Apparatus and method for sharpening edges of reciprocating blade
AssigneeGerber Garment Technology, Inc.
InventorDavid R. Pearl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cutting machine for cutting layups of sheet material has a reciprocating blade suspended from a platform above a support surface for the material. A blade sharpener is also suspended from the platform and comprises at least one sharpening wheel for engagement with the cutting edge of the blade. The sharpening wheel is mounted on a rotatably driven shaft, and includes an abrasive surface disposed about an axis of symmetry which in turn is arranged in angular relation to the axis of the shaft. The angular arrangement of the axes of symmetry and the shaft ensures contact between a limited portion of the abrasive surface and the cutting edge of the blade during sharpening operations.
Claims9
In a cutting machine with a blade supported from a blade support for generally vertical reciprocating movement along an axis perpendicular to a work supporting planar surface and having a cutting edge, a blade sharpener comprising:
- at least one sharpening wheel suspended from the blade support and mounted on a shaft adjacent the cutting edge of the blade for rotation about the shaft axis and for sharpening when the sharpening wheel is engaged with the cutting edge of the blade, the sharpening wheel having an abrasive surface coaxially disposed about an axis of symmetry arranged in angular relation to the shaft axis;
- and
- drive means for rotating the sharpening wheel on the shaft when engaged with the blade for sharpening the cutting edge of the blade as the blade reciprocates during a sharpening operation.
A method for sharpening the cutting edge of a reciprocating blade in a sheet material cutting apparatus, the blade having a cutting edge and being supported above a sheet material supporting surface, the apparatus having a cutting region proximate the sheet material supporting surface and a blade sharpening region above the cutting region, and at least one blade sharpening wheel having an abrasive surface for sharpening the cutting edge of the blade, the wheel being mounted for rotation on a wheel shaft, and selectively engageable with a drive motor for rotation about the wheel shaft axis, said method comprising the following steps:
- mounting the sharpening wheel on the wheel shaft to arrange an axis of symmetry of the abrasive surface in angular relation to the wheel shaft axis and project at least one portion of the abrasive surface toward the confronting side of the cutting edge of the blade,
- elevating the blade from the cutting region to the blade sharpening region and reciprocating the blade within the sharpening region,
- rotating the sharpening wheel about the wheel shaft axis,
- and biasing the sharpening wheel toward the cutting edge of the blade, to engage the projecting portion of the abrasive surface with the confronting side of the cutting edge of the blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.