278 
Report on the Exhibition and Trials 
to convey an idea of the mechanism by which the tying and 
separating are effected. 
Figs. 15 and 18 show a side and end elevation of the parts of 
the machine which have to do with knotting and separation of 
the sheaf. Figs. 16, 17, and 19 give details of the knotter. 
Figs. 16 and 17. 
6 
CD 
18 
The mechanism is attached to a Marsh Harvester frame, and 
there is a general similarity between King's, Bamlett's, and 
Hetherington's machines ; indeed, as regards most details, they 
are constructed from the same model. King's machine is, how- 
ever, provided with an automatic gear for securing uniform weight 
of the sheaves. On the delivery-table is a spindle with receiving 
forks, on which the inflowing grain collects. On the end of 
the spindle is a bell-crank lever, on one end of which is 
a weight or spring. The other end being connected by a 
short rod to a paul which engages in the knotting-gear. The 
overbalancing of the weight raises the paul and allo\ys the 
binding and collecting gear to come into motion. The idea is 
ingenious, but the mechanism was decidedly faulty, and it was 
breakages at this part which caused such frequent stoppages. 
Fig. 16 gives an end view of the mandril, hook case, &c. 
Fig. 17 is an enlarged drawing of the hook and cam. 
Fig. 19 gives a plan of the cam-plate, which has such important 
functions in governing and directing the various motions. The 
position of the cam is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 18. 
In Fig. 15 — 1 represents a section of the sheaf being tied. The 
compressor cord used for tightening the sheaf not being shown. 
In order to trace the process by which the sheaf is tied, it will 
be best to assume that the needle-arm, 2, Figs. 15 and 18, is 
raised, and that the string is stretched from the gripper, 3, 
(Figs. 15 and 18) in a straight line across the openings thus 
formed. The sheaf is then swept into the position shown by the 
