Question by Ms. Nancy: What do you call the moving “wind mill-like” part of a binding machine for grains?

Best answer:

Answer by Veritas
It’s called a “reel”, it pulls the grain toward the machine so the cutter-bar (sickle) can cut the stalks off.
Circa 1890s technology.
See this link:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award97/ndfahtml/ngp_farm_binder.html

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Question by Ms. Nancy: What do you call the moving “wind mill-like” part of a binding machine for grains?

Best answer:

Answer by $Billy Ray$ Valentine
It’s called the “reel” which pushes the grain stalks down and into the cutting blades….

…Billy Ray

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Question by frustratedbyphysics: How does this part of the Rube Goldberg machine work?
I’m designing a project for my engineering glass, and one of my ideas was to have something similar to the video linked below, at 16 seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F9AtdBsz2Q&NR=1

I was wondering how to imitate this, like are the two tracks bound by an elastic string ? How does the marble trigger it to release and complete the track? I’d really appreciate some input !

Best answer:

Answer by Ronald S
There could be a tip on the track that is resting on a platform. The marble hits a block on top that is connected to a dowel that is connected to the platform.

The block starts so that the long face is normal to the marble’s path. The marble hits the block and rotates it 90 degrees. At the same time the platform that holds the track from snapping could have rotated out of the way and allowed the track to snap in place.

Instead of elastic string I might consider a a torsion spring. It would be more powerful.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#mechanical-springs/=1ysb0u

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Question by Ms. Nancy: What do you call the moving “wind mill-like” part of a binding machine for grains?

Best answer:

Answer by DPjunycat
swirl,whirl,twirl

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