US2508106A - Can opener - Google Patents

Description

May 16, 1950 w. w. EDLUND 2,508,106 g CAN OPENER Filed Aug. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 www:

May 16, 1950 w, w, EDLUND 2,508,106

CAN OPENER Filed Aug. 22, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 Fig. 1a Fig. 16

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Patented May 16, 1950 CAN OPENER Walter W. Edlund, south Burlington, vt., asl signor to Edlund Company, Burlington, Vt., a

partnership Application August 22, 1945, Serial No. 611,996

13 Claims.

My present invention has for its object to provide a can opener in which the elements for puncturing and cutting out the heads of cans is carried on a vertically movable post adjustably carried on a base on which the cans are supported, the parts being so arranged that when once adjusted for yoperating on cans of a given size innumerable quantities thereof may be opened successively without further adjustment of the instrument.

I have also provided, in a device of this character, as a further object of my invention, an arrangement of elements comprising a knife for puncturing and cutting a can top which in retracted position is clear `of the bead on the end of the can, thus permitting the latter to be inserted in operative position and subsequently removed without tilting a can.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel form of knife and mechanism for operating it whereby it punctures a can top and upon being brought into cutting position forces the can bead into engagement with a feed wheel which serves to rotate the can against the knife and the latter, in addition to cutting the sheet material of which the can is formed, acts to inwardly turn and compress the portion thereof adjacent the bead tightly against the side wall of the can in such a manner that all sharp edges around the periphery of the opening are eliminated.

To these and other ends my invention comprises further improvements and arrangements of parts all as will be further described in the accompanying specification the novel features thereof being set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing a can opener exemplifying one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical central cross sectional view of the head which carries the knife and its operating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the post carrying the head, taken on the line 3oz-3x of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the carrying member for the knife.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the pivoted knife carrier guide.

Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9 are respectively front, side rear and bottom end views of the form of knife embodying my invention.

Fig. is a front or face view of the upper end 4of the supporting post and the lower end of the housing thereon, as it appears devoid of the parts it carries, and showing the can stops.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of a portion of a showing its top partly cut away.

Fig. 12 is a plan View of the case plate.

Fig. 13 is a bottom plan View of the base plate.

Figs. 14 and 15 are diagrammatic views,` the' first illustrating the puncturing of'a can top and the second the squeezing down of the lip portion thereof against the body wall of the can.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the spring plate.

Fig. 17 is a detail view partly in section ofthe locking device for securing the supporting post in any position of adjustment.

Fig. 18 is a detail view ofthe pin lock used for securing the post at a given height which is used when a large number of cans of standard size are to be operated upon.

Similar reference numerals, in the several iigures, indicate similar parts.

. In carrying out my invention I provide -inva head I the means, to be presently described for removing a can top, which is first caused to puncture the top and second to sever it by a rotation of the can by the manipulation of an operating handle 2. The head is fixed to the upper end of a post or column 3 composed of a rectangular channel open at its forward side as shown in Fig. 3. I make the head of a sheet metal stamping comprising the top 4, two side wings 5 and- 6 and a back 1. The lower ends of the side wings have downwardly extending ears 5a and 6a which embrace the side walls of the post 3 and are secured to the latter by rivets 1a, the post at this point being reinforced with a filler block 8. The extremities of these ears also form stops to limit the downward movement of the post with reference to its supporting base, and to this end said extremities are struck into semicircular enlargements, in the forming dies, as shown in Fig. 10.

A base plate I!! adapted to be secured to the edge of a table or other horizontal support forms a platform on which cans to be opened are placed and at one end it has a depending socket Il in which the post 3 is guided and in which it may be locked at any desired vertical position by the thumb nut I2. The socket Il is cast with a rectangular opening, the sides of which are recessed so that it is only necessary to machine the corners to provide a smooth running guide for the post 3. Inasmuch as this post is made of sheet metal and it is desirable not to distort it, I .provide a novel means of clamping it by placing the clamping nut l2 at an angle of 45 to the socket at one of its outer corners as shown in Figs. v1 and 13 so that its inner end bears against a corner of the channel piece 3. Moreover, in order to obviate marring the latter I form the innerend of the nut I2 with a non-rotatable tip I2a having a stud extending into a recess in the nut, the inner end of which rests against a steel ball bearing I2", as shown in Fig. 17. This means of securing the head in adjusted position is to be used when successively operating on cans of miscellaneous sizes but as it is usual in restaurants and institutional kitchens to open a large nurnber of cans of a given size at one time I provide a second locking means for the post which may be thrown into and out of action as desired and is wholly independent of the nut I2.

Cans of vegetables, fruit and the like come in standard sizes and to accommodate those most frequently used I provide in one of theY sides of the channel forming the post 3 a series of aperatures 3a which are slightly elongated, as shown in Fig. 1, and cooperate with a stud mounted on one side of the socket II which is movable inwardly and outwardly thereon. This stud is shown in Figs. 1 and 18 where it is indicated by I la. It is lslidable in a cylindrical boss Il and has a nger hold or gripping end IIc on its outer end. Intermediate the ends ofthe stud are spaced annular channels I I d between which is an annular arcuate surface I le. A radial passage in the boss carries a pin IIf projecting into one or the other of the channels Hd and yeldingly held by a spring IIS bearing upon its outer end whereby the stud is held in either its operative or inoperative position and may be easily snapped from one position to the other by applying the proper movement to the finger-hold I Ic. Spring IIg is a circular split band which lies in a shallow circular channel I Ih surrounding the boss'.

The forward side of the head I is made to overhang the base plate slightly, and the lower edges of its sides 5 and 6 form ledger or foot portions 5"-6b which may rest upon the rim or bead of a can placed on the base preparatory to the operation of opening a can although their actual engagement with the can is not essential, and I prefer that the adjustment of the head be otherwise determined, as will be later explained.

Mounted within the head I is a knife which is normally retracted out of the path of va can and is advanced along a line which lies at an acute angle to the can top so as to first puncture the can top and as it continues to advance will force the can into tight engagement with the feeding member carried in the head by means of which the can is revolved. The mechanism for accomplishing the foregoing comprises a shaft l5 journaled at its lower end in the filler block 8 and carrying a sleeve I6 journaled in an opening in the top 4 of the head I. This sleeve has an annular flange II limiting its downward movement and at its inner end it is provided with an annular groove I8. A short distance above its lower end the shaft I5 is threaded and secured thereto is a knurled can feeding wheel I9. Overlying the. latter is a case plate 2B which is held in place againstthe wheel and is thus made to form the bottom ofthe casing by retaininglugs 5"-6c (Fig. 10) struck inwardly from each of the side wings 5 and 6 of theV head I.

Belowth-e feed wheel I9 is a spring plate 2l (Fig. 16)v having an elongated central opening in which is a trigger spring 22 the free end of which bears against the shaft I5 to force the plate laterally so that its outer angular edge 2Ia is always in a positionto engagebelowY the. bead of a can top, as shownv in the diagrammatic views Figs. 14 and 15. I may also hold this plate projected by a leaf spring 22a bearing against its rear edge.

Above the feed Wheel I9 there is also threaded on the shaft I5 a nut having a hub 23 which is journaled in the case plate 20 and a shoulder 23a forming a seat for the lower end of a coil spring 24 which acts to move the sleeve I6 vertically.

The top of the shaft I5 is squared and embraced between the side Walls 2aL of the operating handle 2. The latter is pivoted eccentrically to the end of the shaft as indicated at 2b so that the handle has two surfaces 2C-2d, at unequal distances from its pivot, which are connected by a rounded cam surface 2e. From this arrangement it will be seen that when the handle is in a vertical position (Fig. 2) the sleeve is forced upward by the spring 24. Conversely when the handle 2 is moved into a horizontal position the sleeve is forced downwardly.

The vertical reciprocatory movement Yof the sleeve I6 is utilized to advance and retract the cutter which moves in a path at an acute angle to the axis of travel of the sleeve. The cutter 3!) (Fig. 2) is rigidly attached to a holder in the form of a bent arm (Fig. 4) having the horizontal bifurcated portion 3l, which embraces the annular recess I8 in the sleeve, and the angular downwardly extending tail piece 32. The latter slides in the guide piece 33 (Fig. 5) which is pivoted at its upper end 34a on an arbor 34 carried by the sides 5 6 of the head. The lower end of the guide projects into line with the case plate 2B and its inward pivotal movement is limited, as the knife approaches its lowest position, by engaging the stop ears 26a which are struck up from the corners of the plate 20 and extend slightly beyond its forward edge thus providing an intervening space to accommodate the knife blade in its downward movement.

The cutter, the holder therefor, and its, guide are held in operative position by a yielding pressure, tending to move the guide toward the shaft I5, exerted by a stiff leaf spring which also serves to act as a closure for the front of the head I.

l A convenient construction of this spring is to make it as a stamping having a horizontal attaching end 35, connected to the top il of the head by screws 3S, and a downwardly and inwardly extending leaf or free end 31, lying between the side pieces of the head, and bearing against the outer face of the guide piece 33 at its lower end.

The design of the parts just described, together with that of the knife, or cutter, is important in carrying out the purposes of my invention. By advancing the cutter in an angular direction it first engages the can top to puncture it at a point somewhat removed from the can bead as shown in Fig. 14, and as it progresses downwardly serves to force the bead of the can into engagement with the knurled face of the feed wheel I9 and firmly hold itin contact therewith during the complete rotation of the can.

Another function thus obtained is this: It brings into play the particular configuration of the knife blade whereby a rather wide line of severance is effected thus making the removal of thecut-outtop easy; eliminates the possibility of the formation of chips, which might drop into the contents of the can, and serves to roll down that portion of the severed edge of the can top which lies adjacent the bead, into tight engagement with the inner side of the can wall. Theresult of this last action is shown in Fig. 15 and has the ad- 75 vantage of leaving the opened can with a perfectly smooth edge which facilitates its subsequent handling and permits a complete emptying and draining of its contents.

In the accomplishment of these ends I form the cutter with the shank 3l! by which it lis attached to the arm 32 having at its lower end the knife proper which extends vertically. The knife is curved, as indicated at 39a to present a rounded surface which presses against the inturned edge of the can head and the inner side of' the contiguous area of can wall during the rotary movement of the can (see Figs. 11 and 15) The lower edge of the knife is cut away at an angle, as indicated at 30h, and beveled transversely so that a sharp point for puncturing the can top is provided and a sharp trailing edge is had for effecting a shearing action of the material `as the can is revolved against it.

An especial advantage is provided in the association of the various parts described above in that with the cutter retracted a can may be placed on the supporting platform or base I0 against the face of the post or bar 3 and the head I lowered until its stops Ell- Bb rest upon the top edge of the can bead. It will be seen that the placing of the can occurs wholly in a horizontal direction. Likewise, yafter the top has been severed and the cutter retracted its removal is likewise in a horizontal plane so that there need be no spilling of its contents. Since the puncturing and severing operations are accomplishecl first by the movement of the handle 2 from a vertical to a horizontal position and second by the rotary movement of the handle no other adjustment of the head I is required.

When operating to open a number of cans of a given size the initial position of the head lis determined by the first can and the column 3 is locked to the base Ill by the wing nut I2. However, since in practice it is found that the can manufacturers only hold themselves to tolerances of plus and minus, I have provided for more than this latitude by using as a guide for the initial setting of the instrument the spring plate 2I which acts as a back off stop. When it is intended to operate on a series of cans of a given commercial can number, or size, the first can will be positioned as before described and the head elevated slightly until the upper edge of the plate 2l arrests it by engagement below the can bead when the wing nut I2 may be tightened to secure the post in this position. Thereafter in operating on subsequent cans if one which is g1g shorter is encountered so that its bead bears against the spring plate the latter merely yields, against its spring 22, as the can head is forced into engagement with the feed wheel.

' It will be seen that by mounting the knife ca:rier to move in a plane inclined to the `axial movement of the actuating sleeve I6 that downward pressure is exerted on the prongs of the arm 3| which tends to move the carrier guide on its arbor and throw the lower end of the guide outwardly against the tension of the leaf spring arm 31 thus insuring that the knife point is in the desired position outward from the spring plate and feed Wheel before it begins its descent and relative inward movement toward said parts.

The ease with which the movable parts may be assembled in the first instance, or taken apart for the replacement of the knife or any other element, will be observed in Fig. 2. Access toy the knife blade merely requires the removal of the spring cover plate by disengagement of the screws 36 and the withdrawal of the plntle 34 which releases both the guide 33 and the knife carrier. The other movable parts associated With the shaft I5 may be removed as a unit from the head by locking the feed wheel I9 and rotating the handle 2 in an anticlockwise direction to disengage the threaded portion of the shaft therefrom, whereupon the spring plate, feed wheel and case plate may be removed in a lateral direction while the shaft and its associated parts are disengaged by an inline longitudinal movement through the top of the head.

The invention claimed is:

1. A can opener comprising a base for supporting a can, means for cutting out the top of such can comprising a head having a cutter, a rotary member engaging the upper bead of the can for rotating lit and means for advancing and retracting said cutter and rotating said member, a bar supporting said head guided for vertical movement in the base, a stop located beneath the rotary member adapted to engage beneath the upper can bead to position said head and the elements therein in operative relation to the can head.

2. An opener for cans having beaded edges and capped ends depressed with said beads, comprising a base for supporting a can, can top severing mechanism, can rotating means, and a stop for engagement with the bottom edge of the top bead of a can, a head carrying said severing mechanism, rotating means and stop, a post supporting the head guided for vertical movement on the base and means for locking the post to hold the head in adjusted position when in engagement with the top of a can.

3. In an opener for cans having beaded edges and capped ends within said beads, the combination with a base for supporting a can and head member guided for vertical movement on the base having a portion adapted to iirst engage the top of a can bead, of a stop spaced therefrom adapted to engage beneath the bottom edge of said bead upon elevation of the head, and clamping means on the base for securing the head vin the last mentioned position of adjustment, a can top cutter carried on the head, means for actuating it into cutting position also carried on the head and a rotary member for rotating the can on the base relatively to the cutter. Y

4. In an Opener for cans having beaded edges and capped ends within said beads, the combina.- tion with a base for supporting a can and head member carrying a can top cutter guided for vertical movement on the base having a stationary stop adapted to first engage over the top of a can bead, of a laterally movable stop on the head spaced below the stationary stop for engagement with the lower edge of the upper bead of a can upon elevation yof the head from its rst position of adjustment and means for clamping the head relatively to the base, a can top cutter carried by the head and means for rotating a can on the base relatively to the cutter.

5. In a can opener the combination with a base for receiving a can to be opened, a post guided for vertical movement thereon and means for locking it in adjusted position, of a head on the post having a ledge limiting its downward movement by engagement with a can top, a yielding stop movable horizontally of the head and spaced below the ledge a distance greater than the average width of can beads and adapted to engage beneath the edge of a can bead, a can top cutter carried on the head and means also carriedon the head for advancing it through a can top and retracting it beyond the top of a can resting on theV base.

6. In a can opener, thecombination with a base for receiving a can to be opened, a post guided for vertical movement thereon, of a head on the post having a foot portion limiting its downward movement by engagement with a can top, a yielding stop movable horizontally of the head and spaced below said foot portion a distance greater than the average width of can beads and adapted to engage beneath the edge of a can bead when the head is elevated from its first position of adjustment, means on the base for locking the post to'secure said.- head in this second position of. adjustment, a can top cutter carried on the head above the plane of the can top and means for advancing it. downwardly to puncture the top of a can resting on the base.

'7. In a canV opener, the combination with a base for receiving a can to be opened, a post guided for vertical movement thereon and a head on the post having a foot portion limiting its downward movement by engagement with a can top, a yielding stop movable horizontally of the head and spaced below theA foot portion a distance greater than the average width of a can bead and adapted to engage beneath the edge of a can bead, a knurled wheel occupying the space between said stop and said' foot portion, a can top cutter carried on the head above the plane of the can top movable in a direction upon puncturing a can top to cause its bead to engage said wheel and means for actuating the cutter and rotating f the wheel.

8. A can opener, comprising a head supported for vertical movement into engagement with a can supported in an upright position beneath it,

having a back-off stop for engagement with the .i

lower edge of the top bead of the can, spaced from the head a distance greater than the average width of can beads, and yieldable'laterally, a feed wheel between the stop and the portion of the head which engages the can in the first instance, a cutter on the head and means for advancing it to puncture the can topr and means for rotating the' feedwheel to rotate the can against the cutter to sever its top,

9. In a can opener, the combination with a rigid support having a head, a shaft journaled therein and a feed wheel attached to the shaft for rotating a can, a knife guided in a plane inclined to the shaft axis and serving to puncture a can top and move a can into engagement with the feed wheel, of a sleeve on the shaft connected to the knife, a spring surrounding the shaft serving to move the sleeve and retract the knife, anda handle pivoted to the shaft and normally extending axially thereof and having a cam surface bearing against the sleeve serving when the handle is moved at right angles to the shaft to depress theI sleeve to actuate the knife downwardly and laterally into cutting position.

10. In a can opener, the combination with a support, a hollow head thereon, a shaft journaled therein and a feed wheel on the shaft for rotating a can, a sleeve guided on the shaft, an inclined guide way on the head at one side of the shaft, a knife carrier movable in the guide way having an arm engaging the sleeve and a knife on the carrier, of a lever arm on the shaft for rotating it and actuating the sleeve to cause the knife to be advanced into cutting position.

11. In a can opener, the combination with a support, a hollow head thereon, a shaft journaled therein and a feed wheel on the shaft for rotating a cam, a sleeve guided on the shaft, a pivoted guide way mounted at one side of the shaft at an angle converging with the axis of the shaft, of a knife carrier movable along the guide way having a laterally extending arm at its upper end engaging the sleeve, a knife on the carrier for puncturing and cutting a can top, and means for actuating the sleeve to advance the knife into cutting position and for rotating said feed wheel.

12. In a can opener, the combination with a supporting column, a head forming a housing thereonV having wings extending laterally of the column, a shaft extending vertically through the housing, a feed wheel for rotating a can located in the bottom of the housing, and a sleeve on the upper end of the shaft, of a guide way pivoted between said wings at an angle to the shaft, a leaf spring forming a closure for the open side of the housing between said wings bearing at its. free end against the free end of the guide way, a knife carrier sliding in the guideway having a portion engaging said sleeve, a knife blade on the carrier and means for rotating the shaft and reciprocating the sleeve.

13. In a can opener, the combination with a columnar support, a housing carried thereon composed of a stamping forming side wings extending laterally beyond the side of the support, a shaft in the housing, a can feed wheel on the lower end of the shaft and a sleeve on its upper end, a case plate overlying the feed wheel and engaged between sai-:i wings, of a guideway having its lower open end in engagement with the edge of said plate and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom between said wings, a knife carrier movable along the guideway having a portion engaging the sleeve, a knife blade on the carrier for puncturing and cutting a can top and means for rotating the shaft and reciprocating the sleeve.

WALTER W. EDLUND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 185,004 White Dec. 5, 1876 1,713,823 Edlund May 21, 1929 1,751,251 Sawyer Mar. 18, 1930 2,326,490 McLean Oct. 9, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 375,164 Italy Sept. 25, 1939

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