of String Binders at Derby. 
289 
of bevel-wheels. The bottom roller of the platform is held 
down by springs, which give way under obstructions. From 
the first bevel-wheel, which has a spur-wheel attached to it, 
a parallel shaft drives a roller in front of the apron, furnished 
with teeth, which, as they revolve, direct the corn on to the 
apron, whilst the chain-reels carry it up. Without an oppor- 
tunity of thoroughly trying such a novelty, it is, of course, 
difficult to form an opinion as to its working powers ; but the 
Judges considered it possible that the almost vertical position 
of the apron might be objectionable in heavy crops, as the 
corn would have a tendency to fall back to the ground. Sup- 
posing, however, that the bundle is successfully elevated, it falls 
over the apron on to a receptacle and is received by the packer- 
arms, accumulating there until a sufficient weight is reached to 
overcome the spring of the compressor, which in being pushed 
back throws the knotting machinery into gear. The knotting-gear 
is driven by bevel-gearing through an inclined spindle from 
the main shaft. The mechanism is difficult to explain without 
the aid of diagrams. Motion is communicated to shaft No. 2 
through a bevel-pinion with spur-wheel and clutch in one. On 
the other end of this shaft, which runs in a direction across the 
machine, is a spur-wheel actuating the packer, by engaging a 
wheel on a parallel shaft, No. 3, which actuates the binding- 
gear. This wheel is loose on the shaft and provided at the back 
with a clutch and cam-plate. When sufficient corn is collected 
to give the requisite pressure to the compressor, the latter, by 
means of a lever and springs, throws the clutch on No. 3 shaft 
into gear ; and the revolutions of the cam on the back of the plate 
causes the disengagement of the clutch on the shaft No. 2, and 
stops the action of the packers whilst the knotting apparatus is in 
work. On No. 3 shaft is an intermittent spur-gear wheel with 
cam attached on the side. The gear drives an intermediate 
pinion, to which is connected a chain-wheel which drives the 
kicker-shaft. The cam acts on the lever-arm of the compressor, 
forcing the latter in upon the corn at the same moment that the 
needle comes up. The tail end of the cam acts upon the same 
arm, forcing the compressor away from the sheaf now that its 
work is finished. Beyond the cam on shaft No. 3 is another 
double intermittent gear-wheel, engaging into two intermittent 
pinions on shaft No. 4. The first of these pinions is attached 
to shaft No. 5, on the other end of which is a small crank- 
wheel which engages into a segment-gear, which meshes into a 
bevel-pinion on the tier-shaft. The second pinion, which has 
a double intermittent action, is on a sleeve, to the other end of 
which is attached a cam-wheel, which drives into an upright 
lever, the lower end of which connects to and drives the gripper 
VOL. XVIII. — S. S. U 
