IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEAF-BINDING APPARATUS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Denton Abel, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEAF-BINDING APPARATUS." A communication from
abroad by Christopher W. Levalley, of St. Paul, Minnesota, in the United
States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Denton Abel at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st June 1880.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEAF-BINDING APPARATUS."
[A communication from abroad by Christopher W. Levalley, of St. Paul, Minnesota,
in the United States of America.]
This Invention relates to apparatus applicable to reaping machines, for collecting
into sheaves the corn cut by such machines, binding them round with cord, and
tying and cutting the cords for each sheaf. For this purpose the cord wound in
the form of balls is contained in an upright cylindrical vessel, a number of balls
being placed in the vessel one above the other, with the outer end of the cord of
cach ball attached to the inner end of the cord of the ball below it, so that as each
ball is exhausted the next supplies cord. To prevent entanglement or kinks a
stem jointed to the bottom of the box extends upwards through the balls, or a
flexible stem is employed for this purpose. The cord passes through a hole in the
top of the case, and through adjustable clamps to give it the required tension, and
thence along a spring arm and over a pulley at its end to the eye of what may be
termed a needle, which is a bent lever mounted on a moveable fulcrum, the needle
and its fulcrum being made to oscillate by cams, so that the point of the needle
follows a certain curvilinear path in descending to a position where it is for a
time held steadily in a notch of the framing, and then ascends in a different path. .
The end of the cord after passing over a pulley in the eye of the needle extends to
and is held in a moveable clamp provided with a cutting knife, the clamp and knife
being actuated by cams so as to seize and release and cut the cord et periods
timed to the other movements of the mechanism. Near the cord clamp is mounted
the tying apparatus, which consists of a hook-oye having peculiar movements

page_text: effected by cams, so that at a certain time the eye opens to receive the cord, and
then closing revolves and moves endways so as to pass one convolution of cord
through another, thus producing a knot. The needle having ascended and stretched
the cord between its eye and the clamp, and a quantity of cut corn having been
lodged by an elevator on a board below the needle and beyond the cord, the
necdle descends through the corn, thus passing the cord round the portion that is
to form the sheaf, and at the same time a bent arm attached to the needle sweeps
aside straggling portions of the corn or straw. The cord brought down by the
needle is engaged by the clamp and the knotting hook and tied to the end of the
cord held by the clamp, after which it is severed by the knife and the bound sheaf
is thrown off. While the tying is performed the clamp has a movement towards
the knotting hook so as to yield sufficient length of cord for the knot. When the
cord has been sovered the clamp, still holding the end of the cord, recedes from the
hook and the needle reascends to repeat the action. The various movements of
the parts are derived from a continuously rotating shaft driven by a chain from
the road wheel axle, this shaft having a spring clutch by which it can be thrown
out of gear when the binding apparatus is not in use, and having a ratchet and
pawl to prevent back movement when it is unclutched. As the parts are sometimes
in motion and sometimes stationary during different portions of the cycle of their
movements, the gearing by which the cam shafts that work them are driven is of
the segmental kind, that is to say, portions of the peripheries of the wheels aro
toothed, other portions being without teeth. The toothed portions gearing with
teeth of pinions drive them during parts of a revolution, and the portions without
teeth hold the pinions stationary during other parts of a revolution.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Denton Abel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
December 1880.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28, Southampton, Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex.. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEAF-BINDING APPARATUS."
A communication from abroad by Christopher W. Levalley, of St. Paul, Minnesota,
in the United States of America.
This Invention relates to apparatus applicable to reaping machines, for collecting
into sheaves the corn cut by such machines, binding them round with cord, and
tying and cutting the cord for each sheaf. For this purpose the cord wound in
the form of balls is contained in an upright cylindrical vessel, a number of balls
being placed in the vessel one above the other, with the outer end of the cord of
each ball attached to the inner end of the cord of the ball below it, so that as each
ball is exhausted the next supplies cord. To prevent entanglement or kinks a stem
jointed to the bottom of the box extends upwards through the balls, or a flexible
stem is employed for this purpose. The cord passes through a hole in the top of
the case and through adjustable clamps to give it the required tension, and thence
along a spring arm and over a pulley at its end to the oye of what may be termed
a needle, which is a bont lever mounted on a moveable fulcrum, the needle and its
fulcrum being made to oscillate by cams so that the point of the neodle follows a
certain curvilinear path in descending to a position where it is for a time held
steadily in a notch of the framing and then ascends in a different path. The end
of the cord after passing over a pulley in the eye of the needle extends to and is
held in a moveable cramp provided with a cutting knife, the clamp and knife being
actuated by cams so as to seize and release and cut the cord at periods timed to
the other movements of the mechanism. Near the cord clamp is mounted the
tying apparatus, which consists of a hook-eye having peculiar movements effected
by cams, so that at a certain time the eye opens to receive the cord, and then
closing revolves and moves endways so as to pass one convolution of cord through
another, thus producing a knot. The needle having ascended and stretched the
cord between its eye and the clamp, and a quantity of cut corn having been lodged
by an elevator on a board below the needle and beyond the cord, the needle
descends through the corn, thus passing the cord round the portion that is to form
the sheaf, and at the same time a bent arm attached to the needle sweeps aside
straggling portions of the corn or straw. The cord brought down by the needle is
engaged by the clamp and the knotting hook, and tied to the end of the cord held
by the clamp, after which it is severed by the knife and the bound sheaf is thrown
off. While the tying is performed the clamp has a movement towards the knotting
hook so as to yield sufficient length of cord for the knot. When the cord has been
severed the clamp, still holding the end of the cord, recedes from the hook and the
needle re-ascends to repeat the action. The various movements of the parts aro
derived from a continuously rotating shaft driven by a chain from the road wheel
axlo, this shaft having a spring clutch by which it can be thrown out of gear when
the binding apparatus is not in use, and having a ratchet and pawl to prevent back
movement when it is unclutched. As the parts are sometimes in motion and
sometimes stationary during different portions of the cycle of their movements, the
gearing by which the cam shafts that work them are driven is of the segmental
kind, that is to say, portions of the peripheries of the wheels are toothed, othes.
portions being without teeth. The toothed portions gearing with teeth of pinionr
drive them during parts of a revolution, and-the--portions without_teeth hold-the-
pinions stationary during other parts of a revolution.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a front view and Fig. 2 a back view of a harvesting machine to which
this Invention is applied; Fig. 3 shews separately the apparatus for moving the
needle in the paths indicated by Fig. 23; Fig. 4 is a general plan of the looping
and tying apparatus; Fig. 5, a view from inside of the gear for driving it; Figs. 6
and 7 are transverse sections respectively on w, w, and x, x, of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is an
end view of the looping, gripping, and tying apparatus; Fig. 9 is a plan of the
knife tripping lever' shewn separately; Fig. 10 shews to an enlarged scale the
looping head and tube; Fig. 11 is a plan of the frame supporting part of the
binding mechanism; Fig. 12 is a plan of the shifting lover, and Fig. 13 is a plan
of the entire binder frame, Fig. 14 shewing its hook attachment to the harvester ;
Fig. 15 is a transverse section through the spindle of the cord holder; Fig. 16 is a
longitudinal section of the looping-spindle and tube, Fig. 17 being a transverse
section of the same on y, y; Fig. 18 is a plan of the lower side of the cord holder;
Fig. 19 is a section thereof on 2, s, and Fig. 29 is an enlarged plan of its upper
side; Fig. 20 is an elevation of the guide arm and tension apparatus; Fig. 21 is a
vertical section of the cord holder, the spindle of which is shewn in modified forms
at Figs. 27 and 28; Fig. 22 is a plan shewing the lower hind shield; Fig. 24
represents the needle frame separately; Figs. 30, 31, 32, 33, and 25 shew successive
conditions of the tying apparatus in forming the knot of the completed band shewn
in Fig. 26.
A is the travelling wheel which drives the various parts of the machine through
suitable gearing a, a, a². On the main frame A' is carried the framing of the corn
elevator, consisting of uprights A³, inclined struts A³, and cross bars A*, which
support the driver's platform A5 and seat Aº. The clevator cords a are worked in
the usual way, as and a being their upper and lower rollers. A supplemental
framing for carrying the binding mechanism is formed by extending the bars A+,
supporting their ends by uprights A', connected across the machine by a tye bar As.
The binder frame, Fig. 13, consists of two bars C, C', and a lower bar C, connected
by side frames C, C, and intermediate frames C, Co. The bar C is engaged in
hooks B, B¹, which are attached to the bars A. On collars on the bar C is fixed a
rack c, gearing with a pinion D² on an inclined spindle D, which can be turned by
a handle d, having a spring catch to engage notches of a fixed plate D', so that
the operator can shift the binder frame a little. laterally and secure it to suit
different lengths of corn.
To facilitate its movement the lower bar C2 carries
rollers c² that bear against the cross bar A under a guide c'. A short shaft E
(Figs. 1 and 12) has clutched on it a chain wheel E', which can be unclutched by the
fork of a lever E³, pivotted at el, and connected by a rod e² to a treadle, which is
depressed by the attendant for unclutching in opposition to a spring. When the
wheel E is unclutched, pins e³, engaging on a lug e of the retracted lover, prevent
the shaft E from revolving, the binding mechanisin being thus held stationary in
the condition in which it was stopped, notwithstanding that tho weight of some of
its parts may tend to move it. On the shaft E, which has one of its bearings in
the side frame C³, is fitted by a feather a pinion E³ which gears with F, the main
driving wheel of the binding mechanisın. The pinion E³, being confined by a
boss E on the frame C, and a flange e on it engaging behind the teeth of F, is
kept always in gear with F, sliding to and fro with it and the frame on which it is
mounted. A pawl E' prevents reversal of the pinion and of the mechanism geared
to it. The wheel F, which gears with Es, is on a shaft F1, which revolves in
bearings in the two frames C³ and Co. On the inner face of F is a flange f
extending plain over the greater part of the circumference, and a toothed arc f¹ of
equal radius; there are also cam projections F2, F, F, for working reciprocating
parts of the mechanism, as will hereafter be explained. On the inner end of the
shaft F is fixed a wheel G, gearing with another wheel G' on a shaft G, which
revolves in bearings in the frames C, C. The wheels G and G¹ have teeth omitted
so that G drives G¹ intermittently, that is to say, while G makes one revolution, G¹

page_text: during one part of it is caused to make one revolution and during the other part of
it remains at rest. On the shaft G² is fixed a crank G³, carrying a roller G', which
works in a covered slot h* formed in one arm of a bell crank lever H that is
pivotted to the framing as shown. The other arm of H is connected by a link h to
an arm h¹ of the needle frame. A rod I, jointed to the pin of the crank G³, has at
its upper end a rack i kept in gear with a toothed segment 1 by a roller in a
guide frame 12, from which extends downwards a bar having an eye through
which the rod I can slide. The segment 11 is adjustably fixed on a spindle K,'
which works in a tubular bearing K¹ forming part of an oscillating frame (see
Fig. 24). The lower arm K' of this frame is fitted by bosses k, k, so as to
be rocked on the shaft G³ by the action on the arm h¹, which projects laterally
from Ks, as shewn in Fig. 3. To the end of the spindle K is adjustably
fixed the binder arm or needle L. (see Fig. 1), having near its point a cord
pulley By the action of the mechanism the needle is caused to move in.
tho path indicated in Fig. 23, having while it moves downwards a dragging action
on the straw, but moving upwards without disturbing the straw. Owing to the
intermitted driving of the wheel G¹, the needle after completing its descending
stroke rests for a time, which is determined by the extent to which the gearing
of G and G¹ is intercepted. As the cut corn is continuously delivered by the
elevator on to the binding platform the needle L is provided with a guard L',
which while the needle is dragging forward the bundle to form the sheaf keeps
a space clear of straw behind it while it is being bound. For the purpose of guiding
the needle two guide bars l', 13, are fixed to the frame, as shewn in Fig. 13, and to
hold the needle steady while the cord is being tied its point is made at the extreme
of its down stroke to enter a V shaped notch L³ provided on the bar C¹. The
needle, shewn by dotted lines L in Fig. 4, has a groove on its underside to admit
the cord while it is being drawn round the sheaf. When the twine or cord used
for binding is wound on spools or reels, the cost of these and the labour in winding
it on them are considerable, and when they are exposed to weather the cord is
rendered unfit for use. In order to avoid these objections the twine is, according
to the present Invention, used in the form of balls, a number of which are held
in a cylindrical case M open at the bottom with one or more cross bars to support
the balls, and having at the top a hinged cover m, through a hole in which the
twine is led to the needle. A taper stem M* extends up from the bottom through
the balls, keeping them in position, and guiding the twine as it unwinds so as to
avoid kinks. The stem may be ball socketted to the bottom, as shewn in Fig. 27,
or made elastic and rigidly fixed to the bottom, as shewn in Fig. 28, its upper end
having in either case freedom to yield a little in any direction. As the twine is
unwound from the interior of each ball, the end of the outside convolution is tied
to the inside end of the next ball.below, so that when the one is exhausted the
other is at once drawn upon. From the holder M. the cord is led through the end
of a guide arm M², pivotted to the top of an upright bar M', and strained by a
spring m. An arm M³ pressed by a spring m³ adjustable by a nut M' has at its
upper end a curved plate m³, which presses the cord against a fixed pad mt. The
cord then passes through a holo in m³, and over and under pins m³ on which it is
retained by cross pins m. The operator can vary the tension by passing the cord
over a greater or less number of these pins, which moreover straighten out partial
kinks. The oscillation of the arm M² is limited by stops m². From the end of the
arm M³ the cord passes over the pulloy & near the point of the needle to the
grasping, looping, tying, and cutting mechanism, which will now bo described.
This mechanism is supported on a framé (Fig. 11) consisting of a bed N, a cross
piece N¹, and standards Ne, fixed on the two frames C, C³. On the cross pieco N'.
is mounted a spindle R on which are pivotted the bent-levers Q, R, S'-(Figs. 4
and 6). The lever S¹ has two arms T and T, one on each side of the tying and
cutting mechanism. Both these arms are pivotted-on R, being connected together
by the rocking bar. T. A roller, on the arm T is worked by the cam F³ on the
wheel F. The lever Rhas two limbs U¹ and U³. connected by a rocking baru, and

page_text: both pivotted on R*; it has an arm Us with a roller which is acted on by the cam F
on the wheel F, giving vibration to another arm u¹ which works the hooked tying
rod. The lever Q' has a boss V by which it is pivotted on R' and a bent arm VI,
with a roller worked by the cam F3³ on the wheel F, giving vibration to lug v³.
connected to the looping tube. A pin projects from the side of V¹ under the
arm U³. A set screw y₁ is inserted in the arm u to be set up in case of wear to
cause the reciprocating parts to make their full strokos. While the wheel F is
performing that part of its revolution corresponding to the ascent and descent of
the needle, the arms T and Us aro between the ribs F, and fand V₁ is within F³.
As the wheel continues to revolve the cam F³ first raises V', thereby drawing
back the lug and causing the pin to lift U³ sufficiently high to engage with
the cam F, which it does just as V' leaves F³. By the movenient given to U³ by
the cam F4 the arm u is drawn back. When U³ passes F' it descends, and at the
same time the arm T is raised by the cam F5 causing the arm T to advance.
When T leaves F³ it descends again into the space between F2 and f, its descent
being aided by a spring t placed between the frame C3 and the bar T¹ to press
against the latter, thereby preventing the arm T from being swung upwards by
uneveness of the ground or otherwise. A shaft O mounted in the frame has at
its front end a complete pinion O¹, and at its other end a partially toothed pinion O²
with teeth corresponding to those in the seginent f' and a hollowed projection to
slide along the flange f. Thus the shaft O makes one revolution for each revolution
of the wheel F, but only during one part of the latter. Another shaft P mounted
in bearings in N, N2, parallel to the shaft O has on it a pinion gearing with O',
but having half the number of teeth, so that P makes two revolutions while the
wheel F is performing that part of each revolution during which it drives O.
The shaft P which is hollow has an enlarged end p, having a hook p³ projecting
eccentrically from it. Through the hollow shaft P passes another hollow shaft Q,
it axis being inclined to that of P so that its end passos eccentrically through the
end p. When this shaft Q projects through p, as shown in Fig. 16, its end
fits a hollow on the hook p', thus forming with p' a closed eye to hold the
cord. At the other end of the shaft Q is a collar q and a hollow cylindrical
cage g. In a groove of the collar q fits a saddle q³, having an arm q³ parallel
to Qlinked to the lever arm v³, so that when the lever Q' is rocked tho
shaft is caused to slide to and fro within P. Attached to the saddle q² and
reciprocating with it is a rod q', extended so as to cross the path of tho needle,
and terminating in a peculiarly shaped hook q for guiding the cord into the
hook 2. Within the tubular shaft Q is a spindle R, having at its end a hook r
which scizes the cord and pulls it through the loop formed by Q and p'. The
spindle R extends freely through the collar 7 and cage q', and carries at its ond a
head having a crank opposite the hook r. The headrests against tho
arm u of the lever R¹, so that when R¹ reciprocates the spindle R is caused to
slide to and fro within Q. A helical spring R³ tends to push back the spindlo R
so as to make a collar bear against the interior of the cage q' with sufficient
friction to make R revolvo along with Q. On the frame N are lugs n, n¹,
projecting sufficiently to form stops for the crank 72. By the lug n the hook ris
prevented from rotating after it catches the cord, and by n' it is held in a suitable
position to let the knot slip off. A short hollow shaft S is pivotted in tho
frame N, being prevented from moving lengthwise by collars S³, S³. The
end S' of S³ is of crank form, having on one side a groove 8, preferably dovetailed,
and having through it a mortice holo s¹ and in its inner face a pin hole s². It has
also an arm & projecting forward to form a guide for tho jaw X between which
and S the cord is clamped. S is a rocking spindle having a bearing in N2 and
extending through the hollow shaft S, which it causes to rock along with it by
means of the arms, while it is free to reciprocate longitudinally within S. On the
end of S a crank arm S5 is fitted by a feather so that both must turn together,
while S' is free to move longitudinally within S. The crank S³ is connected by a
link So to a crank pin on the pinion O¹, the parts being so proportioned that, for

page_text: every revolution of O' the spindle S, and with it S, is caused to rock through an
are of about 120° and back. The spindle S' is pressed by a spring S' butting
against a collar S³ so that its end bears against the bar W, which, by the movement
of the lever S¹, pushes the spindle R forwards in opposition to the spring. A
setting screw in W serves to adjust the parts after wear. On the end of S' is fixed
the clamping plate ✗, which has a dovetail groove receiving on one side the
guides, and on the other the knife blade which is set with its cutting edge against
a pin in the jaw S. A tenon z¹ projects from the inner face of X so as to enter
the mortice 8', and a pin also projects so as to enter the hole g². By these tho
cord which has enterod between the jaws is held when cut by the knife. The
bar W, which moves S', is pivotted on the lever S¹, having an arm W₁ loaded with
a weight, for which a spring might be substituted. This arm W' has under it the
crank arm Ws of a spindle W, which at the other end has a crank arm W* which
crosses the needle path just above the point of the needle when it is down. When
this crank is raised W is also raised, thereby throwing W past the end of S', which
will no longer be worked by W. To retain W thus out of gear a pawl w pivotted
on the vibrating bar T³ engages with a pin w¹ on W. An inclined pin y projecting
to the frame so as to come under the tail of the pawl w causes it to rise as it is
slid forward by the movement of the lever on which it is pivotted, and so releases
the arm W at the proper time to bring S into action. The shoot-board Z is
attached to the clevator frame by a bar and brackets ¹, ². The binder
platform Z' is provided with side shields Z, Zs, attached to the top of the elevator
frame by slotted brackets 3, 4, and set screws, by which these shields can be
adjusted so as to deliver the cut corn accurately to the binding mechanism, which
is protected by a piece Z (Fig. 22) hinged to one of the shields. On the bar
(Fig. 13) is a projection which pushes loose wisps of straw aside from the tying
mechanism to the outer sido of the hook bar q, qo, which, when it advances, carries
them away. The operation of the apparatus is as follows:--When the parts are as
shewn in Figs. 1 and 6, the tying mechanism is at rest, the wheel Os being held
stationary by the rib f on the wheel F, and the cams on F being clear of their
respective levers; at the same time the needle, boing at the upper extremo of its
stroke, may be threaded, the free end of the cord being held by hand, or attached
at any convenient point. The needle now descends in a circular sweep close to
the shoot board Z, and passes through the platform until its point enters the
socket L, where the wheels G and G¹ having come to their ungeared part the
needle remains stationary. At this time the cord extends from the swinging
arni M, as shown by the black line in Fig. 8, down the groove in the needle back,
through its eye, under the clamping plates S, X, and up through the hook p' to
the point where its end is held. When the wheel F has turned so far that the
cam Facts on T, the bar W is moved forwards, causing S to slide through S,
and so opening the clamp X apart from So, while these clamps partly rotating
receive between them the cord directed across the path of the knife.
When T is clear of the cam F³ the spring S7 forces back St, and while tho
jaws S, X, grasp the cord the knifo cuts it, the machine being now threaded.
The tying mechanism now being stationary the needle ascends, as shewn
in Fig. 23, till the cord is in the position shewn in Figs. 1 and 30.
needle now descends, gathering a bundle of straw, which it surrounds with the
cord, as indicated in Fig. 31, the double cord being engaged in the hook p¹, which
is immediately closed by the advance of Q. The pinion O³ then begins to revolve,
carrying round the shaft Q and hook p' one revolution, forming a complete loop of
cord, for which slack is given out by the simultaneous partial rotation of the
clamping jaws to the position shewn in Fig. 32. The loop of cord being formed
the hook is protruded through Q and rotated a certain distance, so that it is
presented towards the eye holding the cords, as shewn-in Fig. 16. The shaft Q and
hook p' now making their second revolution, the cords slipping from the outside
of p² are caught-in-the-hook-,-being-guided thereto by the continued rotation of
the clamping jaws, as shown in Fig. 33. The hook r now retreats, dragging the
The

page_text: cord through the loop surrounding Q, and then Q retreats, leaving that loop free,.
whereupon it is tightened up round the strands held by r, thus forming the knot.
Just before this back stroko of r and Q the shaft S is advanced, opening the cord
clamps, permitting the cord to move in between them, as indicated in Fig. 25. The
knot being formed as above described, the clamps again suddenly close, the knife
sovering the cord, and the clamps seizing the free end before it has time to escape
from between them. The clamping jaws then turn back to the position shown in
Fig. 30, and the hooks p¹ and r turn to a position permitting the knot to slip off,
whereupon the bound sheaf is discharged. As in the knotting operation the
clamping jaws move so as to supply cord which is served close up to the knot,
there is no waste of cord, the complete binding being as shewn in Fig 26. In case
the machine should have no supply of corn, the cord takes such a direction that by
means of the clutching apparatus, described with reference to Fig. 9, it throws the
clamping jaw mechanism out of gear, in which condition it is held by the latch, as
above described. Owing to the eccentricity of Q and the direction of its motion
whon forming the loop, and the advance of the clamping jaws towards Q. there is
no undue strain thrown on the cord surrounding the sheaf, nor on the cord
between Qand the clamping jaws.
i
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by foreign correspondent, I desire
it to be understood that, as my said correspondent has applied for another Patent
in the United States of America, in which claims may be made for certain features
of construction herein described, in order to avoid all interference with such
application, I do not under the present Letters Patent claim any features of
construction, except those which are specifically set forth in the following claiming
clauses, that is to say, I claim in respect of sheaf binding apparatus,
First. The combination with the binder frame formed with the brackets C³, C',
and the inner bar C projecting beyond one of the brackets of the main frame, and
hooks B, B, and the rack c, constructed and arranged substantially as set forth
and shewn, so that the front bracket shall be outside the hook B¹, and the rear
bracket shall be inside of the hook B.
Second. In a grain binder the combination of an oscillating frame, a needle
pivotted to said frame, and mechanism which throws the needle-pivot through a
greater are while the needle is descending than while it is rising, substantially as
set forth.
Third. In a grain binder a crank arm G, and the needle-frame in combination
with the bell crank lever H, arranged substantially as shewn, whereby the crank-
pin engages with the lever nearer the lever's pivot while the needle is descending
than when it is rising, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the crank arm G³, bell crank lever H, link h, and the
needle frame, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. In a grain binder the combination with the segment I', the arm and
rack I, i, and crank arm G³, of the frame I, and arm i', substantially as set forth.
Sixth. As a means for supplying cord to the needle of a grain binder, a cord
formed into convolutions, from which when in operation the inner convolutions are
first delivered to the needle, in combination with a shaft or spindle which is free at
the end from which the cord passes as it is unwinding, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. In a grain-binder a spindle arranged within the binding cord, the said
spindle being free to vibrate at the end from which the cord is delivered,
substantially as set forth.
Eighth. In a grain binder a shaft or spindle which supports the cord, and is
secured at one end by a flexible joint, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. In a grain binder the combination with the spindle M* and enclosing
cylinder M of the cap or cover provided with a central opening through which the
cord is delivered, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. In a grain binder the combination with the support M¹ provided with
stops m², m², of a pivotted arm M² and spring m³, substantially as set forth.

page_text: Eleventh. In a grain binder the combination of the support M, provided with
the stops m³, m³, the vibrating arm M², spring m', and the tension plato m³;
substantially as set forth.
•
•
Twelfth. The combination of an eccentrically revolving loop former, a holder
which grasps the cut end of the cord, mechanism which moves. the loop former
during part of its rotation towards the cord holder, and mechanism which at the
same time moves the cord holder toward the looper, substantially as set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination of the eccentrically revolving loop former, a cord
holder which grasps the cut end of the cord, mechanism which moves the looper
during part of its revolution away from the cord holder, and mechanism which at
the same time moves the cord holder toward the looper, substantially as set
forth.
Fourteenth. The combination of an eccentrically revolving looper, a cord holder
which grasps the cut end of the cord, mechanism which moves the cord holder
toward the looper, and mechanism which severs the cord after the loop has been
made, substantially as set forth.
Fifteenth. In a grain binder the combination with an eccentrically revolving
looper of a hook arranged within the looper and rotated thereby, the looper also
being rotated independently of the hook; substantially as set forth.
•
:
Sixteenth. In a grain binder in combination with the loop former the hook pl
having its outer surface curved and adapted to pass, the two strands of the cord to
the hook r, substantially as set forth.
•
Seventeenth. In a grain binder the combination with the hook p¹ of the longi-
tudinally reciprocating rod 9 provided with the guide hooks, and situated
substantially parallel to the axis of said hook p', substantially as set forth.
Eighteenth. In a grain binder the combination with the hook p¹ of the recipro-
cating tube and the guide arm 9 reciprocating simultaneously with tho tube,
substantially as set forth.
Ninteenth. In a grain binder the combination of the tube Q, hook p¹, and hook
rod R revolving with the tube, the tube also revolving independently of the hook,
substantially as set forth.
Twentieth. In a grain binder the combination with the loop forming tube Qof
a reciprocating anu-revolving hook r, and a stop which holds the point of the
hook toward the point of the needle to receive the clamped end of the twine,
substantially as set forth.
.
:
Twenty-first. In a grain binder the combination with the loop forming tube Q
of a reciprocating and revolving hook and a stop, which locks the hook in
position with its point upward, substantially as set forth.
:
Twenty-second. In a grain binder the combination with the hook rod R of the
bent lever R', pinion P¹, hollow shaft Q, spring R³, collar ³, and dog adapted to
engago with the stops, substantially as set forth.
Twenty-third. In combination with the binding cord, mechanism adapted to
throw the knife out of action, substantially as set forth.
Twenty-fourth. In combination with the binding cord the holder which grasps
the cut end of the cord, and the devices which move a part of the cord holder to
release the cord, mechanism which throws the said cord-releasing devices out of
operation, substantially as set forth.
Twenty-fifth. In a grain binder the combination of a cord holder which grips
the cut end of the cord, mechanism which alternately opens and closes the cord
holder, and mechanism actuated by the cord to throw out of action the devices
which open the cord holder, substantially as set forth.
Twenty-sixth. In a grain binder a cord cutting and clamping mechanism, one
part of which carries an adjustable cutting knife, the other part being provided
with a fixed stop to determine the position to which the knife shall be adjusted,
substantially-as set forth..
Twenty-seventh. The combination of the cam wheel F, rock shaft St, crank¯S³,¯
:

page_text: pitman So, bar W, bent lever S₁, and returning spring S7, substantially as set
forth.
Twenty-eighth. In a grain binder the combination of a reciprocating tubular
looper, a reciprocating knot hook, and a cord holder, one member of which is
attached to the reciprocating shaft or bar, all of which parts reciprocate on sub-
stantially parallel planes, and are thereby adapted to be operated from the face of
a single wheel, which revolves in a plane at right angles to the planes in which
they reciprocate, substantially as set forth.
Twenty-ninth. In a grain binder the combination with an eccentrically
revolving hook of a reciprocating loop-former, which closes the open end of the
hook, thereby forming a tight eye, in which the cord is retained while the loop is
being formed, substantially as set forth.
Thirtieth. The combination with the main frame and the hinged shields Z³, Z³,
of the horizontally projecting slotted bracket ³,, and the thumb screw, substan-
tially as set forth.
Thirty-first. In combination with the shield Z³ the supplemental shield Z
hinged thereto, substantially as set forth.
Thirty-second. In combination with a cord holder which grasps the cut end of
the cord and devices which release the cord from the holder, mechanism which
automatically throws the cord releasing devices out of action, and mechanism
which automatically returns them into action, substantially as set forth.
Thirty-third. In combination with a knife or cord cutter and devices which
cause the said cutter to sever the cord, mechanism which automatically throws
the said cutter actuating devices out of action, and mechanism which automatically
returns them into working relations with the cutter, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Denton Abel, have hereunto set. my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
ATTR D ADDT