IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Robert Jefferies, of the Orwell Works, Ipswich,
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for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES."
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Robert Jefferies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th September 1878.
"
JOHN ROBERT JEFFERIES, of the Orwell Works, Ipswich. IMPROVEMENTS IN
REAPING MACHINES."
In self-raking reaping machines, which have rotating arms guided by cams for
holding the crop towards the cutting knives and for sweeping the same off the
platform, it is very desirable that the arms should be made to act as gatherers or
rakes at the will of the operator. For this purpose I mount the arms upon the
central driving disc or casting in such manner that the hinge joints or trunnions
upon which the arms move up and down have a slight radial motion to or from the
axis of rotation for the purpose of moving the arms, so that the friction rollers
attached thereto may take their bearing upon a different cam.
I form the trunnions for each of the arms eccentrically upon a circular block,
which is mounted in bearings upon the central driving disc or casting, which block
on being partly turned in its bearings by means of a suitable lever and connections
will move the trunnions radially towards or further away from the axis of the
driving disc.
In a modification for the same purpose I sometimes prefer to form the trunions
upon a block moving in a radial slot in the driving disc; but it is obvious that
many other methods may be employed for giving the radial motion to the trunions
of the arms.
In either case the attendant may set any number of arms to act as rakes or
gatherers before starting the machine; but I also sometimes employ suitable levers
and connections to enable the operator to change the arms into rakes or gatherers
at pleasure while the machine is in motion.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Robert Jefferies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
March 1879.
JOHN ROBERT JEFFERIES, of the Orwell Works, Ipswich.
REAPING MACHINES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
In self-raking reaping machines, which have rotating arms guided by cams for
holding the crop towards the cutting knives and for sweeping the same off the
platform, it is very desirable that the arms should be made to act as gatherers or
rakes at the will of the operator. For this purpose I mount the arms upon the
central driving dise or casting in such manner that the hinge joints or trunnion
upon which the arms move up and down have a slight radial motion to or from
the axis of rotation for the purpose of moving the arms, so that the friction rollers
attached thereto may take their bearing upon a different cam.
I form the trunnions for each of the arms eccentrically upon a circular block
which is mounted in bearings upon the central driving disc or casting, which block
on being partly turned in its bearings by means of a suitable lever and connections
will move the trunnions radially towards or further away from the axis of the
driving disc.
In a modification for the same purpose I sometimes prefer to form the trunnions
upon a block' moving in a radial slot in the driving disc; but it is obvious that
many other methods may be employed for giving the radial motion to the trunnions
of the arms.
In either case the attendant may set any number of arms to act as rakes or
gatherers before starting the machine; but I also sometimes employ suitable levers
and connections to enable the operator to change the arms into rakes or gatherers
at pleasure while the machine is in motion.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings, hereunto annexed..
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the rake
axis and driving disc with the inner end of one of the rake arms and part of the
controling cams. In this arrangement the rake arms are mounted on eccentrics.
a is the rake axis, and b is the driving disc or casting upon it. In flanges on the
casting b the studs c are held, and between the flanges they are eccentric; d, d, are
parts of the rake arms. The rakes serve to lay or gather the crop towards tho
cutting apparatus, and also (when they are allowed to take the lower course) to
sweep the cut crop from the platform; d', d', are metal shoes forming the inner
ends of the rake arms; they are carried and are able to turn upon the eccentric
portions of the studs 'c; c' is a small lever with which each stud is provided at one
end, and by which it can be turned and locked.
.
The lever can be fixed in either of two positions by a spring bolt upon it taking
into notches in the flange on the casting b. Thus the rake arms can be set to
have the centre of their rocking movement nearer to or further from the axis a;
dis a bracket formed on the shoe d'; it carries on a stud a small roller e, which
runs upon one or other of the two cam courses f and g. Portions of these cam
'courses are shown in elevation in Figure 3, and in plan in Figure 4.
When the eccentric stud c is so set that the rake arm is in the position indicated
by the dotted lines in Figure 2, the roller e will always run on to the outer and
upper cam course g, and the corresponding rake will not operate to clear the cut
crop from the platform of the machine; but when the eccentric stud c is set in the
position indicated in full lines in Figure 2, the roller e will continue to run on the
lower cam course.f, and the corresponding rake will operate to clear the platform.

page_text: Unless indeed the hinge tongue or switch / be called into play, for by pulling on
the cord i and raising the tongue or switch h any rake arm whose roller e other-
wise would pass along the lower cain course f, can be diverted on to the upper
course g, and then the corresponding rake will omit to clear the platform.
Figures 5 and 6 show a modification in which the studs c are not eccentric but
are carried in blocks, which can move in guide slots in the flanges on the driving
disc or casting b to and from the axis a; k, l, are spring catches by which the
blocks may be locked in either of their two positions.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forining the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The arrangement of the rake arms to turn about centres, which can be
set in or out, and thus bringing the rakes under the control of different cams or
guides, substantially as described.
Second. The apparatus substantially as described and represented in the annexed
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Robert Jefferies, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
JOHN ROBERT JEFFERIES. (L.S.)