Ice skate blade sharpening machine

For sharpening an ice skate blade or the like, apparatus is provided including a substantially flat reference surface relative to which is mounted a frame that supports a drive motor. A flexible, endless abrasive coated belt is trained about a pulley system that is coupled to and is driven by the output shaft of the drive motor. A convex, movable platen and hold down means cooperating therewith are provided for shaping the belt to the platen. Means are provided for fixing the longitudinal centerline of the platen with respect to the reference surface. On one embodiment of the invention where the platen is movable the last mentioned means provide for moving the platen only in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the reference surface and for preventing vertical displacement of the platen. The article to be sharpened is held in a suitable jig and clamp arrangement that is positioned on the reference surface whereby the article may be brought into engagement with the abrasive portion of the belt.