A pencil case and electric pencil sharpener

Abstract

The application discloses a pencil feeding box and an electric pencil sharpener and belongs to the technical field of electric pencil sharpeners. The pencil feeding box comprises an upper tooth disc, a lower tooth disc and a clutch assembly. The upper tooth disc and the lower tooth disc are coaxially sleeved. The upper tooth disc is connected with a rubber roller assembly, and the lower tooth disc is connected with a power device. The upper tooth disc can rotate relative to the lower tooth disc under stress. The clutch assembly is arranged on one side of the upper tooth disc and the lower tooth disc. The clutch assembly comprises coaxially arranged upper gears and lower gears. The bottom surface of the upper gears is connected with the top surface of the lower gears, and friction exists between the bottom surface of the upper gears and the top surface of the lower gears. The upper gears are engaged with the upper tooth disc, and the lower gears are engaged with the upper tooth disc. The pencil feeding speed can be automatically adjusted during pencil sharpening by arranging the clutch assembly, and the breaking of pencil tips can be effectively prevented.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electric pencil sharpener technology, and in particular to a pencil feed box and an electric pencil sharpener. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing popularity of electric pencil sharpeners, their application in various pencil cutting processes is becoming more and more widespread. Existing electric pencil sharpeners typically adopt a three-section structure, including a pencil feed assembly, a blade holder assembly, and a drive mechanism. During the cutting process, the motor drives the blade holder assembly to rotate through a reduction gear set, and the blade holder assembly drives the pencil feed assembly to work, realizing automatic pencil feeding and cutting.

[0003] After the cutting process, the pen tip needs to be polished to make its surface smooth (i.e., the "polishing" process). Existing technologies mainly use a delayed-action sharpening structure or a clutch control mechanism to disconnect the power supply to the pen feed assembly during the polishing stage, preventing damage to the pen tip from continuous feeding. For example, Chinese patent application "A Delayed-Action Sharpening Structure and an Automatic Pen Sharpener Having the Same," application number: CN202223397083.1, discloses a delayed-action sharpening structure comprising: a pen-blocking block; a trigger rod; an adjusting wheel abutting against the lower end of the trigger rod, and the adjusting wheel moving axially relative to the support platform between a first position and a second position; a transmission rod assembly linked to the adjusting wheel, the upper end of which has a second engaging portion, and the second engaging portion moving relative to the drive gear plate between a third position and a fourth position following the movement of the adjusting wheel. In the third position, the second engaging portion simultaneously engages with both the drive gear plate and the limiting turntable; in the fourth position, the second engaging portion remains engaged with one of the drive gear plate and the limiting turntable, and disengages from the other. This invention provides a delayed pencil sharpening structure, which utilizes the pencil feed to move a pencil stop block downwards. The pencil stop block, via a trigger rod, drives an adjusting wheel, which in turn moves a transmission rod assembly, thus disconnecting the power between the blade holder assembly and the pencil feed assembly during the sharpening process. However, these technologies primarily focus on power control during the sharpening stage, while the pencil feed speed is typically fixed throughout the entire cutting process.

[0004] As electric pencil sharpeners adapt to different materials (such as wooden and plastic pencils) and different types of pencils, the cutting speed of the roller blade will vary depending on factors such as the pencil's hardness and diameter. If the feed speed remains constant, when the cutting speed is insufficient, the pencil will be fed too much and hit the stop block, resulting in the tip breaking or incomplete cutting.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new pencil feed box structure that can dynamically adjust the feed speed throughout the cutting process to adapt to the cutting needs of different pencils, avoid pencil tip breakage, and at the same time simplify the structural design and improve reliability and practicality. Utility Model Content

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by this application is to provide a pen feed box and an electric pen sharpener, which automatically adjusts the pen feed speed during sharpening by setting a clutch component, effectively preventing pen tip breakage.

[0007] The technical solution adopted in this application is as follows: a pen feed box, including an upper gear plate, a lower gear plate, and a clutch assembly. The upper gear plate and the lower gear plate are coaxially sleeved. The upper gear plate is connected to a rubber roller assembly, and the lower gear plate is connected to a power device. The upper gear plate can rotate relative to the lower gear plate under force. The clutch assembly is located on one side of the upper and lower gear plates. The clutch assembly includes an upper gear and a lower gear coaxially arranged. The bottom surface of the upper gear is connected to the top surface of the lower gear, and there is friction between the bottom surface of the upper gear and the top surface of the lower gear. The upper gear meshes with the upper gear plate, and the lower gear meshes with the upper gear plate.

[0008] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this application are as follows: First, during pencil sharpening, the pencil feed is introduced through a rubber roller assembly. When the pencil continues to feed even when the cutting is insufficient, the resistance to feeding is relatively large. This resistance is fed back to the upper gear plate through the rubber roller assembly. When the increased feeding resistance causes the torque of the upper gear plate to exceed the friction between the upper and lower gears, the upper gear slips relative to the lower gear. Consequently, the lower gear plate rotates while the upper gear plate remains stationary, and the feeding speed decreases accordingly. This effectively avoids pencil tip breakage caused by over-feeding and automatically adapts to different pencil cutting needs.

[0009] Secondly, during pencil sharpening, the power unit transmits torque through a single path of lower gear, lower gear, upper gear, and upper gear, and achieves clutch engagement and disengagement at the upper and lower gears through friction. This eliminates the need for additional delay or disengagement mechanisms, reduces the number of parts, and improves structural reliability.

[0010] In some embodiments of this application, the lower gear includes a central shaft and an external gear, the external gear being disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the central shaft and meshing with the lower gear disc. The central shaft structure ensures that the upper and lower gears rotate coaxially, avoiding wear or jamming caused by transmission eccentricity and improving the stability and reliability of the clutch assembly.

[0011] In some embodiments of this application, the application includes a housing, and both the upper and lower ends of the central shaft are rotatably mounted on the housing. The upper gear has a through hole adapted to the central shaft, and the upper gear is sleeved on the outside of the central shaft. Mounting both ends of the central shaft on the housing effectively enhances rotational stability and prevents wobbling.

[0012] In some embodiments of this application, a linear spring is fitted around the central shaft. One end of the linear spring abuts against the housing, and the other end abuts against the top surface of the upper gear. The linear spring is in a compressed state. This application uses a linear spring to apply downward pressure to the upper gear, ensuring full connection between the upper and lower gears. The pressure of the linear spring also determines the frictional force between the upper and lower gears, ensuring precise adjustment of the transmission torque.

[0013] In some embodiments of this application, the top surface of the external gear is non-planar, and the bottom surface of the upper gear is non-planar. This non-planar design effectively increases the friction between the external gear and the upper gear.

[0014] In some embodiments of this application, the top surface of the external gear is a wavy surface, the bottom surface of the upper gear is a wavy surface, and the top surface of the external gear and the bottom surface of the upper gear are in contact. Designing the top surface of the external gear and the bottom surface of the upper gear to be wavy surfaces is a preferred structure of this application. The wavy surface design provides friction while allowing for smooth disengagement when resistance is excessive, avoiding hard jamming and achieving a flexible clutch function.

[0015] In some embodiments of this application, a washer is provided between the top surface of the external gear and the bottom surface of the upper gear. The washer is sleeved on the outside of the central shaft and is made of an elastic material. The top surface of the external gear is in contact with the bottom surface of the washer, and the bottom surface of the upper gear is in contact with the top surface of the washer. As a further preferred embodiment of this application, the friction between the upper and lower gears is further controlled by providing a washer. The smoothness of the outer surface of the washer and the elasticity of the washer material itself can directly determine the friction of the clutch assembly. The elastic washer can flexibly adjust the magnitude of the friction to adapt to the cutting needs of different pencil hardnesses, while also buffering impact forces and extending the life of the clutch assembly.

[0016] An electric pencil sharpener includes a roller cutter, a blade holder, and a pencil feed box. The roller cutter is mounted on the blade holder, and the upper gear plate is mounted on the lower gear plate. The top of the blade holder has a cylindrical structure and extends into the inner wall of the lower and upper gear plates.

[0017] In some embodiments of this application, the inner wall surface of the upper gear disk and the inner wall surface of the lower gear disk are regularly provided with a number of protrusions, and the outer peripheral surface of the top of the tool holder is regularly provided with a number of protruding ridges along the axial direction. The tool holder is connected to a rotary motor, and the rotation drives the upper gear disk and the lower gear disk to rotate through the protruding ridges and protruding rings.

[0018] In electric pencil sharpeners, a rotary motor is typically connected to a blade holder. The motor drives the entire blade holder and the hobbing cutter mounted on it to rotate, thus cutting the pencil. In this application, the rotation of the blade holder drives the lower and upper gear discs to rotate. The meshing structure of the lugs and ridges enables efficient power transmission in the circumferential direction while allowing axial relative displacement to accommodate the floating requirements of the blade holder.

[0019] In some embodiments of this application, the blade holder is mounted on the housing by a floating spring. The floating spring applies an upward thrust to the blade holder, pushing the top of the blade holder into the lower and upper gear discs. The floating spring enables the blade holder to automatically reset, ensuring reliable operation of the roller assembly during pen retraction, while also simplifying the mechanical structure.

[0020] The pencil to be cut is inserted into the rubber roller assembly. The rotary motor drives the lower and upper gear disks to rotate through the cutter holder. The rotating upper gear disk drives the rubber roller assembly to guide the pencil downward. When the pencil enters the pencil holder and comes into contact with the cutter holder, the pencil exerts a downward thrust on the cutter holder, causing the cutter holder to move downward and compress the floating spring. The top of the downward-moving cutter holder disengages from the upper gear disk. The cutter holder continues to rotate, only driving the lower gear disk to rotate. The rotating lower gear disk drives the upper gear disk to rotate through the clutch assembly.

[0021] Once the pencil has finished cutting, the pencil holder loses its downward pressure and moves upward under the action of the floating spring, with the top of the holder extending into the upper gear plate. At this point, the rotary motor reverses, causing the pencil holder, lower gear plate, upper gear plate, and rubber roller assembly to reverse as well, thus retracting the pencil.

[0022] This application achieves reliable operation of the rubber roller assembly during pencil feeding and retraction through a floating tool holder. Furthermore, it enables dynamic adjustment of the pencil feed during sharpening. The floating tool holder works in conjunction with the clutch assembly to achieve fully automatic switching between pencil feeding, sharpening, and retraction, requiring no additional electrical control intervention and reducing system complexity.

[0023] Based on common knowledge in the field, the above-described embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The present application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will understand that these drawings are drawn only for the purpose of explaining the preferred embodiments and therefore should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present application. Furthermore, unless specifically indicated, the drawings are only schematic representations of the composition or structure of the described objects and may contain exaggerated depictions, and the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this application; Figure 2 This is a top view of this application; Figure 3 for Figure 2 Sectional view of section AA; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the tool holder and the lower gear disc in the separated state in this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the clutch assembly in this application.

[0026] The specific explanations of the reference numerals in the attached drawings are as follows: 1. Upper gear plate; 2. Lower gear plate; 3. Tool holder; 4. Pen holder; 5. Rubber roller assembly; 7. Power unit; 8. Clutch assembly; 9. Upper gear; 10. Lower gear; 11. Central shaft; 12. External gear; 13. Housing; 14. Linear spring; 15. Washer; 19. Protrusion; 20. Rib; 21. Floating spring. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The present application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0029] A pen feeder, as described in Embodiment 1 Figure 1 As shown: The device includes an upper gear plate 1, a lower gear plate 2, and a clutch assembly 8. The upper gear plate 1 and lower gear plate 2 are coaxially mounted. The upper gear plate 1 is connected to a rubber roller assembly 5, and the lower gear plate 2 is connected to a power unit 7. The upper gear plate 1 can rotate relative to the lower gear plate 2 under force. During pencil sharpening, the pencil feed is introduced through the rubber roller assembly 5. When the pencil is not sufficiently sharpened but continues to feed, the resistance to the pencil feed is relatively large. This resistance is fed back to the upper gear plate 1 through the rubber roller assembly 5. The clutch assembly 8 is located on one side of the upper gear plate 1 and the lower gear plate 2. The clutch assembly 8 includes an upper gear 9 and a lower gear 10 coaxially mounted. The bottom surface of the upper gear 9 is connected to the top surface of the lower gear 10, and there is friction between the bottom surface of the upper gear 9 and the top surface of the lower gear 10. The upper gear 9 meshes with the upper gear plate 1, and the lower gear 10 meshes with the upper gear plate 1. When the increased resistance causes the torque of the upper gear 1 to exceed the friction between the upper gear 9 and the lower gear 10, the upper gear 9 slips relative to the lower gear 10. This results in the lower gear 2 rotating while the upper gear 1 remains stationary, thus reducing the feeding speed. This effectively prevents tip breakage caused by excessive feeding and automatically adapts to different pencil cutting needs.

[0030] During pencil sharpening, the power unit 7 transmits torque through a single path via the lower gear 2, lower gear 10, upper gear 9, and upper gear 1, and achieves engagement and disengagement at the upper gear 9 and lower gear 10 using frictional force, eliminating the need for additional delay or disengagement mechanisms, reducing the number of parts, and improving structural reliability.

[0031] Example 2, as Figures 1 to 2As shown, the lower gear 10 includes a central shaft 11 and an external gear 12. The external gear 12 is arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the central shaft 11 and meshes with the lower gear disk 2. The structure of the central shaft 11 ensures that the upper gear 9 and the lower gear 10 rotate coaxially, avoiding wear or jamming caused by transmission eccentricity and improving the stability and reliability of the clutch assembly 8.

[0032] This application includes a housing 13. The upper and lower ends of the central shaft 11 are rotatably mounted on the housing 13. The upper gear 9 has a through hole adapted to the central shaft 11 and is sleeved on the outside of the central shaft 11. The mounting of both ends of the central shaft 11 on the housing 13 effectively enhances rotational stability and prevents wobbling.

[0033] A linear spring 14 is fitted around the central shaft 11. One end of the linear spring 14 abuts against the housing 13, and the other end abuts against the top surface of the upper gear 9. The linear spring 14 is in a compressed state. This application uses the linear spring 14 to apply downward pressure to the upper gear 9, ensuring a full connection between the upper gear 9 and the lower gear 10. The pressure of the linear spring 14 also determines the frictional force between the upper gear 9 and the lower gear 10, ensuring precise adjustment of the transmission torque.

[0034] The top surface of the external gear 12 is non-planar, and the bottom surface of the upper gear 9 is non-planar. The non-planar design effectively increases the friction between the external gear 12 and the upper gear 9.

[0035] The top surface of the external gear 12 is a wavy surface, and the bottom surface of the upper gear 9 is a wavy surface, with the top surface of the external gear 12 and the bottom surface of the upper gear 9 in contact. Designing the top surface of the external gear 12 and the bottom surface of the upper gear 9 as wavy surfaces is the preferred structure of this application. The wavy surface design provides friction while allowing for smooth disengagement even when resistance is excessive, avoiding rigid jamming and achieving a flexible clutch function.

[0036] A washer 15 is provided between the top surface of the external gear 12 and the bottom surface of the upper gear 9. The washer 15 is sleeved on the outside of the central shaft 11 and is made of elastic material. The top surface of the external gear 12 is in contact with the bottom surface of the washer 15, and the bottom surface of the upper gear 9 is in contact with the top surface of the washer 15. As a further preferred embodiment of this application, the friction between the upper gear 9 and the lower gear 10 is further controlled by providing the washer 15. The smoothness of the outer surface of the washer 15 and the elasticity of the material of the washer 15 itself can directly determine the friction of the clutch assembly 8. The elastic washer 15 can flexibly adjust the magnitude of the friction to adapt to the cutting needs of different pencil hardnesses, while buffering the impact force and extending the life of the clutch assembly 8.

[0037] The rest of the contents of Example 2 are the same as those of Example 1.

[0038] An electric pencil sharpener, embodiment three, such as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, it includes a hob, a tool holder 3, and a pen feed box as in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2. The hob is mounted on the tool holder 3, the upper gear plate 1 is mounted on the lower gear plate 2, the top of the tool holder 3 has a cylindrical structure, and the top of the tool holder 3 extends into the inner wall of the lower gear plate 2 and the upper gear plate 1.

[0039] The inner wall surfaces of the upper gear disk 1 and the lower gear disk 2 are regularly arranged with several protrusions 19, while the outer circumferential surface of the top of the tool holder is regularly arranged with several convex ridges 20 along the axial direction. The tool holder 3 is connected to a rotary motor, and its rotation drives the upper gear disk 1 and the lower gear disk 2 to rotate through the convex ridges 20 and the convex rings. In electric pencil sharpeners, the tool holder 3 is usually connected to a rotary motor, which drives the entire tool holder 3 and the hobbing cutter mounted on the tool holder 3 to rotate, thereby achieving pencil cutting. In this application, the rotation of the tool holder 3 drives the lower gear disk 2 and the upper gear disk 1 to rotate. The meshing structure of the protrusions 19 and the convex ridges 20 achieves efficient power transmission in the circumferential direction, while allowing axial relative displacement to adapt to the floating requirements of the tool holder 3.

[0040] The blade holder 3 is mounted on the housing 13 via a floating spring 21. The floating spring 21 applies an upward thrust to the blade holder 3, pushing the top of the blade holder 3 into the lower gear plate 2 and the upper gear plate 1. The floating spring 21 enables the blade holder 3 to automatically reset, ensuring the reliable operation of the rubber roller assembly 5 during pen retraction, while also simplifying the mechanical structure.

[0041] The pencil to be cut is inserted into the rubber roller assembly 5. The rotary motor drives the lower gear plate 2 and the upper gear plate 1 to rotate through the blade holder 3. The rotating upper gear plate 1 drives the rubber roller assembly 5 to work and guide the pencil downward. When the pencil enters the pencil holder 4 and comes into contact with the blade holder 3, the pencil will exert a downward pushing force on the blade holder 3, causing the blade holder 3 to move downward and squeeze the floating spring 21. The top of the downward-moving blade holder 3 disengages from the upper gear plate 1. The blade holder 3 continues to rotate, only driving the lower gear plate 2 to rotate. The rotating lower gear plate 2 drives the upper gear plate 1 to rotate through the clutch assembly 8.

[0042] After the pencil has finished cutting, the pencil holder 3 will lose the downward pressure from the pencil, and then the pencil holder 3 will move upward under the action of the floating spring 21, with the top of the pencil holder 3 extending into the upper gear plate 1. At this time, the rotary motor reverses, driving the pencil holder 3, the lower gear plate 2, the upper gear plate 1, and the rubber roller assembly 5 to reverse, thereby realizing the retraction of the pencil.

[0043] This application achieves reliable operation of the rubber roller assembly 5 during pencil feeding and retraction by setting up a floating blade holder 3. Furthermore, it enables dynamic adjustment of the pencil feed during pencil cutting. The floating blade holder 3 works in conjunction with the clutch assembly 8 to achieve fully automatic switching between pencil feeding, cutting, and retraction, without requiring additional electrical control intervention, thus reducing system complexity.

[0044] The present application has been described in detail above. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present application. The descriptions of the embodiments above are only for the purpose of helping to understand the present application and its core ideas. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make several improvements and modifications to the present application without departing from the principles of the present application, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A pen feeder, characterized in that, The device includes an upper gear plate (1), a lower gear plate (2), and a clutch assembly (8). The upper gear plate (1) and the lower gear plate (2) are coaxially mounted. The upper gear plate (1) is connected to a rubber roller assembly (5), and the lower gear plate (2) is connected to a power device (7). The upper gear plate (1) can rotate relative to the lower gear plate (2) under force. The clutch assembly (8) is located on one side of the upper gear plate (1) and the lower gear plate (2). The clutch assembly (8) includes an upper gear (9) and a lower gear (10) coaxially mounted. The bottom surface of the upper gear (9) is connected to the top surface of the lower gear (10), and there is friction between the bottom surface of the upper gear (9) and the top surface of the lower gear (10). The upper gear (9) meshes with the upper gear plate (1), and the lower gear (10) meshes with the upper gear plate (1).

2. A pen feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower gear (10) includes a central shaft (11) and an external gear (12). The external gear (12) is arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the central shaft (11) and meshes with the lower gear disk (2).

3. A pen feeder according to claim 2, characterized in that, Includes a housing (13), the upper and lower ends of the central shaft (11) can be rotatably mounted on the housing (13), the upper gear (9) has a through hole adapted to the central shaft (11), and the upper gear (9) is sleeved on the outside of the central shaft (11).

4. A pen feeder according to claim 3, characterized in that, The central shaft (11) is fitted with a linear spring (14). One end of the linear spring (14) abuts against the housing (13), and the other end of the linear spring (14) abuts against the top surface of the upper gear (9). The linear spring (14) is in a compressed state.

5. A pen feeder according to claim 2, characterized in that, The top surface of the external gear (12) is non-planar, and the bottom surface of the upper gear (9) is non-planar.

6. A pen feeder according to claim 5, characterized in that, The top surface of the external gear (12) is a wavy surface, and the bottom surface of the upper gear (9) is a wavy surface. The top surface of the external gear (12) and the bottom surface of the upper gear (9) are in contact.

7. A pen feeder according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that, A washer (15) is provided between the top surface of the external gear (12) and the bottom surface of the upper gear (9). The washer (15) is sleeved on the outside of the central shaft (11). The washer (15) is made of elastic material. The top surface of the external gear (12) is in contact with the bottom surface of the washer (15), and the bottom surface of the upper gear (9) is in contact with the top surface of the washer (15).

8. An electric pencil sharpener, characterized in that, It includes a roller cutter, a cutter holder (3), and a pen feed box as described in any one of claims 1-7. The roller cutter is mounted on the cutter holder (3), the upper gear plate (1) is mounted on the lower gear plate (2), the top of the cutter holder (3) is cylindrical, and the top of the cutter holder (3) extends into the inner wall of the lower gear plate (2) and the upper gear plate (1).

9. An electric pencil sharpener according to claim 8, characterized in that, The inner wall of the upper gear plate (1) and the inner wall of the lower gear plate (2) are regularly arranged with several protrusions (19), and the outer peripheral surface of the top of the tool holder (3) is regularly arranged with several protrusions (20) along the axial direction. The tool holder (3) is connected to a rotary motor, and the rotation drives the upper gear plate (1) and the lower gear plate (2) to rotate through the protrusions (20) and the protrusion ring.

10. An electric pencil sharpener according to claim 9, characterized in that, The tool holder (3) is mounted on the housing (13) by a floating spring (21). The floating spring (21) applies an upward thrust to the tool holder (3), and pushes the top of the tool holder (3) into the lower gear plate (2) and the upper gear plate (1).

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