Abstract:
A pencil sharpener for sharpening a pencil includes a central gear including an aperture along an axis of the central gear for receiving an end portion of the pencil. A first gear rotates the central gear and a strap joined to the central gear secures the pencil when the central gear is rotated. A shaft is in communication with the first gear where when the central gear is rotated the shaft is rotated. A cutting blade is in communication with the shaft where when the shaft is rotated the cutting blade cuts the end portion of the pencil at an angle to form a point.

Description:
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING APPENDIX 
     Not applicable. 
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally related to pencil sharpeners, and more particularly to a substantially silent, electric pencil sharpener. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A typical electric pencil sharpener comprises an electric motor, a gear train, a cutter assembly, and a receptacle for receiving a pencil or a pencil alignment device. The sharpener further comprises a switch for activating the motor, for example, upon insertion of a pencil. When the pencil is positioned in the receptacle, the motor transfers its power to the cutter assembly through the gear train. The pencil is sharpened by a blade of the cutter assembly. Numerous innovations for pencil sharpeners have been provided in the prior art that will be described. 
     Early designs of a conventional pencil sharpener typically comprise a spring-driven pencil sharpener comprising a top cap having a top opening to receive a pencil and two corresponding slots to receive a fastening device that includes two hollow frames. The pencil sharpener comprises a housing that is constructed with a pair of coupling castings, each of which is accompanied by a lateral cover for disposing a pencil blade set and a spring-driven automatic device. The outline of the housing is preferably designed to cooperate with that of the cap to form an egg-like shape that is comfortable to the hand and is attractive. However, the pencil to be sharpened in this typical sharpener is manually fed into the housing, which is inconvenient compared to an automatic pencil sharpener. In addition, the holding force for the pencil is provided by the user and is unstable, so the pencil sharpener is easily jammed and very noisy. 
     Another conventional pencil sharpener comprises a sharpening sub-assembly for sharpening pencils and first and second external shells having internal ribs defining surfaces for supporting the sharpening sub-assembly. The sharpening sub-assembly comprises an electric motor, a gear assembly, and a cutter assembly including a cutter gear module having an annular ring gear acting as a carrier support. The subassembly houses a pencil insertion switch and a receptacle presence switch. However, the holding force for the pencil is still provided by the user and is still unstable. The pencil sharpener is easily jammed and very noisy. 
     Another known automatic pencil sharpener comprises a motor, a transmission device, a cutter assembly, a feeding device, a feeding reverse mechanism, and a manual reverse mechanism. The feeding device has a pair of feeding rollers for feeding the pencil. The manual reverse mechanism for manually retreating the pencil has a pushing rod and a key switch. The pencil is fed by the feeding device and delivered to the cutter assembly. The cutter assembly processes the pencil. After the pencil is shaved, the feeding reverse mechanism drives the motor to rotate in a reverse direction so as to retreat the pencil from the sharpener. When the pencil is too short to shave and stops in the sharpener, the pencil is retreated from the sharpener by the manual reverse mechanism. This apparatus is very noisy also. 
     It is apparent that numerous innovations for pencil sharpeners have been provided in the prior art. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they are addressed, the pencil is still manually fed with a holding force that is difficult to control such that jamming frequently occurs. Furthermore, the above prior art pencil sharpeners have not addressed the noise issue. 
     The products that are available in the market today do a fairly good job of sharpening pencils; however, they are annoyingly noisy. Many competitive exams and schools ban the use of electric pencil sharpeners during testing due to noise. The noise comes from grinding the sharpener&#39;s metal blade with the pencil&#39;s wood body. The older the electric pencil sharpener gets, the louder and less effective it becomes, resulting in pencils that have to be reinserted a number of times to make the lead pointed. Possibly the most annoying side effect is when the electric pencil sharpener keeps sharpening the pencil such that lead is exposed on only half of the side of the pencil and the other side of the pointed lead remains covered with material. The operator must continue to reinsert the pencil into the pencil sharpener in the hope that next time the lead may be fully exposed. This causes the pencil to become smaller and smaller each time. 
     In view of the foregoing, there is a need for improved techniques for providing an electric pencil sharpener that is quiet and effectively sharpens pencils without jamming. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
         FIGS. 1 through 4  illustrate the interior components of an exemplary pencil sharpener, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view,  FIG. 2  is a side view,  FIG. 3  is a perspective end view, and  FIG. 4  is an end view; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the internal components of an exemplary pencil sharpener with a rotating cutting mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate the internal components of an exemplary pencil sharpener with a collapsible aperture, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6 and 7A  are a perspective view, and  FIG. 7  is a side view. 
     
    
    
     Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To achieve the forgoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, a more silent and robust electric pencil sharpener is presented. 
     In one embodiment, a pencil sharpener for sharpening a pencil is presented. The pencil sharpener includes a central gear including an aperture along an axis of the central gear for receiving an end portion of the pencil. A first gear rotates the central gear and a strap joined to the central gear secures the pencil when the central gear is rotated. A shaft is in communication with the first gear where when the central gear is rotated the shaft is rotated. A cutting blade is in communication with the shaft where when the shaft is rotated the cutting blade cuts the end portion of the pencil at an angle to form a point. Other embodiments further include a motor for rotating the first gear in a first direction where the pencil is secured and the cutting blade cuts the pencil and a start switch for detecting the pencil in the aperture and activating the motor to rotate in the first direction. In another embodiment the shaft is threaded and the cutting blade travels along the shaft in a direction along the pencil and towards an end of the end portion of the pencil when the first gear is rotated in the first direction. Another embodiment further includes a limit switch for activating the motor to rotate the first gear in a second direction to release the pencil from the strap. Yet another embodiment further includes a plurality of cutting blades and a plurality of shafts in communication with the first gear where when the first gear is rotated in the first direction the plurality of shafts are rotated and the plurality of cutting blades travel along the plurality of shafts in a direction along the pencil and towards the end of the end portion of the pencil and the plurality of cutting blades cut the end portion of the pencil at the angle to form the point. In still another embodiment each of the plurality of cutting blades travels along separate ones of the plurality of shafts and the plurality of shafts are arranged at angles to form the point. Another embodiment further includes a housing including internal ribs in cooperation with the plurality of cutting blades to substantially prevent the plurality of cutting blades from rotating while traveling along the plurality of shafts. Yet another embodiment further includes a round assembly including a collapsible aperture and the plurality of cutting blades are positioned about a periphery of the collapsible aperture. Still another embodiment further includes a housing including at least one internal rib in cooperation with the round assembly to change a diameter of the collapsible aperture when the first gear is rotated. In yet another embodiment the round assembly further includes a gear assembly in cooperation with the round assembly to change a diameter of the collapsible aperture when the first gear is rotated. Another embodiment further includes a plurality of drums in communication with the first gear for rotating the pencil while the cutting blade rotates in a direction towards an end of the end portion of the pencil when the first gear rotates in the first direction. 
     In another embodiment a pencil sharpener for sharpening a pencil is presented. The pencil sharpener includes means for housing the pencil sharpener, means for receiving an end portion of the pencil, means for rotating a central gear, means for securing the pencil when the central gear is rotated and means for cutting an end portion of the pencil at an angle to form a point. Other embodiments further include means for detecting the pencil in the housing and means for detecting a limit of the cutting means. 
     In another embodiment a pencil sharpener for sharpening a pencil is presented. The pencil sharpener includes a housing for housing the pencil sharpener. A central gear includes an aperture along an axis of the central gear for receiving an end portion of the pencil. A first gear rotates the central gear and a motor rotates the first gear in a first direction. A start switch detects the pencil in the aperture and activates the motor to rotate in the first direction. A strap joined to the central gear for securing the pencil when the first gear is rotated in the first direction. A plurality of threaded shafts each joined to a shaft gear are in communication with the central gear where when the first gear is rotated the threaded shafts are rotated. A plurality of blade members each includes a cutting blade. Each of the blade members are in communication with a one of the threaded shafts where when the threaded shafts are rotated the plurality of blade members travel along the plurality of shafts in a direction along the pencil and towards an end of the end portion of the pencil and the plurality of cutting blades cut the end portion of the pencil at the angle to form a point. Another embodiment further includes a limit switch for activating the motor to rotate the first gear in a second direction to release the pencil from the strap. In another embodiment the housing further includes internal ribs in cooperation with the plurality of blade members to substantially prevent the plurality of blade members from rotating while traveling along the plurality of shafts. In yet another embodiment the plurality of threaded shafts are arranged such that axis of the plurality of threaded shafts intersect a point along an axis of the aperture of the central gear. In still another embodiment a number of the plurality of blade members equals six. 
     Other features, advantages, and object of the present invention will become more apparent and be more readily understood from the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein. 
     Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive. 
     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a pencil sharpener that should generally eliminate the problems with the prior art previously described. The preferred embodiment is approximately the same size as a regular electric pencil sharpener; however, due to its design the preferred embodiment enables a pencil to be sharpened in less than five seconds with near perfect results every time in just one cycle. The preferred embodiment does not grind the body of the pencil with a rotating metal blade. In fact in the preferred embodiment, neither the pencil nor the blade rotates to sharpen a pencil. Using preferred embodiments, the process of sharpening a pencil is substantially silent other then the slight hum of the motor during operation. Preferred embodiments generally eliminate the half-exposed lead problem described above. The retail price of preferred embodiments should be approximately the same as conventional electric pencil sharpeners. Jamming in a pencil sharpener occurs when the pencil is forced into the sharpener and the motor attached to the cutting assembly fails to handle the extra load and temporarily locks up. In my design, each blade is designed to shave off only a small portion of the material and forcing a pencil will have no effect. To accomplish a jam proof sharpening, a thin flat metal strip loop  106  is installed such that when the motor  131  is energized it rotates gear  101 , the metal strip loop  106  tightens around the pencil  121  and holds it in place thus preventing its movement for the duration of the sharpening process. Once the process of pencil sharpening is completed and the reverse switch  115  reverses the motor  131 , the metal strip  106  automatically loosens and releases the pencil  121 , thus avoiding jamming the pencil sharpener. The need to hold the pencil is so that the pencil does not move during sharpening. Also that people may not impatiently try to quicken the process by manually rotating the pencil while being sharpened and/or try to pull out the pencil before the cycle is complete, which can damage the blades on the sharpening assembly and or could jam the pencil sharpener. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a pencil sharpener comprises a central gear with an opening for a pencil. The central gear is surrounded by six smaller gears in a circular fashion, or other suitable numbers of gears, each of which drives a shaft which is angled. The angled shafts converge at the opposite end of the pencil sharpener to aid in guiding the pencil. Each shaft includes a blade mounted on a threaded blade member such that when the central gear rotates, the six blades travel down the shafts, removing material from the pencil to form a hexagonal point. Once the blades reach the ends of the shafts, the operation is reversed and the blades travel away from the point back to their original or resting positions near the central gear. 
       FIGS. 1 through 4  illustrate the interior components of an exemplary pencil sharpener  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view,  FIG. 2  is a side view,  FIG. 3  is a perspective end view, and  FIG. 4  is an end view. In the present embodiment, pencil sharpener  100  comprises an electric motor  131  that is energized by switch  104 , and is connected to a drive gear  105 , which is rotated by motor  131 . Drive gear  105  is connected to and rotates a central gear  101 . Central gear  101  comprises a central aperture  102  to enable a pencil  121  to be inserted into pencil sharpener  100 . Central gear  101  is attached to a housing  119  of pencil sharpener  100  by a round lip around central aperture  102 . Around the periphery of central gear  101  are secondary gears  103 , which are connected to central gear  101  to rotate with central gear  101 . Each secondary gear  103  is connected to an externally threaded shaft  107 , which is inwardly inclined towards the center of central gear  101  so that threaded shafts  107  converge at the end of pencil sharpener  100  opposite central gear  101 . Threaded shafts  107  comprise external threads to cooperate with the internal threads of blade members  111  each of which has a central aperture with internal threads formed on the interior surface of the central aperture such that when threaded shafts  107  rotate, blade members  111  move the length of threaded shafts  107  without rotation. Each blade member  111  comprises a cutting blade  113  positioned inward to sharpen pencil  121  as it is inserted into pencil sharpener  100 . Each blade member  111  is positioned by a rib  117  which is attached to the interior of housing  119  of pencil sharpener  100 . Ribs  117  enable blade members  111  to travel along threaded shafts  107  while maintaining cutting blades  113  at inward positions to sharpen the pencil. Pencil sharpener  100  also comprises a limit switch  115  that, when activated by a blade member  111 , reverses the direction of the rotation of threaded shafts  107  so that blade members  111  travel back up threaded shafts  107 . The present embodiment comprises one limit switch  115  at the end of one threaded shaft  107 ; however, alternate embodiments may comprise multiple limit switches, for example, without limitation, one limit switch at the end of each threaded shaft. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in typical use of the present embodiment, pencil sharpener  100  sharpens pencil  121  mimicking the sharpening of a pencil by a hand using a small pocketknife. The switch  104  energizes the electric motor  131  that rotates gear  105  that in turn rotates the central gear  101  that rotates six secondary gears  103  and the metal strip  106  that locks the pencil  121  tightly in place. Each secondary gear  103  then rotates attached threaded shafts  107 . When threaded shafts  107  rotate, blade members  111  with attached sharp blades  113  move the length of threaded shafts  107  without rotation of blade members  111  by being guided by ribs  117  on the inside of housing  119  of pencil sharpener  100 . In alternate embodiments, various other means may be used to generally prevent the blade members from rotating, for example, without limitation, slots in the housing in which the blade members slide. In the present embodiment, the shaft and blade assemblies are substantially identical, resulting in six moving blades  113  on six threaded shafts  107 . All six threaded shafts  107  converge at the end of pencil sharpener  100  opposite central gear  101 ; however, threaded shafts  107  do not converge to a point, as blades  113  extend from threaded shafts  107  and converge towards a point. Since many pencils are hexagonal in shape, pencil sharpener  100  comprises six blades  113  in the present embodiment for aesthetic reasons and for each blade to shave off a small amount of material. However, pencil sharpeners in alternate embodiments may comprise more or fewer shafts, blades and secondary gears. 
     In the present embodiment, the insertion of pencil  121  into pencil sharpener  100  activates a start switch  104  that energizes motor  131 . As motor  131  turns, motor  131  turns drive gear  105  to rotate central gear  101 . The rotation of central gear  101  rotates the six secondary gears  103  as well as metal strip  106 . Since threaded shafts  107  are attached to secondary gears  103 , all six threaded shafts  107  rotate simultaneously. Blade members  111  travel on threaded shafts  107  and comprise sharp blades  113  mounted on the external surfaces of blade members  111 , and ribs  117  on the interior of housing  119  cooperate with blade members  111  so that blade members  111  travel along threaded shafts and generally prevent blades  113  from rotating, thus maintaining blades  113  in positions opposed to the pencil. The threading on threaded shafts  107  is such that blade members  111  are able to move the length of threaded shafts  107  rapidly. However, in alternate embodiments the threading on the threaded shafts may be designed so that the blade members move more slowly down the shafts. In the present embodiment as pencil  121  is inserted into central aperture  102  of central gear  101 , all six blades  113  rapidly move towards pencil  121  from six directions and shave or slice the exterior of pencil  121  along with the internal lead in such a way as to leave the lead finely pointed. At the bottom of threaded shafts  107 , blade members  111  trigger limit switch  115  that reverses motor  131  and causes blades  113  of blade members  111  to reverse the direction of travel and to travel up threaded shafts  107  to return to the default starting positions near secondary gears  103  where blade members  111  wait to be reactivated. Some embodiments may comprise one or more limit switches near one or more of the secondary gears to stop the motor once the blade members reach the default positions. In the present embodiment, blades  113  are calibrated and fixed at the correct angle to cause the pencil to sharpen in one cycle. Because pencil  121  does not move and is not grinded, pencil sharpener  100  is virtually noiseless. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , pencil  121  is shown being sharpened by blade members  111  and cutting blades  113 . Blade members  111  are shown traveling along threaded shafts  107 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , an end view of pencil sharpener  100  is shown with pencil  121  in contact with blade members  111  and blades  113 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the internal components of an exemplary pencil sharpener  500  with a rotating cutting mechanism  561 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, pencil sharpener  500  comprises a motor  553  that turns a first drum  551  that is attached to another gear  569 . The gear  569  rotates a central gear  568  which in turn rotates another gear  574 . Gear  574  is connected to a second drum  551 . A metal strip loop  567  is used to firmly hold the pencil in place while being sharpened. When a pencil is inserted through the central gear opening  570 , it also passes through the metal strip loop  567  and at the same time activates switch  572  that energizes the motor. As the motor  553  is energized, it tightens the metal strip loop  567  around the pencil  565  thus preventing its movement and causes the blade assembly  561  to rotate as well. This step shave the material off the pencil  565  while simultaneously drums  551  rotate the pencil  565  thus providing the unshaved surface of the pencil  565  for shaving by the blade assembly  561 . In addition, motor  553  turns a first gear  555 , which in turn rotates a second gear  557 , which in turn rotates a third gear  559 , which rotates cutting mechanism  561  to sharpen the pencil  565  as pencil  565  is being turned by rotating drums  551 . 
     In the present embodiment of the present invention, rotating cutting mechanism  561  comprises two or more blades. However, alternate embodiments may be configured so that the cutting mechanism has only one blade. In the present embodiment, pencil  565  rotates as well as cutting mechanism  561 . In typical use of the present embodiment, when pencil  565  is inserted into opening  570  of the pencil sharpener  500 , it goes through metal strip loop  567  and activates the start switch,  572  that energizes motor  553  and causes cutting mechanism  561  to rotate by the rotation transferred to cutting mechanism  561  through gears  555 ,  557  and  559 . Alternate embodiments may comprise alternate means for causing the cutting mechanism to rotate such as, but not limited to, a drive belt connecting the motor to the cutting mechanism, or directly drive the cutting mechanism with another small motor The blades on cutting mechanism  561  shave material from pencil  565 . Then pencil  565  is rotated by rotating drums  551  to expose the next unshaved surface of pencil  565  to cutting mechanism  561 . At this time, another blade on cutting mechanism  561  rotates around to pencil  565  and slices the next portion of exposed material from pencil  565 . Since pencil  565  and the blades of cutting mechanism  561  rotate in sync and at a fast rate, within seconds all surfaces of pencil  565  are shaved in such a way that pencil  565  is left with a pointed lead. In alternate embodiments, the pencil sharpener may comprise multiple rotating cutting mechanisms, for example, without limitation, two rotating cutting mechanisms on opposite sides of the pencil, so that the pencil may be sharpened in less time. These embodiments may require more gears or other rotation means in order to rotate the additional cutting mechanisms. 
       FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  7 A illustrate the internal components of an exemplary pencil sharpener  600  with a collapsible aperture  675 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6  is a perspective view, and  FIG. 7  is a side view. In the present embodiment, pencil sharpener  600  comprises a central gear  601  comprising a central aperture  602  to cooperate with a pencil  621  to be sharpened. Central gear  601  is rotated by a drive gear  605 , which is connected to a motor  631 . Central gear  601  is connected to a first secondary gear  603  and a second secondary gear  603 , and central gear  601  rotates secondary gears  603 . Alternate embodiments may comprise more or fewer secondary gears. In the present embodiment, secondary gears  603  rotate externally threaded shafts  607 , which comprise external threads to cooperate with internal threads of a round assembly  673 . Round assembly  673  comprises a collapsible aperture  675  that has cutting blades  613  around the periphery of collapsible aperture  675 . Round assembly  673  comprises a lever  671  that, when depressed, reduces the diameter of collapsible aperture  675  causing cutting blades  613  to progressively shave off material on the pencil, resulting in the sharpening of the pencil  621 . Lever  671  is increasingly depressed by a ridge on a housing  672 ) of pencil sharpener  600  as round assembly  673  travels away from central gear  601  and secondary gears  603  since the interior of housing  672  or a portion of the interior of housing  672  tapers toward the end of pencil sharpener  600  away from central gear  601 . 
     In typical use of the present embodiment, collapsible aperture  675  in round assembly  673  contracts when lever  671  on one side of round assembly  673  is depressed, and when the pressure is released from lever  671 , a spring inside round assembly  673  causes collapsible aperture  675  to return to a default fully open position. Round assembly  673  moves back and forth on threaded shafts  607 . In the present embodiment, collapsible aperture  675  comprises six blades  613  arranged around collapsible aperture  675  at an angle to increase the penetration of the material of pencil  621  by blades  613 . However, alternate embodiments may comprise more or fewer blades on the collapsible aperture. When inserted into pencil sharpener  600  in the present embodiment, pencil  621  passes through opening  602  while activating the switch  604  and passing through metal strip loop  606  and through collapsible aperture  675 . The start switch  604  energizes motor  631  that rotates drive gear  605  that in turn rotates central gear  601 . Central gear  601  then rotates threaded shafts  607  through secondary gears  603 , the rotation of which causes round assembly  673  to travel the length of threaded shafts  607 . At the same time, the ridge on the inside of housing  672 , which is angled toward the end of pencil sharpener  600  away from central gear  601 , causes lever  671  to depress inwards. In an alternate embodiment, the housing of the pencil sharpener may not comprise a ridge, and instead the lever is depressed by the housing itself. In this embodiment the entire housing may be angled toward the end of the pencil sharpener. In the present embodiment, the depression of lever  671  by the ridge on housing  672  causes collapsible aperture  675  to constrict or close. At this time, the six blades  613  arranged around collapsible opening  675  in a circular fashion, penetrate the body of pencil  621  and start shaving material from pencil  621 . This continues until lever  671  is depressed fully, which causes collapsible aperture  675  to become sufficiently small for blades  613  to leave the lead of pencil  621  in a fine pointed state. At the end of the cycle, lever  671  is released from the pressure of the ridge, which causes collapsible aperture  675  to fully open, and a limit switch  677 , reverses motor  631  and round assembly  673  travels back to the original default position near central gear  601 , ready to repeat the cycle. Some embodiments may comprise a second switch near the central gear to stop the motor once the round assembly reaches the starting position. In an alternate embodiment, the pressure of the ridge is not released from the lever once the round assembly reaches the end of the cycle. Instead, in this embodiment, the round assembly triggers a limit switch at the end of the cycle, which causes the motor to reverse to return the round assembly to the default position. As the round assembly travels back to the default position, the pressure on the lever is gradually released as the lever travels backward along the angled ridge, gradually opening the collapsible opening to the default open position. 
     Another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 7A  where there is an additional gear  609  that along with the two secondary gears  603  are all rotated by central gear  601 . The third gear  609  has a stem  611  and at the end of the stem  611  there is another gear  677   a  that meshes with the gears  679  on an alternate round assembly  681 . Gear  679  takes the place of lever  671  and the rotation of gear  679  causes the aperture opening to close and when the motor  631  reverses, gear  677   a  reverses, that causes gear  679  to rotate in reverse also. 
     Those skilled in the art, in light of the present teachings, will readily recognize that there is a multiplicity of alternative and suitable designs for the exterior housings of pencil sharpeners according to embodiments of the present invention. For example, without limitation some embodiments may be deigned to be hand held while other embodiments may be designed to sit on a desk or be mounted to a wall. Furthermore, various different features may be included in the exterior housing such as, but not limited to, removable compartments for emptying pencil shavings, multiple holes for pencils of different sizes, a transparent exterior or window to see when the pencil sharpener is full of shavings, etc. Also electric embodiments of the present invention may be battery powered or may plug into a wall outlet. 
     Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of providing a pencil sharpener that is quiet and effective according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention has been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. For example, the particular implementation of the drive system may vary depending upon the particular type of power source used. The power sources described in the foregoing were directed to electric implementations; however, similar techniques are to provide drive systems that may be powered without electricity, for example, without limitation, by a hand crank. Non-electric implementations of the present invention are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.