US3018548A - Wall-type power-operated can opener - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 30, 1962 E. 5. ROGERS ET AL WALL-TYPE POWER-OPERATED CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1960 INVENTORS. Ezra 5'. E0

BY Faber AT ORA/5K United States Patent 3,018,548 WALL-TYPE POWER-OPERATED CAN OPENER Ezra S. Rogers, Parkville, and Robert J. Scott, Blue Springs, Mo., assignors to John C. Hockery, Independence, Mo.

Filed Dec. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 78,520 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, the power drive being actuated when a certain degree of pressure is applied to the can just before it is cut.

This invention is an improvement over the application of Frank E. Aberer, Serial No. 2,442, filed January 14, 1960, for Wall-Type Power-Operated Can Opener, issued as US. Patent 2,994,953 on August 8, 1961.

An object of the instant 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, with an additional assist to the cutting operation from the power source.

Another object of the invention is to provide a poweroperated can opener which trips the power source or motor both to rotate the engaged can and cut it, the power source actuation prior to and in aid of the puncturing of the can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a poweroperated can opener which is exceedingly simple in construction, relatively cheap to manufacture, rugged and able to 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 in the can opening operation also actuates, when moved to a certain can engaging position less than that position actually puncturing the can, the power driving apparatus for automatic cutting of the can whereby to aid the puncturing operation.

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 whereby certain release of operator force thereon after actuation automatically switches oif the power drive, yet a switch action is provided which will maintain the power drive on during the entire can cutting operation, without an initial turn-off between the power operation before puncturing, the puncturing step itself or the power operation after puncture.

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 partial front view of the upper end of the can opener employing the invention with the actuating arm at a first position of engagement (prepuncture) between the cutting and feeding wheels with the can to be cut therebetween.

FIG. 2 is a partial right-hand side view of the can opener of FIG. 1 with the parts in the same relative position.

FIG. 3 is a partial front view of the can opener of .FIGS. 1 and 2 with the actuating arm at the extreme "ice closed position whereby to maximally engage the cutter and feed wheels.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the entire power-operated can opener of the previous figures with a portion of a worm 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, that posltion being the same as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a partial rear view of the upper portion of the can opener of FIG. 4 (but with the worm gear and motor drive shaft removed) showing the relationship assumed by the actuating arm and associated parts when force just short of that necessary to pierce the can is applied.

FIG. 6 is a rear view similar to that of FIG. 5 but showing the relationship of the actuating arm and associated parts immediately after piercing of the can. The power switch is actuated in both FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section through the can opener of FIG. 4 along the line 77 of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line 88 of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a frame or housing is provided having front plate or wall 10, 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, top wall and bottom wall are fixed to or integral with the front plate or wall 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 particularly, a recessed slideway 15 is formed in the front wall or plate 10. 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. 5 and 6) extend through the floor of the slideway 15.

Slide 19 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is of only slightly lesser width than the slideway 15 whereby to slide in precisp 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 formed through slide 19 substantially centrally thereof and runs vertically therein. Cutter wheel 21 is mounted so that its lower edge is canted inwardly toward the slide 19 in well-known fashion by securing it to an angled post 21a by nut 22. The post is mounted on an outwardly flared portion 23 of the slide 19. 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 alongside the cutter wheel. An opening 26 is formed through 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 extends 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. 5, 6 and 7, rearwardly extending posts 28 and 29 having enlarged heads are fixed to the rear face of slide 19, extend through slots 17 and 18, respectively, and have washers 28a and 29a mounted thereon to receive in abutment one end of compression springs 28b and 29b which also abut against washers 28c and 29c lying against the rear face of slide recess 15. Washers 28c and 290 slide against the rear face of slideway 15 in vertical up and down motion of slide 19, springs 28!) and 29b maintaining the lower portion of slide 19 in sliding abutment with the slideway 15.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, an opening 30 in the slideway 15 receives a cylindrical bearing 31 fixedly therein. Opening 30 is defined by rearward extension 30a of slideway 15 which also fixedly receives bearing 31 in recess 30b thereof. Bearing 31 extends forwardly beyond the face of slideway 15 and is received in slot 20 of slide 19 to an outward extension substantially that of the front face of 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 slot 20 upon hearing 31.

A drive shaft 32 is rotatably received within bearing 31 and extension 30a and has feed wheel 33 removably threaded upon the front end thereof which extends adjacent slide 19 and worm gear 34 removably fixed to the other end thereof. The front face of spur gear 34 is adjacent to the rear end of extension 30a, spaced by washer 34a therefrom, and a suitable spring 34b abutting the front face of gear 34 may be provided to resiliently retain the feed wheel in frictional sliding contact with the front end of bearing 31. The teeth of worm gear 34 are engaged by a worm 35 on drive shaft 36 driven by a suitable electric motor or other power source 37 mounted at an angle on platform 38 supported by lower wall 14, engaged by flange 39 secured by screws 40 to front wall 10. The electric lines from the motor are not shown, but they are conventional.

A shaft 41 (FIG. 8) 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 43 extending essentially transverse to the vertical center of front wall has an opening 43a (FIG. 8) through which extends shaft 41 to a distance therepast in the rearward direction. A washer 44 retained by the enlarged rear head of shaft 41 confines a compression spring 45 between the front face of the washer 44 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 on the rear face thereof.

Thus it is seen that the slide 19 in slideway 15 is resiliently but yieldably retained against the slideway front face or surface by the action of spring 45 on shaft 41 and by the action of springs 28b and 29b on washers 28c and 290 engaging the rear face of slideway 15 in a sliding motion.

The left-hand end of first lever arm 43 (as seen in FIG. 4) has spur gear teeth 43b formed therein. Slot 48 is formed in the right-hand end of first lever arm 43 as seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 4 to receive stud or rod 49 attached to front wall 10, the rear face thereof. Openmg 50 in the right-hand end of first lever arm 43 receives one end of tension coil spring 51, the other end thereof being hooked around stud 52 also fixed to the rear face of 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 10. Arm or lever 53 lies to the rear or 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 (l) the extent required by the position in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, and (2) also a greater extent to permit insertion of the can between the feed and cutter wheels. Flange 56 extends at right angles to lever arms 53 and, when in the positions of FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, extends in a substantially horizontal orientation. Fixed to the front side of second lever or actuating arm 53 is a metal flange piece 57 which has spur gear teeth 58 formed thereon so as to engage spur gear teeth 43b on first lever arm 43. Teeth 58 are so arranged that, whenthe second lever arm 53 is rotated or pivoted in a com-- terclockwise direction in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, it raises theleft-hand end of first lever arm 43 in the same VlCWS and lowers the same in clockwise rotation in the same views.

Referring to FIG. 4, a pair of rod- like extensions 59 and 60 are formed integral with or fixedly attached to side walls 11 and 12, inwardly thereof, whereby to form a pair of projections operable to receive sheet 61. The latter is configured to fit closely inside the upper ends of walls 11 and 12 and the underside of wall 13 rearwardly of slot 55. Stops 59a and 60a serve to limit the forward extension of sheet 61. Flange 62 extends downwardly and then horizontally to the rear to receive switch platform 63 in horizontal position thereon. Fixed to the rear face of lever 43 is flange 64 carrying rearwardly extending arm 65 which underlies the right-hand side of switch platform 63 in the view of FIG. 4.

The switch mechanism comprises a contact arm 66 fixed to the right-hand side of switch platform 63 and comprising, in the view of FIG. 4, an S-shaped member having the top leg of the S fixed to the platform and the lower leg of the 8 extending to the left in FIG. 4. A conventional electric connection is made between arm 66 and motor 37, not shown. Angle 67, fixed to the left underside of platform 63 pivotally mounts actuating arm 68 in the downwardly extending leg thereof and has the horizontal leg thereof fixed to platform 63. Contact arm 69 is pivoted at its left-hand end in FIG. 4 on the downwardly extending leg of angle 67 and has a contact on its other end extending downwardly adapted to make and break electrical contact with member 66 according to motion of arm 69. On its upper side is a stop adapted to position arm 69 a particular distance away from its contact point on member 66. A spring 70 is connected at its left-hand end to the left-hand end of actuating arm 68 in FIG. 4 and at its right-hand end centrally of contact arm 69.

The manner of operation of the switch may be seen by contrasting FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIG. 4, the switch actuating arm 68 is at such a downward position that spring 70 biases the contact arm 69 upwardly against the upper stop on the underside of platform 63 whereby to break electrical contact. There is another conventional electrical contact between angle 67 and motor 37 to provide a complete circuit through the switch when arm 69 contacts member 66. When right-hand end of actuating arm 68 (in FIG. 4) is moved upwardly a certain distance by arm 65, the portion thereof on the left-hand side (in FIG. 4) of the pivot on member 67, by means of spring 70, biases contact arm 69 downwardly to the position of FIG. 5 to complete electrical contact through the switch and start motor 37. When the right-hand side of actuating arm 68 (in the view of FIG, 4) moves downwardly to a certain position, spring 70 snaps actuating arm 69 upwardly to break the contact and stop motor 37. The switch mechanism shown is conventional and does not by itself or per se comprise the instant invention.

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

1) With the view taken from the rear as in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, and with the actuating or second lever arm 53 in a position even further to the right in FIG. 1 and to the left in FIG. 4 than that shown, the engaged spur gears between the two lever arms will have moved the engaged (left in FIG. 4 view) end of the first lever arm 43 up as far as possible, thus moving the slide-lever engaging shaft 41 to the top of slot 42 and moving slide plate 19 to the top of channel or slideway 15. At the opposite end of first lever arm 43, stud 49 and the top of slot 48 firmly engage, with spring 51 pulling that end of the arm firmly downwardly. Thus, from the view of FIG. 4, the right end of the first lever arm 43 is as low as possible, the left end thereof is nearly as high as possible, slide 19 is nearly at its uppermost position and cutter wheel 21 is free of feed wheel 33 to receive a can.

(2) The second position involves motion of the actuating or second lever arm 53 from the previously described position (not illustrated) to that of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, with a can engaged. This position, best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 as to the can engagement, involves no penetration or cutting of the can, merely the positioning of it between the cutter and feed wheels ready for the puncturing and cutting operations. For the operator to move the arm 53 further toward the top wall 13 will involve greater application of force than mere free movement.

(3) In FIG. 3, arm 53 is seen 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 57 and 43b is moved downwardly to the position where the top of slot 20 in the slide plate 19 abuts the bearing 31 and the bottom of slide plate 19 abuts shelf 16. This is as low as slide plate 19 can go.

(4) Looking at FIGS. 4, 5 and 6,- in FIG. 4 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 of the left end thereof to an intermediate position, while insufficient force has been applied to the engaged can to cause the right-hand end of arm 43 to rise against tension of spring 51. FIG. 5 then shows the position to which it is probable that (a) the actuating arm 53 may rotate clockwise and (b) first lever arm 43 may rise on the right-hand side thereof against tension of spring 51 before the can actually is pierced. This is due to the resistance of the metal top of the can to cutter wheel 21 and varies somewhat according to the sharpness of the cutter wheel, the metal of the can top, etc.

(5) FIG. 6 shows the next stage with the can actually pierced with operator hand pressure maintained at the same level. The right-hand end of first engaging lever 43 has dropped a limited distance so that stud 49 is approximately central of the length of slot 48 under action of spring 51, while the actuating arm 53 has dropped a slight amount toward plate 13. Despite these small changes, the switch is so designed and installed that contact and motor operation are maintained.

(6) The dynamics of operation of arm 43 are as follows: (a) With no can engaged or engageable between the cutter and feed wheels, oscillation of the main lever arm 53 in counterclockwise and clockwise direction in FIG. 4 serves to alternatively move the left-hand side of the lever arm (in FIG. 4 view) upwardly and downwardly. This causes the cutter wheel and slide to move upwardly and downwardly also. (b) When a can is engaged as in FIGS. 1 and 2, further clockwise rotation of lever arm 53 in the view of FIG. 4 does not further lower the left-hand side of arm 43 alone as a fulcrum is provided at shaft 41 since slide 19 is fixed in position until the can is punctured. Thus, in addition to the left-hand end of lever 43 moving downwardly, the right-hand end of lever arm 43 moves upwardly around the fulcrum of shaft 41. As the actuating arm 68 of the switch is already (and always) in contact with arm 65, the movement of the right-hand end of arm 43 to a position where stud 49 is intermediate slot 48 actuates the power source through the switch, thus driving feed wheel 33 to aid in puncturing the can. Shortly after the motor starts operating and presumably before the right-hand end of lever 43 rises much further, the can is punctured, which has two effects. In the first place, the slide 19 can drop downwardly due to the puncturing of the can, thus dropping the shaft 41 therewith and lowering the fulcrum previously mentioned. This in turn drops at least slightly the right-hand end of the lever 43. The latter would tend to disconnect the switch except for two factors. In the first place, the switch is designed to go to the on position on only a very slight rise of the actuating arm 68 and, secondly, the

hand force applied by the operator tends to continue the downward motion of the left-hand end of lever 43 thus tending to raise the right-hand end thereof around the new lower fulcrum. Thus the power actuation continues until the can is cut.

(7) Release of the actuating arm 53 permits the action of spring 51 to pull the right side of first lever arm 43 downwardly, thus gearing up the upper actuating arm to slightly above the position of FIG. 5 if the can is still engaged.

(8) 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, are 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. 46, 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 Aberer Power-Operated Can Opener, Patent No. 2,902,757, September 8, 1959, has a rearward portion thereof, best seen in FIGS. 2 and 8, 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 posts 28 and 29 in slots 17 and 18 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 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 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 our invention, we 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 bearing 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 bearing and extending entirely therethrough, a feed wheel on the end of said drive shaft next to 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 side 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 substantially 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 first lever arm for starting and stopping said driving means.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises a switch operated by means connected to said lever arm on the other side of said slide connection thereto from the engagement thereof with the first lever arm.

3. In a power-operated can opener, a frame, said frame including a normally vertical front plate and normally horizontally top wall, said front plate having front and rear faces and upper and lower ends, the upper end of said front plate connected to said horizontal top wall, a substantially vertical slideway formed in the front face of said plate, a slide received in said slideway adapted to move vertically therein, a bearing 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 bearing and extending entirely through said bearing, a feed wheel on the end of said drive shaft next to 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, means for moving said slide and cutter wheel up and down relative to said shaft and .feed wheel, said moving means including an actuating arm having a portion thereof received in a slot through said horizontal top wall and a lever arm connected to said slide substantially centrally thereof, actuating means including a switch next the front plate rear face and below the top wall, said switch having an actuating arm spring-biased to the normal off position, and means connected to Said lever arm for operating the switch actuating arm.

4. 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 bearing 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 bearing and extending entirely therethrough, a feed wheel on the end of said drive shaft next to said slide, a cutter wheel rotatably mounted on said slide for vertical movement therewith, means for driving said drive shaft positioned adjacent to the rear face of said plate, a first lever arm, 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 substantially centrally thereof, resilient means biasing one end of the first lever arm on one side of the slide-lever engaging shaft normally downwardly, means limiting the downward movement of the first lever arm under action of said resilient biasing means, means for alternately raising and lowering the end of the first lever arm on the other side of said slide-lever shaft from said resilient biasing means, and actuating means operated by said first lever arm for starting and stopping said driving means.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 including means on the first lever arm between the resilient biasing means and slidelever engaging shaft for operating said actuating means.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the means limiting the downward movement of the first leve-r arm under action of the resilient biasing means comprises 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 said slot.

7. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein a top plate is fixed to the upper end of the first mentioned plate and extends normally horizontally therebehind, and the actuating means operated by the first lever arm include a switch fixed relative to the under side of said top plate and means on said first lever arm below said top plate to work said switch.

No references cited.

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