Improvements in Harvester Binders.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 8th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Harvester Binders.
A communication from FREDERICK DUNCAN MERCER and JOHN SMITH MERCER,
both of the Township of Dereham, in the County of Oxford, in the Province of
Ontario, Canada, both farmers.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the invention is first, to design an effective substitute for the elevating
apron used in a harvester binder; secondly, to arrange the grain table conveyors and.
elevating conveyors so that all the grain conveyed by the former will be delivered
to and elevated by the latter; and thirdly, to arrange and operate the elevating rake
teeth in such a manner that they will the better discharge the grain upon the binding
table and effectually free themselves from the grain immediately they have delivered
their load. It consists, essentially, first in providing a series of rakes, the rake head
of each rake being pivotted on an endless chain or band arranged to travel so that
the rakes connected to it will convey the grain from the grain table to the binding
table, simple devices being provided for the purpose of operating the rakes so that
each will clear itself from the grain at the point where the latter is discharged onto
the binding table; secondly in forming a grain tablo conveyor of a series of rake
heads located below the grain table deck and provided with rake teeth projecting
through slots or openings made in the grain deck, the said rake heads being carried
in suitable guides and connected together and driven by endless chains carried on.
sprocket wheels located below the grain table deck in such positions that the grain
table rake teeth which the chains propel shall convey the grain to a point within the
travel of the elevating rake teeth which are designed to gather all the grain so
conveyed and elevate it to the binding table; and thirdly in connecting the driving
chains of the elevating rakes to a crank formed on each rake head, which rake head is.
carried by a pin or roller formed upon or connected to the rake head and designed to
move in a groove formed in the side of the elevator frame, so shaped relatively to the
travel of the elevating chain that each rake head when it reaches the discharging point
will rock on its heel and travel back on its pin or roller so as to draw its teeth out
of the grain which it has just delivered on the binding table.
Below the deck of the elevator the grain is carried by the action of the rake teeth'
which extend through slots made in the deck. The lower end of the deck is attached
to a cross bar which is connected to the sides and forms a support for the lower end.
of the deck. The upper end of the deck is supported on another cross bar. There
being no other supports for the deck a free passage way below it is left for the grain
and the rake teeth meet with no obstruction while in motion. Each end of the rake
head is provided with a spindle which is designed to pass through the clevis links
and form one of the bars of the sprocket chains one at each end. Each spindle passes
through an endless slot made in the sides. These slots are shaped and designed to
form ways to support and guide the rake heads.
The straps which secure together the two parts of each side piece are arched to.
prevent their interference with the chains.
At one end of each rake head a small crank is formed or attached to the before-
mentioned spindle which crank is placed between the side and sprocket chain. The
sprocket chains pass over sprocket wheels suitably journalled one near the lower end
of the deck and the other near the upper end thereof. The crank end or pin projects
into the endless slot from the outside so that the teeth are held at the proper angle
during the time they are elevating the grain. When the rake teeth reach the top of
the elevator where the grain is discharged onto the binding table it is necessary to

page_text: provide means for feathering the teeth so that they will clear themselves from the grain
they have elevated. This feathering is accomplished by a grooved bracket, located on
one side of the upper end of the elevator. The groove made in this bracket com-
municates with the endless slot substantially at the point where a small block is
located which is preferably formed with a rounded upper face and is placed near
the change in the direction of the said slot so that the back of the crank will when
passing over the said block be tilted so as to throw the pin into the groove which
action will cause the rake teeth to feather and clear themselves of the grain they
have elevated. As the chain continues to travel the spindle remains in the slot
while the before-mentioned crank pin travels in the bracket groove and the rake
head passes around the upper end of the elevator.
In order to feed the grain from the end of the canvas to a point within the
reach of the rake teeth a revolving roller is placed at the inner end of the canvas
below the lower end of the deck. A series of straps fitted into grooves made in
the said roller bridge the opening between the said roller and the bottom plate of
the elevator frame.
It will of course be understood that when the crank-pin arrives at the end of the
bracket groove it will re-enter the endless slot.
The endless slot at the upper end of the elevator dips towards the binding table
of the machine and the dip is also given to the bracket groove. This dip imparts a
better feather to the rake teeth than would be secured were there no dip and the
grain is also better discharged from the elevator.
The grain table deck is composed of a series of strips fastened to the blocks which
are secured to the back of the elevating-frame.
An endless chain passes round the sprocket wheels which are located below the
deck and are carried on suitable spindles which may be driven in the same manner as
the spindles of the ordinary grain-table conveying aprons. It is to be understood
that two chains are used one at each end of the rake head. On each of these rake
beads is attached or formed a series of rake teeth which project through slots or
partings left between each strip forming the grain-table deck. Each end of the rake
heads is supported by a ledge which acts as a guide to support the rake heads so
that the teeth shall project through the slots while they are conveying the grain
towards the elevating table. Corresponding ledges are provided to support the rake
heads when they are travelling back.
The elevating rake-teeth are curved and project through the slots as they are
- passing around their pivot at the bottom of the elevator; the said rake-teeth being
designed to gather all the grain conveyed by cach set of rake-teeth so that no grain
can possibly accumulate and clog at the bottom of the elevator. Each set of rake
teeth is connected to a suitable rake-head which is provided with metal ends. A pin
on which a friction roller is preferably journalled, projects from the rake-head end
and is designed to fit into a groove formed in the side of the elevator-frame.
A crank arın is attached to and extends in front of the rake-head; and a slot is
made in the side of the elevating frame through which slot the crank arm projects
to engage with the endless chain which passes around suitable sprocket-wheels and is
caused to travel so as to carry with it the rake-heads.
By the time that the grain has been fully delivered onto the binding table the
pivot pin has reached the turning point in the groove and the heel formed on the
back of the rake-head end is in contact with the ledge formed on the bottom side of
the groove. The crank arm which as before stated is connected to the travelling
elevating chain has also reached the turning point in its slot and by the action of
the said chain is being drawn back, consequently the rake-head is caused to tilt on
its heel and raise the pivot pin around the end and into the upper portion of the
groove which motion will cause the rake-teeth to draw straight out of the grain they
have just delivered so that no grain can in any way become entangled in the teeth
during the period that it is being delivered onto the binding table. Each rake-head
will then continue to travel back in the required position until the groove commences
to dip down at which point the rake-head begins to roll over on its centre by the

page_text: action of the crank arm which is carried by its chain over the sprocket wheel past the
rake-head which it continues to lead until the rake-head has once more delivered its
load onto, the binding table.
In order to ensure each rake-head rolling over at the point described a stop block
is applied.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Harvester Binders.
A communication from FREDERICK DUNCAN MERCER and JOHN SMITH MERCER,
both of the township of Dereham, in the County of Oxford, in the Province of
Ontario, Canada, both farmers.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E., 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 :-
The object of the invention is first, to design an effective substitute for the
elevating apron used in a harvester binder; secondly, to arrange the grain table
conveyors and elevating conveyors so that all the grain conveyed by the former will
be delivered to and elevated by the latter; and thirdly, to arrange and operate the
elevating rake teeth in such a manner that they will the better discharge the grain upon
the binding table and effectually free themselves from the grain immediately they
have delivered their load. It consists, essentially, first in providing a series of rakes,
the rake head of each rake being pivotted on an endless chain or band arranged to
travel so that the rakes connected to it will convey the grain from the grain table to
the binding table, simple devices being provided for the purpose of operating the
rakes so that each will clear itself from the grain at the point where the latter is
discharged onto the binding table; secondly in forming a grain table conveyor of a
series of rake heads located below the grain table deck and provided with rake teeth
projecting through slots or openings made in the grain deck, the said rake heads
being carried in suitable guides and connected together and driven by endless chains
carried on sprocket wheels located below the grain table deck in such positions that
the grain table rake teeth which the chains propel shall convey the grain to a point
within the travel of the elevating rake teeth which are designed to gather all the grain
so conveyed and elevate it to the binding table; and thirdly in connecting the driving
chains of the elevating rakes to a crank formed on each rake head, which rake head
is carried by a pin or roller formed upon or connected to the rake head and designed
to move in a groove formed in the side of the elevator frame, so shaped relatively to
the travel of the elevating chain that each rake head when it reaches the discharging
point will rock on its heel and travel back on its pin or roller so as to draw its teeth
out of the grain which it has just delivered on the binding table; the whole being
arranged substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter more particularly explained.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a harvester binder provided with this
improved elevating device.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a detail of the rake showing its connection with its operating chain.
Fig. 4 is a detail of the roller placed between the canvas of the grain table and the
deck of the elevator.
Fig. 5 is a perspective sectional view of the top portion of the elevator.
Fig. 6 is a perspective sectional view showing the grain table deck and conveyors.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective detail of an elevating rake head end.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a grain table rake head.
Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation showing the connection between the grain deck and
elevating conveyors.

page_text: In figures 14 A represents a portion of the canvas of the grain table.
B represents the side of the elevator.
C, represents the deck of the elevator below which deck the grain is carried by
the action of the rake teeth D which extend through slots a made in the deck C as
indicated. The lower end of the deck C is attached to a cross bar E which is con-
nected to the sides B and forms a support for the lower end of the deck C. The
upper end of the deck C is supported on a cross bar F. There being no other
supports for the deck Ca free passage way below it is left for the grain and the
teeth D meet with no obstruction while in motion. Each end of the rake head G is
provided with a spindle b which is designed to pass through the clevis links d and
form one of the bars of the sprocket chains H one at each end. Each spindle b
passes through an endless slot made in the sides B. These slots are shaped sub-
stantially as shown in the drawings and are designed to form ways to support and
guide the rake heads G.
s are straps which secure together the two parts of each side piece B formed by
the slot. These straps are arched to provent their interference with the chains H as
clearly shown in figure 1.
At one end of each rake head a small crank is formed or attached to the
spindle which crank is placed between the side B and sprocket chain H. The
sprocket chains pass over sprocket wheels suitably journalled one near the lower end
of the deck and the other near the upper end thereof as shown in figure 1. The
crank end or pin i projects into the slot from the outside so that the teeth D are held
at the proper angle during the time they are elevating the grain. When the rake
toeth D reach the top of the elevator where the grain is discharged onto the binding
table it is necessary to provide means for feathering the teeth D so that they will
clear themselves from the grain they have elevated. This feathering is accomplished
by, a grooved bracket I located on one side of the upper end of the elevator. The
groove made in this bracket communicates with the slot substantially at the point
where the small block m is located which is preferably of the form shown with a
rounded upper face and is placed near the change in direction of the slot fas shown
in figure 1 so that the back of the crank g will when passing over the said block be
tilted so as to throw the pin i into the groove which action will cause the rake
teeth to feather and clear themselves of the grain they have elevated. As the chain H
continues to travel the spindle remains in the slot while the crank pin i travels in
the groovek and the rake bead G passes around the upper end of the elevator.
In order to feed the grain from the end of the canvas A to a point within the reach
of the rake teeth D a revolving roller. J is placed at the inner end of the canvas A
below the lower end of the deck C as shown in figures 1 and 2. A series of straps n
fitted into grooves made in the roller J bridge the opening between the said roller
and the bottom plate of the elevator frame.
It will of course be understood that when the crank-pin i arrives at the end of the
groove k it will re-enter the slot f.
It will be noticed that the slot f at the upper end of the elevator dips toward
the binding table of the machine and that the dip is also given to the groove k.
This dip imparts a better feather to the rake teeth than would be secured were there
no dip and the grain is also better discharged from the elevator.
On reference to figure 6 it will be noticed that the grain table deck is composed
of a series of strips A' fastened to the blocks a' which are secured to the back B₁ of
the elevating-frame.
C is an endless chain passing round the sprocket wheels D' and E which sprocket
wheels are located below the deck A' in the positions indicated and are carried on
suitablo spindles which may be driven in the same manner as the spindles of the
ordinary grain-table conveying aprons. Only one chain is shown in figures 6 and 7
but it will of course he understood that two chains are used one at each end of the
rake head Fas indicated in figure 8. On each of these rake heads F is attached or
formed a series of rake teeth & which projects through slots or partings d left
between each strip forming the grain-table deck A'. Each end of the rake heads F

page_text: is supported by a ledge e' which acts as a guide to support the rake heads so that the
teeth shall project through the slots d¹ while they are conveying the grain towards
the elevating table. Corresponding ledges are provided to support the rake'
-heads F¹ when they are travelling back.
-On reference to figure 9 it will be noticed that the elevating rake-teeth G¹ are
curved and project through the slots d' as they are passing around their pivot at the
bottom of the elevator; the said rake-teeth being designed to gather all the grain.
conveyed by each set of rake-teeth b¹ so that no grain can possibly accumulate, and
clog at the bottom of the elevator. Each set of rake teeth G₁ is connected to a
suitable rake-head H' which is provided with metal ends. A ping' on which a friction
roller is preferably journalled, projects from the rake-head end and is designed to fit
into the groove i formed in the side I' of the elevator frame.
Jis a crank arm attached to and extending in front of the rake-head H'; and i¹
is a slot made in the side 1 of the elevating frame through which slot the crank arm J¹
projects to engage with the endless chain K' which passes around suitable sprocket-
wheels and is caused to travel so as to carry with it the rake-heads H¹.
In figure 5 the rake-heads H₁ marked "1" and "2" are in the positions they
will appear when elevating the grain to the binding-table L. By the time that each
rake-head has reached the point that the rake-head marked "3" is shown in the grain
has been fully delivered onto the binding table L1 and the pivot pin g' has reached
the turning point in the groove h¹ while the keel formed on the back of the
rake-head end is in contact with the ledge m formed on the bottom side of the
groove ¹. The crank arm J' which as before stated is connected to the travelling
elevating chain K¹ has also reached the turning point in its slot i and by the action of
the said chain is being drawn back in the direction indicated by arrow; consequently
the rake-head H' is caused to tilt on its heel k¹ and raise the pivot pin g around the
end and into the upper portion of the groove which motion will cause the teeth G¹ to
draw straight out of the grain they have just delivered so that no grain can in any
way become entangled in the teeth G¹ during the period that it is being delivered onto
the binding table L'. Each rake-head H will then continue to travel back in the
position shown by rake-head marked "4" until the groove ' commences to dip down
at which point the rake-head H' begins to roll over on its centre by the action of the
crank arm J¹ which is carried by its chain K' over the sprocket wheel M* past the
rake head H which it continues to lead until the rake-head H' has once more
delivered its load onto the binding-table L'.
In order to ensure each rake-head H rolling over at the point described a stop
block n' is placed.
. Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a harvester-binder a series of rake-teeth D fixed to the rake head G having
spindles & designed to pass through the endless slots f made in the elevator sides B in
combination with suitable sprocket wheels arranged outside said sides and the
travelling endless sprocket chain or band H connected to the spindle b substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a harvester binder a series of rake teeth D arranged to project through slots a
made in the deck C and fixed to the rake head G having spindles designed to pass
through the endless slots fmade in the elevator sides B in combination with suitable
sprocket wheels arranged outside said sides and the travelling endless sprocket chain
or band H connected to the spindle b substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a harvester binder a series of rake teeth D fixed to the rake head G having
spindles b designed to pass through the endless slots finado in the elevator sides B
the crank g fixed to the spindle and having the crank end or pin i formed on its end
and designed to re-enter the slot in combination with suitable sprocket wheels
arranged outside said sides and the travelling endless chain or band H groove k and
block m arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.
:

page_text: 4. In a harvester binder a series of rake teeth D fixed to the rake head G having
spindles & designed to pass through the endless slot made in the elevator sides B the
crank g fixed to the spindle 6 and having the crank end or pin i formed on its end and
designed to re-enter the slot in combination with sprocket wheels arranged at the
ends of the rake-heads outside the elevator sides the travelling endless chain or band H
arranged to carry the rake heads the block m designed to tilt the crank g so as to
throw its end into the groove the dip in the slot fand groove to tilt the rake
head so as to discharge the grain towards the binding table.
5. A grain table conveyor consisting of a series of rake heads located below the
grain-table deck and provided with rake teeth projecting through slots or openings
made in the grain deck the said rake heads being carried in suitable guides and
connected together and driven by endless chains carried on sprocket wheels located
below the grain-table deck in such positions that the grain-table rake teeth which the
chains propel shall convey the grain to a point within the travel of the elevating rake
teeth in combination with elevating rake teeth designed to carry all the grain so
conveyed and elevate it to the binding table, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
6. The rake heads F connected together by the endless travelling chains C¹ and
supported by the ledges e in combination with a grain-table deck composed of a
series of strips A¹ separated by the slots d' through which the rake teeth 6' on the
rake head project substantially as and for the purpose specified.
7. A grain-table composed of a series of strips A¹ suitable secured as described
so that the slot d' shall be left between each in combination with the rake teeth
heads connected together and driven by the endless chain C" and supported by the
ledges e¹ and f arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.
8. A rake head H' having a pivot pin g' attached to or formed on its end and a
crank arm J' projecting in front of the said pivot pin in combination with a groove h¹
arranged to receive the pivot pin g₁ and a travelling endless chain K¹ connected to
the crank arm J' substantially as and for the purpose specified.
9. A rake head H' having a pivot pin g' attached to or formed on its end a crank
arm J projecting in front of the said pivot pin and a heel ¹ projecting behind the
said pivot pin or roller in combination with a groove / arranged to receive the pivot
pin g and a travelling endless chain K connected to the crank arm J' substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
10. A rake head H having a pivot pin gl attached to or formed on its end a
crank arm J' projecting in front of the said pivot pin and a heel k¹ projecting behind
the said pivot pin or roller in combination with a groove arranged to receive the
pivot pin g and having a ledge m formed on its edge and a travelling endless
chain K connected to the crank arm J' substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 8th day of August 1889.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents.