Trials of Self-binding Reapers at Aigburth. 
115 
and connected by intermediate devices to a fork (e'") which embraces a groove 
in the hub of the pinion. 
To bind the crop into bundles a framework having ways is provided, and is 
supported in guide-pieces (D') attached to the harvester-frame (B) outside of 
the driving wheel. At one end of this frame, supported in bearings nearly in a 
vertical position, is a shaft (H') to which is attached an arm ( W) which extends 
from it at right angles, and carries at its outer end a gripping, cutting, holding, 
and twisting mechanism for the wire of which the band is made. These 
devices are constructed and arranged as follows : — A double hook with bevelled 
edges is fastened to a shaft a short distance from its end, and on the end of the 
same shaft is fastened a similar double hook. The shaft is inserted in a metal 
frame or block ; this block has fastened to its upper face a plate with its edges 
bevelled the reverse of the first hook, and close to which the first hook re- 
volves, and with it makes a double shearing-hook for cutting off the wire. 
A finger is pivoted to the block in frame by one of its ends, its other end 
being bevelled off and of proper width to enter between the two hooks, and 
rests on the shaft against whici\ it is pressed by a spring, so that in the reverse 
movement of the twister-shaft it will act as a clearer to remove any fibres or 
straws that may accumulate around it in twisting the wires. A pinion is 
fastened to the projecting end of the shaft on the opposite side of the frame or 
block from the twister. To the side of this block is fastened a piece of steel 
so as to form an open mortice. This block or frame is bolted to bracket on 
the end of the arm (W) previously described, with the shaft nearly vertical 
and the top of the upper hook far enough below the top of end of arm, which 
is in form of au open box, to give space for length of wire enough to form a 
twist. Above the twister is fastened a double plate with sufficient space 
between the plates for a gripping-finger to move. These plates have a vertical 
V-shaped opening ; a finger is pivoted to the plate and twister-frame, so that 
the projecting end of the finger will swing in between the plates and across the 
V-shaped opening, so as to clamp or grip the wire. This finger is operated by 
a connecting-rod pivoted to it, and its other end to a short arm on the iinder 
side of the arm (W) that carries the twisting devices. In the open mortice 
at side of twister-block is inserted a flat slot-bolt, so as to play free. The 
upper edge of the bolt, a short distance from its end, has a hook-shaped notch 
cut in it, and this, together with the mortice in which it is inserted, serves to 
grip and hold the end of the wire while the needle (Z'), hereafter to be de- 
scribed, is conveying the wire round the bundle. The other end of this flat 
bolt is rounded, and has a spring for forcing it into the mortice and holding 
it there. To release it at the proper time the round end is connected to a 
short lever which has a friction-roller on it and is worked by a cam hereafter 
to be described. A sector-rack (X') is pivoted to the under side of the twister- 
arm (W) so as to gear with the twister-pinion, and has a friction-roller pivoted 
to its under side, and projects into a cam-shaped groove in a frame "which is 
fastened to the binder-frame, and below the twister-arm, and parallel to the 
plane in which it oscillates. This groove is of such form that in the oscilla- 
tions of the twister-arm it will give a swinging movement to the sector-rack 
(X) at the proper time sufficient for each hook to seize at the proper time its 
separate wire and separately sever and then twist them together for fastening 
them after surrounding the bundle. To an ear on this cam-frame is twisted a 
cam-piece, against which the roller on the lever that works the flat, holding 
both, strikes at the proper time to open it and release the end of the wire, and 
sever the wire brought down by the needle-arm. Another pivgted cam is so 
arranged that the roller on the arm that works the connecting-rod of the 
gripping-finger will strike it at the proper time to seize the two wires as they 
surround the bundle, grip and hold them freely so that they may be severed 
and twisted together : they open and release the twisted ends of the wire for the 
discharge of the bundle, and hold it open until the proper time comes for again 
I 2 
