IMPROVEMENTS to IN COMBINED REAPING AND SHEAF BINDING MACHINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William M'Intyre Cranston of N° 36 Worship Street
Finsbury in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
Communicated, to
IN COMBINED REAPING AND SHEAF BINDING MACHINES
him from abroad by the Walter A. Wood Mowing and Reaping Machine
Company of Hoosick Falls in the State of New York, United States of
Amosion
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William M'Intyre Cranston
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st October 1882.
WILLIAM MCINTYRE CRANSTON, of N° 36 Worship Street, Finsbury in the
County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED REAPING AND SHEAF
BINDING MACHINES (communicated to me from abroad by the Walter A. Wood
Mowing and Reaping Machine Company, of Hoosick Falls, in the state of New
York, United States of America,)
This Invention relates to certain novel features in combined reaping and sheaf
binding machines in or by which the straws as cut are carried over a platform by
rake teeth to within reach of fingers of the automatic binding appliances and when
the binding is completed the bundle is lifted over the frame work covering the
wheel and deposited into a carrier on the opposite side thereof from which it can
bo released on to the ground, the roleasing appliance being under the control of the
driver or made to act automatically on a catch being released by some moving
part of the mechanism.
The releaser may have a swinging action from hinges or pivots at the upper
part or by a rotating action, the bundles in either case being permitted to lodge on
the ground in a gentle manner either as single bundles or in number sufficient to
form a "shock" or "stook."
By this Invention the grain straws are pushed (as cut) by the rake teeth direct
into fingers of gathering appliances to form a sheaf the binding taking place by
binding mechanism just above or about level with the axle of the main bearing
wheel the bound bundle or sheaf is then lifted by a reciprocating arm or a fork
moving in an irregular circular manner, to the top of the casing covering the main
wheel from which it falls into the receiver before referred to, the arm going back
for a fresh bundle or sheaf under the action of its gearing.
The platform is slotted for the rake teeth to pass through, they have an oscillating
motion under the action of guide bars and projections, as the chains to which the
teeth are pivotted move along under the platform.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Willinin McIntyre Cranston in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th April 1883.
WILLIAM MCINTYRE CRANSTON of N° 36 Worship Street Finsbury in the.
county of Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN
COMBINED REAPING -AND
SHEAF
BINDING MACHINES (Communicated from abroad by the Walter A Wood Reaping
and Mowing Machine Company of Hoosick Falls in the State of New York in the
United States of America
This invention relates to certain novel features in combined reaping and sheaf
binding machines in or by which the straws as cut are carried over a platform by
rake teeth to within reach of fingers of automatic binding appliances and when
the binding is completed the bundle is lifted over the framework covering the
wheel and deposited into a carrier on the opposite side thereof from which it can
be released on to the ground the releasing appliance being under the control of
the driver or made to act automatically on a catch being released by some moving
part of the mechanisın. The releaser may have a swinging action from hinges or
pivots at.the upper part or by a rotating action the bundles in either case being
permitted to lodge on the ground in a gentle manner either in single bundles or in
number sufficient to form a "shock" or "stook."
By this invention the grain straws are pushed (as cut) by the rake teeth or
direct into fingers of gathering appliances to form a sheaf the binding taking place
by binding mechanism just above or about level with the axle of the main bearing
wheel. The bound bundle or sheaf is then lifted by a reciprocating arm or a fork
moving in an irregular circular manner to the top of the casing covering the main
wheel from which it falls into the receiver before referred to, the arm going back
for a fresh bundle or sheaf under the action of its gearing.
The platform is slotted for the rake teeth to pass through; they have an oscillating
motion under the action of guide bars and projections as the chains to which the
teeth are pivotted move along under the platform.
The invention will be clearly understood by the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the improved harvester.
Figure 2 another view in perspective of the improved harvester.
Figure 3 a vertical transverse section taken through the harvestor.
Figure 4 a vertical transverse section on an enlarged scale showing the rake
and parts immediately therewith connected
Figuro 5 a view in perspective of one of the rake heads
Figure 6 a view in perspective of one of the links of the rake chains
Figures 7 and 8 details showing the different positions of the rake teeth as the
rake is carried around its bearings.
Figure 9 a detail being a vertical section showing the mechanism for discharging
the bundle from the binder the parts being as when the discharging arm is about
to lift the bundle
Figure 10 a similar view, the discharging arm being raised
Figure 11 a top view of the discharging mechanism and
Figure 12 a vertical section taken through the lower part of the bundle carrier
Figures 13 and 14 show the rotating delivery appliances
The same letters denote the saine parts in the several figures. B represents the
platform upon which the grain falls in the usual manner. The grain is thenco
transferred to the binder by means of the raking device which is shown in
Figures 1. 2. 3. 4 and 5. Two chains cc' respectively near the front and the

page_text: rear edge of the platform B are carried around the sprocket wheels c³ ³ upon the
shafts. Rake heads c c having teeth c" are attached to the chains, and
preferably so that the rake heads can be oscillated upon the points of connection
with the chains. To this end the links c7 to which the rake heads are attached
(one of these links is shown in Figure 6) are provided with projections to
which the rake heads are journalled. The rake heads are also furnished with the
projections c. The device is adjusted in the machine so as to cause the teeth c
upon the upper part of the device to project above the platform B and sufficiently
to enable the teeth to engage with and move the grain across the platform and
into the vicinity of the binder the operation of the device being as follows:-The
shafts being set in motion by suitable mechanism not here shown the teeth c
are moved in an upright position across the platform in the direction of the arrow
in Figure 1 the platform being grooved at bb to admit of the movement of the
teeth. The teeth while moving as described aro held in an upright position by
reason of the projections c of the rake heads bearing upon the supports co. These
supports are arranged sufficiently beneath the platform to allow the rake heads
to pass between the supports and the platform but so as to cause them to pass
through the projections c to be turned to hold the teeth upright That is, as the
rake beads are drawn along the projections cº come in contact with the supports c¹0
and the rake heads are thereby tilted to bring the rake teeth into a vertical
position and to hold them thus until the supports c¹o are passed. After passing
the wheels c c the teeth point downwards and in this position could be carried
around to the wheels c³ c². This would however require more space below the
platform B than is practically obtainable.. Owing to the rake heads being
journalled to the chains the. teeth on coming against the bottom D are upturned
into a horizontal position or thereabout in which position they remain until
reaching the wheels c³ c². The teeth there assume the position shown in Figure 7
then as the chains continue to move the teeth come against the shaft c this causes
the rake head and teeth to assume the position indicated by the broken lines in
Figure 8 the projections coming against the ends c" of the supports c The
rake heads are then turned into the position first described and the operation is
repeated. The grain is passed by the rake teeth onto the incline E. Succeeding
lots of grain, moved by the teeth push the grain previously lodged upon the inclino
farther up thereon. The usual packer fingers fully described in the specification of
Patent No 40761979 (not here shown) of the binder F then act to deliver the grain
to the binding mechanism. (also not shown) in detail as its nature is understood
and the binder acts in the usual manner to bind the grain The binder F as seen
in Figures 1. 2 and 3 is located between the platform B and the driving wheel G
and in practice is about half way up the incline E from the platform to the top h
of the casing H over the wheel. The bundles of grain being bound are thon
discharged over the top h of the casing. This is done by means of the discharging
arm QFigures 1, 3, 9 and 10 and as follows a pinion J engaged with the gear K
(the gear K is the usual one employed in the binder of the Wood harvester). The
pinion J also engages with the pinion L (the pinion L is behind the wheel M
Figure 9) upon the shaft L to which is also attached the sprocket wheel M. Tho
chain N transmits the notion of the wheel M to the wheel O the shaft o of the
last named wheel has a crank P to which at p the arm Qis pivotted. A link R
journalled at r to the frame of the binder is pivotted to the upper end of the arm Q.
The motion of the wheel O then causes the arm Q to assume the various positions
shown in the full and in the broken lines in Figures 9 and 10 and the various
parts being properly adjusted therefore the lower end of the arm Q as seen in
Figure 9 is brought as soon as the bundle is ejected from the binder by the usual
discharging mechanism into position in the rear of the bundle. The arm Q then
moves into the position of Figure 10 and in so doing lifts the bundle upward to
the top h of the casing and over into the bundle-carrier S Figures 1. 2. 3 and 12.
The binder F is as seen more distinctly in Figure 3 upon one side of the casing H
and the bundle carrier S is upon the other side of the casing. This arrangement is

page_text: advantageous in several respects. The weight of the bundles in the carrier is
balanced by the weight of the binder mechanism.
The bundle carrier is entirely separated from the binder mechanism so that the
action of the one is not dependent upon or interfered with by the action of the
other. Further ample space is provided for a holder of a capacity sufficient
for carrying enough bundles to form a large portion of a shock
The carrier S is substantially composed of the side h' of the casing H and the
movable part or vane 8. The parts is upheld by the arms a² 8¹ which in turn are
pivotted at s to the arm 83 8³.
When the requisite number of bundles has been deposited in the carrier the latch
8 is loosened whereupon the side s opens away from the side h' as indicated by
the dotted lines in Figure 3 and as shown in Figure 2 and the bundles drop to the
ground. The sides then swings upon the bearings 8ª 8ª back again to the side h¹
ready to receive another lot of bundles. It is desirable to have tho side s so
connected with the arms s³ ³ as to be self closing.
As this requires a certain amount of momentum and as the carrier may
occasionally open but slightly I arrange to open the side s to any desired extent
as follows, a cord T extends from the vicinity of the drivers seat U over a bearing
t to the sido a at t' and by drawing the cord T the side s can be swung open to
the proper point. The side s in opening rises as indicated by the broken lines in
Figure 3: The latch 8 is operated by the cord 8º.
The inner side of the casing His substantially an extension of the incline E.
Tho carrier or receptaclo is made with its transverse section in the shape of a Vor
with the two sides inclining toward each other and meeting at the bottom. The
effect of this construction is that when the side s is swung open the bundles will bo
readily and easily discharged and will fall in a compact heap without scattering.
In place of the moveable part as herein before described made to swing from and
toward the casing to form the bundle carrier, a revolving device may be employed
constructed substantially as follows in which a-shaft having vanes or-arms is--
employed the shaft boing arranged horizontally and turning in bearings upon tho
outer ends of the arms which project from the outer side of the casing, the vanes or
arms of the shaft coming successively into position in connection with the wheel
casing to receive inclose and support the bundles delivered from the binder until it
is desired to deposit the bundles then by suitable means the device is loosened so
that it is thus free to rotate whereupon the weight of the bundles resting upon the
vane which is abutting against the wheel casing causes the carrier to revolve
allowing the bundles to drop and at the same time bringing the succeeding vane
into position to support and carry the bundles next to be delivered from the binder
when the operation is repeated.
The construction and mode of operation of this device is shown in Figures 13
and 14 of the drawings in which G represents the driving or master wheel of the
harvester which aside from the present improvements is of the usual character. H
represents the wheel casing, the binder is not shown, but may be located above the
top h or lower down opposite the lower side h' of the casing but in whatever
position the binder is placed the bundles are delivered thorefrom into the space S
between the outer side of the casing H and the revolving device 8. This device
consists of the axle & and to which are fastened vanes 8888 two three
or moro of which can be used. The shaft is journalled in the bearings s'
which are supported by the arms 8³ ³ these arms project from the casing so as to
avoid contact with the bundles delivered from the carrier and as the harvester is
being moved along to this end the arms 8³ ³ project from the upper part of the
casing.
The dovice is also so adjusted as to enable the outer edges of the vanes as the
carrier rotates to come sufficiently close to the casing to prevent a bundle from
getting between the vane and the casing.
Latch & serves to arrest the movement of the carrier; the latch is arranged at or
near the bottom of the casing. In Figure 13 the carrier is shown in position to

page_text: receive the bundles from the binder, by withdrawing the latch the carrier is free
to turn into the position shown in Figure 14 and in so doing depositing the bundles
upon the ground. The next lot of bundles coming from the binder fall upon the
next vane forcing it against the latch when it is retained as before until tho
requisite number of bundles are held and carried along when the latch is again
withdrawn and the bundles deposited on the ground and so on.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
saine is to be performed I declare that I claim.
First The construction and arrangement of reaper and straw binder and sheaf
deliverer in the manner described and as shown in the annexed drawings
Secondly I claim Fitting the straw gathering and binding mechanism on or to a
reaper adjacent to the endless travelling platform or to the reciprocating
rakes of a platform as that they ie the straws are bound into bundles on
the reaper side of the main wheel over which the bundles are removed as
described in order to leave the gathering and binding mechanism free to
perform its operation upon a fresh quantity of straw.
Thirdly I claim The reciprocating bundle lifter and deliverer and its method of
operating intermittently together with the mechanism by which its move-
ments are governed as described in connection with the annexed drawings
Fourthly I claim The bundle receiver fitted or provided with a flap or vane
hinged or jointed and held temporarilly in a closed position by a catch
capable of being released for the automatic discharge of the bundles or sheafs
the flap or vane then automatically closing to be again held by the catch as
set forth
Fifthly I claim The intermittently rotating vanes acting in the manner described
for the successive reception and discharge of a sheaf or bundle.
In witness whereof I tho said William M'Intyre Cranston have horeunto set
my hand and seal this thirtieth day of April in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundrod and eighty three
W. M. CRANSTON (L.S.)