IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING KNIVES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Knott, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster,
Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR CLEANING KNIVES."
Sealed the 28th March 1877, and dated the 7th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Knott at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th October 1876.
ROBERT KNOTT, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING KNIVES."
In my improved machinery or apparatus I employ two flexible surfaces, each of
them being provided with a series of projecting ribs, constructed of leather or other such
substance, and between these the blades of the knives to be cleaned are placed,
emery or other polishing material being supplied. The cleaning surfaces I arrange
so that they project alternately over and under each other, and the method I at
present adopt is to mount them on chains, which may be driven by suitable wheels,
which do not however take into the chains but gear on to the projecting surfaces
themselves, which I make of thin metal to support the leather, and this metal
being punched out and turned over forms attachments to the links of the chain.
The knives are adapted for being cleaned through a slit in the casing, and are
drawn forward and rubbed by the said projecting surfaces, but are prevented from
being drawn entirely in by the larger part next to the handle. The acting or rubbing
surfaces are kept in position by the chains running against guides, which I propose
to form of buffalo hide. The slit through which the knives are introduced may be
at the bottom of a hopper used for supplying emery or other such material.
The bottem of the casing I form with two semicircles from which the grinding
material is lifted and carried upward by the projecting parts, ledges thereon being
provided to tilt the said material over again to act against the knives.
The casing may be made in two parts capable of being nearer to or further from
each other, so as to regulate the proximity of the acting surfaces.
I have stated that the rollers do not gear into the chains, but they may do so if
desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Knott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th April 1877.
ROBERT KNOTT, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Chemist. IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING KNIVES."
<<
My Invention consists in the employment of two flexible surfaces, each of them
being provided with a series of projecting ribs, constructed of leather or other such
substance, between which the blades of the knives to be cleaned are placed, emery or
other such material being employed. The knives to be cleaned are adapted through
a slit in the casing, and are drawn forward and rubbed by the said projecting
surfaces, but are prevented from being drawn entirely in by the larger part or guard
next to the handle. These being the general features of my Invention, I will in the
first place describe generally the construction and operation, and then the practical
details which I adopt in carrying out my said Invention.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 represents the machine in vertical section,
and Figs. 3, 4, 5, detached views, and these several Figs. may be considered full
size for a machine of comparatively small size. At 1 is the casing, supposed in this
instance to be of wood, but it may of course be of metal. At the top of this casing
is a cover 2 provided with a central slit 3 extending across its breadth, and at 4 is a
bottom cover, these parts taken together constituting a closed case. Passing through
the casing so formed are two pairs of axes, 5, 6, each of such axes being provided
with a race wheel 7, capable of driving chains 8 by the teeth of such wheels acting
against studs 9 projecting from the said chain 8. The two upper axes 5, 6, are
geared together by pinions 10, and motion being communicated to one of these
axes the two chains 8 are caused to travel in the same direction. The links of the
chain 8 (one of which is shewn detached at Fig. 3) are formed with notches 11, in
each of which is fixed a strip of buff leather or other such polishing material 12,
and a method of fixing the same will be hereafter described. The knives to be
cleaned are placed (in any desired number that the width of the machine will admit
of) through the slit 3, one of such knives in that position being shewn at A, and it is
therefore situate between the two sets of buff leather 12. The chains being now
caused to travel (say by a winch handle) the strips 12 are caused to rub against
the blade of the knife, and emery or other such material being passed through the
slit 3, the desired cleaning is effected. It will be observed that by this operation
the knife is drawn forward by the travelling chains and the strips of leather, but is
prevented from being drawn entirely into the machine by the enlarged part 13
resting upon the top casing 2, and it will be seen that there is no cross strain
upon the blade, the cleaning being effected in the direction of its length.
These being the leading features of my Invention, I proceed to describe the
practical construction I adopt. The strips of leather 12 are enclosed within and
rivetted to bent thin metal 14, shewn by the thick lines in Fig. 4, and these metal
parts being placed in the notches 11 are soldered or otherwise attached to the links
8 of the chains. The casing 1 is made in two parts held together by screw
clamps 15, 16, but tween the said two parts are bands of india-rubber 17, 18,
which by being compressed or allowed to expand admit of the clamps adjusting the
two parts of the casing, by means of which the strips 12 may be adjusted to or
from each other, and to provide for this motion the top casing 2 is formed with
slots through which screws 18 pass. The bottom cover 4 is made in two parts with
an india-rubber packing 19 between them. In order to keep the chains 8 in
position their inward sides run against surface 20, which I prefer to cover with
buffalo hide. The top cover 2 is formed as a hopper for the reception of emmery or
other such substance, and as this powder passes downward through the slit 3 it
accumulates in the curved bottom 4, to be elevated therefrom in the following
manner-Upon the metal parts which hold the strips 12 are projecting parts 21,
against which the emery rests when it is taken up by the strips 12, and it is there-
fore carried to the top of the machine, but when it is beyond the centre it is tipped

page_text: over to the knife blades. By this it will be seen that when a certain quantity of
emery has been introduced, the machine is self-supplying. When the knives have
been cleaned they may be expelled from the machine by reversing the motion of the
chains 8. The strips 12 it will be observed are placed alternately at different
elevations in the two chains, and the gearing 10 keeps them in these relative
positions.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of iny said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that I
claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent, and for the
purposes above set forth,--
Firstly. The use of travelling surfaces, substantially as described, acting upon
the knives so as to draw them inward and in the direction of their length.
Secondly. The use of the guard or enlarged part of the knife for retaining it in
position while being cleaned."
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Knott, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
(L.S.) ROBERT KNOTT.