Patent Application
20070026771
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved Round Blade Sharpener apparatus for sharpening, grinding and or sizing a cutting edge on a circular blade which has dulled, chipped, or needs to be re-sized to a specific out side diameter. Present invention differs from prior art in that it sharpens, grinds, and re-sizes where prior art grinds to sharpen. Present invention differs from prior art in that it sharpens, grinds or sizes circular blades, blades with different geometrical edge profiles and blades diameter from 2½″ to 48″. Present invention may be manually driven or driven by other externally powered drive apparatuses and not limited to a pneumatic drive as will be described in this application for patent. Present invention differs from prior art in that we use Flexible Drive Cables.
After extended use in a plant, shop or any high volume cutting facility it becomes necessary to grind small indented or chipped areas and or use to size the diameter of the blade to match mating blades in a straight line gang arrangement. It also is necessary to realign and sharpen the microscopic edge of these blades. It is important to maintain a constant and correct amount of pressure in the sharpening, grinding and or sizing of the circular blade being sharpened. Furthermore, it is necessary to maintain factory blade edge angles when sharpening the edge of the blade allowing the blade life to be greatly extended and maintain a like new cutting edge through out the life of the circular blade. Present invention is also unique in respect to the not heating up of the blade edge using similar devices. Heating the blade (+304° F.) will destroy the temper of the blade metallurgy causing sharp edge life to diminish as well as causing the edge to become brittle promoting premature blade edge chipping. Present invention can never cause such heat and friction and this is a distinct difference from previous devices. Previous art generates heat that can destroy the temper of the blade edge. The present invention will also be the simplest and safest sharpener of its type to operate. This invention was designed for high volume circular blade sharpening, grinding and sizing in a processing or manufacturing plant but could also be used in smaller facilities as well (Poultry, Meat, Rubber Textile Etc.). Previous sharpening device designed for these type applications were designed around a grinding format not necessarily sharpening.
The round blades sharpener incorporates a mounted adjustable grinder tool that incorporates an adjustable spring load file head and post that is adjustable and incorporates a mounted base. This is to either size blades to a certain diameter and to grind out minor nicks and abrasions. This device folds and locks out of the way when not in use and is very unique in any comparison of previous inventions. Art devices remove excessive amounts of material; neither do they have an accurate method of maintaining factory angels or sizing a circular blade to a specific outside diameter.
The round blade sharpener embodies a small blade adaptor assembly that uses an interchangeable thread on adaptor that the novice user simply threads onto the shaft. A small drive handle and small blade nut is supplied to complete the adaptor kit. This will accommodate the 2″-4″ smaller size blade which can be sharpened by the novice user with the same precision as the larger blades. This small blade adaptor assembly will also function with the smaller blade edges of different geometric profile as well. This feature again truly sets the new invention apart from the prior inventions. These machines have a history of lost time accidents in plant environments. The previous sharpening devices have involved complex implements and set up devices not lending operation to the novice operator. Also the pneumatically driven machine incorporates such a design as to sharpen blades which are of different geometric shapes I.e. Scalloped, Wide Slotted (Typically used in Meat and Poultry although not limited to these particular shapes or industries) The Round Blade Sharpener can be converted using 5 simples steps by the novice user from the manual mode of operation and or the pneumatically driven mode of operation. This is not found on any previous inventions and is one of the single most unique features described here on this application for patent.
(2) Description of Related Art
Circular Blade Sharpening Device—U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,776 Jun. 16, 1987 Inventor—McCullough This device is used on a rotary meat cutting knife (Circular Cutting Blade). Prior art has no ability to maintain factory edge angle, convert to manual mode, or sharpen blades with different geometrical profile.
Grinding Machine for Circular Blades—U.S. Pat. No. 2,526,822 Dec. 6, 1946 Inventor—Leach This device is used to sharpen the edge of a Plow Disc. This further illustrates our point of grinding not sharpening a round blade as this machine could never work hold or maintain factory angles and or tolerances of edges we are obtaining on our new invention.
Machine for Grinding and Sharpening Saw Blades—U.S. Pat. No. 2,497,775 Uses Drive Shafts and Drive Pulleys where present invention uses Flexible Drive Cables. No manual mode, inability to convert to sharpen blade edges of different geometrical profile.
Sharpening Device for Slicing-Machine Knives—U.S. Pat. No. 1,168,379—Inventor De Groot Present invention is an improvement from this prior art in many ways, old art has no accurate way of determining correct angles. Prior art will not convert to sharpen blades of different geometrical profiles.
Device for Grinding Disks—U.S. Pat. No. 723,051 Mar. 17, 1908—Inventor Shipp This device sharpens or grinds the edges concavo-convex disc. Present invention is an improvement from this prior art in many ways, old art has no accurate way of determining correct angles. Prior art has an inability to hold an accurate angle. Prior art will not convert to sharpen blades of flat round edges or blades with different geometrical profiles.
Device designed for sharpening discs.—U.S. Pat. No. 681,440 Aug. 27, 1901 Inventor—Clizbe This device grinds or sharpens Harrow Discs and Revolving Plow Cutters. Prior art has no ability to maintain factory edge angle, convert to manual mode, or sharpen blades with different geometrical profile
Circular Blade Sharpening Device—U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,302 Feb. 15, 1983 Inventor—Darby Sharpener Apparatus for large diameter comparatively narrow width circular blades. Prior art has no ability to maintain factory edge angle, convert to manual mode, or sharpen blades with different geometrical profile
The new Invention is an improvement over all the above mentioned prior inventions in that the new Invention can Sharpen Blades with different geometrical shapes, Scalloped, indented etc. Flexible Drive Cables are used on Present Invention. This options is not available on any of the prior art.
The present invention provides a blade sharpening, grinding and sizing apparatus. The present invention offers two separate devices one is a manually operated machine which requires no air, water or electricity to operate. The other device requires compressed air to operate but can also be quickly converted to the manual
operation mode as well. Either of the two devices will sharpen, grind and size a particular blade.
The invention incorporates a crank handle that can be turned in either direction. The crank handle can be quickly removed and re-mounted into a male T-Slot. The crank handle attaches to a vertical shaft which is mounted to a larger bevel gear it meshes with a smaller pinion gear that is mounted on the horizontal transition shaft which effectively creates an approximate 3:1 increase of the output shaft's rpm's. The output shaft is attached to a flexible drive cable that is routed through a series of flexible drive shaft eyelets. The opposite end of the flexible drive shaft is connected by attached collar and set screw to the connector shaft/cam shaft which is connected to the cam linkage arm which connects to the diamond file holder all of these components are mounted on the pivot rail.
The diamond file holder is mounted on the pivot arm slide. Typically a 600 grit file (Polish) is mounted in the diamond file holder. The diamond file is designed to pivot on its on axis up to 125° this allows complete conformity to the blade being sharpened. (I.e. Slightly Warped Blade). This pivot rail and its component parts are mounted to a vertical angle adjustment rail assembly incorporating the pivot arm mounting bracket and protractor assembly.
The angle adjustment rail incorporates an angle adjustment slide and an angle adjustment brake. The pivot arm mounting bracket is mounted to the angle adjustment slide. The angle adjustment rail assembly is mounted to a blade adjustment rail. The blade adjustment rail incorporates a blade adjustment slide and a blade adjustment brake. The vertical angle adjustment rail assembly is mounted to the blade adjustment slide. The device also incorporates a weight arm attachment attached at the base of the pivot arm mounting bracket which is used as a variable tension device when sharpening the circular blade. This invention incorporates a removable clear plastic blade safety cover to help protect the operator from the sharp edge of the blade being sharpened. To begin manual sharpening processes remove the crank handle and place in aside location. Remove the blade safety cover and place in aside location. Chose the corresponding arbor to match the through bore of the blade chosen to sharpen. Engage locking pin at vertical shaft to secure vertical angle adjustment rail into place. Remove blade nut in a counter clock wise motion and place in aside location. Select proper arbor that matches the ID bore of the blade being sharpened and install it onto the projected portion of the threaded shaft until it rest flat and flush on the blade support. Install the blade to be sharpened, making sure it is flat and secure around the arbor. Re-install blade nut using clockwise motion tighten firmly. Reinstall blade safety cover. Re-install crank handle. Locate the blade adjustment slide and the blade adjustment brake (Yellow Handle).
This assembly allows us to set the proper blade diameter. Disengage blade adjustment brake and using the black plastic handle located on the blade adjustment slide select the desired blade diameter using the blade diameter indicator gauge located on the base in directly in front of the blade adjustment slide. Use the arrow on the diameter indicator for precise location. Locate the angle adjustment brake and secure firmly. (Yellow Handle) Disengage locking pin located on the rear side of the pivot arm mounting bracket. Using the black plastic contoured safety handle located on the top side of the pivot rail gently rest the diamond file onto the edge of the blade to be sharpened. (Determine by various means the angle of the edge of the blade to be sharpened.) Locate angle adjustment slide and angle adjustment brake (Yellow Handle). These two components are located on the vertical angle adjustment rail assembly. Loosen the angle adjustment brake and slide the angle adjustment slide up or down noticing the blade diameter indicators changing position on the protractor. Once the point of the blade diameter indicator has reached the desired degree of angle hold firmly and tighten the angle adjustment brake. Adjust the weight to the desired tension and secure with the supplied thumb screw. Locate the crank handle and begin turning in either a clockwise or counter clockwise direction.
Usually 4-5 turns per side are sufficient. As the crank handle turns the diamond file located on the pivot arm slide reciprocates 3 times per single blade revolution. The diamond file is also pivoting on its on axis as the blade is turning and file is reciprocating. This motion combined with the proper tension produces an extremely sharp edge while only removing microscopic amounts of material from the blade edge itself. (This allows us to achieve one of our design goals of greatly extending the life of the blade. We are sharpening the blade instead of grinding the blade which allows us to achieve another design goal of creating a durable edge that is sharper than an actual new blade from the manufacturer, the manual operation and low rpm's allow us to achieve still another design goal of not heating the blade and destroying the temper of the blade.) Once the blades edge is sharpened locate the contoured safety handle and lift the pivot arm assembly back to the vertical position until you hear it click indicating its position is secure. (Always remember to count the number of revolutions per side a black dry erase pen is provided to mark the blade for aiding in counting these revolutions).
Locate the crank handle and repeat the blade instillation procedures turning the blade to the opposite side and repeating the sharpening procedures as preformed on the initial side of the blade. The described manual mode of operation can be manufactured as a stand alone unit or as an integral manual mode of the pneumatically driven round blade sharpening device. The round blade sharpener also embodies a small blade adaptor assembly which will allow the novice operator to sharpen either blades smooth edge as well as blade with different geometric edge profiles on blade diameters of 2″-4″. This adaptation requires not tools and takes only a minuet to set up. Pneumatically Driven Device present invention incorporates the ability to function as the Manually Driven Device and also function as a device which can sharpen the blade edges which could be of a different geometric shape. I.e. Scalloped, Wide Slotted (Typically used in Meat and poultry automatic cutting operations but not limited to a particular blade shape or industry.) To convert manual mode to automatic perform the following steps. 1. Remove Crank Handle and Store 2. Slide coupling sleeve onto transition shaft 3. Position Brake Handle to “On Position” 4. Remove Black larger Pneumatic Flexible Drive Cable from Connector Shaft/Cam Shaft. Remove smaller Gold Manual Flexible Drive Shaft from Flexible Shaft Storage Pin Connect the Black larger Pneumatic Flexible Drive Cable to the Flexible Shaft Storage Pin and secure on flat portion of Connector Shaft/Cam Shaft using provided Allen Wrench and Set Screw. Connect the smaller Gold Manual Flexible Drive Shaft onto the Flexible Shaft Storage Pin. Remove the opposite end of the smaller Gold Flexible Drive Shaft located on the out put end of the Transition Shaft using the set screw and provided Allen Wrench and simply lay it aside in its non functional state. 5.
Select appropriate sharpening head assembly (For this Scalloped Blade the Round Stone Head Assembly should be selected.); remove single Allen Screw with provided Allen Wrench. Slide assembly's Linear Slide track wheels into vertical grove, aligning the holes and re-attaching with removed Allen Screw using provided Allen Wrench. (Magnet located in proportion for storage of wrenches and screws for quicker change over times) This completes the conversion process from Manual to Pneumatic Driven Mode. Select he desired Scalloped Blade to be sharpened. Select the corresponding Arbor. Place lade to be sharpened on to shaft and flush with Arbor. Assemble Blade Nut securely. Assemble Blade Safety Cover. (Never Assemble Crank Handle while device in the Pneumatic Mode of operation.) Locate 3-Way Pneumatic Control Valve. Locate Air Water Separator drain any water in bowl using manual drain plug locate on bottom of collection bowl. Locate Locking Pin located on Angle Adjustment Rail Assembly. Disengage Locking Pin and lower the Angle Adjustment Rail with the Round Stone Head Assembly onto the assembled blade edge. Locate the Dry Erase Marking Pin and Place a mark directly under the Round Sharpening Stone. (This is the indicating mark each Scalloped Blade has to be sharpened one complete revolution in each direction. This assures that that trigonometry of the Scalloped Blades point stays at the 90° in line position as the Sharp point and point alignment is crucial for this and other blades of this type) Locate the Valve Control Handle and move it left to engage the counter clockwise rotation of the Vertical Drive Shaft and blade. After one complete revolution back to the indicating mark on the blade.
Locate the Valve Handle and place in the neutral position (center) then move the Valve Handle to the right and allow one complete revolution again stopping at the indicating mark. Remove Blade Safety Cover, Blade Nut and turn blade to opposite side and repeat the procedures called for on the first side. Once these steps are completed the Scalloped Blade is ready to be put back into operation.
In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.
With reference to the drawings,
The diamond file 36 is mounted in the diamond file holder 25. The diamond file 36 is easily mounted or unmounted by removing 2 each file top plate thumb screws 37 and file top plate 38
The pivot rail 28 is mounted to the blade diameter adjustment slide 47. A black plastic handle 50 is mounted to assist in adjusting the diameter it is threaded and screwed into the blade diameter adjustment slide 47 and is removable for storage.
The yellow blade diameter indicator 51 is mounted onto the vertical angle adjustment rail assembly 39 and is used to set the desired blade diameter following the calibrated engraved blade diameter scale 52 and center line (CL) indicator line 53. This is machine scribed into the base 2. The round blade sharpener 1 also incorporates a weight attachment shaft 54 attached at the base of the pivot arm mounting bracket 34 a weight cylinder 55 that is bored to match the weight adjustment shaft 54 diameter is slid onto the weight adjustment shaft 54 at the desired tension setting and secured by tightening the weight tension thumb screw 56
The entire assembly is bolted to the base using 8 additional ¼″ alien machine screws 76 through the bottom side the base 2
To sharpen blades with different geometric edge profiles 72 apply, adapt, disassemble and or assemble the necessary embodiments as shall be described and furnished to convert this round blade sharpener 1 to perform the sharpening task on the edges of blades of different geometric profiles 72
The air motor assembly 74 is mounted to the pre drilled holes in the base utilizing a bottom spacer 75, 4 each ¼″ alien machine screws 76 and 2 each 3/16″ alien machine bolts 22. The air motor assembly 74 is mounted and also supported by a motor shroud plate 77. The air motor assembly 74 is coupled to a reduced back lash 100:1 speed reducer 78 using a 030Love joy jaw coupling 79 ½ mounted on output shaft of air motor assembly the other mounted on the input shaft of the reduced back lash 100:1 speed reducer 82. The right angle shaft of the Reduced back lash 100:1 speed reducer 83 is connected to the horizontal transition shaft 13 utilizing a slip lock coupling 84 which is mounted on the right angle output shaft of the reduced back lash 100:1 speed Reducer 78 this assembly is mounted onto a gear box assembly mounting base 86 using 4 each ¼″ allen machine screws 76. The black heavy duty flexible drive shaft 87 is mounted to the parallel out put shaft 88 of the reduced back lash 100:1 speed reducer 78 using a heavy duty integrally mounted coupling 89 using 3/32″ set screw 6 and 3/32″ allen wrench
The off position disengages in reverse cam motion to relief the vertical shaft 8
Locate vertical linear slide bearing 27 with diamond file holder 25
Adjustable grinder tool 114 to allow the novice operator to size or quickly grind out minor nicks and abrasions incorporating a spring loaded file head 115. This to is mounted to the base support and slide 2 with 3 each ¼″ allen machine Screws 76. It also incorporates a base 116 T-handle screw 117 and a vertical mounting post 118 all supporting rigidly the spring loaded file head 115
