Improvements in Pencil Sharpeners.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th June, 1890-Accepted, 19th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pencil Sharpeners.
1, WILLIAM MORGAN, of Cannon Street in the City of Birmingham, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates 1st to a means or instrument for holding lead pencils whilst
being pointed or sharpened, 2ndly in a lead pencil sharpener or sharpeners.
The 1st part of my invention, relates to an apparatus consisting of an open ended
and jointed sheet metal barrel part, provided with an inclined gap, alike unto the
outlet orifice, of a musical pipe or whistle. The incline sides of this gap, are of the
inclination of the point of a pencil to be cut, and form a guage-guide, down which
the blade of a knife is drawn, on the point of a pencil being cut, or sliced.
In carrying out this first part of my invention, I take a sheet metal blank, and
fashion the same into an open jointed and ended barrel or tube, with a semi-open side,
or a gap in its side, inclining from front to rear, up to a vertical shoulder.
The inclination of the sides of the gap is the same as is required to be given to the
point of a pencil to be cut, whilst the entrance to the holder, is made yielding, in
order to grip and firmly hold upon the stem, of the pencil to be pointed.
The gripping or holding may be accomplished by making the metal into spring
clips, or surrounding the end which is open at its top, by a rubber band, or short
tube; so that on the pencil being introduced, it is held rigid and stiffly in position,
but admitting of rotation.
Fitting and sliding stiftly within the rear, and clip-open end of the said holder, is
an adjustable plunger, or wooden plug, against the inner end of which, the point of
the pencil to be cut, comes. This plunger constitutes a point gauge, by changing
its position, relative to the vertical shoulder of the gap. This plunger has a head,
and if necessary a thumb loop attachedly connected on the underside, of the said
plug.
In sharpening a lead pencil, pass the end to be pointed up the interior of the
holder, until it comes in contact with the plunger or plug, when the operator slices
or cuts the pencil away down to the inclines of the gap; this done, then slightly
turn the pencil to another position, and cut away the same as before, until the
pencil has been completely turned, and a perfect conical or faceted point, or end is
produced.
The trough of the holder, forms a receptacle for the lead dust to fall into so that the
fingers are not soiled in cutting.
It will be observed that the bottom of the gap at the junction of its shoulder, is
coincident with the axis of the barrel of the bolder, so that the point of the pencil
cut, must necessarily be true.
The drawing inwards or pushing outwards of the plunger or plug, beyond the
vertical shoulder of the gap, determines a longer or shorter point, as may be
desired.
In carrying out the second part of my invention, I employ the same holder, but
add thereto an automatic cutter, made out of the sides of a steel barrel, of which the
holder is made.
3
The cutter is made chisel-shaped, and inclined to the direction of the sides in the
gap so that by rotating the pencil to be pointed, the cutter, which slightly gives or
yields in obedience to the pressure exerted, by the pencil, cuts away the point into a
conical figure.
The inclined cutter may be brought into position, by a sliding movement, or it may
be attached to, a yielding clip, arranged so that the cutter follows the point as it is

page_text: The cutter may be made out of a yielding piece of steel, forming a part of the
barrel, and when in use, the same is pressed inwardly, by applying the thumb.and
finger to the holler, during which time the pencil is rotated.
As an alternative, 1 employ a cutter on the end of an arm, which is pressed for ward
for cutting by the thumb, and returned by a spring. Or the cutter may consist of a
mounted emery-bob, which is rotated against the pencil end protruding through the
gap of the holder.
Or inside coned discs, with their coned faces presented together may be employed;
in use the pencil end to be pointed, is introduced between the inside edges of the
said discs.
Dated this 16th dow at Stan 100
WILLIAM MORGAN.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pencil Sharpeners.
1. WILLIAM MORGAN, of Cannon Street in the City of Birmingham; 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:-
This invention relates to pencil sharpeners, or instruments for cutting lead
poncils.
One form of my invention consists of an open ended tube or barrel part, gapped
with a slicing-guide upon one side, and provided with a holder at one end, and a rest
at the other, and with the tube aforesaid, having a thumb loop or bow on its under-
side, for holding the instrument. In use, a knife blade is drawn across the guide as
a guage; for cutting the point, or the point end of a pencil.
The slicing gap is alike unto the shape of the outlet orifice, of an organ pipe,
whilst varying lengths of pencil points are obtained, by the adjustment or sliding in
and out of the rest.
It will be understood that the pencil being sharpened, is slightly rotated, or turned.
after each slicing.
In another form of my invention, the blade or cutier is made a part of the
sharpener, by jointing or connecting one end of the same, to, the tube of holder; and
which said cutter, may be pulled or drawn down by hand, and taken back by a spring,
after each slicing. Or I may employ cutters, consisting of conell faced discs, placed
in juxta-position, so as to form between them a groove, alike unto that of a pulley;
wherein the end of the pencil to be pointed, is inserted.
The acting faces of these discs, are file-cut, roughenell, or faced with sand paper; or
emery-cloth.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in front elevation, a pencil
sharpener, constructed, arranged, and provided with improvements made according
to one form of my invention.
Figure 2 represents à longitudinal vertical section of the sanie, but with thế
adjustment rest, which consists of a plunger, working within one end of the tubular
holder, in elevation.
Figure 3 represents a side elevation of the holder, separately
Figure 4 represents a transverse vertical section, through the dotted lines A B
figure i.
Figure 5 represents the same, with the pencil removed, in order to show how the
same admits of taking varying sized pencils.
Figure 54 represents the employment of a metallic clip, instead of a rubber bňë:
In this form, no sheath or bearer, is required, and by it, à lead is gripped or held at
four points, instead of at three as in figures 4 and 5.
Figure 6 represents a modified form of the entrance end of the holder.

page_text: a is a tubular holder, provided at one side, with an inclined gap a², terminating in
a shoulder as, at the lower end at, of the said bolder, which is split or open-jointed,
alike unto the other end a³.
Both of the said ends of the holder, are open; the one a', for the purpose of intro-
ducing the pencil b, to be cut, and the other end at, for taking a plunger c, with
head
By the gap a, the wood from the end of a lead pencil, can only be cut away or
sliced, by the blade of an ordinary knife, to the inclination or curvature of it; so that
in consequence of the said gap inclining itself to the middle of the holder, a pencil
end is cut evenly and truly from the circumference to the middle, and on the pencil
being rotated, so as to bring all portions to the action of the cutter, a parabolic or
other coned end is cut.
The adjustment of the length of the point is effected, hy sliding the plunger c,
inwardly or outwardly, so as to bring the impingement or rest end c, at a greater or
less distance from the shoulder a*.
The end of the said holder, is made yielding, and is adapted to grip the stem of
the pencil, and hold the same in position during pointing, but leaving the said pencil
free enough to be rotated, for complete pointing.
The top side of the said end is open, and is fitted with a metallic sheath or bearer a,
suitably attached to the encircling rubber band or spring d, which is adapted to
comprehend both holder and sheath.
The pencil coming wholly in contact with metal, drag is prevented, whilst by the
making of the said gripping end open, and semi-elliptical, varying sized pencils,
admit of being sharpened by the same holder.
The apparatus is held by a thumb-bowe, attached to the plunger c, although the
same may be connected to the holder if necessary.
In-figure 6, the gripping end of the holder is provided with a series of tongue-
like clips, arranged circumferentially, and adapted to grip a pencil placed within the
holder.
The part next to the gap, is made of a size, suitable for taking the largest sized
pencils.
Figure 7 represents another form of my invention.
a is the holder, a³ the slicing gap, as the shoulder of it, at the plunger end, a³ the
gripping end, encircled by a sliding sleeve f, carrying a cutter or slicer, pivoted
at 7 and provided with a horn 3, whereby the cutter is made to follow the contour
of the slicing gap, and so sharpen the end of a load pencil thereby, on the same being
rotated.
The return movement of the slicer or knife j, is performed by a rubber or metal
spring k, so that after each slice and rotation of the pencil, the knife is brought back
to its normal position, ready to be again drawn down.
Figure 8 represents a modification of figure 7. In this arrangement, the cutter
or knife, which is marked, is carried, or is made a part of a bow-shaped spring j,
secured to the adjustable plunger or plunger rest c, which is terminated by a thumb-
how c.
The holder a, is or may be, alike unto the other holders as aforesaid.
Figure 9 is a further modification of figure 7. In this arrangement, a is the
holder, c the adjustment plunger, ja kuife or slicer, jointed or connected to the lower
end of the holder, by a link j, whilst the other end, is connected to a rubber or
other spring k.
Figure 10 represents a lever pencil sharpener. a is the holder, c the adjustment
plunger, the carrier, with thumb loop e; is a lever, jointed at, and provided
with a cutter or slicer, the return movement of which, is effected by an interposed
spring k.
A lead pencil is sharpened, by inserting the same within the holder, and inter-
mittently rotating the same, after each slice or cut performed by the cutter or knife.
Figure 11 represents a vertical section, and figure 12 an end section, of a pencil
sharpener, constructed and arranged according to another form of my invention.
a is the holder, alike unto the gripping part a, as in figures 1, 2, and 3, or as

page_text: according to figure 6; m is a drum, enclosed by opposite sides, and with the ends
of an axis n, passing through the middles of them, as bearings. This axis, carries
a sharpener drun o, with the inside acting faces o³, faced with emery paper, glass
paper, or file cut, and which said roughened face, is of the contour of the point
of a pencil to be produced.
The holder a, works within bearings in one side of the drum m, and has made
fast upon it, a pinion p, which gears with a toothed wheel 7, so that on the
sharpener drum o, being rotated by the handler, the toothed wheel communicates
motion to the pinion p, and rotates the holder a, and with it, the pencil b, which
on being fed slowly forward, its end 2, is brought into intimate contact with the
sharpening surface o², of the drum o, and the said end thereby consequently pointed.
The cutting material, is made coarser at the outer circumference, than that of the
inner.
It will be understood, that the wheel q, having only one tooth as in figure 12, the
holder carrying the pencil b, has only a partial rotation given to it, to each rotation
of the drum. The point thus produced, is faceted. If a perfectly round point is
required, then the wheel q, is made into a toothed wheel, so as to make the holder
continuously rotate, on the movement of the drum.
The acting or cutting face of the drum, may be upon the outside, instead of upon
the inside as shown.
Figure 13 represents a transverse section of another form of pencil sharpener,
constructed according to my invention.
Figure 14 is a vertical section of the same, on the dotted lines CD, showing in
elevation, one of the curved or coned discs, with the face, other than the middle
part, surfaced with glass paper, emery paper, or other cutting material, although the
said cutting parts may consist of teetli, alike unto a file or cutter.
Figure 15 represents an elevation of the other disc, with a uniform fine cutting
surface throughout.
a is an enclosing casing, suitably attached by clamping or other means, to a table,
stand, or tlio like; (not shown); a is a holder, made stationary with the casing a,
and through which holder, the pencil end to be pointed, inwardly passes, as in
figure 14.
bis an axis, surrounded by bushes c, of discs c, c¹ the ends of the
said bushes, work within the middles of the sides of the casing, as bearings, whilst
the axis b, and discs, are turned by a handle 62. The disc c, whose convex face
is presented inwards alike unto the disc c, is roughened, or faced with a coarse
cutting or grinding material, to within a short distance of the middle, as shown at
figure 14, whilst the disc c, figure 15, has its entire acting face covered with a fine
grinding or cutting surface.
The coarseness of the cutting and acting faces of the disc cutters, may graduate
from the circumference to the centre, so that the acting part nearest the point of
a pencil, is fine cutting, whilst the other or wood part, is rougher cutting.
It will he understood, that the holders form also receptacles for the lead dust,
without the employment of a separate tray or receiver, whereby the fingers of a
person using the appliance, are prevented from being soiled.
In conclusion, I wish it to be understood, that I am aware that pencil sharpeners
with barrel holders, have heretofore been employed, and further that barrel holders
with slicing gaps for guiding the cutter to a determinate depth, and direction have
also been employed, and still further, that gapped holders with lever cutters have also
been employed, therefore I make no exclusive claim to the employment of such
holders, gaps, and levers, as I am aware that pencil sharpeners embodying such
features have been made prior to my said invention, but
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 1
claim is :-
:-
First A barrel pencil sharpener, with a gapped side, as in figures 1 to 3, of an
adinstahl: vlunger c´adanted by its louczitudinal movement to adlinst the longih of

page_text: point to be cut, and also to form a rest, for the point of a pencil being cut, substan-
tially as set forth.
Secondly-A pencil sharpener, forming the mouth or entrance end of the holder,
semi-elliptical, or other figure, with a metal encircling clip, or a rubber encircling
clip, the latter having a sheath or bearer a", as set forth in figures 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 54.
Thirdly The general construction and arrangement of the parts of pencil
sharpeners, as herein described and set forth in figures 1 and 2.
Fourthly-Constructing the mouth or entrance, and holding parts of the holders
of pencil sharpeners, with tongue like. clips, as in figure 6.
Fifthly Providing the rest plungers of pencil sharpeners, or the holders of them,
with thumb bows e, whereby the sharpening devices admit of being held, substantially
as described.
:
Sixthly Providing pencil sharpeners, with a cutter, made intrigal with them, or
forming a part of a spring j, carried by the rest plunger, and which parts are con-
structed, arranged and operate, as set forth in figure 8.
Seventhly A pencil sharpener, in which the cutter is made intrigal with the
holder, and the return movement of the said cutter, given by a spring; and which
said parts, are constructed, arranged, and combined, as described and set forth in
figures 9 and 10.
Eighthly: A pencil sharpener, the employment of a roughened, serrated, or faced.
conical drum, of the curvature of the point of a pencil to be sharpened, in combination
with a pencil holder, as described and set forth in figures 11 and 12.
Ninthly: A pencil pointer, consisting of a drum sharpener, holder, and gear,
and which parts are arranged and constructed, with respect to the enclosing casing
and driving axis, substantially as described and set forth in figures 11 and 12.
Tenthly A pencil pointer, the employment of a single or double coned or curved
dises or plates, with the acting surfaces of them roughened, cutter faced, or provided
with removable glass paper dises or surfaces, substantially as described and set forth
in figures 13, 14, and 15.
Eleventhly Making the acting faces of the cutter discs, graduated in coarseness,
or cut, from the circumference to the middle, as set forth.
LastlyThe improvements in pencil sharpeners, as herein described and set forth
in figures 13, 14, and 15.
Dated this 16th day of June 1890
WILLIAM MORGAN.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.