Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
Automatic knife sharpening apparatus comprising: a planar glass honing plate; a honing plate positioning means to support said honing plate, said honing plate positioning means being selectively operative to position said honing plate in a one of two positions, each of said positions for maintaining the honing surface of said honing plate in a one of two parallel planes; stroking means for alternately stroking in a straight line a first and second side of a microtome knife against said honing plate positioned by said positioning means, said knife being positioned by said stroking means at a corresponding one of two predetermined angles to said plate; and a pressure means for selectively applying a substantial pressure to said knife against said honing plate including a solenoid activated forcing means for selectively generating a substantial mechanical force, and a scissors spring force transfer means for transferring said selectively generated force to said stroking means for applying substantial pressure to said knife against said honing plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
Automatic knife sharpening apparatus comprising: a planar glass honing plate; a honing plate positioning means to support said honing plate, said honing plate positioning means being selectively operative to position said honing plate in a one of two positions, each of said positions for maintaining the honing surface of said honing plate in a one of two parallel planes; stroking means for alternately stroking in a straight line a first and second side of a microtome knife against said honing plate positioned by said positioning means, said knife being positioned by said stroking means at a corresponding one of two predetermined angles to said plate; and a pressure means for selectively applying a substantial pressure to said knife against said honing plate including a solenoid activated forcing means for selectively generating a substantial mechanical force, and a scissors spring force transfer means for transferring said selectively generated force to said stroking means for applying substantial pressure to said knife against said honing plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An automatic knife sharpening apparatus as defined In claim 1 wherein said first planar glass honing plate is coated with an abrasive suspension.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An automatic knife sharpening apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said honing plate positioning means further includes a means means for repetitively translating said plate in a circular path in the principal plane of said plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An automatic knife sharpening apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the frequency of repetitive translation of said means for supporting said honing plate is independent of the frequency of said stroking means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
207 words
An improved apparatus for automatically sharpening microtome knives including an automatic microtome knife sharpening means having an abrasive-coated planar glass honing plate and a stroking means for alternately stroking in a straight line a first and second side of a microtome knife against said honing plate, said knife being positioned by said stroking means at a predetermined angle to said plate, said improvement comprising a translating honing plate support means for supporting and translating said honing plate, said support repetitively translating said plate in a circular path in the principal plane of said plate, the frequency of said repetitive translation being independent of the frequency of repetitive stroking; a solenoid activated forcing means for selectively generating a substantial mechanical force; a scissors spring force transfer means for transferring said selectively generated force to said stroking means for applying substantial pressure to said knife against said honing plate; and a support positioning means for selectively positioning said honing plate support means in a one of a plurality of positions, each of said positions for supporting said honing plate in a one of a plurality of parallel planes, said knife being positioned by said stroking means at a corresponding one of a plurality of predetermined angles to said plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
207 words
An improved apparatus for automatically sharpening microtome knives including an automatic microtome knife sharpening means having an abrasive-coated planar glass honing plate and a stroking means for alternately stroking in a straight line a first and second side of a microtome knife against said honing plate, said knife being positioned by said stroking means at a predetermined angle to said plate, said improvement comprising a translating honing plate support means for supporting and translating said honing plate, said support repetitively translating said plate in a circular path in the principal plane of said plate, the frequency of said repetitive translation being independent of the frequency of repetitive stroking; a solenoid activated forcing means for selectively generating a substantial mechanical force; a scissors spring force transfer means for transferring said selectively generated force to said stroking means for applying substantial pressure to said knife against said honing plate; and a support positioning means for selectively positioning said honing plate support means in a one of a plurality of positions, each of said positions for supporting said honing plate in a one of a plurality of parallel planes, said knife being positioned by said stroking means at a corresponding one of a plurality of predetermined angles to said plate.