IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEAF-BINDING MECHANISM, CHIEFLY DESIGNED TO BE USED AS AN ATTACHMENT TO A REAPING MACHINE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Howard, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford,
Agricultural Engineer, and Edward Tenney Bousfield, of the same Place,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEAF-BINDING MECHANISM,
CHIEFLY DESIGNED TO BE USED AS AN ATTACHMENT TO A REAPING MACHINE"
Sealed the 7th March 1879, and dated the 20th September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Howard and Edward
Tenney Bousfield at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th
September 1878.
JAMES HOWARD, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford, Agricultural Engineer, and
EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD, of the same Place, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHEAF-BINDING MECHANISM, CHIEFLY DESIGNED TO BE USED AS AN ATTACHMENT
TO A REAPING MACHINE."
Our Invention relates to improvements in mechanism or apparatus chiefly designed
to be attached to a reaping or harvesting machine for automatically separating the
grain deposited on the sheaf table of the said machine into sheaves or bundles, and
binding and securing the same with wire or other suitable material, which apparatus
may also be arranged to operate as an independent or separate sheaf-binding
machine to gather up and bind the grain or crop after the same has been cut by a
harvesting machine or otherwise.
The objects of the said Invention are simplicity of construction combined with
efficiency in operation and diminished liability to derangement of the parts of such
machines.
The said Invention comprises a novel combination of the mechanism or devices
whereby the grain is separated into sheaves or bundles and the wire or other band
placed around the same, and an improved construction of the twisting devices;

page_text: also thé combination of the said binding and twisting mechanism together and with
the other parts of a reaping or harvesting machine.
Our Invention is carried into practice in the following manner, that is to say :-
We provide the machine with a sheaf table, upon which the cut grain is delivered
from the platform in any convenient manner, and which is adjustable lengthwise to
permit the band or wire to be always in the proper position with regard to the
sheaves to be bound, but when the machine is in operation the said table is
stationary, that is to say, it has no reciprocating or other movement on the frame of
the machine for the purpose of collecting or separating the grain or crop into
quantities to form the sheaves or bundles. We effect this separation of the grain
by the action of a peculiarly formed and arranged binder arm. This arm has its
fulcrum on the pin of a crank fixed on the extremity of a shaft which rotates in
suitable bearings in a standard or bracket attached to the said sheaf table. The
said binder arm is a curved bar or lever terminating in a point at its free extremity,
and on the opposite side of its fulcrum it is formed with a short arm or extension,
which is connected by a radius rod or link to a fixed stud or pin secured in the said
bracket or to any other convenient support attached to the sheaf table. The said
binder arm is not bent or curved laterally out of the plane or path of its move-
ment. At its pointed extremity it has an opening with a pulley or pulleys for the
passage of the wire, as herein-after described. On its inner edge it is preferably
formed with a convexity or protuberance, which assists in compressing or holding
the sheaves while the band is being passed around them.
With this construction
and arrangement of the said binding mechanism we are enabled to dispense with
the separate jointed compressor or compressing bar or lever commonly employed,
and the binder arm consists of a single piece, as above described, and is not en-
cumbered with springs or other parts easily liable to derangement. For effecting
the removal of the bound sheaves from the table we attach to the said crank a
pusher or delivering arm, which is arranged to act in the proper relation with the
other parts of the mechanism.
Our improved twisting device is a double-flanged "whirl" or pinion, which is
supported with a capability of free rotation by its upper flange in a grooved or
recessed plate attached to the sheaf table. By this manner of supporting the
said whirl or pinion the whole of the same except the said upper flange projects
from its bearing or support, and is clear or unobstructed by any coverings, casings,
or plates, which exist in other twisting devices, and in which there is a liability
of entangling the wire and of obstructing the working of the whirl by the entrance
or accumulation of pieces of wire, straw, and other materials. The said pinion or
whirl and its supporting plate or bearing are formed with suitable notches or aper-
tures for the entrance of the wire or wires. The edges of these apertures on the
lower flange of the pinion form in combination with a revolving knife or cutter
the means for severing the wire after the twisting of the same. The said revolving
cutter may be fixed upon the toothed wheel or pinion which imparts the required
rotation to the said whirl.
The wire or other suitable material is taken from a spool or spools suitably
arranged in connection with the said binding and twisting mechanism. When a
single wire is used we may arrange the spool or bobbin from which it is supplied
in combination with a tension and take-up apparatus and clamping device, similar
or nearly similar to those described in the Specification of our former Letters
Patent, dated December 17, A.D. 1877, No. 4802.
When two wires are used the spools thereof are arranged one above and one
below the sheaf table and the twisting device. The lower wire is guided by a
special lever provided for this purpose. This lever has its fulcrum on a stud or pin
fixed in the sheaf table, and is arranged to oscillate in a horizontal plane below the
said twisting whirl. Its free end is guided in a slotted bar, and has in it an eye or
hole for the passage of the wire, which is drawn through the same to the twisting
whirl.

page_text: In preparing the said machine for work the upper wire is passed through the
extremity of the binder arm, and the lower wire through the said special lever, the
ends of these two wires being twisted together above the sheaf table.
The aforesaid special lever brings the wire at the proper times into the aforesaid
twisting whirl, and after the wire has been cut moves the twisted wire away from
beneath the said whirl before the binder arm draws the twist thereof through the
slot or aperture in the sheaf table.
The said improved twisting mechanism may be operated through the medium of
a rack by means of a cam and spring, such as described in our said former Specifi-
cation, or by other suitable mechanisın.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Howard and Edward Tenney Bousfield in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 19th. March 1879.
JAMES HOWARD, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford, Agricultural Engineer, and
EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD, of the same Place, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHEAF-BINDING MECHANISM, CHIEFLY DESIGNED TO BE USED AS AN ATTACHMENT
TO A REAPING MACHINE."
Our Invention relates to improvements in mechanism or apparatus, chiefly designed
to be attached to a reaping or harvesting machine, for automatically separating the
corn or grain deposited on the sheaf table of the said machine into sheaves or
bundles, and binding and securing the same with wire or other suitable material, but
which apparatus may also be arranged to operate as an independent or separate
sheaf-binding machine to gather up and bind the grain or corn after the same has
been cut by a harvesting machine or otherwise.
The objects of the said Invention are simplicity of construction combined with
efficiency in operation and diminished liability to derangement of the parts of such
machines.
The said Invention comprises novel devices for separating the corn into sheaves
or bundles, and placing wire or other bands around the same; it also comprises an
improved construction and arrangement of the devices for twisting and cutting the
wire after placing it around the sheaves or bundles; also the combination of the
binding, twisting, and cutting devices of the said mechanism with each other, and
with the other parts of a reaping or harvesting machine.
Our Invention is carried into practice in the following manner, that is to say:-
We provide the machine with a sheaf table, upon which the corn or grain is delivered
from the platform in any convenient manner, and which is adjustable lengthwise to
permit the band or wire to be placed around the sheaves in any desired part or
position of the same, but when the machine is in operation the said table is
stationary, that is to say, it has no reciprocating or other movement on the frame of
the machine for the purpose of collecting or separating the grain or crop into
quantities to form the sheaves or bundles. We effect this separation of the grain
by the action of a binding or binder arm operating in a peculiar manner, as herein-
after set forth. This arm has its fulcrum on the pin of a crank fixed on the
extremity of a shaft which rotates in suitable bearings in a standard or bracket
attached to the said sheaf table. For effecting the removal of the bound sheaves
from the table we prefer to attach to the said crank a pusher or delivering arm.
We also provide the said machine with an improved twisting device, which is a
peculiarly formed "whirl" or pinion flanged on its upper side, and supported, with
a capability of free rotation, by its flange in a grooved or recessed plate attached to
the sheaf table, the said whirl being arranged in combination with a revolving knife
or cutter, as herein-after set forth.
Our Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which,―
Figure 1 is a front elevation of our improved sheaf-binding mechanism.
Figure 2 is a plan or top view, partly in section, and with a portion of the sheaf
table broken away to show the mechanism below the same.
Figure 3 is an end elevation, partly in transverse section, on the line x, x, and
shewing the binder arm in the same position as in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an elevation shewing the binder arm in its highest position.
Figure 5 is a transverse section of a portion of the said mechanism on the line
y, y, Figure 1.
The other Figures show detached portions and modifications of our Invention, and
are herein-after described.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the Drawings.
A is the foundation plate of the binding mechanism, and forms the sheaf table

page_text: upon which the grain falls from the elevators. Fixed on this table is the bracket or
standard B which carries the binding arm or needle and the upper bobbin, while
the mechanism for driving the said binding arm and the twisting and cutting
devices are arranged under the said table.
The bracket B extends over the table, as shown, in such manner as to allow a
clear space for the grain to pass under it. This bracket carries in suitable
bearings C, C, a shaft D. The bearing C has extended from it an arm C² carrying
the upper bobbin E. The shaft D receives motion from the shaft F below the table
through the chain or pitch wheel F' on the shaft F, the pitch chain F* which passes
around the said wheel, and the chain wheel G. The shaft F is driven through
suitable gearing from the main driving wheel of the machine, as shewn in Figures 6
and 7, Figure 6 being an elevation drawn to a reduced scale, and Figure 7 a plan of
portions of the said machine.
To insure the most satisfactory results in the working of our improved binding
mechanism it is necessary to impart to the binder arm a peculiar varying or
differential motion, that is to say, it should move quickly in placing the wire around
the sheaf, and should pause or remain stationary, or nearly so, during the operation
of the twisting and cutting mechanism, and should then rise quickly to draw up
the wire for a fresh sheaf. This peculiar movement of the binder arm may be
imparted to it by various devices or arrangements, but we prefer to use the arrange-
ment illustrated in the Drawings, and which we will now describe.
The pitch or chain wheel G is not fixed or mounted upon the shaft D, but upon a
short shaft or journal G¹ fitted to turn independently of and excentrically to the
said shaft in a bearing in the bracket B. This wheel communicates motion to the
said shaft through the intervention of a crank H keyed on the latter, the pin H¹ of
which crank works in the slot G2 in the wheel G. The other end of the shaft D
carries a crank I. The binding arm J has its fulcrum or pivot on the pin of this
crank, and the end J¹ of the said arm is connected by a radius rod or link K to a
fixed point C*, which may be any suitable part of the bracket or arm, as shewn.
This mechanism, consisting of the crank I and radius rod K, connected as described
with the binding arm J, causes the point or extremity J2 of the said arm to move
in the required path, and it will be readily understood that when this mechanism is
combined with the slotted wheel G and crank H, as shewn, the excentricity of the
said wheel to the shaft D will cause the speed of the latter to be varied, and conse-
quently the binder arm will move through its path with a varying or differential
action, as above specified.
The said binder arm on its inner edge is preferably formed with a convexity or
protuberance J*, which assists in compressing or holding the sheaves while the band
is being passed around them. With this construction and arrangement of the said
binding mechanism we are enabled to dispense with the separate jointed compresser
or compressing bar or lever cominonly employed, and the binder arm is not encum-
bered with springs or other parts easily liable to derangement.
This binding arm has a groove J³ in its back for the wire from the upper bobbin E
to lie in, and the wire is retained therein by small pins or guards, as shewn at J*
The free or pointed end J2 of the binding arm is furnished with two pulleys or
rollers J, Jo, for the purpose herein-after described. The spool or bobbin E is
provided with a take-up device, preferably consisting of a loose circular box a
enclosing a coil spring, which engages with a stud on the end of the spool, the said
box being held by a strap or band b provided with an adjusting screw c.
Attached to the crank. I is a delivery arm L, which assists to remove the bound
sheaves from the table A.
Below this table A we arrange the twisting device and mechanism for operating
the same. This twisting device consists of a flanged whirl or pinion M, supported
by its flange M✶ in a recess in the plate M² attached to the lower side of the table A,
as clearly shewn in Figures 8, 9, and 10, which are sectional side elevations of the
said whirl and adjacent parts drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 11 is a plan or top view of the said whirl. By this arrangement the said

page_text: whirl is supported, with a capability of free rotation, clear of any obstruction below
its support or bearing in the said plate. Gearing with this whirl is a wheel N, and
on the shaft or spindle thereof is a pinion O. This shaft or spindle is fitted to turn
freely in bearings in the table A and in a bracket N1 pendant from the lower side of
the said table.
In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, motion is given to the pinion O
by a rack and spring, that is to say, the rack P gears with the said pinion, and is
moved in one direction by a revolving cam Q on the shaft F, and in the opposite
direction by the spring R, but we prefer to employ the rotary segmental rack, as
herein-after described.
It will be seen in Figures 1, 2, and 4 that the lower bobbin S is mounted in a
convenient position below the table A. For bringing the wire into the proper
position in relation to the whirl we fix a cam T on the shaft F, and arrange this cam
in connection with levers U and V.
One shoulder or projection T¹ of this cam acts on the lever U, which is the guide
or carrier of the wire from the lower spool. The other shoulder T2 of the said cam
acts on the lever V on the lower end of the spindle V', and thereby communicates
motion from the lever V2 on the upper end of this spindle, and through suitable
connecting levers to the lever W immediately above the table, and which brings the
upper wire to the whirl, and ensures its engaging properly with the same.
This arrangement is clearly shewn in Figures 2 and 5.
Figures 12 to 18 illustrate the modification of our apparatus for giving motion to
the whirl, and in which we employ the aforesaid segmental rack.
Figure 12 is a plan of this arrangement of our apparatus; Figure 13 is an
clevation; Figure 14 is a vertical section on the line x¹, c¹; Figures 15, 16, 17, 18
are plans of the said segment and the pinion geared with the same. As this is the
arrangement we employ in preference to that comprising the reciprocating rack,
we have herein-after referred to this arrangement only in describing the operation
of the machine.
This segmental rack, which consists of a toothed are or segment on the rim of
the wheel P, has a continuous circular or rotary motion imparted to it from the
shaft F through the mitre wheel F2 fixed on the said shaft, and which gears with a
similar wheel P' fixed or formed on the wheel P, and turning with the same on the
stud or shaft P*. The length of the said are or segment is sufficient to give the
required number of revolutions through the pinions O and N to the whirl M. On
the upper surface of the wheel P is a raised rim P2, which however does not extend
behind the toothed portion or segment of the said wheel. Upon the pinion O is a
flange or projection with two surfaces 1 and 2, which fit against the aforesaid rim
of the wheel P and prevent the rotation of the said pinion when the teeth of its
segment are out of gear with the pinion O. The said wheel P has on it two 4
striking shoulders or lugs 3 and 4, arranged to act upon a shoulder 5 on the pinion O,
as herein-after described.
In this arrangement the wire guide or carrier lever U passes under the whirl and
.conducts thereto the wire from the lower bobbin, and a striking pin or piece 6 on
the wheel P at the proper moment pushes the said lever to one side of the whirl. 4
The said lever is brought back to its normal position by an opposing spring. We
have found it very desirable to provide means for giving to the cutter considerable
momentum or impetus at the moment when the wire is cut, and for this purpose
we place on the shaft of the wheel N, whereon the said cutter is fixed, a small fly
wheel Z.
5
We have also found it desirable to employ in combination with the lower bobbin
or spool S an automatic intermittent brake, which will act to produce friction to
prevent the rotation of the said spool except at the moment when the binder arm
rises, thereby ensuring the proper quantity of wire being taken from the lower
bobbin. For this purpose we employ the device shewn in Figures 12, 13, and 14*, 5
that is to say, we arrange in combination with the spool S a curved arm S¹, which
is formed to bear upon a flange on the end of the said spool, and is kept in contact

page_text: therewith by the spring S², attached by one end to the bracket S*, and by its other
end to the brake lever S³. This spring is regulated to exert sufficient pressure on
the brake to prevent the accidental or too free uncoiling of the wire from the said
spool except at the moment when the binder arm rises, at which moment the arm F3
on the shaft F strikes the brake lever S3 and raises the brake S₁ from the spool,.
thus allowing the wire to uncoil or run off freely from the spool to permit the
required quantity to be taken therefrom.
In commencing to work with our improved binding mechanism the wire from the
upper bobbin is threaded through the groove at the back of the binding arın and
passed over the roller or rollers at the extremity or point of the said arm, and by
hand is twisted with the end of the wire from the lower bobbin, which wire has
been previously passed up through the small hole in the guide lever U and through
the slot or aperture in the table A. If the wheel or rack P is now supposed to be
in the position shewn in Figure 15, and the wire is engaged with the whirl at the
side nearest the binding arm, the further movement of the wheel P causes the
shoulder 4 to act against the shoulder 5 on the pinion O and effect a partial revo-
lution of the latter, bringing its concave face 1 against the rim of the wheel P and
turning the face 2 from the same, the pinion O being then in the position shewn in
Figure 16. These movements have the effect of turning the whirl through half a
revolution, whereby the wire is brought to the side of the said whirl furthest from
the side on which the binding arm approaches the whirl. The said binding arm
now descends, encloses the sheaf, and passes the wire around the said sheaf to the
whirl, and into the same at the point or place just previously occupied by the first
end of the wire, which will then be in the position shewn in Figure 9. During the
descent of the binding arm the wheel or segment P has travelled to the position
shown in Figure 17 to engage with the pinion O, and during the pause or slow
movement of the binder arm produced by the mechanisin that operates the same,
as above described, the said segment moves in gear with the said pinion, and thereby
causes the whirl to rotate and twist the wire above and below the whirl, as shown
in Figure 10. At the moment when the twist is completed the cutter X attached
to and revolving with the shaft of the pinion O passes under the whirl and severs
the two wires, leaving the wires from the top and bottom bobbin united at the lower
twist, ready to be drawn up when the binder arm rises to recommence the above
operations for binding the next sheaf. It will be seen that the said lower twist is
just above the upper side of the guide lever U, the hole in which is too small to
allow the twisted wire to pass through the same. As the binder arm rises the
stud 6 in the wheel P strikes the lever U, and throws into the position shown in
dotted lines in Figure 10. This movement of the said lever has the effect of
drawing sufficient wire from the lower bobbin S to bring the twist above the whirl
when the lever. U has returned to its normal position, the free movement of the
bobbin at this moment being permitted by the brake, as above described.
If the intermittent brake is not used in connection with the lower bobbin the
aforesaid rollers in the extremity or point of the binding arm will serve to bring the
joined or intertwisted wires above the table and clear of the whirl. In this case the
upper wire is passed over the small supplementary roller in the point of the binding
arin, and the angle thus formed in the upper wire causes sufficient friction or
tension thereon to ensure the requisite quantity of wire being taken from the lower
bobbin.
When we desire to use only a single bobbin and wire with our improved sheaf-
binding mechanisin we remove the appliances above described for the lower bobbin,
and make use of the special clamping device described in the Specification of our
former Letters Patent, dated December 17, 1877, No. 4802.
Having thus fully described our said Invention, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practise, we wish it understood that
we claim,
First. The mechanism or combination of parts consisting of the binding arm
pivotted on a crank above the sheaf table, and connected by a link to a fixed stud,

page_text: and the means whereby the said crank is caused to impart to the binding arm the
peculiar differential movement, as and for the purposes above specified.
Second. The peculiar construction and arrangement of the twisting device or
whirl, which, with liberty of free rotation, is supported by its flange in a bearing
plate attached to the sheaf table, from which plate the whirl projects downward clear
of any obstruction and operates in combination with the rotating cutter, as and for
the purpose specified.
Third. The combination of the above-described binding arm and its operative
mechanism with the said twisting and cutting devices and wire guide or carrying
lever, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Drawings, and as above set forth
and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The combination of parts comprising the segmental rack, the pinion
arranged to gear with the same, the whirl or twisting device, the rotating cutter
provided with a fly wheel, the wire guide lever, and the intermittent brake applied
to the spool, all arranged as shown in Figures 12 to 18 of the Drawings, and
operating as and for the purposes specified.
Fifth. The combination of our improved sheaf-binding inechanism, constructed
substantially as shewn in the accompanying Drawings, and operating as above set
forth, with the other parts of a harvesting or reaping machine, as and for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Howard and Edward Tenney Bousfield,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth day of March, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
(2.D.)
EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD. (L.S.)