U.S. patent number 3,736,659 [Application Number 05/116,905] was granted by the patent office on 1973-06-05 for power operated can opener with unique thrust link.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Rival Manufacturing Company. Invention is credited to Robert E. McLean.
United States Patent |
3,736,659 |
McLean |
June 5, 1973 |
POWER OPERATED CAN OPENER WITH UNIQUE THRUST LINK
Abstract
An electrically powered can opener has a selectively removable
cutter mounting plate which carries the cutting element thereon and
suitable components for initiating power-pierce and automatic
shutoff. The cutter mounting plate is removably fastened to the can
opener upright frame by a single pin member and latch. The upright
frame further supports the thrust means which is pivotally movable
in order to properly orient the can feed wheel with respect to the
cutter element. The thrust means operates to move the can feed
wheel, yet maintains the center distance between certain gears
normally associated with the feed wheel drive shaft regardless of
the vertical position of the can feed wheel.
Inventors: |
McLean; Robert E. (Kansas City,
MO) |
Assignee: |
Rival Manufacturing Company
(Kansas City, MO)
|
Family
ID: |
22369946 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/116,905 |
Filed: |
February 19, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
30/404; 30/421;
30/419 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67B
7/38 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B67b 007/38 () |
Field of
Search: |
;30/4R,8.5,9,14,15,15.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Simpson; Othell M.
Assistant Examiner: Smith; Gary L.
Claims
Having thus described my invention, I claim:
1. In a power operated can opener, the combination therewith
of:
an upright frame,
a cutter mounting plate,
a cutter member operably attached to said cutter mounting
plate,
a can feed wheel movably supported relative to said frame,
a motor drivingly connected with said feed wheel, a switch means
connected with said motor and having a motor energized condition
and a motor de-energized condition,
a hand lever pivotally attached to said frame and extending
exteriorly thereof so as to be manipulated by a user of said can
opener,
a curvilinear link, said curvilinear link having at least two end
portions, said feed wheel being journalled in one of said end
portions, said operating lever being pivotally attached to the
other end portion of said link, said link defining a curvilinear
path between said end portions, said feed wheel movable in a
substantially vertical direction between the can engaging position
and a can release position in accordance with the movement of said
operating lever.
2. The combination as in claim 1 including means for releasably
attaching said cutter mounting plate to said frame.
3. The combination as in claim 2, wherein said cutter mounting
plate attaching means includes a pin member fixedly attached to and
extending from one of said frame and said cutter mounting plate, an
aperture in the other of said frame and said cutter mounting plate,
and a manually operable latch, said latch releasably engaging said
pin member to hold said cutter mounting plate adjacent said frame
and to permit said cutter mounting plate to be removed from its
operating position adjacent said frame.
4. The combination as in claim 2, including a movable can guide
supported from said frame, a fixed can guide supported from said
frame, and means for positioning said movable can guide relative to
said fixed can guide to impart a tilt to a can whose end is in the
process of being pierced, said tilt being in a direction to best
maintain the can flange or rim on said can feed wheel during the
piercing of the can and by said cutter member.
5. The invention as in claim 1 including switch control means for
automatically controlling said switch means to energize said motor
to effect power-pierce of said can and cutting as said feed wheel
is advanced from said can release position to said cutter toward
said can engaging position, said can feed wheel thereby being
operable to move said can into a position with respect to said
cutter member to contact, pierce, and cut the end from the can.
6. The combination as in claim 1, wherein said lever has a first
member pivotally connected to said link, said first member
extending from said lever through said frame, a second member
extending from said lever and pivotally interconnecting said lever
with said frame, the axis of said first member being spaced
relative to the axis of the second member when said feed wheel is
in the can engaging position to cooperate with the direction of
rotation of said feed wheel in assisting and maintaining the can
feed wheel in the can engaging position.
7. The combination as in claim 1, wherein said can feed wheel and
said motor are interconnected by a gear linkage comprising at least
two gears, a feed wheel drive shaft, at least one of said gears
being attached for rotation with said feed wheel drive shaft, said
link operable to maintain the center distance between said feed
wheel drive shaft gear and said second gear regardless of the
operative position occupied by said can feed wheel.
8. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said feed wheel and said
motor are interconnected by a gear linkage comprising at least two
gears, a feed wheel drive shaft, at least one of said gears being
attached for rotation with said feed wheel drive shaft, a second
link, said second link including means for pivotally attaching same
to said frame, said second link also attached to said first
mentioned link so that the center distance between said drive shaft
gear and said second gear is maintained regardless of the operative
position occupied by said feed wheel in accordance with the
movement of said hand lever.
Description
BACKGROUND AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The power-pierce and automatic shutoff structure and operation
somewhat similar to that of the present invention have been shown
and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,253,334, which issued May 31,
1966. Also, my U.S. Pat. No. 3,496,635, which issued Feb. 24, 1970,
and which is owned by the same assignee as the subject invention
describes the concept of removably attaching a hand lever assembly
to the frame of a can opener. This spring biased latch concept for
removably attaching the hand lever was further disclosed in my
patent application entitled "ELECTRIC CAN OPENER WITH REMOVABLE
HAND LEVER AND FRAME ENGAGING PIN ASSEMBLY," Ser. No. 47,937, filed
June 22, 1970.
The subject invention relates generally to can openers which
incorporate the concepts of power-pierce, automatic shutoff, and a
removable cutter mounting plate, said concepts being uniquely
interrelated to produce not only a reliable and efficient can
opener but also one which may have the abovementioned features, yet
which can be economically produced.
The can opener includes the usual upright frame which supports most
of the operative elements thereof. The upright frame is suitably
apertured to receive the cutter mounting plate which will include a
pin member rigidly attached thereto and extending rearwardly into
the frame. This pin member finally engages a push button operated
spring biased latch which either pivotally retains the cutter
mounting plate on the can opener frame for operative movement or
permits the separation thereof depending upon the position of the
associated latch.
A unique thrust means in the form of a goose-neck link is pivotally
attached to the rear surface of the can opener frame and movable
with a swingable hand lever. The upper end of the goose-neck link
is interconnected with a portion of the hand lever. The lower
portion of the goose-neck link 15 is pivotally and movably
connected with the feed wheel drive shaft. The frame is
appropriately apertured as suggested above so that clockwise
swinging of the hand lever (when viewed from the front of the
frame) moves the goose-neck link upwardly in a substantially
vertical path to engage the underside of the rim or flange of a can
to be opened and to force same into a cutting relationship with the
cutter element which is conventionally attached to the cutter
mounting plate. The goose-neck link and the cutter mounting plate
cooperate with the direction of rotation of the can feed wheel in
order to maintain the can piercing lever in the can shearing
position at all times while the end of the can is being sheared.
Appropriate biasing means operate to both initiate power-pierce
prior to the actual shearing of the end of the can and automatic
shutoff once the end has been severed therefrom.
An object of my invention is to provide a power operated can opener
which uniquely combines a power-pierce, automatic shutoff and
removable cutter mounting plate for reliable, and efficient
operation in an economically producible unit.
Another object of my invention is to provide a uniquely constructed
power operated can opener which has a cutter mounting plate
(carrying the cutter element thereon) fastened to the can opener
frame by a single stud or pin member in combination with the spring
biased latch. Accordingly, easy removal and reattachment of the
cutter element relative to the can opener is permitted and the
problems of alignment and mechanical skill required to remove
and/or reassemble the cutter mounting plate on the can opener frame
are minimized.
Another object of my invention is to provide a can opener of the
character described which includes a uniquely constructed thrust
means for facilitating the movement of the can feed wheel into an
overlapping and cooperating relationship with the cutter element,
for maintaining such a relationship after having been manually
moved thereto, and for separating the feed wheel from such
overlapping and cooperating relationship with the said cutter
element so as to permit insertion and/or removal of the can with
respect to the can opener.
A still further object of my invention is to provide a can opener
having a uniquely constructed thrust means of the character
described above which is comprised of a substantially vertically
oriented goose-neck link having the can feed wheel drive shaft
journalled in the lower end thereof and operative with a can
piercing hand lever. It is a feature of the invention that one end
of the hand lever is pivoted to the frame of the can opener while
the upper end of the goose-neck link is pivoted to the can piercing
hand lever at a point near the pivotal interconnection of the said
hand lever to the frame. Accordingly, a positive control is
maintained with respect to the goose-neck link via conventional
operation of a pivotal mounted can piercing hand lever, and cutter
element removability is provided without necessitating the removal
of the hand lever per se.
Another object of my invention is to provide a can opener of the
character described, including the goose-neck link thrust means and
movable can feed wheel drive shaft, same being structurally
interconnected to maintain the center distance between the various
driving gears regardless of the varying vertical positions of the
can feed wheel. It is a feature of this object that the cutting
element, which is fixedly attached to the cutter mounting plate, is
not significantly moved during the manual swinging of the can
piercing hand lever, yet the feed wheel drive shaft both effects
the initiation of power-pierce and can end shearing by its movement
but retains its center distance with respect to the various drive
gears needed for the rotative movement of the shaft.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a can opener
having a novel thrust means of the character described in which the
direction of rotation of the can feed wheel drive shaft (journalled
in the lower end portion of the goose-neck link) is such as to
maintain the can piercing lever in its horizontal position at all
times while the end is being sheared from the can, thereby
precluding unintended lowering of the can feed wheel. In this
regard, the construction of the can opener insures that the can
feed wheel cannot be moved from its uppermost can shearing position
unless the can piercing lever is manually swung upwardly from its
operating horizontal position.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a uniquely
constructed can opener having a thrust means of the character
described wherein the direction of rotation of the can feed wheel
drive shaft tends to rotate the goose-neck link the same direction
that the goose-neck link is being rotated by downward manual
swinging of the can piercing hand lever as the end of the can is
being pierced by the cutting element, thereby facilitating the
piercing of the end of the can.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a uniquely
constructed power operated can opener and novel thrust means of the
character described which combines the direction of rotation of the
can feed wheel with the positioning of a fixed can guide and a
movable can guide to optimize the maintaining of the flange or rim
of a can on the can feed wheel during the power-pierce phase of the
can opener operation. It is a feature of this object that the fixed
can guide and the movable can guide are in position with respect to
the axis of the feed wheel so that with can feed wheel rotation in
the prescribed direction, the can will tilt in an appropriate
clockwise direction during the power-pierce operation. Such a
direction of tilt will optimally maintain the flange or rim of a
can on the can feed wheel during the power-pierce phase of
operation.
Another object of the invention is to co-ordinate the
above-mentioned unique features of the can opener with the
positioning of the motor on the frame of same, to thereby
counterbalance and oppose any tendency of the entire can opener to
shift or to rotate during the can piercing phase of the
operation.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a uniquely
constructed can opener with a movable can guide of the character
described in which there is a minimum of friction between the lever
supporting the movable can guide and the frame to impede the free
swinging of such a lever by force of the movable can guide
spring.
Other and further objects of the invention, together with the
features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course
of the following description.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the
specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in
which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the various
views:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of the can
opener including the upright frame, the cutter mounting plate, the
pivotal hand lever, and the push button. The broken lines indicate
alternate positions which the can piercing hand lever and the can
feed wheel occupy upon counterclockwise movement of the hand
lever;
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the cutter mounting plate
removed from the can opener frame and with a portion of the can
piercing lever broken away to show apertured portions of the can
opener frame for interconnection with the goose-neck link;
FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the can opener shown in FIG. 1
with portions of the gear train broken away for clarity and with
the broken lines indicating alternate positions of certain portions
of the goose-neck thrust means and associated gears;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with certain operating elements
of the can opener removed and other parts shown in section to more
clearly disclose the goose-neck thrust means in its operative
environment;
FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view of the can opener shown in
FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view of the can opener shown in
FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 7--7 of
FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the push button and associated
latch which releasably engages the pin member of the cutter
mounting plate; and
FIG. 9 is a side view of the goose-neck link thrust means shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4 from the right side thereof.
Turning now more particularly to the drawings and initially to
FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 21 generally designates the
upright frame of the can opener. Frame 21 may be of conventional
design, fabricated in any desired manner and is shown herein as a
zinc die casting. The forward surface of the upper lefthand portion
of frame 21 contains at least two forwardly extending bosses 22 and
two other bosses 23 which are vertically oriented and elliptical in
shape. Another boss, 24, is also round and extends forward from the
front frame 21, however, its forward end terminates approximately
0.020 of an inch to the rear of a vertical plane through the
forward ends of bosses 22 and 23 which is parallel to the forward
surface of frame 21.
A cutter mounting plate 25 removably attaches the cutting element
(discussed in more detail later) to the upright frame 21. Plate 25
is suitably apertured in the lower left quadrant thereof to
accommodate the threaded portion of a fixed can guide 28. To
accommodate the mounting of the guide 28, a flanged portion 29 of
can guide 28 seats against the rearward vertical surface of cutter
mounting plate 25. Nut 30 is threaded onto can guide 28 and secures
same in the cutter mounting plate. The can guide 28 has a reduced
diameter portion 31 extending forwardly to contact the top of the
rim or flange of a can when engaged in the can opener. Can guide 28
also has a rearwardly extending portion having substantially the
same diameter as threaded portion 27 (not shown), same being
designated by the numeral 32 and having the shape of a pin member.
To facilitate the attachment of cutter mounting plate 25 to frame
21, pin member 32 is provided with an annular groove 33 (not
shown). When the cutter mounting plate is assembled on the can
opener, a portion of pin member 32 extends freely through a hole 34
(FIG. 2) in frame 21 with the annular groove 33 then located to the
rear of the rear surface of frame 21. Finally, a rectangular boss
35 (FIG. 4) surrounds the hole 34 on the rearward side of frame 21.
The forward side of the frame (FIG. 2) is provided with a clearance
counterbore 36 in order to accommodate the flange portion 29 of the
can guide 28.
The rearward side of frame 21 is further provided with bosses 37
and 38 (see the upper right-hand portion of FIG. 4). The rearward
ends of these bosses terminate in the plane that is coincident with
the rearward end of the rectangular boss 35. A latch, generally
designated by the numeral 39, is mounted for free vertical movement
and some possible wobble movement on the bosses 37 and 38 by the
shoulder screws 40. Mounting the latch 39 on the bosses is further
facilitated by permitting the shoulder portion of screws 40 to
extend freely through the elliptical openings 41 and 42 in latch
39. As suggested above, latch 39 is provided with rise cams 43 for
engagement with the lower rearward corner of boss 35 of frame 21
which will be described in more detail later.
As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, latch 39 has a rearwardly
extending leg portion 44 with notch 45 provided in the lower
surface thereof. One end of a tension coil spring 45a is hooked in
notch 45 of latch 39 while the other spring end is hooked in an
appropriate notch in boss 46 which likewise extends rearwardly from
the can opener frame 21. The upper end of the tension coil spring
45a is located somewhat rearwardly of the lower end of same in
order that the force of the spring will not only urge latch 39
upwardly at all times, but will also cause the latch to fulcrum
under the heads of the shoulder screws 40 so as to always urge the
latch to seat firmly against the rearward end of the rectangular
boss 35. Accordingly, re-engagement of the latch in groove 33 of
the can guide 28 is assured whenever the cutter mounting plate 25
is reassembled on the can opener frame.
The upper portion of latch 39 is provided with a vertically
oriented tang (not shown) which accommodates (by pressing) a
suitable knob or push button 48. When latch 39 is fully depressed
by exerting a downward force on knob 48, the upper radial portion
of a keyhole shaped opening 49 is substantially concentric with the
pin member 32 of can guide 28, thereby permitting removal or
reinstallation of cutter mounting plate 25. However, whenever the
cutter mounting plate 25 is reinstalled (accomplished in part by
depressing knob 48 and positioning plate 25 in engagement with
bosses 22 and 23) the portion of the keyhole shaped opening of the
latch that has a reduced width (designated by the numeral 50) will
engage in groove 33 of can guide pin member 32. The rise cams 43 of
latch 39 will also engage the lower corner of the boss 35 and the
cutter mounting plate will be drawn firmly into engagement with the
bosses 22 and 23 mentioned above. It should be observed that the
axis of the can guide is well within the perimeter formed by the
four bosses 22 and 23.
Continuing with a further description of the can opener and its
operation with respect to the cutter mounting plate, a shoulder
stud 51 is anchored in the cutter mounting plate 25 near its
right-hand vertical edge (when viewed from the front) and extends
substantially rearwardly through a relatively large rectangular
opening 52 in frame 21 (see FIG. 2). When the shoulder stud seats
downwardly in opening 52 of frame 21, the cutter mounting plate 25
is located in a substantially horizontal position. As will be
discussed in more detail later, swinging of the cutter mounting
plate 25 in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 1) from its extreme
clockwise position will result in the cutter mounting plate
rotating approximately 3.degree. from the horizontal position and
with the shoulder stud then seating upwardly in the opening 52 of
frame 21.
The cutter mounting plate 25 is provided with the conventional boss
on which the usual stud or arbor is located to facilitate a
mounting of cutter wheel 53. It is contemplated that a wobble
cutter wheel such as that disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,314,144,
may be used with this subject can opener.
The cutter mounting plate is further provided with the
substantially elliptical clearance opening 54 to assure that no
interference exists between the cutter mounting plate and a later
described movable can guide under any condition of operation.
Finally, the cutter mounting plate is notched at 55 to permit
removal and reassembly of same without interference with the can
feed wheel, even though the can feed wheel might be in its
uppermost position.
Turning once again to the rear side of frame 21 as shown in FIG. 4,
a pair of elliptical bosses 56 and 57 have their rearward ends
terminating in a common plane parallel to the frame. A switch
control link, generally indicated by the numeral 60 (FIG. 3), is
mounted for limited vertical movement on the bosses 56 and 57 by
the shoulder screw 58 and the hexagonal shoulder screw 59. The
shoulder of screw 58 extends freely through the vertical elliptical
opening 61 in link 60. Likewise, the shoulder of screw 59 extends
through similarly shaped opening 62 in the lower portion of link
60.
The switch control link 60, described above, has a rearwardly
extending upper leg portion 64 that is provided with a hole 65 (not
shown). The upper end of a tension coil spring 60a (FIG. 3) is
hooked in hole 65, while the lower end thereof is hooked in groove
66 (FIG. 6) of hexagonal shoulder screw 59. Further, the control
link 60 is provided with a rectangular opening 67 (which
substantially overlies the opening 52 of frame 21). Accordingly,
stud or pin 51 extends rearwardly through opening 67 at all times
when the cutter mounting plate 25 is assembled on the can opener
frame. Finally, the engagement of the upper end of opening 61 (in
control link 60) with the shoulder screw 58 limits the downward
movement of same.
However, as will be seen, switch control link 60 has a rearwardly
extending leg 68 at the lower end thereof for engagement with
plunger P of switch S. Additional strength is added to link 60 by
reinforcing same with a rearwardly turned flange 69.
As suggested above, when switch control link 60 is in its
downwardmost position, switch S will be "off" and there will be
approximately 0.020 inch clearance between the circumference of the
stud or pin 51 and the upper edge of opening 67 of link 60.
Accordingly, pin 51 seats downwardly on the lower edge of opening
52 in frame 21. This clearance permits the free withdrawal and
reinsertion of pin 51 through the openings 52 and 67 when cutter
mounting plate 25 is appropriately manipulated.
A motor M is supported relative to frame 21 in the conventional
manner with the usual electric cord extending therefrom for
operation with wall outlets. Switch S is fastened to frame 21 by
screws 63 immediately below the link 60 (see FIG. 3) and is
connected in series with the motor M. It is contemplated that the
switch S is normally closed or, stated another way, when the
plunger P thereof is not depressed, the switch will be "on" and the
motor will be operating. This type of conventional switch suggests
that a spring means is located interiorly of the switch to maintain
the contact points of the switch in a closed circuit condition at
all times unless the plunger P is suitably depressed by some
exterior force.
The now described structure facilitates in the accomplishment of
power-pierce. Accordingly, the cutter mounting plate 25 is pivoted
to frame 21 by the fixed can guide 28 (pin member 32). The force of
the tension spring 60a urges stud 51 towards its seat on the lower
edge of opening 52 in frame 21. As a result, the force of the
tension spring 60a will result in the switch S being turned "off"
and maintained in that condition until a sufficient counterforce
overcomes the spring action and permits the lower leg 68 of control
link 60 to be moved upwardly so that the plunger P of switch S may
move upwardly, or in the direction to close its associated switch
contacts, and the motor M is started, thereby rotating the can feed
wheel as will be described in more detail.
Cutter wheel 53 is mounted on the cutter mounting plate 25 between
the point which the plate is pivoted to frame 21 by can guide 28
(pin member 32) and the rearwardly extending pin 51. During the can
piercing phase of operation of the can opener, the can will be
moved upwardly by the can feed wheel 70. The end of the can will
eventually engage the periphery of cutter wheel 53 and swing the
cutter mounting plate counterclockwise (when viewed from the front
of the can opener), against the predetermined tension of the switch
control link spring 60a. Swinging movement of cutter mounting plate
25 continues until pin 51 seats upwardly in the opening 52 of frame
21. Further upward movement of the can feed wheel causes the end of
the can to be pierced by cutter wheel 53. Resistance of the end of
the can to shear by the cutter wheel 53 is always adequate to
overcome the tension of the switch control link spring 60a, so that
the switch S will remain in the "on" condition until the end has
been completely sheared from the can. At this time, the control
link spring 60a will react on link 60 to return the switch to the
"off" condition until another can is opened.
I have found that the preferred tension for the abovementioned
control link spring 60a would be substantially midway between the
minimum tension requirement to manipulate the switch S to the "off"
condition upon completely severing the end from any can and the
maximum tension that can be used without manipulating switch S to
the "off" condition while the cutter wheel 53 is shearing the end
from the can. By minimizing friction between the cutter mounting
plate 25 and the adjacent bosses on frame 21, the differential
tension between the two above conditions is adequate to assure that
the switch S will always be "on" when intended and will always be
"off" at the proper time.
Numeral 71 designates a movable can guide which extends forwardly
of frame 21. The mounting of guide 71 is facilitated by anchoring
same in can guide lever 72 located on the rear surface of frame 21.
Vertical movement of the movable can guide 71 is limited by its
engagement with the upper and lower ends of the elliptical opening
74 (see FIG. 2) in frame 21. However, in operation, it should be
noted that the movable can guide 71 will never engage the upper end
frame portion around opening 74.
Can guide lever 72 is pivoted to frame 21 by shoulder rivet 73 and
has a rearwardly turned leg 75 (FIG. 3) that is provided with hole
76 (FIG. 6). A tension spring 72a has one end thereof hooked in
hole 76 of the movable can guide lever 72 while the other end of
the spring is hooked in a groove (not shown) of the boss 72b that
extends rearwardly from frame 21. Inasmuch as the hole 76 of the
can guide lever 72 is approximately the same distance from frame 21
as the point (from frame 21) that an average can will bear upwardly
against the movable can guide 71, a minimum of friction will exist
between the movable can guide lever 72 and frame 21, thereby
resulting in proper action of movable can guide 71 under the
impetus of tension spring 72a. Under the above-described
circumstances, the movable can guide lever 72 operates to provide
good alignment of movable can guide 71 under all conditions of
operation.
A can piercing lever 77 is positioned in recess 78 on the upper
forward surface of frame 21. The depth of recess 78 is accentuated
at 79 to provide clearance for the rear vertical side portion of
lever 77. The pivotal attachment of lever 77 to frame 21 is
accomplished by means of a stud 80, which is anchored in lever 77
at the lower portion thereof (by hotheading process) and extends
rearwardly through a hole (not shown) in the frame that is
surrounded by boss 83. Reinforcing ribs (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4)
strengthen the rearward extension of boss 83. As clearly shown in
FIG. 5, the length of boss 83 is relatively great and provides good
alignment for can piercing lever 77. As shown in FIG. 2, stud 86 is
anchored in the appropriate hole in lever 77 by hotheading process
and extends rearwardly through and substantially beyond the arcuate
clearance slot 88 of frame 21. Clockwise rotation of lever 77 is
limited by the engagement of the lower right-hand edge (when viewed
from the front) with step 89 of frame 21. Counterclockwise rotation
is limited by the engagement of stud 86 with the lower end of the
arcuate slot 88 (see FIG. 2). A suitable knob 90 is affixed to the
free end of the can piercing lever 77 by any suitable means for
convenience of operation.
The goose-neck link 91 (thrust means mentioned above and shown
removed from the can opener frame in FIG. 9) is pivoted at its
upper end thereof with stud 86 (FIG. 2). Further, FIG. 9 indicates
that the upper right-hand surface of goose-neck link 91 is somewhat
offset from the lower surface to substantially conform to the
offset at the upper end of frame 21. Link 91 will likewise be
recessed at other areas to provide clearance in relation to certain
other parts discussed later. In actual practice, stud 86 will be
tapped to receive screw and washer 86a on the rear end thereof to
securely fasten the upper end of link 91 thereon. Accordingly,
screw and washer 86a operate both to maintain the upper end of link
91 adjacent the rearward upper surface of frame 21 and to also
maintain can piercing lever 77 adjacent the forward surface of
frame recess 78.
A round boss 94 (FIG. 9) extends forwardly of the forward surface
of link 91 and contacts the surface of frame 21 around and adjacent
a later described can feed wheel opening. Another round boss, 96,
extends rearwardly of the rearward surface 95 of link 91. Bore or
bearing 97 extends through link 91, including the embossed portions
94 and 96 since same are concentric to the axis of the bearing 97.
As suggested above, the surface 93, which circumscribes boss 94,
seats against the rearward side of frame 21, below the offset
portion provided at its upper end. In this manner, the boss portion
94 of the link actually extends through an arcuate opening 98 in
frame 21 and terminates in a plane somewhat forward of the forward
surface of the frame. The diameter of the boss portion 94 of link
91 is substantially the same as the width of the arcuate opening
98, except for operating clearance. However, a suitable clearance
is provided so that the boss portion 94 never engages either end of
opening 98. Finally, link 91 has recessed surfaces 99 and 100 on
the rearward side thereof (FIG. 4) to provide a later described
desired thickness.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, frame 21 is provided with bosses 101 and
102 on the rearward side thereof. The dimension of the recessed
surfaces 99 and 100 from the rearward side of frame 21 is
substantially the same as the height of the major portion of bosses
101 and 102 except for operating clearance. The lower end of link
91 is maintained in place with its surface 93 adjacent the frame 21
by the screw and washer combinations 103. Each of the washers 103
is slabbed off (as shown) to engage a cooperating portion 101a of
boss 101 and the cooperating portion 102a of boss 102 thereby
preventing the washers 103 from rotating.
The can feed wheel 70 mentioned above, is threaded onto the reduced
diameter portion of the can feed wheel drive shaft 104 at the
forward end thereof. The larger diameter portion of the can feed
wheel drive shaft 104 (see FIG. 7) is journalled in the bearing 97
of link 91 and extends somewhat rearwardly of the boss portion 96.
A suitable gear 116 is secured to the rearward end of the can feed
wheel drive shaft 104 for rotating the shaft in the usual manner.
Further, with respect to the can feed wheel in its operation, the
usual can guard 105 is mounted on the forward side of frame 21
substantially below the can feed wheel for maintaining the side
wall of an engaged can at the desired angle relative to the face of
the can feed wheel 70.
As shown in FIG. 3, the axis of the pinion gear 115 that drives the
can feed wheel drive shaft gear 116 is somewhat below and
substantially to the right of the axis of the can feed wheel drive
shaft 104 when the latter is in the solid line or uppermost
position. A gear center distance maintaining link 106 is also
located on the rear surface of frame 21 and operates to maintain a
center distance between the can feed wheel drive shaft gear and its
associated driving pinion gear 115. Some additional center distance
maintaining benefit is had by the engagement of the boss portion 94
of goose-neck link 91 with the arcuate opening 98 in the frame.
However, link 106 provides a more accurate means to insure the
proper center distance. This link (link 106) is journalled on the
boss 96 of goose-neck link 91 while the other end thereof is
journalled on the reduced diameter portion of boss 107 that extends
rearwardly from frame 21. In actual practice, boss 107 has a larger
diameter portion 107a against which the adjacent end of link 106
may seat. The stud or arbor 108 on which the combination idler gear
and driving pinion 115 is journalled, is preferably a separate part
that is press fitted in boss 107.
To maintain proper spacing, link 91 is provided with rearwardly
extending bosses 109 and 110 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). It may be
observed that both of these bosses (109 and 110) are somewhat to
the left of a vertical line extending through the axis of the
bearing opening 97. One end of the link 106 is pivoted on the boss
portion 96 of goose-neck link 91 and seats against the vertical
surfaces of the bosses 109 and 110. Compression coil spring 117 is
telescoped over the can feed wheel drive shaft 104 and will be
interposed between the gear 116 and link 106 in order to maintain
the can feed wheel 70 firmly in engagement with the boss portion 94
of goose-neck link 91 and to also maintain link 106 firmly seated
against bosses 109 and 110 and against the portion 107a of boss
107.
The motor M may be mounted on any suitable bosses extending
rearwardly of frame 21, however, the location of the motor relative
to the can opener is important from the standpoint of proper
ballast. Good advantage of proper weight distribution opposes any
tendency of the can opener to tilt incident to torque required for
the swinging of the can piercing lever during the can piercing
phase of operation of opening a can.
OPERATION
The operation with respect to the removable cutter mounting plate
via the push button operated latch 39 is similar to that described
in my patent application mentioned above. However, the wedging
action of the rise cams 43 will draw the pin member or can guide 28
rearwardly. Since the appropriate aperture or bearing opening in
frame 21 is within the perimeter formed by the four bosses 22 and
23, the cutter mounting plate 25 is always drawn snugly
thereagainst to provide good alignment and to maintain the
overlapping portion of the cutter wheel 53 in a predetermined
spatial relationship with respect to the face of the can feed wheel
70 whenever such overlapping is called for. Of course, the cutter
mounting plate 25 is pivoted relative to the frame by the fixed can
guide and remains on the bosses 22 and 23 whenever swung to other
possible operating positions.
The can piercing lever 77 has the above-mentioned limits to
swinging movement in both the clockwise and the counterclockwise
direction when viewed from the front. When lever 77 is in its
extreme clockwise position with the under edge of the free end
engaging step 89 of frame 21, it will be in a substantially
horizontal position, with the axes of studs 80 and 86 and the axis
of the can feed wheel drive shaft in a substantially straight line.
This shaft and lever-stud orientation is such that downward force
on can feed wheel 70 cannot cause same to be lowered from its
uppermost position. The unintended lowering of the can feed wheel
70 while an end is being sheared from the can is further assured by
the friction between the can feed wheel drive shaft 104 and its
bearing 97 of link 91 always tending to rotate the goose-neck link
91 in the same direction. This, of course, is the direction urging
the can piercing lever 77 against its stop seat 89 in frame 21.
Such lever arrangement, in conjunction with the goose-neck link,
requires that lever 77 be rotated in the opposite direction
(counterclockwise when viewed from the front) to permit the
lowering of the can feed wheel 70.
It should be pointed out that the cutter wheel 53 has some
substantially vertical movement due to the approximately 3.degree.
rotation of the cutter mounting plate, however, the can feed wheel
70 will still be separated sufficiently from cutter wheel 53, when
feed wheel 70 is in its lowermost position, to permit the insertion
or removal of the rim or flange of a can therebetween. In the
above-mentioned lowermost position, the can piercing lever 77 will
be in its extreme counterclockwise position (when viewed from the
front) and the lever stud 86 will be in engagement with the lower
end of arcuate slot 88 in frame 21.
The clockwise rotation of cutter mounting plate 25 on its pivot 28
is limited by the engagement of stud 51 (which extends rearwardly
from the right-hand end of the cutter mounting plate) with the
lower edge of opening 52 (see FIG. 2) in frame 21. Likewise, the
counterclockwise rotation of plate 25 is limited by engagement of
the same stud 51 with the upper edge of the opening 52. As
suggested above, when the circumference of the plate stud 51 seats
on the lower edge of opening 52 in frame 21, and when the switch
control link 60 (FIG. 3) is in its lower position under the tension
of spring 60a, there will be approximately 0.020 inch clearance
between the upper arcuate surface of stud 51 and the upper edge of
opening 67 in control link 60. This clearance facilitates the
insertion and withdrawal of stud 51 as cutter mounting plate 25 is
installed or removed from the remainder of the can opener.
Due to the shorter longitudinal dimension of can guide 71 and stud
51 relative to the rearwardly extending portion of can guide 28
(and to the normal installation procedure), the rearwardly
extending pin member of can guide 28 will arrive at and align in
its associated opening 34 in frame 21 prior to stud 51 coming in
close proximity to the frame. Also the can guide 71 is aligned with
its associated opening prior to the cutter mounting plate arriving
at the free end thereof. Therefore, insertion of the stud 51 in
opening 52 of frame 21 is facilitated and the opening 54 in cutter
mounting plate 25 will automatically clear the movable can guide
71.
To remove the cutter mounting plate and the associated cutter wheel
from the remainder of the can opener, it is only necessary to
depress the knob or push button 48 and then to pull the cutter
mounting plate forwardly. This is easily accomplished by grasping
the two vertical end portions of the cutter mounting plate or any
of the normally forwardly protruding portions and sliding same in
the forward direction. Reinstallation of the cutter mounting plate
is accomplished by the reverse procedure, after fully depressing
the push button or latch knob 48. I have found that the tapered end
of stud 51 and the can guide pin member facilitates inserting same
in their respective openings. Of course, after the plate has been
installed and the latch knob released, the latch tension spring
returns the latch and the corresponding rise cams to a seating
position, thereby drawing the cutter mounting plate against the
bosses 22 and 23 and causing the narrow portion 50 of keyhole
opening in latch 39 to be engaged within the groove 33 of the can
guide pin member as intended.
To initiate the can opening operation, the user first grasps the
knob 90 or associated part of the can opener lever 77 and swings
same to its extreme counterclockwise position (when viewed from the
front). The can is then held in one hand and placed with its end
seating upwardly against the periphery of the cutter wheel 53. Can
piercing lever 77 is then swung clockwise or downwardly to its
extreme position, whereupon the user may discontinue holding the
can.
As the lever was swung in the clockwise direction mentioned above,
the can feed wheel 70 moved from its lowermost position to its
uppermost position and is caused to remain in the said uppermost
position. The can is moved upwardly, since the under edge of the
upper rim or flange of the can is engaged by feed wheel 70, and the
cutter mounting plate is caused to swing counterclockwise on its
pivot (guide structure 28), against predetermined tension of the
switch control link tension spring 60a. The upward movement of the
control link permits the switch S to assume its "on" condition,
thereby starting motor M and causing the can feed wheel 70 to
commence feeding of the can.
After motor M has been started, and with stud 51 seated against the
upper edge of opening 52 in frame 21, an additional upward movement
of can feed wheel 70 causes the end of the can to be pierced by
cutter wheel 53. Resistance of the end of the can to shear by the
cutter wheel 53 results in stud 51 remaining in engagement with the
upper edge of the opening 52 in frame 21 until the end has been
completely severed from the can. At this time, force of the switch
control link tension spring 60a will manipulate the switch to the
"off" condition.
The above-mentioned movement of the can feed wheel 70 from its
lowermost position to its uppermost position also results in the
movement of the rim or flange of a can into engagement with the
fixed can guide 28 and the movable can guide 71. Accordingly, can
guide 71 is moved upwardly, against the tension of the movable can
guide lever spring 72a, in opening 74 of frame 21. Consequently,
the fixed can guide 28 cooperates with the movable can guide 71 to
force the rim or flange of the can downwardly on the teeth of the
can feed wheel 70 to accomplish the required penetration of the
teeth of the can feed wheel into the under edge of the rim or
flange for proper traction.
It should be noted that use of the relatively long studs 80 and 86
(both of which are firmly anchored in can piercing lever 77) not
only provides good alignment for the can piercing lever 77 relative
to frame 21 but also provides good alignment for the upper end of
the goose-neck link 91. The above described attachment means which
maintains the lower portion of the goose-neck link adjacent the
frame 21 further provides good rigidity and alignment for the link
relative to the frame and results in the feed wheel drive shaft
gear being movable relative to the pinion gear without upsetting
any of the critical distance between axis centers.
Finally, once the end of the can is completely sheared therefrom,
the link spring 60a will move the control link 60 downwardly,
automatically depressing plunger S and shutting off motor M.
However, the can opener continues to hold the can until such time
as the user elects to remove same. Of course, this is accomplished
by holding the can and again swinging the lever 77 upwardly to its
extreme position.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well
adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth
together with other advantages which are obvious and which are
inherent to the structure.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are
of utility and may be employed without reference to other features
and subcombinations.
As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without
departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all
matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to
be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *