Systems and methods for conditioning blades
AssigneeWolff Industries, Inc.
InventorsDavid Vogel, Walker Newell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for conditioning blades are provided. A method may include, for example, obtaining a cutting device, measuring various characteristics of the cutting edge of the cutting device, creating a current edge profile based on the characteristics, creating a modified edge profile, and/or conditioning the blade. Conditioning may include grinding, buffing and/or polishing. One or more of the conditioning steps may be based on the modified edge profile.
Claims19
A system for conditioning blades, the system defining an orthogonal coordinate system comprising an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis, the system comprising:
- a gripper assembly for gripping a cutting device comprising a blade, the gripper assembly movable along and about the X-axis, the Y-axis and the Z-axis;
- a first measuring device operable to measure a thickness of the blade, wherein the gripper assembly orients the blade for measurement by the first measuring device;
- a second measuring device operable to measure a width and a length of the blade, wherein the gripper assembly orients the blade for measurement by the second measuring device;
- and
- a processor, the processor configured for creating a current edge profile based on the width, thickness and length measurements, the current edge profile comprising X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis data points for the blade, wherein the processor is further configured for adjusting the current edge profile to a modified edge profile;
- and
- a grinding assembly, wherein the gripper assembly moves the blade for contact with the grinding assembly,
- wherein operation of the first measuring device occurs before or after operation of the second measuring device.
A system for conditioning blades, the system defining an orthogonal coordinate system comprising an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis, the system comprising:
- a gripper assembly for gripping a cutting device comprising a blade, the gripper assembly movable along and about the X-axis, the Y-axis and the Z-axis;
- a first measuring device operable to measure a thickness of the blade;
- a second measuring device operable to measure a width and a length of the blade;
- a processor, the processor configured for storing X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis data points for the blade which correspond to the width, thickness and length measurements, the processor further configured for determining whether thinning of the blade is required based on one or more of the stored data points, the processor further configured for creating a current edge profile and adjusting the current edge profile to a modified edge profile;
- and
- a grinding assembly, wherein the gripper assembly moves the blade for contact with the grinding assembly,
- wherein operation of the first measuring device occurs before or after operation of the second measuring device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.