US Patent:
20180236623, Aug 23, 2018
Inventors:
- Amarillo TX, US
Lynn Sarcione - Austin TX, US
Russell Aldridge - Austin TX, US
Marc Christenson - Austin TX, US
Mathius Jules - Pflugerville TX, US
Joshua Bennett - Tucson AZ, US
International Classification:
B24B 3/40
B24B 49/12
B24B 49/16
B24B 41/06
B24B 53/007
Abstract:
An apparatus, system, and a method for sharpening a cutting tool. The system sharpens cutting tools by manipulating the tool, measuring the three dimensional profile of the tool, and then grinding the tool. The apparatus consists of a robot capable of six degrees of motion, a gripping mechanism, a force-torque sensor capable of at least two directions of force and/or torque, a three dimensional scanning subsystem, a loading subsystem, a user interface, an initial orientation scan subsystem, a data processing and robot control subsystem, and at least one grinding system comprising two counter-rotating grinding wheels. The method automates the grinding process so that dull cutting tools can be placed into the loading system, sharpened by the system, and then ejected fully honed.