Patent Application
20170057041
The present invention relates to the field of cutting tool sharpening operations for industrial, commercial, and home use.
There are a variety of motorized sharpening devices available on the market which attempt to achieve the two primary goals of sharpening, accuracy and speed. Examples of such motorized devices are the Tormek Grinding System and the Work Sharp Disk Grinding System. However, these and similar systems are prohibitively expensive. They are devices which, by their nature, grind away a significant part of the cutting tool or blade with each use, another distinct disadvantage of these devices. In addition, the variety of grinding grits available to be used with such systems is limited and costly. As such machines are grinders, they are also large and bulky and thus are not portable. None have reciprocating sharpening stones, so they are less efficient as well.
It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a unique honing apparatus for sharpening cutting tools which overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of existing tool sharpening devices.
The present invention is a motorized honing apparatus which propels a variety of commercially available sharpening stones and diamond coated steels on a precision reciprocating path at approximately 200 rpm, allowing the user to sharpen a variety of tools, bits, cutters, blades, knives, scissors, and various other similar tools in a quick, efficient, and precise manner. The apparatus is configured to accept numerous types of honing stones, diamond coated steel plate sharpeners, ceramic backed abrasives, and glass backed abrasive stones.
The honing apparatus of the present invention comprises a housing having a top section which is disposed in a horizontal plane. First and second guide rails extend along the sides of the top section. A sharpening stone tray is located within the top section between the guard rails and a sharpening stone is positioned within the tray. An electric motor drives the sharpening stone tray in reciprocating motion within a path parallel to the horizontal plane of the top section. A clamp unit is located over the sharpening stone and secures a cutting tool at a given angle on and in relation to the sharpening stone. The reciprocating movement of the sharpening stone allows for the precise sharpening of the cutting tool secured in the clamp.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Honing apparatus 1 of the present invention comprises housing 2 having top section 4 which is disposed within horizontal plane 13. First guide rail 6 extends along one side of top section 4 and second guard rail 8 extends along the opposite side of the top section. Sharpening stone tray 10 is located within top section 4, between guard rails 6 and 8. Sharpening stone 12 is positioned in sharpening stone tray 10 and is disposed in horizontal, transverse plane 3, parallel to horizontal, transverse plane 13 of top section 4. (See
Clamp unit 14 is configured to secure a cutting tool, for instance tool 16, at a given angle in relation to sharpening stone 12, such that the tool contacts the surface of the sharpening stone. Clamp unit 14 comprises bevel table 18 having top plate 20 interconnecting downwardly extending side plates 22 and 24, clamp rails 23 and 25, support bar 27, and clamping nut 29. Clamp unit 14 is positioned over housing 2, such that clamp rails 23 and 25 are located over and on guide rails 6 and 8. Bevel table 18 is positioned such that side plates 22 and 24 extend over and on clamp rails 23 and 25. As best seen in
By this positioning and configuration of clamp unit 14, clamp rails 23 and 25 permit forward and backward movement of clamp unit 14 along guide rails 6 and 8. Clamping nut 29 is tightened to secure the clamp in a stationary position. Pivot point 26, arced slot 28, and adjustment nut 30, and the comparable components of side plate 22, allow for angular adjustment of bevel table 18 of clamp unit 14 and cutting tool 16, which is secured in the clamp, in relation to sharpening stone 12. Angular readouts are provided by digital angle finder 31.
Top plate 20 of bevel table 18 comprises transverse extending slot 32. Cutting tool holder 19 of clam 14 is supported on top plate 20 of bevel table 18 through transverse slot 32 by means of clamp nuts 33 and 34. Thus, by loosening the clamp nuts, tool holder 19 can move laterally in relation to sharpening stone 12. Clamp unit 14 also comprises clamping screw 35 and clamping counter pressure screw 37. Planar adjustment screw 39 allows downward movement of cutting tool 16 so as to permit it to be sharpened on sharpening stone 12, without releasing it from clamp unit 14.
Sharpening stone tray 10 is positioned for reciprocating movement within housing 2 by drive means comprising motor 40, actuated by switch 41 which, through gearing 42, propels linkage 43 and then drive rod 44 in a reciprocating movement to so move sharpening stone tray 10 in the reciprocating movement within its horizontal, transverse plane 3, and parallel to horizontal, transverse plane 13. It is contemplated that the reciprocating movement or path of sharpening stone tray 10 will run at approximately 200 rpm. This will allow such cutting tools as tool 16 to be sharpened in a rapid and precise manner. However, it is contemplated that motor 40 can be configured to operate at variable speeds as well.
Lubricant containing bottle 50, holds water, oil, or other lubricant to be used in the cutting tool sharpening process. Bottle 50 comprises bottle connection 52 which extends into mounting block 3 located on guide rails 6 and 8 on top section 4 of housing 2. Bottle connection 52 extends through mounting block 5 to allow the lubricant to flow onto the surface of sharpening stone 12, to provide lubrication during the sharpening process. Residual lubricant is drained from sharpening stone 12 into channels 54 and 55 of housing 2. The lubricant is ultimately removed from the system via drain board 60, which leads to waste water collector 62 within the housing.
Lubricant containing bottle 50 is a squeeze bottle having a plastic top cap 58 which provides the connection for distribution of a lubricant through the bottle, thus allowing the operator of honing apparatus 1 to apply lubricant as needed.
Honing apparatus 1 also includes various accessories to accommodate sharpening stones of various sizes and different cutting tools. For instance, as seen in
Other tool accessories include “L” shaped guide attachment 82 for flat tools 83. Guide 82 has legs 84 and 86 which ride over guide rails 6 and 8. See
Honing apparatus 1 is designed to be used manually, with the operator having the ability to control the cutting tool operation, according to the tool which is being sharpened. The versatility of honing apparatus 1, including the simple and effective positioning of clamp unit 14 of the apparatus, allows for the honing or grinding of a large variety of different cutting tools.
Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 62/209,484, filed on Aug. 25, 2015.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62209484 | Aug 2015 | US |
