An Improved Knife Cleaner and Sharpener.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1894,
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Oct., 1894-Accepted, 5th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Knife Cleaner and Sharpener.
I HENRY CARTHEW WILLIAMS of 46 South Island Place Brixton London S.W.
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to machines for cleaning and polishing the blades of knives
and other cutting instruments and for sharpening the same and consists of a metal
frame or body in which indiarubber and leather blocks and emery cloth, or cloth
or paper similarly prepared with other abrading substance, are so disposed that the
knife is cleaned and sharpened by pushing and pulling it between the emery
surfaces.
The machine is constructed as follows:-A metal frame or body resembling the
letter in section is provided at the upper part with two recesses for the reception
of two vertical flanged and corrugated indiarubber blocks and a groove below the
said recesses for the reception of one horizontal leather block. The form of the
frame or body and the respective and relative positions of the blocks are shewn in
the accompanying drawing by means of which the nature of my invention may be
more clearly ascertained.
Fig. 1 shews a general view of the machine M. being the metal frame or body
B. and B the indiarubber blocks and L. the leather block.
The manner in which this machine is operated is as follows:-A piece of emery
cloth, or other similarly prepared cloth or paper, is folded double with the abrading
surface inside and placed between the blocks B. B¹ the knife is then inserted back
downwards between the fold of cloth and pushed and pulled to and fro. I make
the indiarubber blocks of such a thickness that when occupying their respective
recesses they together completely fill the intervening space in the upper part of the
frame so that the introduction of the emery cloth and knife between the said blocks
forces them apart and compresses their substance, which compression re-acts in
pressure against the emery cloth and knife, thus the elasticity of the rubber blocks
is utilized to supply the pressure necessary for keeping the polishing material in
contact with the knife and springs or other devices for effecting a like purpose are
dispensed with.
I also make the indiarubber blocks with flanges or lips projecting beyond the
body of the blocks for the purpose of cleaning the shoulders of the knife blade.
The flanges open and close with the thrust and withdrawal of the knife, alternately
admitting and releasing the shoulders, the emery cloth being continually pressed
against the latter by the flanges.
I make the rubber blocks with corrugated, fluted or channelled faces as the
corrugations maintain the emery cloth in position better than blocks with smooth
faces and they also have the effect of cleaning the knife more rapidly by reason of
the emery cloth being pressed against the knife in a series of narrow surfaces
instead of a single broad surface.
The leather block L. is designed for cleaning the back of the knife blade. The
fold of the emery cloth when in position in the machine rests upon the leather block
as does also the back of the knife within the fold, the back is thus cleaned
simultaneously with the sides and shoulders by the same forward and backward
motion.
Dated this Twentieth day of September 1894.

page_text: An improved user and a po
I, HENRY CARTHEW WILLIAMS of 46 South Island Place Brixton London, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention relates to machines for cleaning and polishing the blades of knives
and other cutting instruments and for sharpening the same, and consists of a metal
frame or body in which indiarubber and leather blocks and emery cloth or other
similarly prepared cloth or paper are so disposed that the knife is cleaned aud
sharpened by pushing and pulling it between the emery surfaces.
The machine is constructed as follows: A metal frame or body resembling the
letter H in section is provided at the upper part with recesses for the reception of
two vertical indiarubber flanged and corrugated blocks and one horizontal leather
block. The form of the frame or body and the respective positions of the blocks
are shown in the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification by means of
which drawings together with those now filed, the nature of my invention may be
more clearly ascertained.
Figure 1 of the said drawings shews the complete machine, M. being the metal
frame or body, B. B₁ the indiarubber blocks, and L the leather block.
Figures 2, 3, and shew respectively a face view a back view, and a section of
the indiarubber blocks.
The manner in which the machine is operated is as follows:-A piece of emery
cloth or other similarly prepared cloth or paper is folded double with the abrading
surface inside and placed between the blocks B B', the knife is then inserted
between the folded cloth or paper and pushed and pulled to and fro. I make the
indiarubber blocks of such a thickness that when placed in their respective recesses
they together completely fill the space in the frame above the leather block so that
the introduction of the emery cloth and knife between their faces forces the blocks
apart and compresses their substance which compression reacts in pressure against
the emery cloth and the knife within its fold so that the latter is cleaned by simply
pushing and pulling it.
1 also make the indiarubber blocks with flanges or lips which project beyond the
body of the blocks. These flanges are a provision for cleaning the shoulders of the
knife blade. As the knife is moved forwards and backwards the flanges open and
close to admit and release the shoulders the emery cloth being kept continually
pressed against them by the said flanges.
I thus utilize the elastic property of the rubber blocks to supply the pressure
necessary for keeping the polishing material in contact with the surfaces to be
polished and dispense with springs or other devices for effecting a like purpose.
I employ rubber blocks with corrugated, fluted, or channelled faces as the
corrugations or channels serve to maintain the polishing cloth in position and also
have the effect of cleaning the knife more rapidly the polishing material being
brought to bear against the knife in a series of narrow surfaces is more effective
than when applied in a single broad surface.
The leather block L is designed for cleaning the back of the knife blade. The
fold of the cloth when in position in the machine rests upon the leather block
as also does the back of the knife within the fold, the back is thus cleaned
simultaneously with the sides and shoulders by the same forward and backward
motion.
The words "cloth," "polishing cloth," "polishing materials" used in the
foregoing description are to be taken as signifying emery cloth or paper or cloth
or paper similarly prepared with other abrading or polishing substances.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
First. The herein described machine for cleaning polishing and sharpening the
blades of knives and other cutting instruments or implements with emery cloth,
or cloth or paper similarly prepared with other abrading substance applied by means
of indiarubber and leather blocks, pads or cushions formed, disposed, and operating
in the manner set forth.
Second. A machine for the purposes herein set forth provided with indiarubber
blocks having corrugated fluted or channelled faces or working surfaces and flanges
or lips operating in the manner described.
Third. A machine for the purposes herein set forth in which the operating action
is effected by means of the elastic property of the polishing blocks utilized and
applied in the manner described.
23
D
H. C. WILLIAMS,
Per W. H. Beck,
Agent.