720 The Trials of Self-binding Harvesters at Chester. 
by a spring connecting-rod to a crank formed on tke end of the 
rocking shaft. 
An important and special feature in this machine, as well as in 
No. 5172, is the reciprocating sepai-ator, consisting of a rocking 
shaft armed with two pi’ongs, which has an intermittent motion, 
the prongs vibrating between the sheaf forming under the needle, 
and the fresh corn being tumbled on to the platform by the 
elevators. The prongs assist very materially in preventing inter- 
lacing, and in ensuring that the ejected sheaf shall not carry 
loose corn destined for the next sheaf with it. 
The sheaf-carrier consists of a frame which readily slips on 
to the main horizontal gear frame, and carries at its outer end a 
rocking-bar, to which are attached four light strongly-curved 
prongs of sufficient capacity to accommodate from four to six 
sheaves. A wooden board or platform pivoted close to the 
machine, and so that its outer edge can be depressed, guides the 
sheaves as they fall on to the prongs, the ends of which meet the 
edge of the board when both are in the carrying position, in 
which they are retained by a lever fixed on the rocking-bar, and 
connected by a rod to another lever attached to the board, which 
is thus constrained to move simultaneously with the prongs. 
The lever actuating the board is produced upw r ards, and con- 
nected by a chain running over guide-pulleys to a foot-lever 
secured to the driver’s footboard. The driver is thus enabled 
to carry and deposit the sheaves in any manner he pleases. 
Hornsby’s Closed-back Binder , No. 5172. (First Prize.) 
This machine is of the same general construction as No. 5171 ; 
it differs mainly in being deeper fore and aft, in having a closed 
end to the elevator, and a somewhat different arrangement of 
the binding gear. 
The main driving-shaft of the binding mechanism is pro- 
duced forward beyond the packer cranks, and at the front end 
of the gearing frame carries a bevel pinion, which is driven by * 
the usual tripper gear, the end of the tripping-lever having 
the spring arrangement already described. This tripping- 
pinion drives an inclined shaft, which, by means of bevel gear, 
actuates the binder shaft and ejectors, and by a crank pin on 
the forward face of the bevel wheel actuates, by means of an 
adjustable connecting-rod, the crank of the spindle on to which 
the needle is keyed, while the compressor is actuated by a cam 
on the rear face of the same bevel wheel which operates a lever 
which transmits the motion of its outer end by means of a spring 
