IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING PRESERVED MEAT, FISH, POTTED MEAT, CONDENSED MILK, AND OTHER HERMETICALLY SEALED TINS OR CANISTERS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Pendrill Hardcastle, of Bow, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING PRESERVED MEAT,
FISH, POTTED MEAT, CONDENSED MILK, AND OTHER HERMETICALLY SEALED
TINS OR CANISTERS."
Scaled the 29th January 1875, and dated the 12th August 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Pendrill
Hardcastle at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 12th August 1874.
I, EDWARD PENDRILL HARDCASTLE, of Bow, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING
PRESERVED MEAT, FISH, POTTED MEAT, CONDENSED MILK, AND OTHER HER-
METICALLY SEALED TINS OR CANISTERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the speedy, safe, and effectual
opening of hermetically scaled tins or canisters generally of a cylindrical
shape, and has especial reference to the opening of those containing

page_text: articles of food and other dietetic substances in a preserved and con-
centrated or condensed condition respectively, to allow of the removal
conveniently of the said contents.
In carrying out the said Invention two forms or modifications of
apparatus are used to allow of two applications of the same, namely, one
designed for cutting out the circular head or top of the tin or canister,
and the other for cutting off the top of the cylindrical tin or canister,
inclusive of the circular head thereof.
"
For the herein first-named application of the said Invention the
arrangement of instrument or apparatus and the "modus operandi"
respectively are as follows:-I employ a slotted bar or lever having on
the under side or face thereof, and cast or forged with or otherwise
adapted thereto, a shoulder piece at one end of tho said bar or lever,
with a projecting "beak" or sharp pointed stud, by preference of sicel,
the shoulder piece being at right angles to the said bar or lever, and the
pointed "beak or stud in the same plane therewith. The opposite end
of the said bar I prefer to curve up and shape conveniently to serve as
the handle of the said bar or horizontally worked lever, as hercin-after
described, and to which is adapted the cutting portion of the apparatus,
consisting of a metal block arranged at right angles with the said bar,
and so formed that the upper and smaller or shoulder portion will pass
through the slot in the before-mentioned bar or lever. The lower and
main portion of the said block is formed with two sides or "jaws,"
between which is mounted the cutter itself, consisting of a circular disc
of well tempered steel, tapered or chamfered off at its periphery so as to
form a sharp cutting edge. The cutting disc revolves on a short spindle,
terminating in screws at each of the sides or "jaws of the said block,
so that in the event of the cutting disc getting broken or out of order a
fresh one may be readily mounted in the said block, the upper or
shoulder part of which is fitted in the slotted bar or lever before-
mentioned, and has a recess forming a "female scrow
33 therein, and into
which takes a thumbscrew with an intervening washer, forming a proper
bearing on the top of the lever, the whole forming a sliding cutter block
capable of being fixed at different positions in the length of the lever to
suit tins or canisters of various diameters. Instead however of employing
a slotted lever I may substitute, as within the limits of my Invention, a
plain solid bar or lover, and form the top of the cutting block with a slot
"

page_text: or square eye, through which the said bar or lever passes, with adjustable
thumbscrew adaptable to the top or side.
In using the said instrument it is grasped by the handle, held in a
vertical position, and the sharp pointed "beak" is struck into the centro
of the top of the tin, which is held firm by one hand, the other grasping
the tool, which is then lowered down to the top of the tin, the position
of the cutting block being properly adjusted by means of the thumb-
screw; and on pressing the handle down and working round the top of
the tin near where united to the cylindrical portion thereof, the cutting
disc will "scribe" round and rapidly and neatly cut out the head or top
of the tin without leaving any ragged or "jagged " edges, and with
perfect safety to the operator.
In carrying out the herein second-named application of the said
Invention I employ the same arrangement of apparatus and follow the
same “modus operandi" generally as in the first-named application, but
with the exception of the cutting end of the lever herein-before described
having adapted to it a knuckle joint arrangement combined with a
spring and cutter block, the cutter itself in this application being of
short "lancet" shape. On the said lever handle being grasped for the
purpose of cutting off the top of the tin, the lancet-shaped cutting knife
is caused to enter the tin and cuts round it, and cuts off the top of the
tin on working the handle, and following the "modus operandi"
generally as described in the first-named application of this Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Pendrill Hardcastle in the Great. Seal
Patent Office on the 5th February 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
PENDRILL HARDCASTLE, of Bow, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reigu, did, for Herself, Uer heirs and successors,

page_text: give and grant unto me, the said Edward Pendrill Hardcastle, Her
special licence that I, the said Edward Pendrill Hardcastle, my exc-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward
Pendrill Hardcastle, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all 5
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ircland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING
PRESERVED MEAT, FISH, POTTED MEAT, CONDENSED MILK, AND OTHER HER- 1
METICALLY SEALED TINS OR CANISTERS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Edward Pendrill Hardcastle, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to bo 1
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the dato
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Pendrill Hardcastle, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner 2
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement and accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object the speedy, safe, and effectual
opening of hermetically scaled tins or canisters generally, and has
especial reference to the opening of those containing articles of food and
other dietetic substances in a preserved and concentrated or condensed
condition respectively, to allow of the convenient removal of the
contents.
In carrying out the said Invention two forms or modifications of
apparatus are used to allow of two applications of the same, namely, one
designed for cutting out the circular head or top of the tin or canister,
and the other for cutting off the top of the cylindrical tin or canister,
inclusive of the circular head thereof.
For the herein first-named application of the said Invention the
arrangement of instrument or apparatus and the "modus operandi”
respectively are as follows:-I employ a slotted bar, made by preference

page_text: of any suitable metal. One end of the said bar has on the other side or
face thereof, and cast on or otherwise adapted thereto or formed there-
with, a shoulder piece with a projecting "beak" or sharp pointed' stud,
by preference of steel, the shoulder piece being at right angles to tho
slotted bar, and the pointed "beak" or stud being in the same plane as the
said bar, the opposite end whereof it is preferred to curve up and shape
conveniently to serve as the handle of the bar or horizontally worked
lever, as herein-after described, and to which is adapted the cutting
portion of the apparatus, consisting of a metal block arranged at riglit
angles to the said slotted bar, so formed that the upper and smaller or
shoulder portion of the same will pass through the slot in the before-
mentioned bar or lever. The lower and main portion of the said block
is formed with two "jaws" or sides, between which is mounted the
cutter itself, consisting of a circular disc of well tempered steel, and
tapered or "chamfered" off at the periphery so as to form a sharp cutting
edge. The cutting disc revolves on a short spindle, which may either
bo rivetted over at each of the sides or jaws of the said block, or it may
terminate in screws, so that in the event of the cutting disc getting
broken or out of order a fresh one may readily be mounted within the
block, the upper or shoulder part of which is fitted in the slotted bar or
lever before-mentioned, and has a recess forming a "female scrow
therein, into which takes a thumbscrew or its equivalent, forming a
proper bearing on the top of the lever. Instead however of using a
slotted bar or lever I may adopt a plain solid bar, either round, or
square, or rectangular in section, and form the top of the cutting block
with an eye or slot, through which the said bar or lever passes, with an
adjustable thumbscrew adapted thereto, all as- hercin-after further
described and shewn in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
"
In using the herein-before described instrument it is grasped by tho
handle, hold in a vertical position, and the sharp pointed beak is
struck into the centre of the top of the tin, the position of the cutter
block being properly adjusted; and on pressing the handle down and
working round the top of the tin near where united to the cylindrical
portion thereof, the cutting disc will "scribe" round and rapidly and
neatly cut out the said head without leaving any ragged or jagged edges,
and with perfect safety to the operator.
In carrying out the second-named application of the said Invention I
employ the same arrangement of apparatus and follow the same "modus

page_text: operandi" generally as in the first-named application, but with tho
modifications necessary owing to the different nature of the operation to
be performed, and as herein-after shown and described.
Referring to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, Figures 1 to 14
inclusive show various modifications of the apparatus according to my 5
Invention when used for cutting out the heads of tins or canisters.
Figures 15 to 20 inclusive show modifications of the apparatus
adapted for cutting off the tops of tins or canisters.
Figures 21 and 22 are sketch views shewing the two applications hercin-
before described, namely, Figure 21 showing the first-named arrangement 10
and application, and Figure 22 that for the second-named application.
In the several Figures the same letters of reference are employed to
denote like or corresponding parts in each.
A is the operating bar or lever; A¹, the handle of same; B, the shoulder
piece at the opposite end, having the sharp pointed "beak "B₁ for 15
insertion in the centre of the head of the tin or canister; C, the
cutter block, having mounted in it the cutter D; E is the thumbscrew
or its equivalent.
In Figures 1 to 4 a slotted bar is shown as being employed, Figure 1
being a side elevation; Figure 2, a plan view taken underneath; and 20
Figure 3, a cross section through the operating lever, showing also a
front view of the cutter block and disc or cutter.
Instead of the cutter block being formed as shewn in Figures 1, 2,
and 3, it may also have a guide O¹ or gauge picce for the cutter, as
shown in Figure 4.
Figures 5 to 14 inclusive illustrato various modifications of my
apparatus with substituted arrangements for that illustrated by
Figures 1 to 1.
25
In Figures 8 to 11 the operating lever A is shewn as being solid
instead of slotted, and it may either be square, or rectangular, or 30
circular in section, as shown in Figures 9 and 10 respectively, which aro
cross sections through the operating lever A, shewing also a front view
of the cutter block C and disc or cutter D.
In the plan view, Figure 11, a series of circular indentations e are
shown, and into which the screwed end of the thumbscrow E takes when 35

page_text: the cutter block O is moved backwards or forwards to suit tins of
different sizes, and is thereby kept securely in its place.
Figures 5, 6, and 7, and 12, 13, and 14 shew arrangements of my
apparatus in which the operating lever is a flat rectangular bar with
3 curved sides, forming "clips" or guides.
.
In Figures 5 to 7 the clips are turned round upwards, as shown. The
cutter block in this arrangement is stationary, and the necessary gauge
in opening tins of different sizes is ensured by means of the reciprocating
supplementary bar A", having at its extremity the shoulder piece B and
sharp pointed "beak "B¹ for insertion in the head of the tin or
canister.
In Figures 12, 13, and 14 the clips are turned downwards, and the
supplementary bar A" is dispensed with, the cutter block and cutter
sliding backwards and forwards in the channel formed by the clips, and
is kept securely in its place when in the act of cutting by means of tho
thumbscrew E, which takes into the circular indentations e.
In Figures 15 and 16 (side view and plan respectively) the cutter
block is caused to travel backwards and forwards by means of a spiral
screw F, worked by the swivel cnd G, a pinching thumbscrew E being
used, as in the previously described modifications, to keep the cutter
block firmly in its place. A revolving disc or cutter D is shewn in this
arrangement, but in place of it a fixed lancet-shaped cutter may be
used.
In Figures 17 to 20 the operating lever A is formed as a screwed bar,
with a groove or recess 9, along which the cutter block 0 (having a
corresponding projection taking into the said groove), with its lancet-
shaped cutter D, is caused to travel by turning round the nut E,
provided with short arms E' for this purpose, the cutter block C being
let in and secured to the nut E by the short screw studs ƒ (Figures 17
and 18).
Although in Figures 17 to 20 inclusive I have shewn a screwed bar
round in section, it may be square, and screwed only on the edges, the
interior of the nut E and cutter block O being formed correspondingly
to allow of its travelling backwards and forwards; and instead of the
lancet-shaped cutter, shewn in Figures 17 and 18, a revolving disc or
cutter may be substituted therefor; and in any of the modifications of

page_text: my apparatus the sharp pointed beak B¹ may, instead of being plain, be
screwed, as in Figures 8 and 11, to allow of the point being screwed
into the head of the tin, instead of being simply struck in, as before
described.
Although I have described my apparatus as especially adapted for the 5
opening of cylindrical shaped tins or canisters, it is also adaptable for
opening rectangular shaped tins, such as those containing sardines by
simply entering the sharp pointed beak B' into the top of the tin in
the centre of the length of the same at the back, and then scribing
round the cutter, whereby a semicircular pieco or lid P will be cut out, 1
which may be raised up when taking out the contents and lowered again
when not required for use.
Having now described and illustrated my said Invention, I wish it to
be understood that I do not restrict myself to the exact arrangement of
the minor details, as variations may be made therein without deviating 1
from the essential features of my Invention; but what I claim is,
the arrangements generally of cutting apparatus, herein shewn and
described, whether employed for opening tins containing articles of food
or otherise.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Pendrill Hardcastle, have 20
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Fifth day of February One
thousand oight hundred and seventy-five.
or otherise.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Pendrill Hardcastle, have 20
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Fifth day of February One.
thousand oight hundred and seventy-five.
EDWARD PENDRILL HARDCASTLE. (L.s.)