Blade sharpening system with friction drive angle adjustment mechanism

Abstract

A blade sharpening device includes a rotatable blade clamping assembly, a friction-driven angle adjustment mechanism, and a calibration apparatus for adjusting sharpening angles relative to stones of varying thicknesses. The system further includes a quick-disconnect base assembly for ease of mounting and transport. The calibration apparatus compensates for stone thickness variations using spacers and indexed markings. The blade clamping assembly is pivotably mounted and includes removable jaws for accommodating blades of differing profiles. The quick-disconnect base assembly allows rapid attachment to work surfaces using a low-profile locking interface. Together, the components provide a user-friendly, durable, and highly adjustable manual sharpening system with enhanced safety, alignment precision, and modularity for maintenance or component replacement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blade sharpening system comprising:
 a frame;   a blade clamping assembly mounted to the frame;   an angle adjustment mechanism comprising:
 an angle adjustment post retained within a supportive structure; 
 a bearing module connected to the angle adjustment post, the bearing module configured to receive and guide a free end of the guide rod; and 
 a friction drive assembly comprising:
 a rotatable shaft coupled to a drive wheel having a high-friction outer surface in contact with the angle adjustment post, 
 wherein rotation of the drive wheel causes the angle adjustment post and the bearing module to move vertically within the supportive structure to adjust a sharpening angle of the guide rod relative to the blade clamping assembly. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The blade sharpening system of  claim 1 , wherein the high-friction outer surface of the drive wheel comprises an elastomeric O-ring configured to compress against the angle adjustment post. 
     
     
         3 . The blade sharpening system of  claim 1 , wherein the angle adjustment post has a square cross-section and the support structure is a vertically oriented recess which is constructed from or lined with a low-friction material. 
     
     
         4 . The blade sharpening system of  claim 1 , further comprising a thumbscrew configured to lock the angle adjustment post in place once a desired sharpening angle is achieved. 
     
     
         5 . The blade sharpening system of  claim 1 , wherein the projecting arm extends inwardly toward a central portion of the frame and is oriented parallel to a horizontal centerline of the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The blade sharpening system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable shaft is coupled to a user-operable hand knob positioned outside the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The blade sharpening system of  claim 1 , wherein the friction drive assembly provides micro-adjustable, gearless, one-handed sharpening angle adjustment. 
     
     
         8 . The blade sharpening system of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing module is configured to slidably retain a free end of the guide rod during sharpening. 
     
     
         9 . The blade sharpening system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises an upright structure with a front and rear vertical support, and the blade clamping assembly is rotatably mounted between the supports. 
     
     
         10 . The blade sharpening system of  claim 1 , further comprising an indexing detent assembly configured to engage the blade clamping assembly at a plurality of rotational positions about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . A quick-disconnect base assembly for a blade sharpening system comprising:
 a hand grip attached to a frame of the blade sharpening system;   a grip disc mounted at a lower end of the hand grip;   a locking lug mounted below the grip disc;   a rigid base having a position plate with a circular cutout configured to receive the grip disc and an opening configured to receive the locking lug;   wherein rotation of the hand grip causes the locking lug to engage an underside of the base to removably secure the blade sharpening system to the rigid base.   
     
     
         12 . The quick-disconnect base assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the locking lug is half-round and suspended such that it rotates into a locked position with frictional engagement against the base. 
     
     
         13 . The quick-disconnect base assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the locking lug mounting screws are adjustable to control a gap between the locking lug and the grip disc. 
     
     
         14 . The quick-disconnect base assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the hand grip and base can be rotationally disengaged for compact storage and handheld use of the sharpening system. 
     
     
         15 . A stone thickness compensation assembly for a blade sharpening system, comprising:
 a projection mounted to a vertically movable angle adjustment post;   a opening near a distal end of the projection;   a rod insertable through the opening;   a stop collar slidably adjustable along the rod and lockable at a desired position;   a stone platform located beneath the projection, configured to support a sharpening stone;   wherein the rod and stop collar are calibrated against a first sharpening stone and serve as a reference to adjust the angle adjustment post for subsequent sharpening stones of varying thicknesses.   
     
     
         16 . The stone thickness compensation assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the stop collar is configured to rest flush against an upper surface of the projection when the rod contacts the surface of a sharpening stone. 
     
     
         17 . The stone thickness compensation assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the stop collar has a distance between a bottom surface of the stop collar and a bottom of the rod being a baseline for adjusting the sharpening angle based on sharpening stone thickness. 
     
     
         18 . The stone thickness compensation assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the rod is made of a rigid metallic material and the stop collar includes a thumbscrew for locking its position. 
     
     
         19 . The stone thickness compensation assembly of  claim 15 , wherein visual gaps between the stop collar and the projection or between the rod and the sharpening stone indicate required angular adjustment.