Edge buster series round blade sharpener and the edge tracker sharpener

Abstract

Apparatus for sharpening, grinding or sizing a cutting edge on a circular blade which has dulled, chipped, or needs re-sizing blades from 2½″ to 48″ diameter. Differs from prior art in that it sharpens, grinds or sizes circular blades and blades with different geometrical shaped blades. Manually or pneumatically externally powered driven. Furthermore, it is necessary to maintain factory blade edge angles when sharpening the edge of the blade allowing the blade life to be greatly extended and maintain a like new cutting edge through out the life of the circular blade. Present invention is also unique in respect to the not heating up of the blade edge using similar devices. The simplest and safest sharpener of its type to operate. Also the Pneumatically Driven Machine incorporates such a design as to sharpen blades which are of different geometric shapes I.e. Scalloped, Wide Slotted

1 - 2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . We claim a round blade sharpening apparatus for providing a sharpened edge on a round, scalloped, slotted or blades with different geometrical edge profiles, comprising: a flat base, Gearbox Housing, Flexible Drive Shafts, a vertical angle adjustment rail assembly, a horizontal blade diameter adjustment rail and a pivoting arm sharpening assembly.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus in claim  1 , is the only round blade sharpener which offers 2 different modes of operation; manual operation requiring no utilities, air, water or electricity to operate and pneumatic operation requiring compressed air to operate. Either of these two operation modes will sharpen, grind and size a particular blade. Two machines in one.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus in claim  1  is the only Round Blade Sharpener that will Sharpen Round Blades from 2″ minimum diameter to unlimited maximum diameter.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus in claim  1  has a base with an 18″ or larger, ruler attached for exact measurement of the diameter of blade to set the vertical angle adjustment rail assembly in correct position on the horizontal blade diameter scale. A calibrated, engraved blade diameter scale, including a center line indicator mark, on the base running parallel to the horizontal blade diameter adjustment rail.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus in claim  1  has a horizontal blade diameter adjustment rail which incorporates a blade diameter adjustment slide and a blade diameter adjustment brake with handle. A blade diameter indicator located at the base of the vertical angle adjustment rail assembly.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus in claim  1  uses a pivoting arm sharpening assembly, which houses the diamond file holder, is mounted on and slides up and down the blade angle adjustment slide which incorporates a blade angle adjustment brake with handle to secure a precision angle setting.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus in claim  1  which uses a protractor combined with the protractor indicator on the pivoting arm sharpening assembly to set the correct angle in which the Round Blade Sharpener will sharpen the blade.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus in claim  1  has a pivoting arm sharpening assembly that is lowered and raised along the vertical angle adjustment rail assembly until desired angle is reached on the protractor as indicated by the protractor indicator and then locked into place using a locking lever. All components are calibrated for accurate settings.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus in claim  1  uses a pivoting arm sharpening assembly which incorporates a weight attachment shaft and a prescribed weight cylinder which may be moved along the shaft and set by tightening inserted thumb screw, which is used as a variable tension device when sharpening the blade.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus in  claim 9  in which the pivoting arm sharpening assembly houses a diamond file housing designed to pivot on its on axis up to 125°. This allows complete conformity to the blade being sharpened. (I.e. Slightly Warped Blade). The ratio of reciprocating strokes versus a single revolution of the blade in the manual mode is 20:1 and 200:1 in the pneumatic mode.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus in  claim 10  uses a diamond file housing is driven by using flexible drive shaft cables connected to the pivoting arm sharpening assembly and the gearbox housing.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus in claim  1 , to have a gearbox housing with an attached 3 way pneumatic valve, water separator and regulator assembly, toggle brake switch with attached polypropylene bumper and shaft assembly, horizontal transition shaft, attached flexible drive shaft cables, pivot locking pin and vertical shaft.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus in  claim 12 , which uses a crank handle that can be turned either direction providing a means of power in the manual mode. There is an attached female receptacle shaft assembled to handle that mates with a male T-slot of the top end of the vertical shaft.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus in  claim 13 , with a blade nut which threads on the threaded portion of the male slotted vertical shaft. The nut holds the blade securely onto the blade support hub.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus in  claim 14  with a crank handle attached to a vertical shaft which is mounted to a larger bevel gear it meshes with a smaller pinion gear that is mounted on the horizontal transition shaft which effectively creates an approximate 3:1 increase of the output shaft's rpm's.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus in  claim 16  with an output shaft that is attached to a flexible drive cable that is routed through a series of flexible drive shaft eyelets. The opposite end of the flexible drive shaft is connected by attached integrally mounted couplings and set screws to the connector shaft/cam shaft which is connected to the cam linkage arm which connects to the diamond file holder all of these components are mounted on the pivot arm sharpening assembly.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus in  claim 12  which uses a toggle brake switch on the Gearbox housing. Brake is off for manual mode and brake is on for Pneumatic mode. The toggle brake switch in the on position allows for controlled rate of compression contact to the vertical shaft by the polypropylene bumper to further reduce the back lash of the vertical shaft to nearly zero. This allows the precision sharpening of the edges of blade different geometrical profiles. The toggle brake switch in the off position allows the operator to effortlessly turn the crank handle in the manual mode, where near zero back lash precision is not required.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus in claim  1  uses a removable clear plastic blade safety cover and metal shroud which closes and opens. Allowing the blade to be sharpened with safety being exercised.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus in claim  1  does not heat the blade disturbing the metallurgy of the blade.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus in claim  1 , that the combination of precision control in the areas of: prescribed weight, reciprocating file strokes, revolution of blade sharpened, ratios between reciprocating strokes and revolutions of the blade sharpened, ability of the novice operator to match any angles including factory angles allows the round blade sharpener to produce razor sharp durable edges without building up friction causing the blade to heat up and destroy the tempered edge of the blade. “We don't grind we sharpen the blade edge. Causing blade life to extend to 25 times +. This applies to either mode of operation of the round blade sharpener.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus in claim  1  uses a custom modular air motor gear box design with a slip lock disengagement coupling that is used to divert the power source and speed s of operation to the necessary mode demanded by the blade chosen  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus in claim  1  has a quick change flexible drive shaft system that allows the novice operator to make operating mode conversion quick and simple.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus in claim  2  is totally portable round blade sharpener in the manual mode no air, water or electricity is ever required.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus in claim  1  requires no maintenance on this round blade sharpener ever! Making it Maintenance Free.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus in claim  1  uses a blade arbor selection system allowing the novice operator to easily select the proper arbor to match the bore through on the blade chosen to be sharpened.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus in claim  1  has mounted spring loaded grinded tool to size the blade to a specific diameter and or grind minor nicks and abrasions in blades by the novice user as well.