Patent ID: 6331133
Filing Date: 2001-12-18
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
An apparatus for sharpening twist drill bits comprises,a. a drill bit holder mechanism including,i. a front fluted portion holder structure adapted to support the fluted front portion of a drill bit, said structure including height adjustment actuator means effective in pivoting said drill bit to thereby position its tip at a pre-determined height,ii. a rear, shank holder structure adapted to support the shank of said drill bit, said structure including phase angle actuator means for rotating said drill bit about its longitudinal axis to a particular orientation or phase angle of the cutting edges or lips of said fluted front portion of said drill bit relative to said structure,b. an optical alignment apparatus located at a first, load/unload/align station position relative to said drill bit holder mechanism, said optical alignment apparatus adapted to measure the spatial position of said tip of said drill bit relative to said first station position, andc. station actuator means for moving said drill bit holder mechanism from said first station to a second, grinding station.