Flexible Abrasive Disk Sharpening with Curvilinear Displacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting tools, such as knives, become dull over time and require sharpening to restore sharpness, but current sharpening systems are inefficient and lack versatility in handling different blade profiles and materials.

Innovation Solution

A flexible abrasive disk is adapted for rotation, with a housing that includes a guide slot with a bevel and skew angle to facilitate contact with the cutting tool, inducing curvilinear displacement and providing a multi-faceted convex grinding geometry through multiple stages of sharpening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a rigid abrasive wheel is used for sharpening, then the sharpening action is strong, but the device cannot accommodate different blade profiles and materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of different blade profilesVSAvoidneed for additional mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible abrasive disk instead of a rigid wheel. The flexible backing material allows the disk to deform and conform to various blade profiles and geometries during sharpening, providing adaptability without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms. The flexibility enables the same disk to effectively sharpen different types of blades including kitchen knives, scissors, and other cutting tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible abrasive disk is used, then various blade profiles can be sharpened, but the disk may deflect excessively during operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of various blade profilesVSAvoiddisk deflection control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent carefully controls the flexibility parameters of the abrasive disk by selecting appropriate backing materials and construction methods. The disk is designed to be flexible enough to accommodate different blade profiles but rigid enough to maintain structural integrity and prevent excessive deflection during operation. This balance is achieved through proper material selection and disk construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible disk is designed with a convex curvature that helps maintain its shape and reduce unwanted deflection during sharpening operations. The curved geometry provides better contact with the blade while the flexibility allows adaptation to different blade profiles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Productivity

If high rotational velocity is used for sharpening, then sharpening efficiency is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesharpening efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible abrasive disk reduces the power required for rotation compared to rigid wheels because it can conform to the blade geometry without requiring excessive rotational force. The flexibility allows the disk to adapt to the blade profile, reducing friction and energy losses, thereby achieving efficient sharpening with lower power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution achieves high operational efficiency, safely sharpens blades with minimal power consumption, and accommodates various blade profiles without the need for additional mechanisms, offering a compact, portable, and user-friendly sharpening solution.

Implementation Method 1

Centrifugal forces imparted to the disk during rotation urge the disk to a neutral position in which an outer peripheral portion of the disk is extended toward a selected plane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

The guide surface is adapted to facilitate presentation of a cutting tool in contacting engagement against the disk

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9302364B2Hand-held tool sharpener with flexible abrasive disk

Publication Date: 2016.04.05 DAREX LLC

AI summary

Apparatus and method for sharpening a cutting tool, such as but not limited to a kitchen knife. In accordance with some embodiments, a flexible abrasive disk is adapted for rotation about a central axis at a selected rotational velocity. Centrifugal forces imparted to the disk during rotation urge the disk to a neutral position in which an outer peripheral portion of the disk is extended toward a selected plane. A housing adjacent the flexible disk has a guide slot with a guide surface at a selected bevel angle with respect to the selected plane. The guide surface is adapted to facilitate presentation of a cutting tool in contacting engagement against the disk. The cutting tool is presented at the selected bevel angle to induce curvilinear displacement of the flexible disk during sharpening of a cutting edge that extends along a side of the cutting tool.