60 Report on Sheaf-Binding Machinery at Shrewsbury. 
and the tucker which holds the string up to the hook. The machine has 
three trip motions. One, actuated by the driver, which enables a sheaf to bo 
dropped anywhere, and obviates the necessity of a sheaf-carrier ; one which 
comes into operation when the sheaf is too tightly packed, by the pressure 
acting on a narrow movable section of the table ; and, lastly, the ordinary 
automatic trip. The trip-book is made adjustable, so that six different sizes 
of sheaves can be made, and there is an arrangement by which it is held 
rigidly through the intervention of a stop on the boss of the needle arm, 
which is released at the moment of tripping. The effect of this is said 
to be that the sheaves are very regular ; and certainly on the dynamometer 
trials the average weight of 15 shtaves in each of four runs was 17'53 lb., 
17'8 lb., 17"5 lb., and 17"3 lb. ; the extreme difference in weight between the 
sheaves was 4 lb. The tension arrangement is improved, and allows loops 
and knots to pass freely, and the binder can now be traversed by the driven 
so as to bind the sheaf where required. The lower roller of the outer elevator 
sheet works on two free arms, which are capable of limited rocking action, so 
that the apron opens to allow of thick masses of corn, thxis avoiding undue 
strain ; and the horizontal apron has an arrangement by which the outer 
roller can be moved out by a simple combination of winch and rack, this 
allows the tightness of the web to be altered without touching the straps. 
The reel is also much improved ; it has a vertical and longitudinal motion, 
which can be governed by the driver, the whole very ingeniously and simply- 
arranged. The throwing-out gear of the main clutch is also very much 
improved, and the general arrangement of the driving gear has been, 
simplified. 
Many interesting points of detail in the construction of the wood and iron 
main driving and grain wheels ; in the arrangement of the fingers, platform, 
and driving-lever of the knives ; in the adjustment of height in the main 
driving and grain wheels, and in the general construction of the machine,, 
deserve favourable comment. 
Plot 16. Messrs. Hoicard, Xo. 47. — With the exception of 
losing one of the fans of the reel in the first round, this machine- 
Lad no history on this plot. Cutting, binding, and delivery 
were all alike very good. Time occupied, 29 minutes. 
The special feature of this machine, which obtained the Society's Second 
Prize of 50/., is the rotary knotter, which here takes the place pf the 
Appleby knotter, for which the exhibitors claim a more certain action and a 
reduction and simplification of the working parts, wliich are now reduced to 
only six moving pieces, illustrated in detail in (Figs. 22-26, pp. 61 and 62. 
The manner m which the binding mechanism is put in motion varies from 
other machines. The motion is transmitted to the binding mechanism by a 
shaft passing from side to side of the machine under the binding table, driven 
from the first motion chain at one end and having a clutch pinion for driving 
the binding mechanism at the other, the packers being worked by intermediate 
cranks. The packer is in direct connection with the starting lever, so that 
whenever the pressure " behind " the sheaf exceeds the pressure of the re- 
taining spring on the clutch lever, the mechanism is started. By this arrange- 
ment the binding mechanism cannot be started by the drag of an out-going 
sheaf. The binding arm or needle is grooved along its back, which protects 
the string from entanglement in the crop. The butting board is adjustable, 
being kept square with the sheaf, whatever position the buttor canvas may be 
in. 
The bearings for the elevator canvas are fitted with springs, so as to keep 
the cauvas taut under all circumstances of weather. The machine is fitted 
