162 



MECHANICS. 



livers one or more gavels at each revolution, according to 

 the number of rakes used at a time, Jbhnson^s rake is 

 furnished with rake-heads for each of the arms, which are 

 so arranged as to dip low into the grain forward of the 

 cutters, and afterwards to rise in passing over the plat- 

 form. To discharge the grain, the driver uses a latch- 

 cord and lever, so that the path in which the rake travels 

 is changed by opening a switch or gate, permitting one of 

 the rakes to pass low enougli to sweep the platform. The 

 Cayuga Chief, Buckeye, Hubbard, and other reapers, use 

 this self-raker. The Kirhy machine employs a self-raking 

 attachment of its own, already represented in fig. 179. 

 Two or three of the arms, or beaters, at the option of the 

 driver, bring the grain on the platform ; the other one or 

 two carry the rake-head. The driver may throw oif a 

 gavel, or two gavels, at each revolution; or the rake may 

 be made to run continuously, at regular intervals, without 

 attention on the part of the driver. The arms, or rakes, 

 are so made as to be adjustable to the height of the grain. 

 The Dropper is a simple contrivance, (represented in 

 the annexed en- 

 graving) consist- 

 ing of a light plat- 

 form, which holds 

 the grain until the 

 gavel is large 

 enough, when it 

 suddenly drops 

 and discharges it. 

 It is much used at 

 the West, and, al- C'^Z'"^^ Chief wUh Dropper. 



though hardly so perfect as some self-rakers, is preferred 

 by many farmers, the gavels being delivered behind the 

 machine, and thus keeping the binders up to their work, 

 in clearing the way for the next passage of the reaper. 



Fig. 180. 





