Year: 1885

page_text: We ROBERT AXTEN, Storekeeper and WILLIAM BENNETT FORDHAM, Manu-
facturer, of York Road, King's Cross, in the county of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of our invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view partly in section, Figure 2 is a
like view but not in section and Figure 3 is a like view of a modified form.
The frame may be made of wood or metal preferably the latter and consists of a
table A which may be secured to the counter of a shop, or to a table or other
suitable thing or place. B B are posts fixed to A and serving to carry the movable
knife box C which slides up and down the posts and may be fixed in any required
position by a thumb screw D or other suitable means according to the height of
the tin to be opened.
In Figures 1 and 2 the knife box C and knife E are horizontal so that a
cylindrical tin standing on end upon the table A would have its top cut off the
cut being made in the cylindrical shell and not in the flap top. In Figure 3 the
knife box and knife are vertical, so that the cut would be in the top and not in
the cylindrical part; this method being preferable where the can contains liquids
some of which would be lost if the cut were made in the side. It will be observed
that in Figure 3 the knife box has slots B¹ at right angles to those which are in
use, so that the box can be lifted off the posts and put on again in a horizontal
position like those in Figures 1 and 2.
The action of the knife will be understood by reference to Figure 1. The
knife E is pivotted at E' in the knife box C and has at its back end a jaw F with
which engages the short lever G which carries the handle H by which it is worked.
Lever G is pivotted at G¹ in the knife box C and it will be readily understood
that as it is worked about the pivot by the handle H being worked backwards
and forwards a similar movement but in the opposite direction is imparted to the
knife E. By this arrangement the handle H and knife E move in the same
direction so that a person standing at the right hand side in Figure 1 would make
the cut by pulling the handle towards him which is a more convenient arrange-
ment than if E and H were in one and centred at E¹ as then the motion would be
reversed.

page_text: Instead of the jaw F and tooth G a pair of toothed segments gearing together
may be used.
I is a pricker against which the can is pressed so as to make a hole to facilitate
the insertion of the knife and save the knife point.
In use the can is pricked and placed upon the table A the knife inserted and the
can pressed against the teeth or rough edge C¹ of the knife box which assists in
holding it against the cutting edge. The can is turned round as required until the
cutting is finished. The rough edge of the cut is turned outwards which greatly
facilitates the turning out of the contents.
The knife box C. is also preferably made of metal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1. In a tin opener the combination with table A and posts B of a knife box
such as C adapted to slide upon said posts and be fixed where required substan-
tially as specified.
2. In a tin opener the combination with a pivotted knife such as E of a
pivotted hand lever such as H G engaging with E in such manner that the handle
and the cutting edge of the knife move in the same direction substantially as
specified.
3. In a tin opener the combination with a movable knife box such as C of a
knife E and operating hand lever such as H G constructed and operating substan-
tially as specified.
4. The combination with a tin opener such as specified of a pricker I for the
purpose set forth.