US529849A - Can-opener - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. BIEN. CAN OPENER.

Nb.529,8.49. Patented Nov. 27, 1894.

u. 1 3F 0 g,

m: NORRISVFETERS co, PNOTO-UTMQ. wasnmnfou, a, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH BIEN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

- CAN-OPENER SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,849, dated November 27, 1894.

Application filed January 30, 1894. Serial No. 498,507- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH BIEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State ofOalifornia, have invented an Improvement in Can-Openers and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an apparatus for opening cans.

In consists in certain details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in

' cutter blade presses against and'is inserted which- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing my device as applied for opening circular cans. Fig. 2 is atop View of a part of the same. adaptation for rectangular cans. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the upper part of the same.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for opening cans by means of a horizontal cut made around the top of the cylindrical portion of the can just below the top.

In carrying out my invention I employ a bed A which is preferably made with a series of steps B, corresponding to the sizes of the cans, rising from the center toward the outside and increasing in diameter from the center outwardly, so that cans of any size may be approximately centered and held in place when set upon the step which approximates to their diameter. Upon one side of this base is a vertically slotted sleeve or socket C.

D is a standard adapted to fit and slide in this sleeve. At the upper end, this standard has attached to it a circular head E, and this head has downwardly projecting points F which are forced into the head of the can when the standard slides down in the slotted socket or sleeve until this head rests upon a can .head. These points hold the can firmly in place and preventits being turned around by the operation of the cutter.

G is an arm pivoted to the center of this head, as shown at H, so that it may be turned about the center. This arm is slotted and a guide I is adapted to slide in the slot. To the lower part of this guide is fixed a cutting blade J which extends toward the upper side of the can, as the latter is held between the base and the cap previously described. The guide and cutter are moved outward and in- Fig. 3 is a plan View showing its sufficiently to steady and retain it in place.

The cutter is then advanced by pushing the handle through its guide until the edge of the into the side of the can just below its top. The handle is now moved around its center to which the arm is pivoted, and the cutter severs the top from the lower portion of the can body, making a cut entirely'around from the point where the standard connects with this head to the opposite side, the junction of the standard forming a stop. This leaves a small piece of metal which will not be severed, and this small portion serves as a sort of hinge about which the upper part can be turned as the can is opened, and it may be again closed about this point, if desired to retain a portion of the contents within the can. It will be manifest that this apparatus may be secured temporarily upon the edge of a table or removed by means of a thumb screw and clamped as shown at M, or if it is used in a place where it is to be permanently fixed, it is secured by screws passing through the periphery of the base, as shown at M. It will also be understood that the upper plate of the can, with its holding points and revolving cutter-carrying arm, may be used by itself, the operator holding it firmly against the can head while revolving the cutter.

When the apparatus isto be used for square cans, the head E is made rectangular, as shown in Fig. 3, and has a slot or channel 0 made around its periphery. The arm G which is pivoted in the center of the plate is slotted as before described, and the guide I which carries the cutter blade is fitted to slide upon a supplemental bar P. This bar has a pin 10 extending upwardly into the slot in the pivoted arm, and down with an anti-frictional roller into the channel Ov aroundthe periphery' of the plate. This construction allows the guide roller or pin to follow the rectangular channel by moving outwardly and inwardly upon the line of the fulcrum arm G as the latter is moved around the exterior of the can. By means of the handle attached to the guide I the knife is forced inwardly against the side of the can and follows the side, as the pivoted arm is moved around its center, thus cutting the side of the square can with the same facility with which it will cut the cylindrical can. The spring Q acts to retract the cutter and prevent its remaining in a position where it will extend over the top of the can when the device is being put in place for use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a can opener, the combination of a base having a socket at one side, a standard mounted to slide in said socket having its upper end turned inward and provided with a plate or head adapted to engage the top of the can, and provided with means for centering and holding the can, a swiveled arm m0vable about the common center of the can and the holder, and a cutter slidable radially upon said arm and carried thereby so that when the arm is moved around in a circle, the cutter will act to sever the metal of the can side as described.

2. In a can opener, a base having a series of oifsets of varying diameters, a socket at one side, a standard slidable vertically in said socket having a head or plate supported from its upper end and adapted to clamp the top of the can and secure it between itself and the base, a radially slotted arm fulorumed to the center of said plate projecting radially therefrom, a sliding guide traveling upon the radially slotted arm having a cutter fixed to the inner end, and a handle by which the cutter is moved and held in contact with the side of the can so as to cut through it when the arm is rotated, substantially as herein described.

3. A device for opening cans consisting of a holder for the can, a top plate having a channel formed around its periphery, an arm fulcrumed centrally to said plate projecting beyond its periphery and havingaradial slot formed in it, a second arm having a pin or anti-friction roller projecting upwardly into the slot of said arm and downwardly to enter the channel around the periphery of the top plate whereby it is caused to follow the said channel when the arm is moved about its center, and a cutter fixed to a radially sliding guide and carried by said arm, substantially as herein described.

4. In a can opener, a plate adapted to be fixed in contact with the can head, an arm pivoted to said plate extending radially outward and serving as a guide to a radially sliding cutter carrier, a handle by which the cutter is advanced into contact with the side of the can, and a spring by which it is retracted away from the can, when released, as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH BIEN. Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, H. F. ASOHECK.

Images