Improved Device or Apparatus for Outting Open Metal Boxes, Tin. Cans, or the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Device or Apparatus for Outting Open Metal Boxes, Tin.
Cans, or the like.
I, JOHANN FRIEDRICH WILHELM SCHRADER of 9 Riebitzstrasse, Eilbeck,
Hamburg, in the Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This instrument is for the easy and quick opening of metal boxes tin cans or the .
like such as are used for preserves, meats, fish and soups and other comestibles or
for holding other materials and substances.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 represents a side view of the device or apparatus.
Fig. 2 a view (in elevation) from the back in which some parts are shown in
vertical section.
Fig. 3 is a perspectivo sketch which shows the opener in action.
Fig. 4 a vertical section on the line Fig. 1.
b
The instrument consists in addition to the main cutter of a foundation plate a to
be fastened on the table by the sorew 6 (or in any other convenient manner) a pair
of angle cheeks or brackets c (rivetted to the foundation plate a) having the
upright & mounted therein between on a pin or axis at its lower end and said rod d
having thereon a knife lever provided with a suitable handle e.
The lever turns upon a pivot i which is fastened into a collar which latter
encircles or embraces the said upright d and moves up and down upon the said
support d and can be fixed at any desired height by means of pinching screw g.
To the lever two steel instruments are fastened by means of the screw namely
a knife and a guiding blade m. The fastening is effected in the manner shown in
section Fig. 4 ie. the guiding blade m is made in one piece with the lever whilst
the knife is stuck through a four cornered slot (see Fig. 1). The hole (Fig. 4)
is provided with screw thread or worm and in the knife shaft there is also a corre
sponding hole so that the screw marked & in Fig. 1 goes through both parts and in
this manner the fastening of the knife to the lever is effected.
The knife in Fig. 4 is shown in dotted lines so that the knife shaft going up
into the slot may be more easily distinguished.
Or the knife or cutter / may be mounted and fixed in position on lever ƒ in any
other suitable manner.
At the beginning of the Specification it was mentioned that the upright or
support d turned pivotally upon the pin p fixed in the pair of angle cheeks c the
purpose of this being that when not in use the instrument may not take up an
inconvenient amount of room.
When desired therefore the upright post d can be put down so that it lies with
its whole length upon the foundation plate a (ie. parallel with plate a) the
rectangular extension piece y limits the upward lifting of the post & beyond the
perpendicular position or thereabouts.
In order to illustrate the use and mode of working-the opener is shown in
Fig. 3 in the act of opening therewith a cylindrical tin case can or box by cutting
out one of the two bottoms in the manner usual and known. Fig. 2 contains in
the representations no a local view of part of the case to be ent (in vertical
section through the tin box)-o being the cylindrical case and n the cover or end
to be cut out.
It will be understood that the guiding blade m works round the outside edge so
that the knife I works (approximately) at an equal distance therefrom.
.An essential advantage of this tin can or case opener consists in that the force

page_text: with which the knife is pressed through the tin to be out is on account of the lever
arrangement extremely great and moreover is applied in the most direct and
advantageous manner and further on account of the very strong arrangement of
the whole apparatus (and the sorewing down thereof to the table though I do not
limit myself thereto) the troublesome spirting and shaking out of the contents of
the tin (which so frequently happened hitherto) is hereby avoided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An apparatus for cutting open metal boxes tin cans or the like consisting of the
arrangement and combination of a base plate an upright post pivotally connected
or hinged to same a knife lever hinged to or having its fulcrum on a clamping
device capable of adjustment on the said upright post a knife fixed to said lever to
be thereby forced through the metal to be out and a guide blade mounted and fixed
close to the said knife so as to guide the latter and make a cut or incision approxi-
mately parallel to the edge all round, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore set forth.
2. The improved apparatus or device for opening metal boxes tin cans or the
like arranged combined and acting substantially in the manner and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 28th day of January 1893.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.