Mechanism for can opener
AssigneeDaka Research Inc.
InventorsPat Y. Mah, Mark Andrew Sanders
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided a mechanism for use in a can opener comprising a body; rotationally mounting to the body about a first axis, a drive wheel for engaging the rim of the can; rotationally mounting to the body about a second axis and drivably rotatable by the drive wheel, a cutter wheel; eccentrically mounting to the cutter wheel, a cutting knife movable on rotation of the cutter wheel to a cutting position in which the cutting knife forms a nip with the drive wheel such that the cutting knife penetrates through the cylindrical wall of the can, and in which an electrical sensor can be used to reverse the position of the cutting wheel back to a start position and in which a mechanical sensor can be used in conjunction with a locking bar to advance the cutting wheel back to a start position.
Claims19
A mechanism for use in an opener for a can, said can comprising a cylindrical wall closed at each end with a circular lid fixed thereto by means of an upstanding rim around the edge of said lid that clamps onto said each end of said cylindrical wall, said mechanism comprising
- a body;
- a drive wheel rotationally mounted to said body about a first axis for engaging the rim of the can;
- a cutter wheel rotationally mounted to said body about a second axis and drivably rotatable by said drive wheel;
- a cutting knife eccentrically mounted to said cutter wheel the cutting knife movable on rotation of the cutter wheel to a cutting position in which the cutting knife forms a nip with the drive wheel such that the cutting knife penetrates through the cylindrical wall of the can to provide a cut therein as the opener orbits relatively therearound, wherein said cutting position is defined by a cutting interval corresponding to a segment of rotation of the cutter wheel in which the cutting knife is sufficiently proximal to the drive wheel to form said nip;
- intermittent drive means provided to the cutter wheel for providing intermittent drive between the drive wheel and the cutter wheel when the cutting knife is in the cutting position to maintain the nip in place for a sufficient cutting interval and to provide a full orbital cut around the cylindrical wall of the can;
- and
- a sensor, associated with said mechanism, for sensing separation of the can while said nip is formed;
- a locking bar actuatable to a locked position upon sensing the presence of a can to be cut;
- and a bar associated with said drive wheel to advance said cutter wheel to a starting position when said locking bar is unlocked and said bar associated with said drive wheel engages said unlocked locking bar.
A can opener mechanism for use in an opener for a can, said can comprising a cylindrical wall closed at each end with a circular lid fixed thereto by means of an upstanding rim around the edge of said lid that clamps onto said each end of said cylindrical wall, said mechanism comprising:
- a body;
- a drive wheel rotationally mounted to said body about a first axis for engaging the rim of the can to be opened;
- a cutter wheel rotationally mounted to said body about a second axis and drivably rotatable by rotation of said drive wheel;
- a cutting knife eccentrically mounting to said cutter wheel, said cutting knife movable on rotation of the cutter wheel to a cutting position in which the cutting knife forms a nip, with its associated structures, with the drive wheel such that the cutting knife penetrates through the cylindrical wall of the can to provide a cut therein as the opener orbits relatively therearound;
- intermittent drive means for providing intermittent drive between the drive wheel and the cutter wheel when the cutting knife is in the cutting position to maintain the nip, based upon one of a pre-determined duration and a sense input that a can opening operation of a can is completed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.