US2785460A - Electric can opener with switch in base - Google Patents

Description

March 19, 1957 L H. JOHNSON ETAL ELECTRIC CAN OPENER WITH SWITCH IN BASE Filed Aug. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-S heet 1 s m S m M W. www: .rm a HW. y d

M/ W 0S, e@ LW` W March 19, 1957 l.. H. JOHNSON ETAL Filed Aug. 17, 195e ELECTRIC CAN OPENER WITH SWITCH IN BASE www@A Fig. 6 Lea/and H. Johnson` 24 46 Wes/ey W. Tul/ y l 40N 22 22 IN V EN TORS 9 By @gm HMMW United States ,2,185,460 t ELEC-True"vom OPENER; `vvrrrr"-swrrcn` 1N BASE.

f -=fl`his.{inventioncomprises anovel and usefulecanopener @and morespeeiicallypertains to` ani-automatic electrically 1:2 operated can openerhaving agreatly improved construction. -andmode tot@ operation.

i ,fThefprimary' :object oflthis invention is `tol provide a acan'fopener-fwhich willz-greatly facilitate `andfspeedV1 up the opening ofeoanslof-liquids such as beer and theilike.

f Aift'urtl'ier` object of the invention is toiprovide a can l fgopenerg'wbose operation shallf be entirely y automatic a-nd will-.beinitiated by theplaeing of a'caninpropegr position ,arbelowfthe operating elements of `the can Lopener.

ngffurthenobjectief.` theinvention is toprovidetan'irn- @proved cani opener whiehwill eliminate f the unsanitary andillmhygienic` `conditions attending. the v,opening oi Icans 1 yimanualan openers which are' frequently exposed to dirtlvand otherpnsa-nitary conditions` during their periods fof non-puse.

`Atstill ,further objectof ther-invention is` to )provide alla Calif-opener infaccordance `with -the precedingrobjects which will largely eliminate the possibility :ofqinjury to theAffuse-rvbythejagged surfaces'of cansorftheapoints or lades tof; otheri can`openers. y i another object` offtheiinvention is `top provide an uniaufomaticajcan openerf whose basen/ill facilitatefthe-.po-

lsitiioning of cans `fori-the-automaticfopening ofthe :same

nd will alsoicollectanyfspillingor overflow of the conetents-iofnthe` cans during their opening.

Netfanothernimpottant purpose ofdhe'linvention` is to ff-wprovide awcanuopener" in conformity i with' ther fforegoing :i obie'ctsfwhich.t'mayy be veryfeasilydisassembled for comi pactl:storage, for :fon servicing e ornreplacement of 1 any of parts.

i t iAstilhfurther'objecteof -`theiinvention isfto provide nnaracanzlopenenwhichshall be automaticiin `its operation -and Ywill-#beAll actuated by electrical means and- `wherein a'eswitch for-controlling thef'automatic operation lwill be `amounted'incthe:basei ofwthenopener andiat aposition y @t Demoter 'from i' thetropener r blade of -the i device; -to Vthereby `if=fnxiriinizeothe'rpossibility of-injury to thewhands of the i operator:bw-accidentaliloperationof the switch.`

f; f Anfurthefr: andi'veryimportantpurpose ofnthefinvention b is toiprovidei an. automatic can opener' inaecordance 4with j heqforegoing objects wherein Vtheloperatingfhead" of` the il device lmay'iberreadily:vertically adjustable .upon supporting standardsftoadapt `the same `to accommodate different fisizesof cans.

s A still; further`` important objecttotitheinvention is to `provide an automatically operated :can4 opener Awherein thrsolenoidv for actuating the same may be securely poionedKuponand supported by a-rnember which is verticallyadjiifstable upona plurality of standardsyand wherey `the nclosinghousing of the solenoid andfblade togietliervvith th'cornbined sanitary plate and stop means aterlt 2,785,460 Patented :Mam yF19,i `:1957

ICC

C :for the blademaybe carried `byandidirectlyfvertically adjusted together with the plate supporti.ngthesolenoid. .i Yet, another and morel specic objectief the invention is to. provide an automatic electricallyoperated can opener @wherein4 the maximum power of the `solenoid"plunger shaft shall be utilized for operating theacantopening-.blade ,by directly mountingy thelatter thereon'.

- A A further important object ofi-the `invention is jto` pro- 4.vide an Aautomatically `electrically :operated-tapan ,opener as .set forthiin the foregoing objects wherein `the #wiring may be water-proofed by concealment. in,onjefofthe4 `supi `porting standards `of the' device.

- These together with other;objects-.andfadyantages :which x Y*will-become subsequently apparent,1 resideainetheA-tdetails of i i construction and operation as more1 fully/hereinafter described and claimed, reference being#` hadLto.t-hefaci covmpanying drawings Vforming"aApartihereonwherein vlike numerals refer to like parts throughout,` -andin which:

Figure 1` is a `view inverticalcentrallsectinfthrough a preferred. embodiment'fof a can roperiertincorporating i `therein the principles of .thisinventionfthe-positioning i `of thecan therein foropening and. the` removal-ici` the canb therefron'r4 after i openirlgi-` beingfshowtn illfI fulli lines, Y whilethe position of A,the can for theiautomaticzopening operationV being `shown. in `dottedflines therein;

Figure 2 is a horizontal:sectional.-viewftakenqsubstanof Figure l and showing in particular the locking'means whereby the can opener yhead.assembly-.1 including the Vsolenoid lcarrier plate for supporting themsame is 1re1eas lably locked in verticallyadjustedfpositionjllporr ,ther-sup- V `,porting standards of the device;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional-yrtdletail'view@taken substantially upon the plane indicatedlbytthersectionline i 3--3 ofFigure 1; e

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectionalwieW-.itaken'substan- V tiallylupon the plane'indcated `-byathe seetionlinef4--4 of Figure l and also disclosing1 themannertinfwhich ythe solenoid plunger is slidably.guidedintthe solenoid carrier plate andf` stop plate;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan viewfofithe` base-o'fthercan opener;

`Figure 6 is a front elevationalwview showing alportion of the can opener head assemblyf-and theisupportingfbase ltherefor; i i

,- Figure 7 is a detail view `partly-in verticalsection u throughthe lower end of the solenoid Vplunger":sh'aftand the knife blade opener carriedtherebyfand Figure 8 is a` fragmentary perspectiveviewifshowing a can lafter the same has been ol'sen'ed`fbyy thisjlcanY opener. A-s shown in the accompanying` drawings; asuitable embodiment of apparatus'for carrying out theiprinciple of this invention consists of a `supportingfbase;10of a preferred construction to be subsequently; setfo'rth', Vand upon' which is` mounted a'headjas'sembly '12Y carrying` the operating parts ofl the 'can opener,"thereV being aplurality of support standards'14by"whiclrlftheihad as- "sernbly is supported above ,the base` togetherlvvith a .i depression, the 'same consistingof elevate` `tubular standard 16.

together With a back"wall"'24,"and a'frw'rdly' sloping bottom wall 26 which iuclines downwardly from the back wall towards the open front end of the base.

As will be best seen from Figures l and 5, the undersurface of the base and its back wall are upwardly recessed as at 30 to conveniently conceal and house an electric conductor 32 by means of which electric current may be supplied to the automatic can opener. lt will be observed that the tube 16 has its lower end screw threadedly engaged as at 34 in a bore 36 opening upwardly from the recess 30, whereby to receive electric conductors 38 which form a part of the electrical circuit of the device. A switch 40 is received in a further pocket or recess 42 opening upwardly from the recess 30, being removably retained therein as by a screw or bolt 44. This switch has a forwardly projecting actuating nger or button 46 which extends through the back wall 24 closely adjacent to oor 26 of the base and below the operating head 12 whereby the same may be actuated by the lower portion of the wall of a can 50 when the latter is placed upon the base as will be apparent from Figure l.

Although this switch may be of any suitable construction, it is preferred to form the same as a single pole,

normallyopened at each end of its travel and closed at the mid-portion thereof whereby the switch will be nor- Ymally opened, then closed when the lower end of a can moves the plunger to an intermediate position and is f again `opened when the can be pressed backwardly against the back wall, 4as will be apparent from the dotted line showing of Figure l. VHowever7 when the can is moved away from the back wall, as shown in full lines in Figure 1, the switch will return to its inoperative forward position. It is especially important for the purposes of this invention that the switch shall be in this location inasmuch as any possibility of the hand of the operator being injured by the descending knife blade of the opener upon accidental manipulation of the switch button 46, is thus avoided. j

Y Referring next primarily to Figure l it will be seen that the head 12 consists of a housing or casing 52 which is preferably cylindrical in shape and constructed of sheet metal, thesame being provided with a closed upper head l portion 53. At a convenient position within the casing 52, and disposed above the open lower end of the same is a transversely extending plate 54 which constitutes a carrier or hanger plate for the operating elements of the can opener. This plate is provided with suitable apertures -vslidablyemhracing the two standards 1.4 and the tubular posts 16 as will be apparent from Figure 4, and also is provided with a non-circular central opening 56 for slidably and guidably receiving the solenoid plunger shaft 58 in a manner toy be subsequently set forth. Referring particularly to Figure 7 it will be seen that the lower end of this shaft is round and is externally screw threaded as at 60 for detachably receiving an opening or cutter i 'blade 62.y The latter has an opening point 64 with rearwardly divergent side edges 66 and a forwardly and upwardly convergent single point or edge 68.

This cutter blade is so shaped that it will cut a sub- V`stantially trangular opening as at 70, see Figure 6, in the top of the can, thisopening having an elongated apex `to constitute a vent for the can. The single blade secured to the solenoid shaft thus serves both to vent and open a ycan for dispensing its contents.

The cutter blade has a flat upper surface as at 72 which Vis adapted to abut against the underside of the plate 54 and` thus limit upward travel of the blade.

Carried by the plate 54 is a solenoid casir1g74, which rests upon the'plate 54 and is clamped thereto as by the fastening bolts 76 and a clamping ring 73. The ring in' turn is secured asl by screws S0 to the upper or top surfaceofthe solenoid housing 74, as will be apparent from Figures l and 2.

i ".tube 16 whose upper end is slidably extended through. the

carrier plate 54, and from thence are attached to the winding of the solenoid, in a manner wellunderstood in the art and therefore deemed to be unnecessary for a detailed showing in the drawing.

The armature or core of the solenoid 82 projects upwardly above the top surface of the solenoid housing 74, and is provided with an enlarged head 84, while a compression spring 86 surrounds the solenoid and abuts against the housing and the head to yieldingly urge the solenoid to its upward or raised position, this upward position being limited by the above mentioned engagement of the top surface '72 of the knife blade with the underside of the carrier plates 54. When the solenoid is energized, the plunger and the plunger shaft 58 will be driven downwardly, thus moving the blade from its full line to its dotted line position as shown in Figure l and thus venting and opening the top of a can.

A simple and highly effective locking means is provided whereby the entire head assembly may be vertically ad ,iusted upon the standards 14 for adapting the device to receive and operate upon different heights of cans. For this purpose the standards 14 are provided with a plurality of vertically spaced latching recesses or slots 88. From Figure 2 it will be seen that the slots 88 in the two standards are disposed on opposite sides of the same, and a latching arcuately shaped blade or lever 90 is pivotally secured to the ring 78 and its top of the solenoid 74 as by a pivot screw 92, this latch lever having at one extremity 94 a locking screw 96 extended through au arcuately extending slot 98 of the housing.

A leaf spring 100 is suitably mounted and operatively associated with the latch lever 90 to yieldingly urge the same into latching engagement with a selected pair of notches 88 in the two standards. In order to adjust the device it is merely necessary to release the locking screw 96, whereupon the lever may be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 to release the vend portions of the lever 90 from the notches 88, whereupon the entire head assembly may be vertically adjusted upon the standards 14 and the spring 100 will again urge the latch lever 90 into its locking position, whereupon the screw 96 may be tightened to secure the same in such adjusted position.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 3 it will be seen that the lower open end of the housing 52 of the head assembly is provided with a removable combined closure plate, sanitary shield and stop means, designated bythe numeral 102. 'This plate is provided with a central aperture or opening 104 appropriately shaped to permit passage of the cutting edges 68, 64 and 66 ofthe knife blade therethrough, under the impulse of the solenoid winding coil, when the switch 40 is actuated, and to permit retraction of the blade, as from the dotted lines to the full lines showing of Figure 1 when the solenoid is deenergized, under the thrust of the spring 86. This plate is provided with a curved depending flange or shield 106 v which is adapted to receive the upper edge of the can and prevents splashing of its contents, whereby any liquid spilled from the can willbe collected upon the bottom wall 26 and drained therefrom to the front of the device.

The plate 102 is provided with suitable aperturesrfor slidably receiving the standards 14 and the tube 16 therethrough, and the plate is releasably retained as by a thumb screw 108. When it is desired to` clean, service or replace the blade 62, it is merely necessary to remove the plate 102 -by releasing the thumb screw 108 and dropping the plate downwardly along the standards and column, ywhereby access may be had to the knife blade.

It will thus be seen that the plate 102 with its depending guard 106 serves to guide the can 50 into position for opening by the device, and constitutes a stop means `limiting movement of the upper end of the can, whereby the upper end m-ay be placed against this guide means and the lower end pushed into position against the switch button 46 thereby Iactivating `the opening element of the @dei/ice. s soon as 'the can ffmodiications and changeswillv readily occur tofvthose '.sk'illed Vinthe art, it is not desired: to-1imit theiinventon to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A can opener comprising a base including a drain tray, a head assembly, a pair of stand-ards for supporting :a head assembly above said base, said head assembly including a hood enclosing the upper portion of said standards, a cutter blade for venting and punching the `top of a can when disposed therebeneath, spring means in said hood yieldingly raising said cutter blade, means of ,imparting a downward punching stroke to said blade, means mounting said cutter blade in said hood for vertical reciprocation, means in said hood for vertically adjusting the head assembly upon said standards, said last means including a plurality of vertically spaced latch notches on said standards, a latch lever within said hood .and pivotally supported thereon for engaging said notches.

2. A can opener comprising .a base including a drain itray, a head assembly, a pair of stand-ards for supporting 1a head assembly above said bas-e, said head assembly including a hood enclosing the upper portion of said standards, a cutter blade for venting and punching the :top of a can when disposed therebeneath, spring means in said hood yieldingly raising said cutter blade, means of imparting a downward punching stroke to said blade, means mounting said cutter blade in said hood for vertical reciprocation, means in said hood for vertically adjusting the head assembly upon said standards, said last means including a plurality of vertically spaced latch notches on said standards, a latch lever within said hood and pi-votally supported thereon for engaging said notches, said latch notches being disposed on opposite sides of said standards, said latch lever extending between said standards. t

3. A can -opener comprising a base including a drain tray, a head assembly, a pair of standards for supporting a head assembly above said base, said head assembly including a hood enclosing .the upper portion of said standards, a cutter blade for venting and punching the -top of a can when disposed therebeneath, spring means in said hood yieldingly raising said cutter blade, means of imparting a downward punching stroke to said blade, means mounting said cutter blade in said hood for vertioal reciprocation, means in said hood for vertically adjusting .the head assembly upon said standards, said last means including a plurality of vertically spaced latch notches on said standards, a latch lever within said hood and pivotally supported thereon for engaging said notches, said hood having a slot, a locking device for securing the latch lever in said notches extending through said slot.

4. A can opener comprising a base including a drain tray, a head assembly, a pair of standards for supporting a head assembly above said base, said head assembly including a hood enclosing .the upper portion of said standards, a cutter blade for venting and punching the top of a can when disposed therebeneath, spring means in said hood yieldingly raising said cutter blade, means of imparting a downward punching stroke to` said blade, means mounting said cutter blade in said hood for vertical reciprocation, means in said hood for vertically adjusting the head assembly upon said standards, said hood having a Vcarrier plate extending across the same and xedly secured thereto, said .plate having apertures slidably receiving said standards, said cutter blade, spring means being carriedfby saidV plate.

. 5 Ar can.4 openen comprising a -base including aajdrain A-.tray,a.head,assemblyya painof-standardsgfon supporting a 44head assemblyabove said base, f. said` .heads assembly includingA achoode enclosing .tl1e.upper;l po1:tion ,ofasaid standards, a-` cutterablade, for ventinga and punching?, `,the

.top off-ay canfwhenl` disposed. therebeneatlmgjspringmeans 4.in--saidlhoocl' yieldinglyraising'saidacutter blade, fmeans of 104- imparting a.. downward l, punching `stroke -to-,s`aid"T blade, means mounting said cutter blade in said hood for vertical reciprocation, means in said hood for vertically adjusting the head assembly upon said standards, said hood having a carrier plate extending across the same and ixedly secured thereto, said plate having apertures slidably receiving said standards, said cutter blade, spring means, stroke imparting means and said head adjusting means being carried by said plate, a closure plate detachably mounted within the hood beneath said carrier plate, a splash shield depending from the closure plate for partially encircling the upper portion of ya can to be opened.

6. A can opener comprising a base including a drain tray, a head assembly, a pair of standards for supporting a head assembly above said base, said head assembly including a hood enclosing the upper portion of said standards, a cutter blade for venting and punching the top of a can when disposed therebeneath, spring means in said hood yieldingly raising said cutter blade, means of imparting a downward punching stroke to said blade, means mounting said cutter blade in said hood for vertical reciprocation, means in said hood for vertically adjusting the head assembly upon said standards, said hood hav-ing a carrier plate extending across the same and iixedly secured thereto, said plate having apertures slidably receiving said standards, said cutter blade, spring means, stroke impart-ing means land said head adjusting means being carried by said plate, a closure plate detachably mounted within the hood beneath said carrier plate, a splash shield depending from the closure plate for partially encircling Ithe upper portion of a can to be opened, said closure plate having an opening tor passage of said cutter blade therethrough.

7. An electric can opener comprising a base, means for supporting .a head assembly above said base for punctur ing a can positioned on said base and therebeneath, a pair of standards and a tube rising from said base, said head assembly including a carrier plate apertured for sliding and guided vertical movement on said standards and tube, a hood mounted on and enclosing said carrier plate and said standards and tube, va solenoid having an armature mounted on said carrier plate, a cutter blade directly carried by said solenoid and depending therebeneatll, electric conductors for said solenoid extending through said tube, means for securing said head assembly in vertically adjusted position on said standards.

8. rl`he combination of claim 7 including a switch controlling said solenoid and mounted on said. base, an actuator but-ton :for said switch positioned for engagement by the lower portion of a can when the latter is placed upon fthe base directly below said head assembly.

9. The combination of claim 7 including a combined safety shield and splash guard comprising a closure plate releasably secured in the hood below said cutter blade in its raised position, said closure plate having an aperture for passage of the cutter blade therethrough during its operation, said closure plate being apertured for sliding passing upon said standards and tube.

10. The combination of claim 7 including a combined safety shield and splash guard comprising a closure plate releasably secured in the hood below said cutter blade in its raised position, said closure plate having an aperture for passage of the cutter blade therethrough during its operation, said closure plate being apertured for sliding. passing upon said standards and tube, an arcuate splash.`

apron depending from said closure plate for encircling the upper portion of a can to be opened.

l1. A can opener comprising a base, a pair of standards rising from said base, a head assembly carried by said standards, said head assembly including a vertically mova- 6 ble cutter blade for venting and punching the top of a can Awhen disposed therebeneath, means for raising said cutter blade, means for imparting a downward punching stroke 'to sa-id blade, means for vertically adjusting said head assembly upon said standards including a plurality of verl0 2,747,272

tically spaced latch notches on said standards, a latch lever pvotally secured to said head assembly for engaging said notches. Y Y

References Cited in the le of patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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