IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SHARPENING RAZORS AND OTHER CUTTING INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
SHARPENING RAZORS AND OTHER CUTTING INSTRUMENTS." A communication
from abroad by Anatole Pierre Urbain Louis Collin, of the Firm of Collin
and Company, of Paris, France.
Scaled the 28th October 1876, and dated the 15th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the Offico
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1876.
WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent.
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SHARPENING RAZORS AND OTHER CUTTING
INSTRUMENTS."
This Invention relates to improved apparatus for sharpening razors, knives, and
other cutting instruinents.
The accompanying Drawing shows a perspective view of the apparatus.
a base plate provided with a handle b, and having fixed thereon the bearings A',
which support the journals of the spirally shaped sharpeners B1, B2, and toothed
wheels C, C, C². The toothed wheel C is mounted on a spindle d having a crank
handle fon its end, by turning which the wheels C₁, C³, are rotated in opposite
directions and with them the spiral sharpeners B1, B2, which are covered with
leather or other substance ordinarily employed for the purpose. The blade to be
sharpened is placed in a holder Dattached to a spindle, on which is a pinion y gearing
with a toothed segment (not shown) in connection with two finger keys B, G.
By pressing on one or other of these keys the pinion g is caused to make half a
revolution to the right or left carrying with it the instrument to be sharpened,
whose edge is thus presented to the one or other of the spirals B1, B2, and as these
revolve in opposite directions the blade will thus be sharpened in a direction from
right to left and from left to right, so as to give it the desired edge. The bearing A¹
is made adjustable to a scale A in order to accommodate the apparatus to blades of
different widths, and also to the wear of the blades.
I
The arrangement of gearing for revolving the spirals in opposite directions and
operating the bolder D may also be varied.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th November
1876.
"
William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent.
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SHARPENING RAZORS AND OTHER CUTTING
INSTRUMENTS." A communication from abroad by Anatole Pierre Urbain Louis
Collin, of the Firm of Collin and Company, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to improved apparatus for setting or sharpening razors,
knives, and other cutting instruments, the characteristic features of the Invention
being
1st. That the blade fixed in a suitable holder is caused to present either side at
will to the sharpening surfaces, which consists of a pair of helices, covered with
leather or other suitable material having rotary motion in opposite directions.
2nd. That the arrangement of the helical sharpening surfaces is such that the
blade is sharpened in opposite directions on the two sides, thereby realizing con-
ditions necessary to insure a keen edge.
3rd. That the pressure of the blade upon the helical sharpeners may be regulated
according to the condition of the blade.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I will proceed to
describe it in detail with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which
Figure 1 represents a perspective view; Figure 2 a longitudinal elevation; and
Figure 3 a plan of the apparatus, the two latter Figures being drawn to a larger
scale. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all three Figures.
Upon a base plate a, provided with a handle b, is fixed a frame of brass or
other metal A', in which the spindles of the helical sharpeners B1, B2, and the
gear wheels C, C, C², are mounted. The wheel C is keyed on a spindle d provided
with a winch handle f, and gears with the wheel C', which gears with the wheel C",
and by turning the winch handle f the wheels C, C, are rotated in opposite
directions and with them the helical sharpeners B1, B, which are fixed on the same
spindles with the wheels C, C, and covered with leather or other material coated
with matters ordinarily employed for razor strops. The blade to be sharpened is
placed in a clip or holder D attached to a spindle, on which is a pinion g gearing
with a toothed sector connected by links with two finger keys F, G. By pressing
on one or other of these keys the pinion g is caused to make a half revolution
in the one or other direction carrying with it the blade I so as to present its
edge alternately to one or other of the helical sharpeners B¹, B². As the latter
turn in opposite directions they will consequently act upon the blade, the one
from heel to point and the other from point to heel, so as to impart the desired
keenness.
In order to adapt the apparatus to blades of different widths a scale A graduated
in divisions corresponding to different widths is placed either on the handle b, as
seen in Figure 1, or on a cross piece, as in Figure 3, a scale with corresponding
divisions being formed at on the upright in which the knife holder is mounted,
the said upright being made ndjustable vertically to suit the width of the blade.
With this apparatus knives, razors, and other cutting instruments may be
sharpened or set in a thoroughly efficient manner.
It will be understood that the gearing for revolving the spirals in opposite
directions and for turning the holder or clips may be variously modified to attain
the same result, and the form, proportions, and dimensions of the parts may be
varied according to the purpose for which the apparatus is used.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is―
1stly. The apparatus herein shown and described in which the knife, razor, or
other cutting instrument to be sharpened or set, fixed in a clip or holder, is

page_text: presented alternately at will to the action of two helical sharpening surfaces re-
volving in opposite directions, as set forth.
2ndly. The arrangement for oscillating the clip or holder for presenting both sides
of the blade to the action of the sharpeners as specified.
In witness whercof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
W. CLARK. (LS)