Improvements in and relating to Mechanism for Cleaning and Sharpening Knives, Cleaning and Polishing Forks, Spoons, Plate, Boots and Shoes, and like purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1892-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Mechanism for Cleaning and
Sharpening Knives, Cleaning and Polishing Forks, Spoons, Plate,
Boots and Shoes, and like purposes.
1, JOHN COWAN, of 26 Allison Street, Crosshill, Lanarkshire, Joiner, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
in writing, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, that is to say :-
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction
of machine, or arrangement and combination of mechanism for the cleaning and
sharpening of knives, and for the cleaning and polishing of forks, spoons, and such like
plate, and also for the cleaning, blacking, and polishing of boots and shoes, and for
such like purposes, and which may be done all in and by one combined motive
machine driven by hand, foot or motive power, but with different combinations
of mechanism suitable with slight manipulation for the different purposes.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended two explanatory sheets of drawings in which the same reference letters
are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 is a front elevation and Figure 2 a corresponding plan view
of a complete machine as constructed in accordance with one arrangement of my
improvements having the spindles with the cleaning and polishing fittings for
plate as applied thereto.
Figure 3 is an end view of the machine corresponding to Figure 1. while
Figure is a detached end view of the intermediate bearing bracket a' for
carrying the ends of the removable spindles, looking from the opposite side to that
in Figure 3.
Figures 5 to 13 on Sheet 2 represent detached views of modified constructions of
the brushes and detail mechanism and will be hereinafter referred to.
Figure 14 on Sheet 2 is a sectional side elevation; Figure 15 a plan view ;
Figure 16 a transverse section and Figure 17 a detail view of an improved con-
struction and arrangement of knife cleaning mechanism, while
Figure 18 is a sectional elevation of a portable form of knife and fork or plate
cleaning and polishing mechanism.
Referring first to the figures on Sheet 1 of these drawings.-According to this
self-contained arrangement, capable of being driven much like a turning lathe, by
a treadle T and connecting rod T₁ and crank shaft T", the improved machine
consists all as follows.-Of two main end frames or standards A A' bound together,
preferably by a centre open metal frame A" to carry the treadle T and crank
shaft T and with flat table A² preferably of wood on top carrying the journal
bearing headstocks and brackets of the machine or mechanism screwed to it by
basement flanges or snugs. The main headstock consists of three vertical journal
bearing brackets a, a, a¹¹, two end brackets a al and one intermediate a which
may be bolted separately by basement flanges to the flat table A², or some of
them may be cast or secured on the same flange metal sole a*. These three bearing
headstocks a, a', a", carry the main rotating central shaft b, b, six inches or so
above the table plate A, preferably in two parts coupled together at bill and
between the first and second preferably on the right hand side the central driving
spindle is mounted, with a pulley 6" secured on it driven by a band T² from the
driving pulley T3 on the crank treadle shaft T with another smaller pulley b
on the same spindle b at its one side which drives the other spindles of the machine

page_text: as hereinafter described. The comtinuation to the left of this main driving
shaft, is merely secured by a slip coupling at 6 on the outside of the central
bearing bracket a having its other end carried in a screw bearing centre or bush a,
in the extreme left hand supporting bracket,a". The main driving shaft b between
the first and second bearing brackets a, a', has a hollow shaft 3 mounted to rotate
loose on it, screwed at its ends, and carries two driving discs B', B', each by deep
eyes and feathers and grooves and passing out through bush bearings or eyes b¹ in
a nearly. circular ordinary fixed wood furbator or knife cleaning case C. This
case C, enclosing the whole of the knife cleaning arrangement of mechanism,
consists of two wood discs B, B, secured to the metal driving discs B' B₁ and
working with their faces up towards each other in the centre of the case C in an
ordinary manner. These wood discs B, as shown in face and edge section in
Figures 1 and 18 on Sheet 1 have secured on their adjacent faces, a segment
of wood L at their outer periphery, of a third or a fourth or so of a circle, leaving
always room between them for the blades of the knives to pass in through one, two,
three, or more holding radial sockets C' screwed by flanges at C" to a portable
part of the upper circumference of the fixed outer case C. Inside of these
wood segments, stiff hair or other brushes B are inserted in the face of the wooden
discs B, projecting, so as to rub against each other and clean the blades of the
knives between them inserted through the holders C', as dotted-in in Figure 1,
and more particularly in the section Figure 1ª. The other surface of the wood
discs B is divided into two, three, four, or more sections and fitted with laths of
wood Las seen in Figures 1A and 1B, having secured on them several layers of
chamois or buff leather B fully deeper than the bristles of the brushes the
laths being screwed parallel to each other in each section, so that the chamois
leather B on each lath projects out and acts at an angle and not radially on the
blades of the knives, and bends over their respective laths L' while cleaning
the knives & giving elasticity in their rubbing action without liability to being cut
by the knives. Each socket C₁ for holding the handles of the knives is formed of
a shape in section, with an oscillating and adjustable bearing plate C² within
this, covered with india-rubber on the front or close side, so as not to injure the
ivory or ornamental bandles of the knives inserted in the socket. The open side
of each socket and slit for inserting the knives may be fitted with a movable screwed
bolster also fitted with rubber on its inner face, so as to bear up against the back
of the handle of the knife and hold it at any angle desired in the socket C, and
thus enable the machine to clean knives of longer lengths than the mere radius of
the discs. The outer segment of the case C on which these sockets C¹ are screwed
is portably secured at B to the lower fixed part of the case, so as to be removed
from time to time when cleaning the brushes or inserting new polishing material;
and when preferred a door may also be formed in the side or lower circumferential
part of the case C for removing the material. This furbator and case C rests on
a prolongation of the wood table or platform A2, between the first and second
standards a a', and has fitted under it a press A³ for holding the different brushes,
spindles, and tools, or utensils to be cleared. The hollow driving spindle of
these knife cleaning and polishing discs may be screwed for a short distance beyond
the hollow ends of the bearings or eyes and have hand screw wheels & mounted
on these screws, so that when these were turned in one direction they would bring
the cleaning surfaces of the brushes and discs inside the case C closer towards each
other, or vice versa when turned in the other direction to clean different sizes and
thicknesses of knives. Between the end of the hollow spindle and the bearing
end of the centre driving spindle ba hand wheel c is mounted, connected to the
centre shaft by a screw coupling e' direct, or it might be by a screw pin and
socket and hollow eyed driving wheel e actuated by a large enclosed driving
wheel at e³ on a stud by a crank hand lever mounted on it when driven by
hand instead of by the treadle mechanism T and its pulley ".
For the sharpening of knives an emery wheel E, with driving, tightening discs E',
on each side, and bored eye could be portably mounted on the inner coupling

page_text: part of the centre driving shaft by merely removing the coupled continuation b¹
of this shaft b, b, as more particularly shown in Figure 2.
For the cleaning and polishing of forks and spoons, and, the backs of knives, two
additional horizontal spindles d, d', would be mounted over each other in front of
the central shaft. These spindles d, d', would be carried in centre or bush
bearings in a bracket frame D preferably projecting up and forward from the
bracket a', and at the other or left hand end carried by a portable vertical
standard D. The lower spindle d would be mounted in stationary bearings or
centres in the brackets D D", but the upper spindle would be mounted, in
movable or adjustable centres or bearings at D³ working in vertical slotted guides
in the upper part of the said brackets D, D₁, and which would be raised and
lowered by hand screws D³ passed up through the secured but removable tops of
the slides, so as to separate these spindles d, d', more or less with the cleaning
portable brushes or rollers on them. These spindles d, d¹, would be easily shipped.
or unshipped by making their left hand bearing centres du screw out and in to the
bushes or standards D₁, D", and be removed from their driving pulley ends at d³
by slotted and pin couplings at d. These two spin:lles dare driven by an
open band preferably passed over the before mentioned grooved driving pulley ²
on the centre shaft and round or under and over grooved pulleys on the lower
and upper spindles d d and passed over a tightening guide pulley & mounted on a
stud bush shifted out and in by a screw d in horizontal slide guides in the en
bracket D next the side of the knife cleaning machine, this shifting stud pulley *
tightening the band to compensate for the raising and lowering of the upper
For cleaning forks
spindle and its pulley d³, as seen particularly in Figure 4.
a hollow wooden cylinder e would be portably mounted on the lower spindled with
four or other number of discs e' of buff leather, and smaller washers or discs
between them, at the one end, say the right hand end of the cylinder e, so as to
enter between and clean the prongs of the forks when revolving; and the cylinder
of the upper spindle d' would be mounted with a revolving brush at this end
over the disc part e' of the lower roller e. These hollow cylinders would be
formed with bushes or recesses at g at the one end to take on to projections on
couplings or discs g' on their driving spindles as seen more particularly in detail
The
detached enlarged end and side views in Figures 5 and 6, on Sheet 2.
centre part of these hollow cylinders e, f, would have a circumferential covering
of plain buff or chamois leather mounted on them for cleaning the handles and
sides of the forks, while their other or left hand ends would have radial layers of
chamois leather on edge as shown at ef for cleaning the sides and edges of the
forks. When the hollow or bowl parts of spoons are to be cleaned the cylinders e, f,
would be removed and corresponding hollow wooden cylinders h, h, would be
mounted on both the lower and upper spindles d, d', as shown in sectional elevation
and end views in Figures 6 and 7 Sheet 2 with annular corrugated or fluted surfaces
of radial layers of chamois leather *, h, or of hair bristles or a combination of
these, the corrugations being of various sizes to suit the mouths of bowl parts of
different sizes of spoons, the raised corrugations of the one cylinder working into
the hollow corrugations of the other. The chamois leather may be mounted in
single or double longitudinal corrugated strips sewn on their inner edges as close
together as possible to leather or strong cloth which would be secured round the
circumference of the cylinders to act as the cleaning surfaces. The other end of
the lower cylinder may be formed with a plain covering of chamois leather or brushes
for cleaning the handles of the spoons. While the same end of the upper roller h
would preferably be mounted with a hair brush to clean large sizes of spoons.
For cleaning, blacking and polishing boots and shoes I remove the upper
spindle of the before mentioned two spindles of the polishing rollers, as also the
central bracket or standard D' carrying its inner end, but retain the lower spindle d
5 and its inner end carrying bracket D which was enclosed under the portable
standard bracket D', and make this lower bracket D also carry the end of another
spindle I a little below and at the one side and behind the centre of the said first
:

page_text: lower spindle d, the other end of this spindle being carried in a screw centre II, in
the same standard at which carries the screw or bush centre al of the inner
extension of the first main central shaft. This central spindle at its inner
end carries a grooved pulley 12, which by an open band " passed over a
grooved pulley I on this inner lower spindle I, actuates it in the same direction
as the first motion spindle and these pulleys may be formed fast and
loose. On the upper central spindle as shown in detached sectional side elevation
and end view in Figures 8 and 9 on Sheet 2, I mount a long circular brush J with
long soft hair or other material J', in the line of the first lower spindle d, and near
the other end with shorter stiff hair J2, which I use for cleaning the dirt off the
boots, and the other end with the soft hair I use for polishing the surface of
the boots, along with a similar brush J" mounted portably on the first or lowest
spindle nearest the knife cleaning machine, the same as the brush Jon. the
upper central spindle 1, these two polishing brushes rotating in opposite directions,
but not quite touching each other by a cross or twisted band dx, shown dotted-in in
Figure 4, passed over the pulleys 2, 3, on their spindles, d, the boots being turned
and held by hand over either or both of these brushes as shown dotted in Figure 9;
and for polishing the hollows and corners of boots, a narrow central brush with
long hair J³ is mounted between the brushes J, J, of the barrel J as shown
particularly in Figure 8. For blacking the surface of the boots after the dirt has
been cleaned off and before polishing, I have a portable cylindrical blacking brush i
of bristles or cloth as shown in detached sectional clevation in Figure 10 Sheet 2,
mounted on the outer lower spindle I; over a segmental portable tray or
trough containing liquid or moist blacking in a drawer K, shown in sectional end
view and plan detached in Figures 11 and 12 Sheet 2, under the table plate A², in
which trough is fitted a serving brush or roller
woollen cloth and fitted in a frame raised by a lever
to press against the revolving blacking brush so
and puts a little blacking on the surface of the
it about.
preferably covered with
in front of the drawer K,
that this brush takes up
boot without sprinkling
For polishing silver plate and other articles I place a fine dry brush or a
woollen cloth brush formed in radial layers on edge on a spindle and lever
frame, analogous to that for the blacking mounted in a portable tray j and
remove the blackening tray from the front outer end of the drawer K and insert
this segmental tray containing rouge or other cleaning or polishing powder or
material and raise this by the lever 3 up to the dry polishing brush, preferably
formed of radial layers of chamois leather or woollen cloth, set on edge mounted
on the spindle I as seen in Figures 1 and 2, so that it takes up the polishing powder
also without sprinkling it about, and polishes the spoons or plate with the top and
front surface of the brush. The other end K₁ of this drawer K may have a
separate division or divisions to contain knives, forks, and spoons, and the two sides
of the frame below the table plate A2 may be boxed in as a case or press as shown
at A³ Figure 1, with either drawers or shelves for containing the several cleaning,
and polishing rollers, and articles to be cleaned; and be enclosed by a door, which
is made to open out on hinges at top and bottom at A' and when open slide in
transverse grooves on the outer end of the case frame out of the way. As shown
in edge and side views in Figure 13, a portable wheel F carrying a disc of chamois
leather or a brush at F', may be mounted on the clutch part d of the spindle d
and secured by a pinching screw, for the purpose of cleaning large surfaces of
platework or similar purposes.
When the machine is to be driven by hand, I mount a hand spindle or stud c
in the journal bearing bracket supported on the first or right hand headstock a of
the machine, with a hinged crank handle e on the outside end, or on a large
spur wheel c on the inner end and gear this into a small spur pinion c mounted
loose on the inner end of the main central driving spindle b, and on the inner face
of this spur pinion c², I mount a radial arm with a screw pin and wheel c¹ on it, on
which I screw out a hollow screw stem to enter a hole or. recess in the before

page_text: entioned hand clutch wheel e, which drives the central shaft b, and also the hollow
haft when the hand clutch wheel e is put into gear. But it is to be understood
hat where motive power is available the upper first motive shaft & may be driven
y a band and pulley from any convenient prime moving shaft, instead of from the
riving or fly-wheel T3 of the crank treadle motive shaft T" hereinbefore described.
The connecting rod T between the foot-treadle T, and its crank shaft T, has its
apper and lower ends fitted with brass cap wood block bearings adjusted by
pinching screws at top and sides, so as to have these connections always
perfectly tight.
"
Referring to Figures 14 to 17 on Sheet 2, these show a modified arrangement
of the furbator or knife cleaner box C, from that shown in Figures 1 to 3, and
in which the box C is made portable to contain a number of wood cleaning discs B,
with their radial brushes B" and intermediate polishing segments, a large
segment B. being made of layers of buff leather, and the smaller segments B³
formed of india-rubber, or of layers of buff leather placed on edge. These polishing
discs B are mounted on a crank shaft B for being coupled to the first motion
shaft between the headstocks a', a", instead of the shaft in Figure 1, a spiral
Spring B pressing the discs B towards each other to clean the knives inserted
in U shaped holders C in a reciprocating frame & actuated by.connecting rods "
from cranks on the shaft B, and connected to studs on the frame k', reciprocating
in slide guides in the sides of the box C, the handles of the knives k being
gripped between a layer of rubber on the upper surface of the reciprocating
frame and two bars or rollers covered with rubber k,, the latter of which
slides out of the way in the grooved end brackets of the reciprocating frame k¹,
shown detached in Figure 17, for the insertion and removal of the knives & in
their U or grooved shaped holders C, through the open upper front end C³ of the
box C, the rubber covered bar & being secured by hand pinching screws at k to
hold the knives firm while being cleaned as shown particularly in Figure 16.
this arrangement the spindle is driven by a crank handle fitted on it beyond
the bracket a', or by the band T2 passed over the pulley from the driving fly
wheel pulley T³, of the treadle mechanism.
In
Cleaning powder is introduced into the chambers Be of the discs B, and falls
through the orifices 137 on to the surfaces B1, B3, on which the knives are cleaned.
The reciprocating action of the frame cleans the knives k of whatever length
they may be, more regularly, and especially the points of these.
This arrangement of knife cleaning machine shown in Figures 14 to 17 may be
used for cleaning the knives alone as shown; or it may be substituted for the
furbator C in the machine shown in Figures 1 to 4, and used in combination with
the brushing and cleaning mechanism of that machine.
In the small portable arrangement of machine shown in Figure 18 in addition
to the arrangement of furbator C shown in Figures 14 to 17, being used mounted
on a central spindle 13+ carried on end standards a', a¹¹; a sleeve of buff leather e¹
formed with a series of grooves is shown as mounted on this spindle B' for cleaning
the prongs of forks, while a disc e" of chamois leather set on edge is mounted at
the opposite end of the spindle B₁ for cleaning the ornamental parts of the forks
or plate; and a small disc E of buff leather or emery is mounted on the spindle B
for sharpening the knives k. The spindle B is shown as turned by crank
handle c*.
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 what I
claim is.―
First. The construction or general arrangement and combination of the parts of
a machine, for cleaning and sharpening knives and with interchangeable spindles
and brushes for cleaning and polishing forks, spoons, plate, boots and shoes and
like purposes, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the
accompanying drawings.

page_text: Second. The constructing of a cleaning and polishing machine for the purposes
stated, with interchangeable rotating spindles and brushes, discs or equivalent
cleaning surfaces and their securing fittings, substantially as herein described in
reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. The constructing of a cleaning and polishing machine for the purposes
stated, with cleaning or polishing discs or brushes formed of projecting layers of
chamois leather, cloth, or equivalent material, set radially on edge on rotating
interchangeable spindles, substantially as herein described in reference to and
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. The constructing of a cleaning and polishing machine for the purposes
stated, with cleaning and polishing brushes in combination with blacking, rouge,
powder, or equivalent boxes and applying brushes or equivalent organs operated
by lever fittings, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
Fifth. The constructing of a machine or mechanism for cleaning knives with
segmental cleaning discs, radial brushes, powder supplying chambers, and recipro-
cating knife carrying frame and holders, substantially as herein described in reference
to and shown in Figures 14 to 17 of the accompanying drawings.
Sixth. The construction and arrangement of a portable knife, and fork, or plate
cleaning and polishing machine, substantially as described in reference to Figure 18
of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 20th July 1800
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.