US1610808A - Can opener - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 14 1926. 1,610,808

R. A. MORRISON E-r AL GAN OPENER Filed Nov. 5, 1925 Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT A oFFlcE.

-ROBE'TRL A. MORRISON AND FRANKLIN L. OSWALD, 0F PORTLAND, OREGON.

CAN OPENER.

Application Bled November 5, 1925. Serial No. 66,942.

This invention relates to mechanical devices for opening cans of that variety which are formed with end rims or beads of flangelike character, and more especially to the type of can opener having a rotary disc cutter adapted, to travel around the periphery of the can immediately below the cap for making a clean shear cut'which will permit the removal of the entire top of the can.

Can openers of this general type usually include a feed roller and a guide roller loosely mounted on apair of hand levers which yare secured together on a sliding fulcrum vwhereby the rollers may be moved toward and away from eachother throughthe relative movementof the levers. The two rollers are adapted to frictionally grip .respectively opposite sides of the seam or rim of the can so that the rotation of the feed roller, through the operation of a crank or handle, causes the can to rotate with the rim traveling between the two rollers. The disc cutter is mounted on one of the rollers in position to penetrate the side wall of the can when the two rollers vapre-isn. frictional `engagement with the rim."-"-A`s the can rotates, the disc cutter travels around the side wall so as to sever the entire top from the can.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a can opener of this character having an improved form and arrangement of parts; to provide such a device requiring comparatively little manual force to apply and operate; to provide an improved form and arrangement of link mechanism for slidably connecting the two levers together in such manner that simple gripping pressure on the handle ends of the levers will, with minimum friction, initiall cause the disc cutter to penetrate the wal to be cut; to rovide an actuating pull link adapted bot to force the cutterv into effective position through the can wall' and to hold it there with minimum hand pressure during the cutting operation and until released; to

provide such a link mechanism adapted to furnish direct leverage of the first order on the cutting disc; and to provide a can opener of this type which is adapted for ready manual operation when held in one hand without attachment to any support and which is adaptedto remove the top of the can in a smooth, clean, even manner so as to permit the removal of the contents without trouble or danger of cutting the operator, and

which is adapted to be used on cans of any cross-sectional contour.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown by the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the can opener, showing the top side, vthe device being in its closed or operative posit-ion.

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the can opener as applied to a cylindrical can, the can being indicated by dotted lines on' the right hand side ofthe figure.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the Vcan o ener, part of the rotatable crank handle eing broken away.

Fig. 4. is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the cutting endof the tool in its operative relation to a can shown in the process ot opening, the can being shown in section.

In the embodiment herein shown, the improved can opener is applied to a common form of can comprising a-cylindrical wall l, and a cap 2 which are secured together by the usual double seam 3. In this class of cans, 30

the main portion of the cap is depressed so that the double seam extends outwardly in the form of an 'annular flange or rim.

In the specific construction herein shown,

the improved can opener comprises a pair 35 of levers 4 and 5 which are pivotally secured together and arranged to provide a pair of handles 6 at one end thereof whereby the tool may be conveniently held in one hand for applying the required amount ot' 90 pressure to the cutterand feed roller, while the latter is operated with the other hand of the user for rotating the can.

In the form shown, the levers 4 and 5 comprise flat strips of metal of substantially uniform cross section. Mounted on the forward end of the lever 4, is a stud 7 which provides a bearing on which is loosely mounted a guide roller 8 and a disc cuttet` 9. In the form shown, the roller 8 and cutter 9 are integral but, if desired, they may be separate pieces. The disc cutter 9 projects beyond the periphery of the roller 8 so that, when the guide roller engages the outer edge of the seam 3, the cutter penetrates the side wall 1 immediately below the cap 2.

The lever 5 is slightly longer than the' lever 4 so as to providea forwardly pro- Va crank shaft 11 'having fixed thereon a knurled feed roller 12. The shaft 11 is rovided with a handle 13 wherebyfthe ced roller may be manually operated.v The jaw member is offset slightly from the plane of the lever 5 so as to locate the feed roller 12 in substantially the plane of the guide roller 8.

Formed in the lever 5, is a longltudlnally extending slot 14 which slidably engages the stud 7. This pin and slot connection between the two levers provides a sliding fulcrum which permits the feed roller 12 and guide roller 8 to be moved toward and away from each other. Pivotallyconnected to the levers 4 and 5, at points located on respectively opposite sides of the slidingfulcrum, is a link 15, which is arranged so as to exert a pull on the two levers when the handle members 6 are compressed, thereby forcing the guide roller 8 and feed roller 12 toward each other. The ends of the links 15 are bent at substantially right angles thereto and project through apertures 16 formed in the levers 4 and 5. The inner edge of the lever 5' is'recessed at 15.1 so as to receive the link 15 when the handles 6 are closed.

In order to permit the tool to be used for opening cans which do not include the usual rim, the jaw member 10 is formed to provide a punch blade 17 which is adapted to be driven through the head of the can for cutting an openmg in the well known manner. A jaw 18 is formed opposite the blade 17 for engagement with the upper face of the cap. The jaw 18 and blade 17 may also be used for removing caps from bottles.

To open a can with this improved tool, the handles 6 are grasped in one hand and the double seam 3 of the can is gripped between the ide roller 8 and knurled feed roller 12. y applying slight pressure to the handles 6, the disc cutter 9 is caused to penetrate the side wall 1 of the can at a point immediately below the cap 2. With the tool held firmly in one hand, the handle 13 is rotated withthe' other hand so as to cause the can to rotate under the rolling action of the feed roller 12. Vhile the can rotates in one direction, the disc cutter rotates in the opposite direction and makes a clean cut around the entire can, thus permitting the removal of the entire head.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown maybe altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A can opener comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected together on a sliding fulcrum and arranged to provide a pair of handles at one end thereof, a roller mounted on one of said levers, a rotatable ciltter mounted on the other of said levers, said fulcrum being located between said handles and roller, and a link pivotally conpivotally connected to said levers at'points located on respectively opposite sides of said fulcrum for urging said roller and cutter toward andA away from each other through the relative movement of said levers.

3. A can opener comprising a pair ot' levers pivotally connected together on a sliding fulcrum and arranged to provide a pair of handles at one end thereof, a knurled feed roller mounted on one of said levers, a crank connected to said feed roller whereby it may be manually operated, a rotatable cutter mounted on the other of said levers. said fulcrum being located between said handles and roller, and a link pivotally connected to said levers at points located on respectively opposite sides of said fulcrum for urging said roller and cutter toward and away from each other through the relative movement of said levers.

4. A can opener comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected together on a sliding fulcrum and arranged to provide a pair of handles at one end thereof, a feed roller mounted on one of said levers, a guide roller mounted on the other of said levers, said rollers being adapted to grip respectively opposite sides of the rim of the can,

'a disc cutter mounted on said other lever gcoaxially vof said guide roller, and projecting beyond the periphery thereof, said'fulcrum being located between said handles and feed roller, and means controlled by the relative movement of said levers for moving said rollers toward and away from each other.

5. A can opener comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected together on a sliding fulcrum and arranged to provide a pair of handles at one end thereof, a feed roller mounted on one of said levers, a guide roller mounted on the other of said levers, said rollers being adapted to grip respectively'opposite sides of the rim of a can, a disc cut-ter mounted on said other lever coaxially of said guide roller and projecting beyond the periphery thereof, said fulcrum being located between said handles and feed roller, a link pivotally connected tov said levers at points located on respectively oppo-A site sides of said fulcrum for urging said .rollers toward and away from each other through the relative movement of said levers.

6'. A can opener comprising a pair of levers arranged to provide a. pair of handles at one end thereof, one of said levers having a longitudinallyl extending slot formed therel on said one lever, a rotary disc jcutter mounted on said stud, and means controlled by the relative movement of said levers for moving said roller and cutter toward and away from each other.

7. A can opener vcomprising a pair of levers arranged to provide a pair of handles at one end thereof, one of said levers having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein, a stud on the other of said levers and slidably engaging said slot to provide a sliding ulcrum for said levers, a roller mounted on said one lever, said fulcrum being located between said handles andV roller, a rotary `a longitudinally extending slot formed therein, a stud on the other of said levers and slidably engaging said slot to provide a sliding'fulcrum for said levers, a knurled feed roller mounted on said one lever, a crank for operating said feed roller, a guide roller mounted on said stud, a rotary disc cutter on said stud, said fulcrum being located between said handles and feed roller, and a link pivotally connected to said levers at points located on respectively opposite sides of said ulcrum for urging said cutter and feed roller toward and away from each other through the relative movement of said levers.

Signed at Portland this 29 day of Oct; 1.925.

ROBERT A. MORRISON. FRANKLIN L. osWALD.

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