WO2024167891A1

WO2024167891A1 - Tracking abrasive life on multiple generations of abrasive tools

Info

Publication number: WO2024167891A1
Application number: PCT/US2024/014569
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel A. BEAUDET; Russel K. LAYTON, Jr.; Joseph Patrick Tracy
Original assignee: Velasa Sports, Inc.
Priority date: 2023-02-06
Filing date: 2024-02-06
Publication date: 2024-08-15

Abstract

A skate blade sharpening system can be configured to perform a method, the method comprising: communicating, via a control unit of the skate blade sharpening system, with an identification tag of a grinding wheel, the identification tag having a secure memory; reading, a first usage value and a second usage value from the secure memory; performing, a sharpening operation on a skate blade retained within the skate blade sharpening system, wherein one or more sharpening parameters are tracked by the control unit when performing the sharpening operation; determining, an updated first usage life value and an updated second usage life value based at least in part on the one or more sharpening parameters; and writing, via the control unit, the updated first usage life value and the updated second usage life value to the secure memory.

Description

TRACKING ABRASIVE LIFE ON MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF ABRASIVE TOOLS

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

[0001] Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1 .57.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/483,496, filed February 6, 2023, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to the field of tracking the useable life of grinding wheels for skate sharpening systems.

Description of the Related Art

[0004] Abrasive tools such as: belt sanders, disc sanders, grinders and sharpening systems, including skate sharpeners, often have a consumable abrasive component which must be replaced when worn out. Tracking and comparing the actual usage to a usage limit of the abrasive component can ensure that only high quality operations are performed using the abrasive component, and that abrasive components without usable life are not used for future operations.

SUMMARY

[0005] The present disclosure relates to devices and methods which improve the current state of the art for tracking actual usage and usage limits in grinding wheels for skate sharpeners.

[0006] Various systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for the tracking of actual usage and usage limits in grinding wheels for skate sharpeners. The systems, methods, and devices of the disclosure each have several innovative aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for the desirable attributes disclosed herein. [0007] In some embodiments, a skate blade sharpening system is disclosed. The skate sharpening system can be configured to perform a method comprising: communicating, via a control unit of the skate blade sharpening system, with an identification tag of a grinding wheel, the identification tag having a secure memory; reading, a first usage value and a second usage value from the secure memory; performing, a sharpening operation on a skate blade retained within the skate blade sharpening system, wherein one or more sharpening parameters are tracked by the control unit when performing the sharpening operation; determining, an updated first usage life value and an updated second usage life value based at least in part on the one or more sharpening parameters; and writing, via the control unit, the updated first usage life value and the updated second usage life value to the secure memory.

[0008] In some embodiments, a skate blade sharpening system is disclosed. The skate sharpening system can be configured to perform a method comprising: accessing, via a control unit of the skate blade sharpening system, a first usage value and a second usage value associated with a grinding wheel from a secure memory location; performing, a sharpening operation on a skate blade retained within the skate blade sharpening system, wherein one or more sharpening parameters are tracked by the control unit when performing the sharpening operation; determining, an updated first usage life value and an updated second usage life value based at least in part on the one or more sharpening parameters; and updating, via the control unit, the secure memory location with the updated first usage life value and the updated second usage life value to the secure memory location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this disclosure will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in, and constitute a part of, this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure. Embodiment of the present disclosure are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like references indicate similar elements. According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. The drawings are provided to illustrate example embodiments described herein and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a skate sharpening system.

[0011] Figure 2 is a schematic depiction of a grinding wheel contacting a skate blade during sharpening.

[0012] Figure 3 is a perspective view of an interior of a sharpening system including a carriage assembly.

[0013] Figure 4 is a block diagram of an electrical subsystem of a skate sharpening system.

[0014] Figures 5 and 6 are front elevation views of a sharpening system.

[0015] Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of a grinding wheel.

[0016] Figure 8 is a perspective view of an interior of a sharpening system including a carriage assembly.

[0017] Figure 9 is a rear view of a rear part of a radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna housing in a sharpening system.

[0018] Figure 10 is a flow diagram of operation of a sharpening system.

[0019] Figure 11 is a flow diagram of operation of a sharpening system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Various embodiments and aspects of the disclosures will be described with reference to details discussed below, and the accompanying drawings will illustrate the various embodiments. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the disclosure and are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise discussion of embodiments of the present disclosures.

[0021] Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “another embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. Skate Sharpener Overview

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example skate sharpener 10 used to sharpen the blades of ice skates. The skate sharpener 10 has a box-like housing with structural elements including a rigid frame 12 (bottom visible in Figure 1) and a rigid chassis 14. Attached components include end caps 16 and a rear cover 18. The chassis 14 includes a front platform portion 22, also referred to as "platform" 22 herein. The platform 22 includes an elongated slot 24 for receiving the blade of an ice skate for sharpening, and the blade is retained by clamp jaws (not shown) on the underside of the platform 22 which are actuated by a mechanism including a clamp paddle 26. Disposed on the platform 22 are slot covers or "scoops" 28 at respective ends of the slot 24, each including a respective bumper 29 serving to sense contact with a skate blade holder. An outwardopening door 30 having a glass panel 31 and lower hinge portion 33 extends across a front opening. A user interface display panel 34 is disposed at top right on the chassis 14. The skate sharpener 10 also includes a control module or controller, which is not visible in Figure 1 and may be located, for example, inside of the rear cover 18. Further mechanical and electrical details are provided below.

[0023] Figure 1 also shows a coordinate system 35 for references to spatial directions herein. The X direction is left-to-right, the Y direction front-to-back, and the Z direction bottom- to-top with respect to the skate sharpener 10 in the upright, front-facing orientation of Figure 1. This coordinate system also defines an X-Y plane (horizontal), X-Z plane (vertical and left-to- right), and Y-Z plane (vertical and front-to-back). Using this coordinate system 35, the slot 24 extends in the X direction and the skate blade is clamped in an X-Z plane during sharpening as described more below.

[0024] Figure 2 depicts how a skate blade is sharpened. This is a schematic edge-on view of a lower portion of a skate blade 40 in contact with an outer edge of a grinding wheel 36. With reference to the coordinate system 35, this is a view in the X direction. As shown, the grinding wheel 36 has a convex rounded grinding edge 42. In practice the grinding edge 42 may be generally hemispherical. The grinding wheel 36 rotates in the plane of the blade 40 (X-Z plane, into the paper in Figure 2), thereby imparting a corresponding concave rounded shape to a lower face 44 of the skate blade 40. Two acute edges 46 are formed at the intersection of the curved lower face 44 and the respective sides 48 of the blade 40. As material is removed, a clean and precise arcuate shape is restored to the lower face 44, including sharper edges 46. In practice, the radius of curvature of the lower face 44 is in the general range of 3/8" to 1", with one generally preferred radius being 1/2" . It will be appreciated that the disclosed methods and apparatus may be used with other blade profiles, including flat and V-shaped, for example.

[0025] Returning to Figure 1, basic operation with a complete skate is as follows. First a user may need to install a grinding wheel 36 onto an internal carriage (not shown) accessible via the front opening. For this the user opens the door 30, rotating it forward and downward about the horizontal hinge 33, and then closes the door after successfully installing the grinding wheel 36. The nature of the installation will be apparent from the more detailed description below. The user then clamps the blade of the skate in the slot 24 and slides the scoops 28 inwardly until the bumpers 29 are engaged by the blade holder part of the skate. Each bumper 29 actuates a limit switch within the respective scoop 28, so that the engagement is sensed by the controller to enable sharpening to proceed. The user then interacts with a user interface presented on the display panel 34 to initiate a sharpening operation. Subject to certain conditions as described more below, control circuitry of the control unit automatically operates both a grinding motor to spin a grinding wheel 36 and a separate carriage motor (both described below) to move the rotating grinding wheel back and forth along the lower face of the skate blade a desired number of times. Each traversal of the grinding wheel 36 across the length of the blade is referred to as a "pass". In each cycle of two passes (one to the left and the other to the right), the grinding wheel 36 is moved to a far-right position at one end of the skate blade to permit a communications exchange between circuitry on the wheel 36 and the control unit. This communication and related control are described below. Upon completion of a desired number of passes, the control unit stops both the rotation and back-and-forth motion of the wheel 36, and the user unclamps and removes the skate blade from the sharpener 10. It is noted that controls and locations could be reversed in alternative embodiments, so that the communications position would be a far-left position rather than a far-right position.

[0026] The above operation may also be used with bare removable skate blades of the type known in the art. In this case a blade holder or other mechanical aid of some type may be used to enable a user to position the bare blade in the slot 24 for clamping and to engage the bumpers 29 of the scoops 28 to permit operation. Alternatively, a bare blade could also be positioned without a blade holder. [0027] Figure 3 shows the sharpener 10 with several external components removed. The 4-sided sheet metal frame 12 is fully visible. A carriage assembly 70 includes a carriage 72 mounted on the two rails 60, which are shown as separated from the rest of the chassis 14 in this view. The carriage assembly 70 includes a pivoting motor arm 78 to which a grinding wheel motor 80 is mounted. The grinding wheel 36 is mechanically coupled to the rotating shaft of the motor 80 by an elongated spindle 82. The motor arm 78 has limited rotational travel about a horizontal pivot axis 83, so that the grinding wheel 36 can move in a vertical direction to follow the profile of a skate blade when the sharpener 10 is in operation. In the illustrated embodiment, the motor arm 78 is biased toward an upper vertical limit by a spring 84 connected between the motor arm 78 and an upper portion of the carriage 72.

[0028] One important feature of the presently disclosed skate sharpener 10 is use of a compact (small-diameter) grinding wheel 36. Specifically, its diameter can be less than the diameter of the grinding wheel motor 80 by which it is rotated. Use of a compact grinding wheel 36 can provide certain advantages including greater precision in operation and lower cost.

[0029] Also shown in schematic fashion in Figure 3 is a wire harness 86 providing electrical connections between the grinding wheel motor 80 and the above-mentioned controller as well as between the controller and a carriage motor mounted within the carriage 72 (not visible in Figure 3). In Figure 3, the wire harness 86 is shown separate from the rest of the unit for ease of illustration, but it is actually located inside the unit along the rear wall 54. It preferably is self- supporting along its length in a manner that maintains its vertical position while permitting back- and-forth movement of the connectors attached to the carriage assembly 70. An example of a suitable support element is a ribbon-like material of the type used in printers and other machines with translating components. This material can flex about a transverse axis while being stiff about a longitudinal axis, and thus can maintain horizontal straightness while also flexing in a desired curling manner about a vertical axis that follows movement of the carnage assembly 70.

[0030] In operation, the grinding wheel 36 is rotated by the grinding wheel motor 80 via the spindle 82, and the carriage assembly 70 is moved back and forth along the rails 60. Each unidirectional pass of the grinding wheel 36 begins with the grinding wheel 36 located off one end of the skate blade and at the upper vertical limit position by action of the spring 84. As the carriage assembly 70 is moved toward the opposite end of the sharpener 10, the grinding wheel 36 encounters an end of the skate blade and is deflected downward to follow the profile of the skate blade across its length. At the end of the pass, the wheel 36 rides off the other end of the skate blade and returns to the vertical limit position by action of the spring 84.

[0031] Figure 4 is an electrical block diagram of the skate sharpener 10. A control unit 32 includes a processor 130 and one or more controllers 132. The controllers 132 provide lower- level control of corresponding elements, such as the grinding wheel motor 80, a carriage motor 134, and a fan 136. Also shown are the user interface (UI) display panel 34 and RFID interface circuitry 137 in radio communications with an identification tag 204 of the grinding wheel 36 (described more below). Both the controllers 132 and processor 130 are computerized devices including memory, RO interface circuitry and instruction processing circuitry for executing computer program instructions stored in the memory. The controllers 132 may be specialized for low-level real-time control tasks such as achieving and maintaining a commanded rotational speed for a motor. The processor 130 may have a more generalized architecture and potentially richer set of programming resources to perform a variety of higher- level tasks, including interfacing to a user via the UI display panel 34. The processor 130 executing instructions of a particular computer program may be viewed as circuitry for performing functions defined by the program. For example, the processor executing instructions of a sharpening operation controller may be referred to as sharpening control circuitry, and the processor executing instructions related to usage control may be referred to as usage control circuitry. As mentioned above with reference to Figure I, the controller 32 may be located within the rear cover 18.

[0032] Figures 5 and 6 are front views illustrating the above operation. A skate 140 is present and its blade 142 is clamped into a sharpening position in which the lower portion of the blade 142 extends downward through the slot 24 (Figure 1) into the interior of the sharpener 10. In Figure 5 the carriage assembly 70 is located at far left, and the grinding wheel 36 is at an upper vertical limit position just off the left (leading) edge of the skate blade 142. Figure 6 shows the carriage assembly 70 and grinding wheel 36 in the middle of a pass. It can be seen that the grinding wheel 36 has moved downward as it has followed the profile of the blade 142. As mentioned, this left-to-right pass ends with the grinding wheel 36 at the far right, off the right (trailing) edge of the blade 142. Generally multiple passes are used in a sharpening operation for a given blade 142, with the number of passes being determined by the amount of material removal that is necessary to achieve desired sharpness. The sharpener may use both left-to-right and right-to-left passes in sequence, i.e., the grinding wheel 36 travels back and forth in contact with the blade 142 in both directions. Assuming a single home position at one end, in practice each sharpening operation may have a number of two-pass cycles, each including a pass in one direction and a pass in the opposite direction. In alternative embodiments sharpening may occur in only one direction, i.e., the grinding wheel 36 is in contact with the skate blade 142 only for passes in one direction, which alternate with non- sharpening return passes in the other direction.

Grinding Wheel

[0033] Figure 7 shows details of the grinding wheel 36 in one embodiment. The grinding wheel 36 is a multi-piece removable assembly that includes a metal grinding ring 200 disposed on a rigid hub 202, such as by a press fit. The hub 202 has a shallow front-facing cavity 203 which receives an identification tag 204 and a tag capture disk 206. The identification tag 204 (and an optional graphic label not shown in Figure 7) is covered by the capture disk 206, which has a snap-fit to the hub 202. The identification tag 204 may be adhered to the hub 202. Once the capture disk 206 is snapped onto the hub 202, disassembly is very difficult. In one embodiment the hub 202 and disk 206 are formed of thermoplastic or similar hard non-metallic material, and may be substantially transparent. The grinding wheel 36 is mounted to an axle 208 of the spindle 82 by a retention nut (not shown) that urges the grinding wheel 36 against a metal arbor 212 that forms part of the spindle 82.

[0034] The grinding ring 200 has an abrasive outer surface for removing material from a steel skate blade during operation. In one embodiment the abrasive surface may include a diamond or cubic boron nitride (CBN) coating, deposited by electroplating for example. The grinding ring 200 is preferably of steel or similar rigid, strong metal, and it may be fabricated from steel tubing or bar stock. Although in general the grinding ring 200 may be of any size, it is preferably less than about 100 mm in diameter and even more preferably less than about 50 mm in diameter. Its thickness (axially) is substantially less than its radius, e.g., by a ratio of 1:4 or smaller. The ring shape, as opposed to a disk shape as used in more conventional grinding wheel designs, produces a much lighter grinding wheel 36 which can reduce the effects of wheel imbalance, eccentricity, and non-planarity. Reducing such effects can contribute to a smoother finish on a skate blade and a higher performance skate sharpening.

[0035] As shown, both the arbor 212 and hub 202 have shaped outer edges which mate with respective edges of the grinding ring 200. The mating between the arbor 212 and ring 200 is a sliding contact mating that permits mounting and dismounting of the grinding wheel 36 while also providing for heat transfer between the grinding ring 200 and the arbor 212. This relatively tight fit is also responsible for the centering of the grinding wheel. The heat transfer helps dissipate frictional heat generated in the grinding ring 200 as it rotates against a skate blade in operation. Specifically, this mating is between a portion of an inner annular surface of the grinding ring 200 and an annular outer rim of the arbor 212. Both the hub 202 and arbor 212 have notches or shoulders on which respective portions of the grinding ring 200 rest. Thus, the shoulder portion of the hub 202 extends only partway into the grinding ring 200, so that a remaining part of the grinding ring 200 extends beyond the arbor-facing end of the hub 202 and mates with the shoulder portion of the arbor 212.

[0036] The arbor 212 may include vanes or other features to increase its surface area and/or enhance air flow for a desired cooling effect, further promoting heat dissipation and helping to maintain a desired operating temperature of the grinding ring 200 in operation.

[0037] One important feature of the grinding ring 200 is its relatively small size, as compared to conventional grinding wheels which may be several inches in diameter for example. Both the small size of the ring (outer diameter) as well as its ring geometry (in contrast to disk geometry of conventional grinding wheels) contribute to advantages as well as challenges. Advantages include low cost and ease of manufacture, so that it can be easily and inexpensively replaced to maintain high-quality sharpening operation. The size and geometry also reduce any contribution of the grinding ring 200 to imbalance and related mechanical imperfections of operation. Balance and related operational characteristics are more heavily influenced by the arbor 212, which is preferably precision-formed and precision-mounted. One challenge of the geometry and size of the grinding ring 200 is heat removal, and this is addressed in part by the heat- conducting mating with the arbor 212 and heat-dissipating features of the arbor 212.

[0038] The identification tag 204 can have a unique identifier such as a manufacturer's serial number, and when packaged with a grinding wheel 36 into an assembly serves to uniquely identify that assembly including the constituent grinding wheel 36. The identification tag 204 can also include memory capable of persistently storing data items, used for any of a variety of functions such as described further below. The identification tag 204 preferably employs a security mechanism to protect itself against tampering and improper use, including improper manipulation of the contents of the memory. Memory protected in such a manner may be referred to as "secure memory". The serial number should be a read-only value, while the memory is preferably both readable and writeable. As described below, a separate transceiver in the system 10 is capable of exchanging communication signals with the tag 204 for reading and writing data. In one embodiment, so-called "RFID" or radio frequency identification techniques may be employed. Using RFID, the identification tag 204 is read from and written to using radio-frequency electromagnetic waves by an RFID transceiver contained in the sharpening system 10 (described more below). Other types of implementations are possible, including optically interrogated tags and contact-based tags such as an iButton® device.

[0039] For security, the identification tag 204 may use an access code that is read by the control unit 32 and validated. The access code can be generated by a cryptographic hash function or other encryption algorithm that takes as input the serial number of the identification tag 204 and a confidential hash key. Using the serial number ensures that the access code created is uniquely paired with a specific identification tag 204. This uniqueness can help prevent misuse that is attempted by copying an access code from one identification tag 204 to another. When the serial number of the other identification tag 204 is encrypted, the result will not match the copied access code, and appropriate action can be taken such as preventing use of the grinding wheel 36 that contains the apparently fraudulent identification tag 204.

[0040] Figure 8 shows the sharpener 10 having the carriage 70 located in a "home" position at the far right of the sharpener 10. The right end wall 52 is cut away in this view in order to show pertinent detail. Attached to the right wall 52 is a housing 220 in which an electronic sensor module 222 is mounted. The sensor module 222 is connected by cabling (not shown) to the controller 32 (Figure 4). In this position the grinding wheel 36 is adjacent to an inner side of the housing 220 and vertically centered on the housing 220 by action of a shoulder member 224 of the housing 220. Additional details of this arrangement are described below.

[0041] As mentioned above, the wheel 36 includes an identification tag 204 on which various data may be stored for a variety of purposes. In the illustrated embodiment, this tag employs a wireless communication technique such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) communications. The sensor module 222 includes an RFID antenna (not shown) which becomes registered or aligned with the identification tag 204 when the grinding wheel 36 is in the illustrated home position, so that the tag 204 may be read from and written to using RFID communications. Generally, the RFID antenna has one or more loops of conductive material such as wire or metal etch, with the loops having a circular or other shape (e.g., rectangular). The RFID communications may operate on any of a number of frequencies. Frequencies in common use include 133 kHz (Low Frequency or LF), 13.56 MHz (High Frequency or HF), and 900 MHz (Ultra High Frequency or UHF).

[0042] In the illustrated embodiment, the identification tag 204 is within the circumference of the circular- RFID antenna of the sensor module 222 (e.g., concentric with the antenna), during the reading and writing of data from/to the tag 204 as part of operation. By this arrangement the identification tag 204 can be read from and written to even when the grinding wheel 36 is rotating at full speed, which may be between 5000 and 25000 RPM. Reading and writing at full rotational speed has a distinct advantage of allowing the sharpener 10 to sharpen more quickly, because it is not necessary to slow/stop wheel rotation and then bring rotation back up to speed for each read/write operation. As described more below, in one embodiment reading and writing can occur once during each 2-pass cycle, so the time savings is proportional to the number of cycles in a sharpening operation. Additionally, reading and writing at full rotational speed can discourage any tampering with the grinding wheel 36, because it is always moving during the sharpening process. In some embodiments, it may be advantageous to maintain rotation but at a reduced rotational speed to improve the read/write communications with the tag 204.

[0043] Figure 9 is a view from inside the sharpener 10 toward the front, showing the inside facing part of the housing 220 and other details. As shown, the shoulder member 224 has a sloped edge 226 and horizontal edge 228. When the grinding wheel 36 is returning to the home position, moving right-to-left in Figure 9, it initially is at its vertical limit position as indicated in phantom. The spindle 62 encounters the sloped edge 226 and follows it downward, then rides along the horizontal edge 228. This motion of the spindle 62 brings the wheel 36 into a desired vertical position with respect to the antenna within the housing 220 (e.g., aligning the center of the wheel 36 with the center of the antenna). This alignment generally maximizes the RF coupling between the antenna and the tag 204, resulting in robust and accurate transfer of RF signals therebetween.

Use of Identification Tag 204

[0044] The grinding wheel 36 can utilize the identification tag 204 to carry important information and provide it to the control unit 32 of the sharpener 10. The information carried by the tag 204 can be used to improve sharpening operation and reduce costs associated with the skate sharpener 10. Additionally, the information carried by the identification tag 204 can be used to track the useable life of the grinding wheel 36.

[0045] Accurate and repeatable skate sharpening is obtained when the grinding wheel 36 is in good condition (e.g., running true, dimensionally accurate, not excessively worn, not damaged, etc.). One of the limitations of some existing sharpeners is that there is no indicator for the user that alerts them when the grinding wheel is not in good condition. In these sharpeners, the user must make a judgment call on when to retire a grinding wheel. This may occur, for example, in response to a bad skating experience with skates that were sharpened with a grinding wheel that is no longer in good condition.

[0046] The disclosed sharpener 10 can use the data-carrying ability of the grinding wheel 36 to track usage and employ the usage information in some way to promote delivery of consistent high quality sharpening. Generally, this will involve comparing actual usage to a usage limit that has been predetermined as a dividing point between high quality sharpening and unacceptably low quality sharpening. When the usage limit is reached, some action is taken. For example, the control unit 32 may provide an indication to a user via the user interface display panel 34. The control unit 32 may also prevent further use of the grinding wheel 36 (e.g., refrain from performing any passes with a wheel whose usage has reached the limit), even if such continued use has been requested by a user.

[0047] In one embodiment, the above usage tracking may be realized by initially loading the usage limit value onto the tag 204 and then subtracting or "debiting" the stored value as the grinding wheel 36 is used. The usage limit may be deemed to have been reached when the stored value reaches a predefined number, such as zero. Generally, the usage tracking and usage limit may be specified in any of a variety of ways, and the identification tag 204 may be configured to track usage in multiple different ways. Tracking usage in multiple ways on the same identification tag 204 may provide a benefit of enabling the grinding wheel 36 to be crosscompatible with multiple different types and generations of sharpeners 10. For example, a first generation of the sharpener 10 may track usage in a first way, and a second generation of the sharpener 10 may track usage in a different second way. Preferably, the identification tag 204 can have multiple storage locations for usage tracking and can store values for multiple tracking methods. Additionally, in some implementations, the sharpener 10 can convert between different usage tracking methods when used in a different sharpeners 10 and can update the multiple storage locations in the identification tag 204 before, after, or during each sharpening.

[0048] One example of usage tracking via the identification tag 204 can include a count of passes or cycles. If the usage limit value is specified as a maximum number of passes, then the value can be decremented by two for each 2-pass cycle of the grinding wheel 36 over a skate blade during sharpening.

[0049] Another example of usage tracking can be counting the sharpening time (e.g., the operating time of the grinding wheel 36 acting on the skate blade). This method can offer a more accurate prediction of abrasive life of the grinding wheel 36, as sharpening time compensates for the difference in skate lengths by measuring true grinding time, whereas counting the number of cycles assigns the same amount of theoretical abrasive life to a small skate and a large skate. If the usage limit value is specified as a sharpening time, then the value can be decremented by the amount of time the grinding wheel 36 passes over a skate blade during a sharpening.

[0050] Yet another example of usage tracking can be measuring and tracking the grinding energy of a skate sharpening (e.g., the amount of energy put into a grinding process). The grinding energy can be calculated by measuring the power of the grinding wheel motor 80 (e.g., via the control unit 32), and measuring the time of contact between the grinding wheel 36 and skate blade. The efficiency properties of the grinding wheel motor 80 can be stored in the control unit 32 and updated as required. For example, the efficiency properties of the grinding wheel motor 80 could be periodically calibrated by measuring the grinding wheel motor 80 power with no sharpening load, and determining the power losses, which may be associated with seal and bearing friction, air motion, motor age, and/or the like, and may change over time. An alternate method of monitoring grinding energy and thus abrasive wear could be to fit the grinding wheel motor 80 with speed and/or torque sensors and to use data from these sensors, in combination with grinding time, to calculate energy used in sharpening. Other means such as measuring current through, or voltage drop across the grinding wheel motor 80 could also be used to determine the time of contact between grinding wheel 36 and skate. These measurements could be made directly for the grinding wheel motor 80 or indirectly with other circuit elements such as a resistance device in line with the grinding wheel motor 80 (e.g. voltage drop across a resistor in series with the grinding wheel motor 80). In addition, energy used in the grinding process could be approximated by measuring the amount of time the grinding wheel motor 80 current is above a certain threshold to determine that grinding is occurring. In this case, time could be measured directly, or calculated by measuring the length of blade and knowing the velocity of the grinding wheel 36 across the blade. If the usage limit value is specified as grinding energy, then the value can be decremented by the amount of energy used by the grinding wheel motor 80 during a sharpening.

[0051] In one embodiment, these various decrementing methods can take place once each cycle, with the grinding wheel 36 passing through the home position (Figure 6) to enable the required RFID communications. In another embodiment, the updating may occur only once for a multi-pass sharpening operation. For example, once a number of passes has been specified (either by default or by actual user selection), the number of passes may be updated by the system immediately after the machine reads the tag 204 and just before the carriage motor 260 begins rotating. In another example, the value can be updated after the completion of the sharpening operations, once the grinding wheel 36 returns to the home position. This method may be used when the operating time or energy is calculated following a sharpening. If the stored value(s) were updated less frequently or at a different time, there may be more opportunity for a user to somehow "trick" the sharpener 10 into using a grinding wheel 36 longer than its useful life, which would jeopardize the quality of the skate sharpening.

[0052] Over time, different generations of the sharpener 10 with enhanced features and capabilities may be used. It is advantageous for all components of the newer sharpener 10 to be compatible with any generation of the grinding wheel 36, and that the grinding wheel 36 could be moved back and forth between generations of the sharpener 10. For example, one generation of the sharpener 10 may track usable life through number of cycles and a newer generation of the sharpener 10 may track usable life using a different method, such as tracking energy usage or length of sharpening time. The present disclosure introduces multi-generation compatibility through the use of additional memory addresses in the identification tag 204. The labeling of memory addresses described herein are for example only.

[0053] To allow grinding wheels 36 and sharpeners 10 to be cross-compatible, a conversion rate can be established between a first useable life value (e.g., number of cycles) and a second useable life value (e.g., grinding energy), such that either value can be used to track the life of the grinding wheel 36 with some level of precision. If the identification tag 204 of a grinding wheel 36 stores a first useable life value in number of cycles, the sharpener 10 can monitor usable life though number of cycles, decrementing 1 cycle in a first memory address of the identification tag 204. If an identification tag 204 of a grinding wheel 36 stores a second usable life value in grinding energy (e.g., in Joules), the sharpener 10 can monitor useable life through number of Joules used in a sharpening. The second useable life value can be stored in a separate second memory address from the first memory address. Because the second useable life value relates to energy consumed, it can be a non-integer value, allowing for higher resolution. It should be appreciated that a new generation sharpener 10 configured to track energy consumed can also monitor usable life on the first useable life value. A key concept is the method by which the new generation sharpener 10 decrements the first useable life value to maintain cross compatibility between all generations of grinding wheels 36 and sharpeners 10.

[0054] A specific example is now provided for illustration. The usable life of a grinding wheel 36 can start with preset values based on the characteristics of that particular grinding wheel 36. For example, the useful lifetime of a new grinding wheel 36 could be 320 cycles and 418,000 Joules. In some cases, the sharpener 10 can store or access the preset values for a variety of different grinding wheels 36. In addition to or alternatively to the sharpener 10 storing/accessing the preset values, the identification tag 204 can store the preset values. For example, an identification tag 204 could be preset with the first useable life value stored as 320 cycles and the second useable life value stored as 418,000 Joules. If an operator runs one cycle on a very long skate, and the amount of energy measured during sharpening by the control system 32 is 1304 Joules, then the second useable life value will be written as 416,696 Joules (418,000 - 1304 =416,696). Accordingly, 99.69% of the usable life will be remaining on the grinding wheel 36 after the one cycle on the very long skate (416,696/418,000=0.9969). To determine the first useable life value, the percent useable life can be multiplied by the number of cycles stored in the first useable life value to determine that there are 319.008 cycles remaining (99.69% x 320 =319.008). In some embodiments, the first useable life value is an integer value, and the control system 32 can round the updated first useable life value to 319. Since both the first and second memory addresses on the identification tag 204 are decremented, useable life can be tracked on different generations of sharpeners 10 if this particular grinding wheel 36 is moved back and forth between sharpeners 10. It should be understood that the units for the second useable life value, noted here as Joules, could be any number representing the total amount of sharpening time, grinding wheel contact time, or energy available (e.g., remaining energy) on a given grinding wheel 36. Additionally, what is stored in the second memory address of the identification tag 204 could be the total amount of energy remaining, a percent of total energy remaining, or any value that would permit the control unit 32 to ultimately calculate the amount of the useable life left, or any proxy for remaining useable life for this particular grinding wheel 36.

[0055] As a second illustrative example, if the operator sharpens a second smaller skate blade using the same grinding wheel 36, the number of Joules consumed in that one cycle might be 940 Joules. The second useable life value would be updated by the control unit 32 to 415,756 Joules (416,696 - 940 = 415,756). Similarly, the control unit 32 can calculate the first useable life value to be 318.28 cycles (415,756/418,000 = 99.46% x 320 = 318.28). In some embodiments, the control unit 32 can write the first useable life value to the first memory address as 318 cycles (e.g., 318 is less than 319). In some circumstances, the calculated first useable life value, when rounded, may be equal to the previously stored first useable life value, and no new first useable life value would be written to the first memory address of the identification tag 204. This perceived rounding error, which is possible in the first useable life value, would only be temporary as the second useable life value (e.g. in Joules) carries the integrity of the more precise amount of life remaining on the grinding wheel 36. Accordingly, as further sharpenings are performed using the grinding wheel 36, the control unit 32 will continue to decrement the first and second values, and the first useable life value can be continually recalculated using the second useable life value to generate a more precise value of life remaining for the grinding wheel 36.

[0056] In some instances, the energy consumed during a sharpening can only be measured after completion of a cycle. For the first memory address, one cycle can be decremented at the beginning of every cycle. In a sharpener 10 where the energy is measured at the end of the cycle, the amount to be decremented from both the first and second memory addresses can be based on the maximum amount of energy consumed in any previously completed cycle for that particular grinding wheel 36, which is a value stored in non-volatile memory in the sharpener 10 or in the identification tag 204 of the grinding wheel 36, or both. If there is no previous energy consumption data to rely on, the sharpener program may insert a default value based on the most common size of skate. Although this may introduce an error in the calculation of usable life, it can be a negligible difference when averaged over hundreds of cycles on a particular grinding wheel 36. This system can help to maintain a tamper-resistant scheme and prevent fraud.

[0057] It should be appreciated that any generation of grinding wheel 36 and identification tag 204 can be used with any generation of sharpener 10. For example, when an older grinding wheel 36 configured to store the first usage life value on the first memory address in the identification tag 204 is used with a newer sharpener 10 configured to track energy consumption, the newer sharpener 10 can be configured to write a second usage life value to the identification tag 204 in the new format by including the second usage life value in a previously unused address on the identification tag 204 (e.g., the second memory address). Additionally, the newer sharpener 10 can calculate the first usage life value as described herein and write the first usage life value to the first memory address on the identification tag 204. Since the new sharpener 10 writes both the first and second usage values on the identification tag 204, the two values should always be approximately equal (with the exception being in the rounding instances described above).

[0058] In another example, when a newer grinding wheel 36 configured to store the second usage life value on the second memory address in the identification tag 204 is used with an older sharpener 10 that is not configured to track energy consumption, the older sharpener 10 will only update the first usage value in the first memory address after one or more sharpenings. When the newer grinding wheel 36 is used on a newer sharpener 10, the first usage life value will represent a reduced useable life compared to the second usage life value, as the older sharpener 10 did not update the second memory address after the one or more sharpenings. The new sharpener 10 can be configured to compare the first and second usage life values prior to using the grinding wheel 36 for a sharpening. When the control unit 32 of the new sharpener 10 detects this discrepancy, the control unit 32 can use the first usage life value to calculate an updated second usage life value, and the control unit 32 can write the updated second usage life value to the second memory address of the identification tag 204. In some instances, the new sharpener 10 is configured to update the second memory address automatically upon detecting a discrepancy and before further sharpenings are performed. This process ensures that the usable life of the grinding wheel 36, when displayed to a user on the sharpener (e.g., via the display 34), does not have an abrupt jump in remaining life inconsistent with the sharpening operation just performed. An alternative to updating the second usage life value immediately would be for any device that is reading a grinding wheel 36 to display the lower of the two usage life values. This method would be desirable in instances when a device other than the sharpener 10 (e.g., an App or other grinding wheel life checking device) that does not have the ability to write to the grinding wheel 36 is displaying the usage life value. In these instances, it would be preferred to avoid displaying to a user an abrupt jump in remaining grinding wheel usage life inconsistent with the sharpening operation just performed. In these cases, displaying the lower of the two stored life values may be preferred. Using this method, the first usage value will be less than the second usage value, so this process can be used as a further method of tamper-proofing of the grinding wheel 36.

[0059] One important aspect of the usage life tracking is that there is a conversion value communicated to the sharpener 10 between total cycles and total alternate units. The sharpener 10 can use this equivalence between the two values (e.g. 320 cycles = 418,000 Joules) to decrement the alternate units and then update the cycles accordingly. Future generations of sharpeners 10 could use an entirely different life tracking system and the same algorithm described above could be used to decrement the first usage life value to allow grinding wheels 36 produced in the future to be backwards compatible with older sharpeners 10 that use the cycles method to determine remaining life.

[0060] As described above, remaining usage life of the grinding wheel 36 may be tracked in a number of ways (e.g., units of passes, cycles, blades sharpened (assuming some fixed or limited number of passes per blade), time, energy consumed, and/or the like). The UI display 34 of the sharpener 10 may be used to display remaining usable life for a grinding wheel 36 to the user. For example, remaining usable life may be displayed as a fraction or percentage, or as more general ranges which could be indicated by colored indicators (e.g., green for high remaining lifetime, white or other neutral color for intermediate, and red for low remaining lifetime, and/or the like). In one embodiment, a linear array of indicators may be used, and indicators can be successively extinguished from one end as usage increases, and the end-of-life indicated by no indicators being lit.

[0061] Since there will be user-to-user variability in how many passes are done for a skate sharpening, the system may alert a user when the estimated number of cycles needed to complete a sharpening exceed the remaining usage life of the grinding wheel 36. The alert may be provided, for example, by dimming or flashing a set of indicators, and/or by stopping a sharpening that is in progress or preventing a new sharpening from beginning. Generally, it is desired that the display technique enable a user to accurately plan for use and avoid running out of usable grinding wheel lifetime in the middle of a sharpening.

[0062] Figure 10 provides a high-level description of system operation with respect to the identification tag 204. At 270, the system 10 engages in communication with the identification tag 204, which is attached to a grinding wheel 36 mounted in the sharpening system 10. As described above, the identification tag 204 has secure memory including one or more usage locations for persistently and securely storing one or more usage tracking values. The communication both reads from and writes to the usage locations for each usage tracking value.

[0063] At 272, the system 10 tracks usage of the grinding wheel 36 for sharpening operations and writes updated usage tracking values to the one or more usage locations as the grinding wheel 36 is used for the sharpening operations. Usage may be tracked by counting passes, for example, in which case it may be convenient for the usage tracking value to be expressed as a pass count or cycle count. Usage may also be tracked by measuring energy consumed while the grinding wheel 36 is engaged with the skate blade, for example, in which case it may be convenient for the usage tracking value to be expressed in Joules used or a percentage of remaining usage life. The one or more usage values may directly indicate an amount of usage that has occurred (e.g., as an increasing count of passes or increasing count of energy used), or it may directly indicate an amount of usage remaining (e.g., as a decreasing count of passes, decreasing amount of energy, and/or decreasing percentage).

[0064] At 274, the system 10 reads one or more current usage tracking values from the one or more usage locations and selectively enables and disables sharpening depending on whether a usage limit has been reached, as indicated by a relationship between the current usage tracking values and a predetermined usage limit values. When a decreasing or decremented usage value is used to indicate an amount of usage remaining, then the predetermined usage limit value can be used as the stalling usage value, and the usage limit is reached when the usage value is decremented to zero.

[0065] Figure 11 provides a high-level description of system operation with respect to the identification tag 204 with multiple usage life values stored at multiple storage address (e.g., a first usage life value stored at a first storage address and a second usage life value stored at a second storage address. At 280, the system 10 engages in communication with the identification tag 204, which is attached to a grinding wheel 36 mounted in the sharpening system 10. The identification tag 204 has secure memory including at least two storage addresses for persistently and securely storing at least two separate usage life values. The communication both reads from and writes to the storage addresses for each usage life value.

[0066] At 282, the system 10 optionally compares the first usage life value to the second usage life value to determine if there is a discrepancy between the first and second usage life values. If the first and second usage life values represent approximately the same usage life, the method proceeds to 286. If the first usage life value represents a reduced useable life compared to the second usage life value, the method proceeds to 284. This discrepancy between the first and second usage life values may occur as a result of the grinding wheel 36 having previously been used on a system not configured to update the second usage life value.

[0067] At 284, the system 10 calculates a new second usage life value based on the current first life usage value. For example, if the first usage life value represents the number of remaining cycles for the grinding wheel 36, the system 10 can calculate the remaining energy the grinding wheel 36 can use based on the characteristics of that particular grinding wheel 36. For example, the grinding wheel 36 may have preset values for both stored cycles and stored energy. In one example, these preset values may be stored on the identification tag 204 itself. In another example, the system 10 may store these preset values for a number of different grinding wheels 36. In yet another example, the system 10 may access a database (e.g., stored in the cloud) that includes preset values for a number of different grinding wheels 36. Once the new second usage life value is determined by the system 10, the system 10 may display the remaining useable life of the grinding wheel 36 to the user (e.g., via the display 34). In some cases, the system 10 may write the new second usage life value to the second memory address.

[0068] At 286, the system 10 sharpens the skate blade, and tracks the amount of energy consumed during the sharpening operation. As explained herein, the amount of energy consumed can be tracked in a variety of different manners and represents the energy used while the grinding wheel 36 is in contact with the skate blade during the sharpening.

[0069] At 288, the system 10 determines an updated second usage life value based on the energy consumed during the sharpening. For example, if the second usage life value was 40,000 Joules and 1,000 Joules were used during the sharpening, the updated second usage life value would be 39,000 Joules. Based on the updated second usage life value, and the particular grinding wheel’s 36 preset values, the system 10 calculates an update first usage life value.

[0070] At 290, the system 10 writes the updated first and second usage life values to the first and second storage addresses on the identification tag 204 respectively. Optionally, the system 10 may display the remaining useable life of the grinding wheel 36 to the user (e.g., via the display 34). [0071] Beyond the usage tracking information, the tag 204 may also be used to carry system setup parameters that the control unit 32 can read and then apply to operation. This programming-type approach can enable a single sharpener 10 having a generalized design to be used in a wide variety of ways. For example, the tag 204 may contain parameters for the rotational speed of the grinding wheel motor 80; the speed of translation of the carriage assembly 70 across the skate blade; and the magnitude of a normal grinding force (i.e., the force applied by the grinding wheel 36 in a direction normal to the bottom face of the skate blade 40). Employing customizable settings in this manner can support variability in the materials, diameters, and grits used for different grinding wheels 36. Larger wheel diameters for different skates, or different grits for different skate steels or surface finishes, will generally require different system settings (grinding wheel RPM and translation speed) for optimized use. In operation, the control unit 32 can read the parameters from the tag 204 and then apply the parameters prior to beginning a sharpening operation, such as by programming the appropriate controllers 132 (Figure 4). This programmability may also promote compatibility as designs of the grinding wheels 36 evolve over time. For example, if an innovation in grinding wheel abrasives happens in 5 years and this requires different system settings, the wheels produced in 5 years will store corresponding values of operating parameters to enable existing sharpener systems 10 to properly adjust themselves to produce an optimal sharpening.

[0072] The identification tag 204 may also store system setup parameters that arc specific to the dimensional accuracy of the specific grinding wheel 36. For example, the dimensional accuracy of one grinding wheel 36 can differ from another griding wheel 36 due to, for example, inaccuracies associated with the manufacturing process of the grinding wheels 36. One measure of dimensional accuracy may be the distance between the center of the radius of the grinding wheel 36 to the edge of the grinding wheel 36 that contacts the arbor of the sharpener 10. A variation in dimensional accuracy can be relative to the nominal dimensions given to a grinding wheel in the master model or drawings of the grinding wheel. For example, a grinding wheel that includes a dimensional difference relative to the master drawing wheel model will have a dimensional accuracy value that is a measure of the dimensional inaccuracy. Accordingly, grinding wheel 36 with different dimensional accuracies will result in a measurable difference in the edge- to-edge height of a skate blade sharpened on the same sharpener 10. In most use cases, it is desirable to have skate blade edges that are of even height. The difference in edge-to-edge height can be measured using a measurement device, such by applying the various systems, devices, and methods described and/or illustrated in PCT Application No. PCT/US2023/018655, filed April 14, 2023, titled “DEVICE AND METHODS FOR MEASURING AND ANALYZING GEOMETRY IN ICE SKATE BLADES,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Accordingly, the dimensional accuracy of a specific grinding wheel 36 can be determined by sharpening a skate blade with the specific grinding wheel 36 and using a measurement device to identify any difference in edge-to-edge height resulting from the dimensional accuracy of the grinding wheel 36. In some implementations, the identification tag 204 may store the dimensional accuracy values of the grinding wheel 36 that the tag 204 is pail of, and the sharpener 10 may be configured to accommodate for the dimensional accuracy. For example, the control unit 32 can read and then apply the dimensional accuracy to operation. For example, if a sharpener 10 is calibrated using a first grinding wheel 36, and then a second grinding wheel 36 is used with the sharpener, the dimensional accuracy value(s) of the first wheel 36 may differ from the second wheel 36. The second wheel 36 can include its specific dimensional accuracy value(s) in the identification tag 204, and the sharpener 10 can read these value(s) and be adjusted accordingly. Depending on the sharpener 10, the type of adjustment may vary. In one example, a sharpener 10 may be configured to automatically adjust to the correct carriage or ring location upon reading the dimensional accuracy value(s) of the grinding wheel 36 via the identification tag 204. In other examples, the sharpener 10 may provide prompts to the user to allow the sharpener 10 to be adjusted or may instruct the user to make the alignment adjustments manually. In some implementations, the dimensional accuracy value(s) of a specific grinding wheel 36 can also be stored in other locations, such as, for example, on the internet and/or in the database of app for a mobile device.

[0073] Including the specific dimensions and thus the accuracy of a grinding wheel 36 in the memory of the identification tag 204 can provide the benefit of enabling sharpeners 10 to account for variations in grinding wheel 36 dimensions and improve the alignment of the griding wheel 36 and the skate blade during a sharpening. Another benefit can be enabling a sharpener 10 to use grinding wheels 36 with wider dimensional tolerances (e.g., less dimensionally perfect grinding wheels). For example, if the sharpener 10 can account for differences in the dimensional accuracy between grinding wheels 36, the grinding wheels 36 can be manufactured with less precision, which may result in a reduction in the production costs of the grinding wheel 36 without compromising the sharpening results produced by the grinding wheel 36.

- - [0074] A user’ s skates may also have specific tolerances that differ from other skates that may be sharpened using the same grinding wheel 36 and/or sharpener 10. In one example, some skate blades or skate blade holders may be warped such that the central axis of the skate blade is not consistent along the length of the skate blade. In this case, to ensure the skate blade has even height edges along the length of the blade, the sharpener 10 may be configured to vary the position of the grinding wheel 36 in the Y direction either before or during a sharpening. In other examples, different skates may require that the location of the grinding wheel 36 be different due to the inherent uniqueness of each skate blade or skate blade holder. In some implementations, an App associated with the sharpener 10 may be configured to store skate- specific settings. The skatespecific settings can account for the specific tolerances of the particular skates and can be transmitted to the sharpener 10 to adjust the sharpener’s settings before a sharpening operation. In some cases, the App may store both the skate- specific settings and the dimensional accuracy of the particular grinding wheel 36, and this information may be transmitted to the sharpener 10 for adjustments before the sharpening.

[0075] The identification tag 204 may also store user-specific settings to be used for sharpening operations, such as a default number of passes for a skate sharpening. The control unit 32 can read such values and then use them unless they are overridden by a specific current selection by the user. One user may sharpen relatively frequently and typically use a small number of passes, such as two, while another user may sharpen less frequently and typically use a larger number of passes, such as eight. The user interface preferably would enable a user to modify or update any such persistently stored values. Saving user-specific values on the grinding wheel 36 also enhances "portability" of the customization. A user can carry their own grinding wheel 36 and mount it for use in different sharpener systems 10 at different locations while still obtaining the same userspecific operation. For example, an organization such as a hockey club or rink operator can provide access to a sharpener system 10 and allow users to swap grinding wheels 36, so that each user receives a desired user-specific experience.

[0076] The sharpener system 10 may also have features for defeating counterfeiting or certain tampering with tags 204. For example, it might record the unique tag identifiers (e.g., tag serial numbers) for every tag 204 that has been used over some interval on that sharpener, as well as recording the usage life value(s) that were last seen on the tag 204. If there is ever a time when a sharpener 10 sees a grinding wheel 36 that it has seen before but having remaining usage life value(s) greater than the usage life value(s) last seen on that grinding wheel 36, the sharpener 10 could deem the grinding wheel 36 to be a counterfeit or tampered with and prevent its use. This might be done to ensure that only grinding wheels 36 of sufficient quality are used, to obtain good sharpening results and avoid any unsafe conditions that could occur by using a defective or inferior grinding wheel 36. The system 10 may store the most recent usage life value(s) as individual number(s) or as percentages similar to the way the system displays the grinding wheel remaining life to the user.

[0077] Yet another possibility is for the tag 204 to store system fault data, i.e., data describing fault conditions that have occurred during a sharpening operation. This can help users interact with technical service to diagnose problems they may be having with their machine. A manufacturer or service organization might request that the user send a grinding wheel 36 to that organization for review. The grinding wheel is smaller and thus far cheaper and convenient to send than is the entire system 10. At the manufacturer or service organization, technicians can read fault data such as fault codes from the wheel 36. In another embodiment, the identification tag 204 may be compatible with readers such as near-field communications (NFC) readers such as used on smart phones and similar small computing devices. When the user experiences a system fault, the user can remove the grinding wheel 36 and place it near the computing device. The device might immediately launch an application or navigate to a particular web site to provide information to the user about the particular fault that is identified by the fault data stored on the tag 204. In another embodiment, the sharpener 10 may be configured to generate and/or store the system fault data and transmit the fault data to an app (e.g., for use on a computing device) associated with the sharpener 10. Fault data can be transmitted to the manufacturer or service organization either via the app or directly from the sharpener 10. Another use for this type of interface is for repurchasing grinding wheels 36. The application or website launched by the device may provide product ordering functionality, enabling a user to easily obtain replacement grinding wheels 36 as existing grinding wheels are used up.

[0078] In the examples provided above, the useable life of the grinding wheel 36 is stored and updated in a secure memory in the identification tag 204 of the grinding wheel 36. The sharpener 10 can be configured to only use an authenticated grinding wheel 36, and to prevent further use if the usage limit has been reached. In some implementations, the current usable life, and thus authentication, could alternatively be stored and referenced in a memory location accessible via the internet. For example, the identification tag 204 or other component of the grinding wheel 36 can include a serial number or other identifying information that can be scanned by a device, such as the sharpener 10, and this serial number can associate with a useable life value. When the sharpener 10 communicates with the identification tag 204, the sharpener 10 can access the stored usable life value (e.g., by the control unit 32) associated with that particular identification tag 204 and can determine if there is sufficient life to complete a sharpening. After a sharpening operation, the sharpener 10 can update the useable life value associated with the identification tag 204. For example, the sharpener 10 could track usage using any of the methods describe herein and update the useable life value accordingly. In some instances, the sharpener 10 can be configured to access the useable life value stored online and calculate first useable life value in number of cycles for the grinding wheel 36. The sharpener 10 may then write the calculated first useable life value to the first memory address so that the grinding wheel 36 can be used with older generations of sharpeners.

[0079] In some implementations, the grinding wheel 36 may include one or more identifiers, such as a number, machine readable code (e.g., bar code, QR code, etc.), and/or the like. The identifiers may be used instead of or in addition to the identification tag 204. The useable life of the grinding wheel 36 may be stored on the internet (e.g., in a cloud database) and associated with the identifier or on app on a device (e.g., a phone, tablet, camera, etc.). To determine the useable life of the grinding wheel 36, a user could scan the identifier using the app on the device. Scanning the identifier can also authenticate the grinding wheel 36. The device could then be used to communicate with the sharpener 10 (e.g., using WiFi or Bluetooth) to transmit the useable life of the grinding wheel 36 and provide an authentication for the sharpener 10. Once a sharpening is performed using the grinding wheel 36, the sharpener 10 could transmit the updated useable life back to the device, which can update the useable life value in the app and/or on the internet. In some examples, an internet connection would not be required to transmit the useable life to the sharpener 10, which may be advantageous if an internet connection is not available at the time of use. The authentication could be further verified by connection to a program running on systems connected to the internet, when an internet connection is established. Examplcs

[0080] Various example embodiments of the disclosure can be described by the following clauses:

[0081] Clause 1. A method comprising: communicating, via a control unit of a skate blade sharpening system, with an identification tag of a grinding wheel, the identification tag having a secure memory; reading, a first usage value and a second usage value from the secure memory; performing, a sharpening operation on a skate blade retained within the skate blade sharpening system, wherein one or more sharpening parameters are tracked by the control unit when performing the sharpening operation; determining, an updated first usage life value and an updated second usage life value based at least in part on the one or more sharpening parameters; and writing, via the control unit, the updated first usage life value and the updated second usage life value to the secure memory.

[0082] Clause 2. The method of Clause 1, wherein the one or more sharpening parameters include energy consumed during the sharpening operation.

[0083] Clause 3. The method of Clause 1 or Clause 2, wherein the one or more sharpening parameters include a time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade during the sharpening operation.

[0084] Clause 4. The method of any of Clauses 1 to 3, further comprising: comparing, the first usage value to the second usage value; identifying, a discrepancy between the first usage value and the second usage value; and determining, a new second usage value based on the first usage value.

[0085] Clause 5. The method of Clause 4, wherein the discrepancy is identified based on a comparison of the first usage value to a first usage limit value and the second usage value to a second usage limit value, wherein the first usage limit value and the second usage limit value are associated with the grinding wheel.

[0086] Clause 6. The method of Clause 5, wherein the first usage limit value and the second usage limit value are stored in the secure memory.

[0087] Clause 7. The method of Clause 5, wherein the first usage limit value and the second usage limit value are accessed by the control unit from a database. [0088] Clause 8. The method of any of Clauses 1 to 7, wherein the first usage value is stored on a first memory address of the secure memory and the second usage value is stored at a separate second memory address of the secure memory.

[0089] Clause 9. The method of any of Clauses 1 to 8, wherein the secure memory is configured to prevent unauthorized digital access to the first usage value and the second usage value.

[0090] Clause 10. The method of any of Clauses 1 to 9, wherein the secure memory further includes one or more system setup parameter locations for storing system setup parameters, wherein the control unit is operative to provide the system setup parameters from the one or more system setup parameter locations to the skate blade sharpening system to be applied to corresponding components of the skate blade sharpening system.

[0091] Clause 11. The method of Clause 10, wherein the grinding wheel is one of a set of distinct grinding wheels having corresponding distinct values for operating parameters including one or more of a grinding motor rotation speed, a translation speed, and a normal grinding force, and wherein the system setup parameters are specific values of the operating parameters for specific use with the grinding wheel.

[0092] Clause 12. The method of Clause 10, wherein the grinding wheel is one of a set of distinct grinding wheels having corresponding distinct values for dimensional accuracy of each grinding wheel, the control unit configured to adjust the sharpening operation based on the dimensional accuracy.

[0093] Clause 13. The method of any of Clauses 10 to 13, wherein the secure memory further includes one or more user setting locations for storing user-specific default settings for parameters of a sharpening operation, and wherein the control unit is operative to apply the userspecific default settings to control a sharpening operation.

[0094] Clause 14. The method of any of Clauses 1 to 14, wherein the grinding wheel is one of a set of grinding wheels used in the skate blade sharpening system over an operating period, each grinding wheel including a respective identification tag, the identification tag of each grinding wheel storing a respective tag- specific unique identifier, and the control unit is operative to (i) record the tag-specific unique identifiers in association with respective usage tracking values from the identification tags, (ii) perform a first comparison to determine whether the tag specific unique identifiers of a current grinding wheel matches one of the stored tag-specific unique identifiers, and if so then perform a second comparison to determine whether the first usage value or the second usage value of the current grinding wheel indicates less usage than stored usage tracking value stored in association with the matching tag-specific unique identifier, and (iii) selectively allow or prevent use of the current grinding wheel in a new sharpening operation depending on the result of the second comparison.

[0095] Clause 15. The method of any of Clauses 1 to 14, wherein the secure memory further includes one or more fault information locations for storing fault data describing one or more fault conditions occurring during a sharpening operation using the grinding wheel, the one or more fault information locations being readable by a separate reader used in a fault diagnosis, and wherein the control unit is operative to (i) identify occurrence of a particular fault during a sharpening operation, and (ii) write corresponding particular fault data describing the particular fault to the one or more fault information locations.

[0096] Clause 16. The method of any of Clauses 1 to 15, wherein the control unit include a transceiver operative to engage in communication with the identification tag.

[0097] Clause 17. The method of Clause 16, wherein the transceiver is a wireless transceiver and wireless communication is employed between the transceiver and the identification tag.

[0098] Clause 18. The method of Clause 17, wherein the wireless transceiver includes an antenna, and the control unit is operative to bring the grinding wheel and antenna into sufficient proximity to enable the wireless communication to occur.

[0099] Clause 19. The method of Clause 18, wherein the antenna is in a fixed location off one end of the skate blade and the grinding wheel is moved relative to the skate blade and antenna during sharpening operations, and wherein bringing the grinding wheel and antenna into sufficient proximity includes moving the grinding wheel to the fixed location immediately adjacent to the antenna.

[0100] Clause 20. The method of Clause 19, wherein the skate blade sharpening system further comprises a guide feature configured to bring the grinding wheel into registered position with the antenna at the fixed location.

[0101] Clause 21. The method of Clause 20, wherein the antenna is mounted in a housing having a shoulder member serving as the guide feature configured to bring the grinding wheel into registered position. [0102] Clause 22. The method of any of Clauses 1 to 21, wherein the first usage value provides an estimate of a usable life of the grinding wheel in number of cycles remaining.

[0103] Clause 23. The method of any of Clauses 2 to 22, wherein the second usage value provides an estimate of a usable life of the grinding wheel in energy consumed by the skate blade sharpening system during sharpening operations with the grinding wheel.

[0104] Clause 24. The method of any of Clauses 2 to 23, wherein energy consumed when performing the sharpening operation is determined based at least in part on power supplied to a grinding wheel motor of the skate blade sharpening system and a time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade.

[0105] Clause 25. The method of any of Clauses 2 to 23, wherein the skate blade sharpening system further comprises a torque sensor configured to measure torque of a grinding wheel motor of the skate blade sharpening system and transmit torque data to the control unit, wherein energy consumed when performing the sharpening operation is determined based at least in pail on the torque data and a time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade.

[0106] Clause 26. The method of Clause 24 or Clause 25, wherein the time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade is determined by measuring current applied to the grinding wheel motor.

[0107] Clause 27. The method of Clause 24 or Clause 25, wherein the time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade is determined by measuring a voltage drop across a resistor in series with the grinding wheel motor.

[0108] Clause 28. A method comprising: accessing, via a control unit of a skate blade sharpening system, a first usage value and a second usage value associated with a grinding wheel from a secure memory location; performing, a sharpening operation on a skate blade retained within the skate blade sharpening system, wherein one or more sharpening parameters are tracked by the control unit when performing the sharpening operation; determining, an updated first usage life value and an updated second usage life value based at least in part on the one or more sharpening parameters; and updating, via the control unit, the secure memory location with the updated first usage life value and the updated second usage life value to the secure memory location.

[0109] Clause 29. The method of Clause 28, wherein the one or more sharpening parameters include energy consumed during the sharpening operation. [0110] Clause 30. The method of Clause 28 or Clause 29, wherein the one or more sharpening parameters include a time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade during the sharpening operation.

[0111] Clause 31. The method of any of Clauses 28 to 30, wherein the grinding wheel includes a machine readable code that provides access to the first usage value and the second usage value.

[0112] Clause 32. The method of Clause 31, wherein the control unit is configured to read the machine readable code to access the first usage value and the second usage value.

[0113] Clause 33. The method of any of Clauses 28 to 32, wherein the grinding wheel includes an identification tag having secure memory, the secure memory including the first usage value and the second usage value, wherein the control unit is configured to read the first usage value and the second usage value from the secure memory.

[0114] Clause 34. The method of any of Clauses 28 to 33, further comprising: comparing, the first usage value to the second usage value; identifying, a discrepancy between the first usage value and the second usage value; and determining, a new second usage value based on the first usage value.

[0115] Clause 35. The method of Clause 34 wherein the discrepancy is identified based on a comparison of the first usage value to a first usage limit value and the second usage value to a second usage limit value, wherein the first usage limit value and the second usage limit value arc associated with the grinding wheel.

[0116] Clause 36. The method of Clause 35, wherein the first usage limit value and the second usage limit value are stored in the secure memory.

[0117] Clause 37. The method of Clause 35, wherein the first usage limit value and the second usage limit value are accessed by the control unit from a database.

[0118] Clause 38. The method of any of Clauses 33 to 37, wherein the first usage value is stored on a first memory address of the secure memory and the second usage value is stored at a separate second memory address of the secure memory.

[0119] Clause 39. The method of any of Clauses 33 to 38, wherein the secure memory is configured to prevent unauthorized digital access to the first usage value and the second usage value. [0120] Clause 40. The method of any of Clauses 33 to 39, wherein the secure memory further includes one or more system setup parameter locations for storing system setup parameters, wherein the control unit is operative to provide the system setup parameters from the one or more system setup parameter locations to the skate blade sharpening system to be applied to corresponding components of the skate blade sharpening system.

[0121] Clause 41. The method of Clause 40, wherein the grinding wheel is one of a set of distinct grinding wheels having corresponding distinct values for operating parameters including one or more of a grinding motor rotation speed, a translation speed, and a normal grinding force, and wherein the system setup parameters are specific values of the operating parameters for specific use with the grinding wheel.

[0122] Clause 42. The method of Clause 40, wherein the grinding wheel is one of a set of distinct grinding wheels having corresponding distinct values for dimensional accuracy of each grinding wheel, the control unit configured to adjust the sharpening operation based on the dimensional accuracy.

[0123] Clause 43. The method of any of Clauses 40 to 42, wherein the secure memory further includes one or more user setting locations for storing user-specific default settings for parameters of a sharpening operation, and wherein the control unit is operative to apply the userspecific default settings to control a sharpening operation.

[0124] Clause 44. The method of any of Clauses 33 to 43, wherein the grinding wheel is one of a set of grinding wheels used in the skate blade sharpening system over an operating period, each grinding wheel including a respective identification tag, the identification tag of each grinding wheel storing a respective tag-specific unique identifier, and the control unit is operative to (i) record the tag-specific unique identifiers in association with respective usage tracking values from the identification tags, (ii) perform a first comparison to determine whether the tag specific unique identifiers of a current grinding wheel matches one of the stored tag-specific unique identifiers, and if so then perform a second comparison to determine whether the first usage value or the second usage value of the current grinding wheel indicates less usage than stored usage tracking value stored in association with the matching tag-specific unique identifier, and (iii) selectively allow or prevent use of the current grinding wheel in a new sharpening operation depending on the result of the second comparison. [0125] Clause 45. The method of any of Clauses 33 to 43, wherein the secure memory further includes one or more fault information locations for storing fault data describing one or more fault conditions occurring during a sharpening operation using the grinding wheel, the one or more fault information locations being readable by a separate reader used in a fault diagnosis, and wherein the control unit is operative to (i) identify occurrence of a particular fault during a sharpening operation, and (ii) write corresponding particular fault data describing the particular fault to the one or more fault information locations.

[0126] Clause 46. The method of any of Clauses 33 to 45, wherein the control unit include a transceiver operative to engage in communication with the identification tag.

[0127] Clause 47. The method of Clause 46, wherein the transceiver is a wireless transceiver and wireless communication is employed between the transceiver and the identification tag.

[0128] Clause 48. The method of Clause 47, wherein the wireless transceiver includes an antenna, and the control unit is operative to bring the grinding wheel and antenna into sufficient proximity to enable the wireless communication to occur.

[0129] Clause 49. The method of Clause 48, wherein the antenna is in a fixed location off one end of the skate blade and the grinding wheel is moved relative to the skate blade and antenna during sharpening operations, and wherein bringing the grinding wheel and antenna into sufficient proximity includes moving the grinding wheel to the fixed location immediately adjacent to the antenna.

[0130] Clause 50. The method of Clause 49, wherein the skate blade sharpening system further comprises a guide feature configured to bring the grinding wheel into registered position with the antenna at the fixed location.

[0131] Clause 51. The method of Clause 50, wherein the antenna is mounted in a housing having a shoulder member serving as the guide feature configured to bring the grinding wheel into registered position.

[0132] Clause 52. The method of any of Clauses 28 to 51, wherein the first usage value provides an estimate of a usable life of the grinding wheel in number of cycles remaining.

[0133] Clause 53. The method of any of Clauses 29 to 52, wherein the second usage value provides an estimate of a usable life of the grinding wheel in energy consumed by the skate blade sharpening system during sharpening operations with the grinding wheel. [0134] Clause 54. The method of any of Clauses 29 to 53, wherein energy consumed when performing the sharpening operation is determined based at least in part on power supplied to a grinding wheel motor of the skate blade sharpening system and a time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade.

[0135] Clause 55. The method of any of Clauses 29 to 54, wherein the skate blade sharpening system further comprises a torque sensor configured to measure torque of a grinding wheel motor of the skate blade sharpening system and transmit torque data to the control unit, wherein energy consumed when performing the sharpening operation is determined based at least in pail on the torque data and a time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade.

[0136] Clause 56. The method of Clause 54 or Clause 55, wherein the time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade is determined by measuring current applied to the grinding wheel motor.

[0137] Clause 57. The method of Clause 54 or Clause 55, wherein the time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade is determined by measuring a voltage drop across a resistor in series with the grinding wheel motor. 58.

[0138] Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include these features, elements and/or states.

[0139] Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.

[0140] While the above detailed description may have shown, described, and pointed out novel features as applied to various embodiments, it may be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and/or changes in the form and details of any particular embodiment may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. As may be recognized, certain embodiments may be embodied within a form that does not provide all of the features and benefits set forth herein, as some features may be used or practiced separately from others.

[0141] Additionally, features described in connection with one embodiment can be incorporated into another of the disclosed embodiments, even if not expressly discussed herein, and embodiments having the combination of features still fall within the scope of the disclosure. For example, features described above in connection with one embodiment can be used with a different embodiment described herein and the combination still fall within the scope of the disclosure.

[0142] It should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with, or substituted for, one another in order to form varying modes of the embodiments of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the disclosure herein should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above. Accordingly, unless otherwise stated, or unless clearly incompatible, each embodiment of this disclosure may comprise, additional to its essential features described herein, one or more features as described herein from each other embodiment disclosed herein.

[0143] Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described in this section or elsewhere in this specification unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The protection extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

[0144] Furthermore, certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

[0145] Moreover, while operations may be depicted in the drawings or described in the specification in a particular order, such operations need not be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Other operations that are not depicted or described can be incorporated in the example methods and processes. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the described operations. Further, the operations may be rearranged or reordered in other implementations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps taken in the processes illustrated and/or disclosed may differ from those shown in the figures. Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps described above may be removed, others may be added.

[0146] Furthermore, the features and attributes of the specific embodiments disclosed above may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Also, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged into multiple products.

[0147] For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage or a group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

[0148] Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,” “about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent a value, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, or characteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”, “generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of the stated amount. As another example, in certain embodiments, the terms “generally parallel” and “substantially parallel” refer to a value, amount, or characteristic that departs from exactly parallel by less than or equal to 15 degrees, 10 degrees, 5 degrees, 3 degrees, 1 degree, 0.1 degree, or otherwise.

[0149] The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosures of preferred embodiments in this section or elsewhere in this specification and may be defined by claims as presented in this section or elsewhere in this specification or as presented in the future. The language of the claims is to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to the examples described in the present specification or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive.

[0150] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise”, “comprising”, and the like, are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense, that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”.

[0151] Reference to any prior art in this description is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavor in any country in the world.

[0152] The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the description of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features.

[0153] Where, in the foregoing description, reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents thereof, those integers are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. In addition, where the term “substantially” or any of its variants have been used as a word of approximation adjacent to a numerical value or range, it is intended to provide sufficient flexibility in the adjacent numerical value or range that encompasses standard manufacturing tolerances and/or rounding to the next significant figure, whichever is greater.

[0154] It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. For instance, various components may be repositioned as desired. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be included within the scope of the invention. Moreover, not all of the features, aspects and advantages are necessarily required to practice the present invention. The following lists have example embodiments that arc within the scope of this disclosure. The example embodiments that are listed should in no way be interpreted as limiting the scope of the embodiments. Various features of the example embodiments that are listed can be removed, added, or combined to form additional embodiments, which are part of this disclosure:

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method comprising: communicating, via a control unit of a skate blade sharpening system, with an identification tag of a grinding wheel, the identification tag having a secure memory; reading, a first usage value and a second usage value from the secure memory; performing, a sharpening operation on a skate blade retained within the skate blade sharpening system, wherein one or more sharpening parameters are tracked by the control unit when performing the sharpening operation; determining, an updated first usage life value and an updated second usage life value based at least in part on the one or more sharpening parameters; and writing, via the control unit, the updated first usage life value and the updated second usage life value to the secure memory.

2. The method of Claim 1, wherein the one or more sharpening parameters include energy consumed during the sharpening operation.

3. The method of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the one or more sharpening parameters include a time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade during the sharpening operation.

4. The method of any of Claims 1 to 3, further comprising: comparing, the first usage value to the second usage value; identifying, a discrepancy between the first usage value and the second usage value; and determining, a new second usage value based on the first usage value.

5. The method of Claim 4, wherein the discrepancy is identified based on a comparison of the first usage value to a first usage limit value and the second usage value to a second usage limit value, wherein the first usage limit value and the second usage limit value are associated with the grinding wheel.

6. The method of Claim 5, wherein the first usage limit value and the second usage limit value are stored in the secure memory.

7. The method of Claim 5, wherein the first usage limit value and the second usage limit value are accessed by the control unit from a database.

8. The method of any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the first usage value is stored on a first memory address of the secure memory and the second usage value is stored at a separate second memory address of the secure memory.

9. The method of any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the secure memory is configured to prevent unauthorized digital access to the first usage value and the second usage value.

10. The method of any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the secure memory further includes one or more system setup parameter locations for storing system setup parameters, wherein the control unit is operative to provide the system setup parameters from the one or more system setup parameter locations to the skate blade sharpening system to be applied to corresponding components of the skate blade sharpening system.

11. The method of Claim 10, wherein the grinding wheel is one of a set of distinct grinding wheels having corresponding distinct values for operating parameters including one or more of a grinding motor rotation speed, a translation speed, and a normal grinding force, and wherein the system setup parameters are specific values of the operating parameters for specific use with the grinding wheel.

12. The method of Claim 10, wherein the grinding wheel is one of a set of distinct grinding wheels having corresponding distinct values for dimensional accuracy of each grinding wheel, the control unit configured to adjust the sharpening operation based on the dimensional accuracy.

13. The method of any of Claims 10 to 13, wherein the secure memory further includes one or more user setting locations for storing user-specific default settings for parameters of a sharpening operation, and wherein the control unit is operative to apply the user-specific default settings to control a sharpening operation.

14. The method of any of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the grinding wheel is one of a set of grinding wheels used in the skate blade sharpening system over an operating period, each grinding wheel including a respective identification tag, the identification tag of each grinding wheel storing a respective tag-specific unique identifier, and the control unit is operative to (i) record the tagspecific unique identifiers in association with respective usage tracking values from the identification tags, (ii) perform a first comparison to determine whether the tag specific unique identifiers of a current grinding wheel matches one of the stored tag-specific unique identifiers, and if so then perform a second comparison to determine whether the first usage value or the second usage value of the current grinding wheel indicates less usage than stored usage tracking value stored in association with the matching tag-specific unique identifier, and (iii) selectively allow or prevent use of the current grinding wheel in a new sharpening operation depending on the result of the second comparison.

15. The method of any of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the secure memory further includes one or more fault information locations for storing fault data describing one or more fault conditions occurring during a sharpening operation using the grinding wheel, the one or more fault information locations being readable by a separate reader used in a fault diagnosis, and wherein the control unit is operative to (i) identify occurrence of a particular fault during a sharpening operation, and (ii) write corresponding particular fault data describing the particular fault to the one or more fault information locations.

16. The method of any of Claims 1 to 15, wherein the control unit include a transceiver operative to engage in communication with the identification tag.

17. The method of Claim 16, wherein the transceiver is a wireless transceiver and wireless communication is employed between the transceiver and the identification tag.

18. The method of Claim 17, wherein the wireless transceiver includes an antenna, and the control unit is operative to bring the grinding wheel and antenna into sufficient proximity to enable the wireless communication to occur.

19. The method of Claim 18, wherein the antenna is in a fixed location off one end of the skate blade and the grinding wheel is moved relative to the skate blade and antenna during sharpening operations, and wherein bringing the grinding wheel and antenna into sufficient proximity includes moving the grinding wheel to the fixed location immediately adjacent to the antenna.

20. The method of Claim 19, wherein the skate blade sharpening system further comprises a guide feature configured to bring the grinding wheel into registered position with the antenna at the fixed location.

21. The method of Claim 20, wherein the antenna is mounted in a housing having a shoulder member serving as the guide feature configured to bring the grinding wheel into registered position.

22. The method of any of Claims 1 to 21, wherein the first usage value provides an estimate of a usable life of the grinding wheel in number of cycles remaining.

23. The method of any of Claims 2 to 22, wherein the second usage value provides an estimate of a usable life of the grinding wheel in energy consumed by the skate blade sharpening system during sharpening operations with the grinding wheel.

24. The method of any of Claims 2 to 23, wherein energy consumed when performing the sharpening operation is determined based at least in part on power supplied to a grinding wheel motor of the skate blade sharpening system and a time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade.

25. The method of any of Claims 2 to 23, wherein the skate blade sharpening system further comprises a torque sensor configured to measure torque of a grinding wheel motor of the skate blade sharpening system and transmit torque data to the control unit, wherein energy consumed when performing the sharpening operation is determined based at least in part on the torque data and a time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade.

26. The method of Claim 24 or Claim 25, wherein the time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade is determined by measuring current applied to the grinding wheel motor.

27. The method of Claim 24 or Claim 25, wherein the time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade is determined by measuring a voltage drop across a resistor in series with the grinding wheel motor.

28. A method comprising: accessing, via a control unit of a skate blade sharpening system, a first usage value and a second usage value associated with a grinding wheel from a secure memory location; performing, a sharpening operation on a skate blade retained within the skate blade sharpening system, wherein one or more sharpening parameters are tracked by the control unit when performing the sharpening operation; determining, an updated first usage life value and an updated second usage life value based at least in part on the one or more sharpening parameters; and updating, via the control unit, the secure memory location with the updated first usage life value and the updated second usage life value to the secure memory location.

29. The method of Claim 28, wherein the one or more sharpening parameters include energy consumed during the sharpening operation.

30. The method of Claim 28 or Claim 29, wherein the one or more sharpening parameters include a time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade during the sharpening operation.

31. The method of any of Claims 28 to 30, wherein the grinding wheel includes a machine readable code that provides access to the first usage value and the second usage value.

32. The method of Claim 31, wherein the control unit is configured to read the machine readable code to access the first usage value and the second usage value.

33. The method of any of Claims 28 to 32, wherein the grinding wheel includes an identification tag having secure memory, the secure memory including the first usage value and the second usage value, wherein the control unit is configured to read the first usage value and the second usage value from the secure memory.

34. The method of any of Claims 28 to 33, further comprising: comparing, the first usage value to the second usage value; identifying, a discrepancy between the first usage value and the second usage value; and determining, a new second usage value based on the first usage value.

35. The method of Claim 34 wherein the discrepancy is identified based on a comparison of the first usage value to a first usage limit value and the second usage value to a second usage limit value, wherein the first usage limit value and the second usage limit value arc associated with the grinding wheel.

36. The method of Claim 35, wherein the first usage limit value and the second usage limit value are stored in the secure memory.

37. The method of Claim 35, wherein the first usage limit value and the second usage limit value are accessed by the control unit from a database.

38. The method of any of Claims 33 to 37, wherein the first usage value is stored on a first memory address of the secure memory and the second usage value is stored at a separate second memory address of the secure memory.

39. The method of any of Claims 33 to 38, wherein the secure memory is configured to prevent unauthorized digital access to the first usage value and the second usage value.

40. The method of any of Claims 33 to 39, wherein the secure memory further includes one or more system setup parameter locations for storing system setup parameters, wherein the control unit is operative to provide the system setup parameters from the one or more system setup parameter locations to the skate blade sharpening system to be applied to corresponding components of the skate blade sharpening system.

41. The method of Claim 40, wherein the grinding wheel is one of a set of distinct grinding wheels having corresponding distinct values for operating parameters including one or more of a grinding motor rotation speed, a translation speed, and a normal grinding force, and wherein the system setup parameters are specific values of the operating parameters for specific use with the grinding wheel.

42. The method of Claim 40, wherein the grinding wheel is one of a set of distinct grinding wheels having corresponding distinct values for dimensional accuracy of each grinding wheel, the control unit configured to adjust the sharpening operation based on the dimensional accuracy.

43. The method of any of Claims 40 to 42, wherein the secure memory further includes one or more user setting locations for storing user-specific default settings for parameters of a sharpening operation, and wherein the control unit is operative to apply the user-specific default settings to control a sharpening operation.

44. The method of any of Claims 33 to 43, wherein the grinding wheel is one of a set of grinding wheels used in the skate blade sharpening system over an operating period, each grinding wheel including a respective identification tag, the identification tag of each grinding wheel storing a respective tag- specific unique identifier, and the control unit is operative to (i) record the tagspecific unique identifiers in association with respective usage tracking values from the identification tags, (ii) perform a first comparison to determine whether the tag specific unique identifiers of a current grinding wheel matches one of the stored tag-specific unique identifiers, and if so then perform a second comparison to determine whether the first usage value or the second usage value of the current grinding wheel indicates less usage than stored usage tracking value stored in association with the matching tag-specific unique identifier, and (iii) selectively allow or prevent use of the current grinding wheel in a new sharpening operation depending on the result of the second comparison.

45. The method of any of Claims 33 to 43, wherein the secure memory further includes one or more fault information locations for storing fault data describing one or more fault conditions occurring during a sharpening operation using the grinding wheel, the one or more fault information locations being readable by a separate reader used in a fault diagnosis, and wherein the control unit is operative to (i) identify occurrence of a particular fault during a sharpening operation, and (ii) write corresponding particular fault data describing the particular fault to the one or more fault information locations.

46. The method of any of Claims 33 to 45, wherein the control unit include a transceiver operative to engage in communication with the identification tag.

47. The method of Claim 46, wherein the transceiver is a wireless transceiver and wireless communication is employed between the transceiver and the identification tag.

48. The method of Claim 47, wherein the wireless transceiver includes an antenna, and the control unit is operative to bring the grinding wheel and antenna into sufficient proximity to enable the wireless communication to occur.

49. The method of Claim 48, wherein the antenna is in a fixed location off one end of the skate blade and the grinding wheel is moved relative to the skate blade and antenna during sharpening operations, and wherein bringing the grinding wheel and antenna into sufficient proximity includes moving the grinding wheel to the fixed location immediately adjacent to the antenna.

50. The method of Claim 49, wherein the skate blade sharpening system further comprises a guide feature configured to bring the grinding wheel into registered position with the antenna at the fixed location.

51. The method of Claim 50, wherein the antenna is mounted in a housing having a shoulder member serving as the guide feature configured to bring the grinding wheel into registered position.

52. The method of any of Claims 28 to 51, wherein the first usage value provides an estimate of a usable life of the grinding wheel in number of cycles remaining.

53. The method of any of Claims 29 to 52, wherein the second usage value provides an estimate of a usable life of the grinding wheel in energy consumed by the skate blade sharpening system during sharpening operations with the grinding wheel.

54. The method of any of Claims 29 to 53, wherein energy consumed when performing the sharpening operation is determined based at least in part on power supplied to a grinding wheel motor of the skate blade sharpening system and a time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade.

55. The method of any of Claims 29 to 54, wherein the skate blade sharpening system further comprises a torque sensor configured to measure torque of a grinding wheel motor of the skate blade sharpening system and transmit torque data to the control unit, wherein energy consumed when performing the sharpening operation is determined based at least in part on the torque data and a time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade.

56. The method of Claim 54 or Claim 55, wherein the time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade is determined by measuring current applied to the grinding wheel motor.

57. The method of Claim 54 or Claim 55, wherein the time of contact between the grinding wheel and the skate blade is determined by measuring a voltage drop across a resistor in series with the grinding wheel motor.