US1081284A - Stropping-machine. - Google Patents

Description

L. A. PLINKER.

STROPPING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 4, 1909.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

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ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

LEON A. rnrnnnn, or new YORK, 1v. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE KEENOH COMPANY, or DETROIT, nrcnrenn, A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN.

STBOIPPING-MACHINE specification 01 Letters Patent.

Application filed May 4, 1909.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

Serial No. 493,824..

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, LEON A. FLINKER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Stropping- Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a razor sharpener involving certain novel features, among which may be mentioned means for automatically locking the blade holder in its inoperative position, means for releasing said blade holder from said position, and means for guiding the strep during the sharpening operatlon.

During the insertion and withdrawal of the blade with respect to the blade holder, it is desirable, if not necessary, that said holder be held in a fixed position, and preferably intermediate the leads of the strop, in order to avoid cutting the operator or the strop. It has been the practice heretofore to accomplish this result by means of manually operated looks or catches of one form or another, but these complicate the mechanism and require more or less time to operate.

The present invention overcomes these and other defects incidental to employing the old type of locking mechanism, and it embodies means whereby the locking of the blade holder is effected automatically, and the unlocking thereof by the normal operation of producing tension on the strop while sharpening the blade.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cutlery sharpening machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the machine on the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional. view similar to Fi 2 with the blade holder unlocked and moved to a position wherein the edge of a blade will be engaged by the strop, the spring being flattened when the parts are in the position shown.

In carrying my invention into practice, I employ a substantially rigid frame, indicated in its entirety by the reference character, A. By the term rigid frame I mean a frame which is non-spreadable in the manner shown and described in a prior Patent No. 870,279 granted to me Novemher 5, 190? as sole owner. The form of frame shown in the drawings comprises a main plate, a, ends, a, and arms, cf, the ends and arms being rigid with the plate, all of said parts being preferably struck up from sheet metal of appropriate gage. It will be understood that in manufacturing the frame a blank of the required form is stamped from sheet metal, and the end portions, at, are bent substantially at right angles to plate, a, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. \Vhile it is preferred to stamp and bend the frame from sheet metal, yet it is not desired to limit the invention to this particular mode of procedure and the material specified, for the reason that the frame may, if desired, be composed of cast metal. Two arms, a are provided on each end, a, and as shown in Fig. 2, these arms are spaced with relation to each other so as to leave an intermediate opening; or throat, a The back plate of the frame is provided with slots or passages, Z), in which are positioned arms, 0, of a yoke, C, the latter forming one part of a hanger or suspension means for the machine. The other part of the hanger con sists of a member, I), having an eye, (Z. The member, D, is fitted between arm, 0, of yoke, C, and said member is connected pivotally to yoke, C, at cl. It is preferred to double or fold the hanger member, D, so as to produce a loop, 6Z2, through which passes the pivot pin, CZ, and said member, D, has its looped end fitted snugly between the arms of yoke, 0, whereby the hanger memher, I), is precluded from movement: in any direction other than on the axis afforded by the pivot or pivot pin, (Z. The yoke is positioned within frame, A, substantially at the middle or central portion thereof, and the arms, 0, of said yoke are fitted loosely in slots, Z), on the frame so that yoke, C, and frame, A, are capable of a limited sliding movement relative to each other for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

E designates a blade holder herein shown as consisting of a plate, 6, and converging jaws, e. The blade holder is tapering in cross section, as shown in Fig. 2, and the jaws, e, are so disposed that they provide a narrow slit or opening through which the edge portion of a razor blade may protrude in order to engage frictionally with a movable strop, F. Said blade holder is supported within frame, A, for movement therein, and in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the blade holder is pivotedto the frame for oscillating movement from side to side thereof. The blade holder is positioned between the members, a, and arms, (H, at the respective ends of the frame, and said blade holder is provided with ears or lugs, f, which are shown in Fig. 3 as lying close to end members, a, of said frame. The lugs, f, are secured firmly to a shaft, g, on a roller, G, and this roller is journaled in the ends of frame, A, to have rocking or oscillating movement therein owing to frictional engagement of said roller with strop, F, whereby the motion imparted to the roller by the action of the strop is communicated to the blade holder. Instead of securing the blade holder to the roller in the manner described, any other means may be employed for rigidly fastening the blade holder to the roller.

' For the purpose of holding yoke, C, in a predetermined relation to frame, A, I employ a suitable spring adapted to act against the frame and yoke respectively. Said spring is represented in the drawings as a bowed or leaf spring, H, which passes through the yoke so as to engage therewith, the end port-ions of said spring being seated on the back plate, a, of the frame, whereas the middle portion of the spring engages with the yoke, see Figs. 1 and 3.

An important element of my invention consists of means for locking blade holder, E, in its inoperative position within the machine when the strop, F, is at rest, and this locking means consists of parts on guide, 0, and roller, G, respectively. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the roller is provided with a groove, h, and the yoke has a tongue, h, but, obviously, the tongue and groove may be transposed, as for example, by providing the groove in the yoke and the tongue on the roller. This detail of construction is so evident to a skilled mechanic that I have not considered it necessary to illustrate the same in the drawings. When no tension is eXerted on strop, F, spring, H, presses frame, A, rearward or yoke, C, forwardly, and thus tongue, it, is forced into groove, h, of roller, G, thereby locking the blade holder, E, in a fixed position centrally between the arms, a at the respective sides of the frame. This is an important advantage secured by my new construction for the reason that while a rigid or non-spreadable frame is employed, the blade holder is so securely held and looked that it cannot slip when the operator is engaged in inserting a blade into the holder or removing a blade therefrom. This precludes the possibility of cutting the operators hands or the strop during the insertion or removal of a blade, said blade being shoved endwise into the blade holder and through the opening or throat, a at one end of the frame.

For the purpose of holding the blade securely in the holder, it is desirable to employ means for clamping said blade in holder, E. One means for securing this result consists of a spring, I, and screw, J. Said spring is secured at one end by a rivet, 2', to the bottom plate, 6, of the blade holder, and to the other end of the spring is attached a follower, 2'. Blade holder is provided with a rigid arm, j, having a threaded opening into which is screwed the adjusting screw, J. The inner end of this screw engages with the follower, z", of the spring, and when the screw is turned inwardly, it displaces the follower and bows or deflects the spring, I, outwardly, whereby a blade is clamped in the holder by reason of the jaws, 6, engaging with the respective sides of the blade.

' The holder is adapted for the reception of different kinds of blades, such as the blades of ordinary razors, or the blades of safety razors. In using safety razor blades it may be necessary to employ an auxiliary blade holder, but as a suitable blade holder of this type is disclosed in my prior patent, I have not considered it necessary to illus trate the same in the drawings of this invention.

K, K, designate two guides for the strop, and L, L, are additional guides for said strop. Each guide may consist of a pin, 70,- supported in the frame and its arms, a but it is preferred to employ a roller, is, mounted loosely on the pin for the purpose of reducing the frictional engagement of the strop with the guide, thus permitting the strop to run freely through the machine. The guides, K, K, are positioned in the frame at the respective sides of roller, Gr, and quite close to back plate, a, of the frame. The additional strop guides, L, L, are supported in the arms, (4 so that they occupy positions opposite to the longitudinal slit of blade holder, E. The additional guides are so related to guides, K, K, that they deflect the respective leads of strop, F, inwardly toward the blade holder, and between the guides, K, L, and K, L, the strop is inclined for the purpose of securing a proper angle of engagement between the respective leads of the strop and the blade. It will be observed, furthermore, that the additional guides, L, L, will present the leads of the strop in positions for engagement with the razor blade at the edge of said blade, or just in rear of the edge thereof, and these guides thus serve important functions in my new machine. In this connection, it is to be observed that I employ four guides, thus simplifying the construction by reducing the number of parts. As a matter of fact, the stropping machine is reduced to its simplest form for the reason that a number of parts heretofore deemed essential are omitted, while at the same time, the machine is eflicient and reliable in operation, whereby I am enabled to substantially reduce the cost of manufacture of the improved machine.

The operation is as follow':--When it is desired to insert a blade of any kind into the machine, the spring acts on yoke, C, to press its tongue into the groove of roller, G, whereby blade holder, E, is locked firmly and in a central position with respect to the frame and the respective leads of the strop as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Screw, J, is turned outwardly so that the spring, I, lies close to the bottom of blade holder, E, and

the blade is inserted by an endwise movement into an open end of said blade holder, said open end being opposite screw, J, and follower, i. The blade having been inserted, it is clamped in place by turning screw, J, inwardly, thereby deflecting spring, I, which presses the blade into engagement with the jaws of blade holder, E. Hanger member, D, is fitted to a hook or any other suitable fixture, and the operator grasps the handles, F, at the outer ends of the respective leads forming the strop, F. When pull is exerted on the strop, it acts on guides, K, K, and moves frame, A, forwardly against the tension of spring, I-I, said spring, H, being flattened and the relative positions of the parts being shown in Fig. l. The effect of this operation is to withdraw tongue, 72,, from engagement with groove, it, in roller, Gr, whereby the pull on one lead of the strop unlocks holder, E, so that the frictional engagement of strop with roller, G, will swing blade holder, E, in one direction, as shown in Fig. l, so as to present one side of the razor edge for engagement with one load of the strop. When the strop is drawn a sufficient distance in one direction, the operator pulls on the other lead of the strop,thus reversing the direction of its movement, and when the pull is first exerted on said other lead of the strop, roller, G, and blade holder, E, are shifted promptly in the other direction or to a reverse position for the purpose of presenting the other edge of the razor into engagement with said other lead of the strop. The operation of pulling on the leads of the strop alternately is continued for an indefinite number of times, and until the blade is properly sharpened, but when the pull is re leased on the strop, spring, H, again operates to move frame, A, rearwardly with drawn from the holder, E, and the machine.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a stropping machine, a blade holder, a roller cooperating therewith, and locking mechanism rearwardly and intermediate the ends of the roller for securing said blade holder in its inoperative position.

2. In a stropping machine, the combination of a frame, a roller journaled in said frame, a blade-holder supported by said roller and movable therewith relative to the frame, a strop positioned intermediate the blade-holder and the roller, said strop partially covering that surface of the roller which is in opposing relation to said bladeholder, and a locking device positioned for locking engagement with that surface of the roller which is uncovered by the strop.

3. In a stropping machine, the combina tion of a frame, a roller journalcd in said frame, a. blade-holder carried by and movable with said roller, a strop engaging frictionally with that part of the surface of the roller which is in opposing relation to the blade-holder, the remainder of the surface of said roller being uncovered by the strop, and a spring positioned rearwardly of the roller and cooperating with the exposed surface thereof intermediate the ends of said roller.

l. In a 'azor sharpener, the combination of a holding frame, a blade-holding member adapted to oscillate therein, bearing rollers rotatably mounted in said frame, a strap member passing over said rollers, adapted to frictionally engage said blade holding member, and a spring member engaging against said blade holding member, whereby it is yieldingly hold in neutral position with respect to the extremes of its possible path of travel, substantially as described.

5. In a razor sharpener, in combination with a blade-holding member, a frame wherein said member is journaled in position to oscillate along a limited path of travel, a strap member adapted to engage said blade-holding member whereby i is alternately actuated against the extremes of its possible path of travel, roll rs journaled in the frame, and over which said strap is drawn, and a spring member mounted in said frame and adapted to yieldingly engage against said blade-holding member, thereby causing it to return to the middle of the possible path of travel upon the cessation of actuating strain upon the strap member, substantially as described.

blade-holder attached to and movable with said roller, a strop operating between the blade-holder and the roller, said strop covering a part of the surface of the roller and engaging frictionally therewith for imparting oscillatory movement to the bladeholder, and a retaining device cooperating with the exposed surface of said roller and operating to normally position the bladeholder substantially midway between the two extreme positions into which said bladeholder is shifted by the action of the strop upon the roller.

7. In a stropping machine, the combination of a frame, a roller journaled therein, a blade holder carried by and movable with the roller, said blade holder being spaced relative to the roller for the passage of a strop between the roller and blade-holder, a strop engaging frictionally with that surface of the roller which is opposite to the bladeholder, two guide rollers mounted in the frame at the respective sides of the first roller and over which guide rollers the strop passes to produce a bight for engagement with the first roller, other guide members mounted in the frame opposite to the end portion of the blade holder, and a retaining device cooperating with that surface of the roller left uncovered by the strop, said retaining device acting on the roller to normally position it substantially midway be tween the guide members.

8. In a stropping machine, the combination of a frame, a roller journaled therein, a blade-holder carried by and movable with said roller, two guide rollers mounted in the frame at the respective sides of the first roller, a strop passing over the two guide rollers and beneath the first roller, said strop partially covering that surface of the first roller which opposes the blade holder and frictionally engaging with said roller for imparting oscillatory movement to the blade-holder, other strop guides mounted in the frame and positioned at the respective sides of the frame at the outer end of said blade-holder, the distance between said strop guides being less than the distance between the two guide rollers whereby the runs of the strop are inclined toward each other at the respective sides of the blade-holder and a retaining device cooperating with the exposed surface of the first roller and operating to normally position the blade-holder substantially midway between the two strop guides.

WILLIAM C. HARRIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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