US3075285A

US3075285A - Can openers

Info

Publication number: US3075285A
Application number: US48695A
Authority: US
Inventors: John L Desjardins; Robert E Kennison
Original assignee: Edlund Co Inc
Current assignee: Edlund Co Inc
Priority date: 1960-08-10
Filing date: 1960-08-10
Publication date: 1963-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-29

Description

Jan. 29, 1963 J. DESJARDINS ETAL 3,075,285

CAN OPENERS Filed Aug. 10, 1960 Robert E K enn/son, John L Desybrzflhs,

. lA/VENTOR A TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,075,285 CAN OPENERS John L. Desjardins and Robert E. Kennison, Burlington, Vt., assignors to Edlund Company Inc., Burlington, Vt., a corporation of Vermont Filed Aug. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 48,695 6 Claims. (Cl. 30-4) This invention relates broadly to can openers and more particularly to power driven type of can openers having rotary feeding and cutting wheels.

In many instances the type of power driven can opener as typified by the prior art has utilized a rather heavy base member or a support to which the opener is attached so that its usability was restricted to a certain spot or area. While such an arrangement did in many instances constitute a great improvement over the use of a conventional hand-operated can opener it did not completely meet the present day needs. The present day usage of electricl or power driven implements or appliances has resulted in said implements or appliances being designed for portability thereby enabling them to be used in many different places in a single establishment.

Thus the use of such implements or appliances due to their being portable as distinguished from the prior concepts of providing a stand, base or support for the usage of such power driven appliances has necessitated the redesigning of certain of the appliances. Although such efforts have been directed heretofore in the fabrication of power driven can openers of the portable type they have not, for one reason or another, proven to be entirely satisfactory.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide a portable power driven can opener having a rotatable feed wheel for engaging and holding a can in conjunction with a rotary cutting wheel.

Another object is to provide a portable electrical can opener having a rotatably driven feed wheel and a rotatable cutting wheel the axis of which is offset with respect to the axis of the feed wheel for retaining the edge of a can in engagement with the feed wheel.

Another object is to provide a portable electric can opener having rotary feed and cutting wheels with the cutting wheel having a spring associated therewith for urging the cutting wheel towards the feed wheel to insure constant engagement of the rim of a can with the feed wheel.

A further object is to provide a portable electric can opener having rotary feed and cutting wheels angularly disposed with respect to one another so that the cutting wheel urges a canrim into engagement with the feed wheel while the inner face of the can rim engages and polishes the surface of the cutting wheel.

A still further object is to provide a portable electric can opener having a rotatable cutting wheel provided with a beveled front face for engaging a can cover and causing same to be raised prior to its complete severance from the can body.

Still other objects are to provide a portable electric can opener which is compact and relatively light in weight, positive in operation and which is economical of manufacture.

Other objects and advantages, more or less ancillary to the foregoing in the manner in which all of the various objects are utilized, will appear in the following description which, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

' Referring to the drawing, wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a can opener embodying the present invention with portions thereof shown in section in the interest of clarity;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of the can opener, the view being taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the can opener showing the feed and cutting wheels and the can guides associated therewith;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the position of the cutting wheel and feed wheel prior to the insertion of can between said wheels; and,

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view showing a sup port to which the can opener of the present invention may be attached.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawing there is shown a housing 10 in which is disposed a suitable electric motor, not shown, for supplying the necessary power to operate the can opener of the present invention. The housing 10 has depending therefrom a pistol-type hand grip 11 which is provided with a pivotally actuatedtrigger switch 12 for controlling the starting and stopping of the electric motor. The forward end of the housing 10 is disposed in abutting engagement with the rear end of a housing or casing 14 in which is'disposed the cutting and feed wheels of the can opener and the gear reduction unit of the feed wheel. The housing 10 is formed with two diametrically disposed flange members 15 at the forward end thereof which are secured to complementary members 16 at the rear end of casing 14 by suitable screws 17 so that casing 14and housing 10 can be manipulated and carried aboutas a single unit by the handle 11.

As shown in FIGURE 2 the casing 14 has mounted therein a suitable speed reduction gear unit 18 which is connected to and driven by the drive shaft 19 of the electric motor disposed within housing 10. The speed reduction gear unit 18 is provided with a drive shaft 21 which extends towards the front or forward end of the casing 14; The forward end or front of the casing 14 is open and defined'by two

wall members

22 and 23 that are disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another and which extend upwardly and rearwardly of the casing 14.

The forward endof the casing 14 has a wall or partition 24 formed integrally with and interposed between the wallv outer or front faceformed with a slight beveled surface 28 which slopes from the center of the wheel outwardly andv downwardly towards the peripheral surface 27. The

bottom-"or lowermost edge or' surface 31 of the casing 14 projects outwardly beyond the feed wheel 26 and then slopes upwardly to merge with the front or forward edge of the

wall members

22 and 23. The upwardly and rearwardly inclined front or forward edges of the wall members22 and 23 form in conjunction with the partition 24 a recess 32 for the feed wheel 26 but due to the rearward inclination of theforward edges of the

members

22 and 23 the uppermost portion of the feed wheel 26 is disposed in a plane normal theplane of the. lower edge 7 31 offthe casing.14. The feed wheel 26 is rotatably driven by the electric motor through the drive shaft 19; and speed reduction gear unit 18 and drive shaft 21 and I said feed wheel is adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the casing 14 and housing 10.

The

side wall members

22 and 23 have pivotally mounted therebetween superjacent the feed wheel 26 a block member 33 which has depending from the rear portion thereof a yoke 34 that slidably receives and engages the drive shaft 21. The forward face of the block member 33 is provided with a boss 35 which is offset slightly as regards a plane normal to said block. The boss 35 has a disc or wheel 37 that is formed with a peripheral cutting edge and which is secured to said boss by means of a screw 38 which has a relatively smooth shank portion adjacent its head to permit the cutting wheel to have a free rotative movement with respect to the boss. The cutting wheel 37 has on its front face adjacent its peripheral cutti'ng edge a slightly beveled surface 39, FIGURE 3. The beveled surface 39 is adapted to engage the top or lid of a can during the cutting or severing operation to cause the portion of the can lid diametrically opposite the cutting wheel; to be raised or elevated just prior to complete severance so that the lid may be grasped by an operator and thus prevent it from falling into the contents of the can. The cutting wheel 37 has formed on its rear or back face thereof a tapered surface 40 which is inclined from the peripheral cutting edge towards the axis of rotation of said cutting wheel and which tapered surface terminates in an annular groove or recess 41 which is designed to receive the lip of a can during the cutting operation. The tapered surface 40 and recess 41 provided on the cutting wheel 37 are designed to engage the rim or bead formed on the lid or cover of a can for urging and holding the outer face of the can and the rim or head thereon in engagement with the feed wheel 26 so that the can will be rotatably driven by the feed wheel during the cutting operation.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the boss 35 is slightly offset with respect to the block member 33 so that the longitudinal axis of the boss is not in a plane normal to said block. The cutting wheel 37 is so mounted on the boss 35 by the screw 38 that its axis of rotation coincides with the longitudinal axis of the boss, thus the axis of rotation of the cutting wheel is offset both vertically and horizontally with respect to the axis of rotation of the feed wheel 26. The angular relationship between the cutting wheel axis and the axis of the feed wheel is approximately 7 degrees with the axis of the cutting wheel being olfset to the left of the feed wheel axis as clearly shown in FIGURE 1. The angular relationship of the cutting wheel 37 with respect to the feed wheel 26 tends to aid and abet the proper positioning and retention of the can with respect to the feed wheel during the cutting operation as well as enabling the tapered surface 40 and recess 41 on the cutting wheel 37 to continuously engage the can rim or bead for urging same into engagement with the feed wheel. In addition the angular relationship of the cutting wheel 37 with respect to the feed wheel 26 is so designed that during the cutting or severing operation of a can lid the inside edge portion of the can rim continuously engages and Wipes the rear or back face of the cutting edge of the cutting wheel as well as a portion of the tapered surface 40 which results in the cutting wheel being polished and sharpened by the can surface.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 4 a coiled compressioned spring 43 is loosely mounted on the drive shaft 21 between suitable washers 44 that are disposed in abutting engagement with the partition 24 and yoke 34. The spring 43 continuously tends to urge the yoke 34 away from the partition 24 and about its pivotal mounting between the

wall members

22 and 23 which movement results in the cutting wheel 37 being held in engagement with the feed wheel 26 or with a can cover and the inside of the can rim when a cover is being removed. The

wall members

22 and 23 have formed on the inner faces thereof, adjacent their upper edges, a boss or projection 45 which are adapted to receive a rod 46 upon which the lower end of a handle member 47 is pivotally mounted. The lower end of the handle 47 is formed with an enlarged segment or cam member 48 that engages, upon the movement of the handle, an arm 49 which projects from the rear or back face of the block member 33 in a plane substantially normal to the yoke member 34. The movement of the handle 47 about its pivot 46, in a clockwise manner when viewing FIGURE 2, causes the cam 48 to engage the outer end of arm 49 and move said arm and block member 33 in a clockwise direction about their pivotal mounting between the side members 22 and '23 to cause the yoke 34 to compress the spring 43 towards the partition 24 and at the same time move the cutting disc or wheel 37 outwardly and upwardly from its engagement with the forward face of the feed wheel 26. Such a movement of the handle 47 and cutting wheel 37 enables an operator to insert the rim or bead of a can between the cutting wheel and feed wheel or to remove a can therefrom. The

wall members

22 and 23 have a bar 53 mounted therein contiguous to the bosses 45 which limits the movement of the handle 47 in a counterclockwise direction, FIGURE 2. The handle 47 in its normal or inoperative position projects upwardly beyond the casing 14 and upon being moved downwardly towards the housing 10 cams the arm 49, block member 33 and yoke 34 about their pivot point causing the cutting wheel 37 to be elevated with respect to the feed wheel 26 and at the same time compressing the spring 43 so that upon releasing the handle 47 the spring causes the yoke block member, arm and handle to return to their initial or normal positions and at the same time moving the cutting wheel 37 into engagement with the top of a can and pull the can towards the feed wheel so that the rim or head of the can will be brought into and retained in engagement with the surface 27 of the feed wheel.

The forward end of the casing 14 adjacent the front edge or face of the

wall members

22 and 23 is formed with recesses which are adapted to have can guides 52 and 53, FIGURES 1 and 3, mounted therein by screws 54. The can guides are disposed on each side of the casing 14 in diametric relation to one another and they are of sufficient size to embrace at least the area of the feed wheel 26 that is overlapped by the cutting disc 37. The guide member 53 positioned on the feed out side of the casing 14 is formed with a forwardly extending finger or segment 55 under and against which the rim or bead of a can is adapted to rotate so as to insure the retention of the can opener in a level position with respect to the can that is being opened. Thus if the can opener should have a tendency to rotate during the cutting operation, as a result of the running torque of the feed wheel and the resistance of the can, the finger 55 will retain the opener in proper level position to insure the retention of the feed wheel 26 in engagement with the can rim. The tapered surface 40 of the cutting wheel 37 also cooperates with the finger or segment 55 in smoothing down the top edge or rim of the can during the cutting operation. The angular displacement of the cutting wheel 37 with respect to the feed wheel 26 results in the tapered surface 40 and recess 41 engaging the rim or head of a can to guide and retain the can rim or bead in engagement with the can guide 52 and also in keeping the can rim or head disposed over the feed wheel and in engagement with the toothed surface 27. The outwardly projecting surface or edge 31 of the casing 14 is designed to engage the body of a can to retain same in the proper vertical position for the opening of the can and the finger 55 on the guide 53 also aids in retaining the can in a vertical position.

As shown in FIGURE 2 the casing 14 may have a flexible spring-like arm 58 affixed thereto which arm has mounted thereon by a suitable bolt 59 a magnet 60. The magnet 60, due to the flexibility of the arm 58, may be moved into engagement with the top or lid of a can prior to commencing the cutting operation so that the magnet can hold or retain the cover after it has been severed from the can. The bolt 59 is freely mounted in the arm 58 so that the magnet 60 is capable of rotative movement with respect to the arm.

In the operation of the can opener of the present invention the motor is connected to a suitable source of electric current and the handle 47 is then moved downwardly towards the housing 10 to permit the insertion of the rim or head of a can between the feed wheel 26 and cutting disc 37 after which the handle is released. The spring 43 causes the cutting disc to move into engagement with the top of the can adjacent the rim or head of the can while at the same time causing the can rim to be brought into engagement with the surface 27 of the feed wheel 26. The spring also causes the yoke 34 and arm 49 to return to their initial position which movement causes the handle 47 to move about its pivot rod 46 until it engages the stop bar 50. The movement of the cutting disc 37 towards the feed wheel 26 and into engagement with the top of the can causes the can rim to also be moved in engagement with the guide member 52. This movement of the cutting wheel into engagement with the can top is due to the action of the spring 43 in urging the yoke 34 to return to its initial position and the force of the spring 43 holds the cutting wheel 37 in engagement with the can top. The head or rim of the can is at this time being held in engagement with the toothed surface 27 of the feed wheel 26 so that upon actuation of the trigger switch 12 the electric motor will be energized and the feed wheel 26 rotatably driven. Upon the starting of the electric motor and the rotation of the feed wheel, which results in the can starting to rotate, the cutting disc 37 will immediately puncture the can lid or cover and continue to sever the lid from the can upon the continued rotation of the can. The puncturing of the can lid and the commencement of the severing of the lid are practically instantaneous with the actuation of the trigger switch 12. As the lid is severed from the can the bevelled surface 39 on the cutting disc 37 causes the portion of the lid opposite the cutting wheel to be raised or elevated just prior to complete severance so that the severed lid may be grasped by the operator and removed.

The can opener of the present invention may be mounted upon a support or stand as shown in FIGURE wherein the forward portion of the casing 14 is mounted in an arcuate shaped cradle member 62 by suitable bolts 63. The cradle or support member 62 is provided with a depending rod-like member 64 which is slidably disposed in a bracket member 65 that is mounted on a suitable support 66 by screws 67. The rod member 64 is formed with a plurality of spaced apertures 68 through which a suitable pin, not shown, is adapted to extend for adjustably positioning the can opener on the support 66. Such an arrangement provides a ready support for the can opener so that it can be employed as a portable unit or as one that is mounted upon a stationary support.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be rmtrictive or confining, and various re-arrangements of parts and modifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as claimed herein.

We claim:

1. A can opener comprising a housing having an open front end defined by spaced wall members, a partition provided in said housing adjacent the open end, a horizontal rotatable shaft extending through said partition, power means carried by said housing and operatively connected to one end of said shaft, a can advancing feed wheel mounted on said shaft adjacent the open end of said housing, a block pivotally mounted in said Wall members superjacent said partition, a rotatable cutting wheel carried by said block, said cutting wheel coacting with said feed wheel for receiving therebetween the rim of a can to sever the cover from the can, the axis of rotation of said cutting wheel being offset both vertically and horizontally from the axis of rotation of said feed wheel, the axis of rotation of said cutting wheel and being forwardly convergent with the horizontal and vertical planes through the feed wheel axis to insure the engagement and retention by said cutting wheel of the rim of a can with said feed wheel, guide means mounted on said wall members in a plane substantially normal to said partition for guiding the rim of a can into engagement with said feed wheel, an arm associated with said cutting wheel, a handle pivotally mounted in said wall members, a cam element on said handle engageable with said arm upon the rotation of said handle for pivotally moving said cutting wheel with respect to said feed wheel to facilitate the positioning of the rim of a can in engagement with said feed wheel, a yoke member formed integrally with said block, a spring interposed between said yoke member and partition for moving said block about its pivot and urging said cutting wheel into engagement with the cover of the can for retaining the rim of the can in engagement with said guide means and feed wheel.

2. A can opener comprising a housing having an open front end defined by spaced wall members, a partition in said housing adjacent said open front end, said partition being offset with respect to the open end of said housing to define a recess, a horizontal rotatable shaft, extending through said partition, power means carried by said housing and operatively connected to one end of said shaft, a canadvancing feed wheel mounted on the other end of said shaft within said recess, a block pivotally mounted in said wall members superjacent said partition, a rotatable cutting wheel carried by said block with a portion of said cutting wheel overlying and engaging a segment of said feed wheel, guide means mounted on said side walls and adapted to lie in the plane of said segment of said feed Wheel, said cutting wheel and said feed wheel being adapted to receive between the overlying portions thereof a rim of a can with the peripheral surface of the feed wheel engaging the outer surface of the can rim and the cutting wheel engaging the inner surface of the can rim, a depending yoke member on said block adapted to overlie said shaft, a coil spring positioned on said shaft and engaging said partition and yoke member for urging said cutting wheel into engagement with the can and the rim of the can intoengagement with said guide means and feed wheel, said cutting wheel being provided with a beveled surface adjacent its peripheral edge for engaging the lid of the can to raise a portion of said lid just prior to its complete severance from the can.

3. A can opener comprising a housing having an open end defined by spaced wall members, a partition in said housing adjacent said open end, said partition being olfset with respect to the open end of said housing to define a recess, a rotatable shaft extending through said partition, power means carried by said housing and operatively connected to one end of said shaft, a can advancing feed wheel mounted on said shaft within said recess, a .block pivotally mounted in said wall members superjacent said partition, a rotatable cutting wheel carried by said block with a portion of said cutting wheel overlying and engaging a segment of said feed wheel, guide means mounted on said side walls and adapted to lie in the plane of said segment of said feed wheel, said cutting wheel and said feed wheel being adapted to receive between the overlying portions thereof a rim of a can with the peripheral surface of the feed wheel engaging the outer surface of the can rim and the cutting wheel engaging the inner surface of the can rim, a depending yoke member on said block adapted to overlie said shaft, a coil spring positioned on said shaft and engaging said partition and yoke member for urging said cutting wheel into engagement with the can and the rim of the can into engagement with said guide means and feed wheel, one of said guide means having a forwardly projecting segment adapted to engage the rim of a can to retain the can opener in a level position relative to the can during the severing of the cover from the can, the bottom portion of said wall members defining a forwardly projecting lower edge adapted to engage a can for supporting said can in proper position with respect to said feed wheel.

4. A can opener comprising a housing, said housing including a pair of wall members disposed in spaced parallel relation and arranged to project above the housing, a partition provided in said housing, a shaft rotatably supported in said partition, and adapted to project from opposite faces of the partition, a can advancing feed wheel mounted on said shaft adjacent one face of said partition, a coil spring positioned on said shaft and engageable with the other face of said partition, a block pivotally mounted in said wall members superjacent said partition, a boss projecting from one face of said block, an arm projecting from another face of said block, said boss and arm projecting from said block in opposed relation to one another, a can cutting wheel rotatably mounted on said boss and adapted to engage said feed wheel in its inoperative state, a yoke member provided on said block engageable with said coil spring for moving said block about its pivot and urging said cutting wheel toward and into engagement with the feed wheel, power means connected to said shaft for rotating said feed Wheel, and means pivotally mounted between said wall members and engageable with said arm for moving said block about its pivot contemporaneous with the moving of the cutting wheel away from said feed wheel to permit the positioning of a can with respect to the feed wheel.

5. A portable can opener comprising a casing having an open end defined by spaced wall members, a motor containing housing secured to the other end of said casing, a depending handle secured to said housing, a switch pivotally mounted in said handle, a partition in said casing adjacent said open end, a speed reduction gear unit mounted in said casing and operatively connected to the motor housing, a drive shaft connected to said gear unit and rotatably supported in said partition, a can advancing feed wheel mounted on said shaft, a block member pivotally mounted in said wall members superjacent said partition,

a boss provided on said block member, a cutting wheel rotatably mounted on said boss with a portion of said cutting wheel overlying and engaging a segment of said feed wheel, guide means mounted on said side walls and adapted to lie in the plane of said segment of said feed wheel, said cutting wheel and feed wheel being adapted to receive between the overlying portions thereof a rim of a can with the peripheral surface of the feed wheel engaging the outer surface of the can rim and the cutting wheel engaging the inner surface of the can, the axis of rotation of said cutting wheel being offset both vertically and horizontally from the axis of rotation of said feed wheel, the axis of rotation of said cutting wheel being forwardly convergent with the horizontal and vertical planes through the feed wheel axis to insure the engagement of the feed wheel with the rim of a can, a depending yoke member on said block member adapted to overlie said drive shaft adjacent said gear unit, a coil spring positioned on said drive shaft and engageable with said yoke member and partition for urging said block member about its pivot and the cutting wheel into engagement with the rim of a can, an armson said bloc-k member, a handle pivotally mounted in said wall members, a cam element on said handle engageable with said arm upon the movement of the handle towards said housing to compress said spring and move said cutting wheel with respect to said feed wheel to facilitate the positioning of the rim of a can in engagement with said feed wheel.

6. A portable can opener comprising a casing having an open end defined by spaced wall members, a motor containing housing secured to the other end of said casing, a depending handle secured to said housing, a switch pivotally mounted in said handle, a partition in said casing adjacent said open end, a speed reductiongear unit mounted in said casing and operatively connected to the motor housing, a drive shaft connected to said gear unit and rotatably supported in said partition, a can advancing feed wheel mounted on said shaft, a block member pivotally mounted in said wall members superjacent said partition, a boss provided on said block member, a cutting wheel rotatably mounted on said boss with a portion of said cutting wheel overlying and engaging a segment of said feed wheel, guide means mounted on said side walls and adapted to lie in the plane of said segment of said feed Wheel, said cutting wheel and feed Wheel being adapted to receive between the overlying portions thereof a rim of a can with the peripheral surface of the feed wheel engaging the outer surface of the can rim and the cutting wheel engaging the inner surface of the can, the axis of rotation of said cutting wheel being olfset both vertically and horizontally from the axis of rotation of said feed wheel, the axis of rotation of said cutting wheel being forwardly convergent with the horizontal and vertical planes through the feed wheel axis to insure the engagement of the feed wheel with the rim of a can, a depending yoke member on said block member adapted to overlie said drive shaft adjacent said gear unit, a coil spring positioned on said drive shaft and engageable with said yoke member and partition for urging said block member about its pivot and the cutting wheel into engagement with the rim of a can, an arm on said block member, a handle pivotally mounted in said wall members, a cam element on said handle engageable with said arm upon the movement of the handle towards said housing to compress said spring and move said cutting wheel with respect to said feed wheel to facilitate the positioning of the rim of a can in engagement with said feed wheel, a cradle member engageable with said casing, a rod secured to said cradle member and slida-bly adjustable in a bracket member, said bracket member being afiixed to a support for supporting said can opener.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,278,731 Olschewski Apr. 7, 1942 2,361,561 Mueller et a1 Oct. 31, 1944 2,582,504 Reed Ian. 15, 1952 2,583,034 Wibling Jan. 22, 1952 2,592,937 McLean Apr. 15, 1952 2,595,162 Nessler Apr. 29, 1952 2,609,599 Wilson Sept. 9, 1952 2,618,848 Johnson Nov. 25, 1952 2,825,963 Sykes et al Mar. 11, 1958 2,883,745 Bristol Apr. 28, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 274,531 Italy May 23, 1930 436,634 Italy June 14, 1948