Automatic Blade Holder for Consistent Skate Sharpening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sharpening apparatuses for skate blades are often manual, requiring extensive skills and resulting in varying and inconsistent sharpening results, making it difficult to achieve high-quality sharpening.
Innovation Solution
An automatic blade holder with a movable plate and motor-driven bolt system that senses the number of blades and adjusts gripping force, and shifts the vise to align a non-worn portion of the grinding belt for consistent sharpening, using a processor to determine blade count and torque thresholds, and a linear actuator for precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual sharpening apparatuses are used, then the apparatus structure is simple, but the sharpening quality is inconsistent and requires extensive operator skill
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical sharpening operations with an automated system featuring a motor-driven abrasive belt and programmable control. The motor (210) drives the abrasive belt (186) at controlled speeds, and the system automatically positions and maintains the blade holder (100) relative to the belt, eliminating the need for operator skill while ensuring consistent sharpening quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade holder incorporates automatic blade counting and positioning capabilities. The system self-adjusts the gripping force based on the number of blades detected, and automatically shifts the blade holder position after each sharpening cycle to prepare for the next batch, reducing the need for manual intervention and maintaining consistent results.
2Productivity
If the abrasive belt is used continuously without repositioning, then the sharpening process is efficient, but the belt wears out and sharpening quality degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically shifts the blade holder horizontally by a predetermined distance (equal to the blade set width W1) after each sharpening cycle. This preliminary repositioning action ensures that the next batch of blades is sharpened on a fresh, non-worn portion of the abrasive belt, maintaining consistent sharpening quality throughout extended use without requiring belt replacement.
3Reliability
If the gripping force is increased to hold multiple blades, then the blades are secured firmly, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping mechanism uses a dynamic, adjustable approach rather than a fixed complex structure. The motor-driven bolt (118) provides controllable gripping force that can be automatically adjusted based on the number of blades detected. The system maintains reliable blade holding through programmable force application rather than mechanical complexity, allowing the same mechanism to securely hold varying numbers of blades.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The automatic blade holder ensures consistent and high-quality sharpening of skate blades by automatically adjusting gripping force and aligning a new, non-worn portion of the belt for each sharpening session, extending the life of the abrasive belt and maintaining even sharpening.
Implementation Method 1
A motor is in operative engagement with the bolt. The motor rotates the bolt to move the plate towards (or away from) the fixture to grip a first set of blades until a torque threshold value is reached.
Implementation Method 2
A first grinding portion of a rotating abrasive belt is applied against the first set of blades, wherein the first set of blades has a total width W1, to sharpen the set of blades.
Implementation Method 3
The method further comprises the step of sliding a slide, attached to the vise, along a rail to shift the vise relative to the belt.
Data Source
AI summary
The blade holder has a movable plate and a fixture. A rotatable bolt in operative engagement with a block attached to the plate. A motor is in operative engagement with the bolt. The motor rotates the bolt to move the plate towards the fixture to grip a first set of blades until a torque threshold value is reached. The processor determines a number of blades included in the set of blades based on the number of rotations of the bolt. A first grinding portion of a rotating abrasive belt is applied against the set of blades (having width (W1)) to sharpen the set of blades. Sliding a vise sideways a distance (W1) until a second grinding portion is aligned on top of the second set of blades.