GB2455174A

GB2455174A - Rim cutting tool to remove rim from food or beverage tin or container

Info

Publication number: GB2455174A
Application number: GB0818676A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerald John Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-10-15
Filing date: 2008-10-11
Publication date: 2009-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 2028-10-11
Also published as: GB0720018D0; GB2455174B; GB0818676D0

Abstract

A container or tin can 1 having a rim 4 may be placed in an inverted position of a plinth 3 whereby a concave portion 5 of said rim locates on a convex section 2 of said plinth. Said plinth may be attached to platform or base 6 having a central hole 9 therethrough. Said base may have a plurality of slots 7 therein. A mandrel 12 (fig 3) may have a spindle 17 and may be moved reciprocally in an axial direction with respect to said plinth and can. Said mandrel may have a plurality of sprung loaded knives or blades 8 therein which are arranged to move from a retracted position where said blades are contained within said mandrel and an extended position as in figures 1, 3 and 4. In use a metal container is inverted and placed on said rim. The mandrel moves upwards and the sloping form of the knives causes them to retract inward and pass over the rim. The mandrel is then withdrawn, the knives extend and cut the rim as the mandrel passes through the rim.

Description

1 2455174 Upside Down Rim Cutter System The title of this new concept Upside down rim cutting tool for slotting' should not be taken in its literal sense as the cutting action I am about to describe could be reversed by turning the can and machinery the other way up. This concept is primarily used as a method of cutting rims on food cans that are normally classed as food or beverage cans but not necessarily containing these products.

mis new concept shows a used can I ifl an upside down positicn with the open end of the can 1 (fig 1), sittIng on a pllnth 3. Each can rim 4 has a concave sectIon 5 that sits on a preferably matching convex section 2 of the plinth 3 attached to platform 6. In that plinth are one or more slots 7 that allow a cutter blade 8 to pass through having cut the rim 4.

The plinth 3 and platform 6 has a central hole 9 (fig 2) larger than the inner edge 10 of the can rim 4. The can 1 Is held in a collar 11 (fig 3) that is preferably in two or more parts, which securely holds the can 1 rigidly In position whilst rim cutting takes place.

When the can 1 Is fitted over the plinth 3 on the platform 6 over the hole 9 a mandrel 12 (figs 1,3, & 4) containing one or more cutter blades 8 that are in line with the slots 7 (fig 2) In the plinth 3. The mandrel 12 Is raised and lowered by a central spindle 17 attached to standard machinery (not shown).

The action of the cutter blade 8 is best illustrated in (fig 4). The blade 8 on the left illustrates the rim 4 contacting the outer edge 13 of the cutter blade 8 coming into contact with the inner edge 10 of the can rim 4. It is forced back into the body of the mandrel 12 as shown by arrow 14 on the right hand blade. It remains in that position until the mandrel has been lifted sufficiently to allow the bottom edge 15 of the cutter blade 8 to be above the underside 16 (fig 1) of the rim 4. Having passed that point the cutter blade 8, whIch is preferably spring-loaded returns to an open position with the bottom edge 15 of the cutter blade 8 placed behind the underside 16 of the rim 4.

Now the mandrel 12 is pulled down by the spindle 17 forcing the cutter blade 8 or blades to pass through the rim 4 and the slots 7 In the pllnth 3 cutting it In one or more places in preparation of the removal of the rim 4 to be drawn upwardly and outwardly with other tooling. There are several ways cutter blades 8 may operate within a mandrel 12 but the principle of cutting a can rim from the inside outwards using a mandrel with retractable blades in combination with a slotted plinth is original.

This cutter design shows cutter bades C within mandrel 12 the b!ades have a stop 18 that slide within a matching slot 19 to allow the blades to move back sufficiently so that the outer edge 13 slides inside the rim 4.

In this design a collar 20 with matching slots 21 to the position of the blades 8 is fitted over the mandrel 12 and fixed with a bolt 22. a I

Claims

l.A method of cutting parts of a can rim (4) comprising: locating the edge of the can rim (4) in a groove in a ptinth (3), the plinth (3) having a central hole which communicates with the hollow interior of the can (1) when the edge of the can rim is in the groove, the groove surrounding the central hole, the pllnth (3) having at least two slots (7) therein extending from said central opening towards said groove, which slots (7) are aligned with said parts of said can rim, inserting a mandrel (12) in an axial direction through said hole into the hollow interior of the can (1), the mandrel (12) having at least two retractable blades (8) which are retracted when the blades pass (8) the plinth (3) as the mandrel (12) in inserted and are extended when the blades (8) are within the hollow interior of the can (1), the mandrel (12) being inserted into the hollow interior such that the blades (8) are aligned with said slots (7) in said axial direction when the blades (8) are extended; and withdrawing the mandrel (12) from the hollow interior of the can (1) past said hole, whereby the blades (8) cut said parts of said can rim (4) and pass through said slots (7) during said withdrawal.
2.A method according to claim 1, wherein the can rim has a concave section (5), the plinth (3) has a convex section (2), and the concave section (5) of the rim is aligned with said convex section (2) of the plinth (3) when the edge of the can rim (4) Is in the groove, whereby the parts cut by the blades (8) are parts of said concave section (5).
3.A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the blades (5) have an edge inclined to said axial direction, and said inclined edge abuts said plinth (3) when said mandrel (12) is inserted through the central opening, said abutment causing retraction of the blades (8).
4. An apparatus for cutting parts of a can rim (4), comprising: a plinth (3) having a central hole, a groove surrounding said central hole for receiving an edge of the can rim (4), and at least two slots (7) extending from said central opening towards said groove; and a mandrel (12) insertable and withdrawable in an axial direction through said central hole, the mandrel (12) having at least two retractable blades (8), the blades (8) being arranged to be withdrawn when said mandrel (12) passes through said central hole when the mandrel (12) is Inserted through said central hole and arranged to be extended and move through said slots (7) when said mandrel (12) passes through said central hole when said mandrel (12) Is withdrawn through said central hole.
5.An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said blades (8) are spring-loaded in said mandrel (12).
6.An apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said blades (8) have an edge inclined to said axial direction, said inclined edge being arranged to abut said plinth (3) when said mandrel (12) is inserted through the central opening to cause the withdrawal of the blades.

S
7.An apparatus according to any one of the claims 4 to 6, further including a collar (11) adapted to hold sides of the can (1) when the edge of the can rim (4) is in the groove.

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