Patent GB-688542-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machines for sharpening blades for safety razors
IPC: B24D15/08
Filed: 1949-10-20
Abstract: 688,542. Sharpening razor blades. THOMAS, N. C. EGGLESTON-, and WESTWATER, M., [Representatives of HOILAND, E.], and CLERK, R. C. Jan. 22, 1951 [Oct. 20, 1949], No. 27014/49. Class 60. Apparatus for sharpening double-edged wafer razor blades includes a blade holder 52, Fig. 1, mounted on an axis parallel to that of a partcylindrical sharpening member 10 which can be oscillated by a hand driving member 4 connected to the blade holder by a friction drive which applies a torque to the holder in the direction of rotation of the member 10, and by an intermittent drive which at one end of the oscillation, the sharpening member being clear of the. blade, turns the holder through less than 180 degrees to present a fresh face of the blade for sharpening. The blade 54 is held in the hairpinshaped holder 52, Fig. 5, which is provided with studs 56 to fit the holes in the blade and projections 58 to engage a split tubular member 14 rotatably mounted in the case 2 of the apparatus. The member 14 has two projections 48, 50 to co-operate with three projections 60, 62, 64, Fig. 3, on a member 66 to form the intermittent drive and a pulley 46 to receive a belt 70 secured by a screw 72 to a pulley 68 to form the friction drive. A key 38 connects the members 4 and 66 while its two ends enter a wide slot 74 on one face of the pulley 68 and one of two slots in the member 10 respectively. The latter is provided with a honing surface 22 and a stropping surface 24 and is secured by plungers 11, Fig. 1, and a circlip 13 to a hollow shaft 127 having a ribbed disc 26 at one end. This disc and a second, freely-mounted disc 32 are biassed to the right by a spring 34. The member 4 has its angle of oscillation limited by a slot 18 and a peg 16 and is rotatably connected with a plate 78 in frictional contact with a plate 76 which is in turn in frictional contact with one side of the pulley 68. The plate 76 has its angular movement restricted to 50 by a lug 82 which fits a slightly wider slot 84 in the case. In operation, the member 4 is rotated clockwise as viewed in the direction of the arrow II in Fig. 1 so that the pulley 68 and the blade 54 are also rotated clockwise until the lug 82 comes into contact with one end of the slot 84. The blade now remains stationary until the leading edge of the operative sharpening surface has passed beneath it. At this point, the key 38 engages one side of the notch 74 to rotate one edge of the blade into contact with the sharpening surface whereupon the belt 70 slips on the pulley 46 to apply a torque to the blade. As the trailing edge of the sharpening surface approaches the blade the latter is lifted clear by the projection 62 engaging the projection 48. Further rotation of the member 4 to the end of its stroke brings the projection 64 into contact with the projection 48. In this position, the blade may, if desired, be withdrawn through a slot 20 in the case of the apparatus. Reverse rotation of the driving member sharpens the opposite side of the same edge of the blade in a similar manner. To bring the desired sharpening surface 22 or 24 into operative position, the member 4 is turned to its extreme clockwise position in which a hole 44 in the casing is opposite a pin 42 on the disc 32. The disc 26 is depressed, so that the pin 42 locks the member 4 and the blade against movement, and is then rotated to transfer the key 38 from one slot 40 to the other in the sharpening member 10. An aperture in the disc 26 alternately exposes two marks on the disc 32 to indicate which sharpening surface is operative. The case is provided with a shaving mirror 92 and a holder 94 for a styptic pencil. The apparatus serves to house a razor 90 when not in use, the handle of the razor being held in the shaft 12 by the plungers 11.