116 Report on Implements at Livcjpool, and on 
closing. To the top of the shaft from which the twister-arm (W) projects, is 
hinged an arm (J') carrying a pointed needle (Z') and a sliding shive to its 
side (m') connected with a spring (e'), and to this sh'ding shive {I') are fastened 
the ends of a cord or band {n) long enough to pass round a grooved shive at 
the bottom (v')> ^"^^ of the wire spool (/) which is placed on a spindle (/') 
inserted in the hinged end of the needle-arm (!'). A connecting-rod (K) is 
pivoted to this needle-arm and is extended downward, and attaches to a 
lever which is hinged to the lower end of the same shaft to which the needle- 
arm hinges. The other end of this lever is pivoted radially to a hub on a 
gear-wheel (M') which is overhung and has a shaft, the axial centre of which 
corresponds with the hinged point of the other end of the lever (L'). The 
rotation of this. wheel by means of the lever (L') hinged to the shaft of twister- 
arm (W) gives to it an oscillating motion to and fro on that shaft, and at the 
same time the needle-arm (J') receives an up and down movement by means of 
the connecting-rod (K') which unites the two. This connecting-rod extends 
above its point of connection with the needle-arm and has on its end a shive 
(&). Motion is imparted to the wheel (M') to which the lever (L') is pivoted 
by a feathered pinion on a grooved shalt (N') arranged |iarallel to the shaft of 
the gear-wheel, and driven by a sprocket-wheel and chain (0') connectinc; it 
with another sprocket-wheel on the crank-shaft inside of the crank-head (I). 
On the shaft (N') to which the first sprocket-wheel is connected is also a 
clutch (P') having teeth, which will lock with teeth on the sprocket-wheel, 
and this clutch is connected by levers and links to a treadle (Q') near the 
driver's seat (T), so that he can disconnect the clutch from the sprocket- 
wheel at pleasure for stopping the binder, and by releasing his foot from the 
treadle, a spring (E') on the shaft forces the clutch towards and locks it with 
the sprocket-wheel, and its shaft revolves with it operating the binding mechan- 
ism. In threading the wire to the needle it is passed first from the spool (/) 
around the sliding shive {I'), then around the shive (&) on the top of the 
connecting-rod (K') of the needle-arm, then to the shive at the bend (c') of 
needle-arm, and down the needle, and through between the shives near its 
point, and then to the holding-jaw («/') below the twister. The operating of 
the binder is as follows : — With the wire arranged as stated, and the needle- 
arm (J') standing at the highest, and moving outwards from the delivery 
end of the elevator aprons (KK), the harvesting and elevating mechanism 
previously put in motion, and sufficient material having been cut and elevated 
for a bundle, the driver releases his foot from the treadle (Q'), and the binder 
is set in motion. The rotations of the wheel (M') to which the end of the 
lever (L') is pivoted carries around with it the pivoted end of the lever ; its 
hinged end being connected to the shaft (H') which supports the twister-arm 
(W), and its devices and the end of the wire that is in its holding-jaw. The 
upper end of the wire, which is connected to the needle (Z') of the needle-arm 
(J'), which is hinged to the same shaft, is also carried forward, pressing the 
wire against the accumulated sheaf. As the needle (Z') and twister-arm (VV) 
advance towards the breast-board (XX) below the delivery end of the elevat- 
ing apron (KK), the needle-arm (J') begins to descend, the point of the needle 
passing down back of the sheaf, and between the falling straws, separating 
them and surrounding the sheaf with the wire, the twister-hook rotating 
partially, so as to seize the strand of wire in the holding-jaw ; and alter the 
other strand of the wire has been carried down below the twister, the gripi)ing- 
finger comes into action, and closes upon both wires between the twister and 
the bundle. The second hook of the twister is rotated so as to sever the 
second wire, and the first wire is released from the holding-jaw, and it secures 
and holds the second wire, the first wire being severed by one of the cutting- 
hooks, followed by the severing of the other wire by the other cutting-hook, 
the ends of the wires being in the separate hooks as the arm moves outward, 
the rotating of the hooks, by the action of the sector-rack (X), twists the ends 
