Knife processing system

Abstract

A knife guide assembly includes a knife guide structure including a guide arm and a guide base. The guide arm forms an angled recess configured to receive a portion of a knife blade at one or more predetermined angles. The knife guide assembly further includes a securing assembly including one or more metal plates and threaded fasteners configured to removably couple the knife guide structure to a support structure. The knife guide assembly further includes an adjusting rod rotatably coupled to the knife guide structure and configured to adjust a vertical position of the knife guide structure via rotation of the adjusting rod.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A knife guide assembly comprising:
 a knife guide structure comprising a guide arm and a guide base, the guide arm forming an angled recess configured to receive a portion of a knife blade at one or more predetermined angles;   a securing assembly comprising one or more metal plates and a plurality of threaded fasteners configured to removably couple the knife guide structure to a support structure; and   an adjusting rod rotatably coupled to the knife guide structure and configured to adjust a vertical position of the knife guide structure via rotation of the adjusting rod.   
     
     
         2 . The knife guide assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the guide arm is substantially perpendicular to the guide base. 
     
     
         3 . The knife guide assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the knife guide structure further comprises a plurality of threaded protrusions that extend from the guide base and are configured to pass through the one or more metal plates to couple to the threaded fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . The knife guide assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the securing assembly further comprises hollow protrusions that extend from the one or more metal plates, wherein threaded protrusions that extend from the guide base are configured to pass through the hollow protrusions to couple with the threaded fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The knife guide assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the guide arm extends from a first side of the guide base, wherein the knife guide structure further comprises an adjusting rod securing portion that extends from a second side of the guide base that is opposite the first side, and wherein the adjusting rod securing portion forms a channel that is configured to receive the adjusting rod. 
     
     
         6 . The knife guide assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 rotating the adjusting rod in a first direction moves the knife guide structure in a upward direction; and   rotating the adjusting rod in a second direction moves the knife guide structure in a downward direction.   
     
     
         7 . The knife guide assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the guide arm is secured to a corresponding substantially central portion of a first side of the guide base, and wherein an adjusting rod securing portion of the knife guide structure is secured to a respective substantially central portion of a second side of the guide base, and wherein the second side is opposite the first side. 
     
     
         8 . A knife processing system comprising:
 a motor;   a plurality of wheels operatively coupled to the motor, the plurality of wheels comprising a set of sharpening wheels and a set of polishing wheels; and   a plurality of knife guide assemblies comprising a first knife guide assembly associated with the set of sharpening wheels and a second knife guide assembly associated with the set of polishing wheels, wherein each knife guide assembly of the plurality of knife guide assemblies comprises:
 a knife guide structure comprising a guide arm and a guide base, the guide arm forming an angled recess configured to receive a portion of a knife blade at one or more predetermined angles; 
 a securing assembly configured to removably couple the knife guide structure to a support structure; and 
 an adjusting rod rotatably coupled to the knife guide structure and configured to adjust a vertical position of the knife guide structure. 
   
     
     
         9 . The knife processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the guide arm of the first knife guide assembly is positioned between and extends above the set of sharpening wheels. 
     
     
         10 . The knife processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the angled recess of the first knife guide assembly is configured to create a convex edge on the knife blade via the set of sharpening wheels. 
     
     
         11 . The knife processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the guide arm of the second knife guide assembly is positioned between and extends above the set of polishing wheels. 
     
     
         12 . The knife processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the angled recess of the second knife guide assembly is configured to polish a knife via the set of polishing wheels. 
     
     
         13 . The knife processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the set of sharpening wheels are flap wheels. 
     
     
         14 . The knife processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the set of polishing wheels are fabric wheels. 
     
     
         15 . The knife processing system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 rotating the adjusting rod in a first direction moves the knife guide structure in an upward direction; and   rotating the adjusting rod in a second direction moves the knife guide structure in a downward direction.   
     
     
         16 . An enclosed knife processing system comprising:
 a housing forming a vacuum interface configured to provide particles out of the housing;   a plurality of wheels partially enclosed within the housing, the plurality of wheels comprising a set of sharpening wheels and a set of polishing wheels; and   a plurality of knife guide assemblies comprising a first knife guide assembly associated with the set of sharpening wheels and a second knife guide assembly associated with the set of polishing wheels, wherein each knife guide assembly of the plurality of knife guide assemblies comprises:
 a knife guide structure comprising a guide arm and a guide base, the guide arm forming an angled recess configured to receive a portion of a knife blade at one or more predetermined angles; 
 a securing assembly configured to removably couple the knife guide structure to a support structure; and 
 an adjusting rod rotatably coupled to the knife guide structure and configured to adjust a vertical position of the knife guide structure. 
   
     
     
         17 . The enclosed knife processing system of  claim 16 , wherein the guide arm of the first knife guide assembly is positioned between and extends above the set of sharpening wheels, and wherein the angled recess of the first knife guide assembly is configured to create a convex edge on the knife blade via the set of sharpening wheels. 
     
     
         18 . The enclosed knife processing system of  claim 16 , wherein the guide arm of the second knife guide assembly is positioned between and extends above the set of polishing wheels, and wherein the angled recess of the second knife guide assembly is configured to polish the knife blade via the set of polishing wheels. 
     
     
         19 . The enclosed knife processing system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 rotating the adjusting rod in a first direction moves the knife guide structure in an upward direction; and   rotating the adjusting rod in a second direction moves the knife guide structure in a downward direction.   
     
     
         20 . The enclosed knife processing system of  claim 16 , further comprising a motor operatively coupled to the plurality of wheels, wherein the motor is configured to actuate the plurality of wheels to rotate in a substantially clockwise direction.