Claims
- 1. A reel type lawnmower conditioner comprising:
a base supporting a frame; said frame having a computer entry/display device; a reel blade assembly blade guide; a blade sensing means functioning to memorize a variable distance along a blade edge to a reference point on the frame; a reel blade assembly rotational drive; a machining head mounted on a transverse drive assembly; and said machining head having a cutting tool; wherein a computer operates the blade sensing means to memorize the variable distance along a blade edge, and then operates the machining head on the transverse drive to machine the blade edge to a new distance from the reference point
- 2. The conditioner of claim 1, wherein the base is movable so as to be moved under a reel type lawnmower on a lift.
- 3. The conditioner of claim 2, wherein the base further comprises a lift assembly means functioning to raise the machining head to contact the blade.
- 4. The conditioner of claim 3, wherein the blade sensing means further comprises a mechanical probe sensor connected to the computer.
- 5. The conditioner of claim 1, wherein the computer controls the reel blade assembly rotational drive to slowly rotate the reel blade assembly while maintaining the blade sensing means in contact with the blade edge.
- 6. The conditioner of claim 5, wherein the computer, during a machining operation, controls a transverse movement of the machining head which is fitted with a cutting tool, while slowly rotating the reel blade assembly to perform a machining action along an entire length of each blade edge.
- 7. The conditioner of claim 6, wherein the machining head further comprises a fine adjustment mechanism to place the cutting tool at a precise cutting distance relative to the blade.
- 8. The conditioner of claim 1 further comprising a roller alignment assembly having a lock for a first roller and a parallelism sensor to detect an out of parallel position between the first roller and a second roller.
- 9. The conditioner of claim 8, wherein the parallelism sensor further comprises a rocker arm assembly having a sensor to calibrate a tilt of the rocker arm which indicates an out of parallel alignment between the first and the second roller.
- 10. The conditioner of claim 9, wherein the machining head further comprises a distance probe to indicate an out of parallel condition between the roller shaft and the first roller.
- 11. The conditioner of claim 10 further comprising a height of out (H.O.C.) assembly having a movable second roller that is manually adjustable to a desired H.O.C. using the distance probe, and wherein the rocker arm assembly is used to ensure a parallel condition between the first and the second roller.
- 12. The conditioner of claim 8, wherein the machining head further comprises a distance probe to determine a variation between a reference plane and a bed knife edge.
- 13. The conditioner of claim 12, wherein the machining head further comprises a removable cutting tool to sharpen the bed knife.
- 14. A reel type lawnmower conditioner comprising:
a base supporting a frame; wherein the base is movable so as to be moved under a reel type lawnmower; wherein the base further comprises a lift assembly means functioning to raise the frame, and a roller alignment assembly having a lock for a first roller and a parallelism sensor to detect an out of parallel position between the first roller and a second roller.
- 15. The conditioner of claim 14, wherein the parallelism sensor further comprises a rocker arm assembly having a sensor to calibrate a tilt of the rocker arm which indicates an out of parallel alignment between the first and the second roller.
- 16. The conditioner of claim 15, further comprising a machining head having a distance probe to indicate an out of parallel condition between a roller shaft and the first roller.
- 17. The conditioner of claim 16 further comprising a height of cut (H.O.C.) assembly having a movable second roller that is manually adjustable to a desired H.O.C. using the distance probe, and wherein a rocker arm assembly is used to ensure a parallel condition between the first and the second roller.
- 18. The conditioner of claim 17, wherein the machining head further comprises a distance probe to determine a variation between a reference plane and a bed knife edge.
- 19. The conditioner of claim 18, wherein the machining head further comprises a removable cutting tool to sharpen the bed knife.
- 20. The conditioner of claim 19, wherein the machining head further comprises a blade machining tool means functioning to machine each blade to a sharp condition.
- 21. A reel type lawnmower conditioner comprising:
a base supporting a frame; wherein the base is movable so as to be moved under a reel type lawnmower; wherein the base further comprises a lift assembly means functioning to raise the frame; a machining head mounted on a computer controlled transverse drive; and said machining head having a bed knife cutting tool.
- 22. The conditioner of claim 21 further comprising a roller parallelism indicator means functioning to show whether a first and a second roller are parallel.
- 23. The conditioner of claim 22, wherein the machining head further comprises a blade machining means functioning to scan a distance of each edge of each blade on a reel relative to a reference plane, and machine each edge of each blade.
- 24. An apparatus to condition a reel type lawnmower, the apparatus comprising:
a) means for entering lawnmower specific data into a computer functioning to ready the apparatus to condition the lawnmower; b) said lawnmower specific data including a blade length and a number of blades; c) means for moving the apparatus under a lawnmower blade assembly; d) means for choosing whether to sharpen blades, adjust a height of cut, sharpen a bed knife or align rollers; e) means for sharpening the blades by aligning a sensor to an end of a blade end; f) means for installing a blade cutting tool on a machining head; g) means for rotating a reel blade assembly; h) means for traversing the sensor along a blade edge while rotating the blade assembly; i) means for using the blade cutting tool to sharpen the blade; j) means for indexing a blade assembly to a next blade functioning to work on the next blade; k) means for indexing the blade assembly until each blade is sharpened; l) means for aligning at least two rollers by aligning a probe at a first roller support end of a roller; m) means for measuring a distance d1 to a reel shaft; n) means for aligning the probe at a second roller support end of the roller; o) means for measuring a distance d2 to the reel shaft; p) means for displaying a difference between d1 and d2; q) means for setting a height of cut (H.O.C.) by aligning the probe to a first roller support; r) means for setting a desired distance to a blade; s) means for displaying the H.O.C. and a roller parallelism; t) means for sharpening the bed knife by means of a bed knife cutting tool installed on the machining head; u) means for rotating all reel blades off the bed knife. v) means for positioning the bed knife cutting tool over the bed knife; and w) means for powering the bed knife cutting tool while traversing the machining head along a length of the bed knife.
- 25. A reel type lawnmower blade sharpener comprising:
a movable chassis; said chassis having an elevator assembly to provide an adjustable height capability for an upper portion of the elevator assembly; a sharpening assembly mounted to the upper portion of the elevator assembly; wherein the sharpening assembly is adjustable to fit beneath a reel type lawnmower blade while a blade is mounted to the lawnmower; and said sharpening assembly having a computer controlled blade cutting tool to sharpen the blade.
- 26. A reel type lawnmower bed knife sharpener comprising:
a movable chassis; said chassis having an elevator assembly to provide an adjustable height capability for an upper portion of the elevator assembly; a sharpening assembly mounted to the upper portion of the elevator assembly; wherein the sharpening assembly is adjustable to fit beneath a reel type lawnmower blade while a blade and a bed knife are mounted to the lawnmower; and said sharpening assembly having a computer controlled bed knife cutting tool to sharpen the bed knife.
- 27. A method to condition a reel type lawnmower, the method comprising the steps of:
a) entering lawnmower specific data into a computer; b) said lawnmower specific data including a blade length and a number of blades; c) moving a conditioner under a lawnmower blade assembly; d) choosing whether to sharpen blades adjust a height of cut (H.O.C.), sharpen a bed knife or align rollers; e) sharpening the blades by aligning a sensor to an end of a blade end; f) traversing the sensor along a blade edge while rotating the blade via a guide; g) installing a blade cutting tool on a machining head; h) using the blade cutting tool to sharpen the blade; i) indexing a blade assembly to a next blade; j) repeating steps “e” through “i” until each blade of the blade assembly is sharpened; k) aligning the rollers by aligning a probe at a first roller support end of a roller; l) measuring a distance d1 to a reel shaft from the first end of the first roller; m) aligning the probe at a second roller support end of the roller; n) measuring a distance d2 to the reel shaft from the second end of the first roller; o) displaying a difference between d1 and d2; p) setting the H.O.C. aligning the probe to a first roller support; q) setting a desired distance to a blade; r) displaying the H.O.C.; s) using a parallelism assembly to indicate a parallel condition between the first and second roller; t) sharpening the bed knife by installing a bed knife cutting tool on the machining head; u) rotating all reel blades off the bed knife. v) positioning the bed knife cutting tool over the bed knife; and w) powering the bed knife cutting tool while traversing the machining head across a length of the bed knife.
CROSS REFERENCE APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a non-provisional application claiming the benefits of provisional application no. 60/436,419 filed Dec. 23, 2002.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60436419 |
Dec 2002 |
US |