IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR GRINDING AND SHARPENING KNIVES OR CUTTERS OF REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES AND OTHER KNIVES, CUTTERS, TOOLS, OR INSTRUMENTS, PART OF THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE FOR VARIOUS MOTIVE PURPOSES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Riches, of Caister, Great Yarmouth, in
the County of Norfolk, Miller, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR GRINDING AND SHARPENING KNIVES OR
CUTTERS OF REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES AND OTHER KNIVES, CUTTERS,
TOOLS, OR INSTRUMENTS, PART OF THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE
FOR VARIOUS MOTIVE PURPOSES.”
Sealed the 2nd October 1874, and dated the 15th April 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Riches at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 15th April 1874.
I, CHARLES RICHES, of Caister, Great Yarmouth, in the County of
5 Norfolk, Miller, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR GRINDING AND SHARPENING
KNIVES OR CUITERS OF REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES AND OTHER KNIVES,
CUTTERS, TOOLS, OR INSTRUMENTS, PART OF THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO
APPLICABLE FOR VARIOUS MOTIVE PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is the construction and arrangement of

page_text: machines or apparatus for grinding and sharpening knives or cutters of
reaping and mowing machines and other knives, cutters, tools, or
instruments, part of the improvements being also applicable for various
motive purposes.
According to my Invention I mount in a suitable framework an
emery wheel or other grinding or sharpening instrument so that it shall
receive rotary motion and also adjustable lateral motion in such manner
that its periphery shall be applied to edges to be ground or sharpened,
plain, serrated, or otherwise, and in various directions of motion. For
this purpose the emery wheel or other grinding or sharpening implement
is mounted on a shaft, axis, or support so adjusted as to have motion in
both directions laterally as well as rotary motion.
The knife cutter or instrument to be ground or sharpened is supported
in a socket or guide in which it can slide into the required positions, or
it can be moved by a rack and pinion or other gearing.
I now proceed to describe one mode in which the proper motion shall
be communicated to the various parts of the apparatus and to the blade
cutter or instrument to be operated on thereby.
On a suitable framework I mount a crank wheel serving as a driving
wheel, and worked by a treadle through a connecting or vibrating bar
and an obtuse angled bar or arm connected by a rod or otherwise with a
crank pin on the wheel. From this wheel motion is communicated by
a strap, band, or otherwise to a pulley or other contrivance for working
the axis or shaft of the emery wheel or other sharpening or grinding
contrivance. The support or frame of the shaft or axis of the wheel to
which motion is thus communicated is mounted adjustably on a universal
joint so that it may have adjustable lateral motion.
The above described arrangements for obtaining motion by treadle
obtuse angled arm or bar and crank wheel may be applied to various
apparatus when motive power is to be obtained and applied.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Riches in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th October 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
RICHES, of Caister, Great Yarmouth, in the County of Norfolk, Miller,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Charles Riches, Her special licence
that I, the said Charles Riches, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Riches, my 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES
OR APPARATUS FOR GRINDING AND SHARPENING KNIVES OR CUTTERS OF REAPING.
AND MOWING MACHINES, AND OTHER KNIVES, CUTTERS, TOOLS, OR INSTRUMENTS,
PART OF THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE FOR VARIOUS MOTIVE PURPOSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Riches,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
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 I, the said Charles Riches, do hereby declare.
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
1
The object of my Invention is the construction and arrangement of

page_text: machines or apparatus for grinding and sharpening knives or cutters of
reaping and mowing machines, and other knives, cutters, tools, or
instruments, part of the improvements being also applicable for various
motive purposes.
According to my Invention I mount in a suitable framework an emery
wheel or other grinding or sharpening appliance in such manner that it
shall receive rotary motion and also adjustable and lateral motion, so
that its periphery shall be applied to the edges to be ground or sharpened
(whether plain, serrated, or otherwise) and in various directions. For
this purpose the emery wheel or other grinding or sharpening implement
is mounted on a shaft, axis, or support so adjusted as to have motion in
both directions laterally as well as rotary motion.
The knife cutter or instrument to be ground and sharpened is sup-
ported in a socket, rest, or guide, in which it can be slidden into the
required positions, or it can be moved into such positions by a rack and
pinion or other gearing.
I proceed to describe one mode in which proper motion is communi-
cated to the various parts of the apparatus and to the blade cutter or
instrument to be operated on thereby.
On a suitable framework I mount a crank wheel serving as a driving
wheel, and worked by a treadle through a connecting or vibrating rod or
bar and an obtuse angle bar or arm, that is, a bar or arm disposed at an
obtuse angle to the treadle and connected by the rod or bar with a crank
pin on the wheel. From this wheel motion is communicated by a strap,
band, or otherwise to a pulley for working the axis or shaft of the emery
wheel or other sharpening or grinding implement. The support or
frame of the shaft or axis of the wheel to which motion is thus com-
municated is mounted adjustably on a universal joint so that it may
have adjustable lateral motion.
The above described arrangements for obtaining motion by treadle
with an arm or bar, disposed at an obtuse angle thereto, and com-
bined with a crank wheel, may be applied to various apparatus in
which motive power is to be obtained and applied.

page_text: knives of reapers and other cutting instruments.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine; Figure 2, a side view;
and Figure 3, a plan of the same; Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 are details of
the treadle arrangements.
X, X, is the general framework consisting mainly of feed side pieces
and cross pieces, x being a transverse tic bar or stay forming a portion
of the framework.
A is an emery wheel for sharpening and grinding the knife or cutter.
This wheel is driven in the following manner by a treadle T, W, herein-
after described:-The wheel A is mounted on a shaft D supported in
the framework X, and connected with a spindle C by means of a
universal joint a. The shaft C carries a flanged pulley B, to which
rotary motion is communicated by an endless strap or band Y, which
passes over it, and which also passes over a driving wheel or fly wheel P,
turning on a stud or strong pin p rivetted into one of the uprights of
the framework X. On the driving wheel P is a crank pin Q connected
by means of an arm or connecting rod R with a bar S fitted at an
obtuse angle to the treadle T. The bar S is jointed to the treadle bar T
by a connection U in an offset lug or projection thereon. W is the foot
board of the treadle fastened to the treadle bar T by the connection V.
Thus when reciprocating or vibrating motion is imparted to the treadle
by the foot rotary motion will be communicated to the emery wheel A
by means of the bar S through the parts or connections herein-before
described, viz., the arm R, crank pin Q, driving wheel P, band or
strap Y, pulley B, and shafts C and D.
The shaft D being connected with the shaft C by the universal joint a,
the wheel A on the shaft D can be moved into various angles, and the
wheel A thereby moved into and worked at various positions, so that
different parts of the edge of the knife to be ground can be attained by
the emery wheel A without interference with the rotary motion of the
latter. For the purpose of moving the axis D in this manner it is
provided with a handle E intended to be held and worked by the
operator. By means of this handle E and of the universal joint a
the axis of the wheel A (and therefore the wheel A itself) is moved

page_text: ՆԱՍՍԵ
ground.
The axis D is screw threaded or tapped for a portion of its length at
the part or end which passes through the emery wheel A, so that the
position of that wheel on the axis may be adjusted accordingly, that is
to say, so as to be brought nearer to or farther from the operator, the
wheel being held in the required position by nuts and collars d, d.
F is a pin or tongue on the spindle C, which is part of a clutch arrange-
ment, and forms a ratchet or tooth engaging in a hollow or recess in the
end of the pulley B when the pulley is to be at work so as to keep it
connected with the spindle o, but when the pulley is not to be at
work and is to turn free on the spindle the pulley runs clear of the
tooth, being held back by a bar G supported on the framework X, and
free to be pushed or slidden to and fro by means of a handle H. On
this bar are fixed two pins or projections which press, clutch, or impinge
against the flange of the pulley B on the outer side of such flange, so
that by means of such pins the pulley is thrown into and out of gear as
required, one such pin or projection bearing against the recessed flange
when the pulley is out of work; the other pin or projection comes against
the non-recessed flange in frictional contact therewith when the pulley
is in work.
The universal joint a allows of the shaft and emery wheel thercon
being moved in various directions cither sidewise or up and down, so
that it can be worked laterally and raised and depressed as required for
the adjustment.
The reaper knife or other cutter to be sharpened and ground is held in
a moveable or sliding support K. (By way of illustration a reaper
knife Z is shewn in the plan, Figure 3). The knife Z is fastened by
clips or clasps L, L, to a slide bar K forming a moveable support, and
capable of being slidden or pushed by hand in cither direction of motion
on a rest, socket, guidoway, or frame J attached to the general frame-
work X. The knife which the bar K carries is thus moved or slidden
in the required direction or position of adjustment so as to bring the
required portion or section of the reaping knife in proper position for
being acted on by the emery wheel. mis a thumb screw to hold and
adjust the rest J.

page_text: The handle E is held in the operator's right hand, and he uses the
left hand to shift the bar K with the knife on it into the required
position.
A is an extra or supplementary emery wheel mounted on the shaft C,
and receiving motion therefrom to sharpen table knives or other even
edged or straight bladed instruments.
The treadle can be worked by one foot or by both feet. If worked by
both feet the operator sets his feet on the footboard W; the ends of which
are marked W', W. He sets one foot at W' and the other at W', and
according to the position at which the crank stands the direction of
motion will be determined, that is to say, from right to left or the
reverse. In starting, if, for example, it be desired to get the motion
from right to left, say from I to K, the foot is pressed on the foot-
board at W, and the crank will not arrive at the dead centre until it
reaches the line K. If the motion be continued from K to J the
end W² is depressed and power will be given until the line L is attained,
this being the dead centre. A fly wheel carries the crank over the dead'
centres.
If the treadle is worked with only one foot it is best to press on the
footboard at W', so that the bar S may not be on the same side of the
joint or centre ex on which the treadle works. The end W can be used
for the foot pressure, but in that case there would not be so much power
given to the crank. If the crank pin be placed a little above the line
L to put it off the centre and the end W₁ be pressed down the motion
will be from right to left, and the dead centre will be reached at K or
past the half of the circle, so that the loss of power when the foot is
lifted will be greatly reduced. If it is desired to obtain motion from
left to right the lower part of the treadle S is placed at W₁ at the side of
the centre e*, and the end W should be acted on instead of the end W¹.
Then if the crank be placed a little above the line K, and the end W'
of the footboard receive pressure, motion will be obtained from K to
I to L.
If the treadle be worked by one foot the crank will receive more
power than if the connecting rod be brought direct from the crank pin:
to the footboard W, as in a sewing machine or lathe worked by the

page_text: common treadle arrangement. The dotted lines in Figure 4 shew the
paths of the crank arm or treadie.
The bar S of the treadle may be placed vertical or quite upright, or it
may be at an angle or inclination to the right or left as required, but I
prefer to connect it with the horizontal or footboard part of the treadle,
so that it shall stand at an obtuse angle thereto inclined towards tho
outer side (or right hand) as shown.
Although I have spoken of an emery wheel it is obvious that any
grinding, sharpening, or surfacing wheel or rotary appliance or imple-
ment may be employed instead of an emery wheel, and actuated in
manner and for the purpose above described.
The arrangements described in the Drawings for obtaining and com-
municating motion by means of a treadle working an arm or bar S
placed at an angle thereto and combined with a crank wheel may be
applied in obviously similar manner for communicating motion to
apparatus other than those used for grinding and sharpening.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The combination of an emery wheel or other grinding or
sharpening wheel or rotary implement with a universal joint or other
similar joint or connection in such manner that the wheel may be
adjusted or moved and worked in various positions or at various angles,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
•
Second. The employment of a moveable or adjustable support or rest
for the cutter or instrument to be sharpened or ground so that the
position of the cutter or instrument may be varied, substantially as
described for the purposo set forth.
Third. The improved treadle motion or motive arrangement herein-
before described, in so far as regards the employment of the bar or arm,
placed at an angle with regard to the treadle and arranged and combined
with a crank wheel, substantially as described and represented in the
accompanying Drawings, and this I claim, whether the same be applied
for working a grinding wheel or for other motive purposes.

page_text: Fourth. The general arrangement and combination of parts con-
stituting the machine for grinding and sharpening purposes herein-before
described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Riches, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Twenty-eighth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
CHARLES RICHES. (L.S.)
Witness,
HENRY OWLES ORMESBY.