US2893116A - Power-operated can opener - Google Patents

Description

July 7, 1959 E ABERER ET AL 2,893,116

POWER-OPERATED CAN OPENER FiledMay 29, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I H l hm.

IN VEN TORS.

y 1959 F.'E. ABERER ETAL 2,893,116

' POWER-OPERATED CAN OPENER Filed May 29, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TOENEK United States Patent 9 POWER- OPERATED CAN OPENER Frank E. Aberer, Kansas City, Kaus., and Henry J. Talge, Kansas City, Mo, assignors to John C. Hockery, Kansas City, Mo., trustee Application May 29, 1957, Serial No. 662,464

7 Claims. (Cl. 30-4) This invention relates to power-operated can openers and refers more particularly to a power operatcd can opener wherein the power source is actuated by the puncturing of the can, continued in operation until the can is out and, then, stopped, the latter two steps performed without any further manipulation of the can opener on the part of the operator after puncturing the can.

An object of the invention is to provide a power-operated can opener wherein only the puncturing of the can is hand performed, the entire cutting operation and the shutting off of the power being performed without further intervention on the part of the operator.

- Another object of the invention is to provide a poweroperated can opener which is simple in construction, rugged, having a minimum number of parts and which is relatively cheap to manufacture.

'Yet another object of the invention is to provide a power-operated can opener wherein all steps of the can opening process which offer any danger or hazard to the operator are performed without manual manipulation of the opener by the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a poweroperated can opener wherein all of the parts are readily accessible for repair or replacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a poweroperated can opener wherein the power source for the can opening operation may be employed for other kitchen purposes such as to operate a knife sharpener, the power source being connected to the can opener at all times when running yet only operating a limited portion thereof.

Another object is to provide such a dual purpose can opener wherein the main can opener mechanism to maintain the power source running is actuated only when an incompletely out can is engaged in the opener, separate actuating means being provided to start the power for the other purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power operated can opener wherein the puncturing of the can also trips the actuation of the power source, while the force exerted on the can opener parts by the cutting of the can maintains the power source in operation until the can is out, whereupon the power source is automatically shut off.

7 Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description thereof.

In the drawings, which form a part of the instant invention and are to be read in conjunction therewith, an embodiment of the invention is shown and, in the various views, like numerals are employed to indicate like parts. 7 Fig. 1 is a side view with parts cut away of the inventive power-operated can opener and sharpener.

' Fig. 2 is a top plan view with parts cut away of the can opener and sharpener of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a portion of the inventive can opener and sharpener before a can is engaged between the can holding and cutting portions thereof.

' Fig. 4 shows the can opener and sharpener of Fig. 3 with the can to be cut engaged in the can cutting mecha- "ice I nism immediately after the actuating of the power source.

Fig. 5 is a side view similar to those of Figs. 3 and 4 showing in dotted lines the position of the can cutting portion of the opener without a can engaged therein and,

in full lines, its position during the can cutting process.

Fig. 6 is a view from the rear of the parts shown in side view in Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a view taken along the lines 7-7 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, at 10 is shown a housing having a base 11, a removable opening 12 and a sliding hand switch 13 mounted thereon. The front face of the housing has an opening 14 running substantially the height of the housing. A front plate 15 fills the opening 14 and is of rigid, strong construction such as a metal plate. Motor mounting plate 16 (Fig. 2) extends rearwardly from the front plate 15 normal thereto and is fixed by welding or other attachment thereto. Power source 17 is fixedly mounted on mounting plate 16 and has primary drive shaft 18- extending from one end thereof behind the front plate and secondary drive shaft 19 extending in the other direction under the opening 12. The power source drives both of the drive shafts simultaneously. Fixed to the secondary drive shaft 19 by nut 21 is abrasive wheel or disk 20. Abrasive wheel 20 is employed to sharpen knives or the like. Secondary drive shaft 19 extends through an opening 22 in wall'23 which separates the motor chamber from the sharpening chamber containing the abrasive wheel.

Worm gear 24 (Fig. 1) is mounted on primary drive shaft 18 and engages spur gear 25 which is fixed to can opener drive shaft 26, the drive shaft 26 being rotatably supported by arms 27 on plate 16. The spur gear 25 is positioned between the two arms 27 and is spaced therefrom by bearing sleeve 28, Thus, rotation of primary drive shaft 18 also rotates spur gear 25 and drive shaft 26. The necessary direction of shaft 26 is counterclockwise in Fig. 1.

Control mechanism for the power source or motor 17 which, in this instance, is shown as an electric motor, comprises switch 29 (Fig. 6) which is connected to any suitable source of electric supply by a conventional electric cord not shown and has leads 30 to the motor 17. Primary contact 31 on the switch box is opposed by secondary contact 32 on spring arm 33, the latter fixed to the switch by stud 34. Manual means for actuating the switch 29 include the slidable hand switch 13 having downwardly extending legs 13a and control lever 37 pivotally fixed to the housing 10 by shaft 37a. Slide movement of switch 13 back and forth on the housing 10 causes the arm 37 to depress the spring mount 33 or release it to make or break the contact which controls the motor. The hand switch 13 is that mechanism employed to actuate the motor 17 to use the sharpening disk 20. The construction which is employed to actuate the switch 29 to use the can opener and drive the motor in power can opening will now be-described.

Our present invention relates primarily to means for (1) turning on the motor 17 in the process of engaging and puncturing a can, (2) also providing means by which the motor is maintained in operation during the entire process of cutting the can and (3) providing means for shutting off the motor after the can has been cut. Manual manipulation of any part or parts of the can opener is required only during the initial stage of engaging and puncturing the can and in removal of a can from the opener. The maintenance of the power source in operation and the turning off of the power source is entirely automatic thereafter.

We have provided means adaptable to a conventional can opener which will achieve these objects. Therefore, the can engaging and cutting apparatus itself is not, per

r 3 se, new. We have substantially employed the mechanism disclosed in our Patent No. 2,694,855, entitled Can Opener, issued November 23, 1954. Certain structure of our inventive apparatus is identical or substantially so with comparablefeatures of that patent, and thus will not be described in unnecessarily complete detail.

Referring first to Fig. 7, next to front plate 15 is positioned primary plate 35. Secondary outer plate 36 abuts in face to face slidin'gcontact primary plate 35. Stud 38a engages one side of the two plates through openings therein while stud 38 engages an opening in primary plate 35 and a slot 39 in the secondary plate 36. The slot 39 permits limited up anddown movement of the rear end of plate 36 about the forward stud or rivet 38a as a hinge. Plate 36 is always urged downwardly, however, by a coiled compression spring (not shown) confined between the plates within confronting semicylindrical pockets formed by struck out portions of the plates (40 on plate 36), whereby plate 36 normally occupies the position illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. This pivotal adjustability is to allow for can seams passing between the feed and cutter wheels, is described in the above patent, and will not be further set forth here.

' Plate 36 contains a large aperture 41 in which disk 42 is located. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the aperture 41 is shaped to provide stop shoulders 41b and 41a cooperating with a radial lug 42a on a disk in order to limit rotation of the latter in two directions. Disk 42 can thus turn approximately 180 in either direction in aperture 41. Plate 35 has a circular registering aperture therein to receive a. circular plug (not shown) on the rear of the disk 42 for rotation therein. The thickness of, the plug is equal to or only slightly greater than the thickness of plate 35. The lever 43, which is positioned between the front plate 15 and the plates 35 and 36, has a smaller opening therein through which a sleeve bearing 45 (Fig. 2), eccentrically mounted on the plug, extends, as well as through an opening inthe front plate 15. Lever 44 is fixed to sleeve bearing. 45 which, in turn, is fixed to the circular plug fastened to the rear side of disc 42. As the circular plug is centered on circular disc 42 (as in the above patent) while the sleeve bearing 45 is asymmetrically. mountedon the plug and shaft 26 extends through the bearing, plug and disc, movement of lever 44 from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 4 operates to cam plates 35 and 36 (and cutter 49) from the upper cam releasing position of Fig. 3 to the can engaging position of Fig. 4 and ;then the, can cutting position of Fig. 5. The relationship of" the disk, plug. and, bearing sleeve 45 to plates 36, 35 and 15 is the same as the construction shown in the above patent.

Can opener drive shaft 26 extends through the sleeve bearing 45, the plug and the disk 42, as may be seen in Figs. 1 and 3, and has feed wheel 46 threadedly mounted thereon. Since'the shaft 26 extends through the bearing sleeve 45 and the disk 42, as well as the unseen plug, rotation of the shaft 26 does not rotate the disk, plug or bearing sleeve. However, the lever 43 is seized to the bearing sleeve 45 and rotation of the lever 43 around the shaft 26 will elevate (Fig. 3) or lower (Figs. 4, and 1) the two plates 35 and 36 relative the shaft 26.

Spring 57 on sleeve 45 (Fig. 2) abuts disk 58 which is fixed to the bearing sleeve 45 and serves to exert force on the plates 35 and 36' and the lever 43, to urge the feed wheel 46 toward the exposed face of disk 42, thusresiliently maintaining 35, 36 and 42 against the outer face of front plate a washer or shim (not shown) being interposed between the two, however, to reduce frictional resistance to turning ofthe feed wheel.

Above aperture 41, plate 36 has an outwardly dished boss portion 47 carrying a downwardly inclined spindle 48 which has in turn a cutter wheel 49 rotatably journaled thereon. Forwardly and rearwardly of the zone of action of cutterwheel 49 are apair of fixed shoulder members 50 and 51 adapted to engage the upperrim of a can to stabilize it during the cutting operation, as will be described presently. It can now be seen, as in Patent No. 2,694,855, that plate together with its secondary auxiliary plate 36 forms a swivel carrier for the cutter wheel, by virtue of which the cutter wheel can be shifted through an arc about the axis of the shaft 26 as a center, and can be positioned in either limit position; even when the carrier is thus positioned, however, the cutter wheel can move slightly in a direction generally radial to said axis by virtue of the manner in which the auxiliary secondary plate 36 is hinged at 38a to the main plate 35.

A locking stud 52 (Fig. 7) limits the counterclockwise (in Fig. 1) travel of lever 43, even before the abutment of the tab 42a with the shoulder 41a between the disk 42 and the plate 36. Therefore, the flange 44 cannot engage the top of the plate 36 to exert force thereupon since its underside abuts the stud 52 before this encounter.

Aside from the stud 52 limiting the action of the lever 43, previously described, the construction and operation of the can opener assembly positioned outward from and including the front plate 15 are substantially the same as that shown in Patent No. 2,694,855. As described, the bearing sleeve (not shown) is offset from the center of the disk 42 so that the axis of the shaft 26 is eccentrically positioned relative to the axis of the disk. Thus, when the lever 43 is in the position of Fig. l, the feed wheel occupies a position wherein its upper margin overlaps the lower margin of the cutter wheel 49. On the other hand, by turning the lever 43 to the position of Fig. 3, the feed wheel is in a position spaced away from the cutter wheel. It should be noted that it is the plates 35 and 36 which move relative the front plate 15, not plate 15 relative them. Thus, the feed wheel 46 remains in' the same vertical position on the front plate 15 while the plates 35 and 36 and the cutter wheel on plate 36 move upwardly or downwardly relative the feed wheel.

The apparatus will now be described which actuates the power source and keeps it operating until the can is out, then shutting it off. Referring to Fig. 7, and also Fig. 6, it will be seen that an opening 53 is formed in and extends through front plate 15 behind the primary plate 35. A shelf or arm 54 is rigidly fixed to the back of plate 35 and extends through the opening 53. A coil spring 55 abuts the underside of arm 54 and is received in an open-ended receiver 56 whereby to constantly urge the arm 54 upwardly. It should be noted that nothing is preventing the plates 35 and 36 from rotating in a counterclockwise direction (in Fig. 1) when the cutter wheel is positioned relative the feed wheel as in the manner of Fig. 1. The only thing which would prevent rotation at all is the tab 42a on the disk 42, while even it is not in a position to prevent counterclockwise rotation. Therefore, the spring 55 yieldingly maintains the two plates against such rotation. The displaced position of the arm 54 can be seen in Fig. 1 relative the mounting axis of shaft 26. Referring to Fig. 6, it is seen that the arm 54 overlies the end of the spring 55 on the switch 29 whereby when the arm 54 is forced downwardly it will turn on the power source.

The process of engaging a can is shown in Fig. 3. The lever 43 is rotated in a clockwise direction until the rim 44 abuts the underside of plate 36 and tab 42a abuts shelf 41b, the latter limiting its clockwise movement. A can rim may be inserted under the edge of the cutter wheel and the lever 43 moved in counterclockwise direction to lower the cutter wheel upon the rim to puncture the can. As the lever 43 moves around and the cutting edge engages the top of the can to 'be punctured, a rotational force on the plate 36 is exerted around the shaft 26. As lever 43 is moved from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 4, the rotation of the disk 42 cams down the cutter wheel 49 on the top surface of the can, driving the underside of the can rim against the wheel 46. Continued rotation of lever 43 exerts force against the top of the can by the cutter wheel. This force is transmitted backin equal reaction to the cutter wheel to the plate 36. This force tends to move the plate 36 from the dotted line showing of Fig. to the full line showing thereof. Such motion forces the arm 54 down against the action of the spring 55 and touches off the switch 29 which starts the motor into action. This initiation of the cutting action begins only when the can is broken through, as it takes the amount of compression required to puncture the can to actually move the plates 35 and 36 around the shaft 26 against the spring 55. With the can punctured and the motor started, the feed wheel is driven in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 5. It thus will be seen that the force due to the impingement of the metal portion of the can top against the cutter wheel edge, under the impetus of the feed wheel gripping the underside of the can rim, is applied along a line displaced from the center of the fiis of shaft 26. This force is transmitted to the plate 36 through the shaft 48 mounting the cutter wheel. Such force tends to rotate the plate 36 around the shaft 26 in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 5. The strength of the spring 55 must be so regulated as to be slightly less than the force required to displace the plate 36 into the full line position of Fig. 5 and maintain the arm 54 in depressed position connecting the contacts 31 and 32, thus keeping the motor in operation. The motor continues running until the can has been completely cut. Once the can top has been completely cut, there is no further force exerted upon the cutter wheel by the can top and the spring 55 returns plate 36 to the dotted line position of Fig. 5. The motor is thus turned off when the can top is cut. Any tendency for the can to tilt due to uneven application of force to its top in the cutting thereof is obviated by the bracing arms 51 and 50 which abut the upper can rim during the cutting process.

When the switch 13 is actuated, both of the drive shafts turn; thus the abrasive wheel 20 and the feed wheel 46 both turn simultaneously. However, if there is no can interposed between the feed wheel and the cutter wheel and they are not moved to the position of Fig. 1, there can be no maintenance of the switch closed while a can is being out and the only control over the motor will be the switch 13.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all material hereinabove set forth or shown in the drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A power operated can opener comprising a power source, a drive shaft driven by said power source, a plate rotatably journaled on said drive shaft, means limiting the rotation of said plate in both directions around said shaft to a restricted are between a first and a second extremity, resilient means tending to maintain the plate at the first extremity of said arc, actuating means for said 7 power source, means cooperating with said plate to contact said actuating means on rotation of the plate to the second extremity of its are, a cutter wheel carried by said plate and at least substantially fixed relative thereto 6 whereby at least some of any forces applied to the cutter wheel are applied to said plate, a feed wheel fixedly mounted on said drive shaft to rotate therewith relative said cutter wheel, one of said wheels movable toward and away from the other wheel to permit engagement and disengagement of a can rim therebetween, the feed wheel and drive shaft driven in rotation by said power source in such direction that force from the feed wheel applied to the cutter wheel through a can being cut tends to rotate the plate around the drive shaft from the first to the second extremity, and means for initially rotating said plate from the first extremity to the second extremity whereby to actuate said power source when a can is positioned between the cutter wheel and the feed wheel.

2. A power-operated can opener as in claim 1 wherein the resilient means tending to maintain the plate at the first extremity of its arc exerts slightly less force than the force which is applied to the cutter wheel by the action of the feed wheel on a can in the process of cutting said can.

3. A power-operated can opener comprising a power source, a drive shaft driven by said power source, a primary plate rotatably journaled on said drive shaft, a frame plate mounting said drive shaft, means limiting the rotation of the primary plate in both directions around said shaft to a restricted are between a first and a second extremity, resilient means tending to maintain the primary plate at the first extremity of said are, actuating means for said power source, means cooperating with said primary plate to contact said actuating means on rotation thereof to the second extremity, a cutter wheel carried by said primary plate and at least substantially fixedly mounted relative thereto whereby at least some of any forces applied to the cutter wheel are applied to the primary plate, a feed wheel mounted on said drive shaft to rotate therewith relative said cutter wheel, one of said wheels movable toward and away from the other wheel to permit engagement and disengagement of a can rim therebetween, the feed wheel and drive shaft rotating in such direction that force from the feed wheel applied to the cutter wheel through a can being cut tends to rotate the plate around the drive shaft from a first to a second extremity and means for initially rotating said primary plate from the first extremity to the second extremity whereby to actuate said power source when a can is positioned between the cutter and the feed wheel.

4. A power-operated can opener as in claim 3 wherein the means for limiting the rotation of the primary plate comprises a slot in the frame plate and an arm fixed to the primary plate and extending into said slot.

5. A power-operated can opener as in claim 3 wherein the resilient means tending to maintain the primary plate at the first extremity is mounted on the frame plate.

6. A power-operated can opener as in claim 5 wherein the resilient means cooperates with the arm on the primary plate extending through the slot in the frame plate. 7. A power-operated can opener as in claim 3 wherein the actuating means for the power source is mounted on the frame and the means for limiting rotation of the primary plate comprises a slot in said frame plate and an arm fixed to the primary plate and extending therethrough, the arm operable to contact the switch when it approaches the second extremity.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,745,174 Herrick May 15, 1956

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