AN IMPROVED KNIFE CLEANER
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Obadiah Barrett and Henry Leggott, of Bradford,
in the County of York, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED KNIFE
CLEANER."
Sealed the 5th June 1868, and dated the 7th December 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Obadiah Barrett and
Henry Leggott at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 7th December 1867.
We, OBADIAH BARRETT and HENRY LEGGOTT, of Bradford, in the County of
York, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED.
KNIFE CLEANER," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to produce an efficient machine for cleaning
knives at as small cost as possible, and for this purpose we employ one, two,
or more cylindrical brushes, which we enclose in a box or casing of suitable
size and form and mount in bearings so as to be capable of rotating therein.
In the construction of these brushes strips of leather, buffalo hide, or other
suitable substance is introduced betwixt the bristles, and in some cases we
introduce metal springs to support the said leather or other substance; also

page_text: at or near one end of each brush we form a groove or space to receive a thin
diaphagm or partition which forms a division in the box or casing and the
brush, one part for cleaning the blade and the other the hilt of the knife..
When only one brush is employed we have one, two, or more pads or cushions
arranged around it which are pressed against the said brush by springs;, and
for insertion and withdrawal of the knives to be cleaned these pads are forced
off the brush by the action of a cam or cams and hand lever or other suitable
Openings are made in the casing for both blade and hilt of a knife
to pass through, and in the diaphragm for the blade only, which passes betwixt
the pad and the brush and into a supporting plate. When this machine is
used emery is introduced and the knife or knives inserted, which are cleaned
on one side by the rotation of the brush; they are then withdrawn and inserted
with the other side to the brush. In some cases we may make the openings.
or slits of the diaphagm and the supporting plate so as to allow the knife or
knives after being cleaned on one side to be turned over to be cleaned on the
other side without withdrawal. When two or more of these brushes are
employed they are placed in contact with each other, and the knife supports
are so arranged that the knife will be placed betwixt two brushes at the point
of contact, so that both sides of the knife will be cleaned simultaneously, and
pads may also be applied to the opposite or outer sides of the brushes. in the
same manner as previously explained if desirable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Obadiah Barrett and Henry Leggott in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 6th June 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, OBADIAH
BARRETT and HENRY LEGGOTT, of Bradford, in the County of York, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us,
the said Obadiah Barrett and Henry Leggott, Her special licence
that we, the said Obadiah Barrett and Henry Leggott, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Obadiah Barrett
%

page_text: and Henry Leggott, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN
IMPROVED KNIFE CLEANER," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Obadiah Barrett and Henry Leggott, our executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Obadiah Barrett and Henry
Leggott, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof and accompanying Sheet of
Drawings (that is to say):-
The object of this Invention is to produce an efficient machine for cleaning
knives at as small cost as possible, and for this purpose we employ one, two,
or more cylindrical brushes, which we enclose in a box or casing of suitable
size and form and mount in bearings so as to be capable of rotating therein.
In the construction of these brushes strips of leather, buffalo hide, or other
suitable substance is introduced betwixt the bristles, and in some cases we
introduce metal springs to support the said leather or other substance; also
at or near one end of each brush we form a groove or space to receive a thin
diaphragm or partition which forms a division in the box or casing, one part
being for cleaning the blade and the other the hilt of the knife. When only
one brush is employed we have one, two, or more pads or cushions arranged
around it which are pressed against the said brush by springs; and for
insertion and withdrawal of the knives to be cleaned these pads are forced off
the brush by the action of a cam or cams and hand lever or other suitable
means. Openings are made in the casing for both blade and hilt of a knife
to pass through, and in the diaphragm for the blade only, which passes betwixt
the pads and the brush and into a supporting plate. When this machine is
used emery is introduced and the knife or knives inserted, which are cleaned
on one side by the rotation of the brush; they are then withdrawn and inserted
with the other side to the brush. In some cases we may make the openings
or slits of the diaphragm and the supporting plate so as to allow the knife or

page_text: knives after being cleaned on one side to be turned over to be cleaned on the
other side without withdrawal. When two or more of these brushes are
employed they are placed in contact with each other, and the knife supports
are so arranged that the knife will be placed betwixt two brushes at the point
of contact, so that both sides of the knife will be cleaned simultaneously, and
pads may also be applied to the opposite or outer sides of the brushes in the
same manner as previously explained if desirable.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section of a machine constructed according
to this Invention; and Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same.
A is the cylindrical brush having strips of buffalo hide a fixed at intervals
betwixt the bristles; B is the diaphragm; and c are the pads which are
hinged at the bottom and pressed against the brush by springs D at the top, the
springs here shewn are of india-rubber but may be of metal; E is a cam or
lever fixed to a turn handle F for removing the pads from contact with the
brush to admit of the free introduction and withdrawal of the knives; G are
the supporting plates which in the Drawing are attached to the pads; H is
à space formed by an extension of the box with additional end, so as to admit
longer knives such as carves being introduced without projecting through
the end or having the brushes made longer than necessary for ordinary knives,
thus effecting a saving in cost of the brush or brushes, and this space may
also form a receptacle for superfluous emery; I is an opening formed in one
of the pads for the purpose of introducing emery to the brush through a
corresponding opening J formed in the top of the casing.
Fig. 3 shews the arrangement of the machine when two brushes are
employed; Fig. 4 shews the slits for receiving and holding the knives
constructed to turn in the diaphragm and supporting plate so that the knives
may be turned over without withdrawal thereof.
Having thus fully described the nature of our said Invention, and shewn the
manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, we would have it understood that we do not confine ourselves
to the precise details as herein shewn and described, but what we claim as of
our Invention is, the employment of one, two, or more cylindrical brushes
having leather, buffalo hide, or other suitable substance introduced betwixt
the bristles, such brush or brushes being enclosed in a box or casing so as
to be capable of receiving rotary motion; also in having pads pressed by
springs into contact with the surface or surfaces of the said brush or brushes

page_text: and removed from contact by cam, lever, or other suitable means for
introduction or withdrawal of the knives.
In witness whereof, we, the said Obadiah Barrett and Henry Leggott,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourth day of June,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
said Obadiah Barrett and Henry
Leggott, in presence of
WM. TASKER,
Patent Agent,
Halifax & Bradford.
OKADIAH BAKKETT. (8.)
HENRY LEGGOTT.
(L.S.)