Apparatus for opening cans and sharpening knives

Claim 1

AN ELECTRIC SHARPENER FOR KNIVES AND THE LIKE COMPRISING: A HOUSING; AN ELECTRIC MOTOR HAVING A SHAFT WITH SPACED APART SHOULDERS MOUNTED WITHIN THE HOUSING; ELECTRIC CIRCUIT MEANS FOR ENERGIZING THE MOTOR; A GRINDING WHEEL HAVING AN INTERIOR, TEFLON-TYPE SPLIT BUSHING ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON THE SHAFT INTERMEDIATE SAID SHOULDERS; MEANS INCLUDING THE HOUSING FOR SUPPORTING AND GUIDING A BLADE TO BE SHARPENED INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH A SIDE OF THE WHEEL SUCH THAT THE BLADE, IN BEING PRESSED AGAINST THE WHEEL, EXERTS A FORCE ON THE WHEEL TENDING TO SLIDE THE WHEEL AXIALLY ON THE SHAFT; COMPRESSIBLE FIBER WASHERS DISPOSED INTERMEDIATE SAID SHOULDERS AND SAID BUSHING; AND A SPRING-BIASED SLIP CLUTCH CONNECTED BETWEEN THE SHOULDER ON ONE SIDE OF THE WHEEL AND ONE SIDE OF SAID WHEEL BUSHING TO URGE SAID BUSHING AGAINST THE OTHER SHOULDER, SAID CLUTCH HAVING A PREDETERMINED TORQUE TRANSFER CHARACTERISTIC WHICH ALLOWS THE BUSHING AND WHEEL TO SLIP RELATIVE TO THE SHAFT BEFORE THE AXIAL FORCE OF THE BLADE AGAINST THE WHEEL IS SUFFICIENT TO DAMAGE THE BLADE.