US1556385A - Can opener - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1925. 1,556,385

R. H. wALLER f Filed Dec. 7. 1922 INVEN'TZOR ATTORNEY WITNESSES M MM t pending Patented Oct. 6, 1925i.v

' UNITED" vs'r.A .Tr;s

l 1,556,385 Partiturl OFFICE.

ROBERT H. WALLER, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOE, BY MESNE ASSIGN' MENTS, TO THE QUICKS'AEE MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, 0F NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

GAN OPENER.

Application led December 7, 1922. Serial No. 605,385.

To all whom z'tvnay concern:

'Be it known that I, 'ROBERT H. WYALLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nashville, in the'county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement .in- Can Qpeners, of `which the followin is a specification.

This invention re ates to can openers, and is designed particularly as an improvement on the device shown and described in my coa plication' for. patent on a can opener. fi ed May l17, 1922, Serial No. 561,651.'

lObjects of the invention consist in the simplification of the construction so that-it.

will be'more compact and can be manufactured at a reduced cost, the elongated oscillating arm described and specifically claimed in 'some' claims of my said co-pending application 'being eliminated in the specific form of the invention particularly described herein. The present construction also provides simpler means -for causing the penetration of the cutting` wheel through the rim of a can when the operating crank is turned in one direction, and .for withdrawing said wheel from ithe can upon retrograde movement of the crank and' thus allow the. removal of .thelcanf Other objects of the invention consist in the provision of various combinations of parts and details of construction, de'- sirable in an effective can opening device of the character referred to, all as will be morev fully lset forth in the accompanying description and particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawing, in whichsimilar reference characters designate corresponding Aparts Ithroughout the several gures:.

Fig. l4 isa perspective view of the im- -proved can opener inoperation;

' Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the same; n I

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device as viewed in Figure .1,the major portion of thelcan being broken' away;

Fi 4 'is 'atop plan \view showing the position of the partsafter a retrograde movement of the operating crank to free the the base plate.

"cutter from the can andrelease the latter.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a su portconsisting of a fixed base plate 1, pre erably formed from heavy sheet metal by cutting or stamping the same into oblongv form having the corners thereof preferably rounded, and adapted to be clamped to the edge of a table by means of a thumb screw 2, having threaded connection with the lower, horizontal arm 3, of a 'U-shapedlbracket (4), formed also of heavy located adjacent to the transverse center of the latter, so that the opposite end thereof overhangs the edge of the` table, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawing. o

The thumb screw 2 carries vat its upper end a swiveled head 7, of inverted, saucer-shape te provide a peripheral. contacting edge for engaging the lower face of the overhanging edge of the table, and the lower ends of the rivets 5 are-formed into projecting tapered heads 8,to impinge into the upper face of the table, and to coact with the said swiveled head to maintain the base plate rigidly in positionwhen the screw is tightened.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the bracket 4.- is arranged at one side of the longitudinal center line of the base plate, with one .side edge of the same flush with one side edge of Said base plate, though this specific arrangement is not obligatory.'

An arcuate slot 9 is formed in the base plate between the arm 6 of the bracket andthe outer, overhanging end of the said plate, the `ends of the slot being rounded and spaced from the Side edges of the plate.

Adjacent to the outer end of the base plate and in' longitudinal alinement with onel rounded` end of the slot 9, ,there is provided an opening, forming a fixed bearing inwhich is mounted a revoluble spindle or stud 10, having secured to its upper end a spur gear 11 resting flat a ainst the upper face of the base plate, the sa1d spindle being free to rotate in either direction in its bearing, and having secured at its lower end a 'feed roller or wheel 12 whose upper, face preferably bea-rs against-the Alower face of Thel roller or wheel 12 is provided at its lower portion with an outstanding annular flange 18, having its peripheral face milled to provide means for in either direction.

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engagitng with and automatically rotating and feeding the can, in a manner to be described.

Slidably and revolubly mounted in the arcuate slot 9 is another spindle or Stud 14, which projects considerably above and below the upper and lower surfaces of the base plate respectively, and has secured at its upper end an operating crank handle`15, which may be operated to turn said spindle Between the crank handle 15 and the upper face of the base plate, there is interposed a spur gear 16 of equal diameter with the spur gear 11, and rigidly secured to rotate with the spindle 14, while beneath the base plate the said spindle carries a feed roller 17 bearing against the lower face of the plate, the lower face of said roller being substantially in a horizontal plane with the upper face of the milled iange 13, of the aforesaid wheel 12, as will be seen by reference to Figure 3 of the drawinfr.

2rlhe roller 17 is loosely mounted on the spindle 14, and is free to rotate independently thereof, while a cutting disk 18 carried at the lower end of the spindle 14 is rigidly held to and forced to rotate therewith through the medium of a binding nut 19, screwed to the lower threaded end 20 of the spindle, a spacing washer 21 being interposed between the nut and the lower face of the cutting disk 18, which latter has ,its peripheral edge beveled to provide a cutting edge 22 at its upper face. A loosely mounted spacing washer 23 is mounted on the spindle 14 between the feed roller 17 and the cutting disk 18, the said washer being of less diameter than the roller.

The two spindles or studs 10, 14 are substantially parallel to each other, while the slot 9 is arranged transversely to a line connecting the aXes of said studs, when the cutting elements, i. e., the feed roller 12 and the cutting disk 1S, are in coacting position.

In operating the can opener, a can 24 having the usual circumferential flange 25 extending around the margin at either end, is introduced from below, the operating spindle 14 being moved to that end of the arcuate slot 9 farthest from the stationary spindle 10, such movement of the spindle 14 beingA caused by a counterclockwise movement of the crank 15, which causes th gear 16 to engage with the teeth of gear 11 and with the teeth 26 of a plate or short rack 27 secured to the upper face of the base 1, by rivets 2S. The teeth 26 are located adjacent to that end of the slot 9 remote from the stationary spindle 10, as seen in plan view in Fig. 4. By the said movement of the crank, the two cooperating elements forl cutting the can, namely, the cutting disk 18 L and the feed roller 12, are lcarried out of operative relation toA each other. This provides ample space between the cutting edge 22 of' the disk 1K8 and the milled edge of the flange 13 for the introduction of the flange 25 ojt' the can 24, the lower face of the flange 13 bearing against the outer face of the head 29 of' the can, and the cutting edge 20 being in spaced relation to the side of the can `andl in horizontal alinement with the lower or innen face of the head 29.

By a reverse or clockwise movement of the crank 15, the teeth of the gear 16 meshing with the teeth of the gear 11 and the 'stationary teeth 26, causes the spindle 14 to move along the slot 9 transversely of the base plate, when the edge 22 of the cutting disk is brought into engagement with and forced to penetrate the side of the can, and at the same time, and by the same movement, the roller 17 and the milled flange 13 are caused to clamp the outer and inner sides of the flange. or bead 25 of the can with sufficient force to cause the rotation of the can while the cutting disk is being rotated through the turning of the handle to bring about a complete severance of the entire head of the. can. During this operation it is only necessary to partially support the bottom of the can `Iwith one hand, while the other hand is turning the crank. lt will be seen that the can opener may be used for opening cans of any size having the projecting flange which is generally found in all standard makes of cans.

1t will be noted that the construction described enables certain advantageous effects to be secured even without the stationary rack or abutment comprising teeth 26, which is present in the preferred construction, as stated. Thus it will be noted that the movable stud is pressed against one end of its slot- 9 during the can-cutting operation, by coactiou of its `ear 16 with` the teeth of the coacting gear 11, the coacting parts being thus held incoacting relation. Also, that upon reverse rotation of the crank handle the engagementv of the two gears, as the teeth of. one bear, as they rotate, against teeth of the other,'causes a tendency for the movable stud to move along the slot until its gear is out of Contact with the gear on the fixed stud. Hand lever or vhandle means ments are mounted, afixed plate having a fixed bearing for onev of said studs and having 'a slot transverse tothe line connecting'the axes of said studs when said elements are in coacting position, the other one of said studs being mounted directly in said slot for movement lengthwise thereof and guided by the walls of saidslot, gears on said studs adapted to mesh to drive one` positively from the other, and a crank haii-k dle for rotating one of said studs, thestudj in said slot being pressed against one end thereof by coaetion of its gear with the 'coacting gear during operation of the device, the teeth of said coacting gear,.upon reverse movement of said crank handle, bearing against the teeth 'of said firstnamed gear', and thereby having a tendency to move lthe stud in said slot lengthwise thereof and. carry one of said elements out of operative relation to the other element.`

2. In a can opener, the combination 0f cooperating elements for cutting the can, comprising a rotary cutter and a roller for engagement with opposite surfaces of the. bead of the can, parallel studs on which said elements are mounted, a fixed plate having atiXed bearing for one ofsaidstuds and having a slotftransverse to the line connecting the axes of said studswhen said elements are in coacting position, the other one of said studs being mounted directly inv said slot for movement lengthwise thereof, and guided only by the walls of said' slot,l gears on said studs 'adapted tomesh to /drive one positively from the other, and a crank handle on one of said movable studs for rotating the same, said movable stud being pressed against-one end thereof by coaction of its gear with the coacting gear during operation of the device, the teeth of. said coacting gear, upon reverse movement 1 of said crank handle, bearing against the teeth of said first-named gear,'and thereb)7 having a tendency to ,move the stud in said slot lengthwise thereof and carry one o said elements out. of operativerelation toA the other element. i

In a can opener, the combination of cooperating elements for cutting the can, com-L.

. prising a rotary cutter and a roller for engagement with opposite surfaces of the bead of the can, parallel studs on which said elements are mounted, a fixed plate having a fixed bearing for one of said studs and having a slot transverse to the line connecting the axes of said studs When said elements are in coacting position, the other one of said studs being mounted in said'slot for movement lengthwise thereof, gears on said studs bearing againsta face of said plate, adapted to mesh to drive one positively from the other, and a lever attached at one end' to said movable stud and having a manually engageable portion at its other end, the stud in said slot being pressed against one end v thereof by coaction of its gear with the coacting gear upon forward rotation of said cutter, the teeth of said coacting gear upon reverse 'rotation of said cutter, bearingagainst the teeth of said rst-named gear,

and thereby having a tendency to move the stud in said slot lengthwise thereofvand carry one of said elements out of operative rela` tion to the other element.

4. In a can opener, the combination with n a support having a slot, of a short spindle movably mounted in the slot, a rotary cut- Vter carried by the lower end of the spindle,

a 'feed roller on the spindle above said cutter and below the lower face of the support, a gear wheel on the spindleabove the feed roller and bearing against the upper face of the support, and a crank rigidly mounted on the upper end of the s indle, a second short spindle also mounte in the support in spaced relation to the first-mentioned spindle and carrying a gear bearing against the upper face of the support and' adapted to mesh with the first-mentioned gear wheel,

a second feed roller mounted at the bottom of the second-mentioned spindle and below the lower face of the support, the feed rollers combining to engage the bead of a can at the inner and outer sides thereof, and a Afixed rack secured to the support at one sidevof the slot and in a position to be en.- gaged by thev gear wheel of the movable spindle.

5. a support having a slot, of ashort spindle Inv-a can opener, the combination with movably mounted in the slot,- a rotary cut-v ter carried by the lower end ofthe spindle,

a gear wheel on the spindle above the feed roller andy bearing against the upperf'ace of the support, and a crank rigidly mounted on the upperend ofthe spindle, a' second short spindle also mounted in the support f in spaced relation to the first-mentioned a feed roller` on the spindle` above said cutterjbelow the lower faceof the support,`

at the inner and outer sides thereof, and a fixed rack secured to the support at one side'of the slot and in a ositlon to be engaged by the gear whee of the movable spindle, whereby upon turningthe handle in a clockwise direction, the spindle is m ved through the slot so as to cause the gear wheel thereon to mesh with the other gear wheel, and upon moving the handle in a counterclockwi'se direction, the gear wheel on the movable spindle is shifted from the gear on the other spindle and caused toven- `gage the rack, thereby moving the cutter out of cooperative relation with the irstmentioned feed roller so as to -allow the insertion of the bead of a can between the cutter and said feed roller.

6. A can opener comprising a plate adapt ed to be secured to a table, coacting feed rollers carried beneath the plate and bearing against the underside of the latter, one of said rollers being mounted on a revoluble spindle which hasl a relatively fixed relation, the spindle of the other roller being transversely movable on the base, a cuttin disc carried by the last-named spindle below the support,"spur gears mounted on the two spindles and bearing against the upper face 'of the support, a crank fixed to the movable spindle for turning the same, stationary teeth mounted on thebase adjacent to the gear on the first-mentioned spindle and adapted to be engaged by the teeth of the movable spur gear to cause the separation of said feed rollers when the crank is turned in a counterclockwise direction, and to cause the feed rollers to clamp the bead of a can and to force the cutting disc through the side of said can and to sever the can top, when the crank is turned in a clockwise direction.

7. A can opener comprising a substantially flat base plate, aclamp at one end of the base late, the remaining portion of the base 1plte being in overhanging relation, the over anging part of the base plate being provided with a curved slot, a revoluble short spindle movably mounted in said slot, a gear wheel mounted on said spindle and bearing against the u per face of the plate, an operatin handle fixed to the u per.l end of the spind e above the gear w eel, a feed roller mounted on said spindle below the lower face of the base plate, a rotary cutter mounted on said spindle below the' roller, a loose spacing washer mounted on the spindle between the cutter and the roller, a second revoluble short spindle spaced from the first-mentioned spindle and mounted in 4said plate in arelatively fixed position, a gear wheel mounted on the second spindle and resting against the upper face of the plate, a feed roller mounted on said second spindle below the lower face of said plate and cooperating with the firstmentioned roller, and a xed rack mounted on the plate at one side of the second-mentioned gear wheel, whereby upon turning the handle in a Vclockwise direction, the ear wheel on the movable spindle 'is cause to mesh with the gear wheelvon the other spindle, and by turning the crank in a counterclockwise direction the gear wheel on the movable spindle is carried out of engagement with the other gear wheel and is caused to engage with the teeth of the rack, at the same time separating the rotary cutter from the second-mentioned feed roller so as to allow the insertion of the bead of a cap between the rotary cutter and said feed ro ler.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my s1gnature.

ROBERT' H. -wALLEa

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