IMPROVEMENTS IN KNIFE CLEANING MACHINES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Cowdery, of Newent, Gloucestershire, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNIFE CLEANING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Cowdery at the Office
"
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th April 1880.
CHARLES COWDERY, of Newent, Gloucestershire.
CLEANING MACHINES."
IMPROVEMENTS IN KNIFE
In carrying out my Invention for improvements in knife-cleaning machines I
adopt mainly the following arrangements :-On a frame I mount two rollers of
india rubber attached to spindles working in bearings fitted in said frame. Against
these two rollers are two other rollers of less diameter, and being in contact with
the larger rollers revolve with them, but in a contrary direction. On the spindles
carrying the large rollers at one end thereof are fitted pinion wheels gearing into
each other. The spindle carrying the lower roller is provided with a larger toothed
wheel, which again takes into a pinion wheel fitted on shaft on the frame, this last
wheel gearing into another pinion wheel, on the shaft of which is the handle or
lever, which on being turned sets in motion the system of gearing, and with it the
rollers. This last mentioned pinion is carried by a shaft, on which and preferably
about the centre are mounted two mitre wheels. Between theso mitre wheels is
another mitre wheel, which is arranged to take into both. One or the other or
both can be thrown in or out of gear as occasion may require, which is effected by
a clutch box arranged between the said wheels. This clutch box is actuated by a
rod or lever and crank, as hereafter described. In front of the rollers and between
the frame is arranged a board, on which the knives are placed to be cleaned. This
board is weighted or actuated by spring arrangements, so as to ensure the knives
being brought to the proper position between the rollers. The rod or lever
actuating the clutch box will at the same time, by means of lever attached, cause the
small rollers to separate or close as required, so that the knives to be cleaned are,
when the said rollers are not touching one another, drawn between the large
rollers up to the shoulder and cleaned, and by actuating the handle in a reverse
direction the small rollers are brought together, and the knives are caused to
travel in the reverse direction and from between the two rollers. Qu the board

page_text: and travelling freely is a small frame, which by means of screw arrangements
actuated by the mitre wheels travels backwards and forwards against the handles
of the knives, bringing them up to the rollers, and retiring with the same as they
issue from between the rollers. The action of the machine is as follows:-The
arın or lever which actuates the clutch box, and also the lever carrying the clutch
for separating or bringing together the small rollers, is pulled over on one side.
This causes the said rollers to separate and the clutch box to engage in one of the
mitre wheels. The handle of the machine is now turned, and by the system of
gearing the rollers revolve. At the same time the small frame working over the
board travels forward and presses the knives against the rollers, and as soon as
they come between the large rollers they are drawn in up to the shoulder and
cleaned (as also is the shoulder). The handle is then pressed over, which brings
the clutch box in gear with the second nitre wheel and the small roller against
the knives, and tho knives are thus caused to issue from between the rollers, the
frame retiring with the knives and preventing them being pushed out too quickly.
The emery for cleaning the knives may be distributed by means of a hopper
over the top rollers or under the lower roller; a trough containing the powder
may be employed. The lower roller revolving in the powder distributes same to
the upper roller. Against the bearings of the top rollers springs bear, which are
adjusted by means of set screws to any required degree, as may be required. A
modified forin for small machines may be employed where only the four rollers
are employed, the knife being passed between the rollers and actuated by the
hand.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charlos Cowdery in the Great Soal Patont Offico on the 5th
October 1880.
CHARLES COWDERY, of Newent, Gloucestershire.
CLEANING MACHINES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNIFE-
On a frame I mount two rollers of india rubber attached to spindles working in
bearings fitted to said frame. Against these two rollers are two other rollers of
less diameter, which being in contact with the larger rollers revolve with them,
but in a contrary direction. On the spindlos carrying the large rollers at one end
thereof are fitted pinion wheels gearing into each other. The spindle carrying the
lower large roller is also provided with a larger toothed wheel, which again takes
into a pinion wheel fitted on shaft on the frame, this last wheel gearing into
another pinion wheel, on the shaft of which is the handle or lever, which on being
turned sets in motion the system of gearing and with it the rollers. This last
mentioned pinion is carried by a shaft, on which, preferably about the centre, arc
mounted two mitre wheels. Between these mitre wheels is another mitre wheel,
which is arranged to take into both. One or the other or both can be thrown in
or out of gear as occasion may require, which is effected by a clutch box arranged
between the said wheels. This clutch box is actuated by a rod or lever and crank,
or in place of mitro wheels and clutch box a chain arrangement may be used, as
hereafter described. In front of the rollers and between the frame is arranged a
board, on which the knives are placed to be cleaned. This board is weighted or
actuated by spring arrangements at the roller end, so as to ensure the knives being
brought to the proper position between the rollers. The rod or lever actuating
the clutch box will at the same time, by means of lever attached, cause the small
rollers to separate or close as required, so that the knives to be cleaned are, when
the said smaller rollers are not touching one another, drawn between the largo
rollers up to the shoulder and the shoulder cleaned, and by actuating the lever in
a reverse direction the small rollers are brought together, causing the knives to
travel in the reverse direction and from between the two large rollers, the blade
being thus cleaned. On the board and travelling freely is a small frame, which by
incans of screw arrangements actuated by the mitre wheels travels backwards and
forwards against the ends of the handles of the knives, bringing them up to the
rollers and retiring with the same as they issue from between the rollers; or a
chain arrangement may be used for this purpose. Against the bearings of the top
rollers springs may be fitted, which are adjusted by means of set screws to any
required degree of pressure, as may be required. A modified form for small
machines may be employed where only the four rollers are employed, the knife
being passed between the rollers and actuated by the hand.
Having thus far described the nature of the said Invention and incidentally
intimated in what manner the same is to be performed, I will now proceed (aided
by the accompanying Drawings) to further and particularly describe and ascertain
in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in practice, that is
to say,

page_text: into wheel C, said wheel G being for the purpose of giving the direction of motion
to the large toothed wheel H on the axle which carries the lower large roller, to
which is also fixed the toothed wheel I which gears into wheel J fixed to the axle
carrying the top large roller B. The small rollers C, C¹, are revolved by the
friction of the large rollers. The upper one (C) can be raised or lowered (still
being in contact with the large roller) by means of lever K to which is connected
a bark, at each end of which is fitted a bell crank L, which at the end is fitted
with bearing of top small roller C, so that on the lever K being actuated the
bearing and roller is raised or lowered as required. M is table on which the knives
to be cleaned are placed, the end nearest the rollers being preferably divided into
compartments m, one for each knife. To ensure the knifo being brought in
position between the rollers I secure or hinge at one end of each compartment tho
portion u. The blade of the knife rests on same at v, and as the knife passos
between the rollers the portion u is depressed, and as the knife recedes by means of
spring or other arrangements the portion is again brought into the first position.
Above the knife is another portion w which by its own weight bears against tho
knife. N, sliding frame on the top of the board M. which retains the knives in
position, and also prevents them being forced out from between the rollers too
quickly, which is effected by pawls O at both ends of frame which catch into the
endless chains P, which chains only allow the frame to come back at the speed
the chains are travelling. These chains are driven by wormwheel and gearing
Q, Q, the portion Q' being fixed to axle of lower large roller B. On the shaft
carrying the worm wheel Q is fixed a mitre wheel R gearing into R¹ fixed on the
axle S which drives the pulleys carrying the endless chains P. X is the trough or
hopper containing the emery or other polishing material to the other rollers;
y, Fig. 1, rod or lever to which is attached clutch box s, said clutch box being fixed
on axle E. On this axle is fitted free to run the nitro wheels a and b which gear
into nitre wheel c, on the axle of which is the screw d. The clutch box is shown
in its normal position. To bring the same in contact with clutch on a or ball
that is required is to actuate the lever K, and the axle L gives motion to the mitre
wheel a or b, and at the same time by mitre wheel c to the screw d.
The action of the machine is as follows:-In Fig. 1 the arm or lever which
actuates the clutch box and also the small top roller C is pulled over. This
causes the said rollers C, C', to separate and the clutch box to engage in one of
the mitre wheels. The handle of the machine is now turned, and by the system
of gearing, as shown, the rollers revolve. At the same time the small frame
working over the board travels forward and presses the knives between the rollers,
and as soon as they come between the large rollers they are drawn in up to the
shoulder and the shoulder cleaned. The handle is then pressed over which brings
the clutch box in gear with the second mitre wheel and the small roller against
the knives, and the knives are thus caused to issue from between the rollers, the
blades being cleaned in this operation, the frame retiring with the knives and
preventing them being pushed out too quickly. The emery for cleaning the
knives may be distributed by incans of a hopper over the top roller, or under the
lower roller a trough carrying the powder may be employed. The lower roller
revolving in the powder distributes same to the upper roller, or, as shown in Figs. 2,
3, and 4, the knives being placed on the table are pushed up to the rollers and the
rollers draw in the knives up to the shoulder which is cleaned. The lever K is
then pushed over and the top small roller C is brought against the lower roller,
and the part N retires at the same speed as the chains travel, part N being
prevented from going faster by pawls O, and as the chain revolves the knives
gradually retire from between the rollers at the pace the chains travel, and the
blades are cleaned in this operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, I hereby declare that I claim the Invention of "Improvements in Knife-
cleaning Machines," substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described, and

page_text: illustrated by the accompanying Drawings wherein the important and peculiar
features arc,-
(1.) The combination of small rollers running in contact with the large rollers but
in reverse direction for the purpose of cleaning knives.
(2.) The arrangements for separating the small rollers so that the knife is drawn
in between samo by the largo rollers, the shoulder of the knife butting against
small rollers and being cleaned by same, which said arrangements also bring the
small rollers together, and thus cause the knife to be drawn from between the large
rollers, the blade being cleaned in the operation, all substantially as hereinboforo
set forth and described.
In witness wliereof, I, the said Charles Cowdery, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of October, in the year of our Lord' One thousand
iche dicht
Witness,
CHIA. NASII,
Bank, Nowent,
Cashier.
CHARLES COWDERY. (L.S.)