Cutlery – Can opener – With driven roller to continuously engage bead and...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-31
2001-02-20
Payer, Hwei-Siu (Department: 3724)
Cutlery
Can opener
With driven roller to continuously engage bead and...
C030S421000, C030S424000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189221
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a can opener appliance, and more particularly to a can opener appliance having a side-cutting mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Appliances that open cans are well known in the art. Generally, these can opener appliances include a traction wheel and a cutter wheel. The traction wheel biases the top surface of a can against the cutter wheel, which cuts through the top lid of the can. The traction wheel also acts to drive the can opener appliance around the top of the can, thereby cutting through the can all around the circumference of the can.
One type of can opener appliance cuts through and removes the top lid of the can by piercing and cutting through the lid to gain access to the contents of the can. The main problem with this type of can opener is that the cut edges, both of the cut lid that is removed after the cutting operation and of the body of the can itself, are sharp and thus may be dangerous to the consumer. Another problem is that an unsanitary cutter may come into contact with the contents of the can, and if the cutter is not particularly sharp, the cutter wheel may form small shavings that can contaminate the contents of the can. Additionally, if the entire circumference of the top lid of the can is cut, then the cut lid may fall into the can, thereby also contaminating the contents of the can. Furthermore, it may be difficult and/or messy for the operator to remove the cut lid from the contents of the can.
To address these problems, can opener appliances have been developed that are designed to separate the outside seam of the can and leave non-sharp edges. Examples of these can opener appliances include U.S. Pat. No. 3,719,991, issued to French; U.S. Patent No. Reissued 27,504, issued to Smith; U.S. Pat. No. 1,935,680, issued to Von Wolforsdorf; U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,594, issued to Porucznik et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,510,941, issued to Fyfe. In this manner, the appliance cuts the can at the seam where the top of the can is folded and welded to the cylindrical body of the can during the manufacture of a can (after the contents have been placed into the can). Because the can is cut at the seam, the cut edges, both of the body of the can itself and of the top of the can, are smooth and do not present a hazard for the consumer.
The patents cited above use a pin sliding in an arcuate slot for engaging and locking the can opener appliance on the can to be opened. While these locking arrangements work adequately, over time there is a tendency for the moving parts to wear. The result of this wear is that the engaging and locking function of the appliance is impaired, leading to difficulty in cutting through the can and keeping the appliance in position on the can.
Improvements on the above can opener appliances include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,121,546 and 5,367,776, both issued to Chong. In the Chong patents, the can opener appliance includes thrust surfaces and a separating means that can be introduced between the separating means. The separating means, typically a ball bearing and stacked ring, is introduced between the thrust surfaces, typically springs, to move a moveable thrust surface away from a fixed thrust surface to separate the traction wheel and the cutter wheel. By this means, the can opener appliance is brought to the cutting position, and the cutter wheel is utilized to cut through the can.
There have been difficulties in producing a can opener appliance that has a side cutting mechanism that is also assisted by an electric motor. All of the patents cited above, except the Porucznik et al. patent, are directed to side-seam cutting can opener appliances which are driven by manually turning a key connected to a traction wheel. It has now been found the side cutting mechanism as disclosed in the Chong patents can be modified to work effectively with an electric motor to provide an electric can opener appliance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention provides an appliance for removing the rim of a can, which includes a cutter support having a first vertical wall, a cutter wheel, a traction wheel, an activation lever, and a drive motor. The cutter wheel is rotatable about an axis, and is mounted at least partially within the cutter support so that the axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the vertical wall and an edge of the wheel is exposed from the cutter support. The cutter wheel comprises 01 draw tool steel having a hardness range of between approximately 53 and 57 on the Rockwell “C” scale. The traction wheel is mounted to a distal end of a shaft. The annular portion of the traction wheel preferably comprises a gripping surface. The shaft is mounted to the cutter support and is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the cutter wheel. The shaft and the traction wheel are reciprocally moveable axially relative to the cutter support and the cutter wheel. The gripping surface of the traction wheel and the cutter wheel define a gap for receiving the rim of the can therebetween. The activation lever preferably upstands from the top of the cutter support and is pivotable about the shaft. The lever preferably defines cam means in communication with the shaft to move the traction wheel toward the cutter wheel upon rotation of the lever. The drive motor is linked to the shaft to rotate the shaft and the traction wheel upon depression of the activation lever. In operation, the cutter wheel and the traction wheel cooperate to separate the rim of the can received in the gap upon depression of the lever and activation of the motor.
The appliance also preferably includes guide means projecting from the vertical wall of the cutter support. The guide means preferably includes at least a pair of orienting pins adapted to position the top of the can at an angle of 5 degrees relative to the vertical direction. The cutter wheel is preferably mounted with its plane oriented at an angle of 77.5 degrees relative to the vertical direction. The appliance preferably also includes a socket mounted within the cutter support. The socket is adapted to receive the axis of the cutter wheel and has a top surface that is substantially parallel to the plane defined by the cutter wheel. The appliance also preferably includes a bearing means mounted between the cutter wheel and the top surface of the socket. The cutter wheel rests on a spacer ring which in turn rests on top of the bearing.
Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method for opening a can including of the following steps. First, an appliance for opening cans is provided. The appliance includes a cutter support having a first vertical wall, a cutter wheel, a traction wheel, an activation lever, and a drive motor. The cutter wheel is rotatable about an axis, and is mounted at least partially within the cutter support so that the axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the vertical wall and an edge of the wheel is exposed from the cutter support. The cutter wheel comprises 01 draw tool steel having a hardness range of between approximately 53 and 57 on the Rockwell C scale. The traction wheel is mounted to a distal end of a shaft. The annular portion of the traction wheel preferably comprises a gripping surface. The shaft is mounted to the cutter support and is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the cutter wheel. The shaft and the traction wheel are moveable axially relative to the cutter support and the cutter wheel. The gripping surface of the traction wheel and the edge of the cutter wheel define a gap for receiving the rim of the can therebetween. The activation lever preferably upstands from the top of the cutter support and is pivotable about the shaft. The lever preferably defines cam means mounted annularly around the shaft and configured to urge the traction wheel toward the cutter wheel upon rotation of the lever. The drive motor is linked to the shaft to rotate the shaft and the traction wheel upon depression of the activation lever. Next, the operator moves the can so that the can is gripped between the cutter wheel
Barrow Mary K.
Wall Eric S.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Payer Hwei-Siu
The Rival Company
LandOfFree
Can opener appliance having a side-cutting mechanism does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Can opener appliance having a side-cutting mechanism, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Can opener appliance having a side-cutting mechanism will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2603250