Rotatable edge guide to support a cutting tool during a sharpening operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020016717-A1
Application number	US-201916579286-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 23, 2019
Priority date	May 29, 2014
Publication date	Jan 16, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatus for sharpening a cutting tool. In some embodiments, a tool sharpener includes an abrasive medium having an abrasive surface. A stationary tool support guide provides a guide surface that supports a side of the tool during presentation of a cutting edge of the tool against the abrasive surface. A rotatable edge guide has a roller member with a curvilinearly extending outer surface. The roller member is rotatable about an edge guide roller axis to engage, via rolling contact, the cutting edge during the presentation of the cutting edge against the abrasive surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A tool sharpener for sharpening a cutting tool, the tool sharpener comprising:
an abrasive medium having an abrasive surface; and a rotatable tool support guide adjacent a first edge of the abrasive surface having a roller member with a rotatable edge guide surface configured to engage, via rolling contact, a first portion of the cutting edge of the cutting tool as a second portion of the cutting edge of the cutting tool is presented against the abrasive surface, the roller member rotatable about a roller axis nominally orthogonal to a retraction direction along which the cutting edge is drawn across the abrasive medium during contact with the abrasive medium and the rotatable edge guide surface, the roller member configured to be deflectable with respect to the abrasive medium such that the roller member moves downwardly while maintaining the roller axis nominally orthogonal to the retraction direction responsive to contact between the cutting tool and the roller member.

2 . The tool sharpener of claim 1 , further comprising a stationary tool support guide adjacent an opposing second edge of the abrasive surface having a stationary edge guide surface configured to support, via sliding contact, a third portion of a cutting edge of the cutting tool so that the second portion of the cutting edge presented against the abrasive surface lies between the first portion of the cutting edge that contactingly engages the rotatable tool support guide and the third portion of the cutting edge that contactingly engages the stationary tool support guide.

3 . The tool sharpener of claim 2 , wherein the stationary tool support guide further comprises a stationary, angled side surface adjacent the stationary edge guide surface configured to support a first side of the cutting tool during presentation of an opposing second side of the cutting tool against the abrasive surface.

4 . The tool sharpener of claim 1 , further comprising a stationary housing, a deflectable roller member support configured to support the roller member about the roller axis, and a biasing mechanism coupled between the deflectable roller member support and the stationary housing to exert a retention force upon the roller member to resist said downward movement of the roller member responsive to said contact with the feature of the cutting tool.

5 . The tool sharpener of claim 4 , further comprising a locking mechanism which engages the deflectable roller member support to maintain the roller member in a non-contacting relation to the cutting edge as the second portion of the cutting edge contactingly engages the abrasive surface.

6 . The tool sharpener of claim 4 , wherein the abrasive member is a rotatable abrasive disc that rotates about a disc axis, the deflectable roller member support comprises a central body with a first end configured to support the roller member and a second end configured to rotate about a roller member support axis, and the roller member support axis is maintained in an orientation that is nominally parallel with the disc axis.

7 . The tool sharpener of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive medium is a powered rotatable abrasive disc.

8 . The tool sharpener of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive medium is a powered moveable endless abrasive belt.

9 . The tool sharpener of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface is a first abrasive surface, wherein the rotatable tool support guide is a first rotatable tool support guide, and wherein the tool sharpener further comprises a second abrasive surface that faces away from the first abrasive surface, and a second rotatable tool support guide nominally identical to the first rotatable support guide adjacent an opposing second edge of the second abrasive surface.

10 . The tool sharpener of claim 1 , wherein the roller member is formed of a compliant material capable of being cut by the second portion of the cutting edge to form a v-shaped groove therein.

11 . A tool sharpener for sharpening a cutting tool, the tool sharpener comprising:
an abrasive medium having an abrasive surface; and a rotatable tool support guide adjacent a first edge of the abrasive surface having a roller member with a rotatable edge guide surface configured to engage, via rolling contact, a first portion of the cutting edge of the cutting tool as a second portion of the cutting edge of the cutting tool is presented against the abrasive surface, the roller member formed of a compliant material capable of forming a v-shape responsive to contact with the first portion of the cutting edge.

12 . The tool sharpener of claim 11 , wherein the roller member rotates about a roller axis nominally orthogonal to a retraction direction along which the cutting edge is drawn across the abrasive medium during contact with the abrasive medium and the rotatable edge guide surface, and wherein the roller member is configured to be deflectable with respect to the abrasive medium such that the roller member moves downwardly responsive to contact with a feature of the cutting tool while maintaining the roller axis nominally orthogonal to the retraction direction.

13 . The tool sharpener of claim 12 , further comprising a stationary housing which at least partially encloses the abrasive member, a deflectable roller member support rotatably affixed to the stationary housing, and a biasing mechanism coupled between the deflectable roller member support and the stationary housing to exert a retention force upon the roller member to resist the downward movement of the roller member.

14 . The tool sharpener of claim 13 , further comprising a locking mechanism which engages the deflectable roller member to maintain the roller member in a non-contacting relation to the cutting edge as the second portion of the cutting edge contactingly engages the abrasive surface.

15 . The tool sharpener of claim 11 , wherein the roller member is formed of plastic.

16 . The tool sharpener of claim 11 , wherein the abrasive medium is a selected one of a powered rotatable abrasive disc or a powered moveable endless abrasive belt.

17 . The tool sharpener of claim 11 , further comprising:
a stationary tool support guide adjacent an opposing second edge of the abrasive surface comprising:
a stationary edge guide surface configured to support, via sliding contact, a third portion of a cutting edge of the cutting tool so that the second portion of the cutting edge presented against the abrasive surface lies between the first portion of the cutting edge that contactingly engages the rotatable tool support guide and the third portion of the cutting edge that contactingly engages the stationary tool support guide; and
an angled side surface adjacent the stationary edge guide surface configured to support a first side of the cutting tool during presentation of an opposing second side of the cutting tool against the abrasive surface.

18 . The tool sharpener of claim 11 , wherein the abrasive surface is a first abrasive surface, the rotatable tool support guide is a first rotatable tool support guide, and wherein the tool sharpener further comprises a second abrasive surface that faces away from the first abrasive surface, and a second rotatable tool support guide nominally identical to the first rotatable support guide adjacent an opposing second edge of the second abrasive surface.

19 . A tool sharpener for sharpening a cutting tool, the tool sharpener comprising:
a housing which encloses an electric motor configured to move an abrasive medium having an abrasiv

Assignees

• Darex Llc

Inventors

• Dovel Daniel T

Classifications

• B24B23/06 Primary

  with abrasive belts, e.g. with endless travelling belts; Accessories therefor · CPC title

• B24B3/36 Primary

  of cutting blades (B24B3/58 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B24B3/54

  of hand or table knives · CPC title

• B24B23/005

  Auxiliary devices used in connection with portable grinding machines, e.g. holders · CPC title

• B24B3/52

  of shear blades or scissors · CPC title