Rotary Mower Blade Sharpener Having Movable Griding Wheels

A device for sharpening a mower blade, comprising:

• a mounting assembly for mounting a blade having a rotational axis at its center and a pair of cutting edges, one cutting edge on each of opposed sides of the longitudinal axis, wherein the mounting assembly holds the blade in a fixed state or in free pivoting state allowing pivoting from the horizontal that reveals blade rotational imbalance;
• at least one grinding head assembly positionable adjacent one end of the blade and in engagement with a cutting edge to be sharpened;
• and
• a control system for controlling movement of the at least one grinding head assembly along the cutting edge,
• wherein the mounting assembly selectively holds the blade in the fixed state to enable the at least one grinding head assembly to grind a cutting edge in a direction substantially parallel to the at least one cutting edge of the blade, and in the free pivoting state to enable the blade to pivot around its rotational axis for balance testing.

A method for sharpening a rotary mower blade, comprising the steps of:

• using a mounting assembly, mounting a blade having two cutting edges to be sharpened on opposite sides of the blade's longitudinal axis, wherein the mounting assembly is configured to position the blade in a fixed state and a freely pivoting state;
• and
• controlling coordinated movement of two grinding head assemblies, each grinding head assembly being positioned adjacent an opposite end of the blade, wherein each grinding head assembly respectively grinds one of the two opposed cutting edges to be sharpened;
• and
• using the mounting assembly, first positioning the blade in the fixed state to enable each grinding head assembly to grind a cutting edge in a direction substantially parallel to the cutting edges of the blade, then positioning the blade substantially horizontally in the freely pivoting state to test the blade for rotational imbalance.