IMPROVEMENTS IN. AND RELATING TO CANS OR RECEPTACLES FOR MEAT, FISH, BUTTER, CONCENTRATED OTHER SUBSTANCES AND AN APPARATUS FOR OPENING THE SAME
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas George Fonuereau Dolby of Dulwich in the
County of Surrey Manufacturer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN. AND
RELATING TO CANS OR RECEPTACLES FOR MEAT, FISH, BUTTER, CONCENTRATED
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas George Fonnereau
Dolby at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th February
1883.
THOMAS GEORGE FONNEREAU DOLBY of Dulwich in the County of Surrey,
Manufacturer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CANS OR RECEPTACLES FOR
MEAT, FISH, BUTTER, CONCENTRATED MILK OR OTHER SUBSTANCES AND AN APPARATUS
FOR OPENING THE SAME
"
The first part of my invention has reference to a mode or means of closing cans
or other receptacles so that they can be opened without cutting.
For this purpose I form a shoulder around the inside of the can at about say
one fourth of an inch from the top or mouth and I place within the mouth so as to
rest upon the shoulder a cover having its edge turned up in the form of a flange
the height of which is about equal to the distance between the shoulder aforesaid
and the edge of the can. The edge of the can and the edge of the flange are thus
flush with each other or nearly so. Over or upon these two edges, so as to embrace
them and hold them together, I place a hoop of tin or other suitable material
having in section the form of a narrow inverted gutter or U, thus:n. I press
the sides of this hoop all round against the upper part of the can and the flange of
the cover respectively, whereby the cover is securely held in place and the joint
between it and the can hermetically closed. When it is required to open the can
a few blows from a hammer upon the upper edge of the hoop will loosen or ease
its sides sufficiently to allow of its being pulled off, no cutting being necessary.
The next part of my invention relates to a special construction of cans or

page_text: receptacles so that they can be thoroughly soldered and afterwards readily opened
by a cutter without this cutter penetrating the body of the can or making a jagged
edge which prevents the easy removal of the contents, an objection inherent in all
present constructions of cans opened by cutting. For the purpose of this part of
my invention I form a shoulder around the inside of the can body as in the
arrangement already described and I construct the cover also in the manner already
described except that the hoop is formed in a piece with the cover so that this hoop
stands up or projects above the cover and preferably above the can body. When
the cover is in place the edge rests upon the shoulder of the can body to which it
is soldered. In order to open it, it is only necessary to cut through the hoop outside
the can all round. Instead of making a shoulder in the can body as described
the can body may be plain and a shoulder be made in the hoop portion of the lid.
My apparatus for opening cans or receptacles has been specially designed for
opening the soldered cans constructed as above described. The apparatus is
composed essentially of a slide having a cutter fixed thereto so no to project
Bufficiently to grasp or fit over the hoop of the can while the cutter body rests upon
the can cover. This slide is operated by a lever or other suitable appliance so as
to work the cutter to and fro against a fixed cutter. While the apparatus is being
worked the can is moved gradually round until the whole hoop has been cut through
-and-removed, the cover being thereby left free. In order to allow of the apparatus.
being conveniently used I mount the fixed cutter on a casting in which the slide
works, and I make this casting with a bolt, arm or leg which can be attached to a
counter, table or dresser by means of staples or otherwise, and it can be adjusted in
the staples so as to cut either vertically or horizontally as required according to
the nature of the contents of the can 1=1 ==== ==
三 =1 1.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas George Fonnereau Dolby in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th August 1883.
THOMAS GEORGE FONNEREAU DOLBY of Dulwich in the County of Surrey,
Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CANS OR RECEPTACLES FOR
MEAT, FISH, BUTTER, CONCENTRATED MILK OR OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND AN APPARATUS
FOR OPENING THE SAME
"
The first part of my invention has reference to a mode or means of closing cans
or other receptacles so that they can be opened without cutting.
For this purpose I take a can such for example as that shown in vertical section
at a a Figure 1 of the annexed drawings and preferably slightly tapering from top
to bottom. Around the inside of the can I form a shoulder b at about say th of
an inch from the top or mouth. The part from the top to the shoulder 6 is also by
preference slightly tapered. I place within the mouth so as to rest upon the
shoulder ba cover c represented in section in Figure 2 having its edge turned up
in the form of a flange d the height of which is about equal to the distance
between the shoulder b and the top or edge of the can. The edge of the can and
the edge of the flange are thus flush with each other or nearly so. The flange d
is likewise slightly tapered. In Figure 4 the cover c is seen in position in the mouth
of the can resting upon the shoulder b. Over or upon the edges of the can and of
the flange d so as to embrace them and hold them together, I place a hoop of tin
or other suitable material represented in section in Figure 3, and also seen in
position at e in Figure 4. This hoop has in section the form of a narrow inverted
gutter or U, thus . I pinch the sides of this hoop all round against the upper
part of the can and against the flange of the cover respectively, whereby the cover
is securely held in place and the joint between it and the can hermetically closed.
When it is required to open the can a few blows from a hammer upon the upper
edge of the hoop e will loosen or ease its sides sufficiently to allow of its being
pulled off no cutting being necessary. Figure 5 is a view in plan with the cover
and hoop in place.
The next part of my invention relates to a special construction of cans or
receptacles so that they can be thoroughly soldered and afterwards readily opened
by a cutter without this cutter penetrating the body of the can or making a jagged
edge which prevents the easy removal of the contents, an objection inherent in all
present constructions of cans opened by cutting. This part of my invention is
illustrated in Figures 6 to 9. Figure 6 is a vertical section of the can, Figure 7 a
vertical section of the cover. Figure 8 is a vertical section, and Figure 9 & view
in plan of the can with the cover in place. I form a shoulder b around the inside
of the can body a as in the arrangement already described and I construct the
cover c also in the manner already described except that the hoop e is formed in a
piece with the cover so that this hoop stands up or projects above the cover and
preferably above the can body. When the cover is in place the edge rests upon
the shoulder b of the can body (see Figure 8) to which it is then soldered all round.
In order to open it, it is only necessary to cut through the hoop outside the can all
round as indicated by the dotted line 1 1 in Figure 8. Instead of making a
shoulder in the can body as described the can body may be plain and a shoulder
be made in the hoop portion of the lid.
--
My apparatus for opening cans or receptacles has been specially designed for
opening the soldered cans constructed as above described. The apparatus is
represented in side elevation in Figure 10, in plan in Figure 11 and in end view in

page_text: Figure 12. It is composed essentially of a slide a having a cutter b fixed thereto
so as to project sufficiently to grasp or fit over the hoop of the can while the cutter
body bears with its face against the can cover or the slide against the rim. This
slide a is operated by a lever c or other suitable appliance so as to work the cutter
up and down against a fix cutter d. While the apparatus is being worked the
can is moved gradually round until the whole hoop has been cut through and
removed, the cover being thereby left free. In order to allow of the apparatus
being conveniently used I mount the fixed cutter d on a casting e in which the
slide a works and I make this casting with a bolt arm or leg f which can be
attached to a counter, table or dresser h by means of a device such as g or otherwise.
This device can be placed so that the apparatus will cut either vertically or
horizontally as required.
Having now described the nature of my said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that I claim :-
First: The means of closing cans or receptacles substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 the said means consisting of a flanged
cover (c) to rest on a shoulder (6) in the mouth of the can in combination with a
hoop (e) which is placed over and holds together the top edge of the can and the
flange (d) of the cover as set forth.
Second-Constructing cans and receptacles substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 6 to 9 that is to say with a cover (c) whose
edge rests upon a shoulder in the mouth of the can the said cover being formed
with a hoop or projecting portion (e) so that by cutting through this hoop all round
the can is opened, as set forth.
-
Third: The-apparatus hereinbefore described and represented in Figures 10
to 12 for opening cans or other receptacles.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas George Fonnereau Dolby have hereunto
set my hand and seal this first day of August One thousand eight hundred and