Movable Guide Groove Sharpener for Narrow and Wide Blades

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sharpeners are inadequate for simultaneously sharpening both narrow and wide blades, as they require separate guide grooves, leading to issues with blade alignment and sharpening impossibility for wider blades when designed for knives.

Innovation Solution

A sharpener with a movable frame part and adjustable guide grooves of different widths, allowing the same sharpening roll to be used for both narrow and wide blades by positioning the appropriate guide groove above the roll, and a tubular outer cover for safety and ease of use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a narrow guide groove is provided for sharpening knife blades, then narrow blades can be sharpened with proper alignment, but wide blades such as axes cannot be sharpened at all

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to sharpen different blade typesVSAvoidneed for multiple guide grooves
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide groove is made movable relative to the sharpening roll through a positioning mechanism with multiple positions. This allows the guide groove to be dynamically adjusted between a first position for narrow blades and a second position for wide blades, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity by using a single adjustable component rather than multiple fixed components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A single guide groove is designed to serve multiple functions by positioning it at different locations relative to the sharpening roll. The guide groove can be positioned for sharpening narrow blades at one location and wide blades at another location, making one component universal for different blade types instead of requiring separate dedicated grooves

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a wide guide groove is provided for sharpening axe blades, then wide blades can be sharpened, but narrow blades such as knives cannot be sharpened properly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to sharpen different blade typesVSAvoidblade alignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of the guide groove position, allowing it to be placed in a first position for narrow blades to ensure proper alignment and a second position for wide blades. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by providing precise alignment for each blade type through controlled repositioning rather than relying on a fixed wide groove

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The guide groove maintains its local quality of narrow width for precise alignment with narrow blades, while the positioning mechanism provides the adaptability to accommodate wide blades by relocating the groove. This preserves the precision-alignment property of the narrow groove while adding versatility through positional adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple guide grooves are provided for different blade types, then both narrow and wide blades can be sharpened, but the device becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to sharpen different blade typesVSAvoiduser operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of providing multiple static guide grooves that require the user to select and align the correct one, the invention uses a single movable guide groove with a positioning mechanism. This dynamic system automatically presents the appropriate groove position, simplifying operation while maintaining adaptability for different blade types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A single guide groove is designed to be universal by positioning it at different locations for different blade types. This eliminates the need for users to choose between multiple dedicated grooves, simplifying operation while maintaining the capability to sharpen both narrow and wide blades through one multi-functional component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2564983B1Sharpener
Publication Date: 2015.09.16 FISKARS BRANDS FINLAND OY AB
  • EP2564983B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2564983B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2564983B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a sharpener for sharpening a cutting tool, such as a knife, the sharpener comprising a body part (1), a rotatable sharpening roll (2) resting on the body part, and a first guide groove (11) above the sharpening roll for receiving a first tool blade and for guiding it in relation to the sharpening roll (2). To allow the sharpener to be made structurally simple and well applicable for sharpening both narrow and wide blades, the sharpener comprises a second guide groove (14), which is wider than the first guide groove (11), to be arranged above the sharpening roll (2) to allow a second tool blade to be received and guided in relation to the sharpening roll (2).