AU746852B2 - A device to aid in grinding cutters and combs - Google Patents

Description

A DEVICE TO AID IN GRINDING CUTTERS AND COMBS Technical Field The present invention relates to the maintenance of cutters and combs employed in shearing equipment, more particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus which are used to hold the combs and cutters during sharpening thereof.

Background of the Invention A shearing hand piece includes a comb and a cutter. During cutting of fleece, both the cutter and comb loose their sharp edges. To address this issue, the combs and cutters are ground to restore the sharpened edges.

Considerable skill is required to correctly sharpen the cutter and comb. Incorrect •grinding will considerably reduce the life of the cutter and comb.

For example, when grinding the comb, it is preferable that it be ground so as to .be slightly concave.

15 Apparatus currently employed to aid in sharpening the combs and cutters, such S: as AU 724,566, include a "pendulum" lever to which the combs and cutters are attached.

The combs and cutters are attached to the lower end of the lever and moved into contact 0 with a rotatably driven grinding disc.

It is a disadvantage of the above known apparatus that considerable skill is 20 required by the operator to correctly grind the cutter and comb.

*Object of the Invention •It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantage or at least to provide a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a support assembly to be associated with a grinding surface which is rotated about a first axis generally perpendicular to the surface, said support assembly being adapted to receive a shearing cutter or comb to be ground by contact with said surface, said assembly comprising: a frame to be positioned adjacent said surface; a carriage mounted on the frame for pivoting movement about a second axis relative to said frame, said second axis in use being generally parallel to said surface; [R:\LIBLL I 1279specie.doc:keh:tyb:KEH a holder to receive the cutter or comb, said holder being mounted on the carriage for pivoting movement relative thereto about a third axis being generally parallel to said second axis, wherein said holder includes a base and a holding member, the holding member being adapted to receive said cutter or comb, and said holding member being pivotally attached to said base for pivoting movement about a fourth axis generally perpendicular to said second and third axes.

Preferably, the above described assembly includes means to limit pivoting movement of said carriage about said second axis in a direction toward the surface.

In a further preferred construction there is provided resilient means extending between said carriage and holder urging said holder to pivot about said third axis towards said surface.

Brief Description of the Drawings o* A preferred form of the present invention will now be described, by way of S 15 example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of an apparatus to aid in grinding combs and cutters of shearing equipment; S: Figure 2 is a further side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic front elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1; 20 Figure 4 is a schematic side elevation of a frame to support the apparatus of Figure 1; and eeoc Figure 5 is a schematic elevation of the frame of Figure 4.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted an apparatus to aid in grinding the cutters and combs of shearing equipment. The apparatus includes a frame 10 which supports an assembly 11.

The frame 10 is adapted to be mounted on the base of a grinding machine having a pair of generally parallel coextensive grinding discs which are rotated about the axis 12.

Each of the discs would be located in a cavity 13 generally enclosed by a circular guard 14 supported by brackets 15. An electric motor would be located in the space 16 so that a driven shaft extends along the axis 12. The grinding discs are located on opposite ends of RA the shaft, with one disc being caused to grind the comb, and the other disc being relatively finer, to grind the cutter.

[R:\LIBLL] I 1279spccie.doc:kch:tyb:KEH The brackets 15 are coupled by means of transverse members 17.

The frame 10 includes a pair of mountings 18 which support transverse rods 19 and 20. The rods 19 and 20 extend generally transverse of the axis 12 but spaced above and below the axis 12. The rods 19 and 20 extend adjacent the grinding faces of the grinding discs. In this embodiment only one pair of mountings 18 is illustrated.

However, it should be appreciated that both sides of the frame 18 would be provided with a pair of mountings 18 so that both grinding discs can be used.

Mounted on the rods 19 and 20 is the assembly 11. The assembly 11 is illustrated adjacent a grinding disc 21. The assembly 11 receives and holds the cutter and 1o comb and brings the cutter or comb into grinding contact with the grinding disc.

The assembly 11 includes a carriage 22 which has its lower end 23 pivotally mounted on the rod 19 so as to be pivotable about the longitudinal axis 34 of the rod 19, as well as being slidable longitudinally of the rod 19. The carriage 22 is also provided owith an upper end 24 having an arcuate face 25 which can be moved into engagement 15 with the rod 20 to limit movement of the carriage 22 towards the grinding disc.

Mounted on the carriage 22 is a holder 26. More particularly, the holder 26 is o° pivotally mounted adjacent the end 23 by means of a pivot pin 27 which defines a pivot axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 34 of the rod 19.

The holder 26 includes a cutter and comb support 28 which includes a plate 29 20 preferably formed of magnetic material and adapted to receive and hold the cutter and comb. The support 28 has a base 30 through which a pivot pin 31 passes to pivotally attach the support 28 to the carriage 22. The pivot pin 31 provides for pivoting movement about an axis 32 which is perpendicular to the pivot axis of the pin 27 and the axis 34.

Extending between the holder 26 and carriage 22 is a spring 33 which when compressed urges the plate 29 towards the grinding disc 21.

In operation of the above described device to aid in grinding combs and cutters, a comb or cutter is mounted on the plate 29 so as to be in a position to contact the grinding disc 21. The operator then moves the carriage 22 (in a pivoting movement) towards the grinding disc 21 so that the plate 29 moves towards the grinding disc and therefore moves the comb or cutter into grinding contact. Ultimately the surface 25 engages the rod and thereby limits the force applied by the spring 33 and the contact force between the comb or cutter and the grinding disc. While grinding, the assembly 11 may be moved longitudinally of the rods 19 and 20 to engage various parts of the grinding disc.

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Claims (5)

1. A support assembly to be associated with a grinding surface which is rotated about a first axis generally perpendicular to the surface, said support assembly being adapted to receive a shearing cutter or comb to be ground by contact with said surface, said assembly comprising: a frame to be positioned adjacent said surface; a carriage mounted on the frame for pivoting movement about a second axis relative to said frame, said second axis in use being generally parallel to said surface; a holder to receive the cutter or comb, said holder being mounted on the carriage for pivoting movement relative thereto about a third axis being generally parallel to said second axis, wherein said holder includes a base and a holding member, the holding member being adapted to receive said cutter or comb, and said holding member being pivotally ~attached to said base for pivoting movement about a fourth axis generally perpendicular S s15 to said second and third axes.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further including means to limit pivoting movement of said carriage about said second axis in a direction towards the surface.

3. The assembly of claim 1 or 2, further including resilient means extending between said carriage and holder urging said holder to pivot about said third 20 axis towards said surface.

The assembly of claim 3, wherein said holding member is formed of oe magnetic material.

5. A support assembly to be associated with a grinding surface, said oo assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings. Dated 28 February 2002 Sunbeam Corporation Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON [R\LIBLL] I 1279specie.doc:keh:tyb:KEH