Patent Publication Number: US-6908373-B1

Title: Shear blade sharpener method and apparatus

Description:
This invention relates to blades, and in particular to methods and apparatus for sharpening blades for use with mobile ice resurfacing machines, paper cutting machines, and the like, and this invention is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/304,201 filed Nov. 26, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
   Large blades used in mobile ice surfacing machines and those used on paper cutting machines get worn out and dull from their constant extended use over time. These large, expensive, heavy blades which can be up to several feet or more in length often require constant sharpening maintenance to be useful. 
   Mobile ice surfacing machines, such as Zamboni® are well known for resurfacing ice rink surfaces. Due to the continuous use by ice skaters and the like, indoor and outdoor ice rinks typically require refurbishing their ice surfaces on a regular basis. Over time the sharp edges on ice skates tend to cut into and can gouge the ice surfaces causing uneven surfaces that can be both undesirable and dangerous to the skaters. Also controlling the energy costs in the rinks requires the ice surfaces be maintained at proper thicknesses. Because of their large surface areas mobile ice resurfacing machines have been developed that can traverse and constantly resurface the large ice rink surfaces. These ice resurfacing machines use large longitudinal blades of approximately five to seven feet in length that can weigh up to fifty pounds to eighty pounds or more. The ice resurfacing machines use these large blades to shave and plane the ice surfaces, and also pickup residual snow caused from the shaving. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,350 to Bricher. Since the ice surfaces being resurfaced are hard and can include uneven surfaces, the blades on the ice resurfacing machines tend to become worn down and become dull very quickly usually after only five to seven days of use. Using these dull blades is unacceptable since the dull blades can result in rough and wavy surfaces which can be dangerous to skaters and also result in improper pickup of snow off the ice surfaces. The problem arises as to how to sharpen these large longitudinal blades on the ice resurfacing machines. In the United States alone there are an estimated 2,800 ice rinks and in Canada alone there are an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 ice rinks that each have their own ice resurfacing machines that need to have their blades resharpened over time. 
   The general technique to fix the dull blades is to physically remove the blades from the resurfacing machines and transport them to machine shops that have massive edge sharpening machines. Typically these machine shops will use a large hydraulic type sharpening machine that can weigh upwards of 10,000 pounds or more, can cost up to $100,000 or more, and require space of at least 168 inches in length or more to be used. Further, these heavy industrial machines require substantial training time and expense they can be dangerous to operate, and need expensive maintenance plans to be useful for the ice rinks. Thus, these large hydraulic machines would not be a practical investment for the typical ice rink that needs to have their ice resurfacing machine blades regularly resharpened. 
   Generally, ice rinks tend to ship out their blades to the machine shops to be resurfaced. However, the act of shipping the blades results in the blades being days and weeks out of commission. In order to send out blades to the machine shops, the ice rinks generally need to keep several blades on hand while the dull blades are being sent out for resharpening services so that their ice resurfacing machines can stay in constant operation. Thus, the headache exists in time, manpower, and shipping costs for having to physically transport dull blades out to remotely located machine shops. Furthermore, the remotely located machine shops do not effectively return sharpened blades having a uniform sharpness. Thus, many resharpened blades must be resent out again. Still furthermore, the machine shops tend to take off in excess of approximately {fraction (1/32)} to approximately {fraction (1/16)} of an inch of the surface of the blades during the resharpening operation, thus, taking off more metal than is generally needed usually after having to do several passes or more during the resharpening operation. The excessive amounts of blade material being removed further results in a shorter lifespan of the blades. 
   Also by sending out the blades for resharpening, the ice rink operators and their employees do not directly see the results of when their actions cause unnecessary nicks to the blade that requires additional costs and expenses of how much more work needs to done to remove nicks that have been caused by driving the mobile ice resurfacing machine onto the threshold when coming off the rink. The mobile machine operator does not usually realize that when the blades hit this threshold extra nicks are made onto the blade that also must be fixed by additional grinding which also causes further expense and delay in getting the blade back onto the machines. 
   Thus, the ice rinks can typically spend hundreds of dollars per month with the machine shops to resharpen their blades, and also fix unnecessary problems that they do not directly see the problems they cause, such as nicks from poor driving on the ice. 
   Some alternative solutions to resharpening blades have centered on using a disposable ice resurfacing blades. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,320 to Zamboni. However, these blades are not reusable and still would require the user have several blades in stock. While eliminating the shipping to machine shops function, disposable blades could end up costing as much if not more than traditional machine shop sharpening operations since the cost for having to constantly repurchase new disposable blades on a regular basis must be factored in. 
   The inventors are aware of other types of various blade sharpening machines. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,834,319 to Kastenbein; U.S. Pat. No. 4,069,620 to Sakcriska; U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,050 to Hannaford et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,544 to Hampton; U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,043 to Sakcriska; U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,332 to Sakdcriska; U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,194 to Jobin; U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,345 to Bethea and U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,428 to Sakcriska. However, these devices are generally used to sharpen small items such as ice skates, and cannot overcome all the problems with the prior art techniques of sharpening blades on ice resurfacing machines described above. 
   Similarly, large blades are used in paper cutting machines, which also become dull and unusable after their constant use. The blades used in the paper cutting machines have similar problems to those described above in relation to ice resurfacing blades. 
   Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A primary objective of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for resharpening blades on ice resurfacing and paper cutting machines without having to physically transport the blades to be resharpened to remotely located machine shops. 
   A secondary objective of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for resharpening blades on ice resurfacing machines and paper cutting machines that is less expensive and time demanding than sending out blades to machine shops. 
   A third objective of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for resharpening blades on ice resurfacing machines and paper cutting machines using a machine that is substantially smaller, lighter and less expensive than large machines used by blade resurfacing and paper cutting blade machine shops, which allows for ice rinks and paper cutting operations to have their own ice resurfacing machines. 
   A fourth objective of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for resharpening blades on ice resurfacing machines and paper cutting machines using a machine that is easy and safe to operate, and requires substantially less training and is less dangerous than large machines currently used by blade resurfacing and paper cutting blade machine shops. 
   A fifth objective of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for resharpening blades on ice resurfacing machines and paper cutting machines that provides a more uniform sharpness within one to two passes over the blade. 
   A sixth objective of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for resharpening blades on ice resurfacing machines and paper cutting machines that takes off less blade material than typical large machine shop blade resharpeners and which results in longer lifespan than blades sharpened by machine shop machines. 
   A seventh objective of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for resharpening blades on ice resurfacing machines and paper cutting machines that is more practical for effectively recycling old blades than using disposable type blades. 
   An eighth objective of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for resharpening blades on ice resurfacing machines and paper cutting machines that allows a blade end user of these machines to control the cut so as to grind out as little as needed to get the blade back to a desired sharpness. 
   A first preferred embodiment of the blade resurfacing apparatus for resurfacing a longitudinal blade from a mobile ice resurfacing machine and paper cutting machine can include a table top surface for allowing the longitudinal blade to rest in a stationary horizontal position thereon, the longitudinal blade having a length that fits within a length of the table top surface, and a sharpening wheel for rolling along an upper surface edge of the stationary blade for sharpening the edge of the blade to a selected uniform sharpness. The apparatus can further include a guide foot having a slidable surface material such as but not limited to smooth plastic and the like, for passing along below the table top surface while the wheel is rolling in order to stabilize sharpening of the edge of the blade. The apparatus can further include a lever handle for lowering the sharpening wheel from a raised position to be abutted against the edge of the blade in a lowered position. 
   Additionally, coolant can be applied over and underneath the blade. A trough on the table top surface and a pump can be used to continuously recycle the coolant. 
   The apparatus can sharpen blades on blade resurfacing machines to a uniform sharpness of approximately 24 to approximately 26 degrees by moving rolling stone wheel in as little as a single pass over the blade. The apparatus can be used for grinding no more than approximately 0.025 inches off the edge of the blade. 
   The novel apparatus can include novel dimensions having an overall length of less than approximately 120 inches and an overall weight of less than approximately 250 pounds. 
   The novel apparatus can be supported over a floor surface by removable stands positioned beneath the table top surface. 
   Different length and width blades can be sharpened with the apparatus by using spacer(s) that can be positioned to at least one end of the stationary blade on the table top surface, so that the length of the blade and the table top surface are substantially identical. 
   Novel methods for resharpening a longitudinal blade from a mobile ice resurfacing machine, include supporting a longitudinal blade in a horizontal position on a table top surface, positioning a sharpening stone on a longitudinal edge of the blade and rolling the stone no more than three passes over the longitudinal edge of the blade to form a uniform sharpness in the longitudinal edge of the blade. The stone can be lowered with a rotatable handle such as those found on drill presses, and the like. 
   Additional methods steps can include cooling surface(s) of the blade and even recycling the coolant fluid over time for reuse. 
   Furthermore, the novel method can include stabilizing the sharpening stone while it moves across the blade, and allow for sharpening the blade edge to a uniform sharpness of approximately 24 to approximately 26 degrees by moving the blade in as little as a single pass over the blade length, and additionally grinding no more than approximately 0.025 inches off the edge of the blade. 
   The invention can include sizing the apparatus with spacer(s) so that different sized blades can be sharpened. Additional novel method steps allow for easily mounting the table portion of the invention over removable stands for easy assembly and use. 
   A second preferred embodiment of the invention can allow for a guide rod having external threaded surface to be mounted to the side of the table supported trough, where the rod is rotated in place. The underside of the carrier can include a hollow member such as a not type member with internal threads so that the rotation of the threaded rod moves the carrier alongside of the table. Unlike the first embodiment, the second embodiment does not use a separate wheel/roller member that rotates on top of the blade, or underneath the table. The carrier can include a slidable clamp which wraps about the rear wall of the trough, and a spring loaded foot member which wraps underneath a table edge which both have a slidable surface in order to allow the carrier to freely move about the trough. Additionally, the angle of the sharpening wheel can be easily and selectively adjusted by using an adjustable hinge member between the control tower portion of the carrier and the trough mount components (slidable clamp for wall trough, and slidable foot member). The hinge can be selectively adjusted by rotating a member such as a bolt which separates and contracts the upper portion of the hinge from the lower portion of the hinge. The second embodiment can also use recyclable coolants when being operated. 
   The invention can be used for a wide variety of blade sharpening operations. For example, ice resurfacing blades, paper cutting blades, fabric cutting blades and/or foil cutting blades can be sharpened with the novel invention. 
   Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  shows a side view of a first preferred embodiment of the ice blade resurfacing apparatus with blade raised above the table with coolant recycling trough, having a control panel and lowerable sharpening head and carrier assembly at one end of the table with the blade being lowerable in the direction of arrow L 1 . 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective views of the stands that support the table top of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a front view of the table top of  FIG. 1  which supports the blade. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the table top and coolant recycling trough of  FIG. 1  along arrows X 1 . 
       FIG. 5A  shows an end view of  FIG. 1  along arrow X 2  of the carrier assembly about the table top and the control panel with the sharpening head in a raised position. 
       FIG. 5B  the sharpening head of  FIG. 5A  moved downward in the direction of arrow D 1  to a lowered position adjacent to the edge of the blade to be sharpened. 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the carrier assembly about the table top of  FIGS. 5A–5B . 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the control panel and sharpening head of  FIGS. 4A–4B . 
       FIG. 8A  is an enlarged view of the depth adjusting knob for the sharpening head assembly of  FIG. 7  along arrow X 3 . 
       FIG. 8B  a side view of the depth adjusting knob for the sharpening head assembly of  FIG. 8A  along arrow X 4 . 
       FIG. 9  shows an end view of table, control panel, sharpening head assembly, carrier assembly, recycling trough and recycling bucket of  FIG. 1  along arrow X 2  without the table support stands. 
       FIG. 10  shows the carrier assembly of  FIG. 6  separate from the table top. 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of the carrier assembly of  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 1  also showing the traveling motor. 
       FIG. 12A  is an enlarged view of the traversing motor, bracket and limiting switches of  FIG. 1  and a side view of  FIG. 12A  along arrow J 1 . 
       FIG. 12B  is a bottom view of the traversing motor attachment bracket of  FIG. 12A  along arrow J 2 . 
       FIGS. 13A ,  13 B,  13 C,  13 D,  13 E,  13 F,  13 G,  13 H illustrate the different steps that the blade resurfacing machine runs through to form a single pass uniform blade sharpening operation. 
       FIG. 14  shows different blade lengths and spacer combinations for the tabletop of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 15  shows a side view of a second preferred embodiment of the ice blade resurfacing apparatus with lowerable sharpening head and carrier assembly that can run along a guide rod adjacent to the table in the direction of arrow R 1 . 
       FIG. 16  is an exploded cross-sectional view of  FIG. 15  along arrow X 5  showing the sharpening head and carrier separated from the trough without the guide foot. 
       FIG. 17  is an end view of the guide foot being attached to guide member of the carrier assembly of  FIG. 16  along arrow X 6 . 
       FIG. 18  is an enlarged view of the guide foot connected to the slidable attachment clamp of  FIGS. 15–17 . 
       FIG. 19  is another view of the guide foot connected to the slidable attachment clamp about the trough of  FIG. 18  with a blade mounted in the trough. 
       FIG. 20A  shows an end view of  FIG. 15  along arrow X 6  of the carrier assembly about the table top and the control panel with the sharpening head in a raised position. 
       FIG. 20B  shows the sharpening head of  FIG. 20A  moved downward in the direction of arrow D 2  to a lowered position adjacent to the edge of the blade to be sharpened. 
       FIG. 21A  shows the end view of  FIG. 15  along arrow X 6  with the carrier angle adjusting hinge in a first selected position. 
       FIG. 21B  shows  FIG. 21  with the carrier angle adjusting hinge adjusted to a different angle for the sharpening wheel. 
       FIG. 22  shows an end view of table, control panel, sharpening head assembly, carrier assembly, recycling trough and recycling bucket of  FIG. 15  along arrow X 6  without the table support stands. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
   First Embodiment 
     FIG. 1  shows a side view of a first preferred embodiment of the ice blade resurfacing apparatus  1  with blade  10  raised above the table  100  and coolant recycling trough  40  along with control panel  400  and lowerable sharpening head  200  and carrier assembly  300  at one end of the table  100  with the blade  10  being lowerable in the direction of arrow L 1 . The novel sharpening apparatus  1  can be used with a blade  10  that can have a dimensions of approximately ½ inch thick, approximately 5 inches wide and approximately 77 inches long, and weigh approximately 80 pounds. The overall apparatus  1  can have an overall length of approximately 10 feet (approximately 120 inches). 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective views of the stands  20 ,  30  that each support the table top  10  of  FIG. 1 . Each of the stands  20 ,  30  can have a four legs  21 ,  31  that expand outward to bottom feet portions  22 ,  32  that can include rubber type sleeves for traction effects on a ground surface. Each of the legs  21 ,  31  can have a perpendicular cross-section that form a stationary brace effect. Each of the legs  21 ,  31  can be attached to one another by four horizontal braces  22 ,  32  that form a rectangular type configuration. A second set of four horizontal braces  24 ,  34  attached to upper ends of the legs  21 ,  31  form a rectangular type configuration for supporting an undersurface  42  of the trough  40  which is shown in greater detail in reference to  FIG. 4 . Each of the stands  20 ,  30  can support the table top  100  approximately 30 inches (2′ 4″) above the ground surface, with a lower expanded bottom width of approximately a few feet. 
     FIG. 3  shows a front view of the table top  100  of  FIG. 1  which supports the blade  10 .  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the table top  100  and trough  40  of  FIG. 1  along arrows X 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 3–4 , table top  100  includes lower rectangular leg bar  110  which is attached to rear rectangular leg bar  130  by fasteners  120  such as but not limited to bolts, and the like, so that lower leg bar  110  and rear leg bar  130  are oriented substantially perpendicular to one another, and together be tilted at an angle A 1  of approximately 45 degrees from the ground surface. Leg bars  110 ,  130  can be formed from metal such as aluminum, and the like. Extending upward from upper edge  132  of rear leg bar  130  can be a row of gear rack teeth  150  attached to the rear leg bar  130  by fasteners  140  such as but not limited to bolts, and the like. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  34  and  4 , trough  40  can support coolant fluid such as but not limited to water, and the like, inside, and be formed from metal such as but not limited to aluminum, and the like. Trough  40  can include horizontal bottom  42  which rests on the upper rectangular supports  24 ,  34  of stands  20 ,  30 . A front wall  44  of the trough  40  can have an inwardly bent splash guard  45 . Trough  40  can further include end walls  46  on opposite ends, and a rear angled wall  47  which fits against rear leg bar  130 , which connects to seat wall portion  48  which rests on bottom leg bar  110  and angled step  49  which abuts against end  112  of bottom leg bar  110 , and which connects to bottom  42 . A drain  50  can extend downward from for draining fluid from the trough  40 , which will be explained later in greater detail. 
     FIG. 5A  shows an end view of the  FIG. 1  along arrow X 2  of the carrier assembly  300  about the table top  100 ( 110 ,  130 ) and the control panel  400  with the sharpening head  200  in a raised position. 
     FIG. 5B  shows the end view of  FIG. 5A  with the sharpening head  200  moved downward in the direction of arrow D 1  to a lowered position adjacent to the edge  12  of the blade  10  to be sharpened. 
     FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the carrier assembly  300  about the table top  100 ( 110 ,  130 ) of  FIGS. 5A–5B . 
     FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the control panel  400  and sharpening head  200  of  FIGS. 4A–4B . 
   Control panel  400  will now be described in reference to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  6  and  7 . Control panel  400  can include an on/off power control  410  for supplying power to the entire apparatus  1  having a push button  415 , a traverse switch  420  which allows the sharpening head  200  to start moving in a horizontal direction across the blade  10  in a single pass by rotating a switch  425 , a on and off button  435  for initiating the grinding stone wheel  280  on the sharpening head  200  to start rotating, and another on/off switch  445  for engaging the coolant recycling pump  440 . Motor  490  such as a 380/110 volt motor can provide power to the grinding stone wheel  280  of sharpening head  200 . The invention can use any one of pressable button switches, toggle switches, rotatable switches and the like, for the control panel  400 . 
     FIG. 8A  is an enlarged view of the depth adjusting knob for the sharpening head assembly  200  of  FIG. 7  along arrow X 3 .  FIG. 8B  a side view of the depth adjusting knob for the sharpening head assembly  200  of  FIG. 8A  along arrow X 4 . 
   Lowerable sharpening head  200  will now be described in reference to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  7 ,  8 A and  8 B. Sharpening head  200  can include an assembly that can be similar to that of a drill press, and the like, and can include two holder bracket  204 ,  208  attached to a wall plate  201  by fasteners  203 ,  207  such as bolts, screws, and the like, that have through-hole openings  205 ,  209  for allowing a vertical support rod  210  to slide up and down within. Rod  210  can have a threaded exterior surface where a rotatable stop knob  220  can screw about threaded rod  210  and function as a depth adjuster for allowing the grinding wheel when moved downward in the direction of arrow D 1  when resting upon edge  12  of the blade  10  be locked in place by rotating knob  220  about threaded rod  210 . Grinding stone  280  is fixably attached to the bottom end of rod  210 . A transparent cylindrical guard shield  240  can be attached to rod  210  by a solid header portion  230 . A nut  250  locks the header portion  230  to rod  210 . A rotatable arbor rod  260  is connected to rotating stone  280  by a fastener  274  such as a bolt, and the like, with washer  272  and nut  270 . Handle  290  can include an elongated griping portion  292  which pivots about end  295  so that rotating handle  290  counter-clockwise in the direction of arrow P 1  moves stone  280  downward in the direction of arrow D 1  toward edge  12  of blade  10 . At this point stone wheel  280  is close to but does not abut against edge  12  of the blade  10 . For example stone wheel  280  can rest approximately ⅜ of an inch above blade edge  12 . 
   The handle  290 , raisable and lowerable rod  255 , and mount  257  can be those used with traditional raiseable and lowerable drill presses, and the like, such as but not limited to those described in reference to U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,159 to Oster which describes a “Drill Press and Stand”, which is incorporated by reference. In a preferred embodiment, the drill press used for these components can be a Jet Drill Press Model # JDP 14MF. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 ,  8 A and  8 B, rotatable knob  220  can be a plastic fluted knob, which can be locked into position by a spring loaded flute ball  222 . In an initial resting position, knob  220  can abut against a lower extending surface  206  of plate  205  of upper bracket  205 . Next, as previously described, the handle  290  is rotated to move the stone  280  downward. Next, the knob  220  can be rotated counter-clockwise which in turn causes threaded rod  210  to move downward through brackets  205 ,  208  so that lower end  211  eventually pushes down on guard base  230  which in turn pushes down grinding stone wheel  280  to abut against blade edge  212 . This secondary process of moving the stone wheel  280  downward allows the stone wheel  280  to be held in place (locked) so that it abuts against edge  12  of blade  10  by the spring loaded flute ball  222 . 
   Grinding stone wheel  280  can rotate clockwise in the direction of arrow R with rotating arbor  260  at speeds of approximately 2300 revolutions per minute to sharpen edge  12  of the blade  10 . Stone  280  can have a disc shaped configuration with outer flared surface  282  and a lower solid stone surface  284  which is used to grind against and sharpen edge  12  of the blade  10 . Flared surface can have an angled surface of approximately 24 degrees, 26 degrees, and any other selected angled edge. Stone  280  can be a Norton Flaring cup wheel having 46 Grit and an H-hardness level. Switch  435  on control panel  400  can be used to turn on and off the motor for rotating grinding stone wheel  280 . 
     FIG. 10  shows the carrier assembly  300  of  FIG. 6  separate from the table top  100 . 
   Carrier assembly  300  will now be described in reference to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  6  and  10 . Carrier assembly  300  includes stabilizing foot threaded rod attachment  310 , with a nut  18  screwed thereon, and guide  320  with hollow internal threaded walls threadably attached to threaded rod attachment  310  with U-shaped carrier frame  340  therebetween. Rear leg portion  342  of frame  340  can be fixably attached to rest against guide  320 , while forward solid guide  325  is fixably attached to rest against an inner surface of forward leg portion  344  of frame  340 . Lower perpendicular L-shaped leg  317  of rod attachment  310  can include a stabilizing foot  330  with an upper pad portion  335  formed from a slidable material such as polished plastic, and the like, that can slide under lower leg  110  of table  100 . A forward facing bracket  350  has bolt through a front portion which has an axle portion  352  for allowing resilient roller  360  such as but not limited to rubber, and the like, to roll thereon. Roller  360  can roll on top of upper surface  14  of blade  10 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , fastener(s)  19  such as bolts, and the like, can fixably mount the blade  10  in a stationary position to lower table leg  110  prior to sharpening blade edge  12 . 
     FIG. 9  shows an end view of table  100 , control panel  400  sharpening head assembly  200  carrier assembly  300 , recycling trough and recycling bucket  50  of  FIG. 1  along arrow X 2  without the stands  20 ,  30 . 
   The recycling coolant system used with the novel invention will now be described in reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  5 A,  5 B and  9 . A catch container  60  such as but not limited to a 5 gallon bucket and the like, can be positioned below drain  50  of trough  40  that is adjacent to table  100 . A recycling pump  70  can be placed inside the container  60  and be used to pump coolant, such as water, and the like, at a rate of approximately 5 gallons per minute through lines  72 ,  74  to spray nozzle line  76  for spraying on top of the blade  10  before the grinding wheel  280 , and simultaneously to a spray nozzle line  78  for spraying under the blade  10  in order to constantly cool the blade  10  that is being sharpened. The liquid being sprayed can keep the blade  10  at ambient temperature in order to keep the blade from heating up and eventually becoming cracked from the sharpening operation. Liquid that is sprayed onto the blade can include a synthetic biodegradable fluid such as but not limited to Formular 77 Cool Mist, that can also include a rust resistant additive. Control panel switch  445  can be used to turn on and off the pump  70 . 
     FIG. 11  is a top view of the carrier assembly  300  of  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 1  also showing the traveling motor  380  and foot  330  without the table  100  therebetween.  FIG. 12A  is an enlarged view of the traveling motor  380 , bracket and limiting switches of  FIG. 1  and a side view of  FIG. 12A  along arrow J 1 .  FIG. 12B  is a bottom view of the traversing motor attachment bracket  372  of  FIG. 12A  along arrow J 2 . 
   The traversing motor will now be described in reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  6 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 A and  12 B. U-shaped bracket  340  can include two forward facing brackets  350 ,  350 B which have bolts  355 ,  355 B with axle portions  352 ,  352 B for allowing resilient rollers  360 ,  360 B to roll thereon, so rollers  360 ,  360 B roll over top surface  14  of blade  10 , while stabilizing foot  330  slides beneath table leg  10 . Bracket  370  can be attached to leg wall  342  by fasteners  391 ,  395  such as bolts, and the like. Bracket  370  can have an extension portion  371  which connects to traversing driver motor  380  stacked support brackets  372 ,  376  that can be fastened to one another by fasteners  373 ,  375  such as but not limited to bolts and nuts, and the like. A spur gear sprocket  385  is attached by a rotating axle portion  382  to traversing driver motor  380 , so that spur gear sprocket  385  mateably rolls over a row of gear rack teeth  150  attached to the rear leg bar  130  of table  100 . A pair of limiting switches  390  can be used to automatically stop the moving carrier assembly  300 . A left limiting switch  393  extending downward from wall portion  342  can include a left facing spring loaded depressible button  394  that can stop traversing motor  380  from running when carrier assembly  300  abuts against leg  21  of left stand  20 . A right limiting switch  397  extending downward from wall portion  342  can include a right facing spring loaded depressible button  398  that can stop traversing motor  380  from running when carrier assembly  300  abuts against leg  31  of right stand  30 . The carrier assembly  300  with motor  380  can be initially operated to move in the direction of arrow Q 1  by rotating knob  425  of control panel  400  in a clockwise direction. Similarly, rotating knob  425  counter-clockwise can cause carrier assembly to move in an opposite direction path. 
     FIGS. 13A ,  13 B,  13 C,  13 D,  13 E,  13 F,  13 G,  13 H illustrate the different steps that the blade resurfacing machine runs through in a preferred operation to form a single pass uniform blade sharpening operation. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  13 A,  13 B,  13 C, blade  10  is moved downward on top of table leg  110  of table  10  where it can be bolted down using up to three or more bolts ( 19   FIG. 6 ). Next, referring to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  13 D, the power head  200  can be lowered so that grinder wheel  280  rests over blade edge  12  by approximately ⅜ of an inch, by moving handle  290  in the direction of arrow P 1 . Next, referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  6 ,  7 , and  13 D, the grinder motor  490  can be turned on starting the rotating of the grinding wheel  280 . Next, the depth of the grinder stone wheel  280  can be adjusted by rotating the fine adjustment knob  220  of  FIGS. 8A and 8B  so that the stone wheel  280  just barely touches the blade edge  12 . Next, referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  7 ,  9  and  13 D with the carrier assembly  300  in the far right position on table  100 , the coolant pump switch  445  is turned on starting the pump motor  70  for spraying coolant over the top and bottom of the blade  10 . Next, referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  8 A,  8 B and  13 D, the fine adjuster knob  220  can be rotated down one notch so that the grinding wheel presses into the blade edge at a depth of approximately 0.005 inches. Next, referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  7 ,  11 ,  13 E,  13 F and  13 G, the traversing motor  380  is turned on by switch  425  of the control panel  400  and the carrier assembly  300  starts to move in a leftward path over the blade  10 . Finally, referring to  FIGS. 11 ,  12 A,  12 B, and  13 H, at the end of the full pass, the left limiting switch  392 – 394  stops the traversing motor  380 , and the sharpened blade  10  can be removed from the table  100 . 
   In experiments, the blade  10  is able to be fastened to the table  100  within approximately 5 minutes, and a single pass for sharpening the blade edge  12  takes up to approximately 20 to approximately 25 minutes. The invention can allow for a single pass for sharpening most blade edges  12  on a longitudinal blade  10 . Operators using the invention can also make visual inspections to determine if additional pass(es) would be needed by examining cavities, crevices, gulleys on the blade edge  12 . 
     FIG. 14  shows different blade lengths  10 A,  10 B,  10 C and spacer combinations for the tabletop  100  of  FIG. 1 . While the novel invention can include a table  100  having a length of approximately 10 feet (120 inches) for sharpening large blades. The invention can use spacers  502 / 504 ,  512 / 514 ,  522 / 524  for allowing different sized blades  10 A,  10 B,  10 C to be used on a single table  100 . Fasteners such as bolts and the like, can be used to mount the blades  10 A,  10 B,  10 C and spacer combinations  502 / 504 ,  512 / 514 ,  522 / 524  on the table  100 . 
   Second Preferred Embodiments 
     FIG. 15  shows a side view of a second preferred embodiment of the ice blade resurfacing apparatus  1000  with lowerable sharpening head and carrier assembly  200 ,  400  that can run along a guide rod  1100  adjacent to the table  100  in the direction of arrow R 1 . The guide rod  1100  can have external threads  1105 , and can be attached at a left end  1102  through a hollow sleeve holder  1110  which can be fixably attached to the side of table  100 , with nut fastener  1115  tightly fastened about the end  1102  adjacent to the sleeve holder  1110 , so that the guide rod  1100  can slide in place within the sleeve holder  1110 . A right end  1152  of the guide rod  1100  can be mounted to another side portion of table  100  by another hollow sleeve holder member  1150 . An electrical motor  1160  mounted to an end of the table  100  can be activated by connections to the control panel  400  to rotate the rod  1100  in place next to the table  100 . 
     FIG. 16  is an exploded cross-sectional view of  FIG. 15  along arrow X 5  showing the sharpening head  200  and carrier assembly separated from the trough  40  without the guide foot. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 15–16 , a rod-guide bracket  1170  (a side view of which is shown in  FIGS. 16 ,  18 ,  19 A,  19 B,  20 A,  20 B) can be fixably attached to a rear leg member  1410  of an L-shaped support  1400 . Bracket  1170  can include a guide nut  1172  on its&#39; exterior surface that has internal surface threads  1175 , that are mateable to external threads  1105  of rod  1100 , so that rotating the rod  1100  clockwise (CW) causes the carrier assembly components  200 ,  400  to travel alongside the table  100  in the direction of arrow R 1 . The remaining components shown in  FIG. 15  can be similar to those of the previous embodiment described above. 
     FIG. 17  is an end view of the guide foot  330  in the process of being attached along the direction of arrow F to guide member  320  of the carrier assembly  200 / 400  of  FIG. 16  along arrow X 6 .  FIG. 18  is side view of the guide foot  330  connected to the slidable attachment clamp components  340 ,  342 ,  344  of  FIGS. 15–17 .  FIG. 19  is another view of the guide foot  330  connected to the slidable attachment clamp components  340 ,  342 ,  344  about the trough  40  of  FIG. 18  with a blade  10  mounted in the trough  40 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 17–19 , guide foot  330  can be mounted to guide member  320  by having threaded rods  310 ,  310 ′ that pass through longitudinal slots in guide member  320  and are held in place by upper nuts  315 . The threaded rods  310 ,  310 ′ pass through guide foot member  330 , so that a compressible spring member  1510  is sandwiched between the guide foot member  330  and nuts  1515 ,  1535  with washers  1512 ,  1535  which are fastened about the lower ends of the threaded rods  310 ,  310 ′. A slidable clamp assembly can include a U-shaped bracket frame having a rear leg member  342  which can be fixably attached to rest against guide  320 , while forward solid guide  325  is fixably attached to rest against an inner surface of forward leg portion  344  of the frame  340 , with an upper solid guide  323  underneath the upper portion  343  of frame  340  between guides  320 ,  325 . The inner facing surfaces of the guides  320 ,  323 ,  325  and upper exterior surface of guide foot  330  can include a slidable bearing surface such as but not limited to polished plastic, UHMW, and the like. The novel clamping components as depicted in  FIG. 19 , show that the guides  320 ,  323 ,  325  can slide about upper leg  130  about upper edge surface  131  and about sides of upper leg  130 , while the guide foot  330  can slide under lower leg  110  of table  100 . The entire assembly can be additionally stabilized by having springs  1510 ,  1530  which can constantly press guide foot  330  to abut against the lower leg  110  of table  100 . The remaining components shown in  FIGS. 17 ,  18 , and  19  are similar to those described in the previous embodiment. 
     FIG. 20A  shows an end view of  FIG. 15  along arrow X 6  of the carrier assembly about the table top and the control panel with the sharpening head  200  in a raised position.  FIG. 20B  shows the sharpening head  200  of  FIG. 20A  moved downward in the direction of arrow D 2  to a lowered position adjacent to the edge of the blade  110  to be sharpened. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 20A–20B , control handle  1210  can be rotated clockwise in the direction of arrow K 1  which pivots sprocket  1220  having external teeth  1225  which can rub about bendable tab  1232  so that sharpening wheel  280  moves downward in the direction of arrow D 2  to blade  110 . A rotatable knob  1242  can move a locking sleeve on horizontal rod  1245  against moveable tab  1232  to lock the sprocket  1220  in a selected position. The other end of horizontal rod  1245  can threaded to pass through an internal threaded connector  1250 . 
     FIG. 21A  shows the end view of  FIG. 15  along arrow X 6  with the carrier angle adjusting hinge  1500  in a first selected position.  FIG. 21B  shows  FIG. 21  with the carrier angle adjusting hinge  1500  adjusted to a different angle for the sharpening wheel  280 . The adjustable hinge  1500  can include an upper member  1510  attached under housing  201  that is pivotally attached at one end  1530  to a lower member  1520  which is attached to upper leg  1420  of L bracket  1400 . A threaded rod  1540  has a lower portion  1542  which threads into a threaded interior slot of lower member  1520 , while the upper portion  1544  freely rotates within an upper unthreaded slot of upper member  1510 . Causing the lower member  1520  to separate in the direction of arrow S allowing the sharpening wheel to move to a sharper angle against blade  110 . 
     FIG. 22  shows an end view of table  110 , control panel, sharpening head assembly  200 , carrier assembly  400 , recycling trough  60  and recycling bucket  70  of  FIG. 15  along arrow X 6  without the table support stands.  FIG. 22  can function and operate similar to the arrangement shown and described in reference to  FIG. 9 . 
   Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described for sharpening edges on ice resurfacing machines, the invention can be used to sharpen edges on other longitudinal blades, such as but not limited to longitudinal blades on paper cutting machines, and the like, where businesses such as those used in the printing industry, such as but not limited to those used with a newspaper publisher, and the like. 
   The novel invention can also be used for sharpening other types of industrial blades but not limited to those blades used with cutting foil and fabric, and the like. 
   While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.