FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a grinding tool. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fixture that goes onto other knife grinding tools that eliminates damage to the grinding belt that results in the common scourge of “belt bump”. The present invention is also able to simultaneously dissipates harmful heat generated during the grinding process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The process of making knives has evolved tremendously over centuries of development in metalworking tools. It is difficult to believe that many centuries ago, the first knives were made from processing of iron oxide ores. Now that metals are mined and processed regularly and efficiently into workable metal material, the subsequent processing for metal tools, such as cookware, weapons, electronics, and more has improved drastically as well. Knives of varying degrees of sharpness and quality can be mass-produced with relative ease at large metal-goods manufacturing facilities. The dimensions can often be controlled to a fairly high level of accuracy, making fully-automated knife creation often the best solution for companies seeking large quantities of generic butter knives, for example.
Even with technological advances, fully-automated large-scale manufacturing cannot capture the quality and uniqueness of knives made with a human touch. The highest quality modern knives are created using slightly modified combinations of several processing techniques that have been known for hundreds of years; high temperatures, forging with hammers, grinding, heat treatment, and finishing. The grinding step, which once required the intensive and exhausting use of metal files, can now be accomplished using a powered grinder. The finishing process also often utilizes a similar grinder with very high grit to accomplish anywhere from a low-shine finish to a mirror shine finish. Unfortunately, the high friction generated during use of the grinders results in high heat generation, which can not only warp the band being used into an increasingly defective shape, but also can affect the finish of the knife being grinded. What is needed is a grinder that cools as it is utilized. Further desirable is a grinder that has backing support to prevent warping of the belt during use.
The present invention addresses these issues. More specifically, the present invention has a heat-sinking saddle that collects heat, and a fan roller that simultaneously dissipates that heat during use. The frame houses a series of rollers for use by the belt, and the frame also uses several vents to allow for heat collected by the heat-sinking saddle to escape.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a front-right perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 1B is a front-left perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front-right perspective view of the present invention without the casing.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention without the casing.
FIG. 4 is a rear-right perspective view of the present invention without the casing.
FIG. 5 is a front-right perspective view of the present invention without the casing and the serpentine belt.
FIG. 6 is a rear-right perspective view of the present invention without the casing and the serpentine belt.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
As can be seen in FIG. 1 through 6, the present invention is an abrasive belt grip that is used to complete the knife manufacturing process by polishing or smoothing out a knife blade. The present invention is also configured to self-cool itself because the polishing or smoothing generates a lot of heat. The present invention comprises a casing 1, a carbide plate 2, a drive roller 3, an idle roller 4, a heat-sinking saddle 5, a cooling system 6, and a serpentine belt 7. The casing 1 is used as a protective support for the drive roller 3, the idle roller 4, the heat-sinking saddle 5, and the cooling system 6. The drive roller 3 is used to drive the movement of the serpentine belt 7, and the idle roller 4 is used to stabilize the movement of the serpentine belt 7. The user holds a knife blade in contact with the moving serpentine belt 7 in order to polish or smooth out the knife blade. The carbide plate 2 allows for the user to press the serpentine belt 7 into a flat backing, which guides the polishing or smoothing out of a knife blade. The cooling system 6 takes the heat captured by the heat-sinking saddle 5 and removes the heat from inside the casing 1.
The general configuration of the aforementioned components allows the present invention to efficiently and effectively apply a consistent finish to a knife blade. The casing 1 comprises a grinding cutout section 11, as seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The grinding cutout section 11 provides space for mounting of the heat-sinking saddle 5. The drive roller 3 and the idle roller 4 are rotatably mounted within the casing 1, which allows the drive roller 3 and the idle roller 4 to guide the movement of the serpentine belt 7. The heat-sinking saddle 5 is mounted within the casing 1, statically positioning the heat-sinking saddle 5 within the casing 1. The heat-sinking saddle 5 is positioned between the drive roller 3 and the idle roller 4 in order to arrange the serpentine belt 7 before the heat-sinking saddle 5. The carbide plate 2 is mounted adjacent to the heat-sinking saddle 5, so that the carbide plate 2 is between the serpentine belt 7 and the heat-sinking saddle 5. The carbide plate 2 is mounted adjacent to the grinding cutout section 11. This allows the user to access the carbide plate 2 through the casing 1. The cooling system 6 is in thermal communication with the heat-sinking saddle 5, which enables heat dissipation out of the casing 1. The serpentine belt 7 is tensionably engaged about the drive roller 3 and the idle roller 4, allowing the serpentine belt 7 to move around the drive roller 3 and the idle roller 4. The serpentine belt 7 is positioned offset from the carbide plate 2, opposite the heat-sinking saddle 5. In this way, when a user does not press a knife into the serpentine belt 7, the serpentine belt 7 is not in contact with the carbide plate 2, and the serpentine belt 7 is free to move freely. When a knife is pressed into the serpentine belt 7, contact between the serpentine belt 7 and the carbide plate 2 allows the heat from the serpentine belt 7 to dissipate into the carbide plate 2 and subsequently through the heat-sinking saddle 5.
The cooling system 6 comprises a fan roller 61, at least one venting system 62, and at least one fan 63. The fan roller 61 is rotatably mounted within the casing 1, allowing the fan roller 61 to rotate within the casing 1. The fan roller 61 is positioned offset from the heat-sinking saddle 5, opposite the carbide plate 2. This arrangement enables the fan roller 61 to dissipate heat collected by the heat-sinking saddle 5 from the carbide plate 2. The serpentine belt 7 is tensionably engaged about the fan roller 61, resulting in rotation of the fan roller 61 with motion of the serpentine belt 7. The at least one fan 63 is torsionally connected to the fan roller 61. This allows the at least one fan 63 to direct air through the casing 1. The at least one venting system 62 is integrated into the casing 1, adjacent to the at least one fan 63, so that the air directed by the at least one fan 63 can enter and exit the casing 1.
The at least one fan 63 comprises a first fan 631 and a second fan 632, as seen in FIG. 2. The first fan 631 is torsionally connected adjacent to the fan roller 61, such that the first fan 631 turns with the turning of the fan roller 61. The second fan 632 is torsionally connected adjacent to the fan roller 61, such that the second fan 632 turns with the turning of the fan roller 61.
The first fan 631 comprises a plurality of input blades 6311, as seen in FIG. 3. The plurality of input blades is radially positioned about a rotation axis of the fan roller 61. This positioning allows the first fan 631 to move air generally into the casing 1 of the present invention. Moreover, the second fan 632 comprises a plurality of output blades 6321. The plurality of output blades is radially positioned about a rotation axis of the fan roller 61. This positioning allows the second fan 632 to move air generally out of the casing 1 of the present invention.
The at least one venting system 62 seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B comprises a plurality of first vents 621 and a plurality of second vents 622. The plurality of first vents is positioned adjacent to the first fan 631 to allow the first fan 631 to drive air into the casing 1. The plurality of second vents is positioned adjacent to the second fan 632 to allow the second fan 632 to drive air out of the casing 1.
During grinding, it is often necessary or desirable to adjust the tightness of the serpentine belt 7. To this end, the present invention further comprises a clevis 8, as seen in FIG. 4, a linear actuator 9, a first locking mechanism 100, and a second locking mechanism 101. The clevis 8 is a support to which the fan roller 61 mounts that allows for translation of the fan roller 61, and consequently adjustment of the tightness of the serpentine belt 7. The clevis 8 comprises a first leg 81, a second leg 82, and a crossbar 83. The first leg 81 and the second leg 82 are positioned offset from and parallel to each other. This arrangement enables the first leg 81 and the second leg 82 to straddle the casing 1. The crossbar 83 is connected in between the first leg 81 and the second leg 82, allowing appropriate positioning of the first leg 81 and the second leg 82. The fan roller 61 is rotatably mounted in between the first leg 81 and the second leg 82, so that the fan roller 61 position may be adjusted by the linear actuator 9. The first leg 81 is slidably mounted onto the casing 1 by the first locking mechanism 100, which allows the first leg 81 to secure to the casing 1 and to slide along its length during user adjustments. The second leg 82 is slidably mounted onto the casing 1 by the second locking mechanism 101, which allows the second leg 82 to secure to the casing 1 and to slide along its length during user adjustments. The linear actuator 9 comprises a free end 92 and a fixed end 91. The fixed end 91 is mounted into the crossbar 83. The free end 92 is pressed against the casing 1. The arrangement of the fixed end 91 and the free end 92 allows adjustment of the tightness or looseness of the serpentine belt 7. In the preferred embodiment, the linear actuator 9 is a threaded extrusion with a grip on the fixed end 91 that improves the user's ability to apply torque to the linear actuator 9.
The heat-sinking saddle 5 of the present invention further comprises a bracing surface 51, a saddle body 52, and at least one heat-dissipating channel, as seen in FIG. 6. The carbide plate 2 is attached across the bracing surface 51, allowing for thermal interaction between the carbide plate 2 and the saddle body 52. The at least one heat-dissipating channel traverses into the bracing surface 51 and through the saddle body 52. This allows heat collected by the saddle body 52 to transfer from the bracing surface 51 through the saddle body 52, for subsequent dissipation by the cooling system 6.
The present invention further comprises a plurality of plate fasteners 102, as seen in FIG. 5. In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of plate fasteners is a set of screws that secure the carbide plate 2 to the heat-sinking saddle 5. The plurality of plate fasteners is attached adjacent to the heat-sinking saddle 5 by the plurality of plate fasteners. This arrangement allows for secure joining of the carbide plate 2 to the heat-sinking saddle 5.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Patent Application
20180311780
