl and ratchet wheel in place of a driving wheel, as
usually constructed. We use in some cases a roller or rollers, which ensure the
motive power being transmitted, which otherwise might be uncertain when the
wheel passes over a furrow or broken ground. m' is the frame of the machine, the
form of which may vary according to circumstances; various speeds may be imparted
to the machinery by means of the cone pullies m³, m³, or the same may be done by
means of change wheels. The cone pulley m³ runs loose on the shaft k, and is fitted
with a clutch on one end, shewn to a larger scale in Figure 5. The bolt n is thrown
into gear with the clutch on the cone pulley by means of the sliding bar n¹, which
is acted upon by a spring at the back n². Figure 3 is a lever fixed to the framing
of the macliine, and is connected by a rod to the catch n³, which holds back the
sliding barn until released either automatically or by the attendant or driver of
the machine. When the shaft is thrown into gear it makes one revolution, in course
of which the inclined plane on the collar ¹ moves back the slide bar, which is held
by, the catch until again released.
The shaft k carries a cam ke, which gives motion to the oscillating shafts b and b¹
through the inedium of the levers and 63; the shaft b' is hollow, and sliding
within it is a bent bar o, which supports the curved collecting bars o'; these bars
pass under the swathes or bundles of corn on the ground, which collect thercon when
the fake constructed to slide through centres at p', and propelled by a crank p²,
sweeps before it the corn in sheaf quantities, depositing the same into the arms of
the tying apparatus aforesaid. The curved dotted line shews the path which the
points of the rake make at each revolution of the crank. This path can be varied
by altering the throw of the crank. The aforesaid action may take place at each
revolution of the shaft R, or may, by means of a cord leading from the lever n³, be
controlled by the driver of the machine. The shafts b and b¹ are made telescopic
to allow of the tying apparatus being placed at variable distances from the frame-
work and driving gear, according to the length of straw to be operated upon.
The Drawing, Figure 3, shews a convertible machine, consisting of the aforesaid
machine for picking up cut crops, as well as a machine to work in combination with
a reaper. In order to convert the machine for the latter purpose the shafts which
carry the oscillating rakes are detached, and a pair of shafts or a pole attached to
the other end of the frame of the machine. The bent bar o is withdrawn from the
shaft b', and with it the collecting bars o', and replaced by a somewhat similar bar q,
which carries a receiving platform constructed of a series of light bars, shewn by
the dotted lines at q', said platform being balanced by means of a spring or springs
or a counterweight. To a convenient part of said platform, or to the bar which
supports it, is fixed an arm, which carries a roller or other equivalent q². The rest
of the machine remains unaltered, except that as the machine proceeds in an opposite
direction the driving belt must be put on straight instead of crossed, as shewn in
the Drawing, or if change wheels are employed they must be adapted to reverse the
motion of the shafting.
The action of this machine may be better seen by referring to the plan, Figure 6,
which shews the binder travelling alongside of a reaper of ordinary construction.
The distance between the reaper and the binder must be determined by the con-
struction of the reaper with which it is combined, and by the length of straw or
crop, and which may be adjusted by means of the swivel bars r and r¹; also, in
some cases, the platform of the reaper may be extended, as shewn in the plan
at 8.
The operation is performed as follows:-The horizontal balanced platform having
been adjusted at the proper distance from the reaper at each time that a bundle of
corn is thrown by the rakes of the reaper on to the platform of the binder, the
weight of said corn depresses said platform, and the roller q2 comes in contact with
the lever n, which withdraws the catch m³ and throws the shaft R into gear, when

page_text: it makes one revolution, in doing which the platform is tilted up and upsets the
corn into the arms of the tying apparatus, when the sheaf is bound as herein-before
described. The platform again descends and takes up its former position in readi-
ness to receive another bundle of cut crop from the reaper. We also construct these
machines to be fixed to a reaper, in which case the working parts receive their
motion from the reaper by chain gear or otherwise.
Reapers are generally now made to deliver the cut corn at the side and are con-
structed with rakes which at stated intervals sweep it in sheaf quantities on the
ground, falling out of the track of the machine when it makes its next course; or
they are inade to deliver behind, in which case a reel carrying beaters is employed;
when required to fix our binding apparatus to the former description of reaper the
frame of the binder carrying the gearing and tying apparatus is attached to the
frame of the reaper in any convenient manner varying in construction according
to the special design of the reaper utilized, which also must determine whether
we attach a platform having a rake as herein-before described for passing the corn
to the tying apparatus or a tilting platform to perform the same operation, otherwise.
the construction of the tying apparatus is as herein-before described.
In applying our apparatus to a back delivery reaper constructed as aforesaid with
a reel carrying beaters we construct said reel with two or more dummy beaters and
one or more rakes or brushes, which latter may be made longer than the dummies
or made to advance and recede at certain portions of their revolution, whereby the
corn is intermittently pushed to the rear of the platform proper on to the platform
of the binder, which we construct as herein before described.
In attaching our binder to the rear of this description of reaper we fix the
framework transversely or at right angles to the reaper so that from the platform
of the binder, either by means of the oscillating rakes as aforesaid or by the tilting
platform, the corn is passed to the tying apparatus and from thence the sheaf is
delivered at the side of the reaper and clear of the track of the same when it makes
its next course.
By the last described combination a large portion of the weight of the machine
is behind the main driving wheel, to counterbalance which we fix the knife bar or
beam in advance of the driving wheel and pivot the frame which carries
the said beam on or near the main axle of driving wheel, thus enabling the
driver to raise or lower the knives without altering the load or position of the
machine.
Having thus fully described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, we wish it to be understood that we do not bind ourselves
to apply the aforesaid tying apparatus to the aforesaid gathering and collecting
machines, as it may be applied to and work in connection with other modes of
gathering corn either from off the ground or delivered to it from a reaper, nor
do we bind ourselves to employ the aforesaid gathering and collecting machines
exclusively in connection with the aforesaid method of tying the knot.
We do not claim as new the fact of tying any particular knot in string or other
material suitable for binding corn nor the method of lifting corn or other cut crops
from the ground by passing curved or otherwise inclined bars under the swathes or
bundles, nor do we claim as new any particular method of attaching our aforesaid
machinery and apparatus to those reapers which deliver at the side by means of
rakes or those which deliver behind by means of a reel carrying beaters or brushes,
such beaters or brushes to advance at certain intervals whereby the corn is pushed
to the rear of the platform, nor do we claim as new the mode herein described for
raising and lowering the knife bar or beam of a reaper without destroying the equi-
librium of the reaper proper with the tying apparatus attached thereto, said
proposed arrangement having been herein described as offering a suitable and advan-
tageous means of balancing a combined machine.
But we claim as new-
First. The combination of parts for binding corn and other cut crops into sheaves,

page_text: holding the strings or other suitable binding materials, thus enabling the sheaf to be
pressed close to the knotting gear; also for twisting the strings a fork (having a
vertical, oscillating, and rotatory motion imparted to it by the rack and pinion
herein described, nippers for drawing the strings through the loop, a spring lever
in connection therewith for tightening the knot close to the sheaf, and knives
between the edges of which the strings are forced in order to cut them, all substan-
tially as herein-before described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The machine for picking up corn or other cut crops and delivering the
same to the aforesaid or other tying apparatus, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated with reference to Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Third. The construction and employment of machines for receiving corn or other
cut crops from a reaper composed of a balanced tilting platform which is auto-
matically or otherwise put in motion through the medium of a clutch bolt and slide
arrangement acting by reason of the weight or impulse of the corn or other crop
falling upon the balanced platform and delivering the same to the aforesaid or
other tying apparatus, all substantially as herein-before described and illustrated
with reference to Figures 3, 5 and 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. A convertible machine constructed to perform either of the aforesaid
operations, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated with reference to
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Woolnough and Christopher
Kingsford, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixteenth day
of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
nine.
WILLIAM WOOLNOUGH.
(L.S.)
CHRISTOPHER KINGSFORD. (L.S.)