A Method of and Machinery for Harvesting Grain.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 29th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Method of and Machinery for Harvesting Grain.
I, MARTIN SCHAFFTER, Engineer, of Hernandarias, in the Province of Entre
Rios, Argentine Republic, South America, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a method of, and machinery for, harvesting grain, and
the like, direct from the standing corn, hy removing the ears from the stalk in
such manner that the grain only is gathered, the stalks or straw being left on the
field, whereby the labour and cost of transporting and storing large masses of
straw is saved, whilst the straw may be gathered separately in an uninjured state
directly from the field instead of in the broken and, therefore, less valuable
condition from the thrashing machine. The object aimed at is the removal of the
ears from the stalks by a rubbing action, although the plucking or breaking off of
the ears may, in some cases, occur.
This method of harvesting is performed by means of a machine drawn, by horse
or other power, over the field of standing corn, the machine being provided at a
suitable height with arrangements for catching the stalks, bending them over, and
gathering the ears which are seized by a contrivance for gathering the grain; said
contrivance may operate in the manner of a thrashing machine but its work will
be greatly facilitated from the fact that the ears being fairly presented to its action
the removal of the grain is much more readily accomplished than when fed in in
irregular masses, as to an ordinary thrashing machine. The grain, as well as in
some cases the partly or entirely plucked ears, being subjected to a beating action
The
similar to that of a thrashing drum, the removal of all the grain is ensured.
grain thus obtained is at once submitted to a winnowing and cleaning process in
the same machine by being first caused to pass between cleaning rollers and then
being carried by a screw or other conveyor to a winnower. When the machine
is drawn by horses, the operative parts derive their motion preferably from
the main axle and the machine is adjustable to suit the height of the corn
stalks.
The accompanying drawings illustrate several modifications of the machine for
carrying the above described method into effect.
Figure 1 shews a longitudinal section, Figure 2 a front elevation, and Figure 3
a plan of the preferred arrangement.
Figures 4 and 5 represent a side and top view of the ear catcher.
Figures 6 and 7 shew another modification of the machine, in so far as it is
altered; Figure 6 representing the arrangement for catching the ears and taking
out the grain, and Figure 7 the conveyor in connection therewith.
Figure 8 shews a third modification constructed on the same principles.
The machine shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, is carried by a frame B supported by the
wheels A, A', and by the draught animal in the shafts C. When the machine is
drawn into the cornfield, the roller e', which extends entirely across the machine,
and receives motion as indicated in Figure 4, takes hold of the stalks by engaging
the ears and sweeping them over the stationary roller K, which also extends.
across the machine; the ears thereby rubbed off are at once taken by the elastic
beaters e of a drum which rotating at great speed remove the grain, the ears and
grain being thereby carried over the undulated and ribbed concave or thrashing
IDOJI

page_text: floor K¹ on to the cleaning rollers J¹, J2, J³, the grain being rubbed out of the
ears on the way. From these rollers the grain drops into the trough of a screw
conveyor F which carries the grain to a cleaner at the side of the machine from
which it may be delivered into sacks. In order to adjust the front of the
machine to suit the height of the crop, the shafts C are hinged to the frame
and secured by an adjustable stay c, whereby the angle of the shafts to the frame
may be varied.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, one portion of the width of the machine is
occupied by the beater drum and accessories operating on the ears on the stalk,
whilst the remainder is occupied by any suitable cleaner, the driving mechanism
being arranged between. On the axle of wheel A is a chain wheel a geared by
chain with a pinion a' on a shaft a' from which all the other parts are driven.
The shaft of the beater drum E is geared by chain with the shaft at whilst
another chain drives shafts as and a*. From the former the rollers J, J², are
driven in the same direction, by chain gear whilst roller Js gearing directly with
the teeth of J², rotates in the reverse direction. Pinion a', on the shaft of the
screw conveyor F, is driven from the shaft aº, and the axle a" of the bucket
elevator is driven from the conveyor shaft.
The gear for operating the rollers J, J2, and J³, for cleaning purposes is shewn
in Figure 3. On shaft a³ are mounted close together, two spur wheels of different
diameters which are geared by chains with shafts as, and a³, of rollers J2, and J',
which rotate at different speeds, as being the faster. The fan D of the winnowing
machine is driven by a belt from the pulley b', on shaft f.
The mechanism for operating the sweep rod e¹, shewn in Figures 4 and 5,
consists essentially of crank or eccentric operated levers E', carrying the rod e',
and pivoted at e to levers E2 which are fulcrumed upon studs e carried by arms
of the machine frame and coupled at e³ to the links e² of eccentrics E' mounted
one on each end of the shaft of the drum E, whilst the upper ends e of the
levers E are coupled by rods E³ directly to the shaft. The effect of this
mechanism, which is alike at both ends, is to impart to rod el a sweeping motion
between the two extreme positions shewn in Figure 4.
In the modification shewn in Figures 6 and 7, the catching of the ears and
taking out the grain is effected by two concentric drums C, C', mounted on a
hollow shaft and provided with inwardly and outwardly projecting beater pins c, c',
both drums revolving in the direction of the arrow, but the inner one rotating at
a considerably higher speed than the outer one. The latter has broad peripheral
apertures F closed by hinged flap covers F¹, which open and close in such manuer
and at such times as to catch the ears of standing corn and draw them within the
drums, where they are retained whilst being subjected to the action of the beater
pins, c. In the example, the opening of each cover F¹ at the proper time is
effected by an arm 2 on the axis of the cover meeting a spring controlled stop g',
whereby the cover is caused to assume the position shewn in dotted lines in which
position it is retained by springs or otherwise until by the revolution of drum C it
-comes round to such point that it has descended into the standing corn whereupon
another arm F3 strikes another spring stop 92 and closes the cover, sweeping the
ears inwards, the cover being furthermore pressed into the aperture by a pro-
jection F passing the pressure roller gs. The ears acted on in the annular space
between the drums C, C¹, by the pins c, c', are freed of their grain which being
carried up to the top of the space falls through the openings C2, into the trough G,
of the screw conveyor by which it is carried into the hollow axle G³ of the drum
and thence to the bucket elevator by which it is delivered to the winnower. The
screw conveyor is driven by spur wheel G, gearing with spur wheel G³, on the
boss of the inner drum C, whilst the outer drum C is driven from the inner one
by the gearing H, H³, H2, H¹.
In the modification shewn in Figure 8, two drums E³, E, are used. They
rotate at different speeds E³, slowly and E, quickly and a concave or thrashing
floor K¹ is provided like that in Figure 1, on which the beaters e of the drum

page_text: having the higher speed take hold of the ears and remove their grain, whilst the
slowly revolving drum E³, rubs off the ears by means of the rods connecting its
two front cross-bars and throws them over the front edge K of the concave K¹.
The cleaning rollers J₁, J³, J³, are arranged as in Figures 1, 2, 3, motion being
imparted by spur and chain gear, the cleaned corn being received in trough T and
delivered by screw conveyor F.
Dated this 31st day of May 1805
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Method of and Machinery for Harvesting Grain.
I, MARTIN SCHAFFTER, Engineer, of Hernandarias in the Province of Entre
Rios, Argentine Republic, South America, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a method of, and machinery for, harvesting grain and
the like direct from the standing corn so that the grain only is gathered, the stalks
or straw being left on the field, whereby the labour and cost of transporting and
storing large masses of straw is saved whilst the straw may be gathered separately
in an uninjured state directly from the field instead of in the broken, and therefore
less valuable, coudition from the thrashing machine. The object aimed at is the
removal of the grain from the stalks by a rubbing action, although the plucking or
breaking off of the ears may in some cases occur.
This method of harvesting is performed by means of a machine drawn by horse
or other power over the field of standing corn, the machine being provided at a
suitable height with arrangements for catching the stalks and bending them over
so that the ears are acted on by a contrivance for gathering the grain; said
contrivance may operate in the manner of a thrashing machine but its work will
be greatly facilitated from the fact that the ears being fairly presented to its
action the removal of the grain is much more readily accomplished than when the
stalks are fed in in irregular masses as to an ordinary thrashing machine. The
grain, as well as in some cases the partly or entirely plucked ears, being subjected
to a beating action similar to that of a thrashing drum the removal of all the
grain is ensured. The grain thus obtained is at once submitted to a winnowing and
cleaning process in the same machine by being first caused to pass between cleaning
rollers and then being carried by a screw or other conveyor to a winnower.
When the machine is drawn by horses the operative parts derive their motion
preferably from the main axle and the machine is adjustable to suit the height of
the corn stalks.
The drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification illustrate several
modifications of the machine for carrying the above described method into effect.
Figure 1 shews a longitudinal section, Figure 2 a front elevation, and Figure 3
a plan of the preferred arrangement.
Figures 4 and 5 represent a side and top view of the ear catcher.
Figures 6 and 7 shew another modification of the machine in so far as it is
altered; Figure 6 representing the arrangement for catching the ears and taking
out the grain, and Figure 7 the conveyor in connection therewith.
Figure 8 shews a third modification constructed on the same principles.
The machine shewn in Figures 123 is carried by a frame B supported by the
wheels A A and by the draught animal in the shafts C. When the machine is
drawn into the cornfield the roller e¹, which extends entirely across the machine
and receives motion as indicated in Figure 4, takes hold of the stalks by engaging

page_text: the ears and sweeping them over the stationary roller K which also extends across
the machine; the ears thereby rubbed off are at once taken by the elastic beaters e
of a drum which rotating at great speed remove the grain, the ears and grain
being thereby carried over the undulated and ribbed concave or thrashing floor K¹
on to the hulling rollers J1 J2 J3 the grain being rubbed out of the ears on the way.
From these rollers the grain drops into the trough of a screw conveyor F which
carries the grain to a winnower at the side of the machine from which it may be
delivered into sacks. In order to adjust the front of the machine to suit the
height of the crop the shafts C are hinged to the frame and secured by an adjust-
able stay e whereby the angle of the shafts to the frame may be varied.
As shewn in Figures 2 and 3 one portion of the width of the machine is
occupied by the beater drum and accessories operating on the ears on the stalk
whilst the remainder is occupied by any suitable winnower, the driving mechanism
being arranged between. On the axle of wheel A is a chain wheel a geared by
chain with a pinion a' on a shaft a from which all the other parts are driven.
The shaft of the beater drum E is geared by chain with the shaft at whilst
another chain drives shafts a' and a. From the former the rollers J¹ J' are
driven in the same direction by chain gear whilst roller J³ gearing directly with the
teeth of J rotates in the reverse direction. Pinion a on the shaft of the screw
conveyor F is driven from the shaft a and the axle a" of the bucket elevator is
driven from the conveyor shaft.
The gear for operating the rollers J¹ J2 and J³ for hulling purposes is shewn in
Figure 3. On shaft a are mounted close together two spur wheels of different
diameters which are geared by chains with shafts as and a of rollers J and J'
which rotate at different speeds, as being the faster. The fan D of the winnowing
machine is driven by a belt from the pulley b¹ on shaft f.
The mechanism for operating the sweep rod e' shewn in Figures 4 and 5 consists
essentially of crank or eccentric operated levers E carrying the rod e¹ and pivoted
at e to levers E2 which are fulcrumed upon studs e carried by arms of the machine
frame and coupled at es to the links e of eccentrics E' mounted one on each end of
the shaft of the drum E whilst the upper ends e of the levers E are coupled by
radius rods E³ directly to the shaft f. The effect of this mechanism, which is alike
at both ends, is to impart to rod el a sweeping motion between the two extreme
positions shewn in Figure 4.
In the modification shewn in Figures 6 and 7 the catching of the ears and taking
out the grain is effected by two concentric drums C C mounted on a hollow shaft
and provided with inwardly and outwardly projecting beater pins e c¹ both drums
revolving in the direction of the arrow but the inner one rotating at a considerably
bigher speed than the outer one. The latter has broad peripheral apertures F
closed by hinged flap covers F1 which open and close in such manner and at such
times as to catch the ears of standing corn and draw them within the drums
where they are retained whilst being subjected to the action of the beater pins c c¹.
In the example the opening of each cover F¹ at the proper time is effected by an
arm F2 on the axis of the cover meeting a spring controlled stop g' whereby the
cover is caused to assume the position shewn in dotted lines in which position it is
retained by springs or otherwise until by the revolution of drum C it comes round
to such point that it has descended into the standing corn whereupon another
arm F strikes another spring stop 92 and closes the cover sweeping the ears
inwards, the cover being furthermore pressed into the aperture by a projection F
passing the pressure roller g³. The ears acted on in the annular space between the
drums C C by the pius c c are freed of their grain which being carried up to
the top of the space falls through the openings C into the trough G of the screw
conveyor by which it is carried into the hollow axle G³ of the drum and thence to
the bucket elevator by which it is delivered to the winnower. The screw con-
veyor is driven by spur wheel G gearing with spur wheel G5 on the boss of the
inner drum C whilst the outer drum. C is driven from the inner one by the
gearing H H³ H² H¹.

page_text: In the modification shewn in Figure 8 two drums E³ E are used. They rotate
at different speeds, E³ slowly and E' quickly, and a concave or thrashing floor K¹
is provided like that in Figure 1 on which the beaters e of the drum having the
higher speed take hold of the ears and remove their grain, whilst the slowly
revolving drum E³ rubs off the ears by means of the rods connecting its two front
cross-bars and throws them over the front edge K of the concave K'.
hulling rollers J1 J2 J³ are arranged as in Figures 123, motion being imparted
by spur and chain gear, the cleaned corn being received in trough T and delivered
by screw conveyor F.
The
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A machine for threshing out corn from the standing stalk substantially as
specified, and characterized by a device whereby the stalks are caught, bent over
towards the mouth of the threshing drum, and held there during the threshing,
operation for the purpose of threshing the grain out of the ears without first cutting
or plucking off the ears from the stalk.
2. The particular arrangement of the machine specified in Claim 1 wherein the
ear-catching bar is carried by levers subject to the conjoint action of radius rods
and crank or eccentric operated levers combined and arranged for operation
substantially as described whereby to impart to said car-catching bar first a sub-
stantially vertical and then a horizontal motion as aud for the purpose specified.
3. The arrangement of machine for harvesting grain from the standing stalk,
characterized by the combination of threshing apparatus with a hulling apparatus
consisting of three rollers extending the entire length of, and being arranged quite
close up to, the thresher, a conveyor for discharging laterally the hulled grain, and
a winnowing or cleaning device at the side of the framing fed by a bucket conveyor
and arranged as described so as to leave room behind it for a platform for the
removal of the grain.
an open
4. The arrangement of the hulling rollers so that they enclose
trough-like space, the two forward rollers being driven in the same direction and
the rear upper roller being driven in the contrary direction thereto.
5. A machine for harvesting grain from the stalk, with a threshing machine
and a conveyor and with a cleaning apparatus of known construction, charac-
terized by the arrangement of a hulling apparatus consisting of three rollers and
extending the entire length of the threshing apparatus and situated close up to the
threshing floor.
Dated this 29th day of February 1896.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chaucery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.