IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KNIFE CLEANING MACHINES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Martin Knight, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
KNIFE CLEANING MACHINES."
Et
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Martin Knight at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd April 1880.
EDWARD MARTIN KNIGHT, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KNIFE CLEANING MACHINES."
This Invention relates to the construction of that class of knife cleaning
machines wherein the cleaning is effected by passing the blade endwise to and fro
between revolving rollers covered with india rubber, woollen, or other similar
material:
Machines of the class aforesaid, constructed according to this my Invention
comprise improved apparatus for adjusting and determining the relative position of
the cleaning rollers according to the thickness of blade, and also adjustable gearing
for imparting such motion to the rollers that their peripherys move in opposite
directions, whereby the tendency to draw the handle of the knife between the
rollers is obviated.
I construct the side or end frames of the machine in such manner as to receive
brasses or necks capable of being slided within the frames; these brasses receive
the axis of one or other of the cleaning rollers (the upper roller by preference).; the
brasses or necks are attached to adjusting screws, whereby the true relative
position of the rollers for any given thickness of blade can be at once secured, or
in some cases axles of the rollers have an expanding spring, the tendency of which
is to force the rollers apart. Chased spindles are employed for adjusting the
position of each roller; the adjusting nut in some cases is placed within a slot
in end frame of machine. The rollers are geared by pinions and adjustable
intermediate wheel so as to compensate for change of position of the rollers.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Martin Knight in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
October 1880.
EDWARD MARTIN KNIGHT, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KNIFE CLEANING MACHINES."
This Invention relates to the construction of that class of knife cleaning
machinos wherein the cleaning is effected by passing the blade end wise to and fro
between revolving rollers covered with india rubber, woollen, or other similar
material.
Machines of the class aforesaid, constructed according to this my Invention,
comprise improved apparatus for adjusting and determining the relative position of
the cleaning rollers according to the thickness of blade to be operated upon, and
also adjustable gearing for imparting such motion to the rollers that their peripheries
move in opposite directions, whereby the tendency to draw the handle of the knifo
between the rollers is obviated.
I construct the side or end frames of the machino in such manner as to receive
brasses or necks and bearing blocks capable of being slided within the frames;
these brasses receive the adjusting screws, and the bearing blocks receive the axis of
one or other or both of the cleaning rollers (the upper roller by preference); the
brasses or necks carry adjusting screws, which are attached to adjusting screws,
whereby the true relative position of the rollers for any thickness of blade, or for
compensating wear of the surfaces of the rollers by abrasion, can be at once secured,
or in some cases the axle bearings of the rollers have an expanding spring; the
tendency of which is to force the rollers apart. Chased spindles, that is adjusting
screws, are employed for adjusting the position of each roller; the adjusting nut in
some cases is placed in a slot in end frame of machine. The rollers are geared by
pinions and adjustable intermediate wheel, so as to compensate for change of
position of the rollers.
In order that the Invention may be well understood there is annexed hereto a
Sheet of Drawings, and the same is referred to by Figures and letters in the
following particular description :-
Fig. 1 is a front view of a knife cleaning machine constructed according to this
In vention; Fig. 2 a plan; Fig. 3 an end view from right of Figs. 1 and 2; and
Fig. 4 a diagram or detached view of the upper portion of one of the end frames
and bearings for the revolving cleaning rollers:
A, A¹, are the side or end frames of the machine, which frames are bolted at B¹
to a bed plate B, which bed plate has holes therein, whereby the apparatus may be
bolted or screwed to a table or other flat surface; Care bearing blocks movable
vertically, so as to be capable of sliding and adjustment in the end frames A
and A¹ by, means of the adjusting screws D, which screws D are provided with
milled heads and pass through threaded necks of the caps E bolted to and carried
upon the end frames A, A', the lower end of said screws being smooth and passing
into the upper part of the bearing blocks C, where it is secured from being
withdrawn by the cotter pin at extremity of screw D, or such extremity may be
rivetted over; F, F, are the upper and lower cleaning rollers carried upon axles or
shafts, the necks whereof are carried in the bearing blocks C.
Gis toothed driving wheel upon axle of roller F, and G¹ toothed wheel upon axlo
of roller F; G is the intermediate gear wheel which communicates motion from
the driving gear G to the driven gear G'; or the intermediate gear G³ may be
employed as driver, and may by bolting its axle pin further out in a slot (not
shown) formed in the framework be a wheel of larger size than shown to securo
greater speed of the cleaning rollers. Through the action of this intermediate
gear G³ the adjacent portions of the peripheries of the cleaning rollers F, F¹, have

page_text: a motion against each other, so as to produce a rubbing action upon the blade
placed between them (instead of a drawing action) as indicated by the arrows,
Figs. 1 and 4.
To obtain a differential speed of the rollers in addition to the motion secured by
the intermediate gear G the wheels G and G' are made of different diameters.
The teeth of the gearing are deep, as shown in Fig. 3, to allow of the difference in
adjustinent of the bearing blocks C by the screws D according to the thickness of
the blade being cleanod, but for general purposes the adjustment will not have to
be altered except as the rollers may through wearing require.
As shown in Fig. 4, the adjacent ends of the bearings C are provided with studs,
upon and between which is placed the spring H for giving the elasticity to the
pressure of screws D; I is a trough for holding the polishing powder, supported as
shown upon shoulder pieces or lumps K formed on the end frames A, A¹; L are
lips rivetted on the underside of the trough I for said trough to rest upon; M is
winch handle to operate machine, and N is a polishing roller upon shaft of cleaning
roller F for purpose of cleaning that portion of the knife at the haft end of the
blade, or for forks and such like. For making 'up the apparatus for a wall or
dresser attachment, which may be convenient, the framework of the apparatus will
be made up without bed plate B, but with framing convenient for such attachment
similarly for instance to a wall "coffee mill."
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention in
such wise that the same may be readily carried into practical effect, I claim,—
Firstly. The application to and use in machines for purpose set forth of the
adjustable bearing blocks C in combination with the gearing, as herein described
and illustrated.
Secondly. The bearing blocks C (of the axles of cleaning rollers F, F¹, operated
as set forth) when combined with the spring H for forcing the said rollers apart,
and affording elasticity to the degree of adjustment of the said cleaning rollers F, F¹,
as set forth and shown by Fig. 4 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Martin Knight, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Patent Agent.
Halifax & Blackburn.
EDWARD MARTIN KNIGHT. (L.S.)