Improvements in Machines for Grinding Cutlery, Files, Machine Knives, and other Edge Tools.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th Mar., 1890--Accepted, 3rd May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Machines for Grinding Cutlery, Files, Machine
Knives, and other Edge Tools.
I, HENRY SMITH of Thirlwell Mount, Heeley near Sheffield in the County of
York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINES FOR GRINDING CUTLERY, FILES, MACHINE KNIVES, AND OTHER
EDGE TOOLS, to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for grinding cutlery and
edge tools and is so constructed that one machine will grind one or two blades at
the same time with a convex or flat surface on each side and is adapted to grind
any length of blade.
This machine dispenses with the ordinary grindstone, also one of the grinding
machines now in use, as it does the work of two in less time and can be produced
at less cost.
My invention consists in a grinding machine having in connection therewith a
tank made to any desired shape containing two water compartments, the whole
being supported upon legs.
Revolving in the tank are two cylindrical grinders made of stone, emery, or
composition which are placed in chucks and held firmly in position by means of
friction rings secured by means of small bolts and nuts placed inside the chuck and
at the back of the grinder is placed a back ring for the purpose of forcing forward
by means of set screws the said grinder as it wears.
The main spindle which revolves the grinder is fixed or adjusted pivotally by means
of an upright support with two bearings, the screw portion of which passes through
a bracket cast at the end outside the tank and a nut is screwed at the top and bottom
of the bracket for the purpose of regulating the position of the grinder also for
either raising or lowering it, to give greater or less convexity to the article being
ground and without taking out or altering the work holder.
The main spindle is carried through a sleeve running nearly the whole length
which sleeve passes through the upright supports and has an adjusting wheel working
on a screw thread in the centre thereof, and over the centre of the bracket, which
is cast on the side of the tank for the purpose of adjusting the grinder to its work;
placed at the end of the spindle is a driving drum and next to it a fly wheel, also a
syphon collar.
By the centrifugal action of the revolving grinder the water in the tank is thrown
into the channels supplying the grinders and causes the working surface to be coD-
tinuously supplied and effectually prevents the temper being taken.
In connection with the machine is a sliding table made to traverse any given
distance to suit the length of article to be ground and without travelling over
unnecessary space, which action is obtained by means of reversable gearing fixed
under the bottom of the tank, the combination being formed by toothed wheels,
movable quadrant spring and box, tumblers, and adjustable catches, the action of
reversing the gearing is determined by the position of the catches.
To start the slide table or traverse motion the operator before pulling the lever
gives it a quarter turn which puts a friction wheel attached to it into position and
forces a quadrant back which is kept in position by a trigger or catch at the same
1
1

page_text: time putting into gear a small toothed wheel fixed on the quadrant that the slide
gear may slowly travel forward to give time for the blades to be ground. As the
gearing wheels revolve a pin on the boss placed over the reversing wheel releases a
catch or trigger also the quadrant on which is placed a larger toothed wheel to cause
the slide table and gearing to reverse quickly. When the slide table has returned
the pin in the boss placed underneath the said reversing wheel liberates the lever
throwing the driving belt off a fast pulley on to a loose one and immediately stops
the travelling slide table, it having done its work, while at the same time the grinders
are revolving.
The slide table travels to and fro by means of two sinall wheels one at the top and
one at the bottom of a shaft, the said shaft passes through a hollow vertical bracket
cast in the bottom of the tank, the one at the top being geared to a rack secured
underneath the table, the one at the bottom being geared to the reversing wheel and
the large toothed wheel on the quadrant.
The rack and table are of any required length to suit the length of article to be
ground.
On each side of the slide table is a movable plate constructed to suit the knife or
article to be ground
Over the grinders is placed a movable cover to keep the water from flying out also
to act as a guard against accidents in case the grinders should break.
In place of the fly wheel a glazer or emery or buff wheel may be fixed so that
grinding and finishing may be accomplished on one machine.
Dated the 7th day of May 1889.
GARLICK & MCGOWAN,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Grinding Cutlery, Files, Machine
Knives, and other Edge Tools.
1, HENRY SMITH of Thirlwell Mount, Heeley near Sheffield in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention and in what manner the
Bame is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement
1
This Invention has for its object to provide a machine for grinding cutlery and edge
tools capable of grinding blades of any length either singly or two blades at the same
time and with either convex flat or concave surfaces.
According to this invention two rotating grinders (preferably cylinders) are
employed in combination with a tank of any desired shape containing water the whole
being carried on suitable legs or supports.
The two rotating grinders may be made of stone emery or composition mounted
firmly in chucks by means of friction rings secured to the chucks by bolts and nuts.
At the back of each grinding cylinder is a ring against which adjusting screws bear
for the purpose of forcing forward in its chuck or holder the said grinding cylinder
as it wears away.
Each chuck with its grinding cylinder is fixed on a horizontal shaft or spindle of
its own mounted in a support capable of being adjusted in position both vertically and
pivotally the shaft carrying the grinder being also capable of being moved horizontally
to and from the work This universal adjustability of the grinders is an important
feature of the invention as by this means the shape to be given to the knife blade or
other article to be ground may be determined and regulated without taking the
article out of or altering the position of the work holder.
When grinding a knife blade for example the grinding cylinder is arranged at an
angle to the traverse of the work holder and the blade is fixed in the holder with
the edge of the blade uppermost If the blade is required to be ground more at the
lower part or back than at the upper part or edge the grinder is raised so that the
blade is below the axis of the grinder thereby causing the pressure of the grinder to

page_text: be more on the lower part or back of the blade. If the edge or upper part of the
olade is required to be ground away more than the lower part the grinder is lowered
so that the blade 13 situated above the axis and therefore greater pressure is brought
to bear on the upper part or edge of the blade.
The shaft on which the chuck is fixed is fitted to revolve in a sleeve mounted in
the adjustable support hereinbefore referred to which support is provided with a
screwed stem and nuts by means of which it may be adjusted vertically and fixed at
any desired height in a bracket projecting from the water trough hereinbefore referred
to. This support is also capable of being turned in the bracket in a horizontal
plane to adjust the angle of the grinding cylinder with respect to the feeding table
carrying the article to be ground
On the exterior of the sleeve there is a screw thread on which works a nut which
1s engaged by a notch or recess in the adjustable support so as to permit of the said
nut turning on the sleeve but prevent it moving longitudinally thereon. By turning
this nut the sleeve will be caused to move longitudinally in the bracket and by this
means the grinding cylinder may be adjusted to the work. On the outer end of the
shaft is a driving drum or pulley and a fly wheel by means of which the grinding
cylinder may be rotated from any suitable prime mover.
The grinding cylinder rotates in the water contained in the trough or tank which
water by the centrifugal action of the cylinder is thrown into channels which conduct
it continuously to the working surface of the grinding cylinder at the part where it is
operating on the article thus effectually preventing the temper being taken out of
the article being ground.
The articles to be ground are carried on a table fitted to slide on anti-friction
rollers to any required distance to suit the length of the articles being ground and
without travelling over unnecessary space. space is left between the sliding table
and the surface over which it travels through which space water may pass and thus
prevent corrosion and sticking of the parts This table is operated by means of
reversing gear preferably arranged beneath the tank and consisting of a combination
of toothed wheels, moveable quadrant or lever, springs, tumblers, and adjustablǝ
tappets the reversing action taking place automatically at any desired moment
to suit the length of the article being ground by adjusting the position of the
tappets.
The articles to he ground are fixed in plates or holders attached to the sides of the
sliding table, plates of different lengths being provided capable of being minutely
adjusted in position to suit minute variations in the sizes of the knives or articles to be
ground
Over the grinders a removable cover is provided to prevent the water from flying
out of the tank by the centrifugal action of the grinders and to conduct the water
onto the working face of the ginders at the parts where they are acting on the
articles it also acts as a guard against accidents in case the grinders should break.
In place of the fly wheel a glazer, or emery, or buff wheel may be fixed on
the shaft so that grinding and finishing may be accomplished on one macbine.
And in order that our said invention may be fully understood we shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a front elevation,
Figure 2 a plan,
Figure 3 a longitudinal section,
Figure 4 an end view and
Figure 5 a tran-verse section of a grinding machine constructed according to this
invention
Figure 6 is a view looking from the underside of the machine shewing the
antomatic reversing gear for operating the table which carries the articles while

page_text: with a transverse perforated partition C to prevent the access of dirt or extraneous
substances to the grinding surfaces.
Two hollow cylindrical or annular grinders are employed arranged one on each side
of the table which carries the articles while being ground As the construction and
mode of operating both grinders are precisely similar the description of one will serve
to describe both and there ore the references are the same on both except that those
on the right hand sido have a small figure (2) added to each reference.
Each grinder consists of a cylinder D of emery stone or composition firmly secured
by means of a conical ring or wedges E in a metal chuck F and caused to project to
the required distance from the face thereof by adjusting screws G screwed through
the back of the chuck and bearing at their ends on a loose ring H provided at the
back of the cylinder D. The chuck F is screwed onto the inner end of a shaft or
spindle G fitted to rotate in bearings or brasses H* in a sleeve I and provided
at its outer end with a driving pulley K and fly wheel L. The sleeve I is carried in
a support M having a screw threaded stem N passing through holes in brackets O, P,
formed on the side of the tank A and the standard B The support M may be
adjusted to and fixed at any required height in the brackets O, P, by means of
nuts Q
This
This support is also capable of adjustment pivotably in the brackets O, P, so as to
alter the angle of the grinding cylinder with reference to the article being ground it
being fixed in its adjusted position by means of the screw S screwing into the
bracket O and forcing a loose plate T against the thread on the stem N The sleeve lis
provided on the exterior with a screw thread U with which a nut V engages
nut is fitted to turn in a slot or opening W in the support M so that when it is turned
it cannot move longitudinally along the sleeve but will cause the sleeve to travel
longitudinally in the support and so carry the grinding cylinder nearer to or further
from the work carrying table according to the direction in which the nut V is turned
Each grinding cylinder is diven by a separate band passing round the pulleys K from
any suitable prime mover.
The cylinders D are partly immersed in the water contained in the tank A and are
enclosed by a cover X which prevents the water being thrown from the tank by the
centrifugal action of the cylinders the said cover also preventing accident should
portions of the grinding cylinders break off
Cast on or attached to the partition C in the tank A and to the bottom of the said
tank is a socket Y in which is fitted a bush or sleeve Z extending through the bottom
of the tank. On the upper end of this bush or sleeve is a rectangular piece a provided
with dovetail o inclined edges b fitting into corresponding inclined recesses c formed
in the underside of a table d which is arranged to slide to and fro on the piece a and
to facilitate the motions of this table anti-friction rollers e (Fig. 5) are let into
recesses in the piece a upon which rollers the table d has its bearing. Formed on or
attached to the underside of the table d is a rack f with which gears a pinion g fast on
the upper end of a spindle / which passes through the sleeve Z the pinion g rotating
in a recess provided for it in the top of the piece a in which a recess k is also formed
for the rack f to slide in The spindle is rotated independently of the mechanism
for driving the grinders D by means of gearing as follows. On a stud 7 projecting
from the standard or support B are mounted two hand pulleys m and n round one or
other of which is passed a driving strap from the shaft of any suitable prime mover
the sand strap being capable of being shifted from one to the other of the pulleys as
required To the boss of the pulley m is secured a pinion o gearing with a spur
wheel P mounted loosely on a stud 9 and baving cast therewith or attached thereto a
pinion gearing with another spur wheel & fast on a shaft t mounted in bearings in
and passing through the standard B On the inner end of the shaft t there is keyed
a bevel pinion which gears with a bevel wheel fast on a sleeve z mounted loosely
on a stud 1 projecting from a plate 2 fixed to the bottom of the tank A On this
sleeve there is also fixed or formed a spur wheel 3 with which is caused to gear, accord-
ing to direction in which the spindle h is to be rotated, one or other of two wheels 4, 5
(see Fig. 6) carried on studs 6 and 7 projecting from a quadrant lever 8 centered on
=

page_text: a stud 9 on the plate 2. When the table d is in its normal position the wheel 4 is
maintained in gear with the wheel 3 by the spring 39. On the stud 9 is a toothed
wheel 10 gearing with the wheel 4 and also with a toothed wheel 11 keyed on the
lower end of the spindle h. The wheel 11 also gears with a spur wheel 12 fast on a
sleeve 13 carried on a stud 14 projecting from the plate 2 On the stud 14 are fitted
adjustable tappets or wipers 15 and 16 which by acting on trip levers 17 and 18 effect
the automatic reversing and stopping of the motion of the work holder or table as
hereinafter described.
When the machine is at work the grinders are continuously rotated from a main
shaft by means of driving bands passing round the pulleys K K' the angle of the
grinders being adjusted in height and in angular position in the brackets Ŏ PO' P
to suit the forin to be given to the articles; for example if a flat surface be required
on the article the support M is adjusted in the brackets O, P, so that the face or flat
edge of the cylinder D is parallel to the side of the work table or holder d as shewn
on the left hand side of Figures 2 and 6 If a convex surface be required on the
article the support M is turned in the bracket O, P, so as to cause the face of the
grinder to be at an angle to the line of motion of the work holder or table as shewn
on the right hand side of Figures 2 and 6 so that the article being ground will be
acted on by the inner edge 19 of the annular grinding cylinder D. To give the
article a concave surface the grinder must be arranged at an angle to the article
the reverse of that shewn so as to cause the outer edge 20 of the cylinder to act on the
article. The degree of convexity or concavity given to the surface of the article being
ground will depend upon the angle to which the face of the grinder is adjusted with
respect to the line of motion of the work.
The article to be ground is placed in a recess in the holder 21 and may be held
therein by a button or other convenient fastening which in the case of a table knife
blade is made to engage the tang thereof.
The work holder or plate 21 has inclined or dove-tail sides fitting a corresponding
recess in the sides of the table d and is securely held in the said recess by means of a
plate 22 screwed on to the top of the table d a work holder is fitted to each of the two
sides of the table d so that two articles may be simultaneously ground by the two
grinding cylinders D, D³.
The grinders having been adjusted in the required position and the articles to be
ground having been fixed in their holders 21 the grinding operation may be com-
menced for which purpose the operator moves the lever 23 in the direction of the
arrow from the position shewn by dotted lines into the position shewn by full lines
in Figure 6 The inner end of this lever engages in a notch in a bar 24 so that
when this lever is moved as described the bar 24 1s caused to slide in a longitudinal
direction and by means of a strap fork 25 attached thereto the driving strap is shifted
from the idle pulley n onto the pulley m. A weighted lever 31 hinged to the plate 2
bears against the bar 24 in which there is a notch with which the lever 31 engages
to retain the strap on the pulley m. To the bar 24 there is hinged a catch or trip
lever 27 which when the bar is moving in the direction to place the strap on to the
pulley m comes into contact with one end of a shiding rod or bar 28 causing the said
bar to shde in its bearings and its opposite end by acting on a lever 29 turn the
quadrant lever 8 on its centre so as to disengag the wheel 4 from the wheel 3 and
bring the wheel 5 into gear with the said wheel 5.
The quadrant lever 8 is retuned in this position by a projection 35 on the trip
lever 17 engaging an opening or recess 37 in the quadrant lever 8. The parts being
in the position described a slow forward motion will be imparted to the table d through
the gearing o prsta y 3 5 4 10 11 g and f, thereby moving the work up to and
between the grinders D, D' so that both articles carried by the table are simultaneously
operated on. To ensure the articles being held steady in their holders while being
ground springs 28 and 29 fixed to the partition C, bear against the articles as they
are moving towards and from the grinders.
When the table d has completed its forward motion a tappet 15 fast on the sleeve 13
comes into contact with and raises the tail 38 of the trip lever 17 thereby disengaging

page_text: the projection 35 on the opposite end thereof from the opening 37 in the quadrant
lever 8 which lever will then under the action of the spring 39 be turned on its
centre and thereby disengage the wheel 5 from the wheel 3 and bring the wheel 4
into gear therewith as shewn in Fig 6. The table d will then travel in the reverse
direction and by the time it has completed its backward movement the tappet 16 on
the sleeve 13 comes into contact with the tail end of a lever 18 which is connected
to the engaging lever 31 and cause the said lever 31 to be disengaged from the notch
in the bar 24 whereupon the bar will be caused by a spring 34 to slide back and
shift the driving strap onto the idle pulley n and thus stop the motion of the
table d.
The articles may then be removed from the holders 21 and other articles placed
therein in position to be ground, or if the articles are required to be ground on both
sides (as for example knife blades) they are removed from their holders when ground
on one side and replaced with their unground sides outermost and the operations
herein before described are repeated
The distance to which the table is caused to travel may be varied to suit different
lengths of articles to be ground by adjusting the positions of the tappets 15 and 16
on the sleeve 13 so as to cause them to act on the levers 17 and 18 sooner or later as
required.
By the centrifugal action of the grinders a quantity of water from the tank A is
thrown up into the cover X in the interior of which a receptacle 40 is provided into
which the water enters and is conducted therefrom by nozzles 41 onto the faces of
the grinder at the part where they are acting on the articles so that the articles are
kept cool and the temper thereof retained.
Openings 42 are provided in the cover X through which the articles may be placed
into and removed from the holders 21 without removing the cover.
The openings 42
are closed by covers 43 to prevent the escape of water therefrom.
The partition C in the tank A may be perforated as shewn by dotted lines at 44 or
provided with a grating at the lower part to allow water to pass freely through but
so as to prevent the passage to the grinders of any substances that would injure the
grinding cylinders D, D.
Water may be drawn off from the tank A. when required through the passage 45
which is provided with a stop cock 46.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I am aware
of the Specification of Letters Patent No. 1382 of 1888 granted to Charles Peach and
1 wish it to be understood that I do not claim anything described and claimed therein
but what I claim is
1st In a machine for grinding cutlery files and other articles the combination of
two revolving grinders each capable of being independently adjusted in position
vertically and horizontally so as to grind articles either with flat convex or concave
surfaces substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying
drawings
2nd. In a machine for grinding cutlery filos and other articles the combination with
two revolving grinders of a cover having therein a chamber into which water from
the tank in which the grinders revolve is thrown by the centrifugal action of the
grinders and from which it flows through passages into the face of the grinders, at
the part where they are acting on the articles substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In a machine for grinding cutlery and other articles the combination with two
grinding cylinders or the like, of a reciprocating table or holder for the articles while
being ground and the springs 28 and 29 for holding the article steady while being
acted on by the grinders substantially as herein before described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
4th. In a machine for grinding cutlery and other articles the combination with
two grinding cylinders or the like and a reciprocating table or holder for the

page_text: articles to be ground of the reversing gear for automatically reversing the direction
and stopping the motion of the table or work holder substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings
5th In a machine for grinding cutlery and other articles the combination with
the gearing for imparting reciprocating motion to the table carrying the article to
be ground of adjustable tappets for automatically reversing and stopping the
motion of the table at any desired part of its traverse, according to the length of
the article to be ground substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
the accompanying drawings
6th. In a machine for grinding cutlery and other articles a workholder adjustably
fitted to a table or carrier arranged to slide on antifriction rollers substantially as
herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings
7th The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting a machine
for grinding cutlery files machine knives and other articles with either flat convex
or concave surfaces substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
accompanying draw.ngs.
A
1 7000
HENRY SMITH.