A robotic sharpening system and method for rapidly and accurately sharpening or resharpening cutting tools is provided. The inventive system employs a robotic arm that grasps each cutting tool by its cutting blade instead of by its handle, thereby reducing flex during the sharpening process. This results in a more accurate and consistent sharpening by consistently providing an even bevel at the knife edge regardless of minor imperfections (i.e., a bend or warp) in the blade surface. In addition, it renders the system uninfluenced by the size or shape of the handle of the cutting tool.

Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting tool. In some embodiments, an abrasive endless belt is rotated in tension along a neutral plane between spaced apart first and second rollers. A guide assembly has spaced apart first and second guide surfaces which collectively converge to an intervening base surface to form a guide channel. Upon insertion of a blade of a cutting tool into the guide channel, a selected side of the blade contactingly slides against at least a selected one of the first or second guide surfaces and a first portion of a cutting edge of the blade contactingly engages the base surface to serve as a plunge depth limit stop for the blade. The endless belt is contactingly deflected by a second portion of the cutting edge away from the neutral plane to sharpen the second portion while the first portion remains in contact with the base surface.

Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting tool. In some embodiments, an abrasive endless belt is rotated in tension along a neutral plane between spaced apart first and second rollers. A guide assembly has spaced apart first and second guide surfaces which collectively converge to an intervening base surface to form a guide channel. Upon insertion of a blade of a cutting tool into the guide channel, a selected side of the blade contactingly slides against at least a selected one of the first or second guide surfaces and a first portion of a cutting edge of the blade contactingly engages the base surface to serve as a plunge depth limit stop for the blade. The endless belt is contactingly deflected by a second portion of the cutting edge away from the neutral plane to sharpen the second portion while the first portion remains in contact with the base surface.

The knife includes a handle and a blade, which is pivotably connectable with the handle and is able to pivot between an open position and a closed position. A cutting edge of the blade is fully disposed within a slot in the handle when the blade is in the closed position. Clippers are incorporated into the handle and include a first clipping piece, a second clipping piece, and a lever. The first and second clipping pieces have opposing clipping edges. The lever is configured to press one of the clipping pieces towards the other clipping piece to bring the clipping pieces together.

The knife includes a handle and a blade, which is pivotably connectable with the handle and is able to pivot between an open position and a closed position. A cutting edge of the blade is fully disposed within a slot in the handle when the blade is in the closed position. Clippers are incorporated into the handle and include a first clipping piece, a second clipping piece, and a lever. The first and second clipping pieces have opposing clipping edges. The lever is configured to press one of the clipping pieces towards the other clipping piece to bring the clipping pieces together.

An arrangement (50) for grinding edged tools, such as knives, said arrangement (50) configured to be part of a grinding machine (100), comprising a conical grinding wheel (110) arranged to be rotated in a rotational direction (R) and having an envelope grinding surface (111) for an edged tool (10), and a grinding jig (120) for holding an edged tool (10), wherein the grinding jig (120), in use, is arranged such that the edged tool (10) extends over the envelope grinding surface (111) perpendicular to the rotational direction (R).

An arrangement (50) for grinding edged tools, such as knives, said arrangement (50) configured to be part of a grinding machine (100), comprising a conical grinding wheel (110) arranged to be rotated in a rotational direction (R) and having an envelope grinding surface (111) for an edged tool (10), and a grinding jig (120) for holding an edged tool (10), wherein the grinding jig (120), in use, is arranged such that the edged tool (10) extends over the envelope grinding surface (111) perpendicular to the rotational direction (R).

Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting edge of a cutting tool, such as a kitchen knife. In some embodiments, an abrasive assembly has a frame, a handle, and a cartridge that supports a plurality of abrasive members each having an associated abrasive surface. A rod affixes the abrasive assembly to a base assembly to facilitate movement of the abrasive assembly along the cutting edge of the tool responsive to engagement, by a user, of the user handle. Each abrasive member is configured to be moved, by the user, with respect to the handle to present each abrasive surface in turn. In some cases, the cartridge is rotatable about a cartridge axis that may be parallel or non-parallel to a central axis of the rod.

The present utility model provides a cutter sharpener including a housing, a height adjusting mechanism and a cutter clamping mechanism mounted on the housing, and a grinding mechanism rotatably connected to the height adjusting mechanism. The housing includes a first mounting location, the height adjusting mechanism is movably connected to the first mounting location, the height adjusting mechanism includes a lifting body, and the lifting body can move up and down relative to the first mounting location. The cutter sharpener further includes a degree indicating mechanism fixedly connected to the lifting body.

The present utility model provides a cutter sharpener including a housing, a height adjusting mechanism and a cutter clamping mechanism mounted on the housing, and a grinding mechanism rotatably connected to the height adjusting mechanism. The housing includes a first mounting location, the height adjusting mechanism is movably connected to the first mounting location, the height adjusting mechanism includes a lifting body, and the lifting body can move up and down relative to the first mounting location. The cutter sharpener further includes a degree indicating mechanism fixedly connected to the lifting body.