Blade Sharpener
A blade sharpener has a frame, first and second rods, a first hub, and a second hub. The first and second rods are adapted and configured to engage a blade to be sharpened. The first hub is operatively connected to the frame and the first rod. The second hub is operatively connected to the frame and the second rod. The first hub being rotatable between an outer position of the first rod relative to the frame and an inner position of the first rod relative to the frame. The second hub being rotatable between an outer position of the second rod relative to the frame and an inner position of the second rod relative to the frame.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/053,125, filed on Jul. 17, 2020, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDThe present disclosure is directed to a blade sharpener. In particular, the disclosure is related to a blade sharpener specifically adapted and configured to sharpen circular and round blades commonly used in defatting and deboning processes. More in particular, the disclosure is directed to a sharpener that can sharpen round or circular blades that are used in connection with knives such as that shown by way of example and not in any limiting sense in U.S. Pat. No. 8,448,340. As will become evident from the disclosure that follows, the blade sharpener may be located next to a meat cutting workstation and the user may insert the rotary cutter between rods on the blade sharpener to sharpen the blade of the rotary cutter. This allows the user to conveniently sharpen the rotatory cutter when necessary.
The exemplary blade sharpener 20 has a frame 22. The frame may be adapted and configured to allow the blade sharpener to be located on a structure adjacent a meat cutting workstation. Accordingly, the frame may have mounting holes and surfaces for such purposes. The frame may also have a handle to allow the user to manually hold the blade sharpener while sharpening a cutter of a rotary cutter. The frame may have a center axis 24 with the frame being symmetrical about the center axis 24. The center axis 24 may define a plane with the plane defining opposite first and second sides of the plane.
The blade sharpener 20 may have first and second rods 26,28 adapted and configured to engage a blade to be sharpened. The rods 26,28 may be formed from hardened steel, and more in particular, hardened stainless steel, and more in particular, ASTM 440C stainless steel hardened to 53 Rc-55 Rc and passivated to resist corrosion.
The blade sharpener 20 may be provided with a first hub 30 and may be provided with a second hub 32. The first hub 30 may be operatively connected to the frame 22. The second hub 32 may be operatively connected to the frame 22. The first rod 26 may be operatively connected to the first hub 30. The second rod 28 may be operatively connected to the second hub 32. The second hub 32 may be laterally spaced from the first hub 30 across the center axis 24 and thus the hubs 30,32 and the rods 26, 28 may be symmetric across the center axis 24 and plane. As shown in the drawings (see e.g.,
Also, as shown in the drawings, the rods 26,28 are removably secured to a respective hub 30,32. The hub 30,32 may be provided with rod receiving holes 50 that receive ends of the rods and allow the rods to be mounted to the hub. The hub 30,32 may also be provided with threaded holes 52 in the hub that receive set screws 54 which secure the rods to the hub in the rod receiving holes. The threaded set screw rod engagement holes 52 may be directed through the hub in a manner to intersect the rod receiving holes 50. Rod engagement set screws 54 may be directed through the threaded set screw rod engagement holes 52 to pin the rod ends in place in the rod receiving holes 50. Alternatively, the rod ends may be mechanically joined to the hub by deformation (e.g., crimping/staking/swaging), thermal expansion and contraction, adhering, or threading, and the threaded set screw rod engagement holes may be eliminated. The first and second hubs 30, 32 may have a like construction in this regard.
The first hub 30 may be adapted and configured to rotate between an outer position of the first rod 26 relative to the frame 22, and an inner position of the first rod 26 relative to the frame 22. The second hub 32 may be adapted and configured to rotate between an outer position of the second rod 28 relative to the frame 22, and an inner position of the second rod 28 relative to the frame 22. When the first hub 30 is in the outer position, the first rod 26 extends away from the frame 22 and crosses from the first side of the plane to the second side of the plane at an outer distance 60 (see, e.g.,
The first rod 26 may have first and second members 70,72 laterally spaced from one another. The first and second members 70,72 of the first rod 26 may be parallel to each other and may form a loop at a distal end of the first rod 26. The second rod 28 may have first and second members 74,76 laterally spaced from one another. The first and second members 70,72 of the second rod 28 may be parallel to each other and may form a loop at a distal end of the second rod 28. Alternatively, the first rod 26 and/or the second rod 28 may be an elongate structure. As best shown in
Making reference to
Also, when the second hub 32 is in the outer position, the second rod 28 may have a second region extending from the intersection point 68 to a distal end of the second rod that is curvilinear. For example, when the second hub 32 is in the outer position, the second rod second region may be concave relative to the plane. This shape allows a circular or rounded blade of the rotary cutter to engage the rods for sharpening the blade, and also allows the user to easily insert the rotary cutter between the rods 26,28 and move the rotary cutter in a reciprocating motion along the direction of the center axis 24 between the rods to sharpen the blade.
To facilitate sharpening of the blade and the reciprocating motion of the user along the direction of the center axis 24 between the rods to sharpen the blade, the first hub 30 may be biased to rotate from the inner position to the outer position. In other words, the user may move the rotary cutter downward so as to move the first rod 26 in a clockwise motion from that shown in
The blade sharpener may include a position limiter for one or more of the hubs 30, 32. The first hub 30 may have a first hub position limiter configured and adapted to set the position of the outer position and the inner position of the first hub 30. The second hub 32 may have a second hub position limiter configured and adapted to set the position of the outer position and the inner position of the second hub 32. The positioner limiter for the hub 30,32 may comprise a cut-out 90 on a face of the hub 30, 32 and a pin 92 extending outward from the front face 38 of the frame 22 that is configured to engage one side of the cut-out 90 when the hub 30, 32 is in the inner position and an opposite side of the cut-out when the hub is in the outer position. One or both of the hubs 30, 32 may be configured with a cut-out 90 and pin 92.
Further embodiments can be envisioned by one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this disclosure. In other embodiments, combinations or sub-combinations of the above-disclosed invention can be advantageously made. The example arrangements of components are shown for purposes of illustration and it should be understood that combinations, additions, re-arrangements, and the like are contemplated in alternative embodiments of the present invention. Thus, various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims and that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A blade sharpener comprising:
- a frame having a center axis, the center axis defining a plane, the plane defining opposite first and second sides of the plane;
- first and second rods adapted and configured to engage a blade to be sharpened;
- a first hub being operatively connected to the frame, the first rod being operatively connected to the first hub;
- a second hub being operatively connected to the frame, the second rod being operatively connected to the second hub, the second hub being laterally spaced from the first hub across the center axis;
- the first hub being rotatable between an outer position of the first rod relative to the frame and an inner position of the first rod relative to the frame;
- the second hub being rotatable between an outer position of the second rod relative to the frame and an inner position of the second rod relative to the frame;
- when the first hub is in the outer position, the first rod extends away from the frame and crosses from the first side of the plane to the second side of the plane at an outer distance,
- when the first hub is in the inner position, the first rod extends away from the frame and crosses from the first side of the plane to the second side of the plane at an inner distance, the first rod inner distance being closer to the frame than the first rod outer distance;
- when the second hub is in the outer position, the second rod extends away from the frame and crosses from the second side of the plane to the first side of the plane at an outer distance;
- when the second hub is in the inner position, the second rod extends away from the frame and crosses from the second side of the plane to the first side of the plane at an inner distance, the second rod inner distance being closer to the frame than the second rod outer distance; and
- when the first hub is in the outer position and when the second hub is in the outer position, the first and second rods form a general x-shape in plan view.
2. The blade sharpener of claim 1 wherein:
- when the first hub is in the outer position, the first rod crosses from the first side of the plane to the second side of the plane at an intersection point, and
- when the second hub is in the outer position, the second rod extends away from the frame and crosses from the second side of the plane to the first side of the plane at the intersection point.
3. The blade sharpener of claim 2 wherein the first rod has first and second members laterally spaced from one another.
4. The blade sharpener of claim 3 wherein the second rod has first and second members laterally spaced from one another.
5. The blade sharpener of claim 4 wherein the first rod first member is laterally outboard of the second rod first member, and the second rod second member is laterally outboard of the first rod second member.
6. The blade sharpener of claim 4 wherein the first rod first member abuts the second rod first member, and the second rod second member abuts the first rod second member at the intersection point.
7. The blade sharpener of claim 2 wherein when the first hub is in the outer position, the first rod has a first region extending from the hub to the intersection point that is curvilinear.
8. The blade sharpener of claim 7 wherein when the first hub is in the outer position, the first rod first region is convex relative to the plane.
9. The blade sharpener of claim 7 wherein when the first hub is in the outer position, the first rod has a second region extending from the intersection point to a distal end of the first rod that is curvilinear.
10. The blade sharpener of claim 9 wherein when the first hub is in the outer position, the first rod second region is concave relative to the plane.
11. The blade sharpener of claim 2 wherein when the second hub is in the outer position, the second rod has a first region extending from the hub to the intersection point that is curvilinear.
12. The blade sharpener of claim 11 wherein when the second hub is in the outer position, the second rod has a first region is convex relative to the plane.
13. The blade sharpener of claim 11 wherein when the second hub is in the outer position, the second rod has a second region extending from the intersection point to a distal end of the second rod that is curvilinear.
14. The blade sharpener of claim 13 wherein when the second hub is in the outer position, the second rod second region is concave relative to the plane.
15. The blade sharpener of claim 1 wherein the first and second rod are hardened steel.
16. The blade sharpener of claim 1 wherein the first hub is biased to rotate from the inner position to the outer position.
17. The blade sharpener of claim 16 further comprising a torsion spring configured to bias the first hub to rotate from the inner position to the outer position.
18. The blade sharpener of claim 1 wherein the second hub is biased to rotate from the inner position to the outer position.
19. The blade sharpener of claim 17 further comprising a torsion spring configured to bias the second hub to rotate from the inner position to the outer position.
20. The blade sharpener of claim 1 further comprising a first hub position limiter configured and adapted to set the position of the outer position and the inner position of the first hub.
21. The blade sharpener of claim 20 wherein the first hub position limiter comprises a cut-out on a face of the first hub and a pin extending outward from the frame that is configured to engage one side of the cut-out when the first hub is in the inner position and an opposite side of the cut-out when the first hub is in the outer position.
22. The blade sharpener of claim 1 further comprising a second hub position limiter configured and adapted to set the position of the outer position and the inner position of the second hub.
23. The blade sharpener of claim 22 wherein the second hub position limiter comprises a cut-out on a face of the second hub and a pin extending outward from the frame that is configured to engage one side of the cut-out when the second hub is in the inner position and an opposite side of the cut-out when the second hub is in the outer position.
24. The blade sharpener of claim 1 wherein the first and second hubs are adapted and configured to move from their respective outer positions to their respective inner positions when a blade is inserted between and engages the first and second rods.
25. The blade sharpener of claim 1 wherein the first and second hubs are adapted and configured to move from their respective inner positions to their respective outer positions when a blade is removed from between and disengages from the first and second rods.
26. The blade sharpener of claim 1 further comprising a first axle pin extending from the frame, the first hub being configured to rotate about the first axle pin and to be removably mounted to the first axle pin.
27. The blade sharpener of claim 1 further comprising a second axle pin extending from the frame, the second hub being configured to rotate about the first axle pin and to be removably mounted to the second axle pin.
28. The blade sharpener of claim 1 wherein the first rod is removably mounted to the first hub.
29. The blade sharpener of claim 1 wherein the second rod is removably mounted to the second hub.
30. A method comprising:
- providing a blade sharpener wherein the blade sharpener comprises a frame having a center axis, the center axis defines a plane, the plane defines opposite first and second sides of the plane, the blade sharpener has first and second rods, a first hub being operatively connected to the frame with the first rod being operatively connected to the first hub, a second hub operatively connected to the frame with the second rod being operatively connected to the second hub and the second hub being laterally spaced from the first hub across the center axis, the first hub is rotatable between an outer position of the first rod relative to the frame and an inner position of the first rod relative to the frame, the second hub is rotatable between an outer position of the second rod relative to the frame and an inner position of the second rod relative to the frame, the rods are configured such that when: (i) the first hub is in the outer position, the first rod extends away from the frame and crosses from the first side of the plane to the second side of the plane at an outer distance, (ii) the first hub is in the inner position, the first rod extends away from the frame and crosses from the first side of the plane to the second side of the plane at an inner distance, the first rod inner distance being closer to the frame than the first rod outer distance, (iii) the second hub is in the outer position, the second rod extends away from the frame and crosses from the second side of the plane to the first side of the plane at an outer distance, (iv) the second hub is in the inner position, the second rod extends away from the frame and crosses from the second side of the plane to the first side of the plane at an inner distance, the second rod inner distance being closer to the frame than the second rod outer distance; and (v) the first hub is in the outer position and when the second hub is in the outer position, the first and second rods form a general x-shape in plan view; and
- inserting a blade between the first and second blades with at least one of the hubs in the outer position; and
- moving the blade along the rods in a reciprocating fashion in a manner to rotate at least one of the hubs between the inner and outer position of the hub.
31. The method of claim 30 wherein the step of inserting the blade between the rods includes inserting a blade having a rounded cross-section.
32. The method of claim 30 wherein at least one of the hubs is biased to rotate from the inner position to the outer position; and the step of moving the blade along the rods in a reciprocating fashion includes forcing the rods apart as the at least one hub rotates from the outer position to the inner position against the bias, and allowing the rods to come together as the at least one hub rotates from the inner position to the outer position with the bias.
33. The method of claim 30 wherein the blade sharpener has at least one hub position limiter; and the step of moving the blade along the rods in a reciprocating fashion to rotate at least one of the hubs between the inner and outer position of the hub includes rotating at least one hub to engage the position limiter at the outer position of the hub.
34. The method of claim 30 wherein the blade sharpener has at least one hub position limiter; and the step of moving the blade along the rods in a reciprocating fashion to rotate at least one of the hubs between the inner and outer position of the hub includes rotating at least one hub to engage the position limiter at the inner position of the hub.
Type: Application
Filed: May 20, 2021
Publication Date: Jan 20, 2022
Inventors: Ivo Cozzini (Lincolnwood, IL), Alexander Cozzini (Lincolnwood, IL)
Application Number: 17/325,293