Patent ID: 6148527
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: B67B

Abstract:
A manual can opener adapted to separate an end wall from a can body by cutting from the outside into the upstanding rim formed at the end of the can, the rim comprising overlapped portions of the perimeter of the end wall and the side wall of the can, the can opener comprising two body portions arranged for relative pivotal movement about an axis, one body portion carrying a rotary cutting wheel and the other body portion carrying a rotary traction wheel, the opener being arranged, in use, to receive the rim of the can between the two wheels and to orbit the can as the traction wheel is rotated while the cutting wheel makes a peripheral cut into the outside of the rim, the body portions carrying a pair of spaced abutments positioned to provide contact points on the rim when the rim is received between the two wheels, the contact points being located one on each side of the cutting point and in use exerting a downward force across the traction wheel to counterbalance the upward force incurred during cutting and ensuring that the axis of the traction wheel lies normal to end wall of can, wherein the abutments are provided one on each arm of a `U` shaped abutment plate secured to the body portion carrying the traction wheel.