# US 4,396,340 A · High speed can opener and crusher

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- Number: US 4,396,340 A
- Document ID: US4396340A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/246,215
- Filed: 1981-03-23
- Granted: 1983-08-02
- Earliest claimed: 1981-03-23
- Assignees: Kelly-Moore Paint Company
- Inventors: Richard H. Clinton
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4396340A

## CPC

- B30B 15/08: Accessory tools, e.g. knives; Mountings therefor
- B30B 9/321: {for consolidating empty containers, e.g. cans}
- B67B 7/28: {and associated with receptacle hodlers}
- Y10S 100/902: Can crushers
- B30B: PRESSES IN GENERAL (producing ultra-high pressure or ultra-high pressure and high temperature to effect modifications of a substance, e.g. for making artificial diamonds B01J3/00 ){(compressing means for refuse receptacles B65F1/1405)}
- B67B: APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS (opening or closing devices attached to, or incorporated in, containers or container closures B65D)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

This can opener opens and empties cans of their contents rapidly, especially paint and similar cans. The opener has a knife edge dimensioned and configured to penetrate an end, especially the bottom, of the can. There is a positioning means for disposing a can having two ends with one end over the knife edge. A means urges the can downward against the knife edge with sufficient force to cause the knife edge to penetrate the one end of the can. A means for receiving contents from the can is disposed beneath the knife edge. Cans may be opened and emptied in rapid sucession with this opener. An emptied can is moved forward by the positioning of a second can for opening and slides down into a can crusher. A piston operated can crusher cylinder is activated electro/pneumatically to come down and crush the emptied can and remove any remaining contents. When the piston retracts the crushed can drops out of the crusher.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A can opener, comprising:
(a) a knife edge dimensioned and configured to penetrate a can end,
(b) means for positioning a can having two ends with one end disposed over said knife edge,
(c) means for urging the can downward against said knife edge with sufficient force to cause said knife edge to penetrate the one end of the can,
(d) means for receiving contents from the can disposed beneath said knife edge, said knife edge being arcuate shaped in a first direction, having an apex pointing toward the one end of the can, and being arcuate shaped in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, with the arcuate shape in the second direction having a radius of curvature less than a radius of curvature of the one end of the can, and
(e) a pressurized fluid tube connected to a source of fluid under pressure, said fluid tube having an opening proximate to said knife edge for supplying fluid to the can for urging contents from the can, said fluid tube extending along the arcuate shape in the second direction toward the apex of said knife edge.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The can opener of claim 1 additionally comprising a means for crushing the opened can and squeezing out any remaining contents.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The can opener of claim 2 in which said positioning means includes a pushing member having at least two surfaces for pushing laterally against a side of the can.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The can opener of claim 3 in which said positioning means and said crushing means are joined by an inclined conveying means along which said can passes after its contents are removed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 3, 4)

The can opener of claims 1, 3 or 4 in which the can is positioned by said positioning means on a ring shaped support having a centrally disposed opening through which said knife edge passes while penetrating the one end of the can.