IMPROVEMENTS IN KNIFE-CLEANING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Cowdery, of Newent, Gloucestershire, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNIFE-CLEANING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Cowdery at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th September 1878.
CHARLES COWDERY, of Newent, Gloucestershire.
CLEANING MACHINES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNIFE-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in machinery for cleaning knives.
The construction of the mechanical arrangement of this knife cleaner. is as
follows-Upon a suitable bed is bolted or otherwise fixed two standards or
cheeks slotted to receive bearings; two bearings are made to freely slide up and
down in each slot, one above the other. The said bearings are made to receive the
bearing parts of two rollers covered for a certain part of their lengths with india-
rubber, and connected together at one end of them by suitable cogs. On the lower
roller outside of bearings is fixed a suitable handle, by turning which in a circular
direction gives motion to both rollers. Under the lower roller is fixed a suitable
trough or hopper, which trough or hopper is filled with emery powder or other
suitable material, the lower roller turning in the powder and the two rollers being
close together. The lower one distributes the emery or other material upon the one
above it.
The knife in cleaning is held in one hand between the rollers, and the machine
is turned by the other hand to allow for the difference in thickness of knives, &c..
A suitable spring or weight is provided, which allows the top roller to move:
upwards, at the same time keeping a pressure upon the knife, &c.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Cowdery in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th March
1979.
.
CHARLES COWDERY, of Newent, Gloucestershire: "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNIFE-
CLEANING MACHINES."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in machinery for cleaning
knives, etc..
The construction of the mechanical arrangement of this knife cleaner is as
follows: Upon a suitable bed is bolted or otherwise fixed two standards or cheeks
slotted to receive bearings. Two bearings are made to freely slide up and down in
each slot, one above the other. The said bearings are made to receive the bearing
parts of two rollers, covered for a certain part of their lengths with india-rubber or
other suitable material, and connected together at one end of them by suitable cogs.
On the lower roller is fixed a suitable handle, by turning which in a circular
direction gives motion to both rollers. Under the lower roller is fixed a suitable
trough or hopper, which trough or hopper is filled with emery powder or other
suitable material, the lower roller turning in the powder and the two rollers being
close together. The lower one distributes the emery or other material upon the
one above it,
The knife in cleaning is held in one hand between the rollers, and the machine is
turned by the other hand...
✓
To allow for the difference in the thickness of knives, etc., a.suitable spring or
weight is provided, which allows the top roller to move upwards, at, the, same time,
keeping a pressure upon the knife, etc.
Having thus far described the nature of the said Invention, and incidentally
intimated in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in practice, I
will.now.proceed (aided by the accompanying Drawings) to further and particularly
describe and ascertain in what manner the same is to be performed - or carried out.
in practice that is' to sav :— ›
.
:
Fig. 2, front elevation.
'
Fig. 3, plan.
In these Figures A is bed of machine; B, B, standards, with slots C to receive
the bearings D, D¹; E, E¹, rollers fitted with shafts or spindles F, F¹, which take
into the bearings D, D¹; G, G, cog or toothed wheels .fitted at one end of the
machine, such cog or toothed wheel being mounted on the shafts or spindles F, F',
carrying the, rollers E, E'; H, handle, connected to shaft of lower roller E¹ to
actuate the machine. A suitable trough or hopper is placed under the roller E',
said trough or hopper containing emery powder or other suitable material.
The knife, in cleaning, is held between the rollers E, E, and by the handle H
the machine is turned.
Motion is imparted by the toothed wheels G, G', to the rollers, the lower roller
turning in the powder contained in the trough or hopper, as before described. The
rollers E, E, being close together; the lower one (E¹) distributes the emery or other
material to the upper roller E..
When required, a suitable rest can be fitted to the machine to hold the knives
whilst being cleaned, which rest is pushed backward and forward by a suitable
mechanical contrivance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out
in practice, I hereby declare that I claim the Invention of " Improvements in Knife-

page_text: cleaning Machines," substantially as herein-before set forth and described, and
illustrated by the accompanying Drawings, in which Invention the use of rollers
for distributing the emery or other material, one distributing the emery or other
material to the other, for the purpose of effectual knife-cleaning, is a material and
important feature.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Cowdery, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
CHARLES NASH,
Newent,
Gloucestershire.
CHARLES COWDERY. (L.S.)