Systems and methods for conditioning blades

Abstract

Systems and methods for conditioning blades are provided. A method may include, for example, obtaining a cutting device, measuring various characteristics of the cutting edge of the cutting device, creating a current edge profile based on the characteristics, creating a modified edge profile, and/or conditioning the blade. Conditioning may include grinding, buffing and/or polishing. One or more of the conditioning steps may be based on the modified edge profile.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for conditioning blades, the method comprising:
 gripping a cutting device comprising a blade;   orienting the blade for measurement by a first measurement device, wherein the first measuring device measures a thickness of the blade;   orienting the blade for measurement by a second measurement device, wherein the second measuring device measures a width and a length of the blade;   creating, using a processor, a current edge profile based on the width, thickness and length measurements, the current edge profile comprising X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis data points for the blade; and   conditioning the blade.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein orienting the blade for measurement by the first measurement device occurs before orienting the blade for measurement by the second measurement device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein orienting the blade for measurement by the first measurement device occurs after orienting the blade for measurement by the second measurement device. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first measuring device further measures the width and the length of the blade. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising adjusting, using a processor, the current edge profile to a modified edge profile, and wherein conditioning of the blade is based on the modified edge profile. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein adjusting the current edge profile to the modified edge profile comprises deleting X-axis data points which correspond to defects. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein adjusting the current edge profile to the modified edge profile further comprises adding substitute X-axis data points to replace the deleted X-axis data points. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein adjusting the current edge profile to the modified edge profile comprises comparing the thickness to a predetermined maximum thickness. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein conditioning the blade comprises grinding a cutting edge of the blade. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein conditioning the blade comprises thinning a cutting edge of the blade. 
     
     
         31 . A method for conditioning blades, the method comprising:
 gripping a cutting device comprising a blade;   orienting the blade for measurement by a first measurement device and a second measurement device;   measuring, by the first measuring device and the second measurement device, a width, length, and thickness of the blade;   determining, based on the thickness of the blade, whether thinning of the blade is required; and   conditioning the blade.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein determining whether thinning of the blade is required comprises comparing the thickness to a predetermined maximum thickness. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising creating, using a processor, a current edge profile based on the width, thickness and length measurements, the current edge profile comprising X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis data points for the blade. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising adjusting, using a processor, the current edge profile to a modified edge profile, and wherein conditioning of the blade is based on the modified edge profile. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein conditioning the blade comprises grinding a cutting edge of the blade. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein conditioning the blade comprises thinning a cutting edge of the blade.