Old Style Knife Wiper
There are quite a number of the old style knife wipers still in use. This knife wiper is operated by a latch rod on the first elevator lever. This rod comes in contact with a latch on the knife wiper bar, on its downward stroke, and pushes the bar upward by coming in contact with the bottom of wiper bar on the upward stroke of the first elevator lever. The wiper bar should be free to move up and down in the guides, moving the brass wiper lightly over the face of the trimming knives. On the upper part of the wiper bar are two pins which prevent the bar from going too far below the knives and too high above them. A flat spring riding over the top of the bar holds it to the bottom of the guide so the brass wiper can operate properly.
The brass wiper is held to the bar with two flat head screws, and the constant passing of the wiper over the face of the sharp knives soon wears the wiper so it will break off. A new wiper must be applied or the shavings will hang to the slugs.
Never have the wiper bearing too hard on the face of the knife as the constant rubbing up and down will dull the trimming edge of the knives and wear the wiper in a short time.
Keep the knife wiper in good working condition all the time and save proofreader’s marks.
Do not forget that the knife wiper is operated by the first elevator slide. Therefore anything that prevents the free action of the wiper will interfere with the movement of the first elevator.