Improvements in Machines for Sharpening Razors, Scissors, Shears, Surgical Instruments, and other Cutting Implements requiring a Fine Edge.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Sharpening Razors, Scissors, Shears,
Surgical Instruments, and other Cutting Implements requiring
a Fine Edge.
1. CHARLES ANTHONY WORDEN, Captain in the 7th Infantry of the United
States Army, stationed at Omaha, Nebraska, and residing at Number 2208 Douglas
Street, Omaha, County of Douglas, State of Nebraska, United States of America,
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 :-
This invention relates to machines for sharpening razors, shears, scissors, surgical
tools, and other like implements, and it consists essentially of two independent
features, a device by which the article is held while being sharpened and a device
for sharpening the article so held.
The device for holding the article is of minor importance, and may be made in
any convenient form of nip jaws, preferably normally held apart by a spring and
of the type hereinafter described.
The device for sharpening the article so held consists essentially of one or more
revolving conical buttons of stone, leather, or other suitable abrading material
preferably cut away around the apex of the cone and revolving around an axis
inclined to the blade to be sharpened. These buttons may be revolved in the
manner hereinafter described or in any other convenient way.
In order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect, I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of my improved machine for sharpening razors,
scissors,
shears, surgical implements and the like, and illustrates its use for sharpening
razors.
Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same.
Fig. 3 represents an end view partly in section, along the line a r of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 represents a side view of the travelling carriage detached.
Fig. 5 represents a view of the carriage as seen from beneath when detached.
Fig. 6 represents a section through one of the revolving buttons carried by the
carriage.
Fig. 7 represents a similar section of a modification of the same.
Fig. 8 represents a section of the carriage along the line xx¹ of Fig. 4, and
looking to the right.
Fig. 9 represents an end view of the lubricating attachment.
Fig. 10 represents a section along the line y y of Fig. 11, and illustrates the
ratchet and pawl connected to the shaft of the combined gear and fly wheel H.
Fig. 11 represents the method of attaching the wheel H to its shaft h, and the
connections to the said shaft.
Fig. 12 represents a bottom view of the platform on which the machine is
mounted.
Fig. 13 represents a section along the line zz of Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 represents a section along the line ¹¹ of Fig. 12.
Fig. 15 represents an end view, parts being in section, and parts being broken
away, of the machine as used for sharpening shears.
Fig. 16 represents a side view of the shear blade holder, and shear blade.
Fig. 17 represents an end view of one form of holder for the shear blade or
knife blade.

page_text: A represents a platform adapted to stand on a table, bureau, or any other flat
surface.
Rigidly secured to this platform are four legs C supporting the mechanism for
operating the revolving buttons which sharpen the razor, and mounted in the centre
of this platform is a holding device B adapted to hold the razor firmly in place.
This holding device consists of two jaws b and b', lined on the interior with serrated
or dentated pads 62 of rubber, felt, or other suitable soft and elastic material.
These jaws are pivoted on rods 63 and 6 mounted longitudinally in the base plate
or platform A, and one of the said jaws has an arm 65 adapted to engage a cam
face on a corresponding arm of the opposite jaw, the said cam face and jaw
being so adjusted that a motion of the adjusting screw B¹ will adjust the one jaw b,
the same amount that the arm and cam face will adjust the other jaw b',
relative to the median line of the machine. The soft pads 62 on the interior of the
jaws are preferably so dentated as to register with the three sizes of razor blades
now most commonly in use. A spring 67 (see Fig. 3) attached to screws 68 tends
to open the jaws b and b'.
It will be seen that by means of the adjusting screw B', the razor (or the holder T
shown in Figs. 15, 16, and 17) may be securely clamped between the said jaws, and
held rigidly therein during the operation of sharpening.
The mechanism for sharpening the razor is mounted on the four legs C rigidly
secured by the screws c and c¹ to the base plate or platform A.
Integral with, or securely attached to the upper end of each pair of legs C, are
rails D and D', the rail D having a track d for the roller ', and the rail D' having
a track for the roller 2; and a rack d² for the pinion h³. Parallel to these
tracks d and d¹, which are curved to approximately correspond with the sharp edge
of the razor, are slots d³ and d, which serve as guides to the carriage E. But for
sharpening straight-edge tools such as shears and the like, a straight track is
preferable. This carriage is provided with journals e, in which the shaft h 'of the
wheel H revolves freely, the said journals serving rather as guides for the said
shaft, than as supports therefor, and the said shaft being kept in said journals by a
clamp piece e¹ on one or both sides. At the side of the carriage guide flanges e
move in the guide slots d³ and d in the sides of the tracks D and D' as herein
described. A thumb screw D2 blocks the end of the said slot, and prevents the
carriage from being drawn entirely out of engagement therewith, at the same time
affording a ready means for withdrawing the carriage from engagement with the
slots should that be desired.
A fixed screw d is provided at the opposite end of the track to prevent the
carriage from being pushed out at that end. The plates E¹ are attached to
projecting pieces on the lower side of the carriage. These plates have slots e near
the forward end thereof adapted to engage beneath the head of a stud eo attached to
the carriage; and they have a slot adapted to receive the thumb screw e', by
which means they may be readily attached to, removed from, or adjusted on the
said carriage. These plates E' terminate in holders e for the journals of the
revolving buttons F and F. These buttons are set at an angle as shown by
the lines 1 & 2 in Fig. 5, for reasons which will hereinafter, be described.
The button F is screwed on to the spindle e¹ which carries the pinion F* in rear
of the button, and is held in the hollow screw eo by the head of the screw ela. The
button is normally pushed forward by a spring S, while at the same time adjust-
ment may be given by screwing up on the milled head e". In order to prevent the
said screw eo from unscrewing, a thumb screw e passes through a female screw. e
in the lower side of the holder es, and is provided at its inner end with a leather
pad or button el adapted to be pressed against the said screw elo and to clamp the
same in any desired position, or any other convenient method of clamping the
screw may be adopted. The side pieces E are provided with thumb lugs e¹s for
convenience in detaching or adjusting, the same.
Another method of connecting the buttons revolubly to the side piece E', and
and yet
allowing them an axial play in said side pieces is shown in Fig. 7, and in dotted

page_text: lines in Figs. 4 and 8, where S¹ represents a spring secured at e² to the said side
piece E', and pressed by the thumb screw e22 on the head e20 of the cylindrical
spindle e carrying at its front end the pinion F2 and the button F. The screw
thread e is so arranged that the button tends to screw upon the said screw thread.
In order that the button may not protrude beyond the edge of the razor, a
cylindrical hole f is provided therein, which should be adjusted relatively to the
edge of the razor or other tool as shown in Fig. 1. At the back of the button a
metallic piece is provided, to which the button is glued or otherwise secured.
This metallic piece gives a firm base or bearing for the button, and at the same
time enables a permanent screw thread to be had for attaching the button on the
revolving spindle. But the button may be attached to the spindle in any other
convenient way.
The button may be either of stone suitable for abrading the
Motion is given to the
razor or other tool, or of leather for strapping the same.
buttons by the combined fly and gear wheel H which is adapted to move only in
one direction, as will be hereinafter shown.
This wheel gears into the pinions F2 and so turns the buttons F and F¹. The
wheel H is loosely mounted on a shaft h, which shaft revolves in the guides e of
the carriage, and carries rollers and h³, which roll backward and forward over
the tracks d and d¹. To insure motion of the shaft has the handle H¹ is moved
backward and forward, a pinion ³ is secured to the roller 2 which is keyed to the
shaft, and said pinion engages in the rack d. The handle His revolubly con-
nected to the end of the shaft h as shown in Fig. 11. In order that the revolving
buttons may always act on the razor in the same direction, or that the descending
surface of the button in its revolution may clear the razor edge, and the ascending
portion may give a sharpening action upwards and forwards, as in the ordinary
manner of stropping from heel to toe, the fly wheel H is made to revolve only in one
direction, that of the arrow in Fig. 1. The inertia given it on the forward stroke
of the handle, which is moved backwards and forwards along the rack, being suffi-
cient to keep the wheel revolving during the return stroke of the handle. This is
arranged by the simple ratchet and pawl arrangement shown in Figs. 10, and 11,
where the wheel is represented as journalled on the shaft h in a collar formed by
the disk h, and the ratchet h*, both of which are rigidly secured to the shaft. The
wheel revolves freely on the shaft, and has pivoted to its hub a pawl h³ pivoted
at he, and connected at its opposite end to a spring / also connected to the hub of
the wheel.
arrow, the wheel'
It will be seen that if the shaft be turned in the direction of the
will turn with it, but if turned while the wheel is revolving, in the opposite direction;
the direction of motion of the wheel will not be changed.
The revolving honing buttons are lubricated at one end of their travel by a :
sponge which is preferably kept saturated with water, although oil or other
lubricant may
be used. This sponge is preferably secured in a yielding device K
having a spring holder k¹ held between clamp screws k², and mounted on a block k³
pivoted at . This block with the lubricating device mounted thereon, is kept
normally upright by the spring K¹ pressing against the bottom surface k of the
said block. By means of this device, the sponge may be turned down out of the.
way of the stropping buttons, and turned up to lubricate the honing buttons. The
buttons being one set behind the other, will press the sponge aside at the same time.
lubricating themselves.
By having the buttons placed one in front of the other, as shown in Fig. 1, the
effect of the elasticity of the metal of the razor is added to that of the spring.
pressing the revolving spindle which carried the button forward towards the razor.
Moreover, by having the buttons clear of each other, they may be taken off and put
on with more convenience.
A number of pairs of buttons for honing and for stropping should be supplied
with each machine.
The operation of the device is as follows:-
TL
covered
on firmly against the pinions F'. The clamp

page_text: screw B³ is unscrewed, and the razor is clamped firmly in the device B, in the
proper position. If the razor edge is worn a little, the buttons may be raised or
lowered somewhat by means of the clamp screws e', and the lugs es. The position
of the buttons should be such that the edge of the razor should very nearly coincide
with the horizontal diameter of the hole, but never should be above it. The
buttons are then adjusted to the right pressure on the razor by the screw el having
head e, or in the device shown in Figs. 7 and 8, by means of the screw e22. Now
having adjusted the various parts, the handle H' is moved backwards and forwards
along the track D, D', and the revolving buttons will sharpen the razor.
It will be seen that if the handle be moved with tolerable rapidity, that the
buttons will revolve very rapidly, and will come in contact with every portion of
the edge of the razor. Moreover, by having the buttons set at an angle and conical,
they will enter into the hollow ground portion of the razor very much more per-
fectly than is done with the strops and hones ordinarily in use. In fact the operation
of the honing buttons is to carry the hollow ground portion of the razor out to the
very edge, which by the ordinary process of stropping is in the shape of a double
inclined plane, and by this hollow grinding of the edge, subsequent sharpenings are
greatly facilitated.
Some practice may be necessary in making the various adjustments, but a few
experiments with leather buttons, which can not be set so as to injure the razor,
will soon enable the operator to ascertain the proper adjustment for the buttons for
either stropping or honing.
D
In using the hones, use oil or water to wet the sponge, water preferably, as it does
not soil the machine. The sponge k wipes off all the gritty particles, presents a
fresh clear surface with each stroke, and when wet lubricates at the same time.
The handle should never be moved backward without giving it a little push
forward first, in order to prevent the razor from cutting the button, but a leather
button if cut somewhat will operate quite as well as before.
In order to ascertain when the razor is in proper condition when stropping, put
the moistened finger in occasionally and touch the edge of the razor. It should
stick slightly when in the proper condition.
While I have described the machine as applied to sharpening razors for which
purpose it is specially adapted, it will be evident that it is applicable with or
without minor modifications, to sharpening fine edged tools such as shears, scissors,
surgical implements, and the like. Thus if as shown in Fig. 15, one of the honing
buttons and the plate holding the same be removed and a holder T be clamped as
att in the holder B, shear blade S2 may be readily sharpened.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is :-
1. The machine for sharpening razors, shears, scissors, surgical implements and
the like, substantially as herein set forth, with reference to the drawings hereunto
annexed.
2. The device for holding the razor, substantially as herein set forth, reference
being had to Figures 3, 13, and 15 of the drawings hereunto aunexed.
3. The device for holding the shears or other implement to be sharpened, sub-
stantially as herein set forth with reference to Figures 15 and 17 of the drawings
hereunto annexed.
4. The use of conical buttons set at an angle to the blade of the razor, substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth with reference to the drawings hereunto
annexed.
5. The apparatus for supporting and revolving the buttons for sharpening the
razors, shears, &c., herein described, with reference to the drawings hereunto
annexed.
6. The device for adjusting the pressure on the revolving buttons, substantially 5
as herein set forth with reference to the Figure 6 of the drawings.
"

page_text: 7. The herein described device for washing and lubricating the revolving
buttons. substantially as herein set forth, with reference to Figures 9, 13, and 14.
8. The use of revolving conical buttons having apertures at their apices for
sharpening razors, scissors, surgical implements and the like, substantially as herein
set forth with reference to the drawings hereunto annexed.
9. In a machine for sharpening razors, the combination with a device for holding
the razor, of two buttons of suitable abrading material revolving at an angle to the
axis of the blade of the razor and travelling along opposite sides of said razor, and
a device for revolving said buttons.
10. In a machine for sharpening razors, the combination with a device for holding
the razor, of buttons of suitable abrading material arranged at either side of said
razor, and revolving at an angle to the axis of the blade of the razor, means for
adjusting the pressure of said buttons on said razor, a carriage mounted over said
razor and adapted to carry said buttons along the sides thereof, and a device for
revolving said buttons mounted upon said carriage, substantially as described.
11. In a machine for sharpening razors, the combination with a base plate, of a
holder for the razor mounted therein, a frame mounted on said base plate, a carriage
adapted to move forwards and backwards on said frame, revolving buttons of
suitable abrading material mounted on said carriage and adapted to bear against
the sides of said razor, and means of revolving said buttons, substantially as
described.
12. In a machine for sharpening razors, the combination with a base plate, of a
holder for the razor mounted therein, a frame approximately parallel to the edge
of the razor mounted on said base plate, a carriage mounted on said frame and
adapted to move forwards and backwards thereon, spindles placed in journals
carried by said carriage, buttons of suitable abrading material mounted on said
spindles, and springs normally pressing said buttons against the sides of said razor,
as and for the purposes described.
Dhe 20th den of Naxamber 1809
PHILIP M. JUSTICE, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
Associate Agent.