Improvements in Machines for Sharpening or Grinding Knives and other articles.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Sharpening or Grinding Knives and
other articles.
I, ALFRED BIDWELL BENEDICT, of Buffalo, in Erie County and State of
New York, United States of America, Manufacturer of Grinding and other
Machinery, residing at 65 Park Street, Buffalo, 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 :-
My invention consists in certain improvements in means for operating machines
for sharpening knives and small tools or for other purposes where a grinding
machine is required the said invention being hereinafter fully described.
The object of my invention is to produce a simple, durable and effective device
adapted to be operated by the foot so that both hands may be used for holding the
articles to be sharpened.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device complete, showing it attached to
a table.
Figure 2 is an enlarged detached front elevation of the spring case or holder
showing the spring in its proper position therein.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of Figure 1, but not showing the table.
Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation, cutting in a central longitudinal
direction through the spring case and nearly through its hub or reduced portion
and also through the wheel hub and clutch case and
Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevation of the chutch case and clutch.
The frame for holding the grinding wheel and operating mechanism consists
of the two side pieces 1 and 2 the base 3 and the under projecting piece 4,
provided with a thumb screw 5 by which it is secured to a table substantially as
shown in Figure 1 at 6 representing a portion of a table to which it is attached.
This frame portion is provided with the usual vertically adjustable portion 7 upon
which the articles to be sharpened are held in position to be ground, it is made
adjustable by means of the set screw 8, and is kept in a vertical position by means
of the well known vertical slideways.
The sides 1 and 2, the base 3, and under projecting portion 4, are all formed or
cast in one piece and are preferably made of cast iron.
In the frame portion 1 is a square hole 9 into which the square end 10, (shown
in Figure 3) of the shaft 11 is fitted so that it cannot turn therein.
The opposite end 12, of the shaft is preferably left round as shown. The object
of the square end 10 is to keep it stationary or to prevent it from turning in the
frame.
The spring case is a short barrel 13, having a reduced portion 14, to form a
portion of the spool upon which the actuating strap is wound when operating the
device, the spring case forms one side of the spool and the washer 15 the
other side.
From the spool barrel 14, is another reduced portion 16, having a shoulder against
which the washer 15 rests, as shown in Figure 4. At the end of the reduced
portion 16, is rigidly secured the clutch cam 17.
This spring case and connecting portions, is mounted on the shaft 11 so as to turn
easily thercon. On the reduced portion 16, is mounted the emery wheel hub 18
(see Figure 4) the cam clutch case 23 forming a portion of it. The arms 20 form a
part of and project from the hub 18 to and form a portion of the emery wheel
rim 21 see Figure 1. 22 represents the emery portion of the same.
To one side of the hub 18 and forming a part of it is the clutch case 23, in which

page_text: the clutch cam 17 operates. This clutch cam is provided with two angular
recesses 24, into which the rollers 25 are placed they are kept from coming out
by the annular inwardly projecting flange 26, see Figures 4 and 5.
From this construction it will be seen that a movement of the clutch cam 17 in
the direction of the arrow », will allow the cam to turn easily without turning the
cam case 23 but a movement in the opposite direction or in the direction of
the arrow w will cause the rollers 25 to wedge or bind between the portions a of the
clutch cam and the sides e of the cam case so that the cam case will turn with it in
the direction of the arrow w and be instantly released the moment the movement
of the cam clutch is reversed.
Within the spring case 13 is a coil spring 27 having one end secured to the case
at or about the point 28 (see Figure 2) the opposite end of the spring being con-
nected by a pin 29 to the shaft 11.
To the spool portion 14 of the spring case is attached by means of a screw 30, a
strap 31 of leather or other suitable material having at its free end a stirrup 32
adapted to receive the foot of the operator.
This strap 31 is wound around the spool several times and is made long enough
so that when the device is attached to a table the stirrup can be conveniently reached
and operated by the foot.
From this construction it will be seen that a pressure of the foot on the
stirrup downward will unwind or partly unwind the strap 31 and in doing so
it will cause the clutch to engage with the clutch case and thereby give a
rotary motion to the emery or grinding wheel. This movement partly winds
up the coil spring and the moment the stirrup is released it will turn the spring
case and spool and thus wind up again the portion of the strap that has been
unwound by the downward movement.
During the upward movement of the stirrup the clutch mechanism is instantly
released so that the emery wheel by its momentum continues its movement and
another downward movement will give it a fresh start thereby keeping up a rapid
rotary movement by the reciprocating movement of the stirrup and strap.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The combination with a holding frame, of a spring case provided with a
hub or sleeve extending from one side and mounted loosely on a stationary shaft
and carrying a coil spring having one end secured to the shaft and the other end
secured to the case, a strap connected with the hubs of the case having an
operating stirrup at its free end, a roller clutch rigidly connected to the opposite
end of the hub or sleeve and a grinding wheel mounted loosely on said hub
provided with a cam case and cam rollers located with the cam within the cam case,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Second. The combination with a holding frame of a spring case provided with a
hub or sleeve carrying a roller clutch at one end, and the spring case carrying a
coil spring at the other end, the whole mounted loosely on a fixed shaft secured in
the frame, the coil spring having an end secured to the stationary shaft and the
other end to the spring case and a grinding wheel loosely mounted on the hub or
sleeve, a cam case connected to the wheel inclosing the cam and its rollers, and a
strap provided with a stirrup, connected to the spring case hub substantially as
described.
Dated this 9th day of December 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.