EP0305713B1 - Electric can-opener - Google Patents

Electric can-opener Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0305713B1
EP0305713B1 EP88111488A EP88111488A EP0305713B1 EP 0305713 B1 EP0305713 B1 EP 0305713B1 EP 88111488 A EP88111488 A EP 88111488A EP 88111488 A EP88111488 A EP 88111488A EP 0305713 B1 EP0305713 B1 EP 0305713B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
opener
cutter
shaft
operating lever
resilient member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP88111488A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0305713A1 (en
Inventor
Reinhard Kurz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Braun GmbH
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Braun GmbH
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Braun GmbH filed Critical Braun GmbH
Priority to AT88111488T priority Critical patent/ATE63290T1/en
Publication of EP0305713A1 publication Critical patent/EP0305713A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0305713B1 publication Critical patent/EP0305713B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
    • B67B7/00—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers
    • B67B7/38—Power-operated cutting devices

Definitions

  • Electrically driven can opener with a housing accommodating a drive motor and a drive mechanism, a transport wheel arranged on the outside of a housing wall and drivable by the drive motor and the drive mechanism, and a shaft rotatably mounted at a distance from the transport wheel on the housing wall and separating the can lid of a can Knife and a manually operated and rotatably mounted on the housing actuating lever through which the knife can be pivoted from a position to a cutting position and through which the drive motor can be switched on via a switch.
  • a known can opener of the type specified (DE-OS 30 48 063)
  • the knife is simultaneously mounted on the actuating lever actuating the switch. Both parts are arranged on the outside of the housing wall.
  • the actuating lever with the knife is first pivoted and the switch actuated which switches on the drive motor for the transport wheel.
  • the piercing and detaching of a can lid then takes place automatically with the aid of the electric drive, the actuating lever with the knife being automatically pivoted into the can, that is to say into the cutting position.
  • the knife In the cutting position, the knife is supported on the actuating lever, so that the actuating lever automatically remains in the switched-on position until the cutting process has ended.
  • the known can opener has the disadvantage that an interruption of a cutting process which has already started is not readily possible, since that during the cutting process from the knife to the actuating member acting torque keeps the switch in the on position. The consumer must therefore put up with the fact that the can lid is completely cut off if he does not want to forcefully pull the actuating lever back into the starting position. Furthermore, it is to be regarded as less advantageous that the knife has to be inserted into the can lid by the actuating lever before the drive motor is rotated by the switch. This concept inevitably means that a relatively long actuator must be used to apply the piercing force. The rigid connection between the actuating lever and the knife, including the long lever, leads to large actuation paths and to the undesired application of force to the actuating lever by the knife, which makes handling the can opener considerably more difficult.
  • the object of the invention is therefore to provide a can opener of the type mentioned, by which the function of pressing the knife on the can lid and switching on or off is released, in which the knife automatically moves into the can lid after switching on the drive motor and in which the drive motor is only likely to be operated if a can is inserted in the can opener.
  • the actuating lever is designed as a cam switching lever, that the cam switching lever causes the actuation of the switch only in a certain middle angular position that in a transmission area from the actuating lever to the cutting arrangement, a spring-elastic element is formed, which on one side at one point of the actuating lever and on the other side on a lever arm of the knife shaft engages eccentrically that a return spring is formed between the knife shaft and the housing, that the cutting geometry with respect to the cutting edge and the bearing of the knife and the transport wheel is designed such that after Applying the knife to the can lid and then rotating the can an automatic piercing and cutting of the knife on the can lid with little contact force and that a plate is attached to the knife that comes to rest at the edge of the can during the cutting process to limit the depth of cut of the knife.
  • a first advantage is that the resilient element ensures that no noteworthy forces act on the switch-on element that arise during the cutting process, so that the motor can be switched off at any time via the single switch-on element. Furthermore, it is advantageous that with all cans, regardless of the distance between the can lid and the support surface of the transport wheel on the edge of the can, the transport wheel is only set in rotation when it is ensured that the knife lies with sufficient pressing force on the can lid. Only then will the knife automatically stick into the can lid when the drive motor is switched on.
  • the can opener can only be switched on when a deformation of the resilient element takes place, i.e. when a can is actually attached to the can opener, which means that at Deformation of the resilient element and the pivot angle of the lever that occurs in this way the switch is switched on by this.
  • Another advantage is that, after the knife rests on the can lid, upon further actuation of the element actuating the switch, the resilient element is prestressed with a low pretensioning force, so that the knife is also pretensioned against the can lid. With corresponding Cutting geometry alone is sufficient for this pretensioning force to automatically insert the knife into the can lid as soon as the transport wheel sets the can in rotation, without restoring forces acting on the switch-actuating element. This makes a particularly short actuation lever possible.
  • the invention furthermore makes it possible that only a single actuating element is required to actuate the knife and to actuate the switch.
  • An equally important advantage according to the invention is that the resilient element is relaxed at any time during the cutting process by pivoting the actuating element back, and it is therefore possible to switch off the drive motor even though the knife remains in its cutting position. Subsequent removal of the can from the knife and the transport wheel is then easily possible at any time if the can lid has not yet been completely separated from the can.
  • the element actuating the switch is the actuating lever and that the resilient element mechanically connects the actuating lever to the knife.
  • the resilient element forms an automatic component, so that the knife can be locally separated from the actuating lever.
  • the mounting of the actuating lever can be arranged at a distance from the knife mounting, as a result of which the lever can be conveniently placed on the housing of the can opener, both from an ergonomic point of view and for safety reasons.
  • the can opener according to the invention therefore enables a particularly handy and practical housing design.
  • the actuating lever can be arranged within a handle formed by a closed frame, so that the risk of unintentional actuation of the can opener is low.
  • the resilient element as a separate component, it can be special in terms of strength and spring characteristic be manufactured precisely. This allows a more sensitive actuation of the actuation lever and thus a better handling of the can opener.
  • actuating lever which is present anyway.
  • the actuating lever is preferably connected directly to the knife, so that there is no elastic deformation in this area when the actuating lever is actuated; the elastic deformation then rather arises on the elastically designed actuating lever, in that after the knife rests on the can lid, when the actuating lever is pulled further, it no longer rotates, but only deforms along the lever length until the switch is actuated.
  • the actuating lever is rotatably mounted on the housing, the spring-elastic element being coupled to a connecting part mounted in the housing, which is connected to a shaft carrying the knife, and the spring-elastic element consisting of spring wire , whose roughly right-angled ends engage in bores arranged eccentrically on the actuating lever and on the connecting part.
  • a sliding member can also be used, so that an eccentric bore is only arranged on the connecting part. Due to the eccentrically arranged bores, the movement initiated on the lever is transmitted to the knife as a rotary movement.
  • the spring-elastic element present in the transmission path between the lever and the knife when correctly designed, enables the drive motor to be switched on before the knife is inserted into the can lid.
  • the connecting part is detachable with the shaft is connected. Disassembly allows easy cleaning and replacement of the knife.
  • one or both ends of the resilient element are Z-shaped.
  • the coupling rod formed by the spring wire bends after the knife comes to rest on the edge of the can lid when the lever is pivoted further into the switch-on position.
  • At least one end of the resilient element can additionally be bent several times.
  • the central region of the spring-elastic element can be shaped into a single or multiple spiral.
  • the helix can be arranged eccentrically to the longitudinal axis of one or both lateral areas of the resilient element.
  • the resilient element can preferably be made of metal and / or plastic. Rubber-elastic plastics can also be used here. When combining the materials metal / plastic, it is conceivable that the two edge ends are connected to one another via a rubber-elastic element.
  • the distance between the actuating lever and the switch must be such that when the actuating lever is actuated, it only switches on the switch and thus the drive motor by deforming the resilient element after the knife has been placed on the can lid.
  • the invention further provides that the knife, the connecting part, the resilient element and the actuating lever can be moved into the starting position by a return spring.
  • these parts are basically in the starting position in the rest position. The starting position enables easy opening and operation of the can opener with one hand.
  • the end of the shaft provided with a flattened portion engages in a non-rotatable manner in a flattened portion correspondingly formed in a bore in the connecting part.
  • the connecting part is designed as a flat circular disc with a radial lever arm having an eccentric bore.
  • the circular disk can be produced particularly easily as a stamped part if it is made of metal or as a molded part if it is made of plastic.
  • the connecting part can be permanently connected to the shaft.
  • the connecting part In the case of a knife which can be removed from the can opener, on the other hand, the connecting part must be releasably connected to the shaft.
  • an unlockable latch is provided according to the invention, which engages in a groove formed in the shaft.
  • the unlockable bolt is held in the starting position by a spring which acts counter to the release direction of the bolt and thus always ensures that the shaft is held securely in the can opener.
  • an actuating button secured in the housing for actuating the bolt is held in its initial position.
  • the rotatability of the knife beyond an extreme cutting position is limited by a stop and that when the actuating lever is actuated into the end position of the knife defined by the stop without a can being cut open, the actuating lever can only be moved further by tensioning the spring-elastic element arranged between the actuating lever and the shaft into a position in which the switch is then closed.
  • the actuating lever can only be moved further by tensioning the spring-elastic element arranged between the actuating lever and the shaft into a position in which the switch is then closed.
  • the knife first rotates to its end position at the stop, covering the transport wheel from the side and from the front. A risk of injury in this position is now completely excluded by the knife, even if the other hand turns the actuating lever _ the knife remains in its end position _ the drive motor is switched on and the transport wheel is set in rotation. Childproofing is achieved by this inventive design.
  • the can opener shown consists of a substantially cuboid housing 1, in which there is a gear, not shown, with an electric drive motor (also not shown) for a transport wheel 2.
  • the transport wheel 2 is located on the outside of a housing wall 3 and is screwed to a drive shaft 4 which connects the housing wall 3 penetrates and which is mounted in this and an opposite housing wall 5.
  • a spacer 6 is provided on the drive shaft 4, which transmits the pressure force occurring during the cutting process to the housing wall 3.
  • the outer diameter of the spacer 6 is larger than the outer diameter of the toothed transport wheel 2 and in this way forms an additional side guide for the can rim 41, which counteracts tipping of the can or, if the can 46 is held tight, tipping of the can opener.
  • a shaft 7 is mounted in the housing 1 parallel to the drive shaft 4 and carries a knife 8 at its end protruding from the housing wall 3.
  • the knife 8 is fixed by a screw 9 on the end face of the shaft 7 in a rotationally fixed and axially immovable manner.
  • an intermediate disk 10 is provided, on which a compression spring 11 is supported, which rests on the housing wall 3.
  • the end of the shaft 7 engages in a bore 37 of a sleeve 12 which is designed as a connecting part and which is mounted in a bearing eye 13 on the housing wall 5.
  • a sleeve 12 which is designed as a connecting part and which is mounted in a bearing eye 13 on the housing wall 5.
  • the end of the shaft 7 engaging in the sleeve 12 is provided with a flat 14, with which a flat 15 formed in the sleeve 12 in the bore 37 is in engagement.
  • the sleeve 12 has an arm 16 with a bore 17 into which the bent end 18 of a spring-elastic element made of spring wire engages in the form of a coupling rod 19.
  • the other bent end 20 of the coupling rod 19 engages in a bore 21 in one of FIG. 1 behind the sectional plane lying in the housing 1 rotatably mounted lever 22 which serves to actuate the can opener.
  • a cam 23 for actuating a switch 38 is also provided on the lever 22 (FIG. 2).
  • the shaft 7 is held by a bolt 24 designed as a plate, which is mounted on the inside of the housing wall 3 on pins 25 from top to bottom and vice versa.
  • a bore 26 is provided in the plate 24, through which the shaft 7 is inserted.
  • the edge of the bore 26 engages in a groove 27 formed in the shaft 7 and thereby forms an axial bearing which holds the shaft 7 on the housing 1 in the axial direction.
  • the plate 24 engages with a forked end 50 in a groove 28 which is formed on a stop 29 screwed into the housing wall 3 and designed as a guide pin.
  • the distance between the plate 24 and the housing wall 3 can be varied by the screwing depth of the guide pin 29 into the housing 1. In this way, the axial position of the shaft 7 and thus the distance a of the knife 8 relative to the transport wheel 2 can be set precisely with the aid of the guide pin 29.
  • the plate 24 is pressed in its locking position shown (Fig. 1) by a spring clip 30 in the drawing upwards.
  • a pushbutton 31 which penetrates the housing 1 is provided on the top of the housing 1 and rests on an angled portion 32 formed on the plate 24 at the edge thereof. If the push button 31 is actuated in the direction of the shaft 7, the plate 24 can be pushed downward against the force of the spring clip 30 until the edge of the bore 26 out of the groove 28 emerges and the bore 26 is aligned with the shaft 7. Due to the action of the compression spring 11, the shaft 7 is then automatically shifted to the right, so that the plate 24 can no longer snap into the groove 26.
  • the knife 8 and the shaft 7 can now be removed from the housing 1 together even after the push button has been released, for example for cleaning purposes.
  • the end of the shaft 7 is provided with a chamfer 40, the smallest diameter of which engages in the bore 26 even when the plate 24 is not depressed, and the plate 24 when the shaft 7 is displaced further pulls down.
  • the knife 8 If the knife 8 is in the cutting position (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 4), its cutting edge 43 is in front of the latter in the direction of rotation 42 of the transport wheel 2. In order to achieve this position, the knife 8 must be pivoted by actuating the lever 22 (FIGS. 1 and 2) against a return spring 33 engaging the sleeve 12.
  • the coupling rod 19 transmits the rotary movement of the lever 22 to the sleeve 12, which takes the shaft 7 with it in its movement via the flat 15.
  • the torque that can be generated here is not sufficient to insert the knife 8 with its piercing tip 44 into the can lid 45 at the start of a cutting process.
  • the coupling rod 19 is therefore elastically deformable (see dashed line in Fig.
  • the can 46 (FIG. 4) is driven via its can edge 41 by the transport wheel 2 and thereby rotated, and at the same time the cover 45 becomes the knife 8 cut, as long as the lid 45 is not completely separated from the rest of the can 46.
  • the lever 22 If the lever 22 is moved back to the starting position after the cutting process has ended, it first actuates the switch 38, which switches off the drive motor of the can opener. At the same time, the spring-elastic element 19 is relaxed and pulls the sleeve 19 into its starting position, which in turn pivots the shaft 7 together with the knife 8 back into its starting position. The automatic return process is only guaranteed by the return spring 33.
  • the switch-on pressure on the lever 22 must first be released.
  • the lever 22 rotates back into its initial position to the extent that it is moved back in the direction of the initial position by the movement released when the spring-elastic element 19 is released.
  • the switch 38 is actuated, which switches off the drive motor.
  • the knife 8 is held in the cutting position.
  • the can opener is pivoted slightly upward while holding the can 46.
  • the knife 8 is released from the cutting gap and is moved back into its starting position by the return spring 33.
  • FIG. 3 shows a variant of the coupling rod 19 formed from spring wire, in which, in order to increase the elasticity, the central region of the spring-elastic element 19 is bent into a twisted spiral 34.
  • Essentially straight sections 35 lead from the helix 34 to the two bent ends 18, 20 of the coupling rod 19.
  • the sections 35 lie on a common longitudinal axis which affects the turns of the eccentrically arranged helix 34.
  • the bent ends 18, 20 lie in a common plane, and the spirals 34 are essentially above this plane in the drawing.
  • the extent of the elasticity and the direction of the buckling can be predetermined in the desired manner by the number and position of the turns of the helix 34.
  • the design of the coupling rod 19 according to FIG. 3 therefore offers the designer a wide scope for designing the power transmission from the lever 22 to the sleeve 12 and from there to the shaft 7 of the knife bearing.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Devices For Opening Bottles Or Cans (AREA)
  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
  • Discharge Heating (AREA)
  • Glass Compositions (AREA)
  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)

Abstract

The electrically driven can opener is composed of a housing (1) accommodating a drive mechanism, a drivable drive wheel (2) which is located on the outside of a housing wall (3), a cutter (8) rotatably supported on the housing wall (3) at a distance from the drive wheel (2) and an operating member (22) to be operated by hand and mounted on the housing (1), which latter member serves to swivel the cutter (8) from a clamp-on position into a cutting position and to switch on the drive motor by means of a switch (38). The operating member (22) and the cutter (8) are interconnected by a spring-elastic element (19).

Description

Elektrisch angetriebener Dosenöffner mit einem einen Antriebsmotor und einen Antriebsmechanismus aufnehmenden Gehäuse, einem auf der Außenseite einer Gehäusewand angeordneten, von dem Antriebsmotor und dem Antriebsmechanismus antreibbaren Transportrad, einem im Abstand von dem Transportrad an der Gehäusewand über eine Welle drehbar gelagerten, den Dosendeckel einer Konservendose auftrennenden Messer und einem von Hand zu betätigenden und am Gehäuse drehbar gelagerten Betätigungshebel, durch das den Messer aus einer Ansetzposition in eine Schneidposition schwenkbar ist und durch den der Antriebsmotor über einen Schalter einschaltbar ist.Electrically driven can opener with a housing accommodating a drive motor and a drive mechanism, a transport wheel arranged on the outside of a housing wall and drivable by the drive motor and the drive mechanism, and a shaft rotatably mounted at a distance from the transport wheel on the housing wall and separating the can lid of a can Knife and a manually operated and rotatably mounted on the housing actuating lever through which the knife can be pivoted from a position to a cutting position and through which the drive motor can be switched on via a switch.

Bei einem bekannten Dosenöffner der angegebenen Art (DE-OS 30 48 063) ist an dem den Schalter betätigenden Betätigungshebel gleichzeitig das Messer gelagert. Beide Teile sind auf der Außenseite der Gehäusewand angeordnet. Zum Betätigen des Dosenöffners wird zunächst der Betätigungshebel mit dem Messer verschwenkt und der Schalter betätigt, der den Antriebsmotor für das Transportrad einschaltet. Das Einstechen und Abtrennen eines Dosendeckels erfolgt dann selbsttätig mit Hilfe des elektrischen Antriebs, wobei der Betätigungshebel mit dem Messer in die Dose, also in die Schneidposition selbsttätig geschwenkt wird. In der Schneidposition stützt sich das Messer an dem Betätigungshebel ab, so daß der Betätigungshebel selbsttätig in der Einschaltstellung verbleibt, bis der Schneidvorgang beendet ist.In a known can opener of the type specified (DE-OS 30 48 063), the knife is simultaneously mounted on the actuating lever actuating the switch. Both parts are arranged on the outside of the housing wall. To actuate the can opener, the actuating lever with the knife is first pivoted and the switch actuated which switches on the drive motor for the transport wheel. The piercing and detaching of a can lid then takes place automatically with the aid of the electric drive, the actuating lever with the knife being automatically pivoted into the can, that is to say into the cutting position. In the cutting position, the knife is supported on the actuating lever, so that the actuating lever automatically remains in the switched-on position until the cutting process has ended.

Der bekannte Dosenöffner hat den Nachteil, daß eine Unterbrechung eines einmal begonnenen Schneidvorgangs nicht ohne weiteres möglich ist, da das beim Schneidvorgang vom Messer auf das Betätigungsorgan einwirkende Drehmoment den Schalter in Einschaltstellung hält. Der Verbraucher muß sich somit damit abfinden, daß der Dosendeckel jeweils vollständig abgeschnitten wird, wenn er nicht mit Gewalt das Betätigungshebel in Ausgangsstellung zurückziehen will. Weiterhin ist es als weniger vorteilhaft anzusehen, daß das Messer von dem Betätigungshebel in den Dosendeckel eingestochen werden muß, bevor der Antriebsmotor durch den Schalter in Drehung versetzt wird. Dieses Konzept führt zwangsweise dazu, daß zur Aufbringung der Einstechkraft ein verhältnismäßig langer Betätigungsorgan verwendet werden muß. Die starre Verbindung zwischen Betätigungshebel und Messer einschließlich des langen Hebels führt zu großen Betätigungswegen und zur unerwünschten Kraftbeaufschlagung des Betätigungshebels durch das Messer, was die Handhabung des Dosenöffners wesentlich erschwert.The known can opener has the disadvantage that an interruption of a cutting process which has already started is not readily possible, since that during the cutting process from the knife to the actuating member acting torque keeps the switch in the on position. The consumer must therefore put up with the fact that the can lid is completely cut off if he does not want to forcefully pull the actuating lever back into the starting position. Furthermore, it is to be regarded as less advantageous that the knife has to be inserted into the can lid by the actuating lever before the drive motor is rotated by the switch. This concept inevitably means that a relatively long actuator must be used to apply the piercing force. The rigid connection between the actuating lever and the knife, including the long lever, leads to large actuation paths and to the undesired application of force to the actuating lever by the knife, which makes handling the can opener considerably more difficult.

Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es daher, einen Dosenöffner der eingangs genannten Art zu schaffen, durch den die Funktion des Andrückens des Messers am Dosendeckel und das Ein- bzw. Ausschalten aufgelöst wird, bei dem sich das Messer nach Einschalten des Antriebsmotors selbstätig in den Dosendeckel einzieht und bei dem der Antriebsmotor mit einiger Wahrscheinlichkeit nur dann in Betrieb gesetzt wird, wenn eine Konservendose im Dosenöffner eingesetzt ist.The object of the invention is therefore to provide a can opener of the type mentioned, by which the function of pressing the knife on the can lid and switching on or off is released, in which the knife automatically moves into the can lid after switching on the drive motor and in which the drive motor is only likely to be operated if a can is inserted in the can opener.

Diese Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß dadurch gelöst, daß der Betätigungshebel als Nockenschalthebel ausgebildet ist, daß der Nockenschalthebel das Betätigen des Schalters nur in einer bestimmten mittleren Winkelposition bewirkt, daß in einem Übertragungsbereich vom Betätigungshebel zur Schneidanordnung ein feder elastisches Element ausgebildet ist, das auf der einem Seite an einem Punkt des Betätigungshebel und auf der anderen Seite an einem Hebelarm der Messerwelle exzentrisch angreift, daß zwischen der Messerwelle und dem Gehäuse eine Rückholfeder ausgebildet ist, daß die Schneidgeometrie bezüglich der Schneide und der Lagerung des Messers sowie des Transportrades derart ausgebildet ist, daß nach Anlegen des Messers an dem Dosendeckel und beim anschließenden Drehen der Konservendose ein selbsttätiges Einstechen und Schneiden des Messers am Dosendeckel bei geringer Auflagekraft erfolgt und daß am Messer eine Platte angebracht ist, die beim Schneidvorgang zur Begrenzung der Einschnittiefe des Messers am Dosenrand zur Auflage gelangt.This object is achieved in that the actuating lever is designed as a cam switching lever, that the cam switching lever causes the actuation of the switch only in a certain middle angular position that in a transmission area from the actuating lever to the cutting arrangement, a spring-elastic element is formed, which on one side at one point of the actuating lever and on the other side on a lever arm of the knife shaft engages eccentrically that a return spring is formed between the knife shaft and the housing, that the cutting geometry with respect to the cutting edge and the bearing of the knife and the transport wheel is designed such that after Applying the knife to the can lid and then rotating the can an automatic piercing and cutting of the knife on the can lid with little contact force and that a plate is attached to the knife that comes to rest at the edge of the can during the cutting process to limit the depth of cut of the knife.

Durch diese erfindungsgemäße Anordnung werden mehrere Vorteile erreicht. Ein erster Vorteil ist der, daß das federelastische Element dafür sorgt, daß auf das den Schalter einschaltende Element keine nennenswerten Kräfte einwirken, die beim Schneidvorgang entstehen, so daß ein Ausschalten des Motors über das einzige Einschaltelement jederzeit möglich ist. Weiterhin ist es vorteilhaft, daß bei allen Konservendosen, gleichgültig welchen Abstand der Dosendeckel gegenüber der Auflagefläche des Transportrades am Dosenrand besitzt, das Transportrad erst in Drehung versetzt wird, wenn sichergestellt ist, daß das Messer mit einer ausreichenden Andrückkraft am Dosendeckel anliegt. Erst dann sticht das Messer beim Einschalten des Antriebsmotors selbsttätig in den Dosendeckel ein.This arrangement according to the invention achieves several advantages. A first advantage is that the resilient element ensures that no noteworthy forces act on the switch-on element that arise during the cutting process, so that the motor can be switched off at any time via the single switch-on element. Furthermore, it is advantageous that with all cans, regardless of the distance between the can lid and the support surface of the transport wheel on the edge of the can, the transport wheel is only set in rotation when it is ensured that the knife lies with sufficient pressing force on the can lid. Only then will the knife automatically stick into the can lid when the drive motor is switched on.

Durch das federelastische Element und durch den vorgegebenen Abstand des Schalters gegenüber dem Einschaltelement wird weiterhin in vorteilhafter Weise erreicht, daß der Dosenöffner nur dann einschaltbar ist, wenn eine Verformung des federelastischen Elements stattfindet, d.h., wenn tatsächlich eine Konservendose am Dosenöffner angesetzt ist, wodurch bei Verformung des federelastischen Elements und des dabei auftretenden Schwenkwinkels des Hebels der Schalter durch diesen eingeschaltet wird.Due to the resilient element and the predetermined distance of the switch from the switch-on element, it is also advantageously achieved that the can opener can only be switched on when a deformation of the resilient element takes place, i.e. when a can is actually attached to the can opener, which means that at Deformation of the resilient element and the pivot angle of the lever that occurs in this way the switch is switched on by this.

Ein weiterer Vorteil besteht darin, daß, nachdem das Messer am Dosendeckel aufliegt, bei weiterer Betätigung des den Schalter betätigenden Elements das federelastische Element mit einer geringen Vorspannkraft vorgespannt wird, so daß auch das Messer mit Vorspannung gegen den Dosendeckel gedrückt wird. Bei entsprehender Schneidgeometrie reicht nämlich alleine diese Vorspannkraft aus, das Messer, sobald das Transportrad die Dose in Drehung versetzt, selbsttätig in den Dosendeckel einzustechen, ohne daß Rückstellkräfte auf das Schalter betätigende Element einwirken. Dies macht einen besonders kurzen Betätigungshebel möglich.Another advantage is that, after the knife rests on the can lid, upon further actuation of the element actuating the switch, the resilient element is prestressed with a low pretensioning force, so that the knife is also pretensioned against the can lid. With corresponding Cutting geometry alone is sufficient for this pretensioning force to automatically insert the knife into the can lid as soon as the transport wheel sets the can in rotation, without restoring forces acting on the switch-actuating element. This makes a particularly short actuation lever possible.

Durch die Erfindung wird es weiterhin möglich, daß zur Betätigung des Messers und zur Betätigung des Schalters nur ein einziges Betätigungselement notwendig ist. Ein ebenso wichtiger Vorteil nach der Erfindung ist es, daß während des Schneidvorgangs das federelastisches Element jederzeit durch Zurückschwenken des Betätigungselements entspannt und dadurch ein Ausschalten des Antriebsmotors möglich ist, obwohl das Messer in seiner Schneidposition verbleibt. Ein anschließendes Entfernen der Dose vom Messer und dem Transportrad ist bei noch nicht vollständig von der Konservendose abgetrenntem Dosendeckel dann jederzeit leicht möglich.The invention furthermore makes it possible that only a single actuating element is required to actuate the knife and to actuate the switch. An equally important advantage according to the invention is that the resilient element is relaxed at any time during the cutting process by pivoting the actuating element back, and it is therefore possible to switch off the drive motor even though the knife remains in its cutting position. Subsequent removal of the can from the knife and the transport wheel is then easily possible at any time if the can lid has not yet been completely separated from the can.

In einer Weiterbildung der Erfindung ist vorgesehen, daß das den Schalter betätigende Element der Betätigungshebel ist und daß das federelastische Element den Betätigungshebel mit dem Messer mechanisch verbindet. Bei dieser Anordnung bildet das federelastische Element ein selbsttätiges Bauteil, so daß das Messer von dem Betätigungshebel örtlich getrennt werden kann. Hierdurch kann die Lagerung des Betätigungshebels in einem Abstand von der Messerlagerung angeordnet sein, wodurch sich der Hebel am Gehäuse des Dosenöffners sowohl nach ergonomischen Gesichtspunkten als auch aus Sicherheitserwägungen günstig plazieren läßt. Der erfindungsgemäße Dosenöffner ermöglicht daher eine besonders handliche und zweckmäßige Gehäuseausbildung. Der Betätigungshebel kann innerhalb eines durch einen geschlossenen Rahmen gebildeten Handgriffs angeordnet sein, so daß die Gefahr einer unbeabsichtigten Betätigung des Dosenöffners gering ist. Durch die Ausbildung des federelastischen Elements als gesondertes Bauteil kann es, was die Festigkeit und die Federkennlinie betrifft, besonders genau gefertigt werden. Dies läßt eine feinfühligere Betätigung des Betätigungshebels und somit eine bessere Handhabung des Dosenöffners zu.In a further development of the invention it is provided that the element actuating the switch is the actuating lever and that the resilient element mechanically connects the actuating lever to the knife. In this arrangement, the resilient element forms an automatic component, so that the knife can be locally separated from the actuating lever. As a result, the mounting of the actuating lever can be arranged at a distance from the knife mounting, as a result of which the lever can be conveniently placed on the housing of the can opener, both from an ergonomic point of view and for safety reasons. The can opener according to the invention therefore enables a particularly handy and practical housing design. The actuating lever can be arranged within a handle formed by a closed frame, so that the risk of unintentional actuation of the can opener is low. By designing the resilient element as a separate component, it can be special in terms of strength and spring characteristic be manufactured precisely. This allows a more sensitive actuation of the actuation lever and thus a better handling of the can opener.

Anstelle eines gesonderten Bauteils für das federelastische Element kann dieses aber auch alleine durch das ohnehin vorhandene Betätigungshebel erfüllt werden. Dabei ist der Betätigungshebel vorzugsweise direkt mit dem Messer verbunden, so daß in diesem Bereich keine elastische Verformung beim Betätigen des Betätigungshebels entsteht; die elastische Verformung entsteht dann vielmehr an dem elastisch ausgebildeten Betätigungshebel, indem, nachdem das Messer auf dem Dosendeckel aufliegt, bei weiterem Ziehen des Betätigungshebel sich dieses nicht mehr verdreht, sondern entlang der Hebellänge nur noch verformt, bis der Schalter betätigt wird.Instead of a separate component for the resilient element, this can also be achieved by the actuating lever, which is present anyway. The actuating lever is preferably connected directly to the knife, so that there is no elastic deformation in this area when the actuating lever is actuated; the elastic deformation then rather arises on the elastically designed actuating lever, in that after the knife rests on the can lid, when the actuating lever is pulled further, it no longer rotates, but only deforms along the lever length until the switch is actuated.

Um am Messer die Drehbewegung auf einfache Weise einleiten zu können, ist der Betätigungshebel am Gehäuse drehbar gelagert, wobei das federelastische Element mit einem im Gehäuse gelagerten Verbindungsteil gekuppelt ist, das mit einer das Messer tragenden Welle verbunden ist und wobei das federelastische Element aus Federdraht besteht, dessen etwa rechtwinklig abgebogene Enden in am Betätigungshebel und am Verbindungsteil exzentrisch angeordneten Bohrungen eingreifen. Anstelle des als Betätigungsorgan ausgebildeten Hebels kann auch ein Schiebeglied verwendet werden, so daß nur noch am Verbindungsteil eine exzentrische Bohrung angeordnet ist. Durch die exzentrisch angeordneten Bohrungen wird die am Hebel eingeleitete Bewegung als Drehbewegung auf das Messer übertragen. Das in dem Übertragungsweg zwischen dem Hebel und dem Messer vorhandene federelastische Element ermöglicht bei richtiger Auslegung das Einschalten des Antriebsmotors vor dem Einstechen des Messers in den Dosendeckel.In order to be able to initiate the rotary movement on the knife in a simple manner, the actuating lever is rotatably mounted on the housing, the spring-elastic element being coupled to a connecting part mounted in the housing, which is connected to a shaft carrying the knife, and the spring-elastic element consisting of spring wire , whose roughly right-angled ends engage in bores arranged eccentrically on the actuating lever and on the connecting part. Instead of the lever designed as an actuator, a sliding member can also be used, so that an eccentric bore is only arranged on the connecting part. Due to the eccentrically arranged bores, the movement initiated on the lever is transmitted to the knife as a rotary movement. The spring-elastic element present in the transmission path between the lever and the knife, when correctly designed, enables the drive motor to be switched on before the knife is inserted into the can lid.

Zur Demontage des Messers vom Dosenöffner ist in einer Weiterbildung der Erfindung vorgesehen, daß das Verbindungsteil lösbar mit der Welle verbunden ist. Die Demontage erlaubt eine einfache Reinigung und Auswechslung des Messers.To dismantle the knife from the can opener, it is provided in a development of the invention that the connecting part is detachable with the shaft is connected. Disassembly allows easy cleaning and replacement of the knife.

Zur einfachen Sicherung des federelastischen Elements in einer oder beiden exzentrischen Bohrungen ist vorgesehen, daß ein oder beide Enden des federelastischen Elements Z-förmig ausgebildet sind. Die durch den Federdraht gebildete Kuppelstange biegt sich, nachdem das Messer auf dem Dosendeckelrand zur Anlage gekommen ist, durch, wenn der Hebel weiter bis in die Einschaltstellung geschwenkt wird.For simple securing of the resilient element in one or both eccentric bores, it is provided that one or both ends of the resilient element are Z-shaped. The coupling rod formed by the spring wire bends after the knife comes to rest on the edge of the can lid when the lever is pivoted further into the switch-on position.

Zur Erhöhung der Elastizität kann zusätzlich wenigstens ein Ende des federelastischen Elements mehrfach abgebogene sein. Um die Elastizität der durch einen Federdraht gebildeten Kuppelstange noch weiter zu erhöhen, um bei Druckbelastung eine nach Größe definierte Knickung zu erzielen, kann nach einem weiteren Vorschlag der mittlere Bereich des federelastischen Elements zu einer einfach oder mehrfach gewundenen Wendel geformt sein. Um eine nach der Richtung definierte Knickung zu erzielen, kann die Wendel exzentrisch zur Längsachse des einen oder beider seitlicher Bereiche des federelastischen Elements angeordnet sein.To increase the elasticity, at least one end of the resilient element can additionally be bent several times. In order to further increase the elasticity of the coupling rod formed by a spring wire, in order to achieve a buckling defined in terms of size under pressure, according to a further proposal, the central region of the spring-elastic element can be shaped into a single or multiple spiral. In order to achieve a kink defined in the direction, the helix can be arranged eccentrically to the longitudinal axis of one or both lateral areas of the resilient element.

Vorzugsweise kann das federelastische Element aus Metall und/oder Kunststoff hergestellt sein. Hierbei sind auch gummielastische Kunststoffe einsetzbar. Bei der Kombination der Werkstoffe Metall/Kunststoff ist es denkbar, daß die beiden Randenden über ein gummielastisches Element miteinander verbunden sind.The resilient element can preferably be made of metal and / or plastic. Rubber-elastic plastics can also be used here. When combining the materials metal / plastic, it is conceivable that the two edge ends are connected to one another via a rubber-elastic element.

Der Abstand des Betätigungshebels zum Schalter muß so bemessen sein, daß beim Betätigen des Betätigungshebels dieser erst nach Aufsetzen des Messers am Dosendeckel den Schalter und somit den Antriebsmotor durch Verformung des federelastischen Elements einschaltet.The distance between the actuating lever and the switch must be such that when the actuating lever is actuated, it only switches on the switch and thus the drive motor by deforming the resilient element after the knife has been placed on the can lid.

Zur Vereinfachung der Bedienung des erfindungsgemäßen Dosenöffners ist erfindungsgemäß weiterhin vorgesehen, daß das Messer, das Verbindungsteil, das federelastische Element und der Betätigungshebel durch eine Rückholfeder in die Ausgangsposition bewegbar sind. Auf diese Weise befinden sich diese Teile in der Ruhestellung grundsätzlich in der Ausgangsposition. Die Ausgangsposition ermöglicht ein leichtes Ansetzen und Betätigen des Dosenöffners mit einer Hand.To simplify the operation of the can opener according to the invention, the invention further provides that the knife, the connecting part, the resilient element and the actuating lever can be moved into the starting position by a return spring. In this way, these parts are basically in the starting position in the rest position. The starting position enables easy opening and operation of the can opener with one hand.

Zur Übertragung der Drehbewegung von dem Verbindungsteil auf die Welle des Messers greift nach einem weiteren Vorschlag der Erfindung das mit einer Abflachung versehene Ende der Welle in eine in dem Verbindungsteil in einer Bohrung entsprechend ausgebildete Abflachung drehfest ein.To transmit the rotary movement from the connecting part to the shaft of the knife, according to a further proposal of the invention, the end of the shaft provided with a flattened portion engages in a non-rotatable manner in a flattened portion correspondingly formed in a bore in the connecting part.

Um den Einbauraum, in axialer Richtung der Helle des Messers gesehen, möglichst klein zu halten, ist vorgesehen, daß das Verbindungsteil als eine flache Kreisscheibe mit einem radialen, eine exzentrische Bohrung aufweisenden Hebelarm ausgebildet ist. Die Kreisscheibe läßt sich besonders einfach als Stanzteil, wenn sie aus Metall hergestellt ist, oder als Formteil, wenn sie aus Kunststoff hergestellt ist, herstellen.In order to keep the installation space as small as possible, seen in the axial direction of the brightness of the knife, it is provided that the connecting part is designed as a flat circular disc with a radial lever arm having an eccentric bore. The circular disk can be produced particularly easily as a stamped part if it is made of metal or as a molded part if it is made of plastic.

Bei Dosenöffnern, bei denen das Messer nicht demontierbar ist, kann das Verbindungsteil mit der Welle unlösbar verbunden sein. Bei einem vom Dosenöffner abnehmbaren Messer muß das Verbindungsteil dagegen mit der Welle lösbar verbunden sein. Zur Lagesicherung der Welle in ihrer axialen Richtung gegenüber dem Gehäuse ist dabei erfindungsgemäß ein entsperrbarer Riegel vorgesehen, der in eine in der Welle ausgebildete Nut eingreift. Der entsperrbare Riegel wird von einer entgegen der Löserichtung des Riegels wirkenden Feder in Ausgangsstellung gehalten und gewährleistet somit stets ein sicheres Festhalten der Welle im Dosenöffner. Gleichzeitig wird ein zum Betätigen des Riegels im Gehäuse gesicherter Betätigungsknopf in seiner Ausgangsstellung gehalten.In the case of can openers in which the knife cannot be removed, the connecting part can be permanently connected to the shaft. In the case of a knife which can be removed from the can opener, on the other hand, the connecting part must be releasably connected to the shaft. To secure the position of the shaft in its axial direction relative to the housing, an unlockable latch is provided according to the invention, which engages in a groove formed in the shaft. The unlockable bolt is held in the starting position by a spring which acts counter to the release direction of the bolt and thus always ensures that the shaft is held securely in the can opener. At the same time, an actuating button secured in the housing for actuating the bolt is held in its initial position.

In einer weiteren, bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung ist vorgesehen, daß die Drehbarkeit des Messers über eine extreme Schneidposition hinaus durch einen Anschlag begrenzt ist und daß beim Betätigen des Betätigungshebels in die durch den Anschlag definierte Endstellung des Messers, ohne daß dabei eine Dose aufgeschnitten wird, der Betätigungshebel nur durch Spannen des zwischen dem Betätigungshebel und der Welle angeordneten federelastischen Elements in eine Stellung weiterbewegbar ist, in der dann der Schalter geschlossen wird. In der Praxis kann es nämlich vorkommen, daß eine Bedienungsperson, obwohl keine Dose am Dosenöffner angesetzt ist, dennoch den Betätigungshebel unbeabsichtigt zum Anschlag betätigt. Hierbei dreht sich zuerst das Messer bis zu seiner Endstellung am Anschlag, überdeckt dabei das Transportrad von der Seite und von vorne. Eine Verletzungsgefahr in dieser Stellung ist nun durch das Messer völlig ausgeschlossen, auch wenn durch die andere Hand weitere Drehung des Betätigungshebels _ das Messer bleibt dabei in seiner Endstellung _ der Antriebsmotor eingeschaltet und das Transportrad in Drehung versetzt wird. Durch diese erfindungsgemäße Ausbildung wird eine Kindersicherung erreicht.In a further preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the rotatability of the knife beyond an extreme cutting position is limited by a stop and that when the actuating lever is actuated into the end position of the knife defined by the stop without a can being cut open, the actuating lever can only be moved further by tensioning the spring-elastic element arranged between the actuating lever and the shaft into a position in which the switch is then closed. In practice it can happen that an operator, although no can is attached to the can opener, nevertheless actuates the actuating lever unintentionally to the stop. Here, the knife first rotates to its end position at the stop, covering the transport wheel from the side and from the front. A risk of injury in this position is now completely excluded by the knife, even if the other hand turns the actuating lever _ the knife remains in its end position _ the drive motor is switched on and the transport wheel is set in rotation. Childproofing is achieved by this inventive design.

Die Erfindung wird nachfolgend anhand eines in der Zeichnung dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiels näher erläutert. Es zeigen:

  • Fig. 1 einen Teilquerschnitt durch den erfindungsgemäßen Dosenöffner im Bereich der Messerlagerung;
  • Fig. 2 eine Teilansicht A des Dosenöffners nach Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 eine andere Ausgestaltung eines federelastischen Elements für einen Dosenöffner nach Fig. 1 und
  • Fig. 4 eine Seitenansicht auf den Dosenöffner in Richtung Z nach Fig. 1.
The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. Show it:
  • 1 shows a partial cross section through the can opener according to the invention in the area of the knife bearing;
  • FIG. 2 shows a partial view A of the can opener according to FIG. 1;
  • Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of a resilient element for a can opener according to Fig. 1 and
  • 4 shows a side view of the can opener in the direction Z according to FIG. 1.

Der dargestellte Dosenöffner besteht aus einem im wesentlichen quaderförmigen Gehäuse 1, in dem sich ein nicht näher dargestelltes Getriebe mit einem elektrischen Antriebsmotor (ebenfalls nicht dargestellt) für ein Transportrad 2 befindet. Das Transportrad 2 befindet sich auf der Außenseite einer Gehäusewand 3 und ist mit einer Antriebswelle 4 verschraubt, die die Gehäusewand 3 durchdringt und die in dieser und einer gegenüberliegenden Gehäusewand 5 gelagert ist. Zwischen dem Transportrad 2 und der Gehäusewand 3 ist auf der Antriebswelle 4 eine Distanzscheibe 6 vorgesehen, die die beim Schneidvorgang auftretende Andruckkraft auf die Gehäusewand 3 überträgt. Der Außendurchmesser der Distanzscheibe 6 ist größer als der Außendurchmesser des gezahnten Transportrads 2 und bildet auf diese Weise eine zusätzliche Seitenführung für den Dosenrand 41, die einem Kippen der Konservendose bzw. bei Festhalten der Konservendose 46 einem Kippen des Dosenöffners entgegenwirkt.The can opener shown consists of a substantially cuboid housing 1, in which there is a gear, not shown, with an electric drive motor (also not shown) for a transport wheel 2. The transport wheel 2 is located on the outside of a housing wall 3 and is screwed to a drive shaft 4 which connects the housing wall 3 penetrates and which is mounted in this and an opposite housing wall 5. Between the transport wheel 2 and the housing wall 3, a spacer 6 is provided on the drive shaft 4, which transmits the pressure force occurring during the cutting process to the housing wall 3. The outer diameter of the spacer 6 is larger than the outer diameter of the toothed transport wheel 2 and in this way forms an additional side guide for the can rim 41, which counteracts tipping of the can or, if the can 46 is held tight, tipping of the can opener.

Parallel zur Antriebswelle 4 ist im Gehäuse 1 eine Welle 7 gelagert, die an ihrem aus der Gehäusewand 3 herausragenden Ende ein Messer 8 trägt. Das Messer 8 ist durch eine Schraube 9 an der Stirnseite der Welle 7 drehfest und axial unverschiebbar befestigt. Auf der Welle 7 ist eine Zwischenscheibe 10 vorgesehen, an der sich eine Druckfeder 11 abstützt, die auf der Gehäusewand 3 aufliegt.A shaft 7 is mounted in the housing 1 parallel to the drive shaft 4 and carries a knife 8 at its end protruding from the housing wall 3. The knife 8 is fixed by a screw 9 on the end face of the shaft 7 in a rotationally fixed and axially immovable manner. On the shaft 7, an intermediate disk 10 is provided, on which a compression spring 11 is supported, which rests on the housing wall 3.

Im Inneren des Gehäuses 1 greift das Ende der Welle 7 in eine Bohrung 37 einer als Verbindungsteil ausgebildeten Hülse 12 ein, die in einem Lagerauge 13 an der Gehäusewand 5 gelagert ist. Um über die Hülse 12 eine Drehbewegung auf die Welle 7 übertragen zu können, ist das in die Hülse 12 eingreifende Ende der Welle 7 mit einer Abflachung 14 vesehen, mit der eine in der Hülse 12 in der Bohrung 37 ausgebildete Abflachung 15 in Eingriff steht.In the interior of the housing 1, the end of the shaft 7 engages in a bore 37 of a sleeve 12 which is designed as a connecting part and which is mounted in a bearing eye 13 on the housing wall 5. In order to be able to transmit a rotary movement to the shaft 7 via the sleeve 12, the end of the shaft 7 engaging in the sleeve 12 is provided with a flat 14, with which a flat 15 formed in the sleeve 12 in the bore 37 is in engagement.

Die Hülse 12 weist nach den Fig. 1 und 2 einen Arm 16 mit einer Bohrung 17 auf, in die das abgebogene Ende 18 eines aus Federdraht bestehenden federelastischen Elements in Form einer Kuppelstange 19 eingreift. Das andere abgebogene Ende 20 der Kuppelstange 19 greift in eine Bohrung 21 in einem nach Fig. 1 hinter der Schnittebene liegenden, im Gehäuse 1 drehbar gelagerten Hebel 22 ein, der zur Betätigung des Dosenöffners dient. An dem Hebel 22 ist weiterhin ein Nocken 23 zur Betätigung eines Schalters 38 vorgesehen (Fig. 2).1 and 2, the sleeve 12 has an arm 16 with a bore 17 into which the bent end 18 of a spring-elastic element made of spring wire engages in the form of a coupling rod 19. The other bent end 20 of the coupling rod 19 engages in a bore 21 in one of FIG. 1 behind the sectional plane lying in the housing 1 rotatably mounted lever 22 which serves to actuate the can opener. A cam 23 for actuating a switch 38 is also provided on the lever 22 (FIG. 2).

In axialer Richtung ist die Welle 7 durch einen als Platte ausgebildeten Riegel 24 gehalten, der auf der Innenseite der Gehäusewand 3 an Stiften 25 von oben nach unten und umgekehrt verschiebbar gelagert ist. In der Platte 24 ist eine Bohrung 26 vorgesehen, durch die die Welle 7 hindurchgesteckt ist. In der dargestellten Lage nach Fig. 1 greift der Rand der Bohrung 26 in eine in der Welle 7 ausgebildete Nut 27 ein und bildet dadurch ein Axiallager, das die Welle 7 in axialer Richtung am Gehäuse 1 hält. In einem Abstand von den Stiften 25 greift die Platte 24 mit einem gegabelten Ende 50 in eine Nut 28 ein, die an einem in die Gehäusewand 3 eingeschraubten, als Führungsstift ausgebildeten Anschlag 29 ausgebildet ist. Durch die Einschraubtiefe des Führungsstifts 29 im Gehäuse 1 läßt sich der Abstand der Platte 24 zur Gehäusewand 3 variieren. Auf diese Weise kann mit Hilfe des Führungsstifts 29 die Axialposition der Welle 7 und damit der Abstand a des Messers 8 gegenüber dem Transportrad 2 genau eingestellt werden.In the axial direction, the shaft 7 is held by a bolt 24 designed as a plate, which is mounted on the inside of the housing wall 3 on pins 25 from top to bottom and vice versa. A bore 26 is provided in the plate 24, through which the shaft 7 is inserted. In the position shown in FIG. 1, the edge of the bore 26 engages in a groove 27 formed in the shaft 7 and thereby forms an axial bearing which holds the shaft 7 on the housing 1 in the axial direction. At a distance from the pins 25, the plate 24 engages with a forked end 50 in a groove 28 which is formed on a stop 29 screwed into the housing wall 3 and designed as a guide pin. The distance between the plate 24 and the housing wall 3 can be varied by the screwing depth of the guide pin 29 into the housing 1. In this way, the axial position of the shaft 7 and thus the distance a of the knife 8 relative to the transport wheel 2 can be set precisely with the aid of the guide pin 29.

Die Platte 24 wird in ihrer dargestellten Verriegelposition (Fig. 1) durch eine Federspange 30 in der Zeichnung nach oben gedrückt. Um das Messer 8 mit der Welle 7 aus dem Gehäuse 1 herausnehmen zu können, ist an der Oberseite des Gehäuses 1 eine das Gehäuse 1 durchdringende Drucktaste 31 vorgesehen, die auf einer an der Platte 24 angeformten Abwinkelung 32 am Rand dieser aufliegt. Wird die Drucktaste 31 in Richtung zur Welle 7 hin betätigt, so kann die Platte 24 gegen die Kraft der Federspange 30 soweit nach unten verschoben werden, bis der Rand der Bohrung 26 aus der Nut 28 heraustritt und die Bohrung 26 mit der Welle 7 fluchtet. Durch die Wirkung der Druckfeder 11 wird daraufhin die Welle 7 selbsttätig nach rechts verschoben, so daß die Platte 24 nicht mehr in die Nut 26 einrasten kann. Das Messer 8 und die Welle 7 können nun gemeinsam auch nach dem Loslassen der Drucktaste, beispielsweise zu Reinigungszwecken, von dem Gehäuse 1 abgenommen werden. Um das erneute Einsetzen der Welle 7 in das Gehäuse 1 zu erleichtern, ist das Ende der Welle 7 mit einer Fase 40 versehen, deren kleinster Durchmesser auch bei nicht niedergedrückter Platte 24 in die Bohrung 26 eingreift und bei weiterer Verschiebung der Welle 7 die Platte 24 nach unten zieht.The plate 24 is pressed in its locking position shown (Fig. 1) by a spring clip 30 in the drawing upwards. In order to be able to remove the knife 8 with the shaft 7 from the housing 1, a pushbutton 31 which penetrates the housing 1 is provided on the top of the housing 1 and rests on an angled portion 32 formed on the plate 24 at the edge thereof. If the push button 31 is actuated in the direction of the shaft 7, the plate 24 can be pushed downward against the force of the spring clip 30 until the edge of the bore 26 out of the groove 28 emerges and the bore 26 is aligned with the shaft 7. Due to the action of the compression spring 11, the shaft 7 is then automatically shifted to the right, so that the plate 24 can no longer snap into the groove 26. The knife 8 and the shaft 7 can now be removed from the housing 1 together even after the push button has been released, for example for cleaning purposes. In order to facilitate the renewed insertion of the shaft 7 into the housing 1, the end of the shaft 7 is provided with a chamfer 40, the smallest diameter of which engages in the bore 26 even when the plate 24 is not depressed, and the plate 24 when the shaft 7 is displaced further pulls down.

Ist das Messer 8 in der Schneidposition (in Fig. 4 gestrichelt dargestellt), befindet sich seine Schneide 43 in Drehrichtung 42 des Transportrades 2 vor diesem. Um diese Position zu erreichen, muß das Messer 8 durch Betätigung des Hebels 22 (Fig. 1 und 2) gegen eine an der Hülse 12 angreifende Rückholfeder 33 geschwenkt werden. Hierbei überträgt die Kuppelstange 19 die Drehbewegung des Hebels 22 auf die Hülse 12, die über die Abflachung 15 die Welle 7 in ihrer Bewegung mitnimmt. Die hierbei erzeugbare Drehkraft reicht aber nicht aus, um zu Beginn eines Schneidvorgans das Messer 8 mit seiner Einstechspitze 44 in den Dosendeckel 45 einzustechen. Die Kuppelstange 19 ist daher soweit elastisch verformbar (siehe gestrichelte Darstellung in Fig. 2), daß der Hebel 22 in die zum Betätigen des Schalters 38 erforderliche Stellung gedreht werden kann, wenn das Messer 8 auf dem Dosendeckel 45 aufliegt. Erst durch den Antrieb des Transportrades 2 sticht das Messer 8 in den Dosendeckel 45 aufgrund der vorhandenen Schneidgeometrie selbsttätig ein, wobei das Messer 8 in die endgültige Schneidposition (siehe gestrichelte Darstellung in Fig. 4) schwenkt und die Kuppelstange 19 wieder größenteils entspannt wird. Die Restandruckspannung wird nämlich für den Leertransport, d.h. Drehen der Dose 46 durch das Transportrad 2 im Bereich des bereits vorhandenen Schneidspalts, benötigt.If the knife 8 is in the cutting position (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 4), its cutting edge 43 is in front of the latter in the direction of rotation 42 of the transport wheel 2. In order to achieve this position, the knife 8 must be pivoted by actuating the lever 22 (FIGS. 1 and 2) against a return spring 33 engaging the sleeve 12. Here, the coupling rod 19 transmits the rotary movement of the lever 22 to the sleeve 12, which takes the shaft 7 with it in its movement via the flat 15. However, the torque that can be generated here is not sufficient to insert the knife 8 with its piercing tip 44 into the can lid 45 at the start of a cutting process. The coupling rod 19 is therefore elastically deformable (see dashed line in Fig. 2) that the lever 22 can be rotated into the position required to operate the switch 38 when the knife 8 rests on the can lid 45. Only by driving the transport wheel 2 does the knife 8 automatically insert into the can lid 45 due to the existing cutting geometry, the knife 8 pivoting into the final cutting position (see dashed line in FIG. 4) and the coupling rod 19 largely relaxed again becomes. The residual compressive stress is namely needed for the empty transport, ie turning the can 46 through the transport wheel 2 in the area of the existing cutting gap.

Solange der Hebel 22 in der in Fig. 2 gestrichelt dargestellten Position von der Hand einer Bedienungsperson gehalten wird, wird die Dose 46 (Fig. 4) über ihren Dosenrand 41 vom Transportrad 2 angetrieben und dabei gedreht, und gleichzeitig wird der Deckel 45 vom Messer 8 geschnitten, solange der Deckel 45 nicht bereits völlig vom Rest der Dose 46 abgetrennt ist.As long as the lever 22 is held in the position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2 by the hand of an operator, the can 46 (FIG. 4) is driven via its can edge 41 by the transport wheel 2 and thereby rotated, and at the same time the cover 45 becomes the knife 8 cut, as long as the lid 45 is not completely separated from the rest of the can 46.

Wird der Hebel 22 nach Beendigung des Schneidvorgangs in Ausgangsposition zurückbewegt, so betätigt dieser zunächst den Schalter 38, der den Antriebsmotor des Dosenöffners ausschaltet. Gleichzeitig wird das federelastische Element 19 entspannt und zieht die Hülse 19 in ihre Ausgangsstellung, die wiederum die Welle 7 mitsamt dem Messer 8 in ihre Ausgangslage zurückschwenkt. Der selbsttätige Rückholvorgang wird nur durch die Rückholfeder 33 gewährleistet.If the lever 22 is moved back to the starting position after the cutting process has ended, it first actuates the switch 38, which switches off the drive motor of the can opener. At the same time, the spring-elastic element 19 is relaxed and pulls the sleeve 19 into its starting position, which in turn pivots the shaft 7 together with the knife 8 back into its starting position. The automatic return process is only guaranteed by the return spring 33.

Will man bei nur teilweise aufgeschnittenem Deckel 45 den Schneidvorgang beenden oder unterbrechen, so muß zunächst der Einschaltdruck auf den Hebel 22 aufgehoben werden. Dabei dreht sich der Hebel 22 in seine Ausgangsstellung soweit zurück, soweit er durch die beim Entspannen des federelastische Element 19 freiwerdende Bewegung in Richtung der Ausgangslage zurückbewegt wird. Während dieses Bewegungsablaufs wird gleichzeitig der Schalter 38 betätigt, der den Antriebsmotor abschaltet. Dabei wird das Messer 8 in Schneidstellung gehalten. Um das Messer 8 aus dem Schneidspalt zu lösen, wird der Dosenöffner bei Festhalten der Dose 46 leicht nach oben geschwenkt. Dabei löst sich das Messer 8 aus dem Schneidspalt und wird von der Rückholfeder 33 in seine Ausgangsposition zurückbewegt.If you want to end or interrupt the cutting process with the cover 45 only partially cut open, the switch-on pressure on the lever 22 must first be released. The lever 22 rotates back into its initial position to the extent that it is moved back in the direction of the initial position by the movement released when the spring-elastic element 19 is released. During this movement sequence, the switch 38 is actuated, which switches off the drive motor. The knife 8 is held in the cutting position. In order to detach the knife 8 from the cutting gap, the can opener is pivoted slightly upward while holding the can 46. The knife 8 is released from the cutting gap and is moved back into its starting position by the return spring 33.

In Fig. 3 ist eine aus Federdraht geformte Variante der Kuppelstange 19 dargestellt, bei der zur Erhöhung der Elastizität der mittlere Bereich des federelastische Element 19 zu einer zweifach gewundenen Wendel 34 gebogen ist. Von der Wendel 34 führen im wesentlichen gerade Abschnitte 35 zu den beiden abgebogenen Enden 18, 20 der Kuppelstange 19. Die Abschnitte 35 liegen auf einer gemeinsamen Längsachse, die die Windungen der exzentrisch angeordneten Wendel 34 tangiert. Die abgebogenen Enden 18, 20 liegen in einer gemeinsamen Ebene, und die Wendeln 34 befinden sich im wesentlichen in der Zeichnung oberhalb dieser Ebene. Durch diese Ausgestaltung wird eine definierte Knickung der Kuppelstange 19 erreicht, wenn an ihren abgebogenen Enden 18, 20 Druckkräfte angreifen. Bei diesem Knickvorgang werden die Wendeln 34 etwas zusammengedrückt und verformt; danach knicken sie in Richtung des Pfeils 36 nach oben. Das Außmaß der Elastizität und die Richtung der Knickung läßt sich dabei durch die Zahl und Lage der Windungen der Wendel 34 in der gewünschten Weise vorherbestimmen. Die Ausgestaltung der Kuppelstange 19 gemäß Fig. 3 bietet daher dem Konstrukteur einen weiten Spielraum zur Gestaltung der Kraftübertragung vom Hebel 22 auf die Hülse 12 und von dort auf die Welle 7 der Messerlagerung.3 shows a variant of the coupling rod 19 formed from spring wire, in which, in order to increase the elasticity, the central region of the spring-elastic element 19 is bent into a twisted spiral 34. Essentially straight sections 35 lead from the helix 34 to the two bent ends 18, 20 of the coupling rod 19. The sections 35 lie on a common longitudinal axis which affects the turns of the eccentrically arranged helix 34. The bent ends 18, 20 lie in a common plane, and the spirals 34 are essentially above this plane in the drawing. With this configuration, a defined kinking of the coupling rod 19 is achieved when pressure forces act on its bent ends 18, 20. During this kinking process, the coils 34 are somewhat compressed and deformed; then they bend upwards in the direction of arrow 36. The extent of the elasticity and the direction of the buckling can be predetermined in the desired manner by the number and position of the turns of the helix 34. The design of the coupling rod 19 according to FIG. 3 therefore offers the designer a wide scope for designing the power transmission from the lever 22 to the sleeve 12 and from there to the shaft 7 of the knife bearing.

Claims (17)

1. An electrically driven can opener, with a casing (1) accommodating a drive motor and a drive mechanism, with a feed wheel (2) arranged on the outside of a casing wall (3) and adapted to be driven by the drive motor and the drive mechanism, with a cutter (8) rotatably mounted on the casing wall (3) at a distance from the feed wheel (2) through a shaft (7) for severing the lid (45) from a can (46), and with an operating lever (22) to be actuated by hand and rotatably mounted on the casing (1), said lever being operable to pivot the cutter (8) from a position ready for piercing to a cutting position and to energize the drive motor through a switch (38),
characterized in that the operating lever (22) is configured as a cam control lever, that the cam control lever (22, 23) causes actuation of the switch (38) only in a specific angular mid-position, that a resilient member (19) is provided in a transmission region from the operating lever (22) to the cutter arrangement, said resilient member bearing with one end against a point (21) on the operating lever (22) while its other end is eccentrically supported on a lever arm (16) of the cutter shaft (7), that a restoring spring (33) is provided between the cutter shaft (7) and the casing (1), that the cutting tool geometry in respect of the cutting blade (43) and the supporting structure of the cutter (8) as well as the feed wheel (2) is configured such that an automatic piercing and cutting action of the cutter (8) into the can lid (45) is performed with a low bearing force after the cutter (8) is positioned against the can lid (45) and the can (46) is subsequently turned, and that a plate (51) is provided on the cutter (8) which abuts the rim (41) of the can during the cutting action to limit the cutting depth of the cutter (8).
2. The can opener as claimed in claim 1,
characterized in that the element actuating the switch (38) is the operating lever (22), and that the resilient member (19) connects the operating lever (22) with the cutter (8).
3. The can opener as claimed in claim 1,
characterized in that the resilient member is the operating lever (22) itself.
4. The can opener as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2,
characterized in that the operating lever (22) is rotatably mounted on the casing (1), that the resilient member (19) is coupled to a connecting member (12) mounted in the casing (1), said connecting member being connected to a shaft (7) carrying the cutter (8), and that the resilient member (19) is made of a spring wire whose ends (18, 20) which are bent at approximately right angles engage in eccentrically arranged bores (17, 21) on the connecting member (12) and on the operating lever (22).
5. The can opener as claimed in claim 4,
characterized in that the connecting member (12) is detachably connected to the shaft (7).
6. The can opener as claimed in claim 4,
characterized in that one or both ends (18) of the resilient member (19) is or are shaped in the manner of a Z.
7. The can opener as claimed in claim 6,
characterized in that at least one end of the resilient member (19) is multiply bent.
8. The can opener as claimed in claim 4, 6 or 7,
characterized in that the mid-area of the resilient member (19) is shaped to form a helix (34) having one or several turns.
9. The can opener as claimed in claim 8,
characterized in that the helix (34) is arranged eccentrically to the longitudinal axis of the one or both end sections (35) of the resilient member (19).
10. The can opener as claimed in claims 4 to 9,
characterized in that the resilient member (19) is made of metal and/or plastics material.
11. The can opener as claimed in claims 1 to 10,
characterized in that the cutter (8), the connecting member (12), the resilient member (19) and the operating lever (22) are movable into their initial positions by a restoring spring (33).
12. The can opener as claimed in claim 5,
characterized in that the end of the cutter (8) shaft (7) engaging in the connecting member (12) is provided with a flatted section (14) which engages in a non-rotating relationship in a complementary flatted section (15) provided in the connecting member (12) in a bore (37).
13. The can opener as claimed in claims 4 to 12,
characterized in that the connecting member (12) is a flat circular disk having a radial lever arm in which an eccentric bore (17) is provided.
14. The can opener as claimed in claim 13,
characterized in that the connecting member (12) is non-detachably connected to the shaft (7).
15. The can opener as claimed in claim 13,
characterized in that the connecting member (12) is detachably connected to the shaft (7).
16. The can opener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 4 to 14,
characterized in that the shaft (7) is held in axial direction by a disengageable locking means (24) which engages within a groove (27) formed in the shaft (7).
17. The can opener as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3,
characterized in that the rotatability of the cutter (8) beyond an extreme cutting position is limited by a stop means (29), and that on actuation of the operating lever (22) into the limit position of the cutter (8) as defined by the stop means (29), without a can being cut open as this occurs, further movement of the operating lever (22) into a position in which the switch (38) is closed is only possible by the tensioning of the resilient member (19) arranged between the operating lever (22) and the shaft (7).
EP88111488A 1987-09-02 1988-07-16 Electric can-opener Expired - Lifetime EP0305713B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT88111488T ATE63290T1 (en) 1987-09-02 1988-07-16 ELECTRICALLY POWERED CAN OPENER.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19873729259 DE3729259A1 (en) 1987-09-02 1987-09-02 ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN CAN OPENER
DE3729259 1987-09-02

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0305713A1 EP0305713A1 (en) 1989-03-08
EP0305713B1 true EP0305713B1 (en) 1991-05-08

Family

ID=6335021

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88111488A Expired - Lifetime EP0305713B1 (en) 1987-09-02 1988-07-16 Electric can-opener

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US4922617A (en)
EP (1) EP0305713B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH0641319B2 (en)
AT (1) ATE63290T1 (en)
CA (1) CA1321471C (en)
DE (2) DE3729259A1 (en)
ES (1) ES2021799B3 (en)

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5313708A (en) * 1992-12-04 1994-05-24 The Rival Company Can opener
CA2135114C (en) * 1993-11-22 2004-08-24 Richard B. Kosten Can opener with moving lid retainer
US5992026A (en) * 1998-01-09 1999-11-30 The Rival Company Kitchen appliance with pivotal mounting
USD411789S (en) * 1998-01-09 1999-07-06 The Rival Company Can opener
US6189221B1 (en) 1998-12-31 2001-02-20 The Rival Company Can opener appliance having a side-cutting mechanism
US6510613B1 (en) 2000-07-20 2003-01-28 The Holmes Group, Inc. Ergonomic can opener
US6505405B2 (en) * 2001-04-05 2003-01-14 Main Power Electrical Factory Limited Electric can opener
TWI353360B (en) 2005-04-07 2011-12-01 Nippon Catalytic Chem Ind Production process of polyacrylic acid (salt) wate
EP1837348B9 (en) 2006-03-24 2020-01-08 Nippon Shokubai Co.,Ltd. Water-absorbing resin and method for manufacturing the same
US9221665B1 (en) * 2013-12-05 2015-12-29 Gregory Mark Adamczak Manual left or right hand can opener with tilt and rotating spherical joint
US20180265341A1 (en) * 2017-03-17 2018-09-20 Gregory Mark Adamczak Electric can opener with rotating spherical joint

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2979815A (en) * 1959-05-08 1961-04-18 Burgess Vibrocrafters Electric can opener
US3277570A (en) * 1964-08-03 1966-10-11 Rival Mfg Company Electric can opener with power pierce means
US3550271A (en) * 1968-05-29 1970-12-29 Oster Mfg Co John Automatic can opener
US3706135A (en) * 1969-11-08 1972-12-19 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd An electrically powered can opener
JPS5327256Y2 (en) * 1972-09-08 1978-07-11
DE3048063A1 (en) * 1980-12-19 1982-07-08 Hermann Mellert GmbH & Co KG Fabrik für Feinmechanik und Elektrotechnik, 7518 Bretten Electric can opener motor operating switch - is held in ON position by element integral with cutter operating element
JPS6055396B2 (en) * 1982-09-06 1985-12-04 株式会社愛知電機工作所 electric can opener

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS6470397A (en) 1989-03-15
DE3862721D1 (en) 1991-06-13
US4922617A (en) 1990-05-08
ATE63290T1 (en) 1991-05-15
EP0305713A1 (en) 1989-03-08
JPH0641319B2 (en) 1994-06-01
ES2021799B3 (en) 1991-11-16
DE3729259A1 (en) 1989-03-23
CA1321471C (en) 1993-08-24

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