KNIFE SHARPENER

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of Chinese application number 202411978448.0, filed on Dec. 31, 2024. The entire contents of the above-mentioned applications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to the technical field of knife sharpeners, and in particular, to a knife sharpener.

BACKGROUND

Traditional knife sharpening is done by rubbing the blade back and forth on a whetstone, a process that is relatively cumbersome and requires a high level of skill.

As a result, manual and electric knife sharpeners have emerged. These sharpeners feature preset-angle whetstones, allowing the blade to be sharpened by pulling it back and forth against the stone.

However, these sharpeners have certain shortcomings, such as limited adjustability of the whetstone angle, poor adaptability to different types of knives, and an inability to meet the sharpening needs of various blades.

SUMMARY

In view of the shortcomings and defects of the existing technology, provided is a knife sharpener with high applicability, simple structure and reliable operation.

The knife sharpener includes:

• • a housing, where a sharpening part, a driving member, and a response assembly are disposed on the housing;
  • where the response assembly has an output unit;
  • the sharpening part is hinged on the output unit, and the sharpening part has a grinding surface for contact with a blade;
  • the response assembly responds to a movement of the driving member, and outputs an upward or downward movement trajectory through the output unit when the driving member moves;
  • the housing is further provided with a guiding surface inclined to a movement trajectory of the sharpening part; and
  • the sharpening part is in continuous contact with the guiding surface, and the sharpening part is guided to deflect by the guiding surface during an upward or downward movement trajectory of the sharpening part, so as to change an angle between the grinding surface and the blade.

With the above structure, the knife sharpener of the present application has the following advantages compared with the existing technology: when in use, the driving member moves to enable the output unit to output an upward or downward movement trajectory, so that the conveying unit drives the sharpening part to move upward or downward. Under the action of the guiding surface, the sharpening part is rotated to adjust the angle of the grinding surface for a better fitting between the grinding surface and the blade, lowering the wear of the blade and enhancing the sharpening effect.

For example, in a situation where a relatively small sharpening angle is required for some knives, the sharpening part rotates inward (the blade is taken as the center in the present application, a side close to the blade is the inner side, and a side away from the blade is the outer side), and an angle between the grinding surface and the knife body becomes smaller; in a situation where a relatively large sharpening angle is required for some knives, the sharpening part rotates outward, and the angle between the grinding surface and the knife body becomes larger.

With the above improvements, the grinding requirements of different types of knives can be met, and the number of components required in the transmission structure is reduced. This results in a simple structure, relatively low cost, reliable operation, and long service life.

As an improvement of the present application, the grinding surface is arranged on an inner side of the sharpening part;

• • the guiding surface is gradually inclined outward from top to bottom;
  • an outer side of the sharpening part is in contact with the guiding surface;
  • in the upward movement trajectory of the sharpening part, the sharpening part is guided to deflect inward by the guiding surface so as to reduce the angle between the grinding surface and the blade; and
  • in the downward movement trajectory of the sharpening part, the sharpening part is guided to deflect outward by the guiding surface so as to increase the angle between the grinding surface and the blade.

As an improvement of the present application, two sharpening parts are provided, the two sharpening parts are respectively hinged on the output unit, and a knife receiving groove accessible by the blade is formed between respective grinding surfaces of the two sharpening parts.

As an improvement of the present application, the two sharpening parts are independently matched with respective guiding surfaces, and the two sharpening parts are deflected synchronously in the upward or downward movement trajectory of the output unit.

As an improvement of the present application, the grinding surfaces of the two sharpening parts are arranged in a staggered manner in a front and rear direction so that a bottom portion of the knife receiving groove tends to have a negative clearance.

As an improvement of the present application, the sharpening part is connected to an elastic member, and the elastic member drives the sharpening part to have a tendency to be deflected outward, so that the sharpening part is in continuous contact with the guiding surface.

As an improvement of the present application, the output unit is provided with a first transmission surface, and a height of the first transmission surface is lower on a left side than a right side thereof to form an inclined structure;

• • the response assembly includes a response member, the response member is provided with a second transmission surface, and a height of the second transmission surface is lower on a left side than a right side thereof to form an inclined structure;
  • the first transmission surface is fitted to the second transmission surface from an upper and lower direction; and
  • the driving member is in a transmission connection with the response member, and the response member is driven to move leftward or rightward the driving member rotates, so that a contact position between the second transmission surface and the first transmission surface is changed, thereby driving the output unit to move upward or downward.

As an improvement of the present application, the response member is provided with a guiding groove arranged parallel to the second transmission surface, the output unit is provided with a guiding block arranged parallel to the first transmission surface, and the guiding block is matched with the guiding groove.

As an improvement of the present application, the driving member is provided with a gear, and the response member is provided with a rack meshing with the gear.

As an improvement of the present application, a sliding groove extending in an upper and lower direction is arranged in the housing, and the output unit fits into the sliding groove to maintain the upward or downward movement trajectory of the output unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram according to a first embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the structure shown in area A in FIG. 1 according to the present application.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram showing a driving member, a response assembly and a sharpening part according to the first embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 4 is an exploded diagram of the components shown in FIG. 3 according to the present application.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of the response assembly according to the first embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of an output unit and the sharpening part according to the present application.

FIG. 7 is an exploded diagram of the output unit and the sharpening part according to the present application.

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram according to a second embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram according to the first embodiment of the present application with the driving member partially removed.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the structure shown in area B in FIG. 8 according to the present application.

Reference signs are as follows: 1, housing; 1.1, sliding groove; 2, sharpening part; 2.1, grinding surface; 2.11, knife receiving groove; 3, driving member; 3.1, gear; 3.2, positioning groove; 4, response assembly; 4.1, output unit; 4.11, first transmission surface; 4.12, guiding block; 4.13, base; 4.131, connecting part; 4.14, limiting base; 4.141, snapping structure; 4.2, response member; 4.21, second transmission surface; 4.22, guiding groove; 4.23, rack; 5, guiding surface; 6, elastic member; 7, fixed-angle sharpening structure; 7.1, sharpening rod; 8, shaft; 8.1, flexible pin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, a knife sharpener includes a housing 1.

A sharpening part 2, a driving member 3, and a response assembly 4 are arranged on the housing 1.

The response assembly 4 has an output unit 4.1.

The sharpening part 2 is hinged on the output unit 4.1, and the sharpening part 2 has a grinding surface 2.1 for contact with a blade.

The response assembly 4 responds to a movement of the driving member 3, and the response assembly 4 outputs an upward or downward movement trajectory through the output unit 4.1 when the driving member 3 moves.

The housing 1 is further provided with a guiding surface 5, which is inclined to a movement trajectory of the sharpening part 2.

The sharpening part 2 is in continuous contact with the guiding surface 5. In an upward or downward movement trajectory of the sharpening part 2, the sharpening part 2 is guided to deflect by the guiding surface 5, so as to change an angle between the grinding surface 2.1 and the blade.

During operation, the driving member moves to enable the output unit to output an upward or downward movement trajectory, and a conveying unit drives the sharpening part to move upward or downward. Under the action of the guiding surface, the sharpening part is rotated to adjust the angle of the grinding surface for a better fitting between the grinding surface and the blade, thereby reducing the wear on the blade and improving the sharpening effect.

For example, in a situation where a relatively small sharpening angle is required for some knives, the sharpening part 2 rotates inward (the blade is taken as the center in the present application, a side close to the blade is the inner side, and a side away from the blade is the outer side), and an angle between the grinding surface 2.1 and the knife body becomes smaller; in a situation where a relatively large sharpening angle is required for some knives, the sharpening part 2 rotates outward, and the angle between the grinding surface 2.1 and the knife body becomes larger.

With the above improvements, the grinding requirements of different types of knives can be met, and the number of parts required in the transmission structure is reduced, achieving a simple structure, relatively low cost, reliable operation, and long service life.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the grinding surface 2.1 is arranged on the inner side of the sharpening part 2.

The guiding surface 5 is gradually inclined outward from top to bottom.

The outer side of the sharpening part 2 is in contact with the guiding surface 5.

By adopting the above-mentioned configuration of the guiding surface 5:

• • in an upward movement of the sharpening part 2, the sharpening part 2 is guided to deflect inward by the guiding surface 5, so as to reduce the angle between the grinding surface 2.1 and the blade; and
  • in a downward movement of the sharpening part 2, the sharpening part 2 is guided to deflect outward by the guiding surface 5, so as to increase the angle between the grinding surface 2.1 and the blade.

The guiding surface 5 may also be arranged to be gradually inclined inward from top to bottom.

In this embodiment, in the upward movement of the sharpening part 2, the sharpening part 2 is guided to deflect outward by the guiding surface 5, so as to increase the angle between the grinding surface 2.1 and the blade; and

• • in the downward movement of the sharpening part 2, the sharpening part 2 is guided to deflect inward by the guiding surface 5, so as to reduce the angle between the grinding surface 2.1 and the blade.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, two sharpening parts 2 are provided, which are respectively hinged on the output unit 4.1, and a knife receiving groove 2.11 accessible by the blade is formed between the grinding surfaces 2.1 of the two sharpening parts 2.

During sharpening a knife, the blade is placed into the knife receiving groove 2.11 with the bottom thereof facing downward. The knife receiving groove 2.11 is in a V-shape, and a clearance at the bottom part of the knife receiving groove 2.11 is very small, so that the grinding surfaces 2.1 and sides of the blade can be better fitted.

The grinding surfaces 2.1 are located on both sides of the blade, so that both sides of the blade can be sharpened without the need for changing the orientation of the blade, which reduces the operation time of sharpening and provides a better user experience.

The two sharpening parts 2 are independently matched with respective guiding surfaces 5, and the two sharpening parts 2 are deflected synchronously in the upward or downward movement trajectory of the output unit 4.1.

The two guiding surfaces 5 are arranged in approximately symmetrical structure, and a distance between positions on the two guiding surfaces 5 close to the upper end is smaller than a distance between the positions thereon close to the lower end.

When the output unit 4.1 moves upward, the two sharpening parts 2 are deflected synchronously and by the same deflection angle, so that the contact area between the grinding surfaces 2.1 and the side surfaces of the blade is consistent, thereby resulting in a uniform grinding effect on both sides of the blade.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the grinding surfaces 2.1 of the two sharpening parts 2 are arranged in a staggered manner in a front and rear direction so that the bottom part of the knife receiving groove 2.11 tends to have a negative clearance.

In a conventional V-shaped knife receiving groove 2.11, a gap is formed near the bottom part between the left and right opposite grinding surfaces 2.1, and if the blade is relatively thin, two side surfaces of the blade cannot maintain uniform contact with the two grinding surfaces 2.1 after entering the bottom part of the knife receiving groove 2.11, resulting inconsistent grinding effects on the two side surfaces of the blade. This could cause problems such as over-grinding and under-grinding, resulting in poor sharpening effects during the sharpening operation.

In the present application, the grinding surfaces 2.1 are arranged in a staggered manner in the front and rear direction so that the bottom part of the knife receiving groove 2.11 tends to have a negative clearance. Even if a thin blade enters the knife receiving groove 2.11, both side surfaces of the blade can maintain effective and uniform contact with the grinding surfaces 2.1, so that the grinding effect on both sides of the blade is consistent.

The sharpening part 2 is connected to an elastic member 6, which drives the sharpening part 2 to have a tendency to deflect outward, so that the sharpening part 2 is in continuous contact with the guiding surface 5.

The elastic member 6 may be a torsion spring, which is preloaded and connected to the two sharpening parts 2, a top stopper end of the torsion spring is abutted against the sharpening part 2 on the left, and another top stopper end of the torsion spring is abutted against the sharpening part 2 on the right.

With the above improvement, the torsion spring with a simple and compact structure is abutted against the two sharpening parts 2, applying a continuous force on the two sharpening parts 2 to deflect them outward, thereby maintaining effective contact between the sharpening parts 2 and the guiding surface 5, resulting in a linear and highly stable movement trajectory of the sharpening parts 2.

Referring to FIGS. 4-7, the output unit 4.1 is provided with a first transmission surface 4.11, and a height of the first transmission surface 4.11 is lower on the left side than the right side to form an inclined structure.

The response assembly 4 includes a response member 4.2, the response member 4.2 is provided with a second transmission surface 4.21, and a height of the second transmission surface 4.21 is lower on the left side than the right side to form an inclined structure.

The first transmission surface 4.11 is fitted to the second transmission surface 4.21 from the upper and lower direction.

The driving member 3 is in a transmission connection with the response member 4.2, and the driving member 3 rotates to drive the response member 4.2 to move leftward or rightward, so as to change a contact position between the second transmission surface 4.21 and the first transmission surface 4.11, thereby driving the output unit 4.1 to move upward or downward. The second transmission surface 4.21 is arranged on a left side of the response member 4.2.

The driving member 3 rotates to drive the response member 4.2 to move leftward or rightward.

When the response member 4.2 moves leftward, a higher part of the first transmission surface 4.11 gradually contacts a higher part of the second transmission surface 4.21, and the heights of the two are superimposed and the overall height increases, thereby driving the output unit 4.1 to move upward.

When the response member 4.2 moves rightward, a lower part of the first transmission surface 4.11 gradually contacts a lower part of the second transmission surface 4.21, and the heights of the two are superimposed and the overall height decreases, thereby driving the output unit 4.1 to move downward.

With the above improvements, fewer components are required for the response assembly 4, enabling a simple and compact structure, facilitating the miniaturization of the knife sharpener, and increasing the reliability of the knife sharpener. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the response member 4.2 is provided with a guiding groove 4.22 arranged parallel to the second transmission surface 4.21, the output unit 4.1 is provided with a guiding block 4.12 arranged parallel to the first transmission surface 4.11, and the guiding block 4.12 is matched with the guiding groove 4.22.

With the above improvement, in addition to the cooperation between the first transmission surface 4.11 and the second transmission surface 4.21, a double guiding effect achieved, so that the movement of the output unit 4.1 is more stable and reliable.

As an improvement of the present application, the driving member 3 is provided with a gear 3.1, and the response member 4.2 is provided with a rack 4.23 meshing with the gear 3.1.

The driving member 3 is arranged on a right side of the response member 4.2 and is exposed from an upper center of the housing for manual operation by the user.

The gear 3.1 provided on the driving member 3 is in direct transmission connection with the rack 4.23 on the right side of the response member 4.2, resulting in a simple transmission structure and stable and reliable operation.

Apparently, a transmission connection formed by several stages of transmission gears 3.1 may also be arranged between the rack 4.23 and the gear 3.1.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, a sliding groove 1.1 extending in the upper and lower direction is provided on the housing 1. The output unit 4.1 is matched with the sliding groove 1.1 to maintain the upward or downward movement trajectory of the output unit 4.1.

With the above improvements, the movement of the output unit 4.1 is stable and reliable.

Referring to FIG. 7, the output unit 4.1 includes a base 4.13 and a limiting base 4.14 connected to a front part of the base, and two sides of the limiting base 4.14 are detachably connected to the base 4.13 through a snapping structure 4.141.

Lower parts of the base 4.13 and the limiting base 4.14 respectively form first transmission surfaces 4.11, and the two first transmission surfaces 4.11 are coplanar and able to be matched with the second transmission surface 4.21 respectively, so that the stability of the cooperation therebetween is further improved.

The base 4.13 fits into the sliding groove 1.1, and a connecting part 4.131 is provided extending downward from the bottom of the base 4.13, and a guiding block 4.12 is provided inside the connecting part 4.131.

An accommodation space is formed within upper parts of the base 4.13 and the limiting base 4.14 for accommodating the bottom of the sharpening part 2. A pin shaft penetrates the bottom of the sharpening part 2 and is fixed to the accommodation space.

With the above improvements, the output unit 4.1 adopts a detachable structural design, and the sharpening part 2 can be replaced by the user after disassembly, which is conducive to the maintenance of the device. The structural layout is more reasonable, which can reduce the occupied space and is conducive to the miniaturization of the device.

The housing 1 is further provided with a guiding groove corresponding to the response member 4.2 to maintain the left and right movement of the response member.

The housing 1 is further provided with a fixed-angle sharpening structure 7, which include sharpening rods 7.1 arranged in a V-shape.

The fixed angle sharpening structure 7 on the housing 1 is provided for sharpening the knife at a fixed angle, thus enriching the functionality of the device.

The driving member 3 in the present application is sleeved on the shaft body 8 inside the housing 1. A locking structure is further provided between the shaft body 8 and the driving member 3. The locking structure includes a flexible pin 8.1 provided on the shaft body 8. The flexible pin 8.1 is capable of flexibly moving in a radial direction.

The driving member 3 is provided with positioning grooves 3.2 distributed at intervals in an inner hole along a circumferential direction.

The flexible pin 8.1 enters the positioning groove 3.2 to apply a locking force to the driving member 3 to lock the rotation of the driving member 3.

The positioning grooves 3.2 may correspond to a plurality of locking positions of the driving member 3, and each locking position corresponds to a given inclination angle of the grinding surface 2.1.

In addition, the cooperation between the positioning grooves 3.2 and the flexible pin 8.1 also provides rotational feedback during the rotation of the driving member 3, thereby improving the user experience.

The above structure is the first embodiment of the present application. In the first embodiment, the driving member 3 utilizes the rotational torque as the driving source, which drives the response member 4.2 to move through the gear structure and enables the output unit 4.1 to drive the sharpening part 2 to move upward or downward, and with the guiding of the guiding surface 5, the sharpening part 2 is forced to deflect, thereby adjusting the angle.

Referring to FIG. 8, the present application further provides a second embodiment, in which the driving member 3 utilizes a lateral movement as the driving source. In this embodiment, the driving member 3 is connected to a right end of the response member 4.2 and is configured to move along with the response member 4.2. If an angle between the sharpening part 2 and the blade needs to be adjusted, the driving member 3 can be moved laterally, so that it directly drives the response member 4.2 to move laterally, and then the output unit 4.1 drives the sharpening part 2 to move upward or downward. Under the guiding of the guiding surface 5, the sharpening part 2 is forced to deflect, and the angle can be adjusted. Compared with the first embodiment, the structural configuration of the second embodiment is more compact and simple, further improving the reliability of the device.

The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present application. The protection scope of the present application is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical proposals under the concept of the present application belong to the scope of protection of the present application. It should be noted that for a person skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications made without departing from the principle of the present application should also be construed as being within the scope of protection of the present application.