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US 12,048,979 B2Granted
Rotatable edge guide to support a cutting tool during a sharpening operation
AssigneeDarex, LLC
InventorDaniel T. Dovel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for sharpening a cutting tool. In some embodiments, a tool sharpener includes an abrasive medium having an abrasive surface. A stationary tool support guide provides a guide surface that supports a side of the tool during presentation of a cutting edge of the tool against the abrasive surface. A rotatable edge guide has a roller member with a curvilinearly extending outer surface. The roller member is rotatable about an edge guide roller axis to engage, via rolling contact, the cutting edge during the presentation of the cutting edge against the abrasive surface.
Claims19
A tool sharpener for sharpening a cutting tool, the tool sharpener comprising:
- an abrasive medium having an abrasive surface;
- and
- a rotatable edge guide adjacent a first edge of the abrasive surface and having a roller member configured to engage, via rolling contact, a first portion of a cutting edge of the cutting tool as a second portion of the cutting edge of the cutting tool is presented against the abrasive surface, the roller member being rotatable about a roller axis nominally orthogonal to a retraction direction along which the cutting edge is drawn across the abrasive medium during contact with the abrasive medium and the rotatable edge guide, wherein, in response to contact between the cutting tool and the roller member, the rotatable edge guide is configured to rotate about an axis that is parallel to the retraction direction or non-parallel to the roller axis such that the roller member is configured to deflect with respect to the abrasive medium such that the roller axis of the roller member moves from a first position to a second position while maintaining the roller axis nominally orthogonal to the retraction direction.
A tool sharpener for sharpening a cutting tool, the tool sharpener comprising:
- an abrasive medium having an abrasive surface;
- and
- a rotatable edge guide adjacent a first edge of the abrasive surface and having a roller member configured to engage, via rolling contact, a first portion of the cutting edge of the cutting tool as a second portion of the cutting edge of the cutting tool is presented against the abrasive surface, the roller member being configured to (i) rotate about a roller axis in response to contact with the cutting edge, and (ii) pivot about a second axis that is perpendicular to the roller axis;
- wherein the roller axis is nominally orthogonal to a retraction direction along which the cutting edge is drawn across the abrasive medium during contact with the abrasive medium and the rotatable edge guide, and wherein the roller member is configured to be deflectable with respect to the abrasive medium such that the roller member is configured to move downwardly by pivoting about the second axis responsive to contact with a feature of the cutting tool while maintaining the roller axis nominally orthogonal to the retraction direction.
1 more element
A tool sharpener for sharpening a cutting tool, the tool sharpener comprising:
- a base structure configured to enclose an electric motor configured to move an abrasive medium having an abrasive surface, the base structure comprising a cam surface comprising an intermediate base portion and one or more ramps;
- a stationary tool support guide affixed to the housing and having a stationary edge guide configured to support, via sliding contact, a first portion of a cutting edge of the cutting tool;
- and
- a rotatable edge guide coupled to the base structure, the rotatable edge guide comprising:
- a roller member configured to rotate about a roller axis and engage, via rolling contact, a second portion of the cutting edge of the cutting tool as an intermediate third portion of the cutting edge of the cutting tool is presented against the abrasive surface to sharpen the cutting edge as the cutting tool is retracted along a retraction direction;
- and
- a deflectable central body configured to support the roller member to rotate about the roller axis and to facilitate movement of the roller member between a retracted position, a deployed position, and a deflected contact position, the deflectable central body being rotatable about an edge guide central axis that is perpendicular to the roller axis to maintain the roller axis orthogonal in each of the retracted position, the deployed position, and the deflected contact positions, the deflectable central body having a cam flange that is configured to engage the intermediate base portion when in the deployed position and engage the one or more ramps when in the deflected contact position.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.