A NEW OR IMPROVED AP- PARATUS FOR CLEANING KNIVES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Ayton, of Lion Street, New Kent Road, in the
County of Surrey, Cutler, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED AP-
PARATUS FOR CLEANING KNIVES."
aled the 12th April 1878, and dated the 16th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Ayton at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th October 1877.
WILLIAM AYTON, of Lion Street, New Kent Road, in the County of Surrey, Cutler.
"A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CLEANING KNIVES."
According to my Invention I fit a box or case in a frame, and I mount therein
two rollers touching each other, and revolving in contrary directions by means of
endless cords passing over pulleys keyed on the axles of the rollers. These rollers
are set in motion by hand, steam, or otherwise. On their circumference I attach
pieces of leather (preferably sea-horse hide, bull neck, or buff) forming two rows,
but leaving a space between them.
The polishing material or agent is introduced to the rollers through a hopper
fitted at the top of the case or box, and when used or should too much have been
admitted, it is withdrawn at bottom of the case through a sliding door or trap.
The knife to be cleaned is introduced through an opening made in the case, and
protected by leather, felt, or other material (to prevent the escape of the polishing
agent or material during the revolution of the rollers), and lies between the rollers,
with its cutting edge downwards. It is held by the handle, and is kept in position by
guides, and rests on friction wheels, and as the cleaning rollers revolve, it must be
drawn between them, and thus the whole blade of the knife is cleaned.
With this apparatus the handle of the knife is not liable to be broken as is the
case in other knife-cleaning apparatus, and the "shoulder" of the knife is also
cleaned at the same time as the blade.

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Ayton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th April
1878.
WILLIAM AYTON, of Lion Street, New Kent Road, in the County of Surrey, Cutler.
A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CLEANING KNIVES."
This Invention has for object a new or improved apparatus for cleaning knives,
and consists in the use or employment of two cleaning rollers mounted in the same
horizontal plane, and turning in contrary directions the one to the other, by any suit-
able driving power in order to effect the cleaning. On the periphery of these rollers are
pieces of leather (charged with polish) in contact with each other for operating on
the knife to be cleaned, the blade of which is placed between the rollers, and drawn
through by the handle during their revolution.
I proceed, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, to describe an apparatus
constructed according to my Invention, and specially employed for cleaning table
knives.
Figure 1 is a front elevation.
Figure 2, a longitudinal secton; and Figure 3, a plan of the same, one of the
covers in this Figure being partially raised.
Now in accordance with my Invention I fit in an iron frame A a box or case B
made. of wood or metal, and provided with hinged covers B1, B2. In this box or
case are two cleaning rollers C, C¹, which are mounted fast on their respective axes
a, a¹, and turn in a direction contrary to each other, as shewn by the arrows in
Figure 2. The axis a of the roller C is mounted in fixed bearings, while the axis
a¹ of the roller C is mounted in moveable bearings h, h, and is capable of adjust-
ment for the purposes herein-after mentioned.
On the axis b held in the frame at the lower part thereof is mounted the driving
wheel D, which imparts motion by means of endless cords or straps b², 68, to the
cleaning rollers C, C₁, the said cords or straps passing from the driving wheel D
(which, for this purpose, has two grooves) over the pulleys c, c', respectively. The
driving wheel is operated by the handle D* mounted on the axis b, but instead of
the handle, a treadle or steam power may be employed for driving the apparatus.
The periphery of each roller is armed with pieces of leather d, d, which are fixed
thereto by nails and glue, and they are arranged in two rows, a space being left
between them. The leather I prefer for this purpose being sea-horse hide, bull neck,
The pieces of leather of one roller are in close contact with those of the
other roller, and pass over every part of the surface of the blade of the knife while
it is being cleaned.
or buff.
The polishing material or agent may be introduced to the rollers through a
hopper F fitted to the top of the case; but if preferred it may be thrown directly
on to the rollers by raising either of the lids B1, B2, of the case or box B, which are
hinged at e, e, for this purpose, and also for affording ready access to the rollers,
the hopper being then dispensed with.
The blade of the knife to be cleaned is introduced through an opening E in the
centre and sides of the box or case, and then enters and lies between the rollers,
and is prevented from descending too far by means of the guide G and rests g, g*.
The guide and rests also prevent the knife being drawn down below the rollers
during their revolution, and the space between the rows of leather allows the rollers
to revolve freely without coming in contact with the guide. The cutting edge of
the knife is placed either upward or downward, but the upward position is the one
however preferred. It is then held by its handle, and as the rollers revolve, it is
drawn through and between them, and the whole blade comes out perfectly clean.
The sides of the opening E are protected by tufts of bristle f, or by pieces of
leather, or felt, or other suitable material in order to prevent escape of the polishing

page_text: agent or material during the working of the apparatus, and the top is also protected
with strips of india-rubber fx, or other like material for the same purpose.
H, H', are doors or traps to permit the withdrawal from the rollers of the used
polishing material, or the surplus of an overcharged supply.
As after the apparatus has been in use some time, and the pieces of leather
become worn and out of contact, they must be restored to position in order to
operate on the knife to be cleaned, and I effect this by causing the roller C, mounted
in the moveable bearings h, to approach the roller C₁ by means of adjusting screws l, l,
which, passing through the frame on each side of the apparatus, and abutting
against the moveable bearings, force them, on the screws being revolved to travel in
the slots in the frame, and to bring with them the axis and its roller to the desired
extent against the other roller.
By the use of this apparatus the knife is cleaned up to the shoulder, and all
chance of breaking the handles, as is often experienced by the employment of
other rotary knife cleaners, is avoided.
The apparatus may be fixed to a table or dresser by bolts or screws, or it
clamped thereto if desired.
may be
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim, the new or improved apparatus for
cleaning knives, consisting of two rollers mounted in the same horizontal plane and
revolving in contrary directions, to effect the cleaning, as herein described and
shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Ayton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
ERNEST DE PASS,
Patent Office,
68, Fleet Street,
London,
WILLIAM AYTON. (L.S.)