US2850799A

US2850799A - Locking mechanism for power operated can opener

Info

Publication number: US2850799A
Application number: US641741A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cathryn E Dodd; Marvin C Dodd
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-02-21
Filing date: 1957-02-21
Publication date: 1958-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 1975-09-09

Description

Sept 9, 1.958 c. E. DoDD Erm. 2,850,799

v LOCKING MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATED' CAN OPENER Filed Feb. 21, 1957 United States Patent() LOCKING MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATED The present invention relates `to a locking device for power operated can openers, and more particularly to a device for locking the can opener in can opening position.

The -primary object of the invention is to provide a power operated can opener with means for releasably locking the can opener when in can opening position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking mechanism for power operated can openers which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to use and which will effectively lock the can opener in opening position on a can.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power operated can opener having means for locking the drive gears thereof in driving engagement during the opening of a can.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal crosssection taken along the line 3-3 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection taken along the line 4--4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral indicates generally a power operated can opener constructed in accordance with the invention.

The can opener 10 includes an elongated generally rectangular upright plate 11 secured at its opposite ends to

standards

12 and 13, respectively, by securing elements 14. The plate 11 is provided at its lower edge with a forwardly extending strengthening flange 15 integrally formed therewith.

A generally rectangular locking plate 16 is positioned against the face of the plate 11 opposite the ange 15 intermediate the

standards

12 and 13 and secured thereto by means of securing elements 17. The locking plate 16 extends from the top to the bottom of the plate 11, as can be seen in Figure 4.

A tubular bushing 18 extends perpendicularly through the plate 11 and the locking plate 16 and extends beyond each side thereof. A shaft 19 is journalled in the bushing 18 and has one end 19a extending therebeyond for reasons to be assigned. A drive gear 20 is positioned on the opposite end of the shaft 19 and has an integrally formed collar 21 extending axially thereof.

A can drive cog 22 is integrally formed with the collar 21 in spaced parallel relation to the drive gear 20 and positioned outwardly thereof with relation to the shaft 19. The end portion 19a of the shaft 19 is adapted to be connected to the power unit of a food mixer, or other power drive mechanism, so as to revolve the shaft 19, the drive gear 20, and the can drive cog 22.

The plate 11 is provided with a boss 23 extending F'ice oppositely of the lock plate 16 and being of generally cylindrical form. The boss 23 is provided with a peripheral groove 24 adjacent the outer end thereof. The plate 11 is provided with a'bore 25 extending therethrough in axial alignment with the bore 23. The locking plate 16 is provided with a bore 26 axially aligned with the bore 25. A rshaft 27 jis journalled in the bores 25 and 26 and is provided with a square shank outer end portion 28 terminating in a knob 29, as lbest seen in Figure 3. A

The locking plate 16 is provided with a generally horizontal slot 30 extending thereacross and into which the bore 26 opens. A bar 31 is secured to the end of the shaft 27 by means of a securing element 32. The bar 31 has a dimension such that it is seated within the slot 30 in one position, and can be moved out of the slot 30 by axial movement of the Vshaft 27.

The shaft 27 adjacent the square shank portion 28 thereof is provided with a cross pin 33 and has a coil spring 34 positioned thereabout between the plate 11 and the cross pin 33 to normally bias the shaft 27 in a direction to seat the bar 31 in the slot 30.

A lever 35 is provided with an enlarged end portion 36 journalled on the boss 23 and secured thereon by means of a set screw 37 engaging in the annular groove 24. The enlarged portion 36 on the end of the lever 35 is provided with an axial square hole 38 through which the square shank 28 extends to lock the shaft 27 to the lever 35 with respect to rotational movement of the shaft 27 about its own axis. The lever 35, at the end thereof opposite the enlarged portion 36, is provided with a laterally extending offset handle member 39 providing means for moving the lever 35 about the boss 23.

A shaft 40 is ixedly secured to the lever 35 at a point adjacent to but spaced from the enlarged portion 36 with the shaft 40 sloping downwardly at an angle to the horizontal. A gear 41 is journalled on the shaft 40 in position thereon to mesh with the gear 20 with the lever 35 in the position illustrated in Figures l, 3 and 4.

The gear 41 has a square shank portion 42 extending laterally therefrom on which is mounted a square socketed shank 43 of a cutter blade 44. The square shank 42 and the square socketed shank 43 lock the gear 41 and the cutter blade 44 together for rotation on the shaft 40. A collar 45 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 40 by means of a spring clip 46 to secure the cutter 44 and gear 41 on the shaft 40.

The plate 11 has a vertical guide 47 struck outwardly therefrom, and a horizontal guide 48 struck upwardly therefrom, as can be seen in Figures l and 2.

As can be seen in Figures l, 3 and 4, the

guides

47 and 48 assist in positioning a can, shown in dotted lines at 49, in the can opener 10 for opening thereby.

In the use and operation of the invention, the knob 29 is pressed inwardly moving the bar 31 out of the slot 30 and permitting the lever 35 to be moved upwardly disengaging the gear 41 from the gear 20, and the cutter blade 44 from the can 49. t

A can 49 with cover intact is then positioned in engagement with the cog 22 and the

guides

47 and 48, and the lever 35 is moved downwardly to cause the cutter 44 to pierce the can 49 and the gear 41 to engage the gear 20.

When the

gears

20 and 41 have meshed, the bar 31 will have lbecome aligned with the slot 3l? and the spring 34 will move the bar 31 into locking engagement within the slot 30, thus locking the can opener in opening position. Obviously, the power mechanism (not shown) connected to the end 19a of the shaft 19 will then be operated to rotate the cutter 44 and open the can 49.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous 3 structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the rappended claims. t

What is claimed is:

l. In a power operated can opener an upright plate, a lever pivotally mounted on said plate, a cutting mechanism mounted on said lever, means on said plate for supporting and rotating a can in engagement with said cutting mechanism, a locking plate iixed to said upright plate on the side thereof opposite said lever and a movable lock mounted on said lever Yfor releasable locking connection with said locking plate.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided engaging said upright plate and said lock for normally biasing said lock into locking position.

3. A power operated can opener comprising a vertical plate, a drive gear journalled on said plate and having means associated therewith for effecting rotation thereof, means connected to said drive` gear for supporting and rotating a can, a lever pivotally mounted on said plate, cutting means'journalled on said lever Aand engageable with said drive gear and adapted for cutting engagement with a can supported on said can supporting and rotating means, a locking shaft keyed to said lever and extending through said plate, a locking plate mounted on said rst named plate oppositely of said lever, said locking plate having a slot formed therein, a locking bar mounted on said locking shaft engageable in said slot for releasably locking said lever to lsaid locking plate against rotation with respect thereto.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said locking shaft is .normally biased in a direction to engage said locking bar in said slot.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein a coil spring is engaged over said locking shaft and normally biases said locking shaft in a direction to seat said locking bar in said slot.

No references cited.