Selectively deployable rotatable edge guide to support a cutting tool during a sharpening operation

A tool sharpener for sharpening a tool, the tool sharpener comprising:

• a base structure which encloses an electric motor;
• an abrasive medium supported by the base structure and adapted for rotational movement responsive to the electric motor, the abrasive medium having an abrasive surface extending along a neutral plane;
• a stationary tool support guide having a guide surface extending along a guide plane at a selected angle with respect to the neutral plane to engage, via sliding contact, a side of the tool during presentation of a cutting edge of the tool against the abrasive surface, the stationary tool support guide disposed adjacent a first edge of the abrasive medium;
• and
• a rotatable edge guide disposed adjacent an opposing, second edge of the abrasive medium so that the abrasive medium is disposed between the rotatable edge guide and the stationary tool support guide, the rotatable edge guide comprising a roller member having a curvilinearly extending outer surface rotatable about an edge guide roller axis, the rotatable edge guide further rotatable about an edge guide central axis between a deployed position and a retracted position, wherein in the deployed position the roller member is a first distance from the guide surface to facilitate contacting support of a proximal end of the cutting edge of the tool by the curvilinearly extending outer surface of the roller member adjacent the second edge of the abrasive medium during concurrent support of the side of the tool by the stationary tool support guide adjacent a distal end of the cutting tool adjacent the first edge of the abrasive medium to sharpen the cutting edge, and wherein in the retracted position the roller member is a second distance from the guide surface greater than the first distance to place the curvilinearly extending outer surface of the roller member in a non-contacting, clearing relation with respect to the tool during support of the side of the tool by the stationary tool support guide adjacent the distal end of the cutting tool adjacent the first edge of the abrasive member to sharpen the cutting edge.

A tool sharpener for sharpening a tool, the tool sharpener comprising:

• an endless abrasive belt having an abrasive surface and opposing first and second sides, the belt routed over a belt roller and placed under tension to present a planar extent of the belt adjacent the roller, the roller rotatable about a first axis;
• a stationary tool support guide adjacent the first side of the belt and having a guide surface extending along a guide plane at a selected angle with respect to the planar extent of the belt to engage, via sliding contact, a side of the tool during presentation of a cutting edge of the tool against the abrasive surface of the belt;
• and
• a rotatable edge guide adjacent the second side of the belt and comprising a roller member having a curvilinearly extending outer surface rotatable about a second axis and a main body which supports the roller member and which is rotatable about a third axis parallel to the first axis to transition the roller member between a deployed position and a retracted position, the deployed position placing the second axis orthogonal to the first axis to engage, via rolling contact, a proximal portion of the cutting edge during concurrent contact of the side of the tool by the guide surface of the stationary tool, the retracted position placing the second axis in a skewed relation to the first axis so that the roller member is in a non-contacting clearing relation to the tool during contact of the side of the tool by the guide surface of the stationary tool.