(57) 0 A method and apparatus for sharpening knives, blades, and the like utilizing a
rotating displaceable abrasive disk where the abrading force on the knife cutting
edge facet in parallel contact with the surface of the disk perpendicular to its axis
of rotation is controlled by a biasing means such as a spring or equivalent, the position
of the cutting edge facet on the disk is established by two appropriate stops contiguous
to the disk and the angle between the principal plane of the disk and the face of
the knife is controlled precisely so as to accommodate knives of different thickness
and shape. Magnetic means to control the angle are claimed. Methods and apparatus
include sequential steps that utilize one or more orbiting abrasive surfaces together
with an abrasive disk sharpener where in each step there is a guide, preferably magnetic,
to control the sharpening angle and where the angle is progressively greater in those
sharpening steps where the orbiting abrasive elements are employed. Also claimed are
means in a disk sharpener to prevent accidental contact of the face of the blade with
the moving abrasive surface.
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