US3623523A

US3623523A - Combination can opener and juicer

Info

Publication number: US3623523A
Application number: US817054A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald R Meyer; Albert C Tsang
Original assignee: John Oster Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: John Oster Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1969-04-17
Filing date: 1969-04-17
Publication date: 1971-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 1988-11-30

Abstract

A combination can opener-juicer appliance having an electric motor, a speed reduction gear assembly interconnecting the output shaft of the motor and the can opener''s feed wheel and a flexible drive cable interconnecting the output shaft of the motor and the juicer''s rotating mechanism. The can opener and the juicer include switching devices that are actuated automatically to commence and terminate the operation of their respective mechanism. The components of a combination can opener-juicer appliance nested together to provide a compact multipurpose appliance with the components of the juicer arranged for easy cleaning.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Donald R. Meyer 1,993,337 3/1935 Crowe 146/37 Thlensville, Wis; 2,074,708 3/1937 Smith l46/3.7 Albert C. Tseng, Monroevllle, Pa. 2,206,204 7/1940 Richli 146/38 UX [21] Appl. No. 817,054 3,254,406 6/1966 Hubrich /4 [22] Filed Apr. 17,1969 1,955,975 4/1934 Puterbaugh 146/37 Patented Nov. 30,1971 2,144,390 1/1939 Rupert et al. l46/3.7 [73] Assignee John Oster Manufacturing Co. 2,799,313 7/1957 Schwarz 146/761 Milwaukee Primary Examiner Othel M. Simpson AtlorneyGeorge R. Clark [54] COMBINATION CAN OPENER AND JUHCER M Claims 5 Drawing Figs ABSTRACT: A combination can opener-' icer appliance hav- [52] US. Cl 146/3 E, ing an electric motor, a speed reduction gear assembly inter- 30/3 connecting the output shaft of the motor and the can opener's [51] Int. Cl A47j 19/00, feed wheel and a flexible drive cable interconnecting the out- Bl7b 7/38 put shaft of the motor and the 111166! 5 rotating mechanism [50] Field 01 Search 30/4; The can opener and the uicer include switching devices that 146/3.1, 3.2, 3.7, 3.8, 311,93, 126, 3.5, 76.1 are actuated automatically to commence and terminate the operation of their respective mechanism The components of [56] References Cmd a combination can openeruicer appliance nested together to UNITED STATES PATENTS provide a compact multipurpose appliance with the com- 1,878,795 9/1932 Minsky 146/3.7 x Ponems oftheiuicerarransed foreasy cleaningt l HLT- I} ll a 4 6/ 47 I I 2 62 6 2 lffi a 470. I 4741 1 f5 0 b% o 65 1 7 o d 2 I a i4 z 36 475 \11? i5 I5] 6'6 4% f0 45: 11M 70 37 06 107 V 26 96 93 I 104 I f? 92 5,5 1 h $7 I :05 io 4 J0 w /0/ w; {a

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Today, most household kitchens are equipped with a multitude of electric appliances. Many of these electric appliances were not even in existence a few years ago. As a result, there is a critical shortage of kitchen counter space because of the overcrowding resulting from all these new appliances. Also, there are insufficient electrical outlets in the average kitchen to permit all of the electrical appliances to be plugged in at once. For those electric appliances that are used frequently, it would be desirable to be able to use them without the necessity of removing them from a stored position and placing them near an unoccupied electrical outlet. In many households, both an electric can opener and electric juicer are used daily. It is the purpose of this invention to provide a combination electric can opener-juicer appliance that would occupy substantially the same counter space as used by either a conventional can opener or an electric juicer and that would have only one electrical cord to plug into an electrical outlet.

Since the heaviest and bulkiest component in either an electric can opener or electric juicer is an electric motor, one of the goals in designing the combination appliance of this invention was to use the same motor for driving both the can opener and the juicer mechanism. By using a common motor, it is possible to compact the layout of the components of the two mechanisms and to provide a combination appliance having a substantially lower cost than the combined cost of the two appliances. In addition, the use of only one motor permits the overall weight and size to be reduced substantially.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a combination electric appliance comprising an electric can opener mechanism and an electric juicer mechanism with a speed reduction gear assembly interconnecting the output shaft of the motor to the can opener feed wheel and a flexible drive cable coupling the output shaft of the motor to the electric juicer drive mechanism.

The combination electric appliance has a die-cast vertical frame member for supporting the can opener mechanism and a hollow plastic housing secured to the frame member to enclose all the components of the combination appliance. The plastic housing also serves as a support for the juicer including the drive mechanism, the reamer, and the juice bowl or receptacle and strainer. A saddle-shaped recess is formed in the top of the plastic housing for removably receiving the bowl, strainer, and reamer of the electric juicer. The electric motor which drives both the can opener and the juicer is mounted on the lower end of the vertical frame member with the gear reduction assembly also secured to the vertical frame member and interconnecting one end of the motor shaft to the can opener feed wheel. The electric juicers components are disposed directly above the electric motor to provide a compact arrangement.

The electric juicer includes a novel switch device that is actuated when the user presses downwardly on the reamer with a section of fruit to commence the juicer operation. When the pressure on the reamer is released, the switch device returns to its initial position to terminate the energization of the juicer mechanism. The components of the juicer which are in contact with the fruit being processed or the juice obtained therefrom are so arranged that they may be removed for easy cleaning.

An object of the present invention is to provide a combination can opener-juicer appliance that is light in weight and compact in size.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combination can opener-juicer appliance on which either mechanism can be energized automatically.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination can opener-juicer appliance on which either mechanism can be energized automatically.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination can opener-juicer in which the juicer components are readily removable for cleaning.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following specification proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the inventionwill be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new and improved electric appliance embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the juicer mechanism under the condition when a downward force is applied to the reamer;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of the appliance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT There is a shown in FIG. I a combination electric appliance 10, consisting of an electric an opener unit 11 and an electric juicer unit 12. The electric can opener unit 11 may comprise any conventional electric can opener mechanism which includes a motor driven feed and a cooperating cutter. The can opener mechanism 13 depicted in FIG. 2 is described in complete detail in copending Meyer et al. application Ser. No. 732,977, filed May 29, 1968, having the same assignee as this application. The mechanism 13 includes a cutter 13a and an operating lever 13b which controls not only the position of cutter 13a but also the operation of the driving motor through engagement with a switch 19.

The combination electric appliance 10 is designed to have a compact lightweight housing 15 consisting of a vertical frame member 16, an enclosure member 18 and a closure plate 20. The frame member 16 is made of a die-cast metal and functions as the supporting member for housing 15. The closure plate 20 is secured to the bottom of enclosure member 18 by means of a self-tapping screw 21 located at each corner of the plate 20 and received in holes in cylindrical bosses 24 that are formed integrally with plastic enclosure member 18. Rubber supporting feet 22 are secured to the bottom of plate 20 by means of the assembly screws 21 which extend through plate 20 into cylindrical bosses 24.

The enclosure member 18 and closure plate 20 are fitted behind frame member 16 and secured thereto to completely enclose the components of combination appliance 10. The upper portion of enclosure member 18 is fastened by means of screws 23 that extend through two openings formed in a sidewall 25 of a U-shaped recess 26 and screw into threaded bosses 27 extending from the top rear of frame member 16. To facilitate assembly of screws 23 and to make the assembled housing more rigid, the screws 23 extend through two cylindrical bosses 29 which are integrally formed and extend perpendicularly from sidewall 25. The lower portion of housing 15 is held together by screws 31 which extend upwardly through two openings in closure plate 20 and into threaded engagement with overhanging bosses 28 which extend rearwardly perpendicular to frame member 16. The forwardly located rubber feet 22 are attached by means of screws 31.

The assembly screws 21, 23, and 31 thus secure the plate 20 and the member 18 to the die-cast frame 16 to form a rigid enclosure for the can opener and juicer mechanism.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 2, can opener mechanism 13 is mounted on the back side of frame member 16, including its speed reduction gear assembly 30. At the bottom end of frame member 16, an electric motor 32 is mounted by screws 34 which threadedly engage two enlarged bosses 36 extending from frame member 16. Motor 32 may be a shaded pole induction motor of the type conventionally used in appliances of this type.

Since the feed wheel 36 of can opener unit 11 must rotate at a much lower speed than the armature of motor 32, a speed reduction gear assembly 30 is employed to interconnect output or armature shaft 38 of motor 32 to can opener feed wheel shaft 40. The gearing included in the reduction gear assembly 30 is all supported on the frame member 16 as is motor 32 and the feed wheel shaft 40 thus providing a rigid support for these elements of the can opener mechanism [3. A pinion 42 is formed on one end of motor shaft 38 and drives feed wheel shaft 40 through reduction gearing 30.

The particular operation of the electric an opener unit 11 is fully described in the above-mentioned copending Meyer et al. application. It should be understood that any suitable opening mechanism may be substituted in the appliance without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. The only important aspect of the can opener ll is that the mechanism 13 be suitable for mounting a frame member 16 with the motor 32 and gearing disposed as shown to achieve the desired compact combination with the juicer mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electric juicer unit 12 includes a transparent plastic bowl 45 removably seated in a U-shaped recess 26. A strainer 47 positioned between the reamer 46 and the bowl 45 is designed to collect the fruits pulp which is, of course, removed from the fruit by the reamer during the juicing operation. The juice passes out through openings 47A and 47b in the strainer 47 and into bowl 45 while the pulp is retained in the strainer. As is shown in FIG. 2, the cross sectional view of electric juicer unit 12, the recess 26 includes bottom wall 52 which at the middle thereof is provided with an integrally formed, enlarged boss 54 extending upwardly. An opening 55 which extends through the center of boss 54 provides clearance for a drive shaft assembly 57. To support the drive shaft assembly 57 for rotary and axial movement. a cylindrical bearing sleeve 58 is fitted in opening 55. The drive shaft assembly 57 consists of a vertically extending elongated rod 60, having an upper segment 61 and a reamer drive member 62 press fitted on the upper end of segment 61 and having a hexagonal-shaped upper portion 64 and a cup-shaped lower extension 65. On the underside of cup-shaped extension 65 is a cylindrical flange 67 integrally formed therewith to limit the downward axial movement of drive shaft assembly 57. To bias the drive shaft assembly 57 upwardly, a spring 69 fits loosely around an intermediate segment 68 of rod 60 between cup-shaped extension 65 and a washer 70. The rod 60 is formed with a segment 72 projecting downwardly from the intermediate segment 68 and having two flat sided faces 720 which are drivingly engaged by matching flat inside surfaces on a sleeve and gear member 74 to provide a driving connection between rod 60 and gear member 74 wherein connection permits relative axial movement of the parts. Extending below the segment 72 on rod 60 is a lowermost segment 76 which has a reduced diameter and rotatably supports a sleeve 78, the upper portion of which has gear teeth 80 formed thereon. An expandable C-washer 81 is received in an annular slot in the lower end of rod 60 to hold all the parts mounted on rod 60 in place and prevents axial displacement.

To drive the electric juicer unit l2, a flexible drive cable 85 is employed to interconnect motor drive shaft 38 and drive shaft assembly 57. The ends 86 and 87 of cable 85 are frictionally fitted, respectively, over the end 89 of drive shaft 38 and sleeve 78.

To provide a speed reduction between the motor 32 and reamer 46, a speed reduction gear assembly 90 is provided. The gear assembly 90 includes the above described gear member 74, the sleeve 78, and a gear member 91 which provides two gear reductions. As drive cable 85 rotates sleeve 78, gear teeth 80 drivingly engage a gear 92 on the gear member 91. On gear member 91 is a small diameter spur gear 93 which is elongated axially and which drives a gear 94 of gear member 74 to rotate drive shaft assembly 57 at a much lower speed than the speed of sleeve 78. The gear member 91 is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 95 and is retained thereon by a metal grip locking piece 96. The upper end 97 of shaft 95 is knurled and press fitted into a recess 98 formed in a boss extending below the bottom wall 52.

To automatically start and stop the operation of the electric juicer unit 12, a novel switch assembly 100 is provided, having a housing 10! which is mounted to the bottom wall 52, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The switch assembly 100 includes electric switch 102 having normally opened contacts. Switch 102 is electrically connected by means of

leads

103 and 104 in series to one of the conductor of an AC power cord 99 which energizes motor 32, as shown in FIG. 5. As indicated in FIG. 5 the

switches

19 and 100 are connected in parallel providing an arrangement whereby either maybe used to energize the motor 32 depending if the appliance 10 is operated for can opening or juicing. Switch assembly 100 includes a lever 105 that is constantly urged to swing counterclockwise about a central pivot by a spring 106. Extending outside of housing 10] is a contact arm 107 of lever 105 which arm engages gear 74, as shown in FIG. 2, when the shaft assembly 57 is in its uppermost position. The lever [05 actually pivots about the edge of a support rivet 109 which at its right edge, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, engages the lever 105.

To commence the juicing operation, the half-section of fruit is pressed downwardly on reamer 46 thereby causing the spring 69 to axially compress as the drive shaft assembly 57 and gear 74 is displaced downwardly. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the downward displacement of gear 74 frees the contact arm 107, permitting the spring 106 to pivot an actuating portion 108 of lever I05 upwardly into contact closing position. The motor 32 will remain energized until the downward pressure on reamer 46 is removed permitting the spring 69 to displace the shaft assembly 57 including gear 74 upwardly and into engagement with arm 107. Thus, a light downward force on reamer 46 will automatically start the reamer rotating, and upon the removal of this slice of fruit, the electric juicer unit 12 will shut off automatically.

To provide for discharge of the juices while the juicer unit 12 is operating, the bowl 45 is formed with a spout I10. As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom wall 112 of bowl 45 is inclined at a slight angle towards the spout 1 10 to cause the juices to flow in that direction. To cause the juices which are moving circularly around in bowl 45 to flow radially outwardly through the spot 110, a baffle 114 is integrally formed in the bottom 112 of bowl 45 extending outwardly to the mouth 115 of spout 110.

The strainer 47 is designed to rotate with the reamer 46 by constructing its center 115 to have the same hexagonal shape as drive member 62. To prevent a portion of openings 47a form getting clogged, a plastic scraper 123 is provided to remove any pulp accumulating on the sides of strainer 47 during the juicing operation. The rotating action of the strainer helps to keep the bottom holes 47b from clogging up and cooperates with the stationary scraper 123 to clear the sides of strainer 47. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper end 125 of scraper I23 clips onto the bowl 45, and its lower end 126 extends along the inside surface of the sidewall of strainer 47. The upper end 125 is slightly flexible and is held in place by pushing its square-shaped slot 128 over a boss 130 formed on bowl 45.

After the juicer portion of the appliance has been used, it is desireable to wash all of the parts which have come into contact with the fruit or the juice. This washing is easily accomplished since the bowl 45, the strainer 47, and the reamer 46 are the only parts which require washing, and they are readily removable from the appliance 10 by merely lifting the bowl 45 from its position in recess 26. The reamer 46 and strainer 47 are positioned in bowl 45 and are removed along with it.

As is evident from a consideration of FIG. I, the combination appliance 10 is a substantially box-shaped unit with the juicer bowl 45 nested within the recess 26 formed at the top of the enclosure member 18. The diameter of the bowl 45 is such that the bowl protrudes slightly beyond the sidewalls of the housing thereby facilitating discharge of juice from the spout 110 into a convenient receptacle. The housing and the bowl are symmetrical so that the spout may be positioned to discharge from either side of the housing 15 depending only on the dictates of convenience.

As was explained above, the housing 15 is made up of the rigid frame member 16 in combination with the plastic enclosure member 18 and the enclosure plate 20. All of the operative elements of the can opener unit 11 are secured to the diecast frame while juicer unit 12 is entirely supported by the enclosure member 18 with the exception of the mount of the motor 32 on the frame 16. The use of the rigid frame for the can opener mechanism and the plastic housing member 18 as the support for the juicer mechanism provides a convenient and inexpensive integration of the functional mechanism with the housing portions of the appliance. Recognizing the difficulty in maintaining any close tolerances between the frame 16 and the relatively light plastic member 18, we have provided a novel arrangement in which the flexible drive shaft 85 interconnects the motor 32 in the juicer mechanism eliminating any tolerance problems between the frame 16 and the plastic enclosure member 18. It should also be noted that by driving the reduction gear assembly 30 from one end of the motor shaft 38 and the juicer unit 12 from the other end of the motor shaft 38, it has been possible to provide a compact arrangement in which the juicer bowl is nested or received in position overlying the motor 32. The resulting appliance, therefore, occupies little or no more space than conventional electric juicing appliances. The sheet metal plate secured to both the frame 16 and the enclosure member 18 retains the housing 15 in assembled relation and provides a secure and rigid structure.

The drive shaft assembly 57 provides a novel means for automatically energizing the juicer mechanism in view of the novel cooperation between the flexible coupling 85 and the drive shaft assembly 57. The coupling 85 serves to provide a 90 change in the axis of the rotational drive while at the same time accommodating the axial movement necessary in the drive shaft assembly 57 to actuate the switch 100.

While the invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment thereof its scope is intended to be limited only by the claims here appended.

What is considered new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An electric appliance comprising a vertical frame member, an electric can opener mechanism mounted on said frame member including a cutter blade assembly, a feed wheel and a speed reduction gear assembly, an electric motor disposed below said can opener mechanism, said speed reduction gear assembly connecting the output shaft of said motor to said feed wheel, a hollow epclosure member secured to the back of said frame member to cover the internal components of said electric appliance, said enclosure member and said frame member forming a rectangular boxlike housing, said enclosure member having a saddle-shaped recess in its top surface, electric juicer means including a juice receiving bowl received in said recess with diametrically opposite portions of said bowl extending outside of said recess and extending laterally beyond said enclosure member, said bowl having a juice discharge spout in one of said laterally extending portions, said juicer means including a drive shaft extending perpendicularly through an opening in the center of said recess and a coupler means for connecting said drive shaft to said output shaft of said motor.

2. An electric appliance as defined in claim 1, further comprising another speed reduction gear assembly interconnecting said coupler means and said drive shaft.

3. An electric appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said electric juicer includes an electric switch to energize said motor and means to actuate said switch in response to axial movement of said drive shaft.

4. An electric appliance comprising a vertical frame member, an electric an opener mechanism mounted on said frame member and including a feed wheel shaft, an electric motor disposed below said can opener mechanism and having a horizontally oriented output shaft, means for mechanically coupling the horizontally oriented output shaft of said motor to the feed wheel shaft of said can opener mechanism, a hollow enclosure member secured to the back of said frame member having a recess in its top surface, a drive shaft extending perpendicularly through a center opening in said recess, means for mechanically coupling said drive shaft to said output shaft of said motor, a bowl adapted to seat in said recess and having a center opening to fit loosely over said drive shaft, a strainer adapted to seat in said bowl and having .a center opening of the same size and shape as said drive shaft to provide driving engagement, (and) a reamer having a recess formed in its bottom surface of the same size and shape as said drive shaft to provide driving engagement therefor when the recess is positioned on the top end of said drive shaft, said coupling means including a flexible cable having one end secured to said output shaft of said motor and the other end driving said drive shaft which is substantially perpendicular to said output shaft, and a speed reduction gear assembly interconnecting said other end of said flexible cable and said drive shaft.

5. The electric appliance as defined in claim 4, wherein said drive shaft is mounted for axial displacement between an upper and a lower position, spring means for holding shaft in said upper position, an electric switch having normally open contacts disposed adjacent to said drive shaft and electrically connected to said motor for selectively energizing said motor and means for closing said contacts of said switch when said drive shaft is moved to said lower position by a suflicient axial force directed downward on said reamer to overcome to upward force of said spring means.

6. The electric appliance as defined in claim 4, further comprising a scraper element having a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion being removably fixed to the top edge of said bowl and said bottom portion being adapted to fit in closely spaced relationship to the inside sidewall surface of said strainer whereby said scraper element will scrape any accumulated food particles from said sidewall surface as said strainer is rotated.

7. A combined can opener and juicing appliance comprising a box-shaped housing having upright sidewalls and an upper wall and having a can opening mechanism exposed on the top of one sidewall of the housing, a depression in said upper wall of said housing forming a recess to receive a juicer bowl which extends laterally beyond a pair of opposite sidewalls of said housing, said pair of opposite sidewalls being at right angles to said one sidewalls said bowl having a discharge spout in the bottom thereof positioned outside of said recess to discharge juice into a receptacle adjacent said housing, a reamer for removing pulp and juice from fruit, said reamer being mounted for rotation about its vertical axis within said bowl, a common drive motor within said housing drivingly connected to said can opening mechanism and to said reamer.

8. The appliance of claim 7 wherein said bowl is removably positioned within said recess, a cup-shaped strainer nested within said bowl and positioned to strain juice and pulp flowing downwardly from said reamer, a drive shaft drivingly interconnecting said strainer and reamer with said motor, said shaft extending through the wall of said housing within the recess, said bowl and said strainer and said reamer being removable from said housing for cleaning as a single assembly.

9. The appliance of claim 7 wherein said housing is defined by an upstanding cast frame which supports said motor and said can opening mechanism and by a plastic enclosure member reduction gearing supported by said frame within said housing to drivingly interconnect said motor and said can opening mechanism, and juicer bowl and reamer being supported by said enclosure member, and flexible drive means interconnecting said motor and said reamer.

10. The appliance of claim 9 wherein said reamer is supported for axial rotation on a drive shaft journaled in said enclosure member, gear reduction means supported on said enclosure member within said housing to drivingly couple said flexible drive means with said drive shaft,

11. The appliance of claim 10 wherein said drive shaft is mounted for limited axial movement and is spring biased to an upper position, switch means controlling power to said motor positioned within said housing and being actuated to energize said motor by downward movement of said shaft against said spring biasing means.

12. The appliance of claim 11 wherein said drive shaft is keyed at its upper end for driving engagement with complementary openings in said strainer and said reamer, said reamer and said strainer being displaceable axially with said drive shaft to actuate said switch.

13. An electrical juicing appliance comprising a motor driven shaft rotatable about a vertical axis, a juice receiving bowl having a bottom wall with a central opening surrounded by an upstanding flange, cylindrical sidewalls on said bowl with a juice discharge spout formed therein, said shaft extending through said opening and receiving on its upper end a reamer for removing pulp and juice from fruit, a strainer positioned within said bowl and connected to be rotated by said shaft, said strainer having perforated bottom and sidewalls and providing a juice and pulp receiving receptacle, a scraper member supported on said bowl and extending across the inside of said perforated strainer sidewall, said scraper being positioned so that pulp engaged by said scraper and removed from said perforations will not surmount said sidewalls of said strainer and will not be deposited in said bowl but will remain in said receptacle, said bowl and reamer and strainer being readily detachable with respect to said shaft to facilitate washing, said scraper being removably connected to said bowl sidewall so that he strainer may be removed from said bowl.

[4. The electrical juicing appliance for claim 13 wherein said strainer perforations comprise holes in the bottom and sidewalls of said strainer and slots in a curved portion of said strainer wall interconnecting said bottom and said sidewalls, said scraper passing across said sidewall perforations and portions of said slots.

0 t i i

Claims

1. An electric appliance comprising a vertical frame member, an electric can opener mechanism mounted on said frame member including a cutter blade assembly, a feed wheel and a speed reduction gear assembly, an electric motor disposed below said can opener mechanism, said speed reduction gear assembly connecting the output shaft of said motor to said feed wheel, a hollow enclosure member secured to the back of said frame member to cover the internal components of said electric appliance, said enclosure member and said frame member forming a rectangular boxlike housing, said enclosure member having a saddle-shaped recess in its top surface, electric juicer means including a juice receiving bowl received in said recess with diametrically opposite portions of said bowl extending outside of said recess and extending laterally beyond said enclosure member, said bowl having a juice discharge spout in one of said laterally extending portions, said juicer means including a drive shaft extending perpendicularly through an opening in the center of said recess and a coupler means for connecting said drive shaft to said output shaft of said motor.

4. An electric appliance comprising a vertical frame member, an electric can opener mechanism mounted on said frame member and including a feed wheel shaft, an electric motor disposed below said can opener mechanism and having a horizontally oriented output shaft, means for mechanically coupling the horizontally oriented output shaft of said motor to the feed wheel shaft of said can opener mechanism, a hollow enclosure member secured to the back of said frame member to cover the internal components of said electric appliance, said enclosure member having a recess in its top surface, a drive shaft extending perpendicularly through a center opening in said recess, means for mechanically coupling said drive shaft to said output shaft of said motor, a bowl adapted to seat in said recess and having a center opening to fit loosely over said drive shaft, a strainer adapted to seat in said bowl and having a center opening of the same size and shape as said drive shaft to provide driving engagement, (and) a reamer having a recess formed in its bottom surface of the same size and shape as said drive shaft to provide driving engagement therefor when the recess is positioned on the top end of said drive shaft, said coupling means including a flexible cable having one end secured to said output shaft of said motor and the other end driving said drive shaft which is substantially perpendicular to said output shaft, and a speed reduction gear assembly interconnecting said other end of said flexible cable and said drive shaft.

5. The electric appliance as defined in claim 4, wherein said drive shaft is mounted for axial displacement between an upper and a lower position, spring means for holding shaft in said upper position, an electric switch having normally open contacts disposed adjacent to said drive shaft and electrically connected to said motor for selectively energizing said motor and means for closing said contacts of said switch when said drive shaft is moved to said lower position by a sufficient axial force directed downward on said reamer to overcome the upward force of saiD spring means.

7. A combined can opener and juicing appliance comprising a box-shaped housing having upright sidewalls and an upper wall and having a can opening mechanism exposed on the top of one sidewall of the housing, a depression in said upper wall of said housing forming a recess to receive a juicer bowl which extends laterally beyond a pair of opposite sidewalls of said housing, said pair of opposite sidewalls being at right angles to said one sidewalls, said bowl having a discharge spout in the bottom thereof positioned outside of said recess to discharge juice into a receptacle adjacent said housing, a reamer for removing pulp and juice from fruit, said reamer being mounted for rotation about its vertical axis within said bowl, a common drive motor within said housing drivingly connected to said can opening mechanism and to said reamer. 8. The appliance of claim 7 wherein said bowl is removably positioned within said recess, a cup-shaped strainer nested within said bowl and positioned to strain juice and pulp flowing downwardly from said reamer, a drive shaft drivingly interconnecting said strainer and reamer with said motor, said shaft extending through the wall of said housing within said recess, said bowl and said strainer and said reamer being removable from said housing for cleaning as a single assembly.

9. The appliance of claim 7 wherein said housing is defined by an upstanding cast frame which supports said motor and said can opening mechanism and by a plastic enclosure member, reduction gearing supported by said frame within said housing to drivingly interconnect said motor and said can opening mechanism, and juicer bowl and reamer being supported by said enclosure member, and flexible drive means interconnecting said motor and said reamer.

10. The appliance of claim 9 wherein said reamer is supported for axial rotation on a drive shaft journaled in said enclosure member, gear reduction means supported on said enclosure member within said housing to drivingly couple said flexible drive means with said drive shaft.

14. The electrical juicing appliance of claim 13 wherein said strainer perforations comprise holes in the bottom and sidewalls of said strainer and slots in a curved portion of said strainer wall interconnecting said bottom and said sidewalls, said scraper passing across said sidewall perforations and portions of said slots.