Improvements in Tension Devices for Twine Feeders of Sheaf Binders.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Tension Devices for Twine Feeders of
Sheaf Binders.
We, THOMAS WARDLAW, Farmer, Toughmill, Dunfermline, and DAVID THOMSON,
Engineer, Station Road, Dunfermline, Fifeshire, do, hereby declare the nature of
our Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TENSION DEVICES FOR TWINE FEEDERS OF
SHEAF BINDERS," to be as follows:-
In self-binding reaping machines and sheaf binders generally, the cord or twine
which is employed to tie up the sheaves is passed through a spring clip consisting
of two fingers which are pressed together to apply the requisite degree of tension
on the binding cord. In practice it is found necessary to employ a very superior
and expensive kind of twine in order that the twine in passing through the tension
device may not be frayed out and broken.
The object of our Invention is to provide a simple tension device which while
applying the requisite degree of tension will permit of the passage through it of
inequalities in the twine, and will accordingly admit of the use of inferior or less
expensive qualities of twine:
To that end we substitute for the spring clips two elastic or covered rollers,
between which we pass the twine from the supply ball or reel to the sheaf binding
apparatus. These rollers we fit in a forked frame, the one to rotate on a fixed
stud and the other on a pin which is free to slide in slots in the frame to bring
the rollers close together and permit of their being moved apart. The pin of the
movable roller is held in a forked arm on which is a helical or other spring fitted
between a shoulder on it and the inside of the main forked frame. This spring
serves to keep the rollers in close contact and the degree of pressure it exerts may
be regulated by means of a screw or similar device. The twine passes through a
guide tube to and through the rollers towards the binding apparatus, and the
degree of tension on it is regulated by a brake such as a spring washer or a broad
friction washer fitted between the end of the roller and the securing nut of the
stud upon which it is fitted. Further regulation of the tension may be provided
by passing the twine round the roller a greater or less number of times. The
movable roller may be withdrawn for the insertion of the twine by means of a
handle on the forked stem which carries the roller pin. The rollers are covered
with rubber which may yield to any irregularities of thickness of the twine.

page_text: Sheaf Binders.
We THOMAS WARDLAW, Farmer, Toughınill, Dunfermline, and DAVID THOMSON,
Engineer, Station Road, Dunfermline, Fifeshire, do hereby declare the nature of
our invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing, reference
being had to the accompanying sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, that is to say :-
In self-binding reaping machines, and sheaf binders generally, the cord or twine
which is employed to tie up the sheaves is passed through a spring clip consisting
of two fingers which are pressed together to apply the requisite degree of tension
on the binding cord. In practice it is found necessary to employ a very superior
and expensive kind of twine in order that the twine in passing through the tension
device may not be frayed out and broken.
The object of our Invention is to provide a simple tension device which while
applying the requisite degree of tension will permit of the passage through it of
inequalities in the twine, and will accordingly admit of the use of inferior or less
expensive.qualities of twine.
And in order that the nature, and novelty of our Invention, and the mode and
means of putting the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, we
shall now proceed to describe the figures on the sheet of Drawings which we have
hereunto appended for that purpose, the same reference letters indicating the same
parts in all the figures where shown. Figure 1 is a front elevation of one modifi-
cation of our apparatus or device for effecting the new or improved purpose. And
Figures 2 and 3 are a corresponding side elevation and a plan respectively of the
same, all full size to show the details more clearly, but seperate from the reaping or
other sheaf binding machines which are not shown in the Drawings.
Referring to these Drawings, we substitute for the ordinary friction spring clips,
two gripping and feeding in-rollers A, B, to act in an elastic or yielding manner,
between which we pass the twine T from the supply ball or reel on the machine
to the sheaf binding apparatus or mechanism. These rollers A, B, we fit in a
portable carrying forked frame F, the one A to rotate on a fixed stud A¹ secured on
the one arm of the forked frame F, and the other B on a pin B₁ which is free to
slide in slots F¹ in the two arms or sides of the frame F, to bring the rollers A, B
close together, and permit of their being moved apart. The pin B¹ of the movable
roller B is held in a forked arm B2, on the stem handle B³ of which is a helical or
other spring S fitted between a sholder on it and the inside of the main forked
frame. This spring S serves to keep the rollers A, B, in close contact, and the
degree of gripping pressure it exerts may be regulated by means of the screw s
and milled hand wheel, or similar device at the extreme end of the frame F.
twine T passes through a guide tube C screwed in the flange F2 of the one arm of
the frame F, and which leads it to and through between the centre of the
rollers A, B, preferably round the surface of one roller (as shown at A) and led off
The

page_text: under a small guide roller D carried on a stud D₁ in the frame F on one side of the
roller A, and thence to the binding apparatus of the machine as indicated by the
arrows in the several figures. The degree of tension on the twine T is regulated
by a spring and washer A' fitted between the end of the roller A and the securing
nut A of the stud A¹ upon which it is fitted, or it might be other equivalent
friction brake or washer on either roller round which the twine T was passed.
The movable roller B may be withdrawn from the roller A for the insertion of the
twine T, by means of a handle B' on the outer end of the stem B³ of the fork B³
against the power of the spring S₁ which carries the roller pin B¹. These gripping
and tension feeding rollers A and B would preferably be made of metal, to revolve
freely on their spindles A¹, B¹; and either or both might have their gripping
surfaces cut or formed with fine grooves as shown at a on the roller A; or
otherwise either or both might be covered with a ring of india-rubber or other
equivalent as shown at b on the roller B, to give a soft gripping and yielding
action. Although the twine T has only been shown as being passed once round its
friction or tension roller, it might be passed twice round when greater friction and
tension was desired; but generally the tension on the twine T would be regulated
by the friction washer spring and nut A2, A", on the roller round which the twine
was passed, and the gripping pressure would be regulated by the spring and
screw S, 8, and together with the elasticity of the india-rubber ring on the roller
would yield to any inequalities in the twine and admit of its passing freely while
yet feeding the twine forward with the requisite degree of tension for the proper
working of the sheaf binding mechanism. This new or improved sheaf binding
twine tension mechanism is all carried on the frame F, so as to be bolted to the
machine by the flange F3 of the frame F, convenient for leading off the twine to
the right or left hand sides; holes being formed in the flanges F on either side for
carrying the feeding in tube C, and leading off guide roller Ď, as shown particularly
in figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
First. The general construction and arrangement of the parts of tension
mechanism or devices for the twine feeders of reaping and other sheaf binding
machines or mechanism, substantially as herein described, in reference to and
shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In tension mechanism or devices for twine feeders of reaping and
other sheaf binding machines, the constructing and arranging of yielding 'tension
rollers A, B, substantially as herein described.
Doted this 11th dose of Mr. 1000