Patent ID: 6189221
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: B67B

Abstract:
An appliance for removing the rim of a can, said appliance comprising:a cutter support having a first vertical wall;a cutting wheel rotatable around an axis, said cutting wheel mounted at least partially within said cutter support so that said axis of rotation is substantially parallel to said first vertical wall and an edge of said wheel is exposed from said cutter support, said cutting wheel comprising drawn tool steel having a hardness range of between approximately 53 and 57 on the Rockwell C scale and said axis of said cutting wheel being mounted at an angle of approximately 12.5 degrees relative to vertical;a traction wheel mounted to a distal end of a shaft, an outer portion of said traction wheel defining a gripping surface, said shaft mounted to said cutter support and substantially perpendicularly to said axis of said cutting wheel, said shaft and said traction wheel being reciprocally movable axially relative to said cutter support and said cutting wheel, said gripping surface and said cutting wheel defining a gap for receiving the rim of a can therebetween;a guide means projecting from said first vertical wall that includes a plurality of orienting pins adapted to orient the top of a can at an angle of approximately 5 degrees relative to the angle of said shaft;an activation lever upstanding from the top of said cutter support and pivotable about said shaft, said lever defining cam means in communication with said shaft to move said traction wheel toward said cutting wheel upon rotation of said lever;a drive motor linked to said shaft to rotate said shaft and said traction wheel upon depression of said activation lever;wherein said cutting wheel and said traction wheel cooperate to separate the rim of said can received in said gap upon depression of said lever and activation of said drive motor.