Patent ID: 6942553

Claim:
A portable automated sharpening apparatus structured to sharpen a plurality of blades of an operational reel blade mechanism, said apparatus comprising: a sharpening assembly including a sharpening motor having at least one sharpening element interconnected thereto, said sharpening motor structured to rotate said sharpening element about a sharpening axis, a drive assembly comprising a drive member, said drive member partially defining a drive path, said sharpening assembly operatively engaging said drive member, said drive assembly further comprising a drive motor engaging said drive member in a driving relation, said drive member structured to transport said sharpening assembly along a portion of said drive path, a support assembly structured to removably interconnect at least said drive assembly to the operational reel blade mechanism such that said sharpening element is disposed in an operative orientation with the operational reel blade mechanism, the operational reel blade mechanism being at least partially, yet operably, interconnected to a propelling device, a control assembly structured to automatically alternate a direction of transport of said sharpening assembly along said portion of said drive path in a reciprocating manner, and a guide assembly structured and disposed to maintain said sharpening axis substantially parallel to a reel blade axis during transport of said sharpening assembly along said portion of said drive path.