US2554628A

US2554628A - Can opener

Info

Publication number: US2554628A
Application number: US707021A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mesik Edward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-10-31
Filing date: 1946-10-31
Publication date: 1951-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 1968-05-29

Description

May 29, 1951 E. MEsiK .k CAN oPENlsxRLI Filed Oct. 51, 1946 Patented May 29 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEr CAN OPENER Edward Mesik, Buffalo, N. Y. Application october 31, 1946, serial No. 707,021

2 claims. l

This invention relates to can openers operative completely to sever the top of the can.

Prior constructions so operative have the disadvantage of the liability of the severed top falling into the can.

'I'he objects of the invention are to overcome this objection; and to provide a can opener so operative which will be conveniently adaptable to cans of various diameters, will automatically raise the can top from the can, may be actuated to effect the transfer of the severed can top to a position clear of the can, and will enable the facile and immediate release of the can top so transferred whereby the severed can top may be discharged clear of the can.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the improved can opener in position for operation.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the can opener in the relation shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the can opener in the relation shown in Figures 1 and 2, the availability of the device for cans of standard rectangular cross section being indicated by dot and dash lines.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view along the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

The drawing shows the ordinary cylindrical can C in which food products are dispensed, its end walls being connected to its cylindrical Wall by the usual interlocking joints which provide peripheral beads B.

The can top severing mechanism 28, may be of any suitable construction. The standard construction shown includes a body member 2| having at its lower end an inward projection 22 for abutting engagement with the cylindrical can Wall at a point suitably below the upper bead B and immediately above the projection 22 a feed wheel 23 for engagement with the under side of the upper bead B, the pintle (not shown) which carries this wheel being journalled in the member 2| and carrying at its outer end the usual nger piece 24. v'Ihe member 2| carries lower and

upper stops

25 and 26, the stop 25 overlying the upper bead B and serving to locate the Wheel 23 beneath the bead, thereby to prevent canting of the member 2| about the bead during the operative rotation of the Wheel 23 byI the finger piece 24. The cutter 21 is pivotally secured below center, as at 28, to the member 2|, its upper portion being of extent suitable to provide a finger piece 29. Its lower end is formed and sharpened to puncture the top of .the can, and when the cutting mechanism is moved about the periphery of the can by the clockwise rotation of the thumb piece 24, to cut the top from the upper bead B. The cutter, when not in use, has an inoperative horizontal position in which it rests by gravity against the stop 25. When the member 2| is applied to the can the cutter 21 is moved by the finger piece 29 until it reaches a vertical position in which its further movement is arrested by the stop 26. In such position the active lower end. of the cutter has punctured the can top and started the kerf which is completed in the clockwise peripheral direction by the peripheral movement of the cutting mechanism effected as aforesaid.

The mechanism designated generally as 38, which engages the can top in order to eiect its removal, transfer and discharge is operatively connected to the can top severing mechanism. The operative connections between the mechanisms include a sleeve 3| which has a swivelled mounting 32 upon an outwardly and laterally ex.- tending ear 33 carried by the upper portion of the member 2|. The sleeve 3| has a non-circular axial bore in which a rod 34 of conforming cross section is slidably mounted. At its inner end the rod 34 is pivotally connected, as at 35, to a projecting part of the can top removing mech- .anism 30. By reason of the slidable mounting of the rod 34 in the sleeve 3| and the pivotal ,connection 35 the space between the

mechanisms

28 and 30 will be automatically accommodated to the particular diameter of the can. It follows that a device embodying the invention may be used upon cans of varying diameters Within a Wide range.

The mechanism 38 includes a collar 36 having finger engageable Wings 31, one of which serves for the pivotal connection 35 of the rod 34. `The collar 36 is loosely mounted upon a tubular post 38 which occupies a vertical position during the can top severing operation and projects above and below the collar. The post 38 carries at its upper end a suitable hand piece or knob 39 which is preferably cup-shaped as shown and is formed with a central boss 4| by means of which it may be conveniently mounted upon the upper end of the post by threaded engagement.

A helical expansion spring 40 surrounds the post 38 and bears at its upper end against the boss 4| and at its lower end against the collar 36, upward movement of the post consequent to the rpressure of the spring being limited by a stop collar 42 secured to the post below the collar 36.

The lower end of the post 38 carries a vacuum cup 41 of rubber or any other appropriate iiexible and resilient material. The cup 41 is formed with an upright central boss 48 having a central opening 49 which extends to the cavity 5| of the inner or engaging face of the cup and is open at its opposite end to an opening 50 of greater diameter extending to the outer at face of the boss. The vacuum cup 41 is frictionally secured to the post` 38 by forcing the lower end of the post, to the extent permitted by the collar 42, into the opening 50. The

openings

49 and 50 and the interior of the post 38 provide a continuous air passage between the cavity andthe outer end of the post.

The cavity 5| has the usual concave form and provides a seat for a normally .closed 'valve '52 having a conical engaging face. The valve 52 is carried at the lower end of a stem 53 which extends through the air passage aforesaid and projects suitably beyond the upper end of the '-post 38. The valve 52 is held normally seated -by a helical expansion spring 54 located within the post V38 and bearing at its upper end against -a cross pin 55 carried by the stem S53 `and at its lower end against a shoulder 56 at the lower end of the post 38.

vided for -by the slidable engagement of the rod 34 in the sleeve 3 i As thus centered the-collarv is held by the springltil in the lowermost position permitted by the linkage 34. The heel -of the hand (or the thumb) is then-applied to the knob -39 and the index and second ngersare .engaged under the wings 31, the knob 3Q and postbeing then pushed down in opposition to the pressure of the spring 45. As the knob is pushed down the vacuum cup is attened and vby Ythe concomitant application of hand pressure to lthe projecting upper end of the stemA 53, the downwardmovement of which relative-to the post .38 is made 'possible by the slots, the valve 52 is opened and the air under pressure in the cavity 5i `escapes pastfthe vaiveand through the Vcontinuous air passage aforesaid. When the vacuum cup has thus been flattened the lpressure Vupon the knob V39 and stem 53 is released, the valveI 52 is reseated by the spring 5ft, andthe vacuum cup, by virtue of its resilience and flexibility, assumes its normal operative shape in. which the volume or the cavity 5| is increased, the marginal portion of the vacuum cup the while having sealing engagement with the top oi the can in the usual manner whereby a partial vacuum is created in the cavity 5| which is amply sumcient firmly to secure the can top removing mechanism to the top of the can. The cutter 21 is then moved to its vertical operative position, puncturing the `can and starting the kerf, all as above described. The thumb piece 24 is then rotated clockwise to eiTect the clockwise movement of the can top severing mechanism 2S in peripheral relation to the can. The movement of the mechanism 28 is continued untilthe cutter completes a circular kerf, thereby-severing the can top from the upper bead B.

The pressure of the spring 4D `is exerted-continuously upon the lboss 4| during the can top severing operation whereby when the cantop is "tangularoutline having curved corners.

4 completely severed the post 38, carrying with it the vacuum cup and the top of the can, is raised until its movement is limited by the engagement of the collar 42 against the collar 36. The can top holding mechanism may then be swung about the pivot 32 in order to move the elevated can top to a position clear of the can, that is to say at one side of the can. Thereupon the valve 52 may be opened to break the vacuum in the cavity 5| with the resultant release of the can top. Obviously the device as an entirety may be re- .,moved from the can at the completion of the severing operation and the can top discharged at a remote point, i. e. into any suitable waste receptacle.

'The swivelled sleeve 3| and the linkage rod 34, slidable therein, .considered as operative connections ,between the can top severing mechanism 20 and the can top holding mechanism 3D, provide for the use of the device with cans of rec- This is shown in Figure 3 by dot-and dash lines,fthe line AX representing a-can-of rectangular'crosssection and the lines Y representing the device, In'such use the swivel mounting of thelsleeve-SI andthe slidable mounting of the rod34 permit the relative shifting lof the mechanismsZ and-3 in the radial direction, pursuant to "the movement of the severing Vmechanism l2|) in-conformity to, and about, the upper margin of the can, -withoutvdisturbing the centered position of the mechanism 3|! in holding and sealing `engagement with Athe can top. v

Since thecollar 36 is loosely mounted upon the post 38 the latter may turn about its axis relatively to the collar. Thereby the can top engaging mechanism `is available for use with can top severing mechanism of the wall mounted-type in which the can-rotates about itsaxis relatively to the severing mechanism, the connections between the two mechanisms -being Vthe same-as in the embodiment disclosedy wherein, as above described, thesevering mechanism is-movable Yperip'herally about the can.

In the subjoined claims wordsindicative of positions'such'ashorizontal and "verticaP are, of course, used with reference to the operative position of the 'device as shown 'inthe drawing and'as herein described.

I claim:

1. A can opener having a :can top engaging mechanism supported at a i'lxed'point vand which comprises a vacuum cup for sealing engagement with the can top, a post carrying the vacuum cup, a collar loosely mounted upon the post above the vacuum cup and which is utilized in the support .of the mechanism from the xed point, the post having a shoulder on its upper portion, la spring mounted on the post between, and bearing against, the collar and the shoulder, the spring urging the collar and the shoulder away from one. another, said post and vacuum cup being .formed to provide a continuous air passage `between the cavity of the vacuum .cup vand the upper end of the posit-a valve for normal seating engagement upon the surface of the vac- .uum cup cavity sealing said cavity from said passage, the valve having a stem which projects beyond the upper end of the post, vand a spring mounted within the `post to act on said stem, thereby to hold the valvenormally closed.

2. A can lopener having a can top engaging mechanism suppor-ted'at a xed pointand which comprises a vacuum cup vforsealing engagement 5 with the can top, a post carrying the vacuum cup, a collar loosely mounted upon the post above the vacuum cup and which is utilized in the support of the mechanism from the Xed point, the post having a shoulder on its upper portion, a spring mounted on the post between, and bearing against, the collar and the shoulder, the spring 'urging the collar and the shoulder away from -one another, the post carrying a knob at its upper end, the collar having nger pieces, the post and the vacuum cup being formed to provide a continuous air passage between the cavity of the vacuum cup and the upper end of the post, a valve for normal seating engagement upon the surface of the Vacuum cup cavity normally sealing said cavity from said passage, the valve having a stem which projects beyond the upper end of the post with its projecting part exposed 6 through the knob, and a spring mounted Within the post to act on said stem, thereby to hold the Valve normally closed and to hold the stem in a position from which it may be depressed by nger pressure applied to its projecting part.

EDWARD MESIK.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,276,567 Wdstrand Aug. 20, 1918 1,714,422 Hanson May 21, 1929 2,252,024 OBrien Aug. 12, 1941 2,265,491 Powers Dec. 9, 1941 2,296,073 Walgo Sept. 15, 1942