Adjustable tool platform and an abrading machine including the same

An abrading machine includes a tool platform for supporting a tool at a selected elevation and angular position relative to an abrading surface of the abrading machine. The tool platform includes a tool rest member, having a tool-receiving surface, which is movably attached to a carriage assembly which is, in turn, movably received by a support assembly. An abrading machine having two or more abrading stations and an adjustable tool platform moveable between the abrading stations is also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to tool platforms, and particularly relates 
to tool platforms which include a tool-receiving surface which may be 
selectively disposed at a given angular orientation and elevation relative 
to an abrading surface of an abrading apparatus. The present invention 
more particularly relates to an abrading machine including a tool platform 
having a tool-receiving surface which may be selectively disposed at a 
given angular orientation and elevation relative to the abrading machine's 
abrading surface, and most particularly relates to a two-station abrading 
machine having an adjustable tool platform which may be selectively 
disposed at either station, and wherein a pre-selected elevation and 
angular orientation of the tool-receiving surface relative to the abrading 
surface may be maintained when the tool platform is moved between 
stations. 
2. Description of the Invention Background 
A number of modern tools and machines include portions having engageable 
edges which must be kept free from surface imperfections such as, for 
example, burrs, nicks and gouges, so that the tool or machine can function 
properly. For purposes of the present disclosure, the operation wherein 
such surface imperfections are removed from an edge will be referred to as 
"grinding". Such tools which should be maintained free from surface 
imperfections include, for example, flat head screwdrivers, chisels, 
gouges, the cutter members of planes, spokeshaves and scrapers, and the 
knife members of planer machines and jointer machines. The presence of 
surface imperfections on such tools can mar or gouge the surface of a 
wooden workpiece, requiring additional sanding operations to obtain an 
acceptable appearance for the workpiece. 
In addition to the removal of surface imperfections, a number of tools and 
machines include edges which must be kept sharp so that the tool or 
machine can properly cut or remove wood from a workpiece. For purposes of 
this disclosure, the operation of providing a tool with a sharpened edge 
will be referred to as "sharpening". Such tools which must be kept 
sharpened to operate properly include, for example, all types of knife 
tools, woodworking chisels and gouges, and the knife blades of planer 
machines and jointer machines. 
The operations of both grinding and sharpening, as well as any other 
activity where material is removed from a surface of a workpiece, will be 
referred to herein as "abrading". 
Perhaps the most rudimentary means for maintaining an edge free from burrs 
and nicks and/or to sharpen the edge is to use a stone surface, known as a 
whetstone, oilstone or a bench stone. Such stones may be composed of 
natural stone or artificial material, such as silicon carbide or aluminum 
oxide, and come in a variety of grit sizes. By the repeated stroking of a 
worn edge on the stone at the proper angle, material is abraded from the 
edge. 
To remove surface imperfections from the edge, or to straighten the edge, a 
stone having a coarse or medium grit size is typically used. To sharpen 
the edge, a stone having a relatively fine grit size is employed. To 
properly sharpen an edge, oftentimes both procedures must be employed so 
that relatively gross surface imperfections are first removed from the 
edge using a medium or coarse grit stone, and then the edge may be 
sharpened using a relatively fine grit stone. 
When sharpening an edge by subjecting the edge to one or both of the above 
abrading steps, a constant angle should be maintained between the tool and 
the abrading surface so that the edge is not sharpened in a rounded 
configuration. Maintaining a constant angle when sharpening by hand using 
a stone is quite difficult, in part because the tool must be stroked 
across the stone surface while maintaining substantially constant pressure 
between the edge and the stone. 
To hasten the removal of material from an edge to be ground or sharpened, 
and also to aid in maintaining a proper angle between the tool and the 
abrading surface, a variety of motor-driven grinding and sharpening 
devices are available. These devices may be capable of either grinding or 
sharpening, or may provide both features. Many of these abrading devices 
employ a wheel of a natural or synthetic abrasive material which is driven 
to rotate by an electric motor. 
On such device is the Model GGM-250W grinding/sharpening machine 
distributed under the trade name Reliant by Trendlines, Chelsea, 
Massachusetts, which incorporates an 80 grit grinding wheel which rotates 
on a horizontally-disposed axis and a water-fed 800 grit sharpening wheel 
which rotates on a vertically-disposed axis. For the purpose of the 
following description, an abrasive wheel used for grinding which rotates 
on a horizontally-disposed axis is referred to as a "vertical grinding 
wheel", while an abrasive wheel used for sharpening which rotates on a 
vertically-disposed axis is referred to as "a horizontal sharpening 
wheel". The Reliant machine includes individual tool rests including flat 
metal pieces which are fixedly attached adjacent each wheel for resting 
the tool which is to ground or sharpened. A surface of the flat metal 
piece acts as a tool-receiving surface for supporting the tool to be 
abraded. The tool rest adjacent the vertical wheel can be adjusted to move 
out from or toward the perimeter surface of the wheel. The tool rest 
adjacent the horizontal sharpening wheel includes a flat metal strip 
having a tool-receiving surface, the flat metal strip having two ends, 
each of the ends being pivotally connected to one end of a cylindrical 
post member by a threaded screw and a nut. Each post member is slidingly 
received in a substantially vertical orientation by collar shaped portion 
of the machine's housing. 
Each of the post members of the Reliant machine must be raised or lowered 
by hand within the collar-shaped portions to adjust the flat metal strip 
to a predetermined elevation above the wheel surface and thereby adjust a 
tool resting on the tool-receiving surface of the flat metal strip to a 
predetermined elevation above the wheel surface. To secure the individual 
post members at a selected elevation, a knob member must be threadedly 
advanced into the side of each collar portion of the machine's housing 
until it impinges on a surface of the post members and frictionally 
retains the post members at a selected depth within the collar. 
The tool-receiving surface of the Reliant machine may be adjusted to a 
predetermined angle relative to the wheel surface by pivoting by hand the 
flat metal strip relative to the vertically-disposed post members. The 
flat metal strip may be secured at the predetermined angle by 
hand-tightening each of the two nut-and-screw arrangements which pivotally 
connect the flat metal strip to the post members. 
From the foregoing description of the Reliant machine, it will be 
understood that the adjustment of the tool-receiving surface of the 
machine's tool rest adjacent the horizontal sharpening wheel must be 
accomplished entirely by hand and requires the hand-tightening of no less 
than four elements to lock the tool rest at a selected elevation and angle 
relative to the abrading surface. In addition, because the tool-receiving 
surface of the Reliant machine is disposed on a flat metal strip is 
supported at its terminal ends, the strip, and consequently the 
tool-receiving surface, may bow if the tool is pressed onto it with 
sufficient force. The bowing of the strip will affect the elevation and 
angle of the supported tool relative to the abrading surface and may also 
effect the pressure exerted on the abrading surface by the tool edge being 
sharpened. Finally, maintaining the identical orientation, i.e., elevation 
and angle, of the tool edge being sharpened to the abrading surface when 
the tool is transferred between the vertical grinding wheel and the 
horizontal sharpening wheel of the Reliant machine would be quite 
difficult because each wheel includes an individual, separately adjustable 
tool rest. 
American Machine & Tool Co, Inc. ("AMT"), Royersford, Pa. and Woodworker's 
Supply, Albequerque, N. Mex., distribute grinding/sharpening machines 
which have substantially the same design as the Reliant machine. Adjacent 
to both the AMT and Woodtek machine's vertical and horizontal wheels are 
disposed individual tool rests having designs and means for adjustment 
substantially identical to that of the Reliant machine described above. 
Accordingly, those machines suffer from the same disadvantages as the 
Reliant machine. 
In addition to the above devices, Makita Electric Works, Ltd., Aichi, 
Japan, distributes a Model 9820-2 sharpening machine which includes a 
single sharpening station having a 1000 grit, water-fed, horizontal 
sharpening wheel. Disposed adjacent the wheel is a tool rest including a 
support rail having a tool-receiving surface for supporting a tool for 
sharpening. The support rail is pivotally mounted on one end of two post 
members by two pin members, the other end of each post member including 
screw threads thereon and being slidingly received by apertures in the 
machine's housing. 
The depth of the post members within the apertures of the Makita machine, 
and the consequent elevation of the tool-receiving surface above the wheel 
surface, is selectively adjusted by threadedly advancing by hand an 
individual nut member along the threaded second end of each post member; 
the nut members rest on the aperture's opening and cause the post member 
to advance into or out of the aperture when rotated. When the post members 
have been brought to a selected elevation, they may be locked at that 
elevation by hand tightening two knob members which are threadedly 
disposed through the machine's housing and which impinge on the post 
members within the housing when the knob members are sufficiently 
threadedly advanced into the housing. To adjust the angle of the 
tool-receiving surface relative to the wheel surface, the first end of one 
post member threadedly receives a knob member with a threaded end that 
passes through and may be advanced or retracted through the post member. 
The threaded end of the knob member protrudes from the post member and 
impinges in a lower surface of the support rail such that the advancement 
or retraction of the threaded end through the post member correspondingly 
pivots the support member toward or away from the wheel surface. 
The Makita machine suffers from each of the disadvantages referred to with 
regard to the Reliant, AMT and Woodtek machines. In addition, the Makita 
machine does not incorporate a separate grinding wheel and either the 
grinding operation precedent to sharpening the edge must to accomplished 
using another machine or the 1000 grit wheel of the Makita machine must be 
replaced with a relatively coarse grit wheel. 
Considering the above-described disadvantages of grinding and/or sharpening 
machines including tool rests, there exists a need for a new tool platform 
for supporting a tool adjacent the abrading surface of a grinding or 
sharpening machine, which tool platform includes easily adjustable means 
for selecting a given orientation for the tool-receiving surface of the 
tool rest relative to the abrading surface and for locking the 
tool-receiving surface in the selected orientation. A need also exists for 
an abrading machine including an easily adjustable tool platform, and for 
an abrading apparatus having two or more abrading stations and which also 
includes a tool platform having means for maintaining an orientation of 
the tool platform's tool-receiving surface relative to the abrading 
surface at multiple abrading station. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
To address the above-stated disadvantages of the existing tool rests and 
abrading machines, the present invention provides an adjustable tool 
platform for selectively disposing a tool at a predetermined elevation and 
angular position relative to the abrading surface of an abrading machine. 
The tool platform of the present invention includes a support assembly 
which has an attachment portion for attaching the support assembly to an 
abrading machine. The tool platform of the present invention also includes 
a carriage assembly, which is received on and is moveable relative to the 
support assembly, and a tool rest member which is movably connected to the 
carriage assembly. The tool rest member includes at least a tool-receiving 
surface on which the tool to be abraded is received. 
Because it is positioned on the tool rest member, which is in turn movably 
connected to the carriage assembly, the tool-receiving surface is moveable 
relative to the abrading surface so that a selected angular position and 
elevation of the tool-receiving surface relative to the abrading surface 
may be achieved. In this way, a tool received on the tool-receiving 
surface may be adjusted to a predetermined angular position and elevation 
relative to the abrading surface. 
The tool platform of the present invention further includes angular 
position selecting means operably connected to the tool rest member to 
allow for adjustment of the tool-receiving surface to the above-mentioned 
selected angular position relative to the abrading surface, thereby also 
adjusting a tool received on the tool-receiving surface to the 
above-mentioned predetermined angular position relative to the abrading 
surface. In addition, elevation selecting means are also provided which 
are operably connected between the carriage assembly and the attachment 
assembly to allow for adjustment of the tool-receiving surface to the 
above-mentioned selected elevation relative to the abrading surface, 
thereby also adjusting a tool received on the tool-receiving surface to 
the above-mentioned predetermined elevation relative to the abrading 
surface. 
The present invention also provides for an abrading machine which includes 
the tool platform of the present invention, and further provides for an 
abrading machine having multiple abrading stations, wherein the tool 
platform of the present invention may be selectively positioned at 
multiple abrading stations thereof while maintaining the same selected 
elevation and angular position of the tool-receiving surface relative to 
the abrading surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
An abrading machine 5 of the present invention is generally shown in FIG. 
1. The abrading machine is a two-station machine including vertical 
grinding wheel 6 and horizontal sharpening wheel 7. Both wheels 6 and 7 
are selectively driven to rotate by motor 8 mounted on base 9. The 
exterior design of abrading machine 5, including the ornamental and 
functional features thereof, is also depicted in our co-pending United 
States design patent application entitled "Grinding and Sharpening 
Machine", Application Ser. No. 29/026,701, filed on even date herewith, 
the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
Horizontal sharpening wheel 7 is a water-fed wheel of a design familiar to 
those in the art and includes water reservoir 20 which feeds water onto 
the sharpening surface 23 of horizontal sharpening wheel 7. The water feed 
rate to sharpening surface 23 is adjusted by water feed adjustment knob 
21. Cowling 22 surrounds a portion of the perimeter of horizontal 
sharpening wheel 7. Abrading machine 5 further includes housing 24, which 
surrounds the perimeter of vertical grinding wheel 6 so as to expose only 
a portion of wheel to an operator, and also includes transparent safety 
shield 25 and tool placement member 26 which provides a surface on which 
to rest a tool to be ground on vertical grinding wheel 6. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, abrading machine 5 also includes adjustable tool 
platform 10 of the design of the present invention. Tool platform 10, 
shown in isolation in FIGS. 3 and 4 and in an assembly view in FIG. 5, 
includes a support assembly which includes attachment portion 12 and 
support member 14. 
As best shown in FIGS. 5, 11A and 11B, attachment portion 12 includes 
mounting member 28 having circular wall 29 which defines circular first 
bore 30. Threaded bolt 33 is threadedly received in threaded second bore 
32 through circular wall 29 such that threaded bolt 33 may be advanced 
into first bore 30. First end 38 of a preferably substantially cylindrical 
stalk member 34, having longitudinally-disposed slot 36 on the surface 
thereof, is received in first bore 30 such that when the end of bolt 33 
protrudes into first bore 30, bolt 30 is fixedly disposed in slot 36. 
As depicted in FIG. 1 and described in detail below, second end 39 of stalk 
member 34 may be disposed in a portion of abrading machine 5 configured to 
matingly receive the second end 39. In this way, adjustable tool platform 
10 may be releasibly attached to abrading machine 5. 
Although the present preferred embodiment of adjustable tool platform 10 
includes attachment portion 12 to releasibly connect the tool platform 10 
to an abrading machine having an attachment means configured to receive 
second end 39 of stalk member 34, it is to be understood that the tool 
platform 10 of the present invention may have an attachment portion 
configured in any way necessary so as to releasibly or fixedly connect the 
tool platform to an abrading machine. For example, the tool platform may 
be welded or fixedly bolted to an abrading machine such that it is not 
easily removable. In addition, the herein-described design for tool 
platform 10 could be modified such that it is a free-standing device which 
is disposed adjacent, but is not connected to, abrading machine 5. Such 
alternate designs are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
As shown in FIGS. 1-3, in addition to attachment portion 12, tool platform 
10 includes tool rest member 42 having a tool receiving surface 44 thereon 
for supporting a tool having an edge which is to be ground or sharpened on 
an abrading machine. As shown in the Figures, tool rest member 42 is 
preferably of a generally rectangular shape and has a substantially 
triangular cross-section through a longitudinal axis thereof. As best 
shown in FIG. 4, tool receiving surface 44 preferably includes raised bars 
46 which aid to reduce friction between the tool or other item received on 
the tool receiving surface 44. Such item received on the tool receiving 
surface 44 may be, for example, the tool fixture described and claimed in 
our co-pending United States patent application entitled "Tool Fixture For 
Abrading Apparatus", application Ser. No. 286,358, filed on even date 
herewith, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by 
reference. 
Tool rest member 42 also includes hinge projections 48, 49 and 50, which 
extend from one side of tool rest member 42. Each hinge projection 48, 49 
and 50 includes a first hinge bore (not labeled) therethrough and the 
hinge projections are disposed along a common side of tool rest member 42 
so that the longitudinal axes of the first hinge bores of hinge 
projections 48, 49 and 50 are aligned. 
In addition to the above elements, tool platform 10 of the present 
invention further includes first and second post members 52a and 52b, 
respectively, which are preferably oblong (i.e., have a length dimension 
which is greater than a width dimension) and are preferably substantially 
cylindrical in shape. Each of post members 52a and 52b, respectively, 
include a first post end 54a and 54b, and a second post end 56a and 56b. 
Each first post end 54a and 54b, respectively, is stepped on either side 
to define an upstanding hinge tab 58a and 58b which each include a second 
hinge bore 60a and 60b therethrough. Each second post end 56a and 56b, 
respectively, includes a single retaining aperture 62a and 62b 
therethrough. 
Tool rest member 42 is pivotally connected to first and second post members 
52a and 52b, by disposing cylindrical rod member 64 through the aligned 
first hinge bores (not shown) in hinge projections 48, 49, 50 and through 
the second hinge bores 60a and 60b in post members 52a and 52b. Rod member 
64 preferably includes threaded end 66 and unthreaded end 68, the 
unthreaded end 68 having a rod member aperture 70 therethrough. The 
disposition of first post ends 58a and 58b relative to hinge projections 
48, 49 and 50 when rod member 64 is disposed therethrough is best shown 
FIG. 3 and is such that hinge tab 58b is disposed intermediate and 
substantially adjacent hinge projections 48 and 49, while hinge tab 58a is 
disposed on a side of hinge projection 50 opposite hinge projection 49. As 
shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, rod member 64 is retained through the aligned 
first and second hinge bores by cam member 74, disposed on unthreaded end 
68, and by fastening member 72, which is threadedly disposed on threaded 
end 66 so as to be substantially adjacent hinge projection 48. 
Cam member 74 is shown in isolation in FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C, and includes 
cam member aperture 75 and lever portion 76. Cam member 74 is pivotally 
connected to unthreaded end 68 of rod member 64 by cam pivot pin 77, which 
is disposed through aligned rod member aperture 70 and cam member aperture 
75 such that the cam member is disposed adjacent hinge tab 58a as shown in 
FIG. 6 and is pivotally moveable relative to rod member 64. Hinge coil 
spring 78 is also disposed on rod member 64 intermediate hinge projection 
50 and hinge tab 58a and acts to bias apart these elements. 
In addition to the above-described elements, tool platform 10 further 
includes bracket member 80, shown in isolation in FIGS. 11A and 11B, which 
includes substantially cylindrical, upstanding first and second post 
member receiving portions 82a and 82b connected by flattened bridge 
portion 83. The post member receiving apertures 84a and 84b are disposed 
so as to have substantially parallel longitudinal axes. Each post member 
receiving portion 82a and 82b includes a corresponding cylindrical post 
member receiving aperture 84a and 84b. Bridge portion 83 includes bolt 
bore 86 therethrough which is preferably bordered by hexagonal pocket 88 
configured to receive and retain the hexagonal head of a machine bolt so 
as to prevent the bolt from turning on its longitudinal axis. 
Attachment portion 12, described above, depends from a central region of 
bridge portion 83 by mounting member 28. The attachment portion 12 and 
bridge member 80 are preferably disposed so that the parallel longitudinal 
axes of the post member receiving apertures 84a and 84b are substantially 
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of first bore 30 in the attachment 
portion 12. As shown in the Figures, the cylindrical second end 56a and 
56b of each post member 52a and 52b is slidingly received by the 
corresponding post member receiving aperture 84a and 84b such that 
retaining aperture 62a, 62b of each post member 52a, 52b, extends beyond 
the corresponding post member receiving portion 82a, 82b. 
Beam member 90, shown in isolation in FIGS. 12A and 12B, has a 
substantially flattened profile and includes first and second cylindrical 
sleeve portions 92a and 92b, respectively, connected by spanning portion 
94. Each sleeve portion 92a and 92b defines a corresponding first and 
second post member retaining bore 96a and 96b, respectively. Each sleeve 
portion 92a and 92bfurther includes a pin-receiving bore 100a and 100b 
therethrough having a longitudinal axis which intersects at right angles 
the longitudinal axes of the post member retaining bores 96a and 96b. 
Spanning portion 94 includes bolt-receiving bore 98 therethrough. 
To slidingly retain the second post ends 56a and 56b in bracket member 80, 
the portion of each second post end 56a and 56bwhich extends beyond 
bracket member 80 is preferably first disposed through corresponding 
helical spring 95a and 95b and is then introduced into the corresponding 
first and second post member receiving aperture 96a and 96b such that the 
pin-receiving bores 100a and 100b in the beam member 90 align with She 
corresponding retaining apertures 62a and 62b in the post members. As 
indicated in FIG. 5, the post members 52a and 52b, are retained in beam 
member 90 by disposing a pin member 102 through the aligned retaining 
apertures 62a, 62b and pin-receiving bores 100a, 100b. 
Considering the relation of the elements presented to this joint, the tool 
platform of the present invention broadly includes (i) a carriage assembly 
(generally including, in the preferred embodiment of the tool platform of 
the present invention, post members 52a and 52b, and beam member 90) which 
is slidingly moveable relative to (ii) a support assembly (generally 
including, in the preferred embodiment of the tool platform of the present 
invention, bracket member 80 and attachment member 12). In addition, the 
present invention also includes (iii) a tool rest member movably connected 
to the carriage assembly and having a tool-receiving surface for receiving 
thereon the tool to be ground or sharpened on the abrading machine. The 
preferred configuration of the means to adjust the positions of the 
moveable portions of tool platform 10 will now be described. 
To adjust the extension of tool rest member 44 relative to bracket member 
80, a threaded rod-like member, preferably elongated machine bolt 105 
having hexagonal head 107, is disposed through bolt bore 86 so that 
hexagonal head 107 nests within hexagonal pocket 88 and is thereby 
prevented from turning on its longitudinal axis relative to bracket member 
80. The threaded portion of machine bolt 105 extends beyond bracket member 
80 and is then disposed through bolt-receiving bore 98 in beam member 90. 
First knob member 106, preferably having knurled portion 108 for 
facilitating rotation by hand, is threadedly received on the threaded end 
of machine bolt 105 which extends beyond beam member 90. 
It will be understood from the above-described arrangement of the elements 
that by threadedly advancing first knob member 106 along the threaded 
portion of machine bolt 105, first knob member 106 will bias beam member 
90 to move in relation to bracket member 80, thereby causing post members 
52a and 52b, to slide within the corresponding post member receiving 
apertures 84a and 84b. In this way, tool rest member 42, attached to the 
post members 52a and 52b, may be positioned in relation to bracket member 
80. Helical springs 95a and 95b act to bias beam member 90 against first 
knob member 106, but do not exert force Sufficient to prevent the threaded 
movement of first knob member 106 along machine bolt 105. 
Cam member 74 and the above-described arrangement of hinge tabs 58a and 58b 
of the post members 52a and 52b relative to hinge projections 48, 49 and 
50, provides a means whereby the cylindrical second ends 56a and 56b of 
post members 52a and 52b may be locked within post member receiving 
apertures 84a and 84b of bracket member 80. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 
7, the cam member 74 is pivotable on cam pivot pin 77 between an open 
position (FIG. 6) and a compressing position (FIG. 7). As will be 
understood by consideration of FIGS. 6 and 7, the position of post members 
52a and 52bmay be locked in relation to bracket member 80 by rotating cam 
member 74 on cam pivot pin 77 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 6 so as to 
assume its compressing position (shown in FIG. 7) wherein the 
eccentrically-shaped surface of cam member 74 pushes against adjacent 
hinge tab 58a. 
Because rod member 64 is fixed at its threaded end 66 by fastening member 
72, the rotation of cam member 74 into the compressing position shown in 
FIG. 7 shortens the effective length of rod member 64 and forces hinge 
tabs 58a and 58b toward each other as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 7. 
This compressing together of hinge tabs 58a and 58b causes the outer 
surface of post members 52a and 52b, to forcefully contact the inner 
surface of the corresponding post member receiving apertures 84a and 84b, 
thereby frictionally locking the position of post members 52a and 52b, 
relative to bracket member 80. 
Tool platform 10 additionally includes means to adjust the angular position 
of tool rest member 42 relative to post members 52a and 52b. As shown in 
FIG. 5, second post member 52b, includes threaded hole 110 therethrough in 
a position adjacent hinge tab 58b. Second knob member 112 includes a knob 
portion 114 and a threaded portion 116, the threaded portion 116 being 
disposed through coil spring 118 and then being threadedly received by 
threaded hole 110. As best shown in FIG. 4, a surface of tool rest member 
42 opposite tool-receiving surface 44 includes peg 122 depending 
therefrom, the peg 122 being disposed so that the threaded portion 116 of 
second knob member 112 which extends from threaded hole 110 impinges on 
peg 122. Because tool rest member 42 is pivotable relative to second post 
member 52b, it will be understood that by threadedly advancing or 
retracting second knob member 112 through threaded hole 110, the angular 
position of tool rest member 42 relative to post members 52a and 52b, may 
be adjusted as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the above-described preferred embodiment for the tool 
platform of the present invention may be attached to an abrading machine 
by introducing stalk member 34, which is retained within first bore 30 of 
attachment portion 12, into a collar member 124 disposed on the housing of 
abrading machine 5 adjacent horizontal sharpening wheel 7. Collar member 
124 is configured similar to attachment portion 12 in that it includes a 
bore for receiving stalk member 34 and also includes a bolt 126 which 
protrudes into the bore. Bolt 126 is advanced into slot 36 of stalk member 
34 to thereby releasibly attach tool platform 10 to abrading machine 5. 
It will be understood that when tool platform 10 is so-attached to abrading 
machine 5, bracket member 80 will be in a stationary position relative to 
wheel 7 and rotation of first knob member 106 will adjust the elevation of 
tool rest member 42 and tool-receiving surface 44 relative to the 
sharpening surface 23 of horizontal sharpening wheel 7. Also, rotation of 
second knob member 112 to thereby threadedly advance or retract the second 
knob member within threaded hole 110 in second post member 52b, will 
provide for the adjustment of the angular orientation of the 
tool-receiving surface 44 relative to sharpening surface 23 of horizontal 
sharpening wheel 7. Accordingly, by manipulating the first and second knob 
members 106 and 114, respectively, a selected elevation and angular 
orientation of tool-receiving surface 44 relative to sharpening surface 23 
may be provided. In this same manner, a predetermined elevation and 
orientation of a tool received on tool-receiving surface 44 relative to 
sharpening surface 23 may be provided. 
A preferred embodiment for a two-station abrading machine 5 of the present 
invention further includes a collar member 124 adjacent vertical grinding 
wheel 6 as well as horizontal sharpening wheel 7. The collar member 124 
adjacent vertical grinding wheel 6 is shown in FIG. 8. To releasibly 
attach tool platform 10 adjacent vertical grinding wheel 6, housing 24, 
which surrounds the major portion of vertical grinding wheel 6 and is 
rotatable with respect thereto on an axis corresponding to the axis of 
rotation of wheel 6, is rotated from the position shown in FIG. 8 (in the 
direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 8), wherein a front-facing 
portion of wheel 6 is exposed, to a position wherein a top portion of the 
vertical grinding wheel 6 is exposed. As shown in FIG. 9, tool platform 10 
may then be attached by stalk member 34 to the collar member 124 adjacent 
the vertical grinding wheel 6. Accordingly, in the two-station abrading 
machine of the present invention, adjustable tool platform 10 may be 
disposed adjacent either vertical grinding wheel 6 or horizontal 
sharpening wheel 7, depending on whether the tool to be supported on tool 
platform 10 is to be ground or sharpened. 
The two collar members 124 of the two-station abrading machine 5 of the 
present invention are disposed relative to both the vertical and 
horizontal grinding wheels 6 and 7 such that bracket member 80 is 
positioned in an identical orientation relative to either the sharpening 
surface 23 of horizontal Sharpening wheel 7 or the exposed top portion of 
vertical grinding wheel 6 when tool platform 10 is disposed on the collar 
member adjacent thereto. 
Therefore, tool platform 10 may first be attached adjacent vertical 
grinding wheel 6 and first and second knob members 106 and 112 may be 
adjusted to provide for a selected elevation and angular orientation of 
the tool-receiving surface 44 relative to the exposed grinding surface of 
vertical grinding wheel 6. The tool to be ground may then be supported on 
the tool-receiving surface 44 at the tool-receiving surface's selected 
elevation and angular orientation so that the tool is supported at a 
predetermined elevation and angular orientation necessary to effectively 
and efficiently remove surface imperfections therefrom. After removing 
surface imperfections from the tool edge, the entire tool platform 10 may 
be detached from the abrading machine 5 and stalk member 34 may be 
attached to the collar member 124 adjacent horizontal sharpening wheel 7 
while still retaining the same elevation and angular orientation of the 
tool-receiving surface 44 relative to the operative sharpening surface 23 
of the horizontal sharpening wheel 7. In this way, the same tool supported 
on the tool-receiving disposed adjacent the horizontal sharpening wheel 
will be in the same predetermined elevation and angular orientation 
relative to the abrading surface. 
Although the foregoing description relates to a two-station abrading 
machine, i.e., an abrading machine having two abrading wheels, it will be 
understood that the tool platform of the present invention may be 
incorporated as an element of a multiple-station abrading machine having 
any number of abrading wheels. 
Accordingly, the present invention provides an adjustable tool platform 
having means for adjusting both the elevation of a carriage portion of the 
tool platform relative to a support portion and the angular orientation of 
a tool rest portion. The present invention also provides for an abrading 
machine including the adjustable tool platform of the present invention 
either releasibly or fixedly attached thereto. Finally, the present 
invention provides for a multiple-station abrading machine including an 
adjustable tool platform which may be positioned at two or more abrading 
stations of the abrading machine while maintaining a selected orientation 
of the tool rest member of the tool platform relative to the operative 
abrading surface. 
It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and 
arrangement of elements which have been herein described and illustrated 
to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the 
art and that these changes are within the principle and scope of the 
invention as expressed in the appended claims.