IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING HAY, STRAW, AND OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Reuben Sims, of the firm of Picksley, Sims, & Co.,
of Bedford, near Leigh, in the County of Lancaster, Agricultural Imple-
ment Makers, and Iron Founders, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
Sealed the 25th September 1857, and dated the 25th March 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Reuben Sims at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th March 1857.
I, REUBEN SIMS, of the firm of Picksley, Sims, & Co., of Bedford, near
Leigh, in the County of Lancaster, Agricultural Implement Makers and Irou
Founders, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING HAY, STRAW, AND OTHER SIMILAR
SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
I use two knives and two arms, as in ordinary machines used for the above
purposes, but I arrange and construct the knives and arms so that I can
remove a segment or part of one of the knives, and a segment or part of one
of the arms, by which I am enabled to cut the substances any required
length transversely from a quarter of an inch to six inches. I also place on
the main shaft a catch or clutch box, by reversing which I can vary the
length of cut, instead of changing the wheels, as hitherto adopted.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Reuben Sims in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th September 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, REUBEN
SIMS, of the firm of Picksley, Sims, and Co., of Bedford, near Leigh, in the
County of Lancaster, Agricultural Implement Makers and Iron Founders,
.send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Reuben Sims, Her special license that I, the said Reuben Sims, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Reuben
Sims, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within. the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
'OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING HAY, STRAW, AND OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Reuben Sims, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Reuben Sims, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
I use two arms and generally two knives, as in ordinary machines used for
the above purposes, but one of the knives is attached to a frame or segment,
which can either be removed from the arm or fixed to it, as required. By
removing the segment and knife the machine is adapted for long cuts or
litter, there being one cut instead of two to the feed. I also place on the
main or driving shaft a catch or clutch box, by the sliding or reversing of
which into different gearing I can alter the speed of the feed rollers, and
vary the length of cut.
These improvements will be clearly understood by reference to the accom-

page_text: panying Sheet of Drawings, with the figures and letters of reference thercon ;
in which Fig. 1 is a view of the machine with my improved clutch or catch;
Figs. 2 and 3 are views of a wheel and arms, in which one of the knives is
attached to a segment or separate piece or metal.
In Fig. 1, the clutch is shewn at a, geared into the spur wheel b, which
turns the spur wheel c and bevel wheel d, driving the other bevel wheel c
and shaft f, on the end of which shaft is the pinion or change wheel g, driving
the wheel h, fixed to the shaft i, upon which the feeding roller is placed.
When the clutch is shifted or reversed into the pinion ka slower speed of
the wheels and feed roller is obtained.
In Figures 2 and 3, is the wheel, to the arms of which the knives are
attached; m is the arm, to which is fitted the separate frame or segment n,
having the knife o fixed on it. The said segment and knife can either be
fixed to the arm of the wheel or removed as required, the knife maintaining
the position in which it was set or adjusted.
Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be distinctly
understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein set forth,
as such may be varied or modified without departing from the principle
thereof; but I claim as my Invention, and which to the best of my knowledge
and belief has not been hitherto used within the realm, the separate frame
or segment, and the application of the shifting clutch box, as and for the
purposes herein described, and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Reuben Sims, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named Reuben Sims, in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
REUBEN SIMS. (L.S.)