Improvements in Band Cutters and Grain Feeding Attachments for Threshing Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 20th Oct., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Band Cutters and Grain Feeding Attachments for
Threshing Machines.
I, VICTOR CLAYTON BAILEY, of Battle Creek, in the County of Calhoun and
State of Michigan, United States of America, Thresher Expert, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to he
particularly described and ascertained, in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation of
band-cutters and feeders for grain separating machines, whereby the bands of the
grain bundles are properly severed, the feeding of the grain is under better control
than heretofore, and the grain is spread and uniformly delivered to the threshing
devices of the separator.
The invention also has for its object to provide improved knives or cutters for
severing the bands of the grain bundles, whereby the grain is pressed down while
the bands are being severed and choking of the knife-guard is prevented.
The invention also has for its object to provide a band-cutter wherein the knife
and the knife-guard are susceptible of being simultaneously adjusted without inter-
fering with the driving mechanism of the band-cutter, for varying the position of
the knives and knife-guard relatively to the bundle-carrier or grain-table of the
band-cutter, to suit the conditions required for large or small bundles, or for
bundles which are wet and tangled, or for feeding loose grain to the separator
through the band-cutter.
The invention also has for its object to provide a novel arrangement of knife-
guard whereby the grain is properly moved under the knives, even if such grain is
unduly piled in front of the knife-guard, while the grain is effectually prevented
from being carried up and wedged between the separated and slotted parts of the
knife-guard, and froin winding on the knife-shaft and the grain is caused to more
uniformly advance towards the separating machine.
The invention also has for its object to provide improved means whereby the
band-cutter can be bodily elevated upon inclined guide-ways or rails and supported
thereby for transportation with the grain separating machine.
The invention also has for its object to provide a new and improved grain-feeding
pan which will control and uniformly feed the grain and catch and deliver to the
separator such trash,-heads, and loose grain as may fall from the upper or rear end
of the band-cutter, thus saving much grain which would otherwise be wasted.
The invention also has for its object to provide novel means for pivotally
supporting a grain feeding pan, whereby it can be pivotally raised or swung in the
arc of a circle for convenient access to the threshing devices or to the front end
portion of the separator.
To accomplish these objects my invention consists in the features of construction
and the combination or arrangement of parts hereinafter described with reference to
the accompanying drawing, in which-
Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing a portion of a grain separating machine with
my invention applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, showing a portion of the
separating machine in side elevation.
Figure 3 is a detail front end elevation, showing a pair of the grain feeders and
he crank-shaft by which they are operated.
Figure 4 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of one of the grain feeders.
Figure 5 is a ton plan view of one of the comin fandom.

page_text: Figure 6 is a detail perspective view, showing a portion of the knife-guard and
the shield for the band-cutting knives.
Figure 7 is a detail side view on a larger scale, of one of the band-cutting knives.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of the bracket or support for sustaining the band-
cutter, and showing one of the pivoted brackets or supports for the grain feeders.
Figure 9 is an end elevation of the same.
Figure 10 is a top plan view of the same; and
Figure 11 is a detail view of a portion of one of the brackets or supports looking
at the inner side thereof to show the construction for supporting the lower ends of
the inclined guide-ways or rails hereinafter explained.
Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will
now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawing, where the numeral 1
indicates a portion of a grain-separating machine having at its front portion suitable
threshing devices, which as here shown, are composed of a toothed-cylinder 2 and a
toothed concave 3, from which projects a feed board or table 4, as usual. These
parts may be of any construction suitable for the conditions required.
The frame of the separating machine is provided with horizontally projecting
side arms 5, on each of which is mounted a bracket or support 6 having a forked or
open bearing 7 to receive and support the roller or shaft 8 at the upper end of the
band-cutter frame 9, which frame may be of any desired construction.
The band-cutter frame may be provided with the usual division-board 10,
Figures 1 and 2, and at the end of the frame, opposite the roller or shaft 8, is
provided a similar roller or shaft 12, in such manner that an endless bundle-carrier
or grain-table 13 can be supported by the rollers or shafts 8 and 12, and caused to
travel by rotating the shaft or roller 8. The shaft or roller 8 is geared by a belt
connection 15 with a drive-wheel 16 on a crank-shaft 17 journalled in. brackets 18,
which are pivoted at one end, as at 19, to pendent lugs 20 on the brackets or
supports 6. The brackets 18 are provided with pivoted or eye-bolts 21 adapted
to swing into and out of engagement with the slotted ends 22 of the brackets or
supports 6, in such manner that when the pivoted or eye-bolts are disengaged
from the said slotted ends of the brackets or supports 6, the brackets 18 can
swing downward in the arcs of circles for swinging or raising the grain-feeding
pans, as will hereinafter appear.
The crank-shaft 17 is connected by bearing blocks or hangers 23 with the grain
feeders 24, Figure 3, so that the rotation of the crank-shaft alternately reciprocates
the grain-feeders in opposite directions. I have illustrated two grain feeders, and
prefer this number, in that one balances the other in operation; but a single grain-
feeder may be employed if desired.
In the practical operation of the invention, the roller or shaft 8 of the band-cutter
may be utilized to operate the drive-wheel 16 of the crank-shaft 17, or the crank-
shaft 17 may be driven for the purpose of rotating the shaft or rollers 8 of the
band-cutter. I do not deem it necessary to illustrate any particular driving
mechanism for the shaft.or roller 8, or for the drive-wheel 16, as this constitutes no
essential part of the invention, and any proper operating part of the separating
machine, or of the band-cutter, may be employed to drive the shaft or roller 8, or
the crank-shaft 17.
In order to permit the downward swinging motion of the brackets or supports 18,
as hereinbefore explained, the belt connection 15 between the shaft or roller 8 and
the drive-wheel 16 is provided with a belt tightener 15, which can be adjusted to
loosen the belt 15 and permit its ready disengagement when the brackets or
supports 18 are to be dropped downward for swinging the grain-feeding pans to a
perpendicular position, or closely against the upper or inner end of the band-cutter.
The belt-tightener 15ª may be of any desired construction. I have merely
indicated one form of belt-tightener, but do not confine myself to any particular
type.

page_text: The knife-shaft 14, as here illustrated, is belted to the shaft of the cylinder 2,
as shown in Figure 1; but any suitable driving mechanism may be employed.
The grain-feeders 24 each comprise two grain-feeding pans 25 and 26, Figures 2,
4 and 5 having toothed or serrated portions to engage the grain and advance it
towards the cylinder and concave of the separator. The lower pan 26 projects
past or beyond the end of the upper pan 25 in the direction of the band-cutter
frame, so that such lower pan 26 will extend beneath the delivery end of the bundle-
carrier or grain-table 13 of the band-cutter. for the purpose of receiving trash,
heads, and loose grain from the upper end of the band-cutter. The upper pan 25
is arranged above the pan 26 in such position as to receive the grain from the band-
cutter, so that while the lower pan 26 projects under the band-cutter to receive the
trash, heads, and loose grain, the main body of grain from the band-cutter does not
require to fall such a great distance as would be necessary if the upper pan 25
were omitted. In the absence of the upper pan 25 there would be such a distance
for the grain to travel from the delivery end of the bundle-carrier or grain-table 13
to the lower pan 26 that the grain would accumulate and the feeding thereof to
the cylinder and concave could not be controlled. The upper and lower pans 25
and 26 are rigidly connected, so that they both move in unison, and the space
intervening between the two pans is such that trash, heads and loose grain received
from the band-cutter by the lower pan 26 will be fed by the latter towards the
cylinder and concave.
By providing a grain-feeder, composed of the upper and lower pans, constructed
and arranged as described, I am enabled to take the trash, heads, and loose grain
from the band-cutter and at the same time maintain perfect control of the grain in
feeding it to the concave and cylinder.
The lower grain-pan is preferably provided with projecting fingers 27, for the
purpose of more effectually controlling the flow of grain to the cylinder and concave
according to the varying nature or condition of the grain. The lower grain-pan 26
rests and moves upon the grain board or table 4, and is supported thereby.
In a machine of the character alluded to, it is desirable to conveniently gain
access to the threshing devices, or to the front end portion of the grain-separating
machine; and to accomplish this purpose the crank-shaft 17, which operates the
grain-feeding pans, is mounted in the pivoted brackets 18, as herein before
explained, so that by loosening the pivoted or eye-bolts 21 the brackets 18 will
swing down in the arcs of circles and place the crank-shaft in such position that
the grain-feeding pans can be swung on the crank-shaft to an approximately per-
pendicular position, or closely against the upper end of the band-cutter, thereby
making a clear space by which to gain access to the cylinder and concave, or other
parts at the front end of the separating machine.
The pivotal support for the grain-feeding pans is composed of the crank-shaft 17
and the pivoted brackets 18, and this pivotal support is important in the arrangement
described where the lower grain-feeding pan projects some distance beneath the
upper end of the bundle-carrier or grain-table 13 of the band-cutter, as in this
arrangement, when the parts are in working position, the crank-shaft 17 lies so far
under the upper end of the band-cutter that the grain feeding pans could not be
properly raised to a perpendicular position or close against the upper end of the
band-cutter. But by providing the pivotal support, as described and shown, the
downwardly swinging motion of the brackets 18 moves the crank-shaft 17 in a
direction towards the cylinder and concave, and at the same time lowers the pans
away from the upper end of the band-cutter, in order to provide ample space for
the swinging motion of the grain-feeding pans to a perpendicular position, or close
against the upper end of the band-cutter.
The brackets or supports 6 and 18 are preferably composed of metal in skeleton
form with strengthening ribs; but they may be of any construction and material
suitable for the conditions required.
The highest parts of the brackets or supports 6 are provided with pulleys or
oller bearings 28, and such highest parts of the brackets or supports 6 sustain the

page_text: lower ends of inclined guide-ways or rails 29 the upper ends of which are braced to
and supported by the top portion of the framework of the grain-separating
machine, in such a manner that by removing the shaft or roller 8 of the band-cutter
from the forked or open bearings 7 of the brackets or supports 6 the band-cutter
can be bodily elevated on the inclined guide-ways or rolls 29, for the transportation
of the band-cutter with the separating machine.
The top portion of the separator frame is provided with a windlass 30 having a
crank-handle 31 and connected with ropes or cables 32, which pass over guide-
pulleys 28 at the upper ends of the inclined guide-ways or rails 29, and thence
over the pulleys or roller bearings 28 to the lower portion of the upper end of the
band-cutter frame, as clearly shown in Figure 2, the construction being such that
by turning the windlass 3. in the proper direction to wind up the ropes or cables 32,
the upper end of the band-cutter frame will be elevated by the action of the pulleys
or roller bearings 28 on the ropes or cables, thereby raising the shaft or roller 8
out of the forked or open bearings 7, and hauling the band-cutter up the inclined
guide-ways or rails 29, to conveniently transport the band-cutter with the separating
machine.
The inner sides of the brackets or supports 6 are provided with projecting
lugs 34, Figures 10 and 11, for engaging and bracing the lower ends of the guide-
ways or rails 29 but I do not confine myself to any particular attachment of the
guide-ways or rails to the brackets or supports 6.
The band-cutting knives for severing the bands of the bundles of grain are
mounted spirally on the knife-shaft 14, and they may be keyed, or otherwise secured
to the knife-shaft. The ends of the knife-shaft extend through the sides of the
band-cutter frame, and are journalled in the upper ends of segmental arms or
supports 35, having curved slots 36 through which clamping-bolts 37 pass and
engage the band-cutter frame for rigidly clamping the arms or supports 35 in any
desired position of vertical adjustment, in such manner that by raising or
lowering the arms or supports 35, the knife-shaft 14 will be correspondingly
raised or lowered.
The knife-guard, which is more clearly illustrated in Figure 6, is composed of a
base portion and an upwardly projecting portion, which portions are formed, as
here shown, of separated parallel bars 38 and 39, so arranged as to provide slots
through which the knives extend to sever the bands of the grain bundles. The
base portion of the knife-guard composed of the separated bars 38, extend sub-
stantially parallel with the bundle-carrier or grain-table 13 of the band-cutter,
while the upwardly projecting portion, composed of the separated bars 39, is
arranged substantially at right angles to the bars 38, and to the bundle-carrier or
grain-table 13, by which construction the grain will be properly caused to pass
under the knife-guard, even though the grain be piled unduly high in front of the
knife-guard, as will sometimes occur. In this respect my invention is advantageous
over a knife-guard wholly arranged parallel or substantially so with the bundle-
carrier or grain-table of the band-cutter, because in such construction the grain,
if it piles up in front of the band-cutting knives, will not pass properly beneath the
knife-guard; and, consequently, the working of the machine is unsatisfactory and
inefficient.
The knife-guard is supported by the arms or supports 35 through the medium of
bars or brackets 40, Figures 1, 2 and 6, rigidly attached to the upwardly projecting
parts 39 of the knife-guard, and secured to the arms or supports 35, as clearly
shown in Figure 1, all in such manner that when the arms or supports 35 are
raised or lowered, the knife-shaft and the knife-guard are simultaneously and
correspondingly raised and lowered for the purpose of varying the position of the
knives and knife-guard relatively to the bundle-carrier or grain-table of the band-
cutter to suit the conditions required for large or small bundles, or for bundles
which are wet and tangled, or for feeding loose grain to the separating machine
through the band-cutter.
The bars 38, composing the base portion of the knife-guard are provided with

page_text: rabbeted edges 41, Figure 6, to which are rigidly secured, in any suitable manner,
the pendent wings or flanges 42 having inclined lower edges 43. A pair of these
pendent wings or flanges is secured to each bar 38, and their object is to hold the
grain down and prevent it from being carried up and wedged in between the bar:
of the knife-guard; while the inclined lower edges 43 cause the grain to more
uniformly advance towards the cylinder and concave. This construction is very
important and desirable, in that it materially contributes to preventing the choking
or clogging of the knife-guard, or the winding of grain on the knife-shaft. The
winding of grain on the knife-shaft is more particularly prevented by the peculiar
arrangement of the knife-shaft entirely above the bars 38 of the knife-guard,
because by this arrangement the knives are effectually cleared of straw before they
rise to the level of the knife-shaft, and therefore the liability of the grain winding
on the knife-shaft is more effectually prevented than in those prior constructions
where the knife-shaft is arranged beneath, or partly beneath, the slotted parts of
the knife-guard.
The band-cutter is rendered more effective in practical operation by the peculiar
construction of the band-cutting knives illustrated in Figure 7.
The band-cutting knives are each formed with a centrally enlarged disk-like
centre or body 44, the curved edges 45 of which extend from the bases of the
cutting edges 46 to the bases of the rear edges 47 of the knives in such
manner that the curved cutting edges 46 of the pointed knife-blades are tangential
to the curved edges 45, and the latter operate to press down the straw while the
band is being severed. The curved, unsharpened edges of the disk-like portion or
body 44 constitute uniform continuations of the sharpened cutting edges 46, so
that the action on the straw is such that the knives materially contribute to
preventing the choking or clogging of the knife-guard and the band-cutter is
rendered superior in operation. This has been practically demonstrated in the
use of a large number of band-cutters having knives constructed according to
applicant's invention.
In practice I prefer to provide the knife-guard with a curved shield 48 secured
to the bars 38 and 39, as shown in Figure 6 for the purpose of covering and
shielding the band-cutting knives.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with the band-cutter, and the threshing devices of a grain-
separator, of a vertically swinging grain-feeder composed of two pans arranged
one above the other and adapted to swing upward for access to the threshing
devices, the upper pan receiving the grain from the band-cutter, the lower pan
extending past the upper pan in the direction of the band-cutter to receive trash,
heads, and loose grain therefrom, and both pans inclining downward from the
band-cutter towards the threshing devices, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a band-cutter, and the threshing devices of a grain-
separator, of a vertically swinging grain-feeder composed of two pans arranged
one above the other, the upper pan receiving the grain from the band-cutter, and
the lower pan extending past the upper pan in the direction of the band-cutter to
receive trash, heads and loose grain therefrom, and pivoted brackets on which the
grain-feeder is pivotally mounted to swing upward at its rear portion, substantially
as and for the purposes described.
3. The combination with a band-cutter, and a threshing device of a grain-
separator, of a vertically swinging grain-feeder pivotally supported at its front
end portion to swing upward at its rear portion for access to the threshing devices
and composed of two pans arranged one above the other, the upper pan receiving
the grain from the baud-cutter, and the lower pan extending past the upper pan in
the direction of the band-cutter to receive trash, heads, and loose graiu therefrom,
substantially as described.

page_text: 4. The combination with a band-cutter, and the threshing devices of a grain-
separator, of a grain-feeder composed of two connected grain-pans pivotally
supported at their front portion between the band-cutter and the threshing devices
to swing upward on the pivotal support for the access to the threshing devices, the
upper pan receiving the grain from the band-cutter, and the lower pan extending
past the upper pan in the direction of the band-cutter to receive trash, heads, and
loose grain therefrom, substantially as described.
5. The combination with a band-cutter, and the threshing devices of a grain-
separator, of a grain-feeder interposed between the band-cutter and the threshing
devices and composed of two connected grain-pans arranged one above the other
to provide an intervening space, the upper pan receiving the grain from the
band-cutter, and the lower pan extending past the upper pan in the direction of
the band-cutter to receive trash, heads, and loose grain therefrom, and pivoted
brackets on which the grain-feeder pivotally mounted at its front portion, so
that it can swing upward at its rear portion to gain access to the threshing devices,
substantially as described.
6. The combination with a band-cutter, and the threshing devices of a grain-
separator, of a crank-shaft, pivoted supports for the crank-shaft, adapted to swing
downward, devices for holding the said supports in their highest positions, and a
grain-feeder adapted to swing in a vertical plane on the crank-shaft when the said
supports are swung downward and interposed between the band-cutter and the
threshing devices of the separator, substantially as described.
7. The combination with a band-cutter, and the threshing devices of a grain-
separator, of a grain-feeder interposed between the band-cutter and the threshing
devices, drop-brackets pivoted at their rear ends and adapted to drop downward
at their rear ends and on which rear ends the grain-feeder is pivotally supported,
and devices for rigidly holding the said drop-brackets in their highest positions,
substantially as described.
8. The combination with a band-cutter, and the threshing devices of a grain-
separator, of a crank-shaft, a grain-feeder supported by the crank-shaft and
adapted to swing in a vertical plane thereupon, drop-brackets carrying the
crank-shaft and pivoted at their rear portions to swing downward, and bolts for
rigidly holding the said drop-brackets in their highest positions, substantially as
described.
9. The combination with a band-cutter, and the threshing devices of a grain-
separator, of a crank-shaft, a grain-feeder supported by the crank-shaft aud
adapted to swing thereupon in a vertical plane, pivoted brackets or supports in
which the crank-shaft is journalled, and pivoted bolts adapted to engage and
disengage parts of the frame of the grain-separator for holding the pivoted
brackets or supports in operative position, substantially as described.
10. The combination with the threshing devices of a grain-separator, of
stationary brackets or supports mounted on the grain-separator, a band-cutter
having its upper or inner end engaged with the stationary brackets or supports,
pivoted swinging brackets or supports having detachable bolt connections with the
stationary brackets or supports, a crank-shaft journalled in the pivoted brackets or
supports, and a grain-feeder supported and operated by the crank-shaft substantially
as described.
11. The combination with the threshing devices of a grain-separator, of
stationary brackets or supports mounted on the separator, a band-cutter engaged
with the stationary brackets or supports, pivoted brackets or supports having
detachable bolt connections with the stationary brackets or supports, a crank-shaft
journalled in the pivoted brackets or supports, and a grain-feeder adapted to
swing on the crank-shaft and composed of two grain-pans arranged one above the
other, the upper pan receiving the grain from the band-cutter and the lower pan
extending past the upper pan in the direction of the band-cutter to receive the
trash, heads, and loose grain therefrom, substantially as described.
12. The combination with the frame of a grain-separator, of brackets or supports

page_text: having slotted portions, pivoted brackets or supports having pivoted bolts for
detachably engaging the slotted portions of the brackets or supports on the
separator-frame, a shaft carried by the pivoted brackets or supports, and a grain-
feeder mounted on the said shaft and adapted to swing in a vertical plane,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
13. The combination with the frame of a grain-separator, of inclined guide-ways
or rails, guide-pulleys at the upper and lower ends of the guide-ways or rails, a
band-cutter detachably mounted in bearings on a part of the separator-frame, a
windlass, and cables connected with the windlass, passing over the guide-pulleys
of the guide-ways or rails, and connected with the band-cutter for lifting the
upper end of the latter out of said bearings and sliding the band-cutter upward,
substantially as described.
14. The combination with the frame of a grain-separator of brackets or supports
mounted thereupon and having forked or open bearings, a band-cutter removably
engaged with said forked or open bearings, inclined guide-ways or rails attached
at their lower ends to the brackets or supports and connected at their upper ends
with the separator-frame, pulleys at the upper ends of the guide-ways or rails,
pulleys arranged at the lower ends of the guide-ways or rails and located at a level
or height above the forked or open bearings of said brackets or supports, a
windlass, and cables connected with the windlass, passing over the pulleys of the
guide-ways or rails, and connected with the band-cutter for raising the latter out
of engagement with the forked or open bearings and elevating said band-cutter on
the guide-ways or rails, substantially as described.
15. The combination with the bundle-carrier or grain-table of a band-cutter, of
vertically adjustable arms mounted on the sides of the band-cutter, a knife-shaft
mounted in said arms, a non-rotary angular knife-guard composed of a slotted
base-portion and a slotted upwardly. projecting portion, bars secured to the said
upwardly projecting portion of the knife-guard and attached to the said vertically
adjustable arms, and means for adjusting the said arms, substantially as and for
the purposes described.
Dated this 18th day of September 1894
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.