Improvements in Apparatus for Pointing Black Lead and other Pencils.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 4th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 20th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Pointing Black Lead and other
Pencils.
I, LEWIS WOLFF of 30 York Road Battersea London S.W. Black Lead
Pencil Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to produce an improved apparatus for the
purpose of pointing black lead and other pencils. To carry this into effect
I provide a circular plate or disc of metal about three and a half inches in
diameter aud a half an inch in thickness fitted with a spin:lle through its
centre.
In this metal plate or disc I cut a slot or rectangular opening its position
being on a radial line from the centre of the disc to its periphery. In this slot or
rectangular opening I place a steel cutter of a chisel form similar to the cutting
iron of a very small plane, this is firmly held in position by means of a tightening
screw at the back of the plate or disc.
Upon the spindle which carries the circular plate or disc I fix a small cogwheel
to which is geared a larger wheel on another spindle which is actuated by a handle
and which will cause the disc or plate to revolve several (say four or five) times for
each turn of the handle.
These two spindles are arranged parallel to each other in an horizontal position
the ends being fitted into a rectangular frame which is attached to a stand or base
by means of suitable supports.
On the upper part of the frame at one end I fix a short piece of metal tube about
two inches long its internal diameter corresponding with the thickness of the pencil
to be pointed. One end of the tube should be close to (but not touch) the face of
the circular plate or disc and the position of the tube should be adjusted so
that the pencil when advanced through the tube comes obliquely into contact
with the revolving disc. If the handle be now turned the cutter will for every
revolution cut away a shaving from the pencil which must be slowly revolved in
order that it may present fresh portions for removal by the cutter so as to complete
the point.
Dated this 5th day of June 1894.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Pointing Black Lead and other
Pencils.
1, LEWIS WOLFF, of 30 York Road, Battersea, London, S.W. Black Lead
Pencil Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to construct improved apparatus for pointing black

page_text: For this purpose 1 employ a circular plate or disc of metal, having a radial slot or
slots, or a rectangular opening or openings formed in its periphery for the
reception of a chisel-like cutter or cutters which are held in place therein by
means of suitable set-screws situated at the back of the circular plate or disc.
The said circular plate or disc is mounted on an axis or spindle which is free to
revolve in a suitable frame by means of a crank handle. The pencil to be pointed
is held in a short metal tube or equivalent device which is carried by a bracket or
support extending from the frame of the apparatus and arranged in such a manner
that the end of the pencil to be pointed meets the circular plate or disc in an oblique
manner, so that as the crank-handle_is_revolved the said cutter or cutters remove
shavings longitudinally from the pencil in a manner somewhat analogous to that
when pointing a pencil by hand with an ordinary pen-knife. Suitable means are
provided for causing the pencil to be revolved during the pointing operation in
order that fresh surfaces may be presented to the action of the cutters and the
completion of the point be thereby effected.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which :
Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 a plan, Figure 3 an end elevation as seen
from the left and Figure 4 a vertical section on the line 1. 1 of Figure 2, shewing
an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.
Figure 5 is an elevation and Figure 6 an end view shewing the tube or holder
detached.
Figure 7 is a side elevation, Figure 8 a plan, Figure 9 an elevation as seen
from the right, and Figure 10 a vertical section on the line 2. 2 of Figure 8,
shewing a modified construction of the apparatus illustrated by the preceding
figures.
Figures 11 and 12 are detached views shewing more clearly the construction of
the circular plate or disc and its spindle; Figure 11 being a longitudinal section
and Figure 12 an end elevation thereof.
Like letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures.
A is the circular plate or disc, B its axis or spindle, C the frame in which the
axis or spindle is mounted and D the bracket carrying the device for holding and
revolving the pencil during the pointing operation.
Referring first to Figures 1 to 6, the circular plate or disc A is formed with a radial
slot or rectangular opening a for the reception of the chisel like cutter a¹ which is
held firmly in place against the inclined or bevelled wall a* of the said radial slot by
means of the set-screw a². The cutter is provided with a longitudinal slot through
which the said set screw passes and whereby the position of the cutter can be readily
adjusted.
On the axis or spindle B is a cam 6 which in its revolution imparts rocking move-
ment to a bent arm or lever c pivoted at c¹ to the base of the frame. The
extremity of this bent arm or lever projects immediately beneath a vertically
arranged rod d which is capable of movement within a pivoted guided' controlled by a
spiral spring d. The said rod d is provided at its upper end with a tooth or pawl d³
. (Figure 3) engaging with a ratchet wheel d. This ratchet wheel forms part of a
sleeve d³ surrounding the tube or holder do which latter is adapted to receive the
pencil to be pointed, and is capable of revolving with the sleeve d³ within the
socket d' of the bracket D. The front portion of the tube or holder dⓇ is provided
with a series of spring levers d³ which are so arranged that they normally tend to
diverge. The opposite end of said tube or holder is screw threaded and receives a
thumb screw d' by the revolution of which the front end of the tube or holder can be
more or less drawn into the said sleeve d³, thereby causing the ends of the levers de
to converge and tightly nip and hold the pencil in the requisite position to be operated
upon by the cutter. The pressure of the said thumb screw against the end of the
sleeve d' also causes the tube or holder to be locked to the sleeve so that these parts
revolve together.

page_text: The bracket D is not rigidly connected to the frame of the apparatus but is loosely
mounted on a stude and is arranged obliquely with respect to the face of the disc A
towards which it is kept constantly pressed by a spiral spring e'. In this way the
end of the pencil becomes conically pointed under the action of the cutter and
remains in contact with said disc during the whole time that the pointing operation
is in progress.
fis a crank-handle by means of which revolution is imparted to the disc A through
the intervention of the gear wheels ff.
The working of the apparatus is as follows: The pencil is inserted into the tube
or holder d with the end to be pointed pressing against the disc A the pressure
of the pencil against said disc causing the bracket D to turn slightly about its
stud e against the tension of the spring el. The thumb screw d is then tightened
up and the pencil is thus firmly held in the position to which it has been adjusted.
By now rotating the crank-handle a comparatively rapid revolution is imparted to
the disc A, and at the same time the bent arm c is actuated by the cam b and causes
the pawl that engages with the ratchet wheel d to rotate the tube carrying the
pencil. The cutting operation then takes place simultaneously with the revolution
of the pencil, the spiral spring e causing the bracket and its tube or holder to
gradually approach nearer to the face of the disc A as the pointing operation
proceeds and thereby keeps the conical portion of the point of the pencil in contact
with the disc A as successive shavings are removed by the action of the cutter.
Any longitudinal feeding forward of the pencil that may be necessary is in this
construction effected by hand. The pointing operation having, been completed the
thumb screw d is loosened to cause the levers ds to diverge and release the pencil
which, after withdrawal from the tube or holder do, is ready for use.
Referring now to Figures 7 to 12 which illustrate a modified arrangement of the
apparatus above described, A is the disc which in this construction is provided with
two cutters a' and has its face bevelled. The axis or spindle B carrying the disc is
screw threaded at B' and the part B2 is of less diameter than the screw threaded
portion whereby a shoulder is produced at B³. The said disc is connected to the
spindle by means of a groove and feather so that while said disc is free to revolve
with the spindle it is also capable of shifting axially thereon, against the pressure
of a spiral spring B which normally keeps the disc against the said shoulder B³.
Carried by the fixed bracket D are three rollers g, gl, g² the upper one g being
mounted in a movable frame g³, which is pivotally connected to the bracket D.
g is a spiral spring by means of which the frame g³is caused to keep its roller firmly
pressed towards the lower rollers g¹, g². g³ is a lever-handle for enabling the
pivoted frame g to be conveniently elevated when it is desired to separate the
rollers. The inner ends of the lower rollers g', g² are formed with spiral
corrugations or worm teeth which engage with the before mentioned screw threaded
portion B' of the spindle B, so that when said spindle revolves, the rollers g¹, g²
revolve also. .
g
The pencil to be pointed is inserted between the three rollers g, g', g² the roller
having first been raised by its haudle 9 to permit of such insertion. After
adjusting the end of the pencil in proper position relatively to the disc A, that is
to say in such a manner as to slightly shift the said disc along its spindle against
the pressure of the spring B, the handle g³ is released and the roller 9 is allowed to
press the pencil tightly against the lower rollers g', g2 by the action of its spring gt,
thereby firmly retaining said pencil in its adjusted position. When the crank
handle is now turned the rollers g', 92 revolve and by so doing impart rotary motion
to the pencil simultaneously with the revolution of the disc A which latter as
the pointing operation progresses gradually advances along its spindle B under the
influence of the spring B and thereby ensures that the cutters shall be kept up to
their work.
The framing C carrying the parts is in this construction adapted to be clamped to
a table or other support and for this purpose is formed with an angular bend and
is provided with a clamping screw is a light metal or other tray with which

page_text: the framing C is furnished and which serves to catch the cuttings as they are removed
from the pencil during the pointing operation.
One or more of the before mentioned rollers g, g', g² may if found advantageous
be fluted or otherwise roughened in order to obtain a better grip of the pencil. The
flutings of said roller may be spirally arranged so that a gradual feeding forward of
the pencil longitudinally will be effected during its revolution.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for pointing pencils the combination of a cutter or cutters working
or revolving in an oblique plane relatively to the axis of the pencil and of means
for imparting rotary motion to the pencil during the pointing operation substantially
as described.
2. In apparatus for pointing pencils the combination of a cutter or cutters
working or revolving in an oblique plane relatively to the axis of the pencil, of
means for imparting rotary motion to the said pencil, and of means for keeping said
cutter or cutters up to their work during the pointing operation substantially as
described.
3. The apparatus for pointing black-lead and other pencils substantially as
described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 or to Figures 7 to 12 of the accompanying
drawings.
Noted this 4th day of March 1805
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.