Cutter blade sharpener and method

Abstract

A cutter blade sharpener and method allows for quick, easy and uniform sharpening of tree felling head circular cutters. Each cutter blade is individually removed from the circular cutter and is positioned on the sharpener, one at a time whereby the cutter blades are then ground in uniform fashion. The sharpener includes a tubular frame having a slide table mounted thereon for both lateral and longitudinal movement of the cutter blade proximate the grinding wheel.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A cutter blade sharpener comprising: a frame, a grinding wheel, said grinding wheel mounted on said frame, a slide table, said slide table positioned on said frame, a cutter blade support arm, said support arm attached to said slide table whereby a cutter blade can be affixed to said support arm for sharpening by said grinding wheel.  
     
     
         2 . The cutter blade sharpener of  claim 1  wherein said slide table comprises a table top, a table base, said table top movably positionable above said table base.  
     
     
         3 . The cutter blade sharpener of  claim 2  wherein said table top comprises a top crank, a top threaded member, said top crank attached to said top threaded member for rotating the same, said table top threadably connected to said top threaded member whereby rotation of said top crank will move said table top along said slide table.  
     
     
         4 . The cutter blade sharpener of  claim 2  wherein said table base comprises: a base crank, a base threaded member, said base crank attached to said base threaded member, said table base threadably joined to said base threaded member whereby rotating said base crank will move said table base along said slide table.  
     
     
         5 . The cutter blade sharpener of  claim 1  wherein said table top is movable perpendicularly to said table base.  
     
     
         6 . The cutter blade sharpener of  claim 1  further comprising a table base stop, said stop attached to said frame for limiting the movement of said table base.  
     
     
         7 . The cutter blade sharpener of  claim 1  further comprising a support arm handle, said support arm handle attached to said support arm for affixing a cutter blade thereto.  
     
     
         8 . The cutter blade sharpener of  claim 7  wherein said support handle comprises a threaded shaft, said support arm defining a shaft slot, said threaded shaft mountable within said shaft slot.  
     
     
         9 . The cutter blade sharpener of  claim 1  further comprising an electric motor, said electric motor attached to said grinding wheel for driving the same.  
     
     
         10 . The cutter blade sharpener of  claim 1  wherein said frame further comprises a plurality of legs.  
     
     
         11 . A method of sharpening a cutter blade utilizing a grinding wheel mounted on a frame with a slide table having an adjustable, movable table top, a support arm affixed to said table top and an adjustable, movable table base, and an adjustable stop attached to the frame comprising the steps of: 
 a) attaching the cutter blade to the support arm;    b) adjusting the support arm so the cutter blade contacts the grinding wheels; and    c) activating the grinding wheel to sharpen the cutter blade.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of adjusting the stop.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of adjusting the table base.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of rotating the cutter blade while on the support arm.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of removing the cutter blade from the support arm.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein rotating the cutter blade comprises the step of rotating the cutter blade four times.