Knife sharpener

A knife sharpener for sharpening an edge of a knife of a food slicing machine having a movable carriage tray and a baseplate, comprising:

• a first sharpening element for sharpening one portion of the knife edge;
• a second sharpening element for sharpening an opposing portion of the knife edge;
• housing means for urging the first and second sharpening elements into contact to form a sharpening notch for receiving the knife edge therebetween;
• and
• means indexed to the baseplate for aligning the sharpening notch with the plane of the knife edge,
• the knife received within the sharpening notch by movement of the carriage tray toward the knife;
• and
• handle and connecting means for positioning the housing means relative to the handle so that a radius of the knife perpendicularly bisects the sharpening notch.

A knife sharpener for sharpening an edge of a knife of a food slicing machine having a movable carriage tray and a baseplate, comprising:

• a first sharpening element for sharpening one portion of the knife edge;
• a second sharpening element for sharpening an opposing portion of the knife edge;
• housing means for urging the first and second sharpening elements into contact to form a sharpening notch for receiving the knife edge therebetween;
• and
• means indexed to the baseplate for aligning the sharpening notch with the plane of the knife edge, the indexing means comprising a handle and neck connecting the housing to the handle, the housing and handle having aligned planar surfaces for resting against the baseplate to align the sharpening notch with the plane of the knife edge,
• the knife received within the sharpening notch by movement of the carriage toward the knife.

A knife sharpener for sharpening an edge of a knife of a food slicing machine having a movable carriage tray and a baseplate, the knife having opposing beveled and planar edge portions, comprising:

• a stationary abrasive cylinder for sharpening the beveled portion of the knife edge;
• a stationary abrasive rectangular block for sharpening the planar portion of the knife edge;
• a housing for removably receiving the block and cylinder, the housing including adjustable means for urging the block and cylinder into contact to form a sharpening notch for receiving the knife edge therebetween;
• and
• a handle and a neck connecting the housing to the handle, the handle and housing having aligned planar edges for resting against the baseplate to align the sharpening notch with the plane of the knife edge.