US2994953A

US2994953A - Wall type power-operated can opener

Info

Publication number: US2994953A
Application number: US2442A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank E Aberer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-01-14
Filing date: 1960-01-14
Publication date: 1961-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 1978-08-08

Description

Aug. 8, 1961 F. E. ABERER WALL TYPE POWER-OPERATED CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 14, 1960 INVENTOR.

nae/m4 Aug. 8, 1961 F. E. ABERER WALL TYPE 'PowER-oPERATEn CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14, 1960 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 2,994,953 WALL TYPE POWER-OPERATED CAN OPENER Frank E. Aberer, Kansas City, Kans., assignor to John C. Hooker-y, trustee for Henry J. Talge and Foster L.

Talge, Independence, h/Io.

Filed Jan. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 2,442 7 Claims. (Cl. 30-4) This invention relates to power-operated can openers and refers more particularly to one in which the power drive is actuated by the lever arm which engages the cutter and feed wheels with the can.

An object of the invention is to provide a power operated can opener with a simple, positive, powerful lever action for engaging and initially cutting the top of the can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a poweroperated can opener which does not trip the motor to rotate the engaged can and cut it until the can has been punctured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a poweroperated can opener which is exceedingly simple in construction, relatively cheap to manufacture, rugged and can withstand long operation and use without necessity for repair or replacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed power-operated can opener which is easy to disassemble and wherein all of the parts are readily accessible for cleaning, replacement or repair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a poweroperated can opener wherein the lever which manipulates the cutting and can feeding wheels relative to one another also actuates, when forced to a certain position, the power driving apparatus for automatic cutting of the can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a poweroperated can opener wherein the arm which actuates the power drive is normally resiliently biased away from the on position and release of force thereon after actuation automatically switches off the power drive.

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 specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, embodiments of the invention are shown and, in the various views, like numerals are employed to indicate like parts.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the upper end of a can opener embodying the invention with the actuating arm at the extreme open position whereby to separate a maximum distance the cutter and feed wheels.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing in full lines the actuating arm at the opposite extreme from that of FIG. 1 with the cutter and feed wheels together (when a can is not engaged between the cutter and feed wheels) and with the actuating arm depressed to operate the power switch in dotted lines.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of an entire power-operated can opener embodying the invention, with a portion of the spur gear cut away to better illustrate the arrangement of the parts, the view showing the actuating arm and associated parts in the relationship assumed when a can is first engaged between the cutter and feed wheel before application of force to initially pierce the can.

FIG. 4 is a partial rear view of the upper portion of the can opener similar to FIG. 3 (but with the spur gear and motor drive shaft removed) showing the relationship assumed by the actuating arm and association parts when force just short of that necessary to pierce the can is applied.

FIG. 5 is a rear view similar to that of FIG. 4 but showing the relationship of the actuating arm and associated parts immediately after piercing of the can, but before application of further force to actuate the power switch.

FIG. 6 is a rear view smiilar to that of FIG. 5, but with the actuating arm sufliciently depressed so as to actuate the power switch and power cut the can engaged between the cutter wheel and the feed wheel.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the top of the can opener from the right in FIG. 4, showing the actuating arm in relationship to the power switch.

FIG. 8 is a. view showing the engagement of the actuating arm and first lever arm from a front view taken of the upper right hand corner of the opener in FIG. 1 with the housing cut away.

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a frame or housing is provided having front plate or wall 19,

side walls

11 and 12, top wall 13 and bottom wall 14. A rear cover of one type or another is furnished, but does not form a part of the instant invention or a part of the framework upon which the operating parts are hung. Both side walls, the top wall and bottom wall are fixed to or integral with the front plate or wall 19.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a recessed slideway 15 is formed in the front wall or plate 19. Top Wall 13 overlies the upper end of the slideway 15, while a ledge 16 underlies the lower end of the slideway. A pair of slots 17 and 18 (see FIGS. 4-6) extend through the floor of the slideway 15.

Slide 19 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of thickness equal to the depth of slideway 15, is positioned in the slideway 15 for vertical movement therein. Slide 19 is of only slightly lesser width than the slideway 15 whereby to slide in precise fashion therein, while'its length is that distance less than the total length of the slideway which it is desired that the cutter and feed wheels be movable apart. Slot '20'is ormed through slide 19 substantially centrally thereof and runs vertically therein. Cutter Wheel 21 is mounted so its lower edge is canted inwardly to the slide 19 in well known fashion by securing it to an angled post (not shown) by bolt 22. The post is mounted on an outwardly faired portion 23 of the slide 19. 1

Conventional posts

24 and 25 are mounted on each side of the cutter wheel 21 whereby to properly position the can edge for the cutting operation. These posts are fixed to the slide 19 and extend outwardly therefrom along side the cutter wheel. An opening 26 is formed through the slide 19 above the cutter wheel to receive a shaft to be described. A shelf 27 projecting at right angles to the slide outer face projects from the lower edge of the slide immediately below the cutter wheel 21 and slot 20 whereby to properly position the body of a can angularly relative to the wheels engaging it in the process of cutting the can. Referring to FIGS. 4-6, inclusive, rearwardly extending

flanges

28 and 29 are fixed to the rear face of the slide 19, extend through

slots

17 and 18, respectively, and have downwardly extending

leg portions

28a and 29a which overlie and slide against the rear face of the front wall 10 and rear face of the slideway 15 in vertical up and down motion of the slide 19.

Referring to FIGS. 46, an opening 30 through the front wall 10 and slideway 15 receives a cylindrical journal 31 which extends beyond the face of slideway 15 and L; is received in slot 29 of slide 19 to an outward extension substantially that of the face of the slide 19. Thus, up and down movement of slide 19 is limited both by impingement upon the upper wall 13 and lower shelf 16 and the impingement of the upper and lower ends of slots 20 upon the journal 31.

A drive shaft 32 is rotatably received within the journal 31 and has feed wheel 33 removably threaded upon the front end thereof which extends adjacent the slide 19 and spur gear 34 fixedly attached to the other end thereof. The front face of the spur gear 34 is adjacent the rear end of the journal 31 and a suitable spring encircling journal 31 abutting the front face of the spur gear 34 may be provided to resiliently retain the feed wheel in frictional sliding contact with the front end of the journal 31. The teeth of spur gear 34 are engaged by a worm 35 on drive shaft 36 driven by suitable electric motor or other power source 37 which is mounted at an angle on platform 38 supported by lower wall '14, engaged by flange 39 bolted by bolts 48 to front wall 10. The electric lines for the motor are not shown, but this is conventional.

A shaft 41 is received in previously mentioned opening 26 in slide 19 where it is fixed to the slide and vertically movable therewith. Shaft 41 extends through a slot 42 formed in the floor of slideway 15. A first lever arm extending essentially transverse to the vertical center of front wall 19, designated at 43 has an opening (not shown) through which extends shaft 41 to a distance therepast in the rearward direction. A clip 44 fixed to the rearward end of shaft 41 confines a resilient spring 45 between the front face of the clip and the rear face of first lever arm 43, thus biasing lever arm 43 toward the front plate or wall 10. This resilient bias forces the first lever arm 43 against a pair of

bars

46 and 47 formed rearwardly from the floor of slideway 15 on the rear face thereof.

Thus it is seen that,the slide 19 in slideway 15 is retained against the slideway front face or surface by the action of spring 45 on shaft 41 with

legs

28a and 29a engaging the rear face of the slideway 15 in sliding motion, as Well.

The left-hand end of first leverarm 43 (as seen in FIGS. 3-6, inclusive) has spur gear teeth 43a formed therein as seen in FIG. 8. Slot 48 is formed in the righthand end of first lever arm 43 as seen in FIGS. 3-6, inclusive, to receive stud or rod 49 attached to front wall (rear face). Opening 50 in the right-hand end of first lever arm 43 receives one end of resilient coil spring 51, the other end. thereof being hooked around stud 52 also fixed to the rear face of front wall 10.

.Actuating arm or second lever arm 53 comprises a flat piece of material, preferably metal, which is pivotally mounted on bolt 54, the latter being received in an internally threaded opening (not shown) on the rear side of front wall 19. The arm or lever 53 lies in back of first lever arm 43. It is also received in slot 55 which extends entirely across the top wall 13 and down

side walls

11 and 12, the latter to a'lesser extent, the former to the extent required by the position in FIGS. 1 (the most extreme) and 3. Flange 56 extends at right angles to lever arm 53 and, when in the positions of FIGS. 2 and 6, to actuate the switch, extends in a substantially horizontal orientation. Fixed to the front'side (FIG. 8) of second lever arm or actuating arm 53 is a metal flange piece 57 having spur gear teeth 58 formed thereon so as to engage spur gear teeth 43a on first lever arm 43. Teeth 58 are so arranged that, when the second lever arm 53 is rotated or pivoted in a counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 3-6, it raises the left-hand end of first lever arm 43 in the same views and lowers the same in clockwise rotation in the same views.

A clip 59 is riveted or otherwise fixedly attached to the lower face of upper wall 13, and has downwardly depending flange 60 to receive in abutment a rear Wall.

Switch 61 is fixed to clip 59 by bolts 62 and has a spring loaded plunger 63 extending through an opening (not shown) in the top wall 13. Suitable electrical connections 64 connect to the power source or electric motor 37. Plunger 63 is so positioned, as may be seen in FIG. 7, to be engaged by flange 56 when the latter is sufiiciently depressed toward the top wall 13 of the can opener.

The basic operating positions are as follows, the operation described therewith:

(1) With the view taken from the rear as in FIGS. 3-6 and with the actuating arm or second lever arm 56 in the position of FIG. 1, the engaged spur gears between the two lever arms have moved the engaged (left) end of the first lever arm 43 up as far as possible, thus moving the slide-lever engaging shaft to the top of slot 42 and moving the slide plate to the top of its channel or slideway. At the opposite end of the first lever arm, stud 49 and the top of slot 48 on that side, firmly engage with spring51 pulling that end of the arm firmly downwardly. Thus, from the rear view, the right end of the first lever arm is as low as possible, the left end of the engaging arm is as high as possible, slide 19 is at its uppermost position and wheel 21 is free of wheel 35 to receive a can.

(2) The second position involves the motion of the actuating or second lever arm 56 from the position of FIG. 1 to that of FIG. 2, if no can is engaged, or FIG. 4 if a can is engaged. In FIG. 2, we are seeing arm 56 in the position it would take without a can between the cutter and feed wheel when the first lever arm, by action of the engaged spur gears 58 and 43a is moved downwardly to the position where the top of slot 29 in the slide plate 19 abuts the journal 31 and the bottom of slide plate 19 abuts shelf 16. This is as low as slide plate 19 can go. However, by depressing the second lever arm 53 until its flange 56 is substantially fiat on the top wall 13, first lever arm 43 can be rotated around central shaft 41 penetrating it, against the action of resilient spring 51 to where stud 49 in slot 48 at the other end of the first lever arm is about midway thereof. There is no particular significance to this position as far as can cutting or piercing goes, but above is the action.

(3) Looking at FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, in FIG. 3 is seen the position of second lever arm 53 when a can rim has just been engaged between and by cutter wheel 21 and feed wheel 33. First lever arm 43 has been geared downwardly from its previously described extreme upward position on the left end to an intermediateposition while insufficient force has been applied to the engaged can to cause the right-hand end to rise against spring 51. FIG. 4 then shows the position to which it is probable that the actuating arm may rotate clockwise and first lever arm 43 may rise on the right side against spring 51 before the can is pierced. This is due tothe resistance of the metal of the can to cutter wheel 21. FIG. 5 shows the next stage with the can actually pierced with operator hand pressure maintained at the same level. Note that the right-hand end of first engaging lever 43 has dropped so stud 49 is at the top of slot 48 under action of spring 51, while the actuating arm 53 remains atabout the level of FIG. 4. Further application of force to the main actuating arm lowers it to contact the switch plunger 63 and start the motor. Note that, in FIG. 6, the gearing action on the left-hand side of first lever arm 43 has raised the right-hand end thereof against the action of spring 51 so stud 49 is about midway in slot 48.

(4) Release of the actuating arm 53 permits the action of spring 51 to pull the right side of first lever arm 43 down, thus gearing up the upper actuating arm to the position of FIG. 5 if the can is still engaged or that of FIG. 1 if the can is removed.

(5) Vertical irregularities in the can rim encountered during cutting of the can, when the feed wheel drives the rim of the can in cutting engagement with the cutter wheel, is compensated for by vertical movement of the can cutter wheel, slide 19 upon which it is mounted, and first lever arm 43 through its right-hand end as viewed in FIGS. 4-6, against the action of spring 51. Shaft 41 connected to the rear face of slide '19 moves vertically in slot 42, in. this action. The cutter wheel being of the form shown in my application Serial No. 706,608, filed January 2, 1958, entitled Power-Operated Can Opener, which issued into Patent No. 2,902,757 on September 8, 1959, has a rearward portion thereof, not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which rides on the top edge of the can rim. Limited in and out movement of cutter wheel 21 and, thus, plate 19, to compensate for in and out variation in the can rim while the can is being cut, is provided by virtue of the hinge mounting of plate 19, with its lower end secured by

flanges

28a and 29a in

slots

18 and 19 and the resilient mounting of post 41 which is attached to the rear face of plate 19 at one end and has resilient spring 45 mounted on the other.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this 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 struc ture.

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 matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a power operated can opener, a plate having front and rear faces and upper and lower ends, a substantially vertical slideway formed in the front face of said plate, a slide received in said slideway adapted to move vertically therein, a journal received in and extending through an opening through said plate and having a portion thereof extending through a slot in said slide, a drive shaft rotatably received in said journal and extending entirely therethrough, a feed wheel on the end of said drive shaft next said slide, a cutter wheel rotatably mounted on said slide for vertical movement therewith, means for driving said drive shaft positioned adjacent to said plate, a first lever arm mounted on the rear face of said plate, a slide-lever engaging shaft extending through a slot in said plate, attached to the slide at one end thereof, and connected to the first lever arm subv stantially centrally thereof, a second lever arm, means mounting the second lever arm on the rear face of said plate for pivotal movement around one end thereof adjacent one end of the first lever arm, means engaging the pivotal end of the second lever arm with the adjacent end of the first lever arm whereby pivotal movement of the second arm in one direction raises the engaged end of the first lever arm and pivotal movement in the opposite direction lowers the engaged end of the first lever arm, and actuating means operated by the second lever arm for starting and stopping said driving means.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 including means connected to the slide-lever engaging shaft resilently biasing the first lever arm toward the rear face of the plate.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the means engaging the second and first lever arms comprises a pair of spur gear portions engaging one another.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the second lever arm is mounted on the side of the first lever arm away from said plate and the spur gear portion on the second lever arm is fixed to the side thereof next the inside face of the flout wall so that the first lever arm slides against the said second lever arm side.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 including resilient means biasing the end of the first lever arm on the other side of the slide-lever engaging shaft from the engagement of the two lever arms normally downwardly, a slot in the first lever arm on the end thereof biased downwardly, and means on the rear side of the plate extending into the last-mentioned slot whereby to limit the downward movement of the first lever arm under action of the resilient biasing means.

6. In a power operated can opener, a frame, including a vertical front plate and horizontal top wall, said front plate having fiont and rear faces and upper and lower ends, the upper end connected to said horizontal top wall, a substantially vertical slideway formed in the front of said plate, a slide received in said slideway adapted to move vertically therein, a journal received in and extending through an opening through said plate and having a portion thereof extending through a slot in said slide, a drive shaft rotatably received in said journal and extending entirely through said journal, a feed wheel on the end of said drive shaft next said slide, a cutter wheel rotatably mounted on said slide for vertical movement therewith, means for drivingsaid drive shaft positioned adjacent to said plate, means for moving said slide and cutter wheel up and down relative to said shaft and feed wheel including an actuating arm having a portion thereof received in a slot through said horizontal top wall and a flange thereon extending at all substantially normal to the plane of said plate, actuating means operated by said flange for starting and stopping said driving means including a switch fixed to the inside surface of the top wall and having an actuating plunger spring biased to a normal ofi position extending through an opening in said top wall, the flange on the actuating arm engaging the switch actuating plunger when the actuating arm is moved to a position substantially parallel to the top wall.

7. In a power operated can opener, a frame including a substantially vertical front plate and horizontal top wall, said plate having front and rear faces and upper and lower ends, a substantially vertical slideway formed in the front face of said plate, a slide received in said slideway adapted to move vertically therein, a journal received in and extending through an opening through said plate and having a portion thereof extending through a slot in said slide, a drive shaft rotatably received in said journal and extending entirely through said journal, a feed wheel on an end of said drive shaft next said slide, a cutter wheel rotatably mounted on said slide for vertical movement therewith, means for driving said drive shaft positioned adjacent to said plate in said frame, a first lever arm mounted on the rear face of said plate, a slide-lever engaging-shaft extending through a slot in said plate, attached to the slide at one end, and connected to the first lever arm substantially centrally thereof, a second lever arm, means mounting the second lever arm on the plate rear face for pivotal movement around one end thereof adjacent one end of the first lever arm, means engaging the pivotally mounted end of the second lever arm with the adjacent end of the first lever arm whereby pivotal movement of the second arm in one direction raises the engaged end of the first lever arm and pivotal movement in the opposite direction lowers the engaged end of the first lever arm, resilient means biasing the end of the first lever arm on the other side of the slidelever engaging shaft from the engagement downwardly, a slot in the first lever arm on the end biased downwardly, means on the rear side of said plate extending into the last mentioned slot and limiting the downward movement of the first lever arm under action of the resilient biasing means, said second lever arm received in a slot in said top wall whereby to permit said second lever arm to pass into said top wall, a flange on said second lever arm adapted to overlie closely against said top wall when said second arm is in said slot, a switch fixed relative to the inside surface of the top wall and having an actuating plunger spring biased normally to off position extending through an opening in the top wall, the horizontal flange on the second lever arm engaging the switch actuating plunger when the second lever arm is sufiiciently forced into said slot in the top wall, the driving means for said drive shaft including a power source actuated by said switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Jeppsson Feb. 5, 1935 Straub et a1 Apr. 26, 1955 Bristol Apr. 28, 1959 Aberer Sept. 8, 1959