Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Cleaning and Polishing Knives and other like Articles of Cutlery.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Cleaning and Polishing
Knives and other like Articles of Cutlery.
I, THOMAS WILLIAMS the Younger, of 45 Myddelton Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
i
This invention relates to improvements in that class of machinery or apparatus for
cleaning and polishing knives and other like articles of cutlery, wherein the polishing
discs or buffs employed rotate in a horizontal plane.
Its object is to produce a machine of cheap and simple construction and comprising
all the following essential features viz. :-high speed and automatic adjustment of the
polishing buffs, perfect distribution of the polishing medium over such buffs, and
facility for removing the polishing discs when required, for cleaning repairing or
other purposes.
In the accompanying drawings in which similar letters refer to similar parts in all
the figures,
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus..
Fig. 2 is a plan thereof.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on line 1-2 fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a detached view of the casing and supports.
;
Fig. 5 illustrates on a larger scale the method of securing the polishing buffs or
leathers to the discs, which I prefer to employ.
a a are two horizontal dises the contiguous faces of which are covered with buffs of
leather or other suitable polishing material b. These discs a are both mounted so as
to slide freely in a longitudinal direction upon the vertical shaft c, and caused to
rotate therewith through the feather d formed upon such shaft-Or in lieu of the
feather d, the shaft c may be of square or polygonal section if desired. The shaft c
rotates in the bearing e situate beneath the discs a, and carries at its lower extremity
a gear wheelf. g is the first motion shaft, rotating in bearings h, and carrying
the speed gear wheel i, which engages with the gear wheel ƒ of the vertical
shaft c.
The discs a rotate within the casing k, which serves to collect and retain any
polishing powder which may escape from between the buffs b, and is provided around
its circumference with the well known arrangement of slots and projections m, for
holding the knives during the polishing operation. nn are feet or supports upon which
the machine stands. For economy of construction, I cast the casing k, the knife
holders, the feet or supports n, and the bearings for the first and second motion shafts,
in one piece as clearly shewn in fig. 4-o is a spring washer, exerting its pressure
upon the upper disc a, and regulated by the thumb nut p upon the vertical shaft c,
for securing the automatic adjustment of the polishing buffs in relation to one another.
The upper extremity of this shaft c being free and not rotating in a bearing, the discs
can be readily withdrawn therefrom when required upon removing the nut p. If
desired the spring washer o may be placed beneath the lower disc a in lieu of
above the upper disc, or two spring washers may be employed one for each disc.
A covered box or receptacle for the emery or other polishing powder is formed on
the upper surface of the top disc a by means of the two concentric vertical flanges q & r,
and the removeable lid or covers fitting over such flanges-tt are perforations
covering that portion of the disc a which forms the bottom of the emery receptacle,
and extending downwards through the polishing buff b. The emery or other polishing
powder employed falls through these perforations t onto the lower buff, and is

page_text: distributed evenly over the surfaces of both buffs when the machine is at
work.
I prefer to secure the buffs 6 to their respective discs a in the following manner :-
The vertical flange g of each disc is drilled horizontally, and the outer edge 6 of the
buff b is brought over the edge of its disc a, and secured to such flange q by stitches u,
a retaining or clamping ring w is then placed upon the edge b', and secured to the
disc a by convenient screws or rivets x as shewn.
The blades of the knives to be cleaned are thrust between the buffs 6 through the
slots in the casing k, their handles being held by the projections m, (as shewn in
fig. 2,) and the machine is then operated by rotating the first motion shaft g. As
fast as the polishing powder escapes from between the buffs it is replaced by fresh
powder descending through the perforations t. In my drawings I have represented
by way of example a machine arranged for cleaning three knives at one
operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in
conclusion that I do not claim broadly either the employment of polishing buffs
rotating in a horizontal plane, or of springs for adjusting the same automatically,
neither do I claim broadly a polishing disc or buff so constructed as to permit
the passage therethrough of polishing powder, but I declare that what I
claim is:
1. Machinery or apparatus for cleaning and polishing knives and other like
articles of cutlery comprising all the following instrumentalities viz.:-1, rotating
horizontal polishing discs or buffs the upper one of which perforated and carries a
covered receptacle for the polishing powder; 2, speed driving gear; 3, a spring or
springs for securing the automatic adjustment of the buffs in relation to one another;
all constructed arranged and caused to operate substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
2. In machinery or apparatus for cleaning and polishing knives and other like
articles of cutlery, the improved construction and arrangement of horizontal rotating
polishing buffs, both mounted upon one vertical axis, which rotates in a bearing or
bearings situate beneath the discs, and has its upper extremity free, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
3. In machinery or apparatus for cleaning and polishing knives and other like
articles of cutlery, the improved construction and arrangement of casing, knive holders,
feet or supports, and bearings for the first and second motion shafts, all cast in one,
as specified and illustrated.
4. In machinery or apparatus for cleaning and polishing knives and other like
articles of cutlery, the method of securing the buffs 6 to their respective discs a, as
specified and illustrated in fig. 5 of my drawings.
5. In machinery or apparatus for cleaning and polishing knives and other like
articles of cutlery, the combination with the rotating disc a and buff 6 provided with
perforations t, of the vertical flanges q and r and cover or lids substantially as
specified.
D
1
01
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THOS. WILLIAMS, JR.
By E. P. Alexander & Son, Fels. Inst. P.A.,
19, Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents.