US 10,569,377 B2Granted

Robotic sharpening system

AssigneeOmnisharp, LLC

InventorsJacob Robinson, Lynn Sarcione, Russell Aldridge, Marc Christenson, Mathius Jules, Joshua Bennett

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and a method for sharpening a cutting tool. The system sharpens cutting tools by manipulating the tool, measuring the three dimensional profile of the tool, and then grinding the tool. The apparatus consists of a robot capable of six degrees of motion, a gripping mechanism, a force-torque sensor capable of at least two directions of force and/or torque, a three dimensional scanning subsystem, a loading subsystem, a user interface, an initial orientation scan subsystem, a data processing and robot control subsystem, and at least one grinding system comprising two counter-rotating grinding wheels. The method automates the grinding process so that dull cutting tools can be placed into the loading system, sharpened by the system, and then ejected fully honed.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A system for simultaneously sharpening both sides of the cutting edge of a knife blade comprising:

an automated robot for manipulating a knife;
a grinding subsystem capable of both hollow grinding and honing said knife blade;
a control subsystem for controlling said knife through said grinding subsystem to simultaneously sharpen said both sides of the cutting edge of said knife blade, said control subsystem comprising:
a first set of proximity sensors for determining an initial shape of said knife blade;
a 3-D scanner for measuring an edge profile of said knife blade and determining a grinding path for said knife blade through said grinding subsystem;
a force-torque sensor on a wrist member of said robot for controlling said grinding path whereby a contacting point along said cutting edge is maintained tangent to a grinding surface of said grinding subsystem and maintaining a constant grinding force;
a knife delivery subsystem for delivering knives to said robot for pickup and removal by said robot.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/898,278Filed 16 Feb 2018 · us provisional application
Priority: 18 Feb 2017
Published: US 2018/0236623 A123 Aug 2018
Granted: 25 Feb 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B24B 3/40
Of cutting blades: processes or apparatus specially adapted for sharpening curved edges
B24B 3/54
Of cutting blades: of hand or table knives
B24B 41/066
Work supports, e.g. adjustable steadies: adapted for supporting work in the form of tools, e.g. drills
B24B 49/12
Measuring or gauging equipment for controlling the feed movement of the grinding tool or work; Arrangements of indicating or measuring…