Method of sharpening a blade and method of using a cutting device

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of image processing. In one form, the invention relates to image processing as applied to digital processing and/or digitization of an image and/or photo. In one particular aspect the present invention is suitable for use in computer controlled knife cutting systems. The present invention uses an auto center feature in association with the tracing of an image to provide a number of advantage.

Claims

1. A method of sharpening a blade of a knife in a knife cutting device having a planar cutting surface and using a disc shaped sharpening tool comprising a first sharpening surface and a second sharpening surface that form a generally V-shaped recess in a periphery of the disc shaped sharpening tool, the method comprising steps of: (i) in a first orientation of the disc shaped sharpening tool, applying the first sharpening surface to a first side of the blade at a first edge angle of + relative to a plane of the cutting surface while the second sharpening surface is applied to a second side of the blade, and subsequently, (ii) in a second orientation of the disc shaped sharpening tool, applying the first sharpening surface to the first side of the blade at a second edge angle of relative to the plane of the cutting surface while the second sharpening surface is applied to the second side of the blade, the first edge angle different than the second edge angle; and (iii) moving the disc shaped sharpening tool to alternate between the first and second orientations.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the steps (i) and (ii) are repeated one or more times.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first edge angle is used in the step (i) and the second edge angle is used in the step (ii), wherein the first and second edge angles are different.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first edge angle is used for both the steps (i) and (ii) and the second edge angle is used for a subsequent repetition of the step (i) or the step (ii).

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first sharpening surface and/or the second sharpening surface is applied to a length of the blade of the knife.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first sharpening surface and second sharpening surface are diagonally opposed.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein application of the first sharpening surface and the second sharpening surface to the knife results in a staggered pattern on at least part of the blade due to the alternating between the first and second orientations.

8. A method of using a cutting device, the method comprising steps of: (i) plunging a knife of the cutting device into a material, (ii) moving the knife in directions required to cut the material into a desired two dimensional shape, (iii) raising the knife out of the material, (iv) sharpening the knife using a disc shaped sharpening tool having a first sharpening surface and a second sharpening surface that form a generally V-shaped recess in a periphery of the disc shaped sharpening tool, by (iv)(a) in a first orientation of the disc shaped sharpening tool, applying the first sharpening surface to a first side of a blade of the knife at a first edge angle of + relative to a plane of the cutting surface while the second sharpening surface is applied to a second side of the blade, and subsequently, (iv)(b) in a second orientation of the disc shaped sharpening tool, applying the first sharpening surface to the first side of the blade at a second edge angle of relative to the plane of the cutting surface while the second sharpening surface is applied to the second side of the blade, the first edge angle different than the second edge angle; and (iv)(c) moving the disc shaped sharpening tool to alternate between the first and second orientations; wherein the sharpening tool is applied to the knife during operation of the knife cutting device.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the steps (i) to (iv) are repeated at least once.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein the first sharpening surface and/or the second sharpening surface is applied to a length of the blade of the knife.

11. The method according to claim 8 wherein the first sharpening surface and second sharpening surface are diagonally opposed.

12. The method according to claim 8 wherein application of the first sharpening surface and the second sharpening surface to the knife results in a staggered pattern on at least part of the blade due to the alternating between the first and second orientations.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further disclosure, objects, advantages and aspects of preferred and other embodiments of the present application may be better understood by those skilled in the relevant art by reference to the following description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the disclosure herein, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an automatic knife cutting system of the type relevant to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a representation of a digital image captured by a camera;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates scaling of an image;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates initial tracing of an image;

(6) FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate further tracing of the image;

(7) FIG. 7 illustrates a digitised shape;

(8) FIG. 8 illustrates the trace, with background image removed,

(9) FIG. 9 illustrates the present invention as applied to digitising patterns for cutting manually on a CNC cutter OR plotting the patterns for hand cutting;

(10) FIG. 10 illustrates the cutting tool of the present invention applied in one orientation to the blade of the knife (FIG. 10a) and the alternative orientation (FIG. 10b);

(11) FIGS. 11a-d illustrate the motion of the sharpening tool of the present invention relative to a knife; and

(12) FIGS. 12a-d illustrate the sharpening routine from different perspectives.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) FIG. 1 illustrates an automatic knife cutting system of the type relevant to the present invention. In this illustration can be seen the cutting table 1 having a moveable arm 2 on which is mounted the cutting head 3 bearing the knife 4. The material to be cut is laid flat on the surface of the cutting table 1, underneath the cutting head 3. The normal sequence in the automatic knife cutting process consists of (1) plunging the knife into the material to be cut, (2) moving the knife in the directions required to cut the material into the desired two dimensional shape, and (3) raising the knife out of the material in preparation for the next cutting sequence. The knife is kept sharp by periodically applying a sharpening tool having a surface composed of material that is harder (measured on the Mohr scale) than the composition of the surface of the blade being sharpened.

(14) The automatic knife cutting system moves in three dimensionthe cutting arm 3 moving the knife in the direction of the X and Y axes to give the two dimensional path of the shape to be cut. The cutting head 3 is adapted to move the knife 4 in the direction of the Z axis and to rotate the knife so that the cutting edge of the knife blade is tangential, or approximately tangential to the path of the desired shape to be cut. When the knife is plunged down into the material to be cut, the material on the cutting surface of the table is made available to the knife 4 by virtue of movement of the cutting arm 3 in the directions of the X and Y axes. The knife will then move in a tangential or approximately tangential direction steered so that it followed the two dimensional shapes required. During the cutting process the knife 4 is reciprocating, providing the slicing action required to cut the material.

(15) With reference to FIGS. 2 to 9, reference is made to two dimensional shapes. The present invention, however, is not to be limited only to two dimensional shapes.

(16) Initially, a digital image is captured for example by a camera or other suitable image capturing means and is entered into the system of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a representation 10 of a scanned digital image captured by a digital camera. Preferably, when the image is first scanned, an elastic ruler 11 is displayed in a default location. The ruler can be located anywhere or perhaps there can be a button pressed to expose the ruler.

(17) A reference to scaling of the image 10 may be set as illustrated in FIG. 3. This can be accomplished by dragging the ends of a ruler line 11 on the screen, across the displayed digital image thereby creating two reference points (shown as points 12 & 13 in FIG. 3). The distance between the points 12, 13 may be a known distance, calculated by the system or input by the user. Thus the distance and scale may be set by fixed markings that may be referenced manually or automatically or by a scaling ruler. The scaling ruler may be moved to points that have a known length. The length may be entered (lower left) 14 and the scale is set. Scaling should not be limited to a manual operation as it is possible for the scale to be set automatically.

(18) The scaled image is entered as a background into the present invention. It is possible that the image is be entered into the present invention and scaled at any later time. The required pattern image is now to be digitised manually by software tools as shown.

(19) With reference to FIG. 4, the process of tracing the input image may commence by a user clicking at a first point 1, and then clicking on a second point 2. This serves to trace the line between points 1 and 2 as an input to the present invention as a captured representation of the digital image. Also, after point 2 is clicked, the present invention will then substantially centre the displayed image relative to point 2.

(20) Although the trace illustrated in the drawings is a series of straight lines, the present invention may trace any shaped line between points. The line may be straight, curved or otherwise, and/or may be set and/or adjusted by the user.

(21) With reference to FIG. 5, the process of tracing can continue with the user next clicking on point 3. This serves to trace the line between points 2 and 3 as an input to the present invention as a captured representation of the digital image. Also, after point 3 is clicked, the present invention will then substantially centre the displayed image relative to point 3.

(22) Again, but referring to FIG. 6, the process of tracing can continue with the user next clicking on point 4. This serves to trace the line between points 3 and 4 as an input to the present invention as a captured representation of the digital image. Also, after point 4 is clicked, the present invention will then substantially centre the displayed image relative to point 4.

(23) This continues until the shape has been digitised, as is represented in FIG. 7. In accordance with the present invention, as image of FIG. 7 is traced, the points (dots) 15 representing clicks will have been centred in the display, thus allowing the user to trace around the image without the necessity to move the image manually as is required with the prior art. This allows for the image to be moved automatically so that the next point can be digitised.

(24) FIG. 8 illustrates the trace with numerous dots following the outline of the traced image, with background image removed.

(25) FIG. 9 illustrates the present invention as applied to digitising patterns for cutting manually on a CNC cutter OR plotting the patterns for hand cutting.

(26) The auto-centering feature is now described. A 2D display area (for example a computer screen) with X coordinate ranging from 0 to W pixels and Y coordinate ranging from 0 to H pixels may be used to display a representation of an image. The centre of the display area is deemed to correspond to the coordinates (Cx, Cy) units. Distance in pixels is deemed to be related to distance in the real-world by a scale S pixels per unit. In one embodiment, Cx and Cy are in mm, and the scale is pixels per mm.

(27) In determining the real-world position corresponding to a mouse click, represented by pixel (Mx,My), the following logic is applied. The corresponding real world (x,y) position is taken as a scaled offset from the centre of the display area. Considering the x axis first, the centre pixel is at 0.5W (half the width of the display area). The offset of the mouse click from the centre is Mx0.5W pixels. The corresponding a real world distance is (Mx0.5W)/S mm, and this is an offset from the known centre of the display. A similar line of reasoning applies to the Y axis. So the corresponding real-world position (X,Y) is where
X=Cx+(Mx0.5W)/S
Y=Cy+(My0.5H)/S

(28) In a common situation where My increases down the screen rather than upwards, the equation for Y changes to
Y=Cy(My0.5H)/S

(29) In adapting the above determination of the position of a mouse click to provide auto-centering, the clicked position (X,Y) is adopted as a centre point by setting
Cx=X
Cy=Y
and redrawing the display. The click position will now appear at the centre of the display area, ready for another mouse click.

(30) The particular products shapes and materials produced by use of the present invention are many and varied, and the scope of the present invention should not be limited to only those illustrated in this specification.

(31) With reference to the knife sharpening improvement of the present invention, in one preferred embodiment the sharpening tool 20 is disk shaped includes a first sharpening surface 22 and a second sharpening surface 24 that form a V-shaped recess in the edge of the sharpening tool 20. The knife 26 has a first side 28 and a second side 30 which meet to form a blade to be sharpened. As shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b, the sharpening tool sharpens the knife by engaging the blade of the knife at an angle (). The cutting tool of the present invention is shown applied in one orientation to the blade of the knife (FIG. 10a) and in an alternate orientation (FIG. 10b) and can alternate between these two orientations in a random manner, or according to a predetermined sequence.

(32) Specifically, FIG. 10a shows the first sharpening surface 22 being applied to the first side 28 of the blade while the second sharpening surface 24 is applied to the second side 30 of the blade. FIG. 10b shows the first sharpening surface 22 being applied to the second side 30 of the blade while the second sharpening surface 24 is applied to the first side 28 of the blade. The improvement in the knife sharpening system according to the present invention is based on the realisation of the advantage in alternating the sharpening tool as shown from FIGS. 10a to 10b. The sharpening tool angle may be automatically changed randomly or alternatively in a specified sequence.

(33) FIG. 11 illustrates the motion of a generally disk shaped sharpening tool 30 according to the present invention relative to a knife 32 having a blade 34. Specifically FIG. 11a illustrates the knife 32 of a cutting head (not shown) in the lowered, cutting position when into the material (not shown). FIG. 11b illustrates the sharpening tool 30 rotating about an axle 36 and moving in the direction of the X-axis to engage the upper part of the blade 34 at the desired angle () for sharpening. The knife 32 is then automatically lifted in the direction of the Z-axis. FIG. 11c illustrates the knife 32 in the fully lifted position, the sharpening tool 30 having run along the length of the blade 34. The sharpening tool 30 then moves in the direction of the X-axis to disengage from the blade 34. FIG. 11d illustrates the knife 32 disengaged from the sharpening tool 30.

(34) FIG. 12 illustrates the position of a sharpening tool 40 at various times in the sharpening routine and from different perspectives. FIG. 12a shows the V-shaped recesses of the sharpening tool at angle () relative to the blade 42 of the knife 44. A first sharpening surface 46 is applied to a first side 48 of the blade 42 while the second sharpening surface 50 is applied to the second side 52 of the blade 42. FIG. 12b indicates the points 54,56 at which the first sharpening surface 46 and the second sharpening surface 50 contact respective sides of the blade 42.

(35) FIGS. 12c and 12d illustrate the knife 44 of FIG. 12a viewed in the direction y-y and y-y respectively. These views illustrate the staggered sharpening pattern on the knife 44 (the sharpened areas being indicated by the diagonal lines along the edge of the blade 42 of the knife 44. When the sharpening tool is a disk it is preferably rotating as it contacts the blade so that fresh parts of the sharpening surfaces are continually exposed during the sharpening process.

(36) While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification(s). This application is intended to cover any variations uses or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth.

(37) As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above described embodiments are not to limit the present invention unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative only and not restrictive.

(38) Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention and appended claims. Therefore, the specific embodiments are to be understood to be illustrative of the many ways in which the principles of the present invention may be practiced. In the following claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover structures as performing the defined function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. For example, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface to secure wooden parts together, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw are equivalent structures.

(39) Various embodiments of the invention may be embodied in many different forms, including computer program logic for use with a processor (e.g., a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, or general purpose computer and for that matter, any commercial processor may be used to implement the embodiments of the invention either as a single processor, serial or parallel set of processors in the system and, as such, examples of commercial processors include, but are not limited to Merced, Pentium, Pentium II, Xeon, Celeron, Pentium Pro, Efficeon, Athlon, AMD and the like), programmable logic for use with a programmable logic device (e.g., a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other PLD), discrete components, integrated circuitry (e.g., an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)), or any other means including any combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, predominantly all of the communication between users and the server is implemented as a set of computer program instructions that is converted into a computer executable form, stored as such in a computer readable medium, and executed by a microprocessor under the control of an operating system.

(40) Computer program logic implementing all or part of the functionality where described herein may be embodied in various forms, including a source code form, a computer executable form, and various intermediate forms (e.g., forms generated by an assembler, compiler, linker, or locator). Source code may include a series of computer program instructions implemented in any of various programming languages (e.g., an object code, an assembly language, or a high-level language such as Fortran, C, C++, JAVA, or HTML. Moreover, there are hundreds of available computer languages that may be used to implement embodiments of the invention, among the more common being Ada; Algol; APL; awk; Basic; C; C++; Conol; Delphi; Eiffel; Euphoria; Forth; Fortran; HTML; Icon; Java; Javascript; Lisp; Logo; Mathematica; MatLab; Miranda; Modula-2; Oberon; Pascal; Perl; PL/I; Prolog; Python; Rexx; SAS; Scheme; sed; Simula; Smalltalk; Snobol; SQL; Visual Basic; Visual C++; Linux and XML.) for use with various operating systems or operating environments. The source code may define and use various data structures and communication messages. The source code may be in a computer executable form (e.g., via an interpreter), or the source code may be converted (e.g., via a translator, assembler, or compiler) into a computer executable form.

(41) The computer program may be fixed in any form (e.g., source code form, computer executable form, or an intermediate form) either permanently or transitorily in a tangible storage medium, such as a semiconductor memory device (e.g, a RAM, ROM, PROM, EEPROM, or Flash-Programmable RAM), a magnetic memory device (e.g., a diskette or fixed disk), an optical memory device (e.g., a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM), a PC card (e.g., PCMCIA card), or other memory device. The computer program may be fixed in any form in a signal that is transmittable to a computer using any of various communication technologies, including, but in no way limited to, analog technologies, digital technologies, optical technologies, wireless technologies (e.g., Bluetooth), networking technologies, and inter-networking technologies. The computer program may be distributed in any form as a removable storage medium with accompanying printed or electronic documentation (e.g., shrink wrapped software), preloaded with a computer system (e.g., on system ROM or fixed disk), or distributed from a server or electronic bulletin board over the communication system (e.g., the Internet or World Wide Web).

(42) Hardware logic (including programmable logic for use with a programmable logic device) implementing all or part of the functionality where described herein may be designed using traditional manual methods, or may be designed, captured, simulated, or documented electronically using various tools, such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), a hardware description language (e.g., VHDL or AHDL), or a PLD programming language (e.g., PALASM, ABEL, or CUPL). Hardware logic may also be incorporated into display screens for implementing embodiments of the invention and which may be segmented display screens, analogue display screens, digital display screens, CRTs, LED screens, Plasma screens, liquid crystal diode screen, and the like.

(43) Programmable logic may be fixed either permanently or transitorily in a tangible storage medium, such as a semiconductor memory device (e.g., a RAM, ROM, PROM, EEPROM, or Flash-Programmable RAM), a magnetic memory device (e.g., a diskette or fixed disk), an optical memory device (e.g., a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM), or other memory device. The programmable logic may be fixed in a signal that is transmittable to a computer using any of various communication technologies, including, but in no way limited to, analog technologies, digital technologies, optical technologies, wireless technologies (e.g., Bluetooth), networking technologies, and internetworking technologies. The programmable logic may be distributed as a removable storage medium with accompanying printed or electronic documentation (e.g., shrink wrapped software), preloaded with a computer system (e.g., on system ROM or fixed disk), or distributed from a server or electronic bulletin board over the communication system (e.g., the Internet or World Wide Web).

(44) Comprises/comprising and includes/including when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. Thus, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words comprise, comprising, includes, including 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.