IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY POR CLEANING, POLISHING, AND SHARPENING KNIVES, FORKS, AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1844

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
KENT, of Constitution Row, Gray's Inn Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Blind Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, .by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twelfth day of June (One thousand eight hundred and forty-four),
in the seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto ine, the said George Kent, my exors, alors, and assigns,
Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that ], the said
George Kent, my exors, aduiors, and assigns, and such others as I, the
said George Kent, my exors, adiiors, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter, during the
term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within that part of Her said Majesty's United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion of Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, the Invention (partly communicated to me by a certain
Foreigner residing abroad, and partly my own Invention) of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY POR CLEANING, POLISHING, AND SHARPENING KNIVES, FORKS, AND OTHER
ARTICLES;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging
me, the said George Kent; to particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and to cause the same to be

page_text: inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
George Kent, do hereby declare that the general nature and intention of the
said Invention consists in or has reference to the principle of construction and
action with the modes of arrangement of the mechanical parts, and the com-
bination thereof, as the same are herein-after described and set forth, and
applied to the forming and making a machine for the purposes of cleaning,
polishing, and sharpening knives, forks, and other articles in a more rapid and
efficacious manner than the same has heretofore been done. The following is
a detailed Specification of the mode of carrying into practical effect the object
of the aforesaid Invention, and such Specification has reference to its accom-
panying Sheets of Illustrative Drawings, with the letters and numeral Figures
thercon placed for that purpose, that is to say:-
The said Drawings are respectively marked Drawing No. 1, Drawing No. 2,
and Drawing No. 3. I declare the principle of construction and the general
mechanical arrangement of the said machine to be as follows:-I form two flat
circular brushes or rubbers respectively, formed of hair, bristles, or any of the
materials of which brushes or rubbers are or may effectively be made, and I
place the two brushes in slight contact by their inner faces; and I affix to the
back of each a spindle, having a flanch by which it is attached to the back of
the brush, the journal of each spindle resting in bearings in which it turns,
and thus the spindles form an axle on which the two cylindrical brushes can
rotate together; or, otherwise I place the two brushes in slight contact as
before, and I fix them on a metal or other spindle or axle which passes entirely
through both the brushes. In either case the brushes will rotate on their
centres by the applied continuous circular action of a winch or other power.
I apply to the faces of such brushes and rubbers oil, with emery, crocus,
rotten-stone, whiting, or any of the materials generally used for the purpose of
cleansing or sharpening of metallic cutting tools and instruments, and I apply
the blades of the knives or other articles to be operated upon between the
inner faces of the circular brushes for the better preservation of the brushes,
and the more convenient application of their action to use. I enclose them in
a cylindrical case or drum, through which the axle passes, which is common to
the two brushes. I form apertures about the curved surface or edge of the
cylindrical case or drum, through and into which introduce the knives or
articles to be operated upon to the depth required to bring their working parts

page_text: under the action of the brushes; and, finally, I mount the entire arrangement
in a suitable frame or stand.
The Drawing No 1 represents in its Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the method
of constructing the machine when the spindle on which the cylindrical brushes
are fixed is formed in two separate portions, as at first above described. The
Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of the machine, taken in a vertical
direction, parallel to the faces of its cylindrical brushes. Figure 2 represents
a sectional elevation of the machine, also taken vertically, but in a direction at
right angles to the direction of the section represented in the Figure 1, or
parallel to the axis on which they are fixed, the two Figures together exhibiting
the interior construction of the machine in two directions. Figure 3 repre-
sents an external view in an elevation taken in the direction of the section
represented in the Figure 1. Figure 4 represents an external view in eleva-
tion of the machine, as seen edgewise or against the cylindrical surface of the
case or drum within which the circular brushes are enclosed. Figure 5
represents the spindle or axle on which the circular brushes are fixed when it
passes entirely through both the brushes in the manner before described.
A (in the Figures 1 and 2) is a simple supporting framework, which may be
of any required character to suit the circumstances or the required scale of the
machine. B, B, (Figure 2) the horizontal spindle, working in bearings
placed in the supporting frame. C, C', are two flat circular brushes, which
are fixed on the spindle B, B; and D, D, D, D, a cylindrical case or drum,
which encloses the brushes C, C', and has its bearings in the upper parts of
the supporting framework A, A. E, E, (Figure 3) are two of a series of
openings or slots, of any convenient or required number, varying according to
the required scale of the machine, formed at equal distances from each other
on the periphery or edge of the cylindrical drum D, D, D, D; and through
these openings or slots the knife or other article to be cleansed is to be intro-
duced by inserting it singly in the slot, and pressing it forward therein until its
farther entrance within the slot is prevented by the projecting shoulder at the
bottom of the blade; or, in other cases, until the entire length of the blade or
portion which it is required to have cleansed and polished by the action of the
machine shall have entered within the cavity of the cylindrical drum, and
consequently between the faces of the circular brushes herein-before described;
or I construct the slot with a lining piece or fixed plate of gum caoutchouc, or
other moderately elastic substance, having an aperture of entrance for the
knife or other article of somewhat smaller dimensions than the first or outer
aperture, and by this elastic lining piece of smaller aperture the knife is held
with the required firmness. In the case of the article to be operated upon

page_text: being a knife, or other article having a projecting flanch or shoulder at the
lower extremity of its blade, it is to be pressed forward within the slot until its
flanch or shoulder arrives at the stop or guide piece shewn in the Drawing at
e, e, in the Figure 1, against which it is to bé moderately pressed, and will
then be kept steadily in its proper position by such. pressure; or if the lining
piece or fixed plate of guin caoutchoue above described be used, then the knife
is pressed into and against that piece. The application if the lining.piece or
fixed plate of gum caoutchouc to form the aperture of admission of the article
to be cleansed to the action of the cylindrical brushes, is shewn in the Figure 3*
of the Drawing No. 1, in which M, M, represents a brass plate, covering the
apertures of admission to the cylindrical brushes. K is an aperture of some-
what larger dimensions than the diameter of the article requires, and k, a
plate of gum caoutchoue, having a smaller aperture or slit a placed within the
aperture K, and its centre placed in the centre of the larger aperture of. K.
N is a projecting rim or shelf at the lower part of K, on which the article
presented is partially supported and steadied. The smaller aperture L in the
plate M, M, is formed for the admission of forks, shewing its plate or lining
piece of gum caoutchoue, having a smaller aperture or slit. z., The before-
mentioned circular brushes are to be partially saturated with oil, and are then
afterwards supplied in an uniform and self-acting manner, and in a moderate
degree, with finely-powdered emery properly washed, the polishing powder
called crocus, the carthy substance used as a polishing powder and termed
rotten-stone, commonly prepared whiting, or any other material of similar
character, and suitable to the purpose of scouring and polishing steel cutting or
other tools, or other articles. I then give direct and continuous circular
motion to the aforesaid circular brushes by a crank mover, the driving or
motive power of which I assist by the action of a fly wheel in cases where the
action of the machine is required to be of force sufficient, to overcome an
encreased or unusual resistance. The application of a fly wheel is shown in
the Figures 2 and 4 of the Drawing No. 1, at F, F, F, F, F, F, and handle G.
I supply the cylindrical brushes with the powder necessary for the operation by
'conveying it into the interior of the cylindrical drum D, D, by a method herein-
after to be described. I suspend the cylindrical drum D, D, on its divided
spindle in this construction of the machine in the following manner; that is to
say, I construct the spindle of two portions, each of which portions is applied
by one of its extremities in one of the bearings of the standards of the sup
porting frame, whilst at its other extremity it is applied and attached to the
outer surface of the back of the cylindrical brush at its central point in the
following manner :-To the back board of one of the circular brushes, as C in

page_text: the Figure 2, I affix a small bearing plate or flanch bearing M, having a
stem or portion of shaft B projecting therefrom. This is made to pass into
and through a socket fixed in one of the standards of the supporting frame, as
shewn in the Figure, and it has attached to its outer extremity the fly wheel
E, E, E, &c., as shewn in the Figure, or a simple crank handle, or any other
suitable provision for actuating the same. The second or opposite circular
brush C is also provided with a bearing plate or flanch bearing M', of similar
form, which is fixed to the back of the circular brush C'. The plate M' has
also a stem H projecting from its centre, and this is made to pass into and to
fit to the extent of about half its length into a socket Q, fixed on the outer
face of the cylindrical drum, as shewn in the Figure. Now, if a continuous
rotary motion be given to the circular brush C by the action of the actuating
movement at E, E, E, &c. and G, the contact and friction of that brush with
and against the second and corresponding brush C' will, by the interlacing
and holding produced between the bristles of each, cause the second brush C
to perform continuous circular motion also, and at the same rate of speed as
that at which the first brush C is driven by the actuating mover at E, E, E, &c.
and G. In the Figure 1 of the Drawing No. 1 the position and the mode of
applying the knife or article to be cleansed to the machine is shewn at T; a
variable pressure of the brush C' against the brush C, and consequently against
the article on which the two brushes operate, is produced by the action of the
adjusting screw S in the Figure 2. I construct modifications of the said
machine for the purposes of cleansing knives, forks, and other articles under
the variable circumstances of differences of general dimensions and form on
the same general principles of construction, but under different forms, arrange-
ments, and combinations of mechanical parts to effect the aforesaid purposes
of the said Invention in manner following, that is to say:-
In the Drawing No. 2 I set forth one of such modifications in the Figures
1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a cylindrical
drum D, D, mounted upon a supporting frame A, A, and containing within it
two sets of brushes arranged cylindrically, each of such sets being distinct and
separate froin the other set, but both of such sets of brushes fixed on and re-
volving with the same spindle or axle. Thus, in the Figure 1, I; I, is a spindle
or axle, on which there is set the centre block or supporting block K, K, the
wedge pieces L, L, and L, L, applying by their strait sides to the backs of the
brushes F and F, whilst the slope sides of the wedge pieces apply to the
inclined surface of the centre block K, K, and thus when the block K, K, is
advanced in the cylindrical drum (in the direction of the arrow y in Figure 1)
the cylindrical set of brushes F, F, is pressed or forced into closer contact or

page_text: nearer to the outer cylindrical brush or cylindrical set of brushes E, E, and so
into closer contact and greater pressure upon the knife or article submitted to
their cleansing action. The outer cylindrical set of brushes E, E, is fixed to
the end E, E, of the cylinder, whilst the inner cylindrical set of brushes
F, F, is adjustable or moveable by the advance of the centre block K, K, and
the action of the same upon the wedge pieces L, I, I, L, as aforesaid. The
advance of the centre block K, K, when required, is effected by the action of
the screwed nut X on the screwed end i of the spindle I, I. The continuous
circular or rotary motion of the two cylindrical sets of brushes E and F
is given by the crank handle at B in the Figure, or any other suitable motive
action. The acting extremities of the brushes of both the sets meet in
contact in the circular line G. At convenient distances through the circular
course of this circle of their contact apertures are made, through which the
knives or other articles are inserted for cleansing. Two of such apertures are
shewn at V and V, and such insertion of the knife or article is shewn at H.
W shews the delivery mouth of a flat metal scoop or flattened passage, which
passes partially round the outer circle formed by the backs of the outer cylindrical
set of brushes dipping by one of its open extremities into the cleansing powder
deposited in the cylindrical drum for the purpose of delivering it from its
other open extremity to the brushes near to their centres. Figure 2 repre-
sents a vertical section of the Figure 1, taken through the dotted line Y, Y,
of that Figure. In Figure 2 the same parts are respectively marked with the
same letters of reference as far as the same can be seen in both Figures.
The screwed bolt V is placed on the outside of the cylindrical drum already
described, for the purpose of tightening up and holding the cylindrical sets of
brushes already described firmly when they are set to the different distances
that may be from time to time required. The inner cylindrical set of brushes
(marked in the Figure 1) consists of separate brushes, each of them
forming a portion of a circle, and their backs fashioned in a circular form
when the diameter of the inner cylinder to which they belong is found to
require it. The separate brushes of such inner cylindrical set are marked in
the Figure 2 respectively 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. The Figure 3 represents
an external end elevation of the machine, shewing the end of the cylindrical
drum D, a portion of the supporting framework A, A, and its spindle or axle I
and H the oblong aperture of admission for the application of the knives and
other articles to the action of the brushes. X represents a small brush fixed
upon the side of the supporting frame A, A, for the purpose of brushing out
and assisting in the operation of cleansing forks and similar articles. Y is the
usual knife-sharpening apparatus for sharpening knives after the operation of

page_text: cleansing. The Figure 4 represents the outer view of the end of the machine,
shewing the application of a metal plate J, J, over the wood end of the
cylindrical drum, in which plate there are oblong apertures H, H, &c. of some-
what smaller dimensions than the apertures, also marked H, HI, &c. in the
Figure 3, this plate being so adjusted in its place over the wood end of the
cylindrical drum as that its apertures partially close or diminish the visible or
accessible area of the apertures first mentioned formed in the wood end of the
cylindrical drum, and thus operate to grip or hold the knife or other article
introduced therein more firmly and steadily than it would have been held in
the apertures made through the wood end of the cylindrical drum by them-
selves without the addition of such metal plate J, J, as described in the
Figure 4. The Figure 5 represents the mode of forming the junction of the
metal plate J, J, described in the Figure 4, so that the expanded state of the
plate shall not derange the integrity of the holding, the convex or projecting
portions A, A, A, A, A, fitting into or interlapping with the corresponding
retiring portions B, B, B, B, B, of the opposite edge. I make a further
modification of the machine for the same purposes as aforesaid in the following
manner (that is to say) :-I make the spindle or axle on which the circular
brushes are set screw-threaded throughout its entire length, with the exception
of the extreme bearing ends on which it rests; and I make two screwed tubes
or thimbles which are fitted upon the shaft B, one of them being applied at
each of its ends and within the bearings of the shaft, and it is within these
and by the means of their action on the screwed shaft that the brushes C and
C are adjusted to the proper distance from each other, and are kept thereby
in their proper relative positions to produce the due bearing on each other
in order to effect the required pressure against the faces of the blade of the
knife or article to be operated upon. The circular brushes C and C¹ are in
this modification also firmly fixed to the tubes by means of metal flanches.
In this modification of the machine I make the shaft on which the circular
brushes are fixed one continuous shaft to pass entirely through the width of
the machine; the shaft passes through each of the brushes at its centre, and
being fast thereto, they have their circular revolving motion with it. In this
construction the radius of the circular brushes or the half of their diametral
dimension determines and limits the length of the knives or other articles to
be operated upon, because they cannot pass the central point of the brushes
on account of the shaft passing through them at that point; but the diametral
dimension of the brushes being sufficiently large for the radius thereof to
be of length equal to that of the knives or other articles to be operated
upon, the operating action of the machine is not impeded thereby, and a
considerable mechanical advantage is obtained in the firmness of construction.

page_text: This modification is represented in the Drawing No. 3 by the Figures 1, 2,
and 3, the Figure 1 being a sectional clevation of the same, taken in a line
of direction parallel to the surfaces of the circular brushes C, C¹. A, A, is
the supporting frame; C, the front view or face of one of the brushes; I, the
spindle or axle H, H, H, &c., the apertures of admission for the introduction
of the knives or other articles to the action of the brushes, and K shews the
mode of application of the knife or other article. The Figure 2 represents a
side or profile view of the cylindrical drum D, D; H, H, H, &c., the apertures
of admission for the introduction of the knives, &c. Tho Figure 3 represents
an end view of the machine in clevation, in which the same parts are respec-
tively marked by the sanic letters of reference as in the Figure 1. B is the
acting handle of the crank handle I, I, in the spindle or axle, and i, i, shew
the portions of the spindle or axle that are made screw-threaded, as herein-
before described, for the purpose of adjusting the pressure of the two circular
brushes against each other. C and C¹ shew respectively the two circular
brushes, and W the channel or scoop already described, by which the cleansing
powder deposited in the cylindrical drum is distributed over and amongst the
cylindrical brushes.
In the Drawing No. 1, the Figures 6 and 7 represent a further modifica-
tion of my machine, which I apply to the purpose of cleansing and polishing
articles of other forms than knives, and such articles, as, for instance, articles
of cylindrical, of conical, or of polygonal form in their cross sections. The
Figure 6 shews a longitudinal section of the same, taken in a direction
parallel to the axis of the figure or machine, which is that of a hollow cylin-
drical drum, partially fitted with tufts of hair, bristles, rubbers, or other matters
suitable to the described purpose of cleansing and polishing the articles
applied to their action. In this Figure A, A, shews the outer case or cover
of the drum, and B, B, sets of tufts of hair, bristles, &c., meeting each other,
or nearly so, by their loose or open extremities, they being held or fixed by
their upper or closed extremities in the inner side of the cylindrical drum, as
shewn in the Figure. C, C, shews an object intended to be operated upon, as
introduced through the centre of the assemblage of brushes by suitable aper-
tures made in the ends or covers of the cylindrical drums. The Figure 7
shews a transverse section of the arrangement and construction shewn in the
Figure 6, the same parts, as far as they can be seen in both these Figures,
being marked with the same letters of reference respectively. The cylindrical
drum fitted with internal brushes, as described, being made to rotate by any
convenient and suitable mode of communicating such action, and the article to
be operated upon introduced as shewn in Figure 6, with the proper supply of
cleansing powder or other material, as already leserified, the required opera-

page_text: tion is performed. In the Figure 1 of the Drawing No. 1, the male screw a
is made with any suitable head, according to the scale and dimensions and
weight of the machine, to work in the hollow screw socket Q for the purpose
of compressing and tightening or of releasing the contact of the brushes, in
order to admit of the introduction of forks, which, being of bent and curved
form, require more space between the brushes than the flattened forms of
knives; and for the same purpose of the admission of forks and other objects
of curved or irregular form to the action of the machine, I form and arrange
the faces of the brushes in curved or irregular figure, to suit the form of such
forks or other article, as the case may from time to time in practice requiro
to be done, to perform the operation of their cleansing in a proper and
efficacious manner.
I now declare that, having described and set forth the nature and intention
of my said Invention, and also the manner in which the same is to be carried
into practical effect, I state the distinct claims I desire to make as regards
the same, that is to say,-
I claim as of my Invention the principle of construction, the arrangements
of mechanical parts, and the several combinations thereof as regards the
modes of application, of collections, and arrangements of cleansing brushes
and rubbers to the cleansing and polishing of knives and other articles, and
with the minor arrangements thereof, for the several purposes herein-before
described and set forth, and these in the manner and according to the
arrangements, constructions, and combinations as I have herein-before specified
and described them.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Kent, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-four