IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES, AND IN Appa- RATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Henry Johnson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th December 1876. A communication
from abroad by Charles Mauge, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Repre-
sentative of Commerce.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES, AND IN Appa-
RATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH." A. communication from abroad by Charles Mauge,
of Paris, in the Republic of Franco, Representative of Commerce.
"
This Invention relates partly to the platform and delivery apparatus, and
has for its object obviating the defects and inconveniences which attend the ordinary
methods of delivering the cut crop, and improving and accelerating the working of
the machine. The Invention consists of the several improvements herein-after
described, which are especially applicable to mowing and reaping machines having
the bar at the back. By the application of these improvements the cut corn is raised
slightly to equalize the stubble ends, and by a rapid motion is carried to the side of
the machine into a sheaving apparatus, which apparatus is so arranged as to tilt
and deposit the sheaf upon the ground unbound; or if preferred, the sheaf is bound
while on the machine and afterwards delivered upon the ground.
In carrying out this Invention the platform is composed of several boards ar-
ranged in steps, and firmly supported by three cross pieces; it is inclined towards
the machine, but the cut corn cannot slip in consequence of the advancing motion.
At its two extremities, corresponding to the sides of the reaper, there are provided
two shafts carrying grooved pulleys; endless bands are passed round these pulleys,
provided at intervals with small metal pins or hooks for the purpose of carrying on
the cut corn when the bands are in motion. In order that these pins or hooks may
not become entangled with the stems of the grain they are constructed to turn
down upon the bands, and this motion takes place on passing over one set of pulleys
which are provided with a groove and a tappet, ensuring this motion; on passing
over the other set of pulleys the hooks are raised or turned up again.
At each extremity of the boards or steps herein-before referred to, and along
their front edges, there are provided steel rods which extend along the whole width
of the platform; all these rods are united in a U shaped head-piece, and have a
to-and-fro motion imparted to them, in which they travel over a distance equal to
half their length. At about the centre of these rods they are bent downwards
and pass under the platform, where they are united to the head piece, so that
the said platform is only grooved half way across to allow the rods to pass.

page_text: The forward motion of the rods is derived from a parallel shaft (the various
functions of which will be herein-after described), through the intervention of
pinions with an endless chain or any other suitable means; the backward motion
is derived from an endless chain and two small pinions, one of which is mounted
upon one of the two shafts first mentioned. The to-and-fro motion of this frame
of rods is automatic, and is obtained by an arrangement for throwing the mechanism
in and out of gear. When the head piece reaches the end of its stroke at about
the centre of the platform it comes in contact with a lover which throws the pinion
mounted on one of the shafts, as before mentioned, in gear, and it immediately
returns; at the end of the return stroke it comes in contact with another lever
which throws the pinion out of gear and so on in succession.
In order to raise the cut corn lying upon the platform the shaft secondly herein-
before mentioned is provided. This shaft is situate in a recess in the wood, and by
rotating it raises and brings forward a flap composed of two boards joined together
so as to form a very obtuse angle between thein. The mechanism which actuates
the flap is composed of three jointed levers, which, by a series of movements
guided at the upper part by a curved band of iron, and below by a straight guide
upon the platform, effect the required motions of the flap.
It is necessary, in order that the lifting of the corn inay take place without incon-
venience, that the corn as soon as it is cut should be received and supported a little
above the platform. For this purpose it is supported for the requisite period by a
rod situate at the end of an arm, which moves on a centre attached to a bar
extending in the direction of the rake shaft, and connected to the shaft secondly
herein-before mentioned by means of a jointed lever or crank. The apparatus is so
arranged that for a very small angle of displacement of the extremity of the bar
last mentioned the rod will describe a much larger arc in such a manner as to
receive or drop the sheaf of corn.
The rakes are connected to a conical piece of cast iron so as to rotate in the
usual manner, and motion is imparted to them from their shaft, and they are caused
to press upon the cut corn and rest it against the rod which forms a temporary
support.
On the side of the platform at the point at which the corn is to be delivered
upon the ground there is placed a sheaving apparatus which consists of a half
cylinder of wood hinged to the end of an arm secured by means of a bolt to a cast-
iron shoe; the point of support being near the hinder end of the sheaving appa-
ratus, the latter would always have a tendency to tilt itself if it were not balanced
by a suitable counterweight. The slightest weight causes it to tilt. But in order to
prevent this operation from taking place too soon, a rod is provided which holds the
half cylinder or sheaving apparatus in position by engaging in two sockets, one of
which is under the sheaving apparatus and the other upon the arm to which the
half cylinder is hinged; at the proper moment an automatic motion forces the rod
to quit the sockets and the sheaving apparatus tilts, it then resumes its original
position owing to the action of the counterweight.
When it is desired to bind the sheaves of corn the sheaving apparatus is to be
taken off and a binding apparatus next herein-after described substituted for it.
This apparatus is composed of two crooked crescent-shaped fingers, jointed at a
suitable point, and terminating in straight portions; these prolongations are
attached to two metal blades which form part of an endloss chain, one of the blades
being upon one section of the chain and the other blade upon the opposite section;
the chain is wound upon two small pinions, and has an alternate to-and-fro motion
imparted to it in opposite directions. When it moves, the two prolongations being
drawn in opposite directions, the fingers close or open according to the direction
of the movement.
The fingers are provided with the ligature destined to bind the sheaf; one end of
this ligature is attached to a small hook upon one of the fingers, the other end rests
loosely upon a similar hook on the other finger; when the sheaf is compressed the
workinan seated at the back part of the machine rapidly seizes the loose end of the

page_text: ligature and passes it to the hook on the other finger in such a manner as to form a
knot, which is tightened at the moment the fingers open. The sheaf is bound and
compressed by its tendency to become loosened. For this purpose the finger of the
binding apparatus is provided with a piece of wood or metal having a notch and
hollowed out by a species of transverse groove; in this groove there is placed a
bent lever of metal, oscillating on a fixed centre; the other end of the lever is pro-
vided with an eye, serving to secure the end of the ligature, which afterwards
passes through the piece of wood; the other end is placed, as has been herein-before
stated, on a hook on the other finger of the binding apparatus; at the moment when
the sheaf is bound tightly, the operator passes the loose end of the ligature into the
bottom of the notch, and when the fingers open the tendency of the sheaf to open
draws the ligature, the lever then turns upon the fixed point, and by this move-
ment it presses the ligature into the bottom of the notch with greater force in pre-
paration as the sheaf tends to open.
It may be found advantageous to combine the sheaving and binding apparatus
on the machine, in which case the sheaving frame will be provided with a groove
sufficiently large to admit of the passage of the fingers. In this manner the cut
corn will be first gathered together in suitable quantity to form a sheaf, and then
seized by the fingers. and bound, after which it will be thrown off on to the ground
by the tilting of the sheaving apparatus, the fingers of the binder having neces-
sarily been previously drawn back.
The general motion is derived from a toothed wheel mounted upon one of the
axles of the reaper, and such motion is communicated to an intermediate shaft
provided with pinions and actuating the shaft secondly herein-before mentioned,
which ensures directly, by suitable connections with an endless chain, toothed
sectors and other devices, the simultaneous working of the lifting flap, the frame
of rods and the temporary support. The intermediate shaft likewise drives the
sheaving and binding apparatus and the two endless bands.
The series of operations performed by the machine are carried out in the fol-
lowing manner: The corn cut by the knives is turned down by the rakes upon
the rod, which, when drawn back, allows the corn to fall in a regular heap as
regards its thickness upon the platform; it is immediately lifted by the flap; at
this moment the frame of rods is brought forward, the bands with the pins or hooks
draw the corn suddenly into the sheaving apparatus when it is supported by the
rods, but only for the time requisite to enable the corn to be delivered into the
middle of the sheaving apparatus, for the rods are drawn back at the moment the
corn is delivered, so that the latter drops into the sheaving apparatus which tilts in
consequence of the withdrawal of the catch bar, and leaves the sheaf upon the
ground. The same operation takes place when the sheaf is bound as herein-before
described.
The corn having been cleared from the platform the supporting rod is lowered
again to support the next pile of cut corn, thus allowing the flap to turn back
and occupy its original position, after which the samo operation recommences.
In order to transport the machine from the field it suffices to take off the arm
of the sheaving or binding apparatus, which is only connected by a bolt to the
shoe, and to lift up the entire inachine upon the usual centre secured to the shoe.