IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COLLECTING AND CONVERTING CUT CORN AND OTHER PRODUCE INTO BOUND SHEAVES OR BUNDLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Greene, of Millbrook, in the County of Kildare,
Ireland, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COLLECTING
AND CONVERTING CUT CORN AND OTHER PRODUCE INTO BOUND SHEAVES OR
BUNDLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Greene at the Offico
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd April 1878.
THOMAS GREENE, of Millbrook, in the County of Kildare, Ireland. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COLLECTING AND CONVERTING CUT CORN AND OTHER
PRODUCE INTO BOUND SHEAVES OR BUNDLES."
The primary object of this Invention is the construction and employment of self-
acting machines for collecting and binding sheaves of corn and other produce, and
a convenient way of carrying the Invention into effect is as follows:-A frame is
mounted on two main wheels, the axes of which coincide, one being the driving wheel,
and on two castor wheels, one at each front corner of the frame. On the uprights
of these castor wheels are collars and set screws, by which the height of the framo
and also of the rake froin the ground can be regulated; these uprights are coupled
at the top, and a handle fixed on the one next the steersman, by which he can
readily guide the machine into the most advantageous position with regard to the
cut crop.
A set of rake teeth is provided, each being independent and yielding freely back-
ward before any rigid obstacle, the combinations of these teeth form a platform
between lifter and binder, and give weight to resist the back pressure of the haulins
against the rake. There is a revolving axle, on which the rake teeth are freely
hung, and having fixed to it and alternating with the teeth of the rake a set of
arms which pass between the rake teeth from behind, and take the collected haulins
out of the rake and lift, and place them in a suitably shaped bundle within the

page_text: scope of the binder; these arms are sloped back so as to allow of the bundle being
taken from them into the binder without their stopping.
A set of teeth shaped somewhat the reverse way of the rake retains the bundle
on the lifted arms, and being raised and depressed once in each round of the lifter
arms by cams on each end of the rake shaft, have in descending a peculiar bori-
zontal sweeping-in action, which effectually collects the haulins into the rake,
making them into a bundle suitable for binding; this action is obtained by the bar
on which they are fixed, being slightly revolved at the proper time by an arm
attached to it, which is guided in the ascent and descent by a suitably sloped slot
hole, and a set of arms takes the bundle from the lifter into the binder.
A pair of closers acts in a vertical plane, grasp the bundle near where the
band lies, and retains it in its position till bound.
A squeezer forms the whole floor on which the bundle rests; the end farthest
from the driving wheel, and which is at the grain end of the bundle, works on
pivots, while the whole surface under the bundle rises vertically and radially from
these pivots, squeezing it against an adjustable bridge bar lying crossways to the
sheaf; and near the tops of the closers there is a spiral spring interposed between
the power and the squeezer, so that the pressure can be set to any degree desired,
and it will act proportionally on small and large bundles; the squeezer when at
rest is lowest at the base end of the sheaf, thus giving room for the most bulkey
part; the squeezer in rising locks the closers, holding them rigidly in their place.
The band material is delivered through a band placer of piping, and the con-
tinuous supply lays the band in its position round the bundle, and also between
the jaws of the twister and holder; this placer and also its delivering mouth are
interchangeable with others, according to the tying material used, and according as
the material is continuous or in band lengths.
A band end twister consists chiefly of a straight bar and pair of jaws, having
their grasping surfaces horizontal, that is, making an angle of about 114° with the
bar; the lower jaw is fixed to the bar, and the upper moveable up and down, and
acted on by a spiral spring; these jaws are interchangeable with others, according to
the material used. The twister is placed, not vertically, but slopingly, as to the
horizontal lengthway axis of the sheaf squeezed, and makes such an angle (I
prefer about 24°) with the vertical, as that while the jaws are directly above the
band while the ends are being twisted, they pass to one side of it as the twister
descends, thus placing the ends of the band in a suitable position to be pushed
between the band and the bundle, the twister is revolved by a bevil cogged wheel
on a horizontal shaft, which in turn is revolved by a pinion on it being acted on by
a cogged segment, which in turn gets its motion by a short lever, on its axle being
acted on by a cam attachment on the outer side of the large cogged wheel, which
communicates the power from the driving wheel to the binder; the number of
revolutions is regulated with precision by altering the length of the short lever by a
set bolt and slot hole.
A band end inserter consists chiefly of an arm swung from a pivot, and having
attached a narrow plate notched at the end, which passes along a groove in the
lower twister jaw, and pushes the twisted ends of the band from between the
twister jaws, and inserts and leaves them between the band and the bundle, and
being snapped back by a spring leaves the ends inserted; it is allowed vertical play
only by a suitable guide and spring. Then there is a band end holder and cutter
consisting chiefly of two vertical bars close together, having a vertical motion, and
having a horizontal jaw at the lower end of each, the upper one being acted on by
a spiral spring; between these jaws the end of the band material is left by the
placer and there held till the placer returns from laying the band round the bundle,
when it is released after the band placer mouth has passed back between the jaws
of the twister, and after the twister jaws have closed on both ends of the band,
thus by the combined action of the twister and holder the ends of the band are
the cutting
always in the grasp of either till pushed between the band and bundle;
off is done by these jaws of the holder being drawn upward, thus pulling the mate-

page_text: rial against a blade pressing against the inner side of them, and making a small
angle with their vertical inner surface.
An ejector is employed, which consists chiefly of an arm fixed on a horizontal
shaft above the pivot end of the squeezer, and in a line with its longer axis; by a
partial revolution of the shaft the arm passes across and clear of the squeezer, and
meeting the sheaf near the band shoves it backwards down a suitable slope, when
the base touching the ground first it glides gently off the machine clear of its course
on the next round.
The power is taken from the large travelling wheel behind where the traction
power is attached, on the axle of which is a cogged wheel, which can be thrown into
or out of work at any moment; this drives two other cogged wheels, one in front
which works the lifter and bundle maker, and one above which works the binder;
on the axle of the latter are three specially shaped cams which with two side cam
attachments, acting on a special arrangement of levers, produce in each revolution
a complete set of actions necessary for binding the bundle.
The machine is designed for sheaves of five feet long, or under, and to make a
sheaf at about every eleven feet, and to follow right-hand swathe or bundle
delivery reapers, but can be constructed for any length of sheaf, or to make one
at any required distance, or to follow a left-hand side swathe on bundle delivery
reaper.
The machine will bind with any pliable material, and when wire is used the
inserter action may be dispensed with.
The machine is intended to be worked either independently, and drawn by any
tractive power, when a steersman only is required (except when single band lengths
of material are used, when a boy in addition is required to lay them in) or in con-
junction with steam or horse-power reapers, by detaching unnecessary parts and
attaching the remainder in a suitable way to the reaper.
When drawn by a horse there is a lever and catch arrangement provided, by
which when travelling the fore part is raised, lifting the castor wheels off the ground,
it then runs conveniently on the two hinder wheels only; the steersman is seated
over and behind the driving wheel, where his weight both increases its grip on the
ground and counterbalances the weight of the fore part of the machine.
Although I prefer the modes adopted of obtaining and communicating power for
the several actions, yet I do not limit myself to them; other arrangements may be
preferable under some circumstances.
The time and extent of each action are adjustable, and can be set in the most
suitable way for the work in hand,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Greene in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd October
1878.
THOMAS GREENE, of Millbrook, in the County of Kildare, Ireland. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COLLECTING AND CONVERTING CUT CORN AND OTHER
PRODUCE INTO BOUND SHEAVES OR BUNDLES."
My Invention consists of an improved machine for collecting and converting cut
corn and other produce into bound sheaves or bundles, especially with a view to
the converting of produce as left on the ground, by self delivery reapers into bound
bundles, but not limited to that purpose.
It is preferred to work it as a separate machine moved by any convenient power,
but it may be attached in whole or part to any other machine, as may be found
desirable. The description refers to left-hand machines, but the Invention is in-
tended to include right-hand ones also.
The following is a particular description of my Invention and the manner in
which it is or may be performed, and in order that it may be fully understood, I
shall refer to the following Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the driving wheel end of the machine.
Figure 1 is a part of the twisting system removed to simplify Figure 1.
Figures 2 and 3 are front and back elevations of the machine respectively.
Figure 4 is a plan with all the parts above the level of the squeezer removed.
Figure 5 is a back view of the holder and cutter.
Figure 6 is a view of the twister jaws, the bridge, the insertor finger, the band
and ranger, and the closer ends when closed.
Figure 7 is a view of the twister jaws and latch.
Figure 8 is a view of the band ends as fastened by the twister and inserter.
Figure 9 is a front view of the kinker.
Figure 10 is an end view of the operating parts of the kinker.
Figure 10 is a view of the fastening as modified by the kinker.
Figure 11 is a back view of the looper.
Figure 12 is a view of the operating parts of the looper and inserter finger.
When corresponding parts recur in Figures 1, 14, 2, 3, 4, they are mostly indi-
cated by the same letter of reference, and similarly for Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10ª,
11, 12.
Figures 1, 14, 2, 3, 4, are to the scale of one inch to one foot. Figures 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 11, 12, are to the scale of three inches to one foot. Figures 10, 10A, are full size.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTS, AND EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1, 14, 2, 3, 4, may be explained as follows:-The frame A is mounted on two
main wheels a' and a" of equal diameter, and one of which a¹ is the driving wheel,
and on two castor wheels alii, one at each front corner of the frame; on the uprights
b, b', of these, and under the frame A, there may be collars with set screws or
loose washers, and by adjusting such set screws or varying the number or thickness
of such washers, or by other equivalent means the height of the frame A, and thus
also that of the rake teeth f can be regulated; these uprights b, b', have fixed on
their tops short arms c, c, which are connected by a rod c¹ pivoted to them and
maintaining the castor wheels all in parallel planes. To the upright of the castor
wheel nearest to the driving wheel a¹, a handle c¹¹ is fixed, which lies within reach
of the steersman, by which means he can readily guide the machine into the most
advantageous position with regard to the crop.
The line of progression of the machine is in the direction of the arrow K³.
In the forward part of the frame A there is a shaft d, d, on which are fixed the
spur wheel d', also the cams d", d", also the lifting arms e, and also hung freely on

page_text: it, and mostly alternating with the fixed arms e, a set of rake-shaped teeth f; these
teeth are at their upper part continued forward and upward in a curve, then back-
ward as indicated at g, then downward, till they rest on the shaft x, forming a
platform from the rake or lifter to the squeezer z portion of binder, when at its
lowest point.
The lifting arms e have their forward edges towards their bases, projecting in-
creasingly in advance of the line which joins their extremities with the centre of
the shaft d, d, and serve to take the collected hauls out of the rake, and place
them in a suitably shaped bundle within the reach of the binder. The arms c are
sloped back so as to allow of the bundle being taken from them into the binder
without stopping.
At the points H, H, on the frame behind the shaft d, d, the levers H¹, H³, are
pivoted, and extend toward the front bar of the frame, and have pivoted into their
extremities there a bar H"; these levers have attached at that part of them which
lies directly above the shaft d, d, rollers i, i, which are acted on by the cams d¹¹, d",
on the rake shaft d; to the bar H¹¹ are fixed the teeth K (or else some continuous
material with a fluted surface) shaped as indicated. To either (or both) end of the
bar His fixed a lever (or levers) K1, having attached at the other end a stud
which projects into a guide slot hole K". The teeth K retain the bundle on the
lifter arms by means of the cams d, and have in descending, a peculiar sweeping-in
action which effectually collects the haulms, making them into a bundle suitable for
binding.
The bar H is for this purpose slightly revolved at the proper time by the
influence of the guide slot hole K", or action on the arm or lever K¹. Attached to
the front bar of the frame are the guide rods 1, shaped as indicated. W', W¹, are a
pair of closers acting in a vertical plane, grasping the bundle near where the band
lies, and retaining it in its position till bound. The wheel a¹¹ is mounted on an
ordinary axle stud. The wheel a¹ is fixed on an axle m, on which also is set
loosely the spur wheel m¹, working into the spur wheels and r, and also on the
shaft m; between the wheels a' and m¹ is a clutch n, with fork and lever fitted to
throw m into or out of gear with the driving wheel a¹; the clutches grip by
numerous sloped teeth; the lever handle is within reach of the steersman. Above
the shaft m is the shaft n', on which are fixed in this order respectively the cams
O, S, g, the spur wheel r, and the cam t (Figure 1A).
The cam O acts on the lever p, fixed to the weigh shaft p', on which also is fixed
the lever p², the end of which is connected to the lever p by the rod p³ pivoted to
both; the lever p* is fixed to the shaft p, to which also is attached an arm p, either
of piping or fitted with guide eyes, and with its end tubed to receive the band
material, and for about two inches turned at right angles in the direction away
from the driving wheel a¹; on this arm near its end is fixed the short stud p²; on
the shaft p is also fixed an arm p8, on the side of which is an eye which can be set
at any point along the arm. To the end of the lever på is pivoted also the stirrup
q', which contains a spiral spring, and through the lower end of which a rod q
passes loosely, and lying inside the spiral spring has on its upper part a screw and
set nut which bears against the top of the spiral spring; the lower end of the rod q³
is pivoted to the lever q³, having its fulcrum at 9, and its working end pivoted into
a slot in a universal joint in the end of the squeezer Z, Figures 2, 3, and 4. The
squeezer Z is a frame of longitudinal bars pivoted at or near its end z¹ to the frame;
it has a table of either light cross bars or continuous material; for part of the way
along the back edge from the end 2¹ where it is highest, and whence it lowers to a
point, there is fixed a retaining guard as indicated by Z, also at each side of Z are
fixed projections with cranks, which though free of the closers W₁, W', when Z is at
its lowest point, yet on its being raised, pass partially outside of the closers, locking
them in their closed position.
The camo acts also on the lever o', Figure 1, which is fixed on the weigh shaft o³,
on which also is fixed the lever o³, a point of which near its end is connected to the
levers 0, 0, by the rods o*, o, pivoted to both; these levers 05, 0%, are fixed on the

page_text: shafts x and y, on which also are fixed the closer arms W, W, and W¹, W, of
the shapes indicated respectively. At the far end of the shaft x is fixed a lever of,
which is connected to the lever 08 by a bar o', jointed to both Figures 2 and 3,
which lever o8 is hung on the shaft o by an elongated slot, and projects shortly
backward. On the shaft o' is set a spiral spring, which bears against the side of
the lever 08, at the other side of which and fixed to the shaft o³, and also projecting
shortly backward is a shorter lever o¹º, having on its side next to the lever o³ a
projection flat and wide on top, and narrowing downward with a sloping guide
surface. On the frame just outside the path of the lever o¹0 is fixed a projection,
wide at the bottom and narrowing upward with a sloping guide surface. Toward
the other end of the shaft oº is set a spiral spring, tending to revolve the shaft o³, as
indicated by the arrow, Figure 2. At the inner end of the shaft o° is fixed an
arm o¹⁹
The cam 8 acts on the lever 8', Figure 1, which is fixed to the weigh shaft 82, on
which also is fixed a lever g³, having its end forked and clasping loosely the lever Vs.
The cam s acts also on the lever 8, Figure 1, fixed to the weigh shaft 86, on which
also is fixed the lever 87, which is attached to the end of the lever o³ by links
jointed to both. The cam 8 acts also on the lever 88, Figure 1, which is fixed to the
weigh shaft 8, to which also is fixed the lever 80, Figure 3, which is connected to
the lever 8 by the rod 81%, jointed to both. The lever 8" is fixed to the weigh
shaft 813, to which also is fixed the arm 81%, which at its other end is jointed to the
end of the inserter bar 815, and its continuation is attached to a spiral spring fixed,
as indicated in Figure 3, on the weigh shaft 8¹³ Beside the arm 8¹ is hung loosely
a lever 87, Figures 2 and 3, which has a projection preventing its passing the con-
tinuation of the arm 8; this lever 817 is connected to the lever Vs by a rod 816
pivoted to it, and on a stud on the lever V³, as indicated. The inserter 815 plays
freely in the guide 818, and at about its half length it is attached to a spiral spring,
fixed as indicated at Figures 2 and 3. The free end or finger 82% of the inserter is
for some distance a flat bar with a tapered notched end (see explanation of
Figure 7, later on), and with its flat surface vertical or horizontal, but I prefer it
the latter.
The cam 9 acts on the lever V, Figure 1, which is fixed on the weigh shaft V¹,
on which also is fixed the lever V2, having its end forked, and clasping loosely the
end of the lever Vs; this lever Vs has its fulcrum at V, Figure 2, and has its end
forked and slotted to the ring or sleeve Vo, which is set loosely on the twist bar V
between two fixed collars. The twist bar V6, Figure 2, is set slopingly, that is,
making an angle of about 24° with the vertical. At the upper end of the twist
bar Ve two studs project from the middle of the twist bar at opposite sides and at
right angles with it and close to the bar, but below the plane in which the studs
revolve is fixed to the frame a guide with two slopes, which guide the studs so that
when the twist bar Vo is lowered its jaws shall descend in the most suitable position
with regard to the inserter 815 and the bridge t¹, t', Figures 2 and 3.
The twister jaws are at the lower end of the twist bar Vo, and are particularly
described further on with regard to Figure 7. At the side of the twist bar Vo
furthest from the driving wheel, is a lever V8, having its fulcrum at V, and which
by a spiral spring attached to it at V, as indicated, has the latch projection V" at
its lower end pressed towards the twist bar V6, and when the plate V7 is at its
highest position, capable of catching under it (see explanation of Figure 7) further
on. The lever V8 is attached at about its middle to a curved lever V12, which is
jointed to the frame at V13, and passes round so as to come within the play of the
upper part of the lever V1; this lever V has hung on its lower end an attach-
ment V10, which is within the scope of the stud p' on the band placer arm po, but
so hung and shaped that it carries the lever with it only when the arm p³ is passing
up, but is swung idly when the arm p6 is passing back downwards.
On the outer side of the cam q is a stud which acts on a lever V18, Figure 1,
which is hung on the shaft t5, and notched so that it can pass over the lever V³
when depressed to a certain point.

page_text: On the outer side of the cam q is also a projection 20, Figure 1, which acts on a
lever, Figure 1, fixed on a weight shaft, to which is fixed also another lever 13,
having its other end slotted and clasping the end of the lever 24, Figure 3, which
has its fulcrum at 5, and is at its other end jointed to the vertical bar 6 that forms
part of the holder and cutter (see further on with regard to Figure 5). The lever 21
has fixed to it a spiral spring which is also fixed to the frame as shewn (which
spring must be of such power as to overcome the force of that between the stops
a7 and as, Figure 5.
The cam t, Figure 1^, acts on a lever t¹, which is fixed to a weigh shaft t², to
which also is fixed a segment t³, which works into a ratchet pinion 4, Figures 2
and 3, on the shaft to, and locking with it when revolving left-handed, but running
idle when revolving right-handed. There is also on the shaft to a simple ratchet
arrangement preventing its revolving right-handed; at the end of the shaft thore
is a small bevel wheel t7, which works into the bevel pinion ts, set on the twist
bar V, with a sunk key so that the bar may pass up and down through it, but
must revolve with it; on the weigh shaft t2 is fixed an arm to, and set loosely on it
is also a slotted quadrant 10, to which the arm can be set firm at any point; there
is on the frame a stop t¹ which the quadrant t¹0 cannot pass.
Suitably fixed to the frame is a bridge t', t¹, lying directly above and across the
squeezer Z, and slightly below and near the tops of the closers W¹, W', when closed,
and at their side furthest from the driving wheel a¹.
To a weigh shaft jointed at the back end of the bridge t¹, t, are fixed a pair of
levers, one (³, t³, Figure 6) with its end turned at right angles towards the driving
wheel, the turned part passing under the bridge t¹, t, from behind near the front
closer top W'; the other lever is shaped so that its end lies in the path of a vertical
dog 8, Figures 2 and 3; on the top of the inserter 815 a spiral spring returns
these levers to their position. This contrivance is called a ranger, and will be
further described in the explanation of Figure 6.
To the frame behind the driving wheel a¹ is fixed the support of the steersman's
seat, see Figure 1, and near it is fixed a two-armed pedestal for receiving the recl
on which the binding material is wound, as shewn. At K², Figures 1 and 4, is
fixed horizontally a pin K³, on which, as shewn, is a tension groove pulley, a spiral
spring, and an adjusting nut.
The holder and cutter in Figure 5 may be explained as follows:-In guide holes
in the fixed horizontal plates a and a', the three bars a², 6, a³, fit freely; to a²
is fixed the jaw a; to 6, the jaw as; to a³, the jaw a; on the bar a² is fixed
the stop a, which encloses the other two bars also, but works freely on them;
on the bar a is similarly fixed the stop a³, and between these stops and round
the three bars is set a spiral spring; the stops are so fixed on the bars as that
if they rested against the plates a and a¹, the space between the jaws a' and aº,
would be about one, and one-half inches; the jaw a³ must be deeper than this
space, that is, about one and three-quarter inches deep (or if other sizes, in a similar
proportion); the result of this arrangement is, that the band end a being held
between as and a", will, on 26 being depressed by the lever (see Figure 3), not
be let go by them until it has first been grasped between a and a*.
To the inner side of the jaw a is fixed parallel with it a bar with its top edge
level with the top surface of the jaw a³, as shewn, dotted behind, but set sufficiently
far from it to allow of the passage freely between of the blade 77, which is fixed to
the frame; the blade 7 is set so that it reaches to the plane of the lower surface of
the jaw a', when the jaw at is at its lowest point, but does not extend below it.
Figure 6 may be explained as follows:-t, t¹, is the bridge set at the other
side of the closer tops w₁, w', from the driving wheel, the bottom of the lower
jaw c (see Figure 7) of the twister when at its lowest point, is below the
under edge of the bridge t¹, t¹, and therefore is pressed somewhat into the sheaf,
and below the band, and consequently the band ends a20, when pushed forward by
the inserter finger 822, pass under the band, that is, between the band and the sheaf;
this result is still further insured by the deep concavity at the under side, of about one
"

page_text: third of the backward part of the bridge t', t, for the part of the bundle pushed into
it tends to elevate the whole part of the band which lies on the upper side of the
bundle; 3, 3, is the ranger; its effect is to range the band ends 20 in such a way
as that their point of junction a' shall be aside from the path of the twister, and
also so that the band ends to be twisted shall be together, thereby conducing to the
firmness of the fastening by tending to distribute the twist towards the point of
junction a7 of the band ends; the end of the ranger t³, ts, is withdrawn from the
band ends a20 as they are being pushed under the band by the inserter finger 8²².
Figure 7 may be explained as follows:- is the twist bar (see Figures 2 and 3);
c' is the plate connecting the lower and fixed jaw c² to the twist bar end; c, c, are
the plates connecting the upper and moveable jaw c¹ with the plate v (see Figure 3),
which is perforated to admit the twist bar end, and which has play up and down
it; c is a spiral spring round the twist bar, and acting on the plate ; c is a pro-
jecting bar fixed to the plates c³, c³, and by the coming in contact of which with the
bridge (t, t, Figure 6) in the descent of the twist bar v6, the jaws c2 and care
slightly separated when the twist bar is at its lowest point, thus allowing the
band ends 20 to be removed from between them by the inserted finger (, Figure 6);
is a latch-shaped projection on the end of the lever v (see Figure 3); it catches
under the edge of the plate v when the twist bar ve is at its highest point, but (as
an obvious result of the shape of the cam q, Figure 1) the twist-bar is immediately
lowered, carrying down with it its fixed lower jaw c², but leaving suspended by the
the catch its movable upper jaw c until the space between them is about one
and one-half inches; this position remains until both band ends are placed between
the jaws c and c, and the stud p7 (Figure 3) acts on the trigger system for with-
drawing the latch vll; the grasping surfaces of the jaws are at an angle of about
114° with the axis of the twister, that is, about horizontal; the under jaw c² lies.
altogether at one, the backward side of the plane containing the axis of the twist
bar ; the upper jaw c¹ has an extension which passes downward at the front
side of the jaw c², this extension is grooved on its under side, and along this groove
one prong of the notched end of the inserter finger (822, Figures 6 and 8) presses
and glides, and the other prong along the under side of the jaw c²; but as the
band ends a lie across this groove, but not across the under side of the jaw c²,
they are necessarily caught in the notch of the inserter finger (822, Figures 6
and 8) and carried forward between the band and the sheaf.
Figure 8 may be explained as follows:-The band ends a 20 have been twisted
left-handed, that is, in the direction of the arrow, and pressed past the band into
the sheaf, and have been pushed between the band and the sheaf, the ranger has been
withdrawn from the band ends, and the inserter finger is about to retire, leaving the
band ends a20 inserted, and the fastening as it is, when neither the kinker nor looper
is used; when either of these is used, the ranger ts, t³, may be removed as the kinker
blade (a, Figures 9 and 10) in one case, and the looper jaw (a7, Figures 11 and 12)
in the other, have a similar function. Let it be observed that the band ends a 2⁰ being
twisted left-handed are pushed forward under that part of the band to the left
of their junction a to a person looking along the sheaf from base to grain end;
and that the junction a lies in front of the twister bar (see Figure 6).
Figure 9 may be explained as follows:-The frame a is attached at a', and a¹
to the frame of the machine at b* and 6x (see Figure 2); a² is a shaft, having
freedom to revolve only, and having on it the small pinion a³, its other end a*
(kinker blade) is shaped like a blade having its back edge in the line of the axis of
the shaft as, the back corner as of the end of the blade is turned down, the pinion a³
works into a rack b, whose continuation 62, 62, passes through the guides b", b³, and
is jointed to a stud near the forked end of the lever, see Figure 2; sliding on the
shaft a² is a bar a°, shaped as indicated; its turned-down end d lies against the end
of the spiral spring d; this bar has play only along the shaft a², and has attached
to it a stud b, which can be set anywhere along it, and which lies in the path of
the lever 8 (see Figures 2 and 3); the bar a° passes through a guide at 65, and
beyond where it is jointed on the shaft a³, it becomes flat; 6° (pushing blade) with

page_text: its outer edge 67 turned up, and its corner 68 at the end of the other edge turned
down.
In Figure 10, a' is the end of the kinker blade (a*, Figure 9), and a³ its corner
turned down; 60 is the end of the kinker pushing blade (6, Figure 9) with its outer
edge turned up, 67, and its inner corner turned down, 68, the band ends at are just
about to be pushed off a' by be, the dotted lines indicate the position of a before
the action of the kinker begins; Figure 10ª is a view of the fastening, as modified
by the kinker.
Figure 11 may be explained as follows:-The bearings a and a¹, which are
attached to the frame of the machine at c* and c* (see Figure 3) have set in them
the vertical bar a; round this bar and between the bearings a and a¹ is set a
spiral spring as tending to revolve the bar a³ in the direction of the arrow; below
the bearing a¹ is a spiral spring a* which returns to its place the short lever a,
which is set on the bar a³, so that it revolves the bar a³ with it, when moving in the
direction of the arrow, but does not when moving in the opposite direction; this
lever a lies in the path of the dog 821 on the inserter 815 (Figures 2 and 3); at the
lower end of the bar a is fixed the arm a7, which lies below and across the path of
the inserter 815 (Figures 2 and 3); to the end of the arm a is fixed the recurved
looper jaw a, and at tho under side of this jaw is the spring jaw as, arched down-
wards and held by the screw a in contact with the jaw a at its end a10, where
it is set loosely on two or more studs, and at its end a where both jaws are
suitably lipped to receive the inserter finger 823 (Figure 12) and roughened on their
inner surfaces to retain the band ends.
In Figure 12 a is the top fixed looper jaw of the looper, the inserter finger 8" is
about to retire, leaving the band ends a grasped between the jaws. The second
figure is of the fastening, as modified by the looper.
I shall now describe the mode of operation of the machine, referring chiefly to
Figures 1, 14, 2, 3, 4.
As the machine is moved forward in the direction of the arrow the rake teeth f
collect the produce, the retainer is then allowed by the cams d", d", to descend, and
in its descent the bar " is partially rotated by the action of the guide slot k" on
the lever, so that the ends of its teeth k arrive near the ground considerably in
front of the ends of the rake teeth f, and in front of the produce collected by them,
the retainer teeth & then pass backward, their lower part passing under the collected
produce until their extremities lie between and somewhat past the ends of the rake
teeth f, the lifter arms e are meanwhile passing between the rake teeth f from behind,
and now push the produce forward out of the rake and along the retainer teeth k
until the ends of the lifter arms e reach a little past the ends of the retainer teeth k,
when the retainer begins to be lifted by the cams d¹¹, d¹¹, and retraces its course as
already described; the ends of the lifter arms e always slightly cross the retainer
teeth k, or in case a fluted material be used, always reach into the concave flutes,
and thus the produce is retained on the lifter arms e till they are nearly horizontal,
and their ends begin to pass between the guide rods, the retainer being now at its
highest position remains so, permitting a new supply of produce to pass under to the
rake, until permitted by the cams d, d", to descend; these cams d, d", are shaped
according to the nature of the work likely to be met with, the lifter arms e now
carry on the produce till it rests on the platform of bars g formed by the continu-
ations of the rake teeth f, but the front closer arms w' and w, now in their open
position, are lying alternate with these bars g and below their level, and as soon as
the advanced edges of the lifter arms e near their bases have passed the extremities
of these closer arms w₁ and w they begin to rise, taking the produce from the lifter
arms e and moving it on to the squeezer z.
It will be seen that in consequence of the front edges of the lifter arms e being
sloped increasingly forwards towards their bases the ends of the front closer arms
o and w do not cross them more than slightly while passing along them, although
the lifter arms continue their usual revolving motion.
The closing of the closers is effected by the camo acting on the lever
o and

page_text: .
moving the lever 03, which being connected to the levers 0%, 05, on the closer shafts
x and y partially revolve them, and the closer arms w¹ and w¹, and w, w, with
'them.
The produce now lying in a bundle between the closer arms W₁ and W₁ and
W, W, and on the squeezer z, the squeezer z rises at one end, pressing the bundle
against the bridge t¹, t', (see also Figure 6), and this is effected as follows:-The
cam o acts on the lever p, and so moves the lever p² which raises the stirrup q¹,
which, through the medium of the spiral spring and rod q², raises the end of the
lever attached to the squeezer z. It will be seen that by adjusting the nut on
the end of the rod q2 lying within the spiral spring any pressure desired can be put
by the squeezer Z on the bundle.
The cam o is shaped to retain the squeezer z elevated until the fastening of the
band ends is completed.
The produce in being conveyed to the squeezer z pushes before it the band
material, which, being held at its end between the jaws a¹ and as (Figure 5) of the
holder had been lying between the twister jaws (c³ and c, Figure 7), and to the
front of the band end ranger (s, t, Figure 6) (or parts of the kinker or looper
which fulfil a similar function), and to where it emerges from the end of the placer
arm p, thence it passes either through the band placer p and axle po made tubular
or along them through suitable guides, and then through the eye on the arm p³ and
round the tension pulley on the pin K³, and thence to the supply.
The placer arm p is worked as follows:-The lever p², besides raising the
stirrup q', also at the same time moves the rod ps which moves the lever pt, thereby
partially rotating the shaft p which carries with it the placer arm pº, the turn on
the end of which passes between the twister jaws (cs and c, Figure 7), and between
the jaws (a³ and a6, Figure 5) of the holder and cutter, having laid the material
round the bundle and between said jaws with whatever tension the tension system
at K is set to, and rests at a short distance behind the holder jaws until allowed by
the cam o to return; but in its course it has, by the action of its stud p7 on the
trigger system V1, set free the upper jaw of the twister, which, by the force of the
spiral spring (co, Figure 7), descends on the lower jaw, grasping between them both
ends of the band material, consequently when the band placer po has arrived at its
high position of rest we find that the band material lies and is held between the
jaws a and a (Figure 5) of the holder and the twister jaws c² and c¹ (Figure 7),
and lies outside the band ranger (s, t, Figure 6) and round the bundle, and then
again outside the band ranger and between the twister jaws (now grasping both
ends of the band), and on between the open jaws as and a (Figure 5) of the holder
and cutter to the end of the band placer now at the back of the holder and cutter ;
but now the jaw a³ (Figure 5) of the holder rises, releasing the end of the band
from between the jaws as and a* (Figure 5), and seizing the part of the band
material lying between the placer end and the twister jaws between the jaws a³
and a (Figure 5), and cutting it off at their side next the twister jaws by drawing
it upward against the blade (Figure 5).
As the placer arm po rises the arm 28 is depressed, drawing over the tension
pulley on K³ an extra supply of band material, which becomes available for being
laid out for the next bundle on the descent of the placer arm pe; by adjusting the
eye along the arm p8 this extra quantity can be regulated. The band being now
cut off from the supply and both its ends held between the twister jaws, the twister
is revolved as follows:-The cam t acting on the lever t' moves the segment t³
through part of a revolution, when the cam t having passed on the segment t³ is
returned by a spiral spring till the quadrant to meets the stop t", and it will be
seen that it returns its whole length or part, according to where the arm to is set on
the quadrant t10, and that the extent of its revolution on the cam t meeting the
lever t¹, and consequently the number of twists given to the twine depends on
where the arm to is set to the quadrant to, the pinion and shaft to and bevil
wheel tare revolved by the segment ³, and the bevil wheel t7 revolves the bevil
pinion, and so the twist bar Yo. The band ends being now suitably twisted the

page_text: twist bar Ve is made to descend in the line of its sloping axis, and the twister jaws
that were directly over the band, when the band ends were being twisted, are now
pressed slightly into the sheaf at the side of the band next to the driving wheel a',
the jaws being guided into the proper position with regard to the bridge t¹, t, and
the inserter 8 by the action of a double-sloped guide on studs in the twist bar V6.
(The description of the remainder of the fastening process, with or without the
aid of the kinker or looper, will be found in the explanation of the Figures of
details 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10ª, 11, 12.)
The inserter 85 having removed the band ends from between the twister jaws
(slightly opened when at the lowest point by the stop c² meeting the bridge t¹, t',
Figure 6), and placed them between the band and the bundle, is returned to its
normal position with a jerk motion by the action of the spiral spring attached to its
continuation (or if it remain it is withdrawn by the lever 817, which, being connected
by the bar ste to the lever V3, is moved forward when its forked end rises), and the
twist bar V6 is raised to its highest position when the latch V (Figure 7) catching
under the plate V, and the twist bar V6, with its lower jaw c² (Figure 7) being
lowered a short way (by the cam 7, and retained so till after the upper jaw c
(Figure 7) is released by the latch V, when the twist bar V6 is held in position
during the twisting by means of the notched lever V18) a space is left between the
lower and upper jaws (c² and c, Figure 7) of the twist bar Ve sufficient to allow
the placer end to pass freely through. The cam o now allows the squeezer z to
descend and the placer po to pass back to its low position, leaving the band material
held between the holder jaws a³ and a (Figure 5), and lying between the open
holder jaws as and a (Figure 5) and the open twister jaws (c² and ct, Figure 7),
and laid out ready for the next bundle. The jaw a³ (Figure 5) of the holder is
now lowered, and, first seizing the band material between it and the jaw a¹ (Figure 5),
lets go its hold of it between it and the jaw a (Figure 5), and now all the jaws are
in position for the placer p6 in its next upward movement.
The holder and cutter is worked by the projection and the spiral spring, as
indicated, acting on the lever r, and so moving the lever which clasps the end of
the lever, whose other end is pivoted to the middle bar of the holder and
cutter.
The elevating and depressing of the twist bar V6 is effected by the cams 8 and q
respectively acting on the levers 8' and v, and so moving the levers 8 and V2, which
clasp the end of the lever V³ attached at its other end to the twist bar V,
when the squeezer z falls to its lowest point; the closers w¹ and w', and w, w, are
then moved to their open position by the cam s acting on the levers, and so moving
the lever 87 attached to the extremity of the lever 03. The sheaf is now ejected by
a lever o on the closer shaft x, being connected to and moving the lever o³, which,
catching against the projection on the lever 010, moves the shaft o' through a partial
revolution, and causes the arm o to pass backward across and just free of the
squeezer Z at its lowest position, moving the bound sheaf off it down a suitably
shaped sloped platform behind, till, touching the ground base first, it is left gently
on the ground by the advance of the machine.
The lever os in its downward movement is at last pushed sideways off the
projection on the lever oto by the guide-sloped projection on the frame, and the
arm o¹ is then returned to its normal position by the action of the spiral spring on
its shaft o'. When the closers are again being raised the lever o returns the lever 08
to its position above the projection on the lever o⁰ assisted by the side press of the
spiral spring on the shaft o
Power to work the machine is derived from the travelling wheel a¹, and communi-
cated by the cogged wheel m¹ to the cogged wheel d' to work the lifter contrivance,
and to the cogged wheel ? to work the binder contrivance; the wheels and d are
of the same size, and a complete action of the machine takes place on each revolution
of them.
?'
The rake is always in action; and the machine may be planned by replacing the
wheels d' and r and m¹ with others of suitable relative sizes to lift and bind at any

page_text: fixed interval; but the steersman can, by throwing the clutch n out of gear, at any
time delay the lifting and binding for any longer interval.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that, without limiting myself to
the details given so far as they may be varied or modified without departing from
the special nature of my said Invention, I claim, substantially as herein described, -
First. The general combination of parts and their shapes, and of movements and
their nature and order where the result depends on such combination, nature, and
order, as described, and as illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In a machine employed for the purposes here set forth. Hanging the
foreframe of the machine on pivot or castor wheels used for guiding the machine,
and on whose uprights the foreframe is raised or lowered in order to regulate the
height of the rake from the ground.
Third. Unloading produce from the rake teeth by arms passing between them
from behind and attached to a shaft on which the rake teeth are hung.
Fourth. Using said arins with their front or working edges sloped towards their
bases increasingly forward from the straight line, joining their extremities with
their axis of revolution.
Fifth. Using continuations of the rake teeth to form a platform, the weight of
which and that of any produce on it tends to counterbalance pressure against the
front of the rake.
Sixth. Squeezing the bundle by a radially moving framework pivoted near where
the grain end of the bundle lies.
Seventh. Using a band-end twister with axis making an appreciable angle with
the plane of cross section of the squeezer bundle, and having longitudinal motion in
the line of said axis.
Eighth. The retainer contrivance, as described, whereby the produce is swept into
the rake and retained on the lifter arms, but the admission of a fresh load to the
rake not interfered with.
Ninth. The twister jaws contrivance, as described, whereby the band ends are
placed suitably for being acted on by the inserter finger.
Tenth. The holder and cutter contrivance, as described, whereby one part of the
band material is never released until some other part nearer to the band placer
mouth is seized.
Eleventh. The inserter contrivance, as described, whereby the band ends are taken
from between the twister jaws, and placed and left between the band and the sheaf
(and also between the jaws of the looper when it is used).
Twelfth. The looper contrivance, as described, whereby the looped finish is
produced in the fastening.
Thirteenth. The kinker contrivance, as described, whereby the kinked finish is
produced in the fastening.
Fourteenth. The twister contrivance, as described, whereby the band ends are
twisted together in a special direction and the number of twists regulated.
Fifteenth. The ejector contrivance, as described, for working an ejecting arm.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Greene, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
THOMAS GREENE. (L.S.)