SHARPENING APPARATUS FOR A CUTTERHEAD ASSEMBLY OF A LUMBER PLANING MACHINE

There is provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable both longitudinally relative to a cutterhead assembly of the lumber and one or more of tangentially at least in part and radially-inwards at least in part relative to the cutterhead. In addition or alternatively, the sharpening member is moveable along two of the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis. A spacer may angle the guide member relative to the longitudinal axis of the cutterhead assembly, axis of rotation of the cutterhead assembly and/or longitudinal axis of the blades of the cutterhead assembly. In addition or alternatively, the guide member may be angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the cutterhead assembly, axis of rotation of the cutterhead assembly or longitudinal axis of the blades of the cutterhead assembly.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

There is provided a sharpening apparatus. In particular, there is provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly of a lumber planing machine, and a lumber planing machine and cutterhead assembly comprising the same.

Description of the Related Art

Lumber planing machines include cutterheads with blades that may spin at around 2000 to 4000 revolutions per minute (RPM). The cutterheads trim lumber to a specific size. Machines usually have four cutterheads: two for planing the top and bottom of the lumber and two for planing the opposite sides of the lumber. The blades of the cutterheads become dull over time and manual and automatic systems are used to sharpen blades after prolong lumber processing. The systems may move a sharpening stone along the blades as the cutterhead assembly spins at operation speed. Due to material loss on the stone, the finished geometry of each blade may cease to comprise a flat horizontal line over time.

Canadian Patent No. 1179579 to Finnila discloses a lumber planing machine with mechanisms in several embodiments whereby equal thickness planing cuts are accurately taken from the top and bottom surfaces of sawed lumber with capability of planing at a high rate of speed. The lumber planing machine is configured to automatically adjust for variation in lumber thickness and while maintaining a level of accuracy in the planed lumber dimensions. The lumber planing machine is configured to return to former methods of specific planing cuts on the bottom surface under special circumstances.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

There is provided, and it is an object to provide, an improved sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly of a lumber planning machine disclosed herein and a lumber planing machine and cutterhead assembly comprising the same.

There is accordingly provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly according to one aspect. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus includes a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable both longitudinally relative to a cutterhead assembly of the lumber and one or more of tangentially at least in part and radially-inwards at least in part relative to the cutterhead

There is also provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly according to a second aspect. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus includes a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable along two of the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis.

There is further provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly according a third aspect. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus includes a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable longitudinally as well as radially-inwards at least in part relative to the cutterhead assembly.

There is yet also provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly according to a fourth aspect. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus includes a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable along both the x-axis and y-axis.

There is yet further provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly according to a fifth aspect. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus includes a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable longitudinally as well as radially-inwards at least in part relative to the cutterhead assembly.

There is yet additionally provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly according to a sixth aspect. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus includes a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable along both the x-axis and z-axis.

There is also provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly according to a seventh aspect. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus includes a guide member via which the sharpening member reciprocates. The sharpening apparatus includes a ratchet mechanism via which the sharpening member is incrementally moved laterally relative to the guide member.

There is further provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly according to an eighth aspect. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus includes a first actuator configured to move the sharpening member longitudinally relative to the cutterhead assembly. The sharpening apparatus includes a second actuator configured to incrementally move the sharpening member radially-inwards at least in part relative to the cutterhead assembly. Actuation of the second actuator is a function of or proportional to actuation of the first actuator.

There is additionally provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly according to a ninth aspect. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus includes one or more actuators via which the sharpening member is moveable to sharpen distal one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly. The one or more actuators are configured to promote substantially uniform wear along a distal end portion of the sharpening member as the one or more blades are sharpened.

There is yet also provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly according to a tenth aspect. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus includes a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable to abut distal edges of one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly. The guide member is configured to promote substantially uniform wear along a distal end portion of the sharpening member as the one or more blades are sharpened.

There is yet further provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly according to an eleventh aspect. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus includes one or more actuators configured to move the sharpening member along and at an angle relative to the cutterhead assembly.

There is yet additionally provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly according to a twelfth aspect. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus includes one or more actuators configured to move the sharpening member along a guide member that is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of one or more blades of the cutterhead.

There is also provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly according to a thirteenth aspect. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus includes a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable. The guide member is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly.

There is further provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly according to a fourteenth aspect. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus includes one or more actuators configured to move the sharpening member along a guide member that is angled relative to the axis of rotation of the cutterhead assembly.

There is additionally provided a sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly according to a fifteenth aspect. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus includes a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable. The guide member is angled relative to the axis of rotation of the cutterhead assembly.

There is also provided a sharpening apparatus according to a sixteenth aspect. The sharpening apparatus includes a sharpening member. The sharpening apparatus includes a guide rail via which the sharpening member is moveable relative to a cutterhead assembly. The cutterhead assembly extends with a first longitudinal plane and a second longitudinal plane perpendicular to the first longitudinal plane thereof. The guide rail extends within a first longitudinal plane and a second longitudinal plane that is perpendicular to the first longitudinal plane thereof. The first longitudinal plane within which the guide rail extends is angled by an acute angle relative to the first longitudinal plane within which the cutterhead assembly extends.

There is yet also provided a cutterhead assembly comprising one or more of the above set out sharpening apparatuses.

There is further provided a lumber planing machine comprising one or more of the above cutterhead assemblies and/or sharpener apparatuses.

There is additionally provided a method of sharpening a cutterhead assembly. The method includes providing a pathway which extends two or more of longitudinally, tangentially and radially-inwards relative to the cutterhead assembly. The method includes reciprocating a sharpening member along the pathway so as to abut one or more distal end portions of one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly.

It is emphasized that the invention relates to all combinations of the above features, even if these are recited in different claims.

Further aspects and example embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or described in the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate non-limiting example embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front, first side perspective view of a lumber planing machine shown in the process of planning a piece of lumber, with the lumber planing machine including a plurality of cutterhead assemblies, with each cutterhead assembly including a sharpening apparatus according to a first aspect, with the sharpening apparatus being configured to selectively reciprocate along and sharpen the blades of the cutterhead assembly;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front, second side perspective view of one of the cutterhead assemblies and sharpening apparatuses of FIG. 1, with the sharpening apparatus including a sharpening member, a mount to which the sharpening member couples and a guide rail to which the mount slidably couples;

FIG. 3 is a top, rear, second side perspective view of the sharpening member, mount and guide rail of FIG. 2, with the guide rail being shown in fragment;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the cutterhead assembly and sharpening apparatus of FIG. 2, with the sharpening member being shown in solid lines in a proximal position and being shown in stippled lines in a distal position;

FIG. 6 is a first side elevation view of the sharpening member and mount of FIG. 5 shown in the proximal position, with a first or upper distal edge of the end portion of the sharpening member being positioned to abut the blades of the cutterhead assembly, with the cutterhead assembly and the rest of the sharpening apparatus shown in fragment;

FIG. 7 is a first side elevation view of the sharpening member and mount of FIG. 6 shown in the distal position, with a second or lower distal edge of the end portion of the sharpening member being positioned to abut the blades of the cutterhead assembly, with the cutterhead assembly and the rest of the sharpening apparatus shown in fragment;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the cutterhead assembly and sharpening apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged front, second side perspective view of a cutterhead assembly and sharpening apparatus thereof according to a second aspect, with the sharpening apparatus including a sharpening member that is substantially block-shaped;

FIG. 10 is a front, second side perspective view of a cutterhead assembly and sharpening apparatus thereof according to a third aspect, with a sharpening stone and ratchet mechanism thereof not being shown;

FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of a cutterhead assembly and sharpening apparatus thereof according to a fourth aspect;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the cutterhead assembly and sharpening apparatus according to FIG. 11, with a linear actuator thereof not being shown;

FIG. 13 is a front elevation view of a cutterhead assembly and sharpening apparatus thereof according to a fifth aspect, with a linear actuator thereof not being shown;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the cutterhead assembly and sharpening apparatus according to FIG. 13, with the linear actuator thereof not being shown;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged front, second side perspective view of a cutterhead assembly and sharpening apparatus thereof according to a sixth aspect, with the sharpening apparatus including a guide rail that is tapered;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged front, second side perspective view of a cutterhead assembly and sharpening apparatus thereof according to a seventh aspect, with the cutterhead assembly having an upper surface of a housing thereof being angled and upon which the guide rail extends; and

FIG. 17 is an enlarged front, second side perspective view of a cutterhead assembly and sharpening apparatus thereof according to a seventh aspect.

 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive sense.

Referring to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, there is shown a planing machine, in this example a lumber planing machine, in this case a wood planer 20. The wood planer has a top 22, bottom 24 spaced-apart from the top thereof, a front 26, a rear 28 spaced-apart from the front thereof, a first side 30 and a second side 32 spaced-apart from the left side thereof. The front and rear of wood planer 20 extend between the sides and top and bottom of the wood planer.

The wood planer includes at least one and in this example a plurality of cutterhead assemblies according to a first aspect: a first or bottom cutterhead assembly 34, a second or top cutterhead assembly 34A, a third or inner side cutterhead assembly 34B and a fourth or outer side cutterhead assembly 34C. However, this is not strictly required and only one or greater than four cutterhead assemblies may be provided in other embodiments. Bottom and top cutterhead assemblies 34 and 34A in this non-limiting embodiment are paired, and extend adjacent front 26 and along top 22 and bottom 24 and between sides 30 and 32 of wood planer 20. The bottom and top cutterhead assemblies are arranged to selectively plane bottom 36 and top 38 of an object to be planed, in this example lumber 40. Side cutterhead assemblies 34B and 34C in this non-limiting embodiment are paired, and extend adjacent rear 28 and along sides 30 and 32 and between top 22 and bottom 24 of wood planer 20. The side cutterhead assemblies are arranged to selectively plane spaced-apart sides 42 and 44 of lumber 40. Each cutterhead assembly, including its various parts and functionings, is substantially the same and only cutterhead assembly 34 will accordingly be discussed in further detail.

As seen in FIG. 2, cutterhead assembly 34 includes a cutterhead 46. The cutterhead may be referred to as a cutter head or a lumber cutter head. Cutterhead 46 is elongate and generally cylindrical in outer shape in this example. The cutterhead extends about an axis of rotation 48 that in this example extends between sides 30 and 32 of wood planer 20. The axis of rotation of cutterhead assembly 34 may be referred to a longitudinal axis of the cutterhead assembly. Axis of rotation 48 extends substantially along or parallel to the x-axis in FIG. 2. As seen in FIG. 5, cutterhead 46 has a length L1 that extends substantially along and/or parallel to the x-axis and a width W that extends substantially along and/or parallel to the z-axis.

Cutterhead assembly 34 includes at least one and in this example a plurality of cutting members, in this case blades 49. The blades are elongate and may be referred to as cutters. The blades are coupled to, circumferentially spaced about and extend radially outwards from annular outer periphery 45 of cutterhead 46 in this non-limiting example. As seen in FIG. 6, each blade includes a tapered end portion 51 in this non-limiting example. Blades 49 are triangular prisms in shape, in this case right triangular prisms in shape in this non-limiting embodiment. Each blade tapers outwards from cutterhead 46 to a distal end 51A thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 5, each blade 49 has a first end 53 adjacent or facing side 32 of wood planer 20 and a second end 55 adjacent, near and/or facing side 30 of wood planer 20. Each blade has a length L2 and a longitudinal axis 57 extending between the ends thereof. The longitudinal axes of the blades extend substantially parallel to axis of rotation 48 of cutterhead 46 in this example.

As seen in FIG. 2, cutterhead assembly 34 includes a housing 50 to which cutterhead 46 rotatably couples via an actuator such as a motor (not shown). Cutterhead assemblies per, including their various The cutterhead with blades 49 thereon may be configured to rotate at between 2000 to 4000 RPM in one non-limiting embodiment. Cutterhead 46 so configured functions to trim lumber 40 seen in FIG. 1 to a specific/desired size. Referring back to FIG. 2, housing 50 includes at least one and in this example a pair of elongate members, ledges or mounts 52 and 54 between which extends cutterhead 46. The elongate mounts are offset relative to one another in this non-limiting example and extend substantially parallel to axis of rotation 48 of cutterhead 46. As seen in FIG. 5, the axis of rotation of the cutterhead is radially spaced-apart a radial distance R from mount 52. Radial distance R extends substantially along or parallel to the z-axis shown in FIG. 5. Wood planers and cutterhead assemblies per se, including their various parts and functions, are well known to those skilled in the art and wood planer 20 and cutterhead assemblies 34 describe to this stage may comprise off-the-shelf products and will accordingly not be described in further detail.

Referring to FIG. 2, each cutterhead assembly 34 includes a sharpener apparatus 56. The sharpener apparatus includes a sharpening member, in this example a sharpening stone 58. However, the latter is not strictly required and sharpening members made of and/or incorporating other types of abrasives may be used in other embodiments as would be known to those skilled in the art. As seen in FIG. 3, sharpening stone 58 includes a distal end portion 59. The sharpening stone has a first or upper distal edge 61 and a second or lower distal edge 63 spaced-apart from the upper distal edge thereof. Distal end portion 59 of sharpening stone 58 extends between the upper and lower distal edges of the sharpening stone. Distal edges 59 and 61 of the sharpening stone are spaced-apart by a distance, in this example a tangential distance, in this case height H. The latter may be referred to as a dimension or component of the cross-section size of sharpening stone 58. Distal end portion 59 of sharpening stone 58 is rectangular or square in end profile in this non-limiting example; however, this is not strictly required.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, sharpening apparatus 56 includes one or more actuators via which sharpening stone 58 is moveable back and forth along blades 49 of cutterhead assembly 34 as shown by arrows 60 to sharpen distal ends 51A of the spinning blades (e.g. spinning at operational speed), with the one or more actuators being configured to promote substantially uniform wear along distal end portion 59 of the sharpening stone as the one or more blades are sharpened. The following are non-limiting embodiment of one or more actuators that achieve this functionality.

As seen in FIG. 5 sharpening apparatus 56 includes a first actuator, in this example a linear actuator 67. The linear actuator may include a motor 83 and gearbox 85 operatively connected to the motor thereof. Linear actuator 67 (including motor 83 and gearbox 85 thereof) is an off-the-shelf product and in this non-limiting example comprises a Parker™ linear actuator, which may be purchased at Parker Hannifin Corporation, having an address of 4249 Industrial Parkway, Marysville, Ohio, United States, 43040. However, the latter is not strictly required and other types of linear actuators may be used in other embodiments. Linear actuators per se, including their various parts and functionings, are known to those skilled in the art and linear actuator 67 will accordingly not be described in more detail.

The linear actuator is configured to move sharpening stone 58 longitudinally in direction 60 relative to cutterhead assembly 34. Referring to FIG. 8, linear actuator 67 in this non-limiting embodiment moves the sharpening stone at an angle relative to longitudinal axis 57 of blades 49 and at an angle relative to axis of rotation 48 of cutterhead 46. In this non-limiting embodiment sharpening stone 58 moves within the x-y plane and is angled relative to the x and y axes. Linear actuator 67 is configured to reciprocate the sharpening stone along and relative to respective blades 49 of cutterhead assembly 34 as shown by arrows 60, so as to sharpen the blades.

Sharpening apparatus 56 is configured to cause sharpening stone 58 to move along two axes per one or more cycles of reciprocation thereof relative to cutterhead assembly 34. The following is a non-limiting embodiment that enables this functionality. In particular, the following is a non-limiting example of a manner in which sharpening stone 58 is configured to move along both the x-axis and y-axis or both longitudinally and tangentially relative to cutterhead assembly 34.

As seen in FIG. 8, sharpener apparatus 56 includes a guide member, in this example a guide rail assembly 62. Sharpening stone 58 slidably couples to the guide rail assembly in this non-limiting embodiment. Guide rail assembly 62 is elongate and includes a first of a female member and a male member extending therealong, in this example an elongate female member in the form of a guide rail 64. The guide rail has a first or proximal end 64A and a second or distal end 64B spaced from the proximal end thereof. The guide rail may be referred to as a track, with the guide rail thus comprising a linear track in this non-limiting embodiment. Referring to FIG. 3, sharpening stone 58 slidably couples to guide rail 64 via a second of the female member and male member of guide rail assembly 62, in this example a male member or guide rail carriage 76 shaped to slidable engage with the guide rail. The male member may alternatively be referred to as a carrier.

Linear actuator 67 operatively connects to guide rail carriage 76 so as to selectively slide sharpening stone 58 back and forth relative to guide rail 64. Guide rails and guide rail carriages per se, including their various parts and functionings, are well known to those skilled in the art and guide rail 64 and guide rail carriage 76 will accordingly not be described in further detail. Sharpening stone 58 is moved upwards relative to FIG. 2 as the sharpening stone moves along guide rail 64 from adjacent end 68 of spacer 66 towards end 70 of the spacer as shown by arrow 78.

Sharpening stone 58 is thus configured to reciprocate along and relative to respective blades 49 of cutterhead assembly 34. The sharpening stone is moveable along the x-axis or longitudinally relative to the cutterhead assembly via guide rail 64 and guide rail carriage 76. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the guide rail is configured/positioned to promote substantially uniform wear along distal end portion 59 of sharpening stone 58 as blades 49 are sharpened. The sharpening stone is thus arranged to promote uniform wearing thereof.

Referring to FIG. 6, sharpening stone 58 is configured to be moveable in this embodiment along the y-axis or tangentially at least in part relative to cutterhead assembly 34. As seen in FIG. 8, the sharpening stone is thus moveable along at least two axes, in this case both the x-axis and y-axis. Sharpening stone 58 is moveable along the axes per one or more cycles of reciprocation thereof relative to cutterhead assembly. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the sharpening stone is moveable tangential to cutterhead assembly 34 a distance substantially equal to height H of the sharpening stone per one or more predetermined cycles of reciprocation in this non-limiting embodiment.

Guide rail 64 is elongate and extends substantially along a longitudinal axis 65. The longitudinal axis of guide rail 64 is angled relative to axis of rotation 48 of cutterhead 46 in this non-limiting embodiment. In this non-limiting embodiment, the guide rail extends within a first x-y plane and is angled relative to the x and y axes of the first x-y plane. Guide rail 64 is angled from the perspective of the first x-y plane and relative to the x and y axes of the first x-y plane: the guide rail is angled by an acute angle α relative to longitudinal axis 57 of the one or more blades of cutterhead assembly 34 in this embodiment. The guide rail is also angled by acute angle α relative to axis of rotation 48 of cutterhead assembly 34 in this embodiment. Guide rail 64 is thus angled when viewed from a first perspective P1 or from the side from the perspective of FIG. 8.

FIG. 5 shows cutterhead assembly 34 and sharpening apparatus 56 from a second perspective P2 perpendicular to first perspective P1 seen in FIG. 8. As seen in FIG. 5, guide rail 64 in this embodiment is positioned to be spaced a substantially constant distance D1 from cutterhead 46 or instantaneously adjacent blades 49 thereof when viewed from above from the perspective of FIG. 5. Guide rail 64 thus extends within a first x-z plane with the guide rail extending parallel to axes 48 and 57 of cutterhead 46 and blades 49 in the first x-z plane and extending substantially along and/or parallel to the x-axis of the first x-z plane.

Referring to FIG. 8, the guide rail extends within a first longitudinal plane PR1 that is angled by acute angle α relative to a first longitudinal plane PC1 of cutterhead 46. First longitudinal plane PR1 and first longitudinal plane PC1 extend into and out of the page in FIG. 8. Guide rail 64 extends within a second longitudinal plane PR2 (as seen coming out of the page in FIG. 5) that is perpendicular to first longitudinal plane PR1 thereof seen in FIG. 8. Cutterhead 46 extends within a second longitudinal plane PC2 (as seen coming out of the page in FIG. 5) that is perpendicular to first longitudinal plane PC1 thereof seen in FIG. 8. Referring back to FIG. 5, second longitudinal plane PR2 within which guide rail 64 extends is substantially parallel to second longitudinal plane PC2 within which cutterhead 46 extends in this embodiment.

As seen in FIG. 2, sharpening apparatus 56 in this non-limiting embodiment includes a spacer 66 via which guide rail 64 is angled. However, this is not strictly required and the guide rail may be angled in the above manner via other members or mechanisms in other embodiments. Spacer 66 is shaped to alter positioning of guide rail 64. The spacer has a first or proximal end 68 and a second or distal end 70 spaced-apart from the proximal end thereof. The ends of the spacer may be referred to as or be a part of end portions of the spacer.

Spacer 66 has a first elongate surface 72 shaped to abut, couple to and extend along a first or upper surface 52A of elongate mount 52 in this example. The spacer has a second elongate surface 74 spaced-apart from the first elongate surface thereof. First and second elongate surfaces 72 and 74 are planar and rectangular in this non-limiting embodiment and may thus be referred to as planar surfaces. The first and second elongate surfaces of spacer 66 may be referred to as bottom/top or lower/upper-surfaces of the spacer from the perspective of FIG. 2, though this is not strictly required. First and second elongate surfaces 72 and 74 of the spacer extend between ends 68 and 70 of the spacer.

Second elongate surface 74 of spacer 66 is angularly spaced from and relative to the first elongate surface of the spacer by angled β. Angle β is acute in this example. Angle β is shown to an exaggerated extent in this example for illustrative purposes. The extent to which second elongate surface 74 of spacer 66 is angled relative to first elongate surface 72 of spacer 66 may be a function of or determined by height H of sharpening stone 58 and/or length L2 of blades 49 of cutterhead assembly 34 in this example. The height of the sharpening stone may dictate the extent to which end 70 of spacer 66 is thicker than end 68 of the spacer and/or the extent to which second elongate surface 74 of the spacer is angularly spaced from first elongate surface 72. Spacer 66 is thus tapered at least in part in this non-limiting embodiment, in this case tapering from end 70 thereof towards end 68 thereof. The spacer is wedge-shaped in this non-limiting embodiment. Spacer 66 is substantially a triangular prism in shape in this example, in this case being substantially a right triangular prism in shape.

Optimization of angle β may also vary depending on cutterhead assembly 34, including dimensions and type thereof for example. Spacer 66 causes sharpening stone 58 to undergo an elevation gain in the y direction as the stone moves along guide rail 64. This may be a function of the sharpening stone's cross-section size. As a result, sharpening apparatus 56 is configured to cause a fresh cross-sectional area of sharpening stone 58 to come in contact with blades 49 as the sharpening stone moves along the track or guide rail 64. In this embodiment sharpening stone 58 is thus moveable along a pathway 81 determined in this non-limiting embodiment by one or more of i) the guide rail and ii) the angle at which the guide rail is positioned and extends relative to cutterhead assembly 34.

In operation according to one non-limiting embodiment and referring to FIG. 6, sharpening stone 58 is selectively moveable so that distal end portion 59 thereof abuts distal ends 51A of one or more blades of cutterhead assembly. The sharpening stone is configured to abut respective blades 49 of cutterhead assembly 34 adjacent first distal edge 61 thereof when the sharpening stone is positioned adjacent first ends 53 of the blades seen in FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 7, the sharpening stone is configured to abut respective blades of the cutterhead assembly adjacent second edges 63 thereof when the sharpening stone is positioned adjacent second ends 55 of the blades seen in FIG. 5. Sharpening apparatus 56 is thus configured to promote abutting of the whole of the surface of distal end portion 59 with distal edges 61 of blades 49 in this example.

Sharpening apparatus 56 may include an adjustment mechanism via which positioning of guide rail 64 relative to cutterhead 46 is selectively adjustable. The following is a non-limiting embodiment that achieves this functionality. As seen in FIG. 8, adjustment mechanism 69 in this example comprises a mount 71 to which guide rail 64 operatively connects in this case via linear actuator 67. The guide rail pivotally connects to the adjustment mechanism via pivot point 73, though this is not strictly required. Adjustment mechanism 69 is configured to enable angling of guide rail 64 relative to cutterhead 46 and/or elongate mount 52 to be selectively adjustable along y-axis of the first x-y plane as shown by arrows 87. The adjustment mechanism thus enables angle β to be adjusted/altered.

Sharpening apparatus 56 may include a locking mechanism 75, such as a clamp in one non-limiting example. The locking mechanism has an unlocked position in which angular adjustment of guide rail 64 along the y-axis is permitted. Locking mechanism 75 may be moved to the unlocked position thereof by, for example rotating the locking mechanism is a first or counterclockwise direction 77 e.g. so as to fix or clamp positioning of the guide rail relative to mount 71.

When a desired angularly positioning of guide rail 64 is obtained relative to cutterhead 46, the locking mechanism may be actuated from the unlocked position to a locked position: this may occur for example by rotating the locking mechanism in a second or clockwise direction 79. Locking mechanism 75 in its locked position is configured to inhibit movement guide rail 64 relative to the cutterhead. Spacer 66 may be selectively moved in a direction substantially parallel to x axis to the left or right relative to FIG. 8 thereafter to make up the alteration in spacing of the guide rail so angularly adjusted, for example. Adjustment and locking mechanisms per se, including their various parts and functionings, are known per se and the non-limiting examples of adjustment mechanism 69 and locking mechanism 75 will accordingly not be described in further detail.

As seen in FIG. 3, sharpening apparatus 56 includes a second actuator via which sharpening stone 58 automatically incrementally moves towards cutterhead assembly 34 seen in FIG. 1. The sharpening stone is incrementally and automatically moveable along the z-axis or radially-inwards relative to cutterhead assembly 34. The sharpening stone is thus automatically moveable along the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis in this example. The following is one non-limiting embodiment achieving the above functionality.

The second actuator is in the form of a ratchet mechanism 80 seen in FIG. 3 according to one non-limiting embodiment. The ratchet mechanism is configured to incrementally move sharpening stone 58 radially-inwards at least in part relative to cutterhead assembly 34, as shown by arrow 82. Ratchet mechanism 80 is configured to incrementally move sharpening stone 58 laterally relative to guide rail 64 and guide rail carriage 76.

The ratchet mechanism includes a pawl 84. The pawl operatively/pivotally connects to a first of guide rail 64/linear actuator 67 and sharpening stone 58, in this example coupling to the guide rail/linear actuator. Pawl 84 couples to the linear actuator via an elongate member, in this example a pawl mount 86. The pawl mount is arcuate shaped in this example, though this is not strictly required. Pawl mount 86 aligns adjacent to an exterior side 89 of guide rail 64 in this example, though here too this is not strictly required. Pawl 84 pivotally couples to the pawl mount about a pivot 84A so that a distal end portion 88 thereof is movable in opposite directions relative thereto as shown by arrow 90. The distal end portion of the pawl may be triangular in profile and/or referred to as a catch or catch portion of the pawl, though this is not strictly required.

Ratchet mechanism 80 includes a ratchet gear 92. The ratchet gear operatively connects to a second of guide rail 64/linear actuator 67 and sharpening stone 58, in this example coupling to the sharpening stone. Pawl 84 is configured/positioned to incrementally engage/rotate the ratchet gear (as seen by arrow 91) per one or more cycles of reciprocation of the sharpening stone between ends 53 and 55 of blade 49 as shown by arrow 60. Movement along this path back and forth along length L2 of the blades may be referred to as a cycle of reciprocation of sharpening stone 58. Referring to FIG. 2, actuation of ratchet mechanism 80 is thus a function of or proportional to actuation of linear actuator 67 in this example. Actuation of the ratchet mechanism, or in this case ratchet gear 92 thereof, causes sharpening stone 58 to incrementally move radially inwards or along the z-axis by a predetermined amount per cycle/rotation-of-the-ratchet-gear. Ratchet mechanism 80 as herein described is thus configured to operate automatically in this example.

The following is a non-limiting embodiment to achieve this functionality. As seen in FIG. 3, sharpener apparatus 56 includes a sharpener mount 96. The mount includes a base member 98 coupled to guide rail carriage 76 via fasteners 100. Sharpener mount 96 includes a plurality of longitudinally-extending members, in this example a pair of spaced-apart elongate side members 102 and 104 coupled to and extending outwards—from/perpendicular—to base member 98 and an elongate intermediate movable member 106 between and incrementally moveable relative to the side members thereof. Members 98, 102, 104 and 106 are each rectangular prisms in shape in this example, though this is not strictly required. Side members 102 and 104 are coupled together via at least one and in this example a pair of spaced-apart elongate members, in this example pins 108 and 110. Movable member 106 is shaped to slidably receive the pins therethrough.

Sharpener mount 96 includes a stop 112 in this example. The stop is laterally-extending in this example. Stop 112 in this non-limiting embodiment is T-shaped in top profile, though this is not strictly required. Stop 112 includes a closed first end portion 114 that is slidable relative to side member 102, in this example via an aperture 116 extending through the side member and through which the first end portion of the stop extends. The stop includes a second end portion 118 coupled to, integrally formed with and enlarged relative to the first end portion thereof. End portions 114 and 118 of stop 112 are each a rectangular prism in shape in this example, though this is not strictly required. End portion 118 couples to, extends through and aligns flush with moveable member 106 in this non-limiting embodiment. Stop 112 includes a bore 120.

Sharpening stone 58 in this non-limiting embodiment includes a sharpener housing 122. The sharpener housing is shaped to at least partially enclose the sharpening stone with the exception of distal end portion 59 thereof. Sharpener housing 122 may comprise a sheath extending about the stone and which is made of plastic; however, the latter is not strictly required. The sharpener housing is slidable relative to side member 104, in this example via an aperture 124 of the side member through which the sharpener housing extends. Second end portion 118 of stop 112 is larger than aperture 124 in this example, with side member 104 thus being shaped to inhibit the second end portion of the stop from passing through the side member.

As seen in FIG. 3, sharpener mount 96 includes a threaded member, in this example an elongate bolt 126 extending through side member 102 and movable member 106 and threadably coupling to side member 104. Ratchet gear 92 couples to the elongate bolt and is configured so that rotation of the ratchet gear rotates the elongate bolt and causes member 106 to incrementally move towards member 104. This causes sharpening stone 58 to incrementally move in the direction shown by arrow 82.

In one non-limiting example, ratchet gear 92 is configured to rotate per cycle of reciprocation of the sharpening stone, in the range of greater than 0 degrees and equal to or less than 2 degrees in one example. The ratchet gear is configured to rotate per cycle of reciprocation of sharpening stone 58, in the range of greater than 0 degrees and equal to or less than 1 degrees in another example. Ratchet gear 92 is configured to rotate per cycle of reciprocation of the sharpening stone, in the range of greater than 0 degrees and equal to or less than 0.5 degrees in a further example. The ratchet gear is configured to rotate by about 0.5 degrees per cycle of reciprocation of sharpening stone 58 in yet another non-limiting aspect.

In one non-limiting embodiment, ratchet mechanism 80 is configured to move sharpening stone 58 linearly in direction shown by arrow 82, in an amount equal to at least one thousandth of an inch per cycle of reciprocation of the sharpening stone. The ratchet mechanism is configured to move the sharpening stone radially inwards or along the z-axis by an amount per cycle in the range of equal to or greater than one thousandth of an inch per cycle and equal to or less than one hundredth of an inch per cycle in another example. Ratchet mechanism 80 is configured to move sharpening stone 58 radially inwards or along the z-axis by an amount per cycle in the range of equal to or greater than one thousandth of an inch per cycle and equal to or less than five thousandths of an inch per cycle according to another example. The ratchet mechanism is configured to move the sharpening stone radially inwards or along the z-axis by an amount per cycle in the range of equal to or greater than one thousandth of an inch per cycle and equal to or less than three thousandths of an inch per cycle according to a further example. Ratchet mechanism 80 is configured to move sharpening stone 58 radially inwards or along the z-axis by an amount per cycle in the range of equal to or greater than one thousandth of an inch per cycle and equal to or less than two thousandths of an inch per cycle according to an additional non-limiting example.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is thus provided a method of sharpening cutterhead assembly 34, or blades 49 thereof. The method may include providing pathway 81 that extends two or more of longitudinally, tangentially and radially-inwards relative to the cutterhead 46. The method may include reciprocating sharpening stone 58 along the pathway so as to abut one or more distal end portions 51 or distal ends 51A of one or more blades 49 of cutterhead assembly 34. The method may include providing guide rail 64 via which sharpening stone 58 moves along pathway 81. The method may include angling the guide rail relative to axis of rotation 48 of cutterhead 46 and/or longitudinal axes 57 of blades 49. The method may include causing sharpening stone 58 to move along pathway 81 via spacer 66, which may be wedge-shaped in one non-limiting example. The method may include causing the sharpening stone to move along the pathway via linear actuator 67.

The method may include incrementally advancing sharpening stone 58 towards cutterhead assembly 34 via ratchet mechanism 80. Referring to FIG. 3, the method may include configuring the ratchet mechanism such that pawl 84 thereof engages ratchet gear 92 thereof once per cycle of reciprocation of the sharpening stone. Referring to FIGS. 6 to 7, the method may include positioning sharpening stone 58 so as to promote substantially even wear or wearing of distal end portion 59 of the sharpening stone as cutterhead assembly 34 is sharpened. Referring to FIG. 3, sharpening stone 58 may be changed or replaced after a predetermined number of cycles. This may be determined when second end portion 118 of stop 112 abuts inner side 103 of side member 104 in one non-limiting embodiment.

Many additional advantages result from the structure of the present invention. For example, cutterhead assembly 34 and sharpening apparatus 56 so configured/shaped may enable blades 49 to be sharpened outside of the planar room via a separate controller, such as a digital control device. This may result in an assembly and apparatus that is safer to operate.

Sharpening stone 58 so configured/arranged to promote even wear thereof, may last longer. Cutterhead assembly 34 and sharpening apparatus 56 so configured may result in a sharpening stone that promotes formation of blades 49 that are more true and straighter. The latter may result in less wood waste and thus may promote a greater volume of end product lumber. This may function to also keep lumber consistent along the surfaces thereof, with the lumber so planed thus being more valuable.

Cutterhead assembly 34 including sharpening apparatus 56 thereof, may be fully mechanical and thus avoid the requirements of an electric system.

FIG. 9 shows a wood planer 20.1 including a cutterhead assembly 34.1 and sharpening apparatus 56.1 thereof, according to a second aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as wood planer 20 including cutterhead assembly 34 and sharpening apparatus 56 thereof shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, with the addition of decimal extension “0.1”. Wood planer 20.1 including cutterhead assembly 34.1 and sharpening apparatus 56.1 thereof, are substantially the same as wood planer 20 including cutterhead assembly 34 and sharpening apparatus 56 thereof shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, with at least the following exceptions.

Spacer 66.1 is shaped to abut only a portion of guide rail 62.1. The spacer comprises an elongate member extending between elongate mount 52.1 and guide rail 64.1 at a location spaced from proximal end 64A.1 of the guide rail in this non-limiting example, with the spacer functioning to fix an angled positioning of the guide rail relative to the elongate mount. Spacer 66.1 may be non-wedge-shaped and in this example is block-shaped, for example. The spacer has a length that is less than that of mount 52.1 in this example. Spacer 66.1 is adjacent distal end 64B.1 of guide rail 64.1 in this non-limiting embodiment, though this is not strictly required. Alternatively, the spacer may be positioned near or adjacent end 64A.1 in other embodiments and/or between ends 64A.1 and 64B.1.

FIG. 10 shows a wood planer 20.2 including a cutterhead assembly 34.2 and sharpening apparatus 56.2 thereof, according to a third aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as wood planer 20 including cutterhead assembly 34 and sharpening apparatus 56 thereof shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, with the addition of decimal extension “0.2”. Wood planer 20.2 including cutterhead assembly 34.2 and sharpening apparatus 56.2 thereof, are substantially the same as wood planer 20 including cutterhead assembly 34 and sharpening apparatus 56 thereof shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, with at least the following exceptions.

Guide rail 64.2 is arcuate shaped in this embodiment and configured to extend along and abut second elongate surface 74.2 of spacer 66.2. The guide rail is thus outwardly concave, with sharpening apparatus 56.2 configured to move the sharpening stone along pathway 81.2 between ends 53.2 and 55.2 of blades 49.2 that is curved.

In this non-limiting embodiment, spacer 66.2 has at least one surface that is curved in this non-limiting embodiment, in this example second elongate surface 74.2. The second elongate surface of the spacer is outwardly concave at least in part in this example. However, this is not strictly required and the spacer may have a shape more similar to that shown in FIG. 9 in other embodiments, for example.

FIGS. 11 to 12 show a wood planer 20.3 including a cutterhead assembly 34.3 and sharpening apparatus 56.3 thereof, according to a fourth aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as wood planer 20 including cutterhead assembly 34 and sharpening apparatus 56 thereof shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, with the addition of decimal extension “0.3”. Wood planer 20.3 including cutterhead assembly 34.3 and sharpening apparatus 56.3 thereof, are substantially the same as wood planer 20 including cutterhead assembly 34 and sharpening apparatus 56 thereof shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, with at least the following exceptions.

As seen in FIG. 12, longitudinal axis 65.3 of guide rail 64.3 is angled relative to axis of rotation 48.3 of cutterhead 46.3 or longitudinal axes 48.3 of blades 49.3 when viewed from second perspective P2.3. The guide rail in the first x-z plane is angled relative to the x and z axes. In this example guide rail 64.3 is angled by an acute angle θ relative to axis 48.3 of cutterhead 46.3 and axis 48.3 of blades 49.3. The guide rail in this example is positioned a distance D2 from blades 49.3 adjacent ends 53.3 of the blades. Guide rail 64.3 is positioned a distance D3 from the blades adjacent ends 55.3 of the blades. Distance D3 is different from and in this non-limiting example greater than distance D2; however, this is not strictly required and distance D2 may be greater than distance D3 in other embodiments.

As seen in FIG. 11, guide rail 64.3 is angled when viewed from first perspective P1.3. The guide rail is angled in a tangential direction relative to cutterhead 46.3 and blades 49.3 in this example. Sharpening apparatus 56.3 is thus configured such that sharpening stone 58.3 is moveable per cycle along the y-axis direction or longitudinally relative to cutterhead assembly, as well as moveable along the z-axis direction or radially-inwards relative to cutterhead assembly 34.3 as seen in FIG. 12.

First longitudinal plane PR1.3 of guide rail 64.3 seen in FIG. 11 is angled by acute angle α.3 relative to first longitudinal plane PC1.3 of cutterhead 46.3. Second longitudinal plane PR2.3 of the guide rail seen in FIG. 12 is angled by acute angle θ.3 relative to second longitudinal plane PC2.3 of cutterhead 46.3 in this embodiment.

FIGS. 13 to 14 show a wood planer 20.4 including a cutterhead assembly 34.4 and sharpening apparatus 56.4 thereof, according to a fifth aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as wood planer 20.3 including cutterhead assembly 34.3 and sharpening apparatus 56.3 thereof shown in FIGS. 11 to 12, with decimal extension “0.4” replacing decimal extension “0.3” and being added for parts not previously having a decimal extension. Wood planer 20.4 including cutterhead assembly 34.4 and sharpening apparatus 56.4 thereof, are substantially the same as wood planer 20.3 including cutterhead assembly 34.3 and sharpening apparatus 56.3 thereof shown in FIGS. 11 to 12, with at least the following exceptions.

Referring to FIG. 13, in this non-limiting embodiment sharpening apparatus 56.4 is provided with no spacer. Guide rail 64.4 extends substantially parallel to cutterhead assembly 34.4 (including mount 52.4 thereof) when viewed from first perspective P1.4 seen in FIG. 13. The guide rail is thus not angled within the first x-y plane relative to the x and y axes; rather the guide rail extends substantially along or parallel to the x axis from the perspective of FIG. 13.

First longitudinal plane PR1.4 of guide rail 64.4 seen in FIG. 13 extends parallel to first longitudinal plane PC1.4 of cutterhead 46.4 in this embodiment. Second longitudinal plane PR2.4 of the guide rail seen in FIG. 14 is angled by acute angle θ.4 relative to second longitudinal plane PC2.4 of cutterhead 46.4 in this example.

FIG. 15 shows a wood planer 20.5 including a cutterhead assembly 34.5 and sharpening apparatus 56.5 thereof, according to a sixth aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as wood planer 20 including cutterhead assembly 34 and sharpening apparatus 56 thereof shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, with the addition of decimal extension “0.5”. Wood planer 20.5 including cutterhead assembly 34.5 and sharpening apparatus 56.5 thereof, are substantially the same as wood planer 20 including cutterhead assembly 34 and sharpening apparatus 56 thereof shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, with at least the following exceptions.

Spacer 66.5 in this embodiment is integrally formed with and a part of guide rail 64.5. The guide rail is thus tapered at least in part in this embodiment, with end 64B.5 thereof being thicker than end 64A.5 thereof. Guide rail 64.5 may thus be said to be wedge-shaped and substantially a triangular prism in shape in this non-limiting embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows a wood planer 20.6 including a cutterhead assembly 34.6 and sharpening apparatus 56.6 thereof, according to a seventh aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as wood planer 20 including cutterhead assembly 34 and sharpening apparatus 56 thereof shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, with the addition of decimal extension “0.6”. Wood planer 20.6 including cutterhead assembly 34.6 and sharpening apparatus 56.6 thereof, are substantially the same as wood planer 20 including cutterhead assembly 34 and sharpening apparatus 56 thereof shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, with at least the following exceptions.

In this non-limiting embodiment, no spacer is provided. Rather, elongate mount 52.6 (or upper surface 52A.6 thereof) is angled and guide rail 64.6 extends thereon. In addition or alternatively, there may be said to include a spacer 66.6 integrally formed with and a part of the elongate mount. Mount 52.6 may be said to be tapered, wedge-shaped and substantially a triangular prism at least in part. Housing 50.6 of cutterhead assembly 34.6 to which cutterhead 46.6 rotatably couples about axis of rotation 48.6, may thus be said to have surface 52A.6 along which guide rail 64.6 extends, with said surface being angled relative to the axis of rotation.

FIG. 17 shows a wood planer 20.7 including a cutterhead assembly 34.7 and sharpening apparatus 56.7 thereof, according to an eighth aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as wood planer 20 including cutterhead assembly 34 and sharpening apparatus 56 thereof shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, with the addition of decimal extension “0.7”. Wood planer 20.7 including cutterhead assembly 34.7 and sharpening apparatus 56.7 thereof, are substantially the same as wood planer 20 including cutterhead assembly 34 and sharpening apparatus 56 thereof shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, with at least the following exceptions.

In this non-limiting embodiment, spacer 66.7 is positioned in reverse of that shown for spacer 66 in FIG. 2, with ends 68.7 and 70.7 being at opposite locations. Sharpening apparatus 56.7 is configured to move sharpening stone 58.7 downwards relative to FIG. 17 when moving from right to left from the perspective of FIG. 17.

The various embodiments set out as herein for positioning sharpening member 58/58.1/58.2/58.3/58.4/58.5/58.6/58.7 so as to promote substantially uniform wear on distal end portion 59/59.1/59.2/59.3/59.4/59.5/59.6/59.7 thereof may be individually or collectively referred to as a positioning means for the sharpening member.

It will be appreciated that many variations are possible within the scope of the invention described herein. For example, the cutterhead assemblies and sharpening apparatuses as herein described have been directed to and been described as part of a lumber planing machine. However, this is not strictly required, and the sharpening apparatuses as herein described may used for any cylindrical cutterhead or cutter which includes knives or blades that periodically require sharpening.

Where a component (e.g. an apparatus, member, assembly, device, software module, processor, circuit, etc.) is referred to herein, unless otherwise indicated, reference to that component (including a reference to a “means”) should be interpreted as including as equivalents of that component any component which performs the function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), including components which are not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented using specifically designed hardware, configurable hardware, programmable data processors configured by the provision of software (which may optionally comprise “firmware”) capable of executing on the data processors, special purpose computers or data processors that are specifically programmed, configured, or constructed to perform one or more steps in a method as explained in detail herein and/or combinations of two or more of these. Examples of specifically designed hardware are: logic circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”), large scale integrated circuits (“LSIs”), very large scale integrated circuits (“VLSIs”), and the like. Examples of configurable hardware are: one or more programmable logic devices such as programmable array logic (“PALs”), programmable logic arrays (“PLAs”), and field programmable gate arrays (“FPGAs”). Examples of programmable data processors are: microprocessors, digital signal processors (“DSPs”), embedded processors, graphics processors, math co-processors, general purpose computers, server computers, cloud computers, mainframe computers, computer workstations, and the like. For example, one or more data processors in a control circuit for a device may implement methods as described herein by executing software instructions in a program memory accessible to the processors.

Processing may be centralized or distributed. Where processing is distributed, information including software and/or data may be kept centrally or distributed. Such information may be exchanged between different functional units by way of a communications network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or the Internet, wired or wireless data links, electromagnetic signals, or other data communication channel.

The invention may also be provided in the form of a program product. The program product may comprise any non-transitory medium which carries a set of computer-readable instructions which, when executed by a data processor, cause the data processor to execute a method of the invention. Program products according to the invention may be in any of a wide variety of forms. The program product may comprise, for example, non-transitory media such as magnetic data storage media including floppy diskettes, hard disk drives, optical data storage media including CD ROMs, DVDs, electronic data storage media including ROMs, flash RAM, EPROMs, hardwired or preprogrammed chips (e.g., EEPROM semiconductor chips), nanotechnology memory, or the like. The computer-readable signals on the program product may optionally be compressed or encrypted.

In some embodiments, the invention may be implemented in software. For greater clarity, “software” includes any instructions executed on a processor, and may include (but is not limited to) firmware, resident software, microcode, code for configuring a configurable logic circuit, applications, apps, and the like. Both processing hardware and software may be centralized or distributed (or a combination thereof), in whole or in part, as known to those skilled in the art. For example, software and other modules may be accessible via local memory, via a network, via a browser or other application in a distributed computing context, or via other means suitable for the purposes described above.

Software and other modules may reside on servers, workstations, personal computers, tablet computers, and other devices suitable for the purposes described herein.

Interpretation of Terms

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims:

    • “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”;
    • “connected”, “coupled”, or any variant thereof, means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling or connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof;
    • “herein”, “above”, “below”, and words of similar import, when used to describe this specification, shall refer to this specification as a whole, and not to any particular portions of this specification;
    • “or”, in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list;
    • the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” also include the meaning of any appropriate plural forms. These terms (“a”, “an”, and “the”) mean one or more unless stated otherwise;
    • “and/or” is used to indicate one or both stated cases may occur, for example A and/or B includes both (A and B) and (A or B);
    • “approximately” when applied to a numerical value means the numerical value±10%;
    • where a feature is described as being “optional” or “optionally” present or described as being present “in some embodiments” it is intended that the present disclosure encompasses embodiments where that feature is present and other embodiments where that feature is not necessarily present and other embodiments where that feature is excluded. Further, where any combination of features is described in this application this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for the use of exclusive terminology such as “solely,” “only” and the like in relation to the combination of features as well as the use of “negative” limitation(s)” to exclude the presence of other features; and
    • “first” and “second” are used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or indicating the number of indicated technical features.

Words that indicate directions such as “vertical”, “transverse”, “horizontal”, “upward”, “downward”, “forward”, “backward”, “inward”, “outward”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “back”, “top”, “bottom”, “below”, “above”, “under”, and the like, used in this description and any accompanying claims (where present), depend on the specific orientation of the apparatus described and illustrated. The subject matter described herein may assume various alternative orientations. Accordingly, these directional terms are not strictly defined and should not be interpreted narrowly.

Where a range for a value is stated, the stated range includes all sub-ranges of the range. It is intended that the statement of a range supports the value being at an endpoint of the range as well as at any intervening value to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit of the range, as well as any subrange or sets of sub ranges of the range unless the context clearly dictates otherwise or any portion(s) of the stated range is specifically excluded. Where the stated range includes one or both endpoints of the range, ranges excluding either or both of those included endpoints are also included in the invention.

Certain numerical values described herein are preceded by “about”. In this context, “about” provides literal support for the exact numerical value that it precedes, the exact numerical value±5%, as well as all other numerical values that are near to or approximately equal to that numerical value. Unless otherwise indicated a particular numerical value is included in “about” a specifically recited numerical value where the particular numerical value provides the substantial equivalent of the specifically recited numerical value in the context in which the specifically recited numerical value is presented. For example, a statement that something has the numerical value of “about 10” is to be interpreted as: the set of statements:

    • in some embodiments the numerical value is 10;
    • in some embodiments the numerical value is in the range of 9.5 to 10.5;
      and if from the context the person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that values within a certain range are substantially equivalent to 10 because the values with the range would be understood to provide substantially the same result as the value 10 then “about 10” also includes:
    • in some embodiments the numerical value is in the range of C to D where C and D are respectively lower and upper endpoints of the range that encompasses all of those values that provide a substantial equivalent to the value 10

Specific examples of systems, methods and apparatus have been described herein for purposes of illustration. These are only examples. The technology provided herein can be applied to systems other than the example systems described above. Many alterations, modifications, additions, omissions, and permutations are possible within the practice of this invention. This invention includes variations on described embodiments that would be apparent to the skilled addressee, including variations obtained by: replacing features, elements and/or acts with equivalent features, elements and/or acts; mixing and matching of features, elements and/or acts from different embodiments; combining features, elements and/or acts from embodiments as described herein with features, elements and/or acts of other technology; and/or omitting combining features, elements and/or acts from described embodiments.

As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features which may be readily separated from or combined with the features of any other described embodiment(s) without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Any aspects described above in reference to apparatus may also apply to methods and vice versa.

Any recited method can be carried out in the order of events recited or in any other order which is logically possible. For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative examples may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative or subcombinations. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, simultaneously or at different times.

Various features are described herein as being present in “some embodiments”. Such features are not mandatory and may not be present in all embodiments. Embodiments of the invention may include zero, any one or any combination of two or more of such features. All possible combinations of such features are contemplated by this disclosure even where such features are shown in different drawings and/or described in different sections or paragraphs. This is limited only to the extent that certain ones of such features are incompatible with other ones of such features in the sense that it would be impossible for a person of ordinary skill in the art to construct a practical embodiment that combines such incompatible features. Consequently, the description that “some embodiments” possess feature A and “some embodiments” possess feature B should be interpreted as an express indication that the inventors also contemplate embodiments which combine features A and B (unless the description states otherwise or features A and B are fundamentally incompatible). This is the case even if features A and B are illustrated in different drawings and/or mentioned in different paragraphs, sections or sentences.

ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION

Examples of sharpening apparatuses and cutterhead assemblies including the same, have been described. The following clauses are offered as further description.

    • (1) A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising: a sharpening member; and a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable both longitudinally relative to a cutterhead assembly and one or more of tangentially at least in part and radially-inwards at least in part relative to the cutterhead assembly.
    • (2) A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising: a sharpening member; and a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable along two of the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis.
    • (3) A sharpening apparatus according to clause 2 or any clause herein, wherein the sharpening member is moveable along two or more said axes per one or more cycles of reciprocation thereof relative to the cutterhead assembly.
    • (4) A sharpening apparatus according to any one of clauses 1 to 3 or any clause herein, wherein the sharpening member is configured to move radially inwards or along the z-axis by an amount equal to at least one thousandth of an inch per cycle.
    • (5) A sharpening apparatus according to any one of clauses 1 to 3 or any clause herein, wherein the sharpening member is configured to move radially inwards or along the z-axis by an amount per cycle in the range of equal to or greater than one thousandth of an inch per cycle and equal to or less than one hundredth of an inch per cycle.
    • (6) A sharpening apparatus according to any one of clauses 1 to 3 or any clause herein, wherein the sharpening member is configured to move radially inwards or along the z-axis by an amount per cycle in the range of equal to or greater than one thousandth of an inch per cycle and equal to or less than five thousandths of an inch per cycle.
    • (7) A sharpening apparatus according to any one of clauses 1 to 3 or any clause herein, wherein the sharpening member is configured to move radially inwards or along the z-axis by an amount per cycle in the range of equal to or greater than one thousandth of an inch per cycle and equal to or less than three thousandths of an inch per cycle.
    • (8) A sharpening apparatus according to any one of clauses 1 to 3 or any clause herein, wherein the sharpening member is configured to move radially inwards or along the z-axis by an amount per cycle in the range of equal to or greater than one thousandth of an inch per cycle and equal to or less than two thousandths of an inch per cycle.
    • (9) A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising: a sharpening member; and a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable longitudinally as well as radially-inwards at least in part relative to the cutterhead assembly.
    • (10) A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising: a sharpening member; and a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable along both the x-axis and y-axis.
    • (11) A sharpening apparatus according to clause 2 or any clause herein, wherein the sharpening member is moveable along both the x-axis and y-axis per one or more cycles of reciprocation of the sharpening member relative to the cutterhead assembly.
    • (12) A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising: a sharpening member; and a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable longitudinally as well as radially-inwards at least in part relative to the cutterhead assembly.
    • (13) A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising: a sharpening member; and a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable along both the x-axis and z-axis.
    • (14) A sharpening apparatus according to clause 2 or any clause herein, wherein the sharpening member is moveable along both the x-axis and z-axis per one or more cycles of reciprocation of the sharpening member relative to the cutterhead assembly.
    • (15) A sharpening apparatus according to any clause, wherein the sharpening member reciprocates, has a height and is moveable tangential to the cutterhead assembly a distance substantially equal to the height of the sharpening member per one or more predetermined cycles of reciprocation.
    • (16) A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising: a sharpening member; a guide member via which the sharpening member reciprocates; and a ratchet mechanism via which the sharpening member is incrementally moved laterally relative to the guide member.
    • (17) A sharpening apparatus according to clause 16 or any clause herein, wherein the ratchet mechanism includes a ratchet gear coupled to a first of the sharpening member and the guide member, and wherein the ratchet mechanism includes a pawl pivotally coupled to a second of the sharpening member and the guide member.
    • (18) A sharpening apparatus according to clause 17 or any clause herein, wherein the pawl is configured to incrementally rotate the ratchet gear per one or more cycles of reciprocation of the sharpening member.
    • (19) A sharpening apparatus according to any one of clauses 17 to 18 or any clause herein, wherein the ratchet gear is configured to rotate per cycle of reciprocation of the sharpening member, in the range of greater than 0 degrees and equal to or less than 2 degrees.
    • (20) A sharpening apparatus according to any one of clauses 17 to 18 or any clause herein, wherein the ratchet gear is configured to rotate per cycle of reciprocation of the sharpening member, in the range of greater than 0 degrees and equal to or less than 1 degrees.
    • (21) A sharpening apparatus according to any one of clauses 17 to 18 or any clause herein, wherein the ratchet gear is configured to rotate per cycle of reciprocation of the sharpening member, in the range of greater than 0 degrees and equal to or less than 0.5 degrees.
    • (22) A sharpening apparatus according to any one of clauses 17 to 18 or any clause herein, wherein the ratchet gear is configured to rotate by about 0.5 degrees per cycle of reciprocation of the sharpening member.
    • (23) A sharpening apparatus according to any preceding clause or clause herein, including a linear actuator configured to reciprocate the sharpening member along the guide member.
    • (24) A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising: a sharpening member; a first actuator configured to move the sharpening member longitudinally relative to the cutterhead assembly; and a second actuator configured to incrementally move the sharpening member radially-inwards at least in part relative to the cutterhead assembly, whereby actuation of the second actuator is a function of or proportional to actuation of the first actuator.
    • (25) A sharpening apparatus according to any preceding clause or clause herein, wherein the sharpening member slidably couples to the guide member.
    • (26) A sharpening apparatus according to any clause herein, wherein the sharpening member is moveable along a pathway determined by one or more of i) the guide member and ii) the angle at which the guide member is positioned and extends relative to the cutterhead assembly.
    • (27) A sharpening apparatus according to any clause herein, including an adjustment mechanism via which the positioning of the guide member relative to the cutterhead assembly (or a cutterhead thereof) is selectively adjustable.
    • (28) A sharpening apparatus according to any clause herein, including an adjustment mechanism via which angling of the guide member relative to the cutterhead assembly (or a cutterhead thereof) is selectively adjustable.
    • (29) A sharpening apparatus according to any clause herein, including a locking mechanism which when engaged inhibits movement the guide rail relative to the cutterhead assembly.
    • (30) A sharpening apparatus according to any preceding clause or clause herein, wherein the guide member is elongate and includes a first of a female member and a male member extending therealong, and wherein the sharpening member slidably couples to the guide member via a second of the female member and male member
    • (31) A sharpening apparatus according to any preceding clause or clause herein, wherein the guide member comprises a guide rail via which the sharpening member is moveable.
    • (32) A sharpening apparatus according to any clause herein, including a spacer that alters positioning of the guide member.
    • (33) A sharpening apparatus according to clause 32 or any clause herein, wherein the spacer is tapered at least in part.
    • (34) A sharpening apparatus according to any one of clauses 32 to 33 or any clause herein, wherein the spacer is wedge-shaped.
    • (35) A sharpening apparatus according to any one of clauses 32 to 34 or any clause herein, wherein the spacer has a first planar surface and a second planar surface that is angled relative to the first planar surface thereof.
    • (36) A sharpening apparatus according to clause 35 or any clause herein, wherein the extent to which the second planar surface of the spacer is angled relative to the first planar surface of the spacer is a function of or determined by the height of the sharpening member and/or the length of one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly.
    • (37) A sharpening apparatus any one of clauses 32 to 36 or any clause herein, wherein the spacer is substantially a triangular prism in shape.
    • (38) A sharpening apparatus any one of clauses 32 to 37 or any clause herein, wherein the spacer is substantially a right triangular prism in shape.
    • (39) A sharpening apparatus any one of clauses 32 to 33 or any clause herein, wherein the spacer has at least one surface that is curved.
    • (40) A sharpening apparatus any one of clauses 32 to 33 or any clause herein, wherein the spacer has at least one surface that is outwardly concave at least in part.
    • (41) A sharpening apparatus any one of clauses 32 to 40 or any clause herein, wherein the height of the sharpening member dictates the extent to which a second end portion of the spacer is thicker than a first end portion of the spacer.
    • (42) A sharpening apparatus according to any clause herein, wherein the sharpening member comprises a sharpening stone.
    • (43) A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising: a sharpening member; and one or more actuators via which the sharpening member is moveable to sharpen distal one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly, the one or more actuators being configured to promote substantially uniform wear along a distal end portion of the sharpening member as the one or more blades are sharpened.
    • (44) A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising: a sharpening member; and a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable to abut distal edges of one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly, the guide member being configured to promote substantially uniform wear along a distal end portion of the sharpening member as the one or more blades are sharpened.
    • (45) A sharpening apparatus according to any clause herein, wherein the sharpening member automatically incrementally moves towards the cutterhead assembly.
    • (46) A sharpening apparatus according to any clause herein, wherein the sharpening member is arranged to promote uniform wearing thereof.
    • (47) A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising: a sharpening member; and one or more actuators configured to move the sharpening member along and at an angle relative to the cutterhead assembly.
    • (48) A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising: a sharpening member; and one or more actuators configured to move the sharpening member along a guide member that is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of one or more blades of the cutterhead.
    • (49) A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising: a sharpening member; and a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable, the guide member being angled relative to the longitudinal axis of one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly.
    • (50) A sharpening apparatus according to any one of clauses 48 to 49 or any other clause herein, wherein the guide member is angled by an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly.
    • (51) A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising: a sharpening member; and one or more actuators configured to move the sharpening member along a guide member that is angled relative to the axis of rotation of the cutterhead assembly.
    • (52) A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising: a sharpening member; and a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable, the guide member being angled relative to the axis of rotation of the cutterhead assembly.
    • (53) A sharpening apparatus according to any one of clauses 51 to 52 or any other clause herein, wherein the guide member is angled by an acute angle relative to the axis of rotation of the cutterhead.
    • (54) A sharpening apparatus according to any clause herein, wherein the sharpening member includes a distal end portion and has spaced-apart first and second distal edges between which the distal end portion extends, wherein the sharpening member is configured to abut one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly adjacent the first distal edge thereof when the sharpening member is positioned adjacent first ends of the one or more blades, and wherein the sharpening member is configured to abut the one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly adjacent the second edge thereof when the sharpening member is positioned adjacent one or more second ends of the one or more blades.
    • (55) A sharpening apparatus according to any one of clauses 1 to 42, or any other clause herein, the cutterhead assembly including a cutterhead and one or more blades coupled to and extending radially outwards from the cutterhead assembly, and wherein the sharpening member is positioned to selectively abut respective distal ends of the one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly.
    • (56) A sharpening apparatus comprising: a sharpening member; and a guide rail via which the sharpening member is moveable relative to a cutterhead assembly, the cutterhead assembly extending with a first longitudinal plane and a second longitudinal plane perpendicular to the first longitudinal plane thereof, and the guide rail extending within a first longitudinal plane and a second longitudinal plane that is perpendicular to the first longitudinal plane thereof, with the first longitudinal plane within which the guide rail extends being angled by an acute angle relative to the first longitudinal plane within which the cutterhead assembly extends.
    • (57) A sharpening apparatus according to clause 56 or any preceding or subsequent clause herein, wherein the second longitudinal plane within which the guide rail extends is parallel to the second longitudinal plane within which the cutterhead assembly extends.
    • (58) A sharpening apparatus according to clause 56 or any preceding or subsequent clause herein, wherein the second longitudinal plane within which the guide rail extends is angled by an acute angle relative to the second longitudinal plane within which the cutterhead assembly extends.
    • (59) A cutterhead assembly comprising a sharpening apparatus of any preceding clause or clause herein.
    • (60) In combination, one or more blades of a cutterhead assembly and a sharpening apparatus of any preceding clause or clause herein.
    • (61) In combination, a cutterhead assembly and a sharpening apparatus of any preceding clause or clause herein.
    • (62) A lumber planing machine comprising a sharpener apparatus or any preceding clause.
    • (63) A method of sharpening a cutterhead assembly, the method comprising: providing a pathway that extends two or more of longitudinally, tangentially and radially-inwards relative to the cutterhead assembly; and reciprocating a sharpening member along said pathway so as to abut one or more distal end portions of one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly.
    • (64) A method of clause 63 or any clause herein, the method including: providing a guide member via which the sharpening member moves along the pathway; and angling the guide member relative to the longitudinal axis of the cutterhead assembly.
    • (65) A method of any of clauses 63 to 64 or any clause herein, the method including: angling the guide member via a spacer that is wedge-shaped.
    • (66) A method of any of clauses 63 to 64 or any clause herein, the method including: causing the sharpening member to move along the pathway via a spacer that is outwardly concave at least in part.
    • (67) A method of any of clauses 63 to 65 or any clause herein, the method including: incrementally advancing the sharpening member towards the cutterhead assembly via a ratchet mechanism which engages once per cycle of reciprocation of the sharpening member.
    • (68) A method of any of clauses 63 to 67 or any clause herein, the method including: positioning the sharpening member so as to promote substantially even wearing of the distal end portion of the sharpening member as the cutterhead assembly is sharpened.
    • (69) Apparatus including any new and inventive feature, combination of features, or sub-combination of features as described herein.
    • (70) Methods including any new and inventive steps, acts, combination of steps and/or acts or sub-combination of steps and/or acts as described herein.

It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions, omissions, and sub-combinations as may reasonably be inferred. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims

1. A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising:

a sharpening member; and
a guide member via which the sharpening member is moveable: i) longitudinally and tangentially relative to the cutterhead assembly; or ii) longitudinally and radially-inwards relative to the cutterhead assembly.

2. A sharpening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sharpening member is configured to move incrementally towards the cutterhead assembly per one or more cycles of reciprocation back and forth thereof relative to the cutterhead assembly.

3. A sharpening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sharpening member has a height and is moveable tangential to the cutterhead assembly a distance substantially equal to the height of the sharpening member when moving from a first end to a second end of the cutterhead assembly.

4. A sharpening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sharpening member includes a distal end portion and has spaced-apart first and second distal edges between which the distal end portion extends, wherein the sharpening member is configured to abut one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly adjacent the first distal edge thereof when the sharpening member is positioned adjacent first ends of the one or more blades, and wherein the sharpening member is configured to abut the one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly adjacent the second edge thereof when the sharpening member is positioned adjacent one or more second ends of the one or more blades.

5. A sharpening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutterhead assembly extends with a first longitudinal plane and a second longitudinal plane perpendicular to the first longitudinal plane thereof, wherein the guide member extends within a first longitudinal plane and a second longitudinal plane that is perpendicular to the first longitudinal plane thereof, wherein the first longitudinal plane within which the guide member extends is angled by an acute angle relative to the first longitudinal plane within which the cutterhead assembly extends and wherein the second longitudinal plane within which the guide member extends is parallel to the second longitudinal plane within which the cutterhead assembly extends.

6. A sharpening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sharpening member is moveable along a pathway determined by one or more of i) the guide member and ii) the angle at which the guide member is positioned and extends relative to the cutterhead assembly.

7. A sharpening apparatus according to claim 1, including an adjustment mechanism via which angling of the guide member relative to the cutterhead assembly is selectively adjustable.

8. A sharpening apparatus according to claim 1, including a spacer that alters positioning of the guide member.

9. A sharpening apparatus according to claim 8, wherein one or more of:

the spacer is tapered at least in part;
the spacer is wedge-shaped or substantially a triangular prism in shape;
the spacer has a first planar surface and a second planar surface that is angled relative to the first planar surface thereof, with the extent to which the second planar surface of the spacer is angled relative to the first planar surface of the spacer being a function of or determined by the height of the sharpening member and/or the length of one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly; and
the height of the sharpening member dictates the extent to which a second end portion of the spacer is thicker than a first end portion of the spacer.

10. A sharpening apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the guide member has a proximal end and a distal end spaced-apart from the proximal end thereof and wherein the spacer is one or more of: spaced-apart from the proximal end of the guide member; and positioned between the ends of the guide member.

11. A sharpening apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the guide member extends along a surface of the spacer and wherein said surface of the spacer is outwardly concave.

12. A sharpening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is one or more of: tapered at least in part; wedge-shaped; and substantially a triangular prism in shape.

13. A cutterhead assembly comprising:

the sharpening apparatus of claim 1;
a cutterhead; and
a housing to which the cutterhead rotatably couples about an axis of rotation, wherein the housing has a surface along which the guide member extends and wherein said surface of the housing is angled relative to the axis of rotation.

14. A method of sharpening a cutterhead assembly using the sharpening apparatus of claim 1, the method comprising:

providing a pathway that extends two or more of longitudinally, tangentially and radially-inwards relative to the cutterhead assembly;
reciprocating the sharpening member along said pathway so as to abut one or more distal end portions of one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly; and
positioning the sharpening member so as to promote substantially even wearing of the distal end portion of the sharpening member as the cutterhead assembly is sharpened.

15. A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising:

a sharpening member;
a guide member via which the sharpening member reciprocates; and
a ratchet mechanism via which the sharpening member is incrementally moved laterally relative to the guide member.

16. A sharpening apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the ratchet mechanism includes a ratchet gear coupled to a first of the sharpening member and the guide member, and wherein the ratchet mechanism includes a pawl pivotally coupled to a second of the sharpening member and the guide member, with the pawl being configured to incrementally rotate the ratchet gear per one or more cycles of reciprocation of the sharpening member.

17. A sharpening apparatus for a cutterhead assembly, the apparatus comprising:

a sharpening member; and
one or more actuators via which the sharpening member is moveable to sharpen distal one or more blades of the cutterhead assembly, the one or more actuators being configured to promote substantially uniform wear along a distal end portion of the sharpening member as the one or more blades are sharpened.

18. A sharpening apparatus according to claim 17, including a first said actuator configured to move the sharpening member longitudinally relative to the cutterhead assembly and including a second said actuator configured to incrementally move the sharpening member radially-inwards at least in part relative to the cutterhead assembly, whereby actuation of the second actuator is a function of or proportional to actuation of the first actuator.

19. A sharpening apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the one or more actuators are configured to move the sharpening member along and at an angle relative to the cutterhead assembly.

20. A sharpening apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the cutterhead assembly has an axis of rotation and wherein the one or more actuators are configured to move the sharpening member along a guide member that is angled relative to the axis of rotation of the cutterhead assembly.

Patent History
Publication number: 20240326194
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 26, 2024
Publication Date: Oct 3, 2024
Applicant: Murray Latta Progressive Machine Inc. (Surrey)
Inventors: Kian BAHAIE (Surrey), Scott CARLE (Surrey)
Application Number: 18/616,607
Classifications
International Classification: B24B 3/38 (20060101);