of String Binders at Derby. 
271 
of the butter is to square-up the butts of the sheaves, and 
has a very useful office in insuring a neat compact sheaf. 
The apron is revolved by bevel gear from the end of the ele- 
vator-shaft. 
W. A. WoocCs Binder is mounted on an ordinary Marsh 
Harvester frame, with a travelling apron and double elevators. 
Through the courtesy of the Editor of the ' Engineer,' I am 
enabled to illustrate some of the more important devices in this 
highly ingenious combination. Before, however, considering 
the binding mechanism, some general details of arrangements 
will not be out of place. The driving-wheel (41" x 7" face) 
can be raised clear of the ground for transport by means of a 
windlass and chain, which also regulates the height of cut. 
The reel is capable of vertical and horizontal motion. The 
blades can be brought within 18 inches of the knife-bar, or 
raised 26 inches above, and the horizontal range varies, ac- 
cording to the height of the reel, from 6J to 10 inches. These 
movements are effected by a double lever and bell crank arrange- 
ment. A third lever handle, within reach of the driver, alters 
the angle of cut, the range of cut being from close to the ground 
to a height of two feet. 
The main axle carries, on the outside of the driving-wheel, 
a chain-wheel, driving the reel through chain-gear, and on 
the inside a spur-wheel, 20 inches diameter, which drives the 
rest of the gearing. This spur-wheel engages in a pinion on a 
short countershaft, on the other end of which is a bevel wheel, 
engaging in a small bevel pinion on spindle No. 2, parallel with 
the axis of the machine. On its near extremity is a sproggle- 
wheel, a chain-wheel, and an eccentric ; the former drives the 
canvas by a pitch-chain ; the latter through a wooden pitman, ope- 
rating a long crank-rod working backwards and forwards, trans- 
mits motion to the knife, to the centre of which it is attached. 
The chain-wheel on No. 2 shaft drives a chain-wheel, 14 inches in 
diameter, on shaft No. 3, from which the tying gear is actuated. 
At about 2 feet distance on No. 3 shaft is a small pinion, gearing 
into two wheels on either side, as shown in Fig. 3, which gives 
a vertical sectional view of the binding mechanism. These 
wheels are loose on their respective shafts, and are provided 
with spring clutch couplings. The lower shaft. No. 4, works 
the gathering and packing disc and fingers. These comprise 
two open wheels, 9 inches apart, carrying on the inner edge of 
their peripheries three loose fingers in the form of bell-cranks, 
which, in the act of gathering, are supported by fixed cams, 
which are part of the bearings of the shaft (see Fig. 5) A 7 
and A 6. The spring clutch on the upper shaft No. 5, driving 
