US3765085A - Can opener - Google Patents

Can opener Download PDF

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Publication number
US3765085A
US3765085A US00161002A US3765085DA US3765085A US 3765085 A US3765085 A US 3765085A US 00161002 A US00161002 A US 00161002A US 3765085D A US3765085D A US 3765085DA US 3765085 A US3765085 A US 3765085A
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Prior art keywords
cutter
lever
shaft
opener
motor
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US00161002A
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English (en)
Inventor
G Ponczek
O Cousins
W Copeland
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Sunbeam Corp
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Sunbeam Corp
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Assigned to FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT reassignment FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SUNBEAM PRODUCTS, INC. (DE CORPORATION)
Assigned to SUNBEAM PRODUCTS, INC. reassignment SUNBEAM PRODUCTS, INC. TERMINATION AND RELEASE SECURITY INTEREST Assignors: WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (FORMERLY FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK)
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67B—APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS
    • B67B7/00—Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers
    • B67B7/38—Power-operated cutting devices

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A can opener having a readily detachable cutting mechanism which includes a lever supporting a cutter which cutter serves as a latching means to retain the cutting mechanism assembled to the can opener.
  • the motor operated electric can opener has become one of the most popular and commercially important, small electric appliances. Since it is a relatively simple appliance, it is relatively easy for small manufacturers to design and tool to manufacture an electric can opener. Accordingly, the field has become very competitive with a large number of manufacturers sharing the four or five million unit a year can opener market in the United States. Because of the vigorous competition in the field, pricing and consequently the cost of manufacture have become very important. In addition to the severe price competition there have also been improvements in quality and features incorporated in the current can openers.
  • Another important feature is the provision for detachingthe cutter assembly from the can opener so that it may be easily washed to remove accumulations of food. While the cutter removal may be accomplished in many different ways, it is important that the means for detaching and reassembling the cutter mechanism be simple and easily operated by the housewife without the need fortools.
  • the early can openers which included screws and small clips for retaining the cutter wheel or plow type cutter were easily lost and discouraged the housewife from removing the cutter for cleaning purposes.
  • the present preferred approach involves some type of push button mechanism, which permits removal of the cutter mechanism without providing or necessitating separate screws, clips or other assembly means.
  • the push button type of release for the cutter mechanism must, however, be inexpensive from a manufacturing cost standpoint or else the can opener will be overpriced and unsalable.
  • the conven tional can opening mechanism includes a rotating feed wheel which engages the under edge of the upper lip of the can.
  • the can is held in position against the'serrated feed wheel by the cutter, which during the cuttingoperation is moved into overlapping relationship with the feed wheel. In this overlapping position the cutter extends through the can cover adjacent the inner surface of the lip at a point adjacent the engagement of the feed wheel with the outer portion of the lip.
  • the cutter makes a continuous cut on the cover or lid until it is severed from the can.
  • the dimensions of the can lip determine the optimum relative distance between the end of the feed wheel and the overlapping cutter during the can opening operation.
  • spring biasing means on either the'cutter or the feed wheel to compensate for these dimensional variations in the cans.
  • Such spring biasing means have been expensive and added significantly to the cost of such can openers.
  • the means for compensating for such can dimensional variations have been omitted, there is a considerable sacrifice in the performance of the can opener.
  • the can opener tends to stall in some instances when the can lip is too thick resulting in stripped gears or burned out motors. If the spacing between the feed wheel and the cutter is too great there is a tendency for the cutter to make an uneven cut resulting in slivers cut from the can which may drop into the food or the cutter may leave sharp slivers or protuberances on the can which may injure the person handling the opened can. Accordingly, it is of great commercial importance to provide an inexpensive means to compensate for the variations in can dimensions.
  • the present invention provides an improved can opener which is simple to manufacture and at the same time includes quality features which have heretofore been available only in more complicated and expensive can openers.
  • the invention involves a simplified drive connection between the shaded pole electric motor and the shaft which supports the can rotating wheel.
  • a two stage gear reduction is employed with the intermediate gear supported on a stub shaft carried by the motor field.
  • the distance between the stub shaft and the feed wheel supporting shaft is controlled by separate bracket which is located close to the plane of the reduction gear train.
  • the cutting mechanism and the can rotating wheel as well as the motor are mounted on a flexible plate which forms the front wall of the housing for the can opener.
  • the flexure in this plate permits the cutter to deflect with respect to the can rotating wheel so that variations in the can lip dimensions are accommodated with no sacrifice in the performance of the can opener.
  • the supporting plate deflects within its elastic limit allowing the distance between the cutter and the feed wheel to vary depending on the thickness of the can lip while at the same time maintaining the cutter positioned closely adjacent the interior wall of the can even in connection with cans having relatively thin lips.
  • the cutter mechanism comprises a very simple part which is readily detachable from a supporting pin or stub shaft carried by the plate described above.
  • cutter mechanism includes a lever which is pivotally received on the stub shaft with a simple plow type cutter being supported with respect to the lever by the same stub shaft.
  • the cutter is spring biased against rotational and slidable movement by a single spring.
  • a push button is provided to deflect the cutter which also serves as a latch to retain the cutting assembly on the stub shaft and assembled to the can opener housing.
  • the spring in exerting a rotational bias on the can cutter contributes to the power driven entry of the cutter into the can lid when the motor is actuated by the cutting mechanism lever. The continued rotation of the can at this point causes the reaction force against the cutter to maintain the lever in engagement with the motor switch thereby continuing the operation of the can opener until the cover has been severed from the can.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple and readily removable cutting mechanism for a can opener.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved cutting mechanism in which a cutter is movably supported with respect to the operating lever with the cutter serving as a latch means to detachably connect the cutting mechanism with respect to the can opener housing.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved cutting mechanism wherein the cutter and operating lever are supported for pivotal movement together but the pivotal support mounts the cutter directly so that the substantial forces produced in the cutter during the opening of a can are not transmitted through the lever.
  • Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved cutting mechanism which is carried by stub shaft with the lever and cutter being pivotally mounted on the stub shaft and removable as an assembly with the cutter serving as a latch to retain the assembly in position on the shaft.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a can opener embodying my invention
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged rear plan view of the front housing member or support plate of the can opener of FIG.
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG.
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG.'1;
  • FIG. 5 is a rear view of the front housing member or support plate of FIG. 2 shown with the motor and gearing assembled thereto;
  • FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the top portion of the can opener of FIG. I viewed from the front with portions thereof cut away to expose the cutter;
  • FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the cutter mechanism taken along line 77 of FIG. 6 with the cutter removed;
  • FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the cutter shown removed from the cutting mechanism
  • FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the rear housing portion
  • FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the front cover plate of the cutting mechanism.
  • FIG. 1 l is a front elevational view of the lever portion of the cutting mechanism.
  • FIG. 1 a combined can opener and knife sharpener designated generally by reference numeral 11.
  • the can opener 11 is conventional insofar as it includes a housing 12 which encloses a motor 13 which drives through a gear reduction 14 a feed wheel shaft 15 which supports on its outer end a serrated can rotating or feed wheel 16.
  • the cutting mechanism 18 Cooperating with the feed wheel 16 to open or cut the lid of a can is a cutting mechanism 18.
  • the cutting mechanism 18 includes a pivotally mounted, manually operated lever 19 which supports a plow type cutter 20.
  • the cutter 20 is movable between the retracted or load position with the lever 19 in a generally vertical position and a cutting position as shown in FIG. 4 in which it overlaps the feed wheel 16 and the lever 19 extends generally horizontally.
  • the housing 12 is made up of two basicparts, one being a box like portion 22 and a front plate 23.
  • the front plate 23 may be designated the support plate since it carries all the mechanism of the can opener including the motor 13, the feed wheel shaft 15 and the cutting mechanism 18.
  • the front plate serves as a closure for a front opening 24 formed in the box like housing portion 22.
  • the front plate 23 and the box like portion 22 cooperate to form an enclosure 25 within which the motor and reduction gearing are received.
  • the box like housing portion 22 which is best shown in FIG. 9 is made of an inexpensive styrene plastic material since it performs little function except to enclose the mechanism carried by the front plate 23.
  • the portion 22 is also formed with a forwardly projecting base 26 which provides the necessary stability for the can opener when a can is received between the cutter 20 and the feed wheel 16 and force is being applied by the operator downwardly against the lever 19.
  • the interior of the housing forming the enclosure 25 is generally rectangular, there is provided an interior somewhat L shaped wall 27 which provides a forwardly facing box like cord receiving pocket 28.
  • a power cord 29 enters the pocket 28 through an opening 30 where the excess cord is coiled as shown in FIG. 9.
  • the front opening in the pocket 28 is closed by the front plate 23 and an opening 31 in wall 27 is provided for the cord 29 to extend from pocket 28 into the chamber 25 for connection to the motor 13.
  • the opening 30 is of such size that surplus cord length may be pushed up into the pocket 28 and stored there if it is not needed to reach the nearest electrical outlet.
  • the portion 22 is also formed with a rearwardly projecting appendage 32 which serves to enclose a knife sharpener or grinding wheel 33.
  • the appendage 32 is merely of suitable size to enclose the wheel 33 and includes angles slots 34 and 35 which are adapted to receive knife blades and guide them into proper engagement with the opposite faces of the grinding wheel 33.
  • the grinding wheel 33 is supported on the rearwardly extending end of motor shaft 36. Also supported on the shaft 36 and inwardly of the grinding wheel 33 is a fan 37 which circulates air across the motor 13 and outwardly through a downwardly facing opening 38 as best shown in FIG. 4.
  • a fiber baffle wall 39 is mounted within the enclosure 25 along back wall of housing portion 22 in order to prevent the debris from the knife sharpening in the appendage 32 from being deposited in the motor 13 and the other mechanism enclosed within the enclosure 25.
  • the baffle 39 is provided with an opening 40 through which the motor cooling air is circulated.
  • the motor 13 is a shaded pole motor having a generally square laminated field 41 on which a coil 42 is supported.
  • An armature 43 is carried by the motor shaft 36. Suitable electrical connections are not shown but are made from the cord 29 through a switch 44 to the coil 42, thus when the switch 44 is closed the motor 13 will be energized to drive the feed wheel 16 through the reduction gearing 14.
  • the reduction gearing includes two reduction stages having a pinion 45 formed on the motor shaft 36 which pinion engages a gear 46.
  • the gear 46 is secured integrally to a pinion'47 which is supported on a stub shaft 48 which is press fitted into an opening in field 41 as best shown in FIG. 4.
  • the pinion 47 drives a large stamped gear 49 which is secured to the rearwardly projecting end of the shaft 15. Accordingly, the motor 13 drives through pinion 45, gear 46, pinion 47 and gear 49 to rotate the feed wheel 16 at a relatively low speed.
  • the front plate or supporting plate 23 is a generally rectangular, flat plate formed of a resilient steel material and having openings stamped therein through which nylon material molded integrally thereto extends outwardly from either side of the plate.
  • a forwardly'extending ledge or abutment 50 which is intended to engage the lower edge of heavy cans and support them as they are rotated by the can opener mechanism.
  • a forwardly'extending ledge or abutment 50 Positioned inwardly on the other side of the plate 22 from the abutment 50 are lower bosses 51 and an upper boss 52.
  • One of the lower bosses 51 is positioned to receive an assembly screw 53 which secures the housing portion 22 and the front plate 23 together as is best shown in FIG. 4.
  • the upper portion of plate 23 is formed with an additional series of molded nylon portions including a bearing support 55, motor support bosses 56, a switch support block 57, upper assembly bosses 58 and forwardly projecting can support portions 59 as-are best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • the boss 52 and two motor support bosses 56 receive assembly screws which extend through the field 41 into threaded engagement with the bosses. This provides a simple and effective means for mounting the motor 13 with respect to the housing 12.
  • the feed wheel shaft 15 is supported for rotation on the bearing support 55.
  • the bearing support as viewed axially as in FIG. 2 includes a central cylindrical hub 55a within which the shaft 15 is journaled.
  • the spokes 55b and flange 55c are all molded integrally and provide rigidity for the bearing support 55 while utilizing a minimum amount of material.
  • the plate 23 is formed with an inwardly turned flange as best shown in FIG. 3 to provide additional rigidity between the bearing support 55 and the plate 23.
  • the upper bosses 58 correspond to the lower bosses 51 and receive assembly screws which extend through the housing portion 22 in order to retain the two housing members in assembled relation.
  • the switch 44 is supported on the front plate 23 in the upper left hand corner as shown in FIG. 5.
  • the switch 44 is made with most of its supporting portions formed as part of the plastic molded to the plate 23.
  • This supporting portion consists of a base block 61 having five outwardly extending projections 62 as shown in FIG. 5.
  • Received between and supported by the projections 62 are two flexible switch members 63 and 64.
  • the lower ends of the switch members 63 and 64 are connected to suitable leads which connect the motor field coil 42 and the switch 44 in series across the two conductors of cord 29.
  • the switch members 63 and 64 are formed at their outer ends with channel shaped bends 63a and 64a which form contact portions of the switch members 63 and 64 respectively.
  • the upper end of the switch member 64 is bent over andpositioned to be engaged by a flexible contact actuating member 65.
  • the contact actuating member 65 is formed of a flexible plastic material anchored at its lower end to the base block 61 with the portion extending from the base block being free to flex as the outer end is deflected against the switch member 64 causing the contacts 63a and 64a to close.
  • a button 66 which is slidably supported in the top wall of housing 12 having an outer portion 66a positioned outside of the housing 12 and an interior portion 66b lying within the enclosure 25.
  • a flat shankportion 66c which is slidably received in a slot 67 formed in the upper wall of the housing portion 22 as is best shown in FIG. 9.
  • the slot 67 is open toward the front of the appliance 11 with this open side of the slot 67 being closed by the plate 23 to retain the button 66 trapped in assembled relationship to the housing 12.
  • the button 66 As mounted in the slot 67 the button 66 is mounted for limited vertical sliding movement and is biased to its uppermost position by the resilience of the contact actuating member 65.
  • the button 66 When the motor 13 is to be energized, the button 66 is depressed causing the interior portion 66b to deflect the contact actuating member 65 which in turn moves the switch member 64 into engagement with the switch member 63.
  • the plastic molded to the interior of the plate extends completely behind the switch 44 and the coil 43 as shown in FIG. 5.
  • the switch 44 is provided with an integrally formed wall 68 which provides additional shielding between the switch members 63 and 64 and the outside wall of the housing portion 22.
  • the feed wheel shaft has been described above as journaled in the bearing support 55 which is molded integrally to the front plate 23.
  • the shaft 15 is threaded at its outer end to receive the feed wheel 16 which has a serrated outer periphery 'to engage the lip of a can and rotate it.
  • a thrust washer 70 Positioned adjacent to the rear face of the feed wheel 16 is a thrust washer 70 which bears against the plastic portion of the front plate 23 providing a bearing surface against which the axial force on the feed wheel 16 is directed.
  • the rearwardly extending end of the shaft 15 is formed with an enlarged diameter bearing portion 71 which is joumaled at 55d in the bearing support 55 as best shown in FIG. 3.
  • the end of the shaft 15 adjacent the bearing portion 71 extends through an opening in the gear 49 with the end of the shaft being staked into retaining engagement with the rear face of the gear 49.
  • the opening in the gear 49 and themating portion of the shaft 15 extending therethrough are circular with flatted edges to key the gear to the shaft and prevent relative rotation.
  • a bracket 72 is provided, which bracket has flanged openings 72a and 72b which are received on supports concentric with the shafts 48 and 15respectively.
  • the shaft 48 is provided with a plastic bushing 73 which is press fitted on the shaft 48 and is received within the flanged opening 720 as shown in FIG. 4.
  • the other end of the bracket 72 is received on the rearwardly directed end of the cylindrical portion 55a of the bearing support 55.
  • the bracket 72 thus assures that the shafts 48 and 15 will remain properly spaced and parallel even though there might be some tendency otherwise for the front plate 23 to flex thereby changing the distance between the axis of the shafts 48 and 15.
  • a helical spring 74 is positioned at the upper end of the bracket 72 as shown in FIG. 4. The spring 74 is compressed between the bracket 72 and the gear 49 whereby it exerts a force axially on the shaft 15 thereby taking up any play in the shaft 15 with respect to its mounting in the bearing support 55.
  • the spring 74 is held co-axially with the shaft 15 by the integral flange forming the opening 72b on the bracket 72.
  • the cutting mechanism 18 with its associated lever 19 and cutter is supported on the housing 12 by means of a horizontally projecting boss on stub shaft 75 which is secured to the upper end of the front plate 23 as best shown in FIG. 4.
  • the stub shaft 75 has a reduced diameter mounting portion 75a which extends through opening 76 in the front plate 23.
  • the mounting portion 75a also extends through a hardened steel washer 77 and is staked over to secure the mounting shaft 75 securely to the front plate 23.
  • the washer 77 is necessary to distribute the load to the plate 23 so that the shaft 75 would not be torn loose by the force acting on the cutter 20.
  • the cutting mechanism 18 is an extremely simple device including only the lever 19, the cutter 20 and a biasing spring 79 and release button 80. The few number of parts is possible because of the manner in which the parts are supported relative to the appliance l1 and the manner in which the cutter 20 serves a dual function as cutter and latch to releasably retain the cutting mechanism 18 with respect to the housing 12.
  • the lever 19 consists of a handle portion 81 and a cover portion 82.
  • the cover portion is shown separately in FIG. 10 and consists basically of a plastic plate which over overlies the handle portion 81 and retains the cutter 20 and the biasing spring 79 trapped within the pockets formed in the handle portion 81.
  • the cover portion 82 is formed with an opening 83 through which the mounting shaft extends.
  • the hook shaped lugs 84 extend through corresponding slots 85 in the handle portion 81 as is shown in the sectional view of FIG. 7.
  • the lugs 84 are engaged as shown in FIG. 7 and the bottom of the cover portion 82 is swung into engagement with the handle portion 81 at which time a locating and assembly boss 86 on the cover portion 82 extends into an opening 87 in the handle portion 81 and a screw 88 secures the portions 81 and 82 in assembled relation.
  • the handle portion 81 is formed with a series of shaped recesses or pockets which receive and support the biasing spring 79, the release button 80 and the cutter 20.
  • the spring 79 is formed at one end with a coil 79a which surrounds a post 89 formed in a transversely extending slot 90 in which the spring 79 is free to flex.
  • the slot 90 extends generally transversely parallel to the length of the handle portion 81 but is interrupted at its center by a shallow depression 91 within which the cutter 20 is received and also a deeper recess 92 within which the release button 80 is received.
  • the release button 80 is received in the slot 92 wherein it is permitted limited vertical sliding movement with its bottom end in engagement with the cutter 20.
  • the cutter 20 in turn is received within the shallow pocket 91 wherein it may rotate approximately 25 and in addition may slide vertically under the influence of the release button 80.
  • the spring 79 on the other hand is mounted so that it is engaged under a forwardly projecting lug 93 formed integrally with the cutter 20. The spring 79 thus urges the cutter 20 to its uppermost position and in addition tends to deflect the cutter 20 clockwise about the mounting shaft 75 as shown in FIG. 6 wherein it assumes the vertical position shown therein.
  • the cutter 20 as shown in FIG. 8, it includes a central keyhole shaped opening 94 which has an upper portion 94a and a narrow lower portion 94b.
  • the oval portion 940 is of such a dimension that the mounting shaft 75 may easily extend therethrough.
  • the shaft 75 has a front beveled portion 75b and an annular groove 750 which is adapted to receive the latching means which retains the cutting mechanism 18 assembled to the housing 12.
  • This latching means comprises the cutter 20.
  • the cover portion 82 is formed with a ledge or abutment 98 as is best shown in FIG. 10.
  • This ledge 98 prevents the middle of spring 79 from being deflected downwardly too far in instances when the lever 81 is raised at the same time when the cutter 20 is stuck in the top of a can.
  • the cutting mechanism 18 When the cutting mechanism 18 is assembled to the mounting shaft 75, it is rotatable thereon through an angle of approximately 90, i.e., from the can cutting position as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 to a loading position in which the lever 19 extends substantially vertical and the cutter 20 is well spaced from the feed wheel 16. Although the cutting mechanism 18 pivots as'a unit on the shaft 75,the cutter 20 is also permitted limited rotational movement with respect to the lever 19. As indicated above, the shallow. depression or recess 91 is of such an extent that the cutter 20 can rotate approximately counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 6.
  • the cutter 20 has a cutting edge 100 which is beveled on its outer edge and terminates in a point 101 which is designed to pierce the cover of the can at the start of the can opening operation.
  • a guide 102 Positioned adjacent to the cutting edge 100 is a guide 102 which rides along the upper edge of the can lip and controls the penetration of the cutter into the cover of the can.
  • the front plate 23 is provided with a forwardly projecting guide post 99 which is disposed slightly above and tofthe left of the feed wheel 16 as shown in FIG. 6. As is evident from FIG. 4 the post 99 extends outwardly sufficiently to overlie the top edge of the can.
  • the post 99 and the guide 102 in the cutter 20 cooperate to hold the can in an upright position restrained from rocking about the feed wheel 16 as the can is opened.
  • the cutter is also formed with stops 103 and 104 as best shown in FIG. 8 which engage the adjacent portions of the lip of the can being opened to limit the sliding and rotational movement of the cutter 20 with respect to the can.
  • the stop'103 engages the top of the can lip and thus limits penetration of the cutter into the can cover.
  • the stop 104 rides against the inside of the can lip to maintain the cutting edge 100 spaced from the lip to provide a continuous even cut of the cover with no slivers or jagged portions.
  • the lever 19 is formed with a handle 105 which provides a flat surface against which the operator of the appliance 11 may apply a downward force when rotating the lever 19 from the loading to the can cutting position.
  • the handle 105 on its underside engages the button 66 which through switch 44 causes energization of the motor 13.
  • the lever 19 is rotated counterclockwise.
  • a can is inserted in a vertical position with the upper lip of the can overhanging the feed wheel 16 and the lever 19 is then rotated clockwise causing the cutter 20 to be brought downwardly against the cover of the can.
  • the point 101 of the cutter 20 would engage the cover of the can well before the lever 19 arrived at the position shown therein.
  • the cutter 20 is mounted for about 25 of movement relative to the lever 19 as described above.
  • the cutter 20 remains restrained from rotating while the lever 19 rotates through the 25 angle at which time the handle 105 engages the button 66 and upon further actuation causes the switch 44 to close and the motor 13 to operate.
  • the motor rotates the feed wheel 16
  • a jamming action occurs between point 101 of the cutter 20 and the cover of the can. This jamming action results as the rotation of the can tends to force the cutting edge through the cover and at the same time rotate the cutter to the position shown in FIG.
  • One of the novel features of the present invention is the manner in which the feed wheel 16 and the cutter 20 are mounted in such a way as to accommodate the dimensional variations which are normally encountered in cans opened on domestic can openers.
  • the mounting shaft 75 and the feed wheel shaft 15 are mounted relatively rigidly with respect to the front plate 23, the plate 23 itself is formed of a relatively flexible material which will deflect to accommodate the different can dimensions.
  • the plate 23 was fabricated of cold rolled steel of 0.050 inches thickness with a hardness of Rockwell B 65 which resulted in a deflection of 0.025 inches in the shaft 75 under normal can opening conditions.
  • This flexure of the front plate 23 is designed to be within the elastic limit of the material and, therefore, provides a simple and effective means of permitting the spacing between the cutter 20 and the feed wheel 16 to vary to accommodate different can dimensions.
  • the inherent flexibility of the front plate 23 necessitated the inclusion of the bracket 22 which assures proper axial spacing of the shafts 48 and 15. It should be appreciated that the front plate 23 could be constructed entirely of plastic if such plastic is flexible enough to produce controlled flexure to accommodate variations in can dimensions.
  • the lid retainer 107 is also supported on the lever 19 and forming a part of the cutting mechanism 18.
  • the lid retainer includes a somewhat channel shaped'plate 108 which carries at its lower end a magnet assembly 109 which is adapted to engage and grip the cover of a can being opened.
  • the upper end of the plate 108 is formed with two spaced somewhat S shaped projections 110 which extend through openings 111 in the cover portion 82 into pockets 1 12 formed in the handle portion 81 as is best shown in FIG. 6.
  • the lid retainer 107 may be readily removed from the lever by simply lifting the outer end and withdrawing the projections 110 from the openings 111.
  • the lever 81 need only transmit a minimal force to the cutter 20 sufficient to at least initiate the piercing of the can by the point 101. Because of this limited demand placed on the lever 82, it is possible to further reduce the cost of the cutting mechanism 18 by making the lever 81 of an inexpensive plastic material.
  • a motor driven can opener of the type having a housing enclosing an electric motor which is drivingly connected to a can rotating means and cutting means movably mounted on said housing for engagement with the top of a can being opened, the improvement comprising pivot means projecting from said housing, a manually operable lever mounted on said pivot means for rotation thereon, a cutter supported on said lever and rotatable therewith into and out of engagement with the cover of a can, said cutter being mounted for slidable and rotatable movement with respect to said lever, said cutter engaging said pivot means to retain said lever against axial movement with respect to said pivot means and being slidable to disengage said cutter from said pivot means and release said lever for axial movement with respect to and for disengagement from said pivot means to removably support said lever and cutter with respect to said housing.
  • lever comprises a pair of spaced plates with said cutter being received in a recess therebetween, manually operable release means supported for slidable movement between said plates in engagement with said cutter, spring means biasing said cutter and said release into latching engagement with said pivot means.
  • the can opener of claim 1 wherein said cutter is formed with a keyhole-shaped slot, the width of the wide portion of said slot being larger than the diameter of said pivot means, a peripheral groove formed in said pivot means, the diameter of said pivot means at said groove being less than the width of the narrow portion of said slot, said cutter being movable between a latching position in retaining engagement with said pivot means and a release position in which said lever and said cutter may be removed from said pivot means, said cutter in said latching position being received in said groove with said pivot means at the narrow portion of said keyhole-shaped slot.
  • said spring means comprises an elongated spring restrained at its opposite ends between said plates, means on said cutter engaging the midpoint of said spring, said spring urging said cutter into latching engagement with said pivot means.
  • a can opener comprising support means mounting a motor operated can rotating wheel and a movable cutting mechanism in juxtaposition to grip a can and to sever the cover as it is rotated, said cutting mechanism including a lever mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed axis on said support means, a cutter carried by said lever and movable by said lever between a retracted position in which it is radially spaced from said wheel to a cutting position in which it overlaps said wheel, said cutter being supported for limited pivotal movement with respect to said lever about said fixed axis, motor actuating means to drive said wheel when said lever is rotated to the cutting position for said cutter, during the opening of a can said can engages said cutter to rotate said lever to continuously operate said motor actuating means until said cover is severed from said can, spring means biasing said cutter to said overlapping position with respect to said wheel when said lever is in engagement with said motor actuating means, said cutter being rotatable in opposition to said spring means by the engagement with said can cover so that said lever may operate said actuating
  • said cutter comprises a plate supported on said lever for rotatable and slidable movement in a plane perpendicular to said fixed axis, said bearing means being a boss projecting from said support means through an opening in said cutter, said boss having an annular groove within which said cutter is received to latch said mechanism against detachment from said support means.
  • said cutting mechanism comprises a pair of spaced plate members clamped together in abutting relation with a space formed therebetween to support said cutter for slidable movement, said bearing means comprising a boss extending through said lever and said cutter, said lever and cutter pivoting on said boss and said cutter being movable radially of said boss to detachably retain said mechanism with respect to said support means.
  • a motor operated can opener of the type having a power operated can rotating wheel for turning a can the top of which is engaged by a fixed cutter to sever the top from the can, the improvement comprising a vertical frame plate supporting a can cutting mechanism and a can rotating wheel in vertically spaced relation, said wheel being mounted on the end of a first shaft journaled on said frame plate, a second shaft positioned above said first shaft and secured rigidly to said plate, said second shaft supporting said cutting mechanism including a cutter which overlaps with said wheel to grip the side wall of a can therebetween, said first and second shafts being parallel and on a fixed axial spacing, said frame plate being flexible between said first and second shafts to vary the spacing of said cutter and said wheel only through the flexure of said plate between said first and second shafts to accommodate cans of various dimensions therebetween.
  • the can opener of claim 111 wherein said frame plate is formed of a flexible metallic sheet, plastic portions molded integrally to said metallic sheet to form can guides and supports for said first shaft and for a motor mounted to said plate in driving connection with said first shaft.
  • the can opener of claim 11 including a motor supported on said frame plate, reduction gearing drivingly interconnecting said motor and said first shaft, a rigid bracket extending between said motor and said first shaft to prevent variation in the spacing between said first shaft and said motor.
  • reduction gearing includes a double reduction having an intermediate shaft between said first shaft and the output shaft of said motor, said intermediate shaft being supported on said motor field and journaling a gear and pinion which drivingly interconnect said output shaft and said first shaft, said bracket extending between said intermediate shaft and said first shaft.
  • said can cutting mechanism includes a lever journaled on said second shaft separately from said cutter whereby the force exerted outwardly on said cutter by said can is transmitted directly from said cutter to said second shaft and not transmitted through said lever.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Devices For Opening Bottles Or Cans (AREA)
US00161002A 1971-07-09 1971-07-09 Can opener Expired - Lifetime US3765085A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16100271A 1971-07-09 1971-07-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3765085A true US3765085A (en) 1973-10-16

Family

ID=22579385

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00161002A Expired - Lifetime US3765085A (en) 1971-07-09 1971-07-09 Can opener

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3765085A (enExample)
AU (1) AU457153B2 (enExample)
CA (1) CA950183A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2233834C3 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2145458B1 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1371168A (enExample)
IT (1) IT957839B (enExample)

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3983625A (en) * 1975-05-23 1976-10-05 Rival Manufacturing Company Power operated can opener having power pierce means
US4663849A (en) * 1986-07-21 1987-05-12 John Zink Company Combination can opener/knife sharpener with pivotal mounting
DE3804855A1 (de) * 1987-02-27 1988-09-08 Braun Ag Dosenoeffner, vorzugsweise mit elektrischem antrieb
US5313708A (en) * 1992-12-04 1994-05-24 The Rival Company Can opener
USD348813S (en) 1992-10-22 1994-07-19 The Rival Company Can opener
USD362378S (en) 1993-09-21 1995-09-19 Schweizer Russell J Can opener
USD362377S (en) 1993-09-21 1995-09-19 Schweizer Russell J Can opener
USD366404S (en) 1994-04-05 1996-01-23 The Rival Company Can opener
USD394590S (en) 1995-11-01 1998-05-26 The Rival Company Can opener
USD409063S (en) * 1998-02-18 1999-05-04 Domotek Electric Mfg. Co. Ltd. Can opener
USD410827S (en) 1998-01-09 1999-06-08 The Rival Company Can opener
USD411789S (en) * 1998-01-09 1999-07-06 The Rival Company Can opener
USD412651S (en) 1998-01-09 1999-08-10 The Rival Company Can opener
US5992026A (en) * 1998-01-09 1999-11-30 The Rival Company Kitchen appliance with pivotal mounting
US6092292A (en) * 1998-04-10 2000-07-25 Hp Intellectual Corp. Can opener
US6189221B1 (en) 1998-12-31 2001-02-20 The Rival Company Can opener appliance having a side-cutting mechanism
US6279236B1 (en) 1998-04-01 2001-08-28 Hamilton Beach Can opener
US6351889B1 (en) 2000-01-13 2002-03-05 The Holmes Group, Inc. Adjustable-height can opening appliance
US6510613B1 (en) 2000-07-20 2003-01-28 The Holmes Group, Inc. Ergonomic can opener
US9221665B1 (en) * 2013-12-05 2015-12-29 Gregory Mark Adamczak Manual left or right hand can opener with tilt and rotating spherical joint
US20180265341A1 (en) * 2017-03-17 2018-09-20 Gregory Mark Adamczak Electric can opener with rotating spherical joint
USD964132S1 (en) 2021-10-26 2022-09-20 Edlund Company, Llc Can opener drive gear

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3048063C2 (de) * 1980-12-19 1987-01-02 Hermann Mellert GmbH & Co KG Fabrik für Feinmechanik und Elektrotechnik, 7518 Bretten Elektrischer Dosenöffner
GB2258643B (en) * 1991-07-27 1995-03-29 Doherty Patrick J Electrically motor driven can opener

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2204368A (en) * 1936-06-26 1940-06-11 Dazey Churn & Mfg Company Can opener
US2997785A (en) * 1959-05-01 1961-08-29 Robert M Pinette Automatic can opener
US3156044A (en) * 1962-10-25 1964-11-10 Burgess Vibrocrafters Electric can opener
US3254406A (en) * 1963-08-09 1966-06-07 Oster Mfg Co John Can opener

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2204368A (en) * 1936-06-26 1940-06-11 Dazey Churn & Mfg Company Can opener
US2997785A (en) * 1959-05-01 1961-08-29 Robert M Pinette Automatic can opener
US3156044A (en) * 1962-10-25 1964-11-10 Burgess Vibrocrafters Electric can opener
US3254406A (en) * 1963-08-09 1966-06-07 Oster Mfg Co John Can opener

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3983625A (en) * 1975-05-23 1976-10-05 Rival Manufacturing Company Power operated can opener having power pierce means
US4663849A (en) * 1986-07-21 1987-05-12 John Zink Company Combination can opener/knife sharpener with pivotal mounting
DE3804855A1 (de) * 1987-02-27 1988-09-08 Braun Ag Dosenoeffner, vorzugsweise mit elektrischem antrieb
USD348813S (en) 1992-10-22 1994-07-19 The Rival Company Can opener
US5313708A (en) * 1992-12-04 1994-05-24 The Rival Company Can opener
USD362378S (en) 1993-09-21 1995-09-19 Schweizer Russell J Can opener
USD362377S (en) 1993-09-21 1995-09-19 Schweizer Russell J Can opener
USD366404S (en) 1994-04-05 1996-01-23 The Rival Company Can opener
USD394590S (en) 1995-11-01 1998-05-26 The Rival Company Can opener
USD410827S (en) 1998-01-09 1999-06-08 The Rival Company Can opener
USD411789S (en) * 1998-01-09 1999-07-06 The Rival Company Can opener
USD412651S (en) 1998-01-09 1999-08-10 The Rival Company Can opener
US5992026A (en) * 1998-01-09 1999-11-30 The Rival Company Kitchen appliance with pivotal mounting
USD409063S (en) * 1998-02-18 1999-05-04 Domotek Electric Mfg. Co. Ltd. Can opener
US6279236B1 (en) 1998-04-01 2001-08-28 Hamilton Beach Can opener
US6092292A (en) * 1998-04-10 2000-07-25 Hp Intellectual Corp. Can opener
US6189221B1 (en) 1998-12-31 2001-02-20 The Rival Company Can opener appliance having a side-cutting mechanism
US6351889B1 (en) 2000-01-13 2002-03-05 The Holmes Group, Inc. Adjustable-height can opening appliance
US6510613B1 (en) 2000-07-20 2003-01-28 The Holmes Group, Inc. Ergonomic can opener
US9221665B1 (en) * 2013-12-05 2015-12-29 Gregory Mark Adamczak Manual left or right hand can opener with tilt and rotating spherical joint
US20180265341A1 (en) * 2017-03-17 2018-09-20 Gregory Mark Adamczak Electric can opener with rotating spherical joint
USD964132S1 (en) 2021-10-26 2022-09-20 Edlund Company, Llc Can opener drive gear

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU457153B2 (en) 1974-12-12
AU3972372A (en) 1973-09-13
DE2233834A1 (de) 1973-01-18
CA950183A (en) 1974-07-02
FR2145458A1 (enExample) 1973-02-23
GB1371168A (en) 1974-10-23
FR2145458B1 (enExample) 1979-02-02
DE2233834C3 (de) 1982-02-18
DE2233834B2 (de) 1981-06-19
IT957839B (it) 1973-10-20

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AS Assignment

Owner name: FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SUNBEAM PRODUCTS, INC. (DE CORPORATION);REEL/FRAME:011111/0172

Effective date: 20000929

AS Assignment

Owner name: SUNBEAM PRODUCTS, INC., FLORIDA

Free format text: TERMINATION AND RELEASE SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (FORMERLY FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK);REEL/FRAME:013998/0510

Effective date: 20021213