In one aspect, a method of preparing a meat skinner blade is provided which includes: abrading an upper edge of a steel strip to form an angularly-offset two-facet blade edge; and, honing the two-facet blade edge of the steel strip to impart a vertical taper along the two facets of the two-facet blade edge. Advantageously, the subject invention provides a blade for meat skinning, de-membraning, and derinding having, in use, a downwardly-turned edge with vertical tapering. This provides for a robust design capable for more cuts, and, thus, longer use life, than standard meat skinner blades.

In one aspect, a method of preparing a meat skinner blade is provided which includes: abrading an upper edge of a steel strip to form an angularly-offset two-facet blade edge; and, honing the two-facet blade edge of the steel strip to impart a vertical taper along the two facets of the two-facet blade edge. Advantageously, the subject invention provides a blade for meat skinning, de-membraning, and derinding having, in use, a downwardly-turned edge with vertical tapering. This provides for a robust design capable for more cuts, and, thus, longer use life, than standard meat skinner blades.

A method of optimizing a manufacturing process or a blade array of a razor cartridge using spatial information for a tip portion of a razor blade comprises the steps of: measuring, using an atomic force microscope including a probe having a high aspect ratio of a length to a half side angle and a probe tip with a radius less than a radius of an ultimate tip of the tip portion of the razor blade, the spatial information by traversing the probe across the tip portion of the razor blade; analyzing, by one or more processors, the spatial information as measured by the atomic force microscope, to determine one or more blade characteristics; and using the blade characteristics to adjust the manufacturing process to improve a design of the razor blade or to adjust a design characteristic of the blade array to improve a design of the razor cartridge.

A method of optimizing a manufacturing process or a blade array of a razor cartridge using spatial information for a tip portion of a razor blade comprises the steps of: measuring, using an atomic force microscope including a probe having a high aspect ratio of a length to a half side angle and a probe tip with a radius less than a radius of an ultimate tip of the tip portion of the razor blade, the spatial information by traversing the probe across the tip portion of the razor blade; analyzing, by one or more processors, the spatial information as measured by the atomic force microscope, to determine one or more blade characteristics; and using the blade characteristics to adjust the manufacturing process to improve a design of the razor blade or to adjust a design characteristic of the blade array to improve a design of the razor cartridge.

A method for refurbishment of razor cartridges (10) comprises determining an identity of a consumer based on a consumer identifier associated with a razor cartridge (10) comprising at least one razor blade (20, 22, 24) and received from the consumer. The at least one razor blade is cleaned and at least a portion of the at least one razor blade is re-coated. A quality of the razor cartridge (10) following cleaning and re-coating is verified prior to packaging the razor cartridge (10) for delivery to the consumer. The delivery address for the packaged razor cartridge (10) is determined based on the identity of the consumer as determined based on the consumer identifier associated with the razor cartridge (10).

A method for refurbishment of razor cartridges (10) comprises determining an identity of a consumer based on a consumer identifier associated with a razor cartridge (10) comprising at least one razor blade (20, 22, 24) and received from the consumer. The at least one razor blade is cleaned and at least a portion of the at least one razor blade is re-coated. A quality of the razor cartridge (10) following cleaning and re-coating is verified prior to packaging the razor cartridge (10) for delivery to the consumer. The delivery address for the packaged razor cartridge (10) is determined based on the identity of the consumer as determined based on the consumer identifier associated with the razor cartridge (10).

A method for re-coating a razor blade (30) of a razor cartridge (10) comprises removing the razor blade (30) attached to a blade support (40) from a housing (20) of the razor cartridge (10). The method also comprises inducing a relative movement between a PTFE material and an edge (32) of the razor blade (30) attached to the blade support (40) to deposit PTFE onto at least a portion of a surface of the edge (32) of the razor blade (30) to form a re-coated razor blade (30) attached to the blade support (40). The method further comprises arranging the re-coated razor blade (30) attached to the blade support (40) into a housing (20) of a razor cartridge (10). A device (100, 200) for re-coating a razor blade (30) is also disclosed.

A method for re-coating a razor blade (30) of a razor cartridge (10) comprises removing the razor blade (30) attached to a blade support (40) from a housing (20) of the razor cartridge (10). The method also comprises inducing a relative movement between a PTFE material and an edge (32) of the razor blade (30) attached to the blade support (40) to deposit PTFE onto at least a portion of a surface of the edge (32) of the razor blade (30) to form a re-coated razor blade (30) attached to the blade support (40). The method further comprises arranging the re-coated razor blade (30) attached to the blade support (40) into a housing (20) of a razor cartridge (10). A device (100, 200) for re-coating a razor blade (30) is also disclosed.

A razor blade is proposed. The razor blade may include a substrate having a cutting edge formed at a tip. A thickness T4 of the substrate measured at a distance of 4 ?m from the tip may be between 1.00 ?m and 1.70 ?m. A thickness T250 of the substrate measured at a distance of 250 ?m from the tip may be between 44 ?m and 60.56 ?m, for example between 47.5 ?m and 60.56 ?m. A ratio of the T4 to the T250 may be 0.032 or less. A rate of increase in thickness in a first section in a region distanced 40 ?m to 100 ?m from the tip may be less than a rate of increase in thickness in a second section in a region distanced 100 ?m or more from the tip.

A blade-sharpening device including a plate having a base and a raised feature. At least one force applicator applies force to a blade placed over the plate deflecting the front and back of the blade toward the plate. A gap may be maintained between the front of the blade and the plate. A blade sharpening system including a blade to be sharpened associated with a support plate. The blade is pre-tensioned over a contact position on the plate. The system includes a sharpening surface for contacting a surface of the blade while the blade is held in a pre-tensioned position. A method of sharpening a blade by providing a blade to be sharpened attached to a surface of the blade to a sharpening surface.