IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SHARPENING SAWS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stanislas Rolland, of Pacy, in the Department of Eure,
of the Republic of France, Manufacturer, for an Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR SHARPENING SAWS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stanislas Rolland at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd October 1880.
STANILAS ROLLAND, of Pacy, in the Department of Eure, of the Republic of
France, Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SHARPENING SAWS."
The different machines at present in use for sharpening saws are nearly all based
upon the same principle, viz., that of a rotating cutter or stone which is lowered
into a tooth to sharpon it, and is then raised to allow of the saw being advanced
in order to present another tooth to the cutter.
The advancing motion of the saw is usually effected by means of a pawl which
rests on the teeth of the saw, and pushes it along one tooth at a time. Should
however any of the teeth be broken out or worn away more than the others, this
arrangement will not act at all, or act only partially, with disastrous results to the
next tooth to be cut, and therefore continued supervision is necessary during the
working of the machine.
Now the object of the present improvements is to produce a machine which will
be entirely automatic in its action, and by which the inconveniences above
mentioned, besides others, will be avoided, and in which also saws of all kinds,
straight, circular, or band, can be sharpened without any alteration of the sharpening
mechanism.
The apparatus consists of suitable cutting, holding, and advancing mechanisms
which are mounted upon a suitable table. This table is provided at one end with a
pair of brackets which carry a short transverse shaft. This shaft receives rotary
motion in any convenient manner from a prime mover, and from it motion is
communicated to the cutter and feeding mechanisms by bands or otherwise, which
will be hereafter more particularly referred to.

page_text: The cutting instrument it is preferred should be an emery wheel, though the
ordinary rotary steel cutters or hones may be used. These cutting instruments are
formed at their periphery to correspond to the formn of the saw teeth.
The cutting mechanism consists of a vertical standard which is firmly secured to
the table. This standard carries at its upper end a flat plate, to the lower edge of
which is pivotted a segment piece. This piece is slotted to permit of a thumb
screw passing through into the fixed plate, and by which the segment piece may
be maintained at any desired angle. This segment piece carries a pair of arms, in
the upper end of which are bearings for an axle which forms the fulcrum on which
a rock lever oscillates. This axle also carries a pair of grooved pullies, which
receive motion by bands from the main shaft, and communicate the same to the
cutter axle. The cutter is mounted in a fork piece which is provided with a
socket to fit onto one end of the rock lever, where it is secured at any convenient
angle by a clamping screw. The opposite end of this rock lever is connected by
means of link rods with a disc cam, which is mounted on a short shaft carried by
brackets projecting from the side of the machine.
This shaft is provided with a helicoidal wheel which takes into a second
helicoidal wheel mounted on a short transverse shaft carried in bearings below the
table top, and conveniently driven from the main shaft.
It will be seen from the above description that the disc cam as it rotates will rock
the lever on its axis, and raise the cutter from the tooth it is sharpening, the return
motion or lowering of the cutter into a fresh tooth being effected by the weight of
the cutter.
The mode of setting the cutter at the angle to suit the shape of the teeth being
sharpened, will also readily be understood from the foregoing description.
If desired, in addition to the above motions of the cutter, an inclination in a
longitudinal direction may be given to the cutter. To effect this the cutter will be
mounted in bearings in an adjustable fork pendont from a curved arm projecting
from the socket which fits onto one end of the rock lever.
The holding mechanism consists of what may be termed an elongated vice, one
jaw of which is fixed to the table, the two jaws being clamped together by a
clamping screw. These jaws are intended to maintain the saw in a vertical
position while being sharpened, and while holding it sufficiently tight to prevent
any lateral motion, will allow the saw to be moved forward to present a new tooth
to the cutter.
The saw rests upon and is held at the required height by a supporting piece
which is connected by link rods to a transverse piece carried by a semicircular
bracket extending from and firmly secured to the end of the table. The transverse
piece being fixed and forming, with the supporting piece and link rods, a
parallelogram, any change in the inclination of the link rods will raise or lower
the saw, as the case may be. The supporting piece is placed in the space below
the jaws of the vice.
The above arrangement of holding mechanism is suitable for straight saws only.
For band saws, it is necessary to have in addition the pullies of an ordinary
sharpening bench. These pullies will be so arranged in the machine at the same
height as to hold the band saw on its edge while its teeth are being sharpened.
The advancing mechanism, as applied to straight and band saws, consists of a pair
of rock shafts suitably mounted longitudinally of the table, and one on either side
thereof. These rock shafts are connected together in such a manner as to ensure
their working together, and they receive a rocking motion by means of a lever and
link rod from a disc cam on the opposite end of the helicoidal. wheel shaft before
referred to. Keyed upon each of these rock shafts is a curved socketted arm which
carries at its outer end, and at right angles thereto, one or more smaller but similar
arms. Each of these arms carries a finger which takes respectively into a tooth of
the saw.
As the rock shafts are actuated in one direction, each of these fingers is
caused to slide out of the tooth in which it rests and drop into the next tooth, and

page_text: on the return motion of the rock shaft the fingers are drawn forward, bringing
with them the saw. In this manner, should a tooth be broken out, there will still
be two other teeth on which the fingers can act, and thus the working of the
apparatus will be continuous.
When it is desired to sharpen a circular saw, the saw is mounted between the
jaws of the vice and upon the clamping screw, which will thus serve as the axis on
which the saw rotates.
To provide for the advancing of this saw additional means beyond those just
described are used. Upon the axle of the saw is mounted loosely an arm which
extends beyond the periphery of the saw. To the outer end of this arm is pivotted
a short arm which is provided with one or more fingers that take into the teeth of
the saw.
An oscillating motion is communicated to this arm from one of the rock shafts
in any convenient manner, the fingers sliding out of one tooth and into the other
as before explained.
The fingers as used for the straight saw are thrown out of gear when the
circular saw
being sharpened.
The outer branch of the vice is slotted to allow of the shifting of the clamping
screw to accommodate the different sizes of circular saws, and the link rods con-
necting the various parts with the disc cams are capable of adjustment, to permit
of the machine being used for sharpening saws of any sized tooth.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Stanislas Rolland in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd April
1881.
STANISLAS ROLLAND, of Pacy, in the Department of Eure, of the Republic of
France, Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SHARPENING SAWS."
The different machines for sharpening saws are nearly all based upon the same
principle, viz., that a rotary cutter or stone is lowered into a tooth to sharpen it,
and is then raised to allow of the saw being advanced in order to present another
tooth to the cutter. The advancing motion of the saw is effected by means of a
pawl which takes into the teeth of the saw in succession and propels it forward.as
required.
If, however, a tooth be broken, the pawl, finding no bearing point, will cease to
advance the saw, and the sharpening operation will be suspended, constant super-
vision of the machine is therefore necessary. Also in the case where a tooth is
more worn than the others; or is shorter, the pawl fails to propel the saw the full
distance, and the next tooth not being in its place is cut or badly sharpened.
In this latter case if the machine be allowed to continue working by itself and
the saw under treatment is either a circular or endless saw, it will in making more
than one turn be injured, as each time the defective tooth is presented to the pawl
another tooth will be damaged.
Now the object of the present improvements is to provide a machine which will
be entirely automatic in its action, and by which the inconveniences mentioned
above, besides others of lesser noment, will be avoided, and further to provide
a machine in which saws of all kinds, viz., straight, circular, or band, can be
sharpened without any alteration of the sharpening mechanism.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine for
sharpening saws; Fig. 2 is a plan view, and Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same;
Fig. 4 is a similar view, partly in section, with certain parts removed and intended
to show more particularly the mode of raising and lowering the cutting wheel;
Figures 5 represent in detail and in plan and elevation the mode of mounting an
endless or a straight saw; Fig. 6 shows in elevation, and Fig. 7 in plan view a
circular saw mounted for sharpening, and Figures 8 and 9 show various details
of the holding mechanism.
In all the Figures the same letters of reference represent corresponding parts.
A, A, is a cast iron frame supporting a table B which carries all the moving parts
of the machine; c, c, are two bracket arms extending from the table and carrying
at their outer extremities bearings c', c¹, for a transverse shaft D. This shaft is
provided at one end with fast and loose pullies d, ', and receives its motion from
the prime mover. Keyed upon the centre of this shaft is a V pulley , from which
motion is communicated to the cutting wheel or tool as hereafter to be explained.
On the opposite end of the shaft D are keyed two V pulleys d³, d, of different
diameters, which, by means of a band, drive the shaft E, which is intended to
actuate the mechanism for advancing the saw, and also for raising and lowering the
cutting wheel into the teeth of the saw to be sharpened.
A handle may be fitted to the shaft D in order that the machine may if desired
be worked by hand, or the handle may be placed in any other position, in which case
it must be connected with the shaft D by suitable gearing. Fis the grinding wheel
or cutting tool, and it is capable of receiving three different movements, videlicet,
a to and fro motion, a movement of inclination, and a rotary motion. It is fixed
on an axle turning in bearings f in the fork of a forked rock lever f¹ which has its

page_text: fulcrum at f. The end f³ of this lever is connected to a block f* by means of a
bolt. Through this block f passes a threaded rod f5 which is provided with the
thumb screw f, whereby the length of the rod may be regulated. The rod f³ is
connected by a shackle and bolt f7 to a lever H placed transversely of the table
and having its fulcrum at h. The rising and falling of this lever, as will be here-
after more fully explained, gives the oscillating movement to the grinding wheel
lever, whereby the grinding wheel is raised from the saw to allow of the latter
advancing.
The rising movement is produced as follows, videlicet, the shaft D through the
pulley by means of its band drives a pulley e mounted on one end of the shaft E.
On the other end of this shaft is a worm e' which takes into a worm g on a shaft G.
This shaft G is mounted parallel with the frane A in brackets bolted to the side
thereof.
To the rear end of this shaft G is keyed a slotted disc or crank plate g² to receive a
pin fixed to one end of a rod g³, the other end of which is connected to the lever H.
As the slotted disc rotates a rocking motion will be communicated to the lever H,
which, by reason of its connection with the lever f' will raise the cutting wheel
clear of the saw tooth. When the pressure is removed from the lever H the cutting
wheel will fall by its own weight into action. The amount of fall being regulated
by the thumb nut f" before referred to.
The necessary inclination to suit the varied forms of teeth can be given to the
cutting wheel in two different ways, which may be used separately or in combi-
nation. K is a standard or support fixed to the table B and carrying a vertical
plate. To this plate is pivotted at ka segment plate k, in which is formed a curved
slot to receive a screwed stud pin k² which projects from the back plate and receives
a clamping nut for fixing the seginent plate at any desired angle. The plate k
carries two bracket pieces or arms, between which the rock lever f¹ is mounted, and
by rocking the plate on its pivot k¹ the inclination of the plate may be readily
changed, and with it that of the cutting wheel.
The inclination of the cutting wheel may also be effected by dividing the lever f¹
into two parts, and forming one with a socket f8 to fit onto or receive the other
part, the two parts being secured together at the desired angle by one or more
The combination of the two modes just described will meet every practical
screws.
want.
The rotary motion for the cutting tool F is taken from the pulley d², a band
from which passes to a loose double pulley f10 on the fulcrum pin f2 of the lever f¹,
and a second band from this pulley gives motion to a pulley f keyed on the spindlo
of the cutting tool.
The advancing movement of the saw is effected by the following means:-At
the forward end of the shaft G is keyed a slotted disc or crank plate L, in the slot
of which a pin engages. This pin is connected to one end of an adjustable
connecting rod . On opposite sides of the table B and longitudinally thereof are
mounted in centres two axles 1, 3, which receive an interinittent axial motion;
the axle, by means of the bent lever +, which is connected to the rod l, and the
axle by means of arms m, m³, keyed on their respective axles and connected by a
link m'.
The lever is provided with a tail piece 15, the use of which will be hereafter
indicated.
On the axles 2 and 13 are keyed curved arms N, n. The arm N is fitted with a
stud pin which carries two short bent arms n² and n³, the outer ends of which are
slotted to receive pins or fingers n. The arm n carries a single arm n', which is
provided with a finger in the same manner as above described. These pins or
fingers are fixed in the slots by nuts or in any other convenient manner, and are
intended to enter in the teeth of the saw to be sharpened to advance it inter-
mittently. This arrangement of fingers or pins is applicable only to the advancing
of straight saws, but, their position being adjustable in the slots, they can be made
available for any sizes of saw.

page_text: The table B is provided at its end with a curved bracket arm b, which carries
the fixed jaw o of a kind of vice. This jaw extends to the foot of the machine
where it is hinged to a movable jaw o¹, which is tightened up as required by the
winged nut o², Figures 1, 6, and 8. The jaw o' is hollowed out at one part of its
length to allow space for an apparatus to hold the saw at the proper elevation while
being sharpened.
The apparatus for holding straight and band saws is shewn on an enlarged scale
at Figures 5, and as applied to the machine at Fig. 1.
It is formed of a curved bracket P, which is bolted to the framing of the
machine. The ends p, p, of this bracket are rivetted to a horizontal cross piece p',
which is connected to a second cross piece p² above it by connecting rods p³, p³ so
as to form the figure of a parallelogram. The upper cross piece is grooved to
receive the saw blade P¹ to be sharpened, and by varying the inclination of the
rods p³, the cross piece p³ is raised or lowered according to the depth of the saw
blade to be acted upon. The cross piece p² is placed in the space between the two
jaws o, o', and is held in position by a screw bolt which passes through the slot o³
in the fixed jaw (see Fig. 6). The jaws are tightened up sufficiently to hold the
blade quite steady during the sharpening operation, but not enough to prevent
the sliding forward of the blade under the action of the fingers n'.
When it is desired to act on a band saw, the pulleys ordinarily employed in a
sharpening bench are used. They are placed on a level with the jaws, between
which one side of the band saw passes, the other side passing between the support
of the lever H and the arms c, c, but any other suitable arrangement can be
adopted.
In putting the machine into action it is necessary, first, to regulate the three
fingers n, so that they will take into three different teeth of the saw, and thus
ensure by their reciprocating motion the regular advance of the saw. By this
means a perfect and regular sharpening of the teeth will be obtained, no matter the
amount of wear of the teeth or even the loss of one or more.
The means for holding a circular saw differ from that above described; thus the
special support above described is removed, and the parts shewn in the Drawings,
Figures 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9, are employed.
The circular saw is fixed on an axle o³, passing through a slot o' in the jaws o, o¹,
and secured in front by a winged nut o³. In rear of the jaws o, o', and on the
axle o is mounted a sleeve o carrying a lever 07, which is provided with a slot of
to receive a stud pin q', which is secured in any desired position in the slot by a
nut q. On the pin q³ an arm Q, provided with a finger or pin q is mounted.
This finger q takes into the teeth of the saw to advance it as required. The
lever may be shifted nearer to or further from the centre o² to suit the varying
diameters of the circular saws.
A rising and falling inotion is given to the lever o' in the following manner :-
To the back of the lever o is secured a stud pin r; on this pin is mounted a swivel
block, which is pierced to receive a rod S. This rod is pivotted at its upper
ends to the tail piece of the lever, which is keyed on the shaft. This shaft l²,
receiving an intermittent movement from the shaft G, with which it is in connection,
actuates the rod S, and the lever o7 which draws with it thic lever Q and forces the
finger q out of the tooth in which it is resting into the next, the return or down-
ward motion of the lever of causing the saw to turn the distance of one tooth, thus
presenting a new tooth to the action of the cutting wheel.
During the sharpening of the circular saw, the fingers are removed, and 5
in like manner the lever Q, rod S, and lever of may be removed when a straight
saw is being sharpened.
In saws where the teeth incline alternately to the right and left, the advancing
mechanism may be arranged to take into every second tooth, by which means the
teeth on one side may be first sharpened, and then the saw will be turned round 5
and the teeth on the other side sharpened.
Having now described my Invention of " Improvements in Apparatus for

page_text: Sharpening Saws," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,
I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I
claim,-
First. The socket arrangement ƒ³, by which any inclination may be given to the
cutting tool or grinding wheel independently of the position already given by the
inclination of the sector plate, as herein described.
Second. The combination of adjustable cranks and connecting rods for actuating
the various parts of the machine, as described, whereby all sizes of saws may be
sharpened in one and the same machine.
Third. The application of a multiple ratchet arrangement, having fingers
adjustable at will to suit all sizes of teeth, as described.
Fourth. The arrangement of holding jaws o, o¹, provided with a slot to receive a
inovable axle on which to mount circular saws, as described.
Fifth. The combination in a saw sharpening machine of apparatus, substan-
tially as herein shewn and described, for holding straight and band saws in position
while being sharpened.
Sixth. The combination of apparatus, substantially as herein shewn and described,
for holding and rotating circular saws.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stanislas Rolland, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, the Twenty first day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
STANISLAS ROLLAND. (L.S.)