Automated Skate Sharpening and Contouring Machine

Abstract

An automated skate sharpening machine is provided. The machine includes a grinding wheel operable to rotate about a first axis by a grinding wheel motor; one or more skate holders to clamp a skate blade with its edge facing the grinding wheel; wherein at least one of the grinding wheel motor and the one or more skate holders are rotatable about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The machine also includes a control system coupled to at least one of the grinding wheel motor and the one or more skate holders, the control system operable to move the grinding wheel motor and/or the one or more skate holders relative to each other along any one of three directional axes to engage the grinding wheel with the skate blade, wherein the control system is further operable to rotate the grinding wheel motor and/or the one or more skate holders about the second axis to orient the grinding wheel in a first position relative to the one or more skate holders to cross-grind the skate blade, or a second position relative to the one or more skate holders that is longitudinally aligned with the skate blade to sharpen the skate blade.

1 . An automated skate sharpening machine, comprising:
 a grinding wheel operable to rotate about a first axis by a grinding wheel motor;   one or more skate holders to clamp a skate blade with its edge facing the grinding wheel;   wherein at least one of the grinding wheel motor and the one or more skate holders are rotatable about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; and   a control system coupled to at least one of the grinding wheel motor and the one or more skate holders, the control system operable to move the grinding wheel motor and/or the one or more skate holders relative to each other along any one of three directional axes to engage the grinding wheel with the skate blade, wherein the control system is further operable to rotate the grinding wheel motor and/or the one or more skate holders about the second axis to orient the grinding wheel in a first position relative to the one or more skate holders to cross-grind the skate blade, or a second position relative to the one or more skate holders that is longitudinally aligned with the skate blade to sharpen the skate blade.   
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1 , comprising a pair of grinding wheels and a pair of control systems to enable multiple skates to be handled at the same time. 
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 2 , wherein each grinding wheel is operable to be rotated between the first and second positions independently. 
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 2 , wherein each grinding wheel is fixed or primarily held in one of the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is further operable to rotate the grinding wheel motor about the second axis to at least one intermediate position between the first position and the second position to increase a radius of the grinding wheel that engages the skate blade to provide a variable bite angle. 
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more skate holders comprises a clamping mechanism, the clamping mechanism comprising a jaw opposite a rotatable anvil, the rotatable anvil comprising a plurality of sides, each side providing a different area of contact opposite the jaw to permit clamping skate blades of different lengths. 
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein each side comprises a different length of contact. 
     
     
         8 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein each side comprises a discontinuous surface broken in at least one place along the corresponding side. 
     
     
         9 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more skate holders comprises at least one floating connection point, each floating connection point comprising a pair of opposing magnets of the same polarity to repel each other and oppose the weight of the skate holder and skate or blade clamped therein. 
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a dressing bit, the machine being configured to engage the grinding wheel with the dressing bit to dress the grinding wheel. 
     
     
         11 . The machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a form dressing wheel the machine being configured to engage the grinding wheel with the form dressing wheel to dress the grinding wheel. 
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid applicator to apply a fluid to the skate blade or the grinding wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor to measure a temperature of a skate blade being sharpened, the control system being further configured to adjust a skate sharpening process according to a measured temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is implemented using a computer numerical control (CNC) machine. 
     
     
         15 . A method of automatically sharpening a skate blade, comprising:
 positioning a grinding wheel motor having a rotating grinding wheel or one or more skate holders clamping the skate blade relative to each other to achieve a first position to cross-grind the skate blade;   moving the grinding wheel motor or one or more skate holders relative to one another to engage the grinding wheel with the skate blade to perform a cross-grinding operation;   rotating the grinding wheel motor or the one or more skate holders to achieve a second position to sharpen the skate blade; and   moving the griding wheel motor or one or more skate holders relative to one another to engage the grinding wheel with the skate blade to perform a sharpening operation.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising engaging the grinding wheel with a dressing bit or form dressing wheel prior to performing the sharpening operation. 
     
     
         17 . A method of applying a variable bite angle to a skate blade using the machine of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 rotating a grinding wheel having been dressed with a first radius about a first axis, and engaging the grinding wheel with a first portion of the skate blade;   rotating the one or more skate holders or the grinding wheel about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis by a first selected angle while continuing to rotate the grinding wheel about the first axis to enlarge the first radius to become a second radius, and continuing to engage the grinding wheel with a second portion of the skate blade to vary a bite angle between the first and second portions.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising rotating the one or more skate holders or the grinding wheel about the second axis by a second selected angle to enlarge or reduce the second radius to provide a third radius and further vary the bite angle along a third portion of the blade. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , repeated at least one additional time. 
     
     
         20 . A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by a process cause an automated skate sharpening machine to automatically sharpening a skate blade, comprising instructions for:
 positioning a grinding wheel motor having a rotating grinding wheel or one or more skate holders clamping the skate blade relative to each other to achieve a first position to cross-grind the skate blade;   moving the grinding wheel motor or one or more skate holders relative to one another to engage the grinding wheel with the skate blade to perform a cross-grinding operation;   rotating the grinding wheel motor or the one or more skate holders to achieve a second position to sharpen the skate blade; and   moving the griding wheel motor or one or more skate holders relative to one another to engage the grinding wheel with the skate blade to perform a sharpening operation.