IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR ADDADATHS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING KNIVES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Hargrave, of Burley, Leeds, in the County of
.
York, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
ADDADATHS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING KNIVES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Hargrave at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd June 1881.
JAMES HARGRAVE, of Burley, Leeds, in the County of York, Gentleman.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING
KNIVES."
My said Invention has reference to machinery or apparatus for cleaning and
polishing table and other knives, and has for its object the performance of these
operations in a more perfect manner and with less wear and tear of such articles
than usually obtains in apparatus hitherto in use for such purposes, and consists in
two revolving discs arranged in a horizontal position one above the other. The
lower disc I make (by preference) of metal, having a pin or stud on. its underside
of one piece therewith, or it may be attached thereto, this pin or stud takes a
bearing in the base of the frame or stand of the apparatus. On the upper side of
said disc I fix a ring or disc of wood or other suitable material so as to form in
the centre thereof a circular recess of considerable diameter in proportion to the
diameter of the disc. The upper or driving disc I also form of metal, and of
sufficient weight to give the required pressure for the cleaning and polishing
process, thus avoiding the use of adjustable pressure screws and nuts. The weight
of this upper disc also acts as a By" for regulating its motion on inserting n
knife or knives.
On the underside of this disc I form a similar shaped recess to that in the lower
one, and without any projecting part passing below the line of contact of the
annular surfaces of the two discs, thus leaving a clear space in the centre of and
between the two discs for the passage in a radial direction of the knives to bo
cleaned and polished, so that the points of the knives can be passed during the
process of cleaning and polishing across and beyond the centre of motion of the

page_text: said discs. The narrow annular surfaces of the discs above referred to I cover
with a flat ring of soft yielding and smooth material, such as indian rubber or its
equivalent; these rings I cover with soft leather or other suitable cleaning and
polishing or buffing material, having a circular form, and of such diameter as to
overhang the outer edges of the discs; these overhanging portions I turn over
and around the peripheries of the said discs and secure thereto in a suitable
manner.
In order to stretch this latter covering as tightly as possible over the annular
surfaces of the previously prepared discs, I press the central of such covering into
the aforesaid circular recesses of the discs, and fix the same thereto by plates or
rings of suitable material and screws or nails. I then surround the discs and fix
thereto a hoop or ring of thick and hard leather or a like material, and round off
those corners which lead on to the cleaning and polishing surfaces.
These hoops or rings form a binding for and a protection against undue wearing
of the angles of the beforenamed covering of soft leather, or cleaning and polishing
on buffing material, and at the same time form a convenient guiding part for the
insertion of the knives between the discs.
I also provide a suitably arranged table and rest to assist in the guidance of the
knives between the discs, and for backing up the same whilst being cleaned and
polished. The knives are held and traversed radially to and fro by hand (whilst
the discs revolve) in such manner as to bring every part of the blade under the
action of the annular cleaning and polishing surfaces of the discs. On the outer
and top surface of the upper disc I form either in one piece therewith or by a
convenient attachment thereto a projecting pin or spindle which takes a bearing
in an overhanging arm which springs from the base plate or frame of the apparatus.
On the said pin or spindle and above the said bearing I attach a crank handle
for turning the upper disc; the lower disc is driven by frictional contact of the
aforesaid annular surfaces of the two discs. The central recess in the lower dise
forms a receptacle for the cleaning and polishing substance, which is supplied
through one or more openings in the upper disc. Both discs may be wholly or
partially surrounded by framework or a casing, as desired. By mounting a pulley
in place of the crank handle the discs may be driven either by power or by a
treadle motion, and by having two tables and rests two knives may be cleaned
and polished at the same time.
A modification of my Invention consists in making the upper disc without a
central pin or spindle, and making the framework to surround and guide the same
by its periphery in such a manner as to permit of its freely turning therein, or it
may be guided by a number of rollers in the framework around and acting on its
periphery. Or the guiding rollers may be attached to the disc and revolve thero-
with and be guided by the framework surrounding the same. In this case the
handle or pulley by which the upper disc is rotated is attached directly to the disc.
The discs may be of metal as beforementioned, or they may be of wood or other
suitable material having central recesses formed therein, the indian rubber, leather,
and other parts secured thereto as before named, and may be driven by hand or
otherwise as and for the purposes, as above described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Hargrave in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd December
1881.
James HargravE, of Burley, Leeds, in the County of York, Gentleman.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING
KNIVES."
My said Invention has reference to machinery or apparatus for cleaning and
polishing table and other knives, and has for its object the performance of these
operations in a more perfect manner and with less wear and tear of such articles
than usually obtains in apparatus hitherto in use for such purposes, and consists
in two revolving discs arranged in a horizontal position, one above the other. The
lower disc I make (by preference) of metal, having a pin or stud on its underside,
of one piece therewith, or it may be attached thereto; this pin or stud takes a
bearing in the base of the frame or stand of the apparatus.
On the upper side of said dise I fix a ring or disc of wood or other suitable
material so as to form in the centro thereof a circular recess of considerable
diameter in proportion to the diameter of the disc; or when I make the body of
the disc entirely of metal I form the central recess in said metal. The upper or
driving disc I also form of metal and of sufficient weight to give the required
pressure for the cleaning and polishing process, thus avoiding the use of adjustable
pressure screws and nuts for such purpose. The weight of this upper disc also
acts as a "fly" for regulating its motion on inserting a knife or knives. On the
underside of this disc I form a similar recess to that in the lower one, and without
any projecting part passing below the line of contact of the annular surfaces of
the two discs, thus leaving a clear space in the centre of and between the two
discs for the passage in a radial direction of the knives to be cleaned and polished,
so that the points of the knives can be passed during the process of cleaning
and polishing across and beyond the centre of motion of tho said discs. In
cleaning and polishing knives that are longer in the blade than ordinary table
knives, such as carving knives, I pass them between the discs in an oblique
direction so as not to come into contact with the inner edges of the annular
cleaning and polishing surfaces of the discs at the side furthest away from the
point of insertion. The narrow annular surfaces of the discs above referred to I
cover with a flat ring of soft, yielding, and smooth material, such as indian rubber
or its equivalent; these rings I cover with soft leather or other suitable cleaning
and polishing or buffing material having a circular form, and of such diameter as
to overhang the outer edges of the discs; these overhanging portions I turn over
and around the peripheries of the discs, and secure thereto by pins or otherwise;
I then surround the discs and the last named covering thus turned over, and fix
thereto a hoop or ring of thick and hard leather or a like material, and round off
those corners which lead on to the cleaning and polishing surfaces. These hoops
or rings form a binding for and a protection against undue wearing of the angles:
of the beforementioned covering of soft leather, or cleaning and polishing or buffing
material, and at the same time form a convenient guiding part for the insertion
of the knives between the discs. In order to stretch the aforesaid covering of soft
leather as tightly as possible over the annular surfaces of the previously prepared
discs I press the central parts of said covering into the aforesaid central recesses of
the discs, and fix the same thereto by plates, rings, or washers of suitable material,
and screws, bolts and nuts, or nails or rivets. And in order to facilitate the
insertion of the knives between the discs I provide a table or rest, the surfaces of
which coincide with the annular surfaces of the discs for the guidance and backing.

page_text: up of the knives whilst being cleaned and polished. The knives are held and
traversed to and fro by hand (whilst the discs revolve) in such manner as to bring
all parts of the blades as nearly as possible under the action of the cleaning and
polishing surfaces of the discs. On the outside or top surface of the upper disc I
form either in one piece therewith or by attachment thereto a projecting pin or
spindle which takes a bearing in and is guided by an overhanging arın of the
principal framework of the machine. On the said pin or spindle and above the
said bearing I attach a crank handle for turning the upper disc. This spindle and
crank handle may be in one piece, and be attached in any convenient manner to
the said upper disc. Motion is communicated to the lower disc by the frictional
contact of its annular surface with that of the upper disc. The central recess in
the lower disc forms a receptacle for the cleaning and polishing substance, and
which is supplied through one or more openings in the upper disc. The discs are
surrounded by the principal framework or bed which forms a receptacle for spent
or partially spent polishing substance. By fitting the machine with duplicate
tables and rests two knives may be cleaned and polished at the same time. By
mounting a pulley in the place of the crank handle the machine may be driven by
treadle or by any other motor. In the accompanying Sheet of explanatory
Drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts. Fig. 1 is a side
view; Fig. 2 is a front view; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation through the line 1, 1,
Fig. 4, and Fig. 4 is a plan with the upper disc partly in section in order to
shew the guide table and rest. A is the bed or principal framework of the machine
with the overhanging arm A' for carrying the spindle of the upper disc B; C is
the lower disc with its stud or foot C¹, on which it revolves in the step or recess
in the framework A; D is the spindle of the upper disc; E, the crank handle
attached to the same (in the Drawing, Fig. 3, these are shewn in one piece). When
the machine is intended to be driven by power or by treadle a pulley is mounted
on the spindle D in place of the crank handle; G, G, are annular discs or washers.
of indian rubber or its equivalent, forming elastic or yielding beds upon which are
placed the soft leather coverings H, H, which form the cleaning and polishing
medium. These coverings are drawn tightly over the annular discs by being
pressed into the recessess F', F1, and secured therein by the plates or washers J, J,
and screws or rivets, as shewn in Fig. 3; I, I, are rings or hoops of hard leather
which surround the discs to secure the soft leather coverings to said discs, and
protect the corners of the cleaning and polishing surfaces of the soft leather. The
recess F¹ in the lower disc forms a receptacle for emery or other cleaning and
polishing material which may be supplied through the opening K in the upper
disc as required; L is a receptacle on the side of the framework A, into which the
emery or other cleaning and polishing material is cast by the centrifugal force of
the discs during the cleaning and polishing operation, whence it can be transferred
to a hopper M on the upper disc for re-use; N is the guiding tablo or rest for
ordinary table knives arranged at about the same level as the surfaces of the discs B
and C. In passing a knife into the machine the end is first placed upon this table;
it is next moved a little sideways and into a vce shaped recess O.
On being
pushed forward it enters a second and deeper recess or slit O' in the part P, or
its equivalent, which almost embraces the whole breadth of the blade and prevents
it from canting over and from cutting the leather covering of the discs; this is
more particularly required when operating on such knives as are worn narrow at
the point.
The part P is mounted upon a stud Q and kept in the position shewn in the
plan, Fig. 4, by means of the spring R, until the shoulder of the blade comes into
contact therewith. It is then by the act of pushing the knife swivelled out of the
way to allow the shoulder to be pressed against the corners of the two discs and
become cleaned and polished. On the knife being withdrawn the part P by the
action of the spring R resumes its former position ready for receiving another
knife. The part P may be in the form of a slide and actuated by a spring. A
table knife S in dotted lines is shewn as partially inserted and under operation,
".

page_text: T is another part of the table which fulfils a similar office in respect to carving or
long knives, as the part N does for the table knives. A carving knife U is shewn
in dotted lines inserted up to the shoulder.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of carrying
the same into practical effect, I would have it understood that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as secured to me by the bereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. In a machine or apparatus for cleaning and polishing knives, the combination
of two horizontal dises with annular cleaning and polishing surfaces and central
recesses, the said horizontal dises being mounted on independent axes, substantially
as described, to allow of free passage of the knives to be cleaned and polished
over and between the annular surfaces and across the central recesses, as above set
forth.
2. In a horizontal machine for cleaning and polishing knives, an upper disc of
such form and weight as to serve the two fold purpose of acting as a fly wheel or
regulator for the motion and giving sufficient pressure for the cleaning and polishing
operation without the aid of adjusting screws and nuts, substantially as herein-
before described and shewn.
3. In a machine or apparatus for cleaning and polishing knives, the method of
fixing the cleaning and polishing material to the discs by surrounding the same at
the peripheries with a hoop of stout and hard leather or other material, and
stretching such cleaning and polishing material by pressing and fixing the same
into the central recesses, substantially as herein before described and shewn.
4. In a horizontal machine for cleaning and polishing knives the combination of
table and rest so arranged as to guide the knives into the machine between the
cleaning and polishing surfaces whilst the discs are rotating, substantially as
described and shewn.
5. The improved knife cleaning and polishing machine constructed, arranged, and
operated substantially as described and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Hargrave, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness to the signature of
the said James Hargrave,
THOS. E. CRAVEN, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
24, Victoria Chambers,
South Parade,
Leeds.
JAMES HARGRAVE. (L.s.)