IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES, AND IN SHEAF BINDING MECHANISM FOR SUCH MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: 21.
LETTERS PATENT to Philip Charles Evans and Philip James Evans, both of
Brimscombe, in the County of Gloucester, and Henry James Hogg King, of
Newmarket, in the same County, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES, AND IN SHEAF BINDING MECHANISM FOR
SUCH MACHINES."
Sealed the 24th June 1879, and dated the 27th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip Charles Evans, Philip
James Evans, and Henry James Hogg King at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents on the 27th December 1878.
PHILIP CHARLES EVANS and PHILIP JAMES EVANS, both of Brimscombe, in the
County of Gloucester, and HENRY JAMES HOGG KING, of Newmarket, in the same
County. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES, AND IN SHEAF
BINDING MECHANISM FOR SUCH MACHINES."
This Invention has for its object to improve the construction, action, and efficiency
of various parts of reaping and mowing machines, and comprises various improve-
ments which are applicable in combination with each other or to existing
arrangements of such machines. One main part of the Invention relates principally
to the parts of the machine concerned in the cutting of the crop and in its reception
and transference to delivering or sheaf binding apparatus, whilst another main part
comprises improved mechanism for binding sheaves of the crop with string or other
suitable material, and for knotting the binding material.
In carrying out the first part of the Invention according to one modification the
machine is made with a frame of a circular or approximately circular form in plan,
and of a diameter equal to about twice the breadth to be cut. The cutting action takes
place at the forward quadrant of the frame at one side, there being fingers fixed at this
part such as are combined with the knives of ordinary reaping machines, but curved
at the side to guide the crop properly to the knives. The knives, which may work
above or beneath the fingers or in slots in them are fixed on the edge of a circular disc

page_text: mounted in a horizontal or inclined position, and cut the crop as the disc revolves,
and this disc at the same time forms a circular rotating platform which receives the
crop as it falls, and carries it round to the back quadrants. The crop is laid over
towards the cutters by an ordinary reel placed at an angle if necessary, or by a reel
having its rails or bars curved or inclined so as to be further from its shaft at the
side where the curve of the cutter disc takes the cutters further back. Or raking
apparatus of the kind used in some existing machines may be used instead of the
reel. The machine is mounted on two or more wheels, and the rotating platform
and laying reel, together with other parts, are worked by gearing from one or more
of such wheels, the construction of the machine admitting of the gearing being
arranged simply and conveniently.
The rotating platform is made with a number of annular grooves, and at the
part where the crop is to leave the platform there is an inclined guide, or series of
guides, having points, which enter the grooves so as to get under the crop. The
motion imparted to the crop by the rotation of the platform may be sufficient to
carry it as far up or over the inclined guide as is necessary, or various elevating
appliances may be used in addition to or instead of the inclined guides, such as an
endless apron with or without projections or catching pieces or a pair of endless
aprons leading the crop up between them, or a series of revolving shafts with
curved arms working up in inclined guide slots. A reel with flexible arms or with
bars fitted with brushes or strips of leather may be arranged to rotate above the
bottom inclined guides to aid the ascent of the crop.
Similar or other suitable
reels or wheels with points or simply hanging rods or. blades may also be arranged
above the platform at any part where their action may be desirable for directing or
arranging the crop as it passes them so as to form good sheaves. The crop may
also be gathered up from the rotating platform by means of a rotating rake con-
sisting of a horizontal or slightly inclined shaft carrying three or other number of
Bets of curved prongs, the points of which dip into the platform grooves, in which
case the stationary inclined guides may be dispensed with. The points of the
prongs may be made flexible or with joints, springs, and stops so as to ease and
improve their action. The apparatus hereinbefore described, or parts thereof, may
be combined with any suitable reaping or mowing machines, or it or they may be
combined with mechanism by which the crop is bound in sheaves with string fixed by
twisting as described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to Henry James
Hogg King, one of the present applicants, and dated 9 July 1877 (No. 2638), or it may
be combined with sheaf binding mechanism arranged to knot the string or binding
material, and such as is described in the Provisional Specification relative to Letters
Patent granted also to Henry James Hogg King, and dated 9 July 1878 (No. 2740),
or any other suitable known binding mechanism. The horses or other motive
power for working and propelling the above described circular reaping or mowing
machine may be placed in the position most convenient and effectual for their intended
use, but in case of its being placed behind the machine the guiding fingers may be
extended either partly or wholly over both of the front quadrants of the frame, and
may be used for reaping or mowing only, that is, without the binding apparatus.
Another arrangement consists in the application of the binding mechanisms described
hereinafter and in the Specifications of Letters Patents granted also to Henry
James Hogg King and to Ernest George Cook Bomford, and dated 15 March 1876
(No. 1112), and of the Letters Patents granted to Henry James Hogg King; to a
reaping machine, in which the motive power is placed behind the machine, the crop
being cut as in the ordinary reaping machine and transferred to the binder by an
endless apron or aprons or other mechanism. The present applicants however
prefer to combine the hereinbefore described apparatus with improved sheaf
binding and string knotting apparatus constituting the second part of the present
Invention and hereinafter described.
The moving parts of the improved sheaf binding apparatus are driven by a
longitudinal shaft receiving its motion from the main gearing through a pair of
conical pulleys, and a belt admitting of the relative speeds being adjusted for

page_text: different circumstances; and the longitudinal shaft which may be termed the
first-motion shaft of the binding apparatus is provided with a clutch, the hand lever
of which is under the control of the driver of the reaping machine, so that he can
start and stop the binding apparatus as required. By means of a worm and worm-
wheel, the first-motion shaft drives a multiple cam plate mounted on a stud, and
this cam plate is formed with several cam grooves and with toothed sectors for
moving various details. Through bevel wheels the first-motion shaft also drives a
nearly vertical shaft, which by a worm and worn-wheel drives a short shaft,
having on it a crank, a cam, and a bevil-toothed sector, and hereinafter termed the
crank shaft. The crank pin of the crank shaft acts in a curved slot in one arm of
a bell-crank lever, the other arm of which is connected to a vertically guided slide,
having fixed to it a vertical bar hereinafter termed the needle. The needle to
which suitable vertical movements are imparted by the parts just described, has an
eye near its bottom pointed end, through which eye the string (which term horein-
after denotes any suitable binding material), passes from the back or inner side to
the outer side. At the outer side the needle is formed with a projection through
which the eye passes, and which is made with wedge points above and below the
eye, and in a recess in the needle there is fitted a small lever nipper acted on by a
spring, which nipper prevents the return backwards of the string whilst allowing it
to go forwards quite freely. When the needle is in its lowest position, its point
projects down a short distance below an opening in what may be termed the
binder cradle; this cradle, which is higher at its inner side, receiving the crop over
its inner side, from whatever elevating apparatus is used to transfer it from the
platform of the reaping machine. When about to bind a sheaf, the needle rises, and
the string, its end being then held below the cradle, is stretched vertically in front
of the portion of crop to form the sheaf, but can run out freely from the needle eye.
The sheaf is then pushed outwards by one (or more) of a pair (or more) of
diametrically opposite arms on a horizontrl shaft driven intermittently from the
crank shaft, the arm or arms dividing the sheaf from the succeeding portions of
crop. The sheaf moving thus outwards carries the string with it so that it becomes
applied round its bottom and front part, and the needle next descending with the
sheaf on its outer side completes the encirclement by the string. The two parts of
the string come together at a part of the sheaf about the middle of its inner side,
and at about the time of their coming together, considerable strain is put on the
string by a brake applied by means of a spring regulated by a cam on the crank
shaft to a pair of pulleys between which the string passes on its way from a bobbin
or ball to the needle; this strain on the string causing it to tighten upon the sheaf
to an extent sufficiently in excess to what is finally required to compensate for a
slight slackening which unavoidably takes place after the knot is completed, but
which is in this machine reduced to a minimum. As the needle passes onwards
down through the cradle, a shoulder on it nips both parts of the string against the
front edge of the opening in the cradle bottom, and prevents slipping of the string
whilst being knotted. The knotter details are immediately below the point where
the string is nipped, and consist of a fixed tube having inside and completely filling
it two inner bars, and outside of it a curved fork or hook. At a level sufficiently
below the knotter to give the length of ends required for the knot, there is a disc
knife on a spindle driven rapidly by means of a belt and pulleys, or otherwise from
the first-motion shaft, the strings being pushed against the edge of this knife at
the proper time by a horizontal slide worked by a groove on the under side of the
multiple cam plate. The outside knotter hook which has rotatory and longitudinal
movements imparted to it by the multiple cam plate, lays the two string ends round
the inside knotter bars, firstly at the outer side of the parts of the string lying
between the knotter and the sheaf, and secondly at the back of those parts. One
inside knotter bar projects beyond the other, and is formed with a half arrow-head
which projects laterally in front of the end of the other inside bar, so as when not
in contact therewith to form a notch, and into this notch the outside knotter hook
lays the string ends at its second part turn round the fixed tube. The more

page_text: projecting inside knotter bar is next drawn inwards by means of a groove on the
multiple cam plate, and first nipping the string ends against the other inside bar
moves with the latter against the resistance of a spring, so as to draw the string
ends through the loop formed by their being laid round the bars, and by drawing
the ends into the fixed tube, tightens the knot against the end of that tube. When
the knot has thus been tightened, the inside knotter bars are moved outwards from
the fixed tube again to release the knot, and the needle rising at the same time
removes the nip at its shoulder, and the sheaf is then ready to be removed from the
cradle by the next action of the dividing arms or otherwise.
At the cutting of the string, a short length is left extending from the needle eye,
and when the needle rises, the slide which pushed the strings against the disc knife
is in such a position that the wedge projection at the eye passes up through a
nipping contrivance on the slide which catches and holds the end of the string
ready for the next binding operation. The nipping contrivance consists of a part
fixed on the slide, and a lever piece acted on by a spring, and the string passes
between the fixed part and the lever piece, which latter is centred as that its
nipping action increases with the pull on the string. At each cutting operation a
bit of string is left in the nipping contrivance, but by a continuation of the move-
ment of the slide the nipper is opened by coming against a fixed stop, and the
short piece of string drops out or is knocked out by an arm on the spindle of the
knife, or the knife may be placed below the nipper instead of above it, in which
case there will be no loose end of string left in the nipper.
The disc knife may be sharpened by applying a stone or sharpener to it whilst it
rotates, and such sharpener may be on or attached to a slide or spring which can be
moved into position for sharpening whilst the machine is working.
To assist the string in tightening the sheaf, a compressing arm may be used
attached or connected to the needle or to the lever working the needle.
The intermittently rotating arms hereinbefore described as for dividing each
portion of crop from what follows may be jointed to the centre carrying them, and
be acted on by a stationary cam groove so as to move more quickly when descending,
and thereby make a better separation between the portions of crop. Instead of
the pair of rotating arms, there may be a single vibrating arm consisting of an
outer part jointed to a short arm or crank, so as to fold when returning back and
upwards after each downward stroke. With this arrangement the outer jointed
part of the arm is drawn upwards out of the crop when moving back for a fresh
stroke. Or by another arrangement a rake or arm may be mounted on the pin of
a rotating crank which lifts it up during the return stroke, a curved guide slot
controlling the movement by acting on a stud or roller on the rake, or again such
rake may be carried by an endless chain which will give it the desired movement.
The binding and knotting mechanism hereinbefore described instead of being as
a whole, stationary. relatively to the main parts of the machine, may be arranged to
move outwards whilst a binding operation is proceeding, so as the more perfectly to
separate the portion of crop that is being bound from what follows. The mechanism
returns inwards for each succeeding portion, and the outward and inward move-
ments are by preference imparted to a slide carrying the mechanism by means of a
pinion made by a rotating crank and rod, to reciprocate between a fixed rack and a
rack on the slide. Also the outward and inward movements may be availed of to
give closing and opening movements to gathering or binding and compressing arms,
such arms being on shafts, having short cranks connected by links to a crank made
to rotate intermittently by a rack and pinion.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Philip Charles Evans, Philip James Evans, and Henry James Hogg
King in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th June 1879.
PHILIP CHARLES EVANS and PHILIP JAMES EVANS, both of Brimscombe, in the
County of Gloucester, and HENRY JAMES HOGG KING, of Newmarket, in the same
County. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES, AND IN SHEAF
BINDING MECHANISM FOR SUCH MACHINES.
This Invention has for its object to improve the construction, action, and
efficiency of various parts of reaping and mowing machines, and comprises various
improvements which are applicable in combination with each or to existing arrange-
ments of such machines.
One main part of the Invention relates principally to the parts of the machine
concerned in the cutting of the crop, and in its reception and transference to delivering
or sheaf binding apparatus, whilst another main part comprises improved mechanism
for binding portions of the crop into sheaves with string or other suitable material,
and for knotting the binding material.
In order that our Invention may be distinctly understood we have annexed
hereunto ten Sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked the same
with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation thereof.
In carrying out the first part of our Invention, and which is illustrated on the
accompanying Drawings in Sheets 1 to 3, we make the frame 1 of the machine of a
circular or approximately circular form in plan, and of a diameter equal to about
twice the breadth to be cut, both as will be seen on reference being had to Figure 1.
The cutting action takes place at the forward quadrant of the frame at one side,
there being fingers 2 rigidly supported at this part by a finger-bar 3 forming part
of the frame, and such as are used in combination with the knives of ordinary
reaping machines, but which are more and more curved as they approach the side
to guide the crop properly to the cutters or knives 4. The knives 4 may work
above or beneath the fingers or in slots in them, and are fitted to the periphery of
a circular disc 5 in such a manner that in the rotation of the disc they accommodate
themselves to the fingers of the cutter-bar, in order to reduce the friction between
them as much as possible, and which might arise to an inconvenient degree if the
disc were not quite level, and cut the crop as the disc revolves in the direction of
the arrow a, the forward edges of the knives being finely serrated or sickle-edged ;
or in lieu of being fitted with a series of knives, as shown in Figure 1, the periphery
of the disc may be similarly fitted with one continuous knife formed with a finely
serrated or sickle edge. The disc 5, which is shown in section in Figure 2, is
mounted in a horizontal or inclined position, tilting downwards from the point b to
the point c, and also acts as or forms a circular rotating platform, which receives the
crop as it falls upon being cut, and carries it round to the back quadrants, where
it is simply delivered or elevated to any suitable binding apparatus, as hereinafter
described. The crop may be laid over towards the cutters by an ordinary recl, the
shaft of which may be placed at an angle, or as a chord to the cutting quadrant, if
necessary; or, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, by a reel 6, having its beating rails or
bars 7 curved or inclined in such a manner as that when laying the crop they shall
approach the cutter quadrant approximately to the curve thereof, as illustrated by
the dotted lines in Figure 1, the reel shaft 8 being shown, as placed, parallol with
the axles of the travelling wheels 9, 10; or, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, by a
reel, the shaft of which is placed angularly to the direction of motion (indicated by
the arrow d) of the machine, and as a chord to the cutter-quadrant, having its
beating rails or bars straight or slightly curved, and centred at either end to arms 11
which are centred to flat surfaces 12 on the reel shaft, and which rails have a
swivelling or endway motion imparted to them while laying or beating the crop by

page_text: a vertical or other fixed guide or cam 13, which thrusts them outwards whilst
beating the corn so as to reach to the most inward extremity of the finger-bar, the
opposite rails carried by the same centred arins being by the same motion moved
endways in the reverse direction; or a raking apparatus of the kind used in some
existing machines may be used instead of a laying reel.
The machine is mounted on two or more travelling wheels 9, 10, and the rotating
disc or platform 5, and laying reel 6, together with other parts, are worked by
gearing, or by chains or straps from one or more of such wheels, the construction of
the machine admitting of the gearing being arranged simply and conveniently, as
will be seen.
The rotating platform 5 is worked from the wheel 9 by means of an internal
toothed wheel 14 cast therewith, and which by a pinion 15 drives a shaft 16, which
by gearing 17 rotates the platform, the larger wheel of the pinion 15 being secured
to the underside thereof. The shaft 16, by gearing 17*, also drives another shaft 18,
carrying at its other extremity chain wheels 19, 20, one 19, for driving by a chain 21
and chain-wheel 22, the upper shaft 23 of the elevating apparatus, various modifi-
cations of which will be hereinafter described, and the other, 20, for driving by a
chain 24 and chain-wheel 25 the first motion shaft 26 of the binding apparatus
constituting the second part of our Invention, and also hereinafter described, and
which method of driving the latter may be used in lieu of the method of driving
from the main-gearing by the intervention of conical pulleys and a strap, as described
hereinafter. The travelling wheel 9 has also affixed to it a chain-wheel 27, which
by a chain 28 and chain-wheel 29 drives a shaft 30, which similarly drives the reel-
shaft 8 by chain wheels 31 and a chain 32, the latter shaft being carried in brackets
or extensions 33 from the former shaft so as to be capable of being turned about
the latter, always at an equal distance therefrom, but so as to be capable of being
raised and lowered from or towards the platform 5, as required by the varying
height of the crop, as is usually done.
The upper shaft 23 of the elevating apparatus carries at its forward end a
pulley 34, which by a strap 35 and pulley 36 drives a short vertical shaft 37, which
by gearing 38 drives a shaft 39 carrying a worm 40, the use of which is to direct
and arrange the cut crop as it is brought round heads forwards by the rotation of
the platform, with the heads towards the centre, and the butt ends outwards, and
so as to form good sheaves, and these purposes it effects with despatch and regularity.
In lieu of using one such worm 40 we can use a second and shorter one to aid in
directing and arranging that portion of the cut crop which falls more towards the
centre of the platform; or the crop may be arranged and directed by the use of a
strap running towards the centre of the platform, or by the use of reels or wheels 41
with points 42, as shown in Figure 6, or simply hanging rods or blades 43, as
shown in Figure 7, and with or without counterbalance weights 44, may also be
arranged above the platform 5 at any part where their action may be desirable for
this purpose, the points of the wheels or ends of the rods just entering annular
grooves 45, with which the platform is made, and which may be formed by affixing
segments or rings 46 of wood to the sheet iron 47 of which the platform is composed,
or by angle iron rings with or without wood; or the platform may be formed of
corrugated iron, or of one or more pieces, and corrugated after having been put
together. At the part where the crop is to leave the platform there are inserted
into the grooves 45 a series of guide points 48, which project from an inclined plane
or guide 49, shown detached in Figure 8, up and over which the crop is carried to
the upper part or hopper 50 of the binder-cradle 51, hereinafter described, either
by the motion imparted to it by the rotation of the platform, or by various elevating
apparatus, as previously referred to, and which may be used in addition to or instead
of the inclined guides, and one and a very suitable form of which is illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2, and is shown as consisting of a series of endless chains 52, carried
by chain wheels 53 on the shaft 23, and by pullies 54 on the bottom shaft 55 level
with the incline 49, and the links of which are provided with projecting fingers 56,
which successively catch portions of the crop and raise them up the incline and

page_text: carry them over the top thereof into the hopper of the binder-cradle, sheet iron
guards 57 preventing the crop being brought down again, allowing only of the
fingers of the chain to pass. Another modification of elevating apparatus is illus-
trated in Figure 9, and consists of an endless apron 58, with or without catching
pieces 59. Another modification is illustrated in Figure 10, and consists of a pair
of endless aprons 58, leading the crop up between them; or, as illustrated in
Figure 11, a series of revolving shafts 60, with curved arms 61 working up in
inclined guide slots 62 in the incline 49, the shafts 60 being fitted with pullies 63,
and worked by a strap 64 from the shaft 23; or, as illustrated in Figure 9, a reel 65,
with flexible arms 66 or with bars fitted with brushes or strips of leather 67 may
be arranged to rotate above the bottom inclined guiding points 48 to aid the ascent
of the crop. The crop may also be gathered up from the rotating platform by
means of a rotating rake 68, illustrated in Figure 12, and consisting of a horizontal
or slightly inclined shaft 69, carrying three or other number of sets of curved
prongs 70, the points 71 of which in advancing towards the approaching crop dip
into the platform grooves 45. In this case the inclined guiding points 48 may be
dispensed with. The points of the prongs may be made flexible or with joints 72,
or be fitted with springs and stops so as to ease and improve their action.
The apparatus herein before described, or parts thereof, may be combined with
any suitable reaping and mowing machines; or it or they may be combined with
mechanism by which the crop is bound in sheaves with string fixed by twisting, as
described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to Henry James Hogg
King, one of the present applicants, and dated 9 July 1877 (No. 2638); or it may
be combined with sheaf-binding mechanism arranged to knot the string or binding
material, and such as is described in the Provisional Specification relative to Letters
Patent granted also to Henry James Hogg King, and dated 9 July 1878 (No. 2740),
or any other suitable known binding mechanism.
The horses or other motive power for working and propelling the above described
improved circular reaping or mowing machine may be placed in the position most
convenient and effective for their intended use; but in case of its being placed
behind the machine the grinding fingers may be extended, either partly or wholly,
over both of the front quadrants of the frame, and may be used for reaping or
mowing only, that is, without the binding apparatus.
Another arrangement consists in the application of the binding mechanisms
hereinafter described, or in the Specification of Letters Patent granted also to Henry
James Hogg King, and to Ernest George Cook Bomford, and dated 15th March
1876 (No. 1112), and of the Letters Patent granted to Henry James Hogg King,
to a reaping machine in which the motive power is placed behind the machine, the
crop being cut as in the ordinary reaping machine, and transferred to the binder by
an endless apron or aprons or other mechanism.
The present applicants however prefer to combine the hereinbefore described
apparatus with improved sheaf-binding and string-knotting apparatus constituting
the second part of our present Invention, and which we will now proceed to
describe, reference being had to Sheets 4 to 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
The moving parts of the improved sheaf-binding apparatus are driven by a
longitudinal shaft 26, reference being had to Figure 13, receiving its motion from
the main-gearing 73 through a pair of conical pulleys 74 and a belt 75, admitting
of the relative speeds of the cutting and binding parts of the machine being
adjusted for different circumstances, and this shaft, which may be termed the first-
motion shaft of the binding apparatus, is provided with a clutch 76, the hand-lever
of which is under the immediate control of the driver of the reaping machine; so
that he can start and stop the action of the binding mechanism as required.
By means of a worm 77 and worm wheel 78 (or by gearing 79, as shown in
Figures 14 and 15) the shaft 26 drives a multiple cam plate 80, shown most clearly
in Figures 13 and 16 to 19, and which is mounted on a stud 81, the worm wheel 78
(or the larger wheel of the gearing 79) forming part of or being attached to the
cam plate at the underpart thereof, as shown in Figures 16. The cam plate is

page_text: formed with cam grooves 82, 83, 84, and with toothed sections 85, 86, 87, and with
intermediate locking sectors 88, 89, 90, as will be best seen on reference being had
to the enlarged views, Figures 16 and 17, and the uses of which grooves and sectors
in actuating and controlling various details will be hereinafter described.
Through bevil wheels 91 the shaft 26 also drives a nearly vertical shaft 92 (see
Figures 13 and 18), which by a worm 93 and wormwheel 94 (or by gearing 95, as
dotted in Figure 18) drives a short shaft 96 hereinafter termed the crank-shaft, and
having on it a crank 97, a cam 98, and a bevil toothed sector 99 for actuating
various parts, as hereinafter described.
The crank pin 100 of the crank 97 is provided with an anti-friction roller and
acts in a curved slot 101 in one arm 102 of a bell crank lever 103, the other arm 104
of which is connected to a vertically guided slide or bar 105 hereinafter termed
the needle, and which is guided by projecting parts of a casting 106, as shown in
Figure 18.
The needle 105, to which suitable vertical movements are imparted by the parts
just described, has an eye 106× (see Figure 14) near its bottom pointed end, and
through which eye the string 107 (which term hereinafter denotes any suitable
binding material) passes from the back or inner side to the outer side or that
adjacent to the sheaf, as shown most clearly in Figure 20. At the outer side the
needle is formed with a projection 108 (see Figures 14 and 19 to 22), through
which the eye 106* passes, and which is made with wedge points 109 above and
below the eye for the purpose hereinafter mentioned; and in a recess 110 in the
needle, preferably immediately above the eye, there is fitted a small lever nipper 111
which is acted upon by a spring 112 in such a manner as to prevent the return
backwards of the string 107, whilst allowing it to be drawn through the eye
towards the sheaf or binding side of the needle quite freely.
When the needle is in its lowest position, as shown in Figures 14 and 18 to 22,
its point projects down a short distance below an opening 113 in what may be
termed the binder-cradle 51, which is shown most clearly in Figure 19, and is also
shown in Figures 14, 20, and 21, and which receives the crop over into its hopper
50 at its inner and higher side from a pair of endless aprons 58, or from whatever
other elevating apparatus, either of the kind hereinbefore described with reference
to the first part of this Invention, or of any other suitable kiud, is used to transfer
it from the platform of the reaping machine.
When about to bind a sheaf the needle 105 rises and stretches the string verti-
cally in front of the portion of crop intended to form the sheaf, the string running
out freely through the needle eye from the reel 114 (shown in Figures 13 and 18),
its end being caught in the ascent of the needle and held below the binder-cradle by
a nipping contrivance 115, hereinafter described. The portion of crop which has
been gathered in the hopper of the binder-cradle, and is sufficient for or intended to
form the sheaf, is then pushed outwards by one (or more) of a pair (or more) of dia-
metrically opposite arms 116, shown most clearly in Figures 18 and 19 (and in a
modified form heroinafter described in Figures 23 and 24), and which are on a
horizontal shaft 117 driven intermittently in half-revolutions from the crank shaft
96 by means of the toothed sector 99 and a bevil wheel 118 with which it gears,
the arm or arms 116 dividing the portion of crop intended to form the sheaf from
the succeeding portion, which is continually gathering in the hopper of the binder-
cradle, and removing it from the rearward to the forward side of the needle, and
moreover being formed of a good width (when viewed sideways), effectively pre-
venting the succeeding portion crowding upon the portion divided off to form the
sheaf, thus obtaining clean sheaves and an unobstructed pathway for the needle.
When being bound, as hereinafter described, the sheaf exerts considerable pressure
upon the arm 116, which moved it forward in a direction tending to thrust it back
towards the hopper, but the arm is prevented from being thus pushed back by
means of a locking rim 119, Figures 13 and 18, on the toothed sector 99, and which
prevents the wheel 118 from revolving. In order to prevent wear on the locking
rim and wheel the arm 116 may be further held by a latch 120, Figures 18 and 19,

page_text: which is bevelled on one edge so as to allow the advancing arm 116 to push it on
one side, but which prevents any return motion of the arm; the action of this latch
may be aided by a spring. The portion thus moved outwards by the arm
116 carries the vertically stretched portion of string (between the needle eye and
the nipping contrivance 115) with it in such a manner as that the string running
out from the ball, bobbin, or reel 114 through the needle eye becomes applied round
its bottom and front part, and its encirclement is completed, when the arm 116 is
at rest, and locked as above described upon the descent of the needle at the inner
side of the sheaf, and which is then effected by the means previously described.
The two parts of the string encircling the sheaf come together at a part of the latter
about the middle of its inner side, and at, about, or a little before the time of their
coming together considerable strain is put on the string between the reel and the
needle eye (the other end of the string being still held by the nipping contrivance
115) by a brake 121, shown in Figures 13 and 18, applied by means of a spring 122
(the tension of which can be regulated by a screw and thumbnut 123) to the upper
one of a pair of pulleys 124, between which the string passes on its way from the
reel, bobbin, or ball to the needle eye, this strain on the string causing it to tighten
upon the sheaf to an extent sufficiently in excess of what is finally required to com-
pensate for a slight slackening, which unavoidably takes place after the knot is
completed, but which is in this machine reduced to a minimum.
As the needle passes onwards down through the cradle 50 a shoulder 125 on it
nips both parts of the string against the front edge of the opening 113 in the
cradle bottom, as shown in Figure 20, and prevents slipping of the string whilst
being cut and subsequently knotted; and when the string is thus nipped at 125
the nipping action of the break 121 may be relieved by the cam 98, Figure 18.
The knotter details, see Figures 14, 20 to 22, and 25, are situated immediately
below the point where the string is nipped by the shoulder 125, and consist of a
fixed tube 126 forming part of a casting 127 (see also Figure 17), having inside
and completely filling it two bars 128, 129, and outside of it a curved hook or
fork 130.
At a distance sufficiently below the knotter to give the length of ends required
for the knot there is a disc knife 131 shown in Figures 13, 14, 18, 21, and 22 on a
spindle 132 (or there may be two knives on separate spindles) driven rapidly by
means of a belt 133 and pulleys 134, or by gearing 135, as shown in Figures 14
and 15, or otherwise from the shaft 26; the strings being pushed against the rapidly
revolving edge of the knife at the proper time (as hereinafter mentioned) by a
horizontal slide 136 (Figures 14, 21, and 22) worked by the groove 82 on the
underside of the cam plate 80, a pin 137 (provided with an anti-friction roller) on
the slide entering thereinto are cut of an even length and are ready to be tied.
As soon as the needle is down and the strings are nipped by it, the outside knotter
hook 130 has the following rotatory and longitudinal movements imparted to it
from the cam-plate 80 by means of the toothed sectors 85, 86, 87, and groove 83,
its rotatory movements being controlled by the locking sectors 88, 89, 90. It is
first advanced from the position d (see Figure 20) in which it is back level with the
end of the tube 126 to a more forward position (see Figure 22) by means of the
groove 83 in the cam (see Figures 16 and 17) acting on the pin 138 (provided with
an antifriction roller) of the shoe-casting 139 shown detached in Figure 26. The
hook is then turned from the position d to the position e (Figure 20) by means of
the toothed sector 85, Figures 16 and 17, acting on the pinion 140, after which the
latter is locked in position by the locking sector 88 passing under one of the flats 141
of the pinion casting 142 (shown detached in Figure 27) at the inner end thereof.
The hook in this movement gets hold of the two strings 107 (see Figure 22) and
they are now cut off as and by the means previously described. The string ends
are then tied in the following manner :- -The hook 130 makes about 1 revolutions
(being actuated by the toothed sector 86 when in gear with the pinion 140) and
stops in the position fin which it is for the time locked by the sector 89 acting on
•

page_text: a second flat surface 141 of the pinion casting 142. During this rotation the hook
has the following longitudinal movements given to it by the cam groove 83, it is
first drawn backwards or inwards towards the tube 126 so that the string ends while
being laid around both knotter bars 128, 129, at the side adjacent to the sheaf are
gradually drawn backwards to the side of the strings (on the needle bar) adjacent
to the end of the tube, and they are then moved more rapidly forwards or outwards
so that while being laid outside the strings on the side adjacent to the needle they
are gradually inclined towards a notch 143 formed between a half-arrowhead 144
which projects laterally from the more projecting knotter bar 128 and the front of
the bar 129, and into which notch the string ends are in the completion of the move-
ment laid with the ends projecting towards the sheaf (see Figure 25). The knotter
bar 128 is then drawn inwards by means of the groove 84 of the cam plate 80 (see
Figures 16, 17, 22, and 28), a pin 145 (provided with an anti-friction roller) on the
bar entering thereinto, and first nipping the string ends against the end of the
bar 129 moves with the latter against the resistance of a spring 146 (see Figures 18
and 22) so as to draw the nipped string ends through the loop firstly formed by
their being laid round the bars 128, 129, and to gradually slip the loop off the
latter, and by drawing the nipped ends into the fixed tube 126 the loop is retained
and the knot is tightened against the end thereof and close to the point 125 at
which the strings are nipped by the needle, which is a very important feature in
reducing as much as possible the extent of slackening of the strings which as
hereinbefore mentioned unadvoidably takes place after the knot is tied. When the
loop has been thus slipped off the knotter bars, and the knot tightened, the bars are
both moved outwards from the tube 126 again to open the notch 143 and release
the knotted string ends, and the needle rising at the same time removes the nip at
its shoulder 125, and the sheaf is then ready to be removed from the binder
cradle 50 by the next action of the dividing arm 116 (or otherwise) and which, if
there is sufficient crop elevated into the binder cradle, begins to move round soon
after the needle begins to rise or the action of which may be delayed until sufficient
of the crop is gathered, by the driver throwing the clutch 76 out of gear so as not
to receive motion from the main gearing. At about the time of the needle thus
rising and the sheaf being removed the toothed sector 87 of the cam plate 80 actuates
the pinion 140 and turns the hook 130 from the position f to the position d in
which it is thus locked by the sector 90 acting on a third flat surface 141 of the
pinion casting 142.
At the cutting of the strings a short length is left extending from the needle eye,
and when the needle rises the slide 136 which pushed the strings (nipped at 125)
against the disc kuife 131 is in such a position that the wedge projections 108 at
the needle eye passes up between the part 147 and lever piece of the nipping
contrivance 115 above referred to on the slide, and which catches and holds the end
of the string extending from the needle eye ready for the next binding operation.
This nipping contrivance (see Figures 21 and 22) consists of a part 147 fixed on
the slide 136, and a lever pieco 115 acted on by a spring 148, and the string passes
between the fixed part and the lever piece, which latter is centred so that its nipping
action increases with the pull of the string in the direction of the retreat of the
needle.
When the knife is situated above the nipping contrivance, as illustrated in
Figure 22, there is left at each cutting operation a short length of string in the
nipper, but by a continuation of the forward movement of the slide at the time of
pressing the strings against the rapidly revolving knife 131 a depending part 149
of the lever piece is brought against a fixed stop 150 and the nipper is thus opened
and the short piece of string drops out or is knocked out by an arm 151 on and
which revolves with the spindle 132 of the knife.
But when the knife is placed below the nipping contrivance, as illustrated in
Figure 21, there will not be any loose cut end of string left in the nipper to be
removed, and as a rule only one string would then be cut, and upon the nipper

page_text: being opened by the stop 150, the other string end would be released therefrom, so
as to be able to be wound round with the other into the knot, as previously
described.
There is no need to remove the disc-knife (or knives) for sharpening, as it (or
they) may be sharpened by applying a stone or sharpener thereto whilst it rotates,
and such sharpener may be on or attached to a slide or spring, which can be moved.
into position for sharpening whilst the machine is working.
To assist the string in tightening the sheaf, a compressing arm 152 may be used
in the manner illustrated in Figure 15, being attached or connected to the needle,
or to the lever working the same rising and falling therewith, and aided in its action
by a spring 153.
Or instead
The intermittently rotating arms 116 hereinbefore described, and illustrated in
Figures 18 and 19, may project rigidly from their centre, as in these Figures, or
may be jointed to a centre 154 carrying them (see Figures 23 and 24), and be acted
on by a stationary cam groove 155, a pin 156 (provided with an antifriction roller)
on each of them entering thereinto, so as to move more quickly when descending,
and thereby make a better separation between the portions of crop, and to allow
of them falling gradually back at the time of delivering the bound sheaf, so as to
remove the latter from the binder cradle with less violence than usual.
of these rotating arms there may be a single vibrating arm, consisting of an outer
part jointed to a short arm or crank, so as to fold when returning back and upwards
after each downward stroke. With this arrangement the outer jointed part of the
arm is drawn upwards out of the crop when moving back for a fresh stroke. Or
by another arrangement a rake or arm may be mounted on the pin of a rotating
crank, which lifts it up during the return stroke, a curved guide controlling the
movement by acting on a stud or roller on the rake; or, again, such rake may
carried by an endless chain, which will give it the desired movement.
be
The binding and knotting mechanism, instead of being as a whole stationary
relatively to the main part of the machine, may be arranged to move outwards
whilst a binding operation is proceeding, so as the more perfectly to separate the
portion of crop being bound from what follows. The mechanism returns inwards
for each succeeding portion, and the outward and inward movements are by prefer-
ence imparted to a slide carrying the mechanism by means of a pinion made, by a
rotating crank and rod, to reciprocate between a fixed rack and a rack on the slide.
Also, the outward and inward movements may be availed of to give closing and
opening movements to gathering or binding and compressing arms, such arms being
on shafts having short cranks connected by links to a crank made to rotate inter-
mittently by a rack and pinion.
On reference being had to Figure 13, 157 represents a ruck and pinion for shifting
the binder to suit different lengths of crop; 158, a chain wheel deriving its motion
from the main gearing 73 for driving the feed aprons or olevating appliances; and
159, the connecting rod worked by a crank 160, for working an ordinary recipro-
cating knife bar.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, we have to state that we do not restrict ourselves to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but what we believe to be novel and original,
and claim as the Invention secured to us by and in terms of the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. The combination in sheaf binding, reaping, and mowing machines of a
rotating platform, carrying or provided with cutters or knives, or with an equivalent
continuous cutter or knife at its periphery, such platform having a series of annular
grooves in its upper face, with a series of reels, depending rods, or equivalent
appliances which enter such grooves, or act just clear thereof, for directing and
arranging the cut crop as it is brought round by the rotating platform, and with a
series of inclined guides, which also enter such grooves and facilitate the delivery
of the crop (as it approaches thereto, after having been properly directed and
arranged by the said reels or equivalent appliances) to an inclined plane, up and over

page_text: which it may be carried by any suitable elevating apparatus to any suitable self-
binding apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Secondly. The combination in sheaf binding, reaping, and mowing machines with
such cutting disc and rotating platform, and with such appliances for directing and
arranging the cut crop as it is brought round thereby of a rotating rake or other
suitable elevating apparatus, by which it is so raised and delivered to any suitable
sheaf-binding apparatus, substantially as herein before described.
Thirdly. The use in sheaf-binding, reaping, and mowing machines of a rotating
platform, provided with cutters or knives, or with an equivalent continuous cutter
or knife at its periphery.
Fourthly. The directing and arranging of the cut crop after it falls on the rotating
platform and cutting disc of a sheaf-binding, reaping, and mowing machine, and
before it reaches the inclined guides, up which it is carried, the elevating apparatus
by which it is raised and delivered to any suitable sheaf-binding apparatus, by the
various modes hereinbefore described, or any mere equivalent therefor.
Fifthly. The various modes herein before described of facilitating the delivery of
and elevating the crop from the rotating platform of a sheaf-binding, reaping, and
mowing machine to the hopper or binder cradle of the sheaf-binding apparatus.
Sixthly. The mode of arranging or combining together the gathering arm or
arms with the needle or binder arm (and parts moving such arms), so that as the
gathering arm or arms moves the bundle of crop from the back to the front of the
needle or binder arm, it protects and forms a clear space for the latter, and at the
same time makes a good separation between each bundle or sheaf, substantially as
herein before described.
Seventhly. The cam-slotted bell-crank lever, acted on by a revolving crank pin
for working the needle or binder arm with the upward movement quicker than the
downward movement, and the consequent comparatively slow tightening of the
binding material, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Eighthly. The application of parts to clamp or nip the strings or binding material
at a point between the sheaf and the knot or tie, in order to maintain the tightness
of the binding material round the sheaf after the cutting of the end or ends, and
whilst the tie is being made, substantially as herein before described.
Ninthly. The clamping or nipping of the strings or binding material close to the
sheaf by means of the needle or binder arm, substantially in the manner and for the
purposes herein before described.
Tenthly. The constructing, arranging, and working of the needle or binder arm,
so that it reciprocates in a straight line or nearly so, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Eleventhly. The lever or wedge-action nipper at the end of the needle or binder
arm, for preventing the severed end of the binding material from slipping back,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Twelfthly. The improved mode herein before described and shown on the accom-
panying Drawings, of constructing and arranging or combining together the
knotting mechanism and its actuating details.
Thirteenthly. The method hereinbefore described of winding the string to form
the loop of the knot round a mandril consisting of two bars by the use of a single
hook.
Fourteenthly. The application of the pointed projection (144) for keeping the
loop of the knot from being drawn into the tube (126), into which the ends are
drawn, and for insuring the tying of the knot close to the sheaf, substantially as
herein before described.
Fifteenthly. The arranging of the knotting mechanism to form the knot loop
after the severing of the end or ends of the binding material, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Sixteenthly. The arrangement of gathering arms hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 23 and 24 of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventeenthly. The curved bottom of the support or cradle on which the sheaf

page_text: rests whilst being bound, in combination with the relative position of the tying or
knotting point, the parts being thus arranged for the purpose of retaining the
circular form of the sheaf whilst forming the knot close to it, substantially as
herein before described.
Eighteenthly. The multiple cam plate (80) of a disc shape which enables it to
be moulded simply, constructed and combined with the knotting mechanism in the
manner hereinbefore described, and as shown on the accompanying Drawings.
Nineteenthly. The means hereinbefore described of retaining the loose end of the
string in the ascent of the needle or binder arm.
Twentiethly. The method hereinbefore described of sharpening the rotating knife
or knives without necessitating the removal thereof from the machine, substantially
as herein before described.
Twenty-firstly. The method herein before described of varying the relative speeds
of the cutting and binding parts of the machine by the use of conical pulleys and
straps, substantially as herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry James Hogg King, on behalf of myself
and the said Philip Charles Evans and Philip James Evans, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
H. J. H. KING. (L.S.)