Improvements in Sheet Metal Can and Case Openers.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 8th May, 1891-Accepted, 13th June, 1891
TRUVIDIONAL STEVIEVATION.
[Communicated from abroad by ALFRED ERNEST MARKWICK, of Karachi, in the
Province of Sind, India.]
Improvements in Sheet Metal Can and Case Openers.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., Fel. Inst. P.A.,
practising as Phillips & Leigh, of No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery 'Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in openers for sheet metal cans and cases
such as are retailed as containing sardines, preserved fruits, salmon, and other
viands, and its objects are to provide a safe and easily operated opener, easily, i.e., hy
persons not more expert in the use of tools than are those engaged in the operations
of the kitchen.
In carrying it into effect, I provide a bar from one end of which projects, at
right angles with its length, a strong point which is circular in cross section. The
opposite end is finished off to serve as a handle.
A cutter block is adjustable at any point along the length of the bar. It is also
provided with a second adjustment, which may be a vertical one, or one about its
own axis, whichever may be the more convenient.
I do not confine myself to the precise mechanical details by which this adjus-
tability is secured. But a desirable construction consists of a longitudinal groove
in the bar, the cutter block beneath the bar, a screw passing up through the slot
and a tightening nut. The cutter block is furnished with two cutters. One is
vertical and projects downwards from the block; the other is horizontal and
projects from the side.
A strong pointed knife is fixed to the end of the bar from which it projects. This
knife has its cutting edge on the top.
It is
A guide is pivotted to the end of the bar with its outer side vertical.
angular in cross-section and lies half of it one side of the said knife and half on the
other.
The invention is used as follows:-
TO OPEN A ROUND CAN SUCH AS A TIN OF CONDENSED MILK.
Adjust the cutter block upon the bar so that the distance separating the point
and vertical cutter is less than half a diameter. Force the point through the
centre of the top of the tin and the cutter through the top. Grasp the tin
firmly with the left hand and pull the handle round, completing the circle if
desired.
TO OPEN A ROUND CAN SUCH AS A TIN OF SALMON.
Adjust the cutter block till the horizontal cutter is at the proper level and the
distance between the point and the said cutter is rather less than half a diameter.
Insert the point and pull the handle quite round the tin.

page_text: the handle with an up-and-down motion at the same time pushing it forward. When
the knife enters the hole at the end of the cut take it out, turn the box, and proceed
with the next side in the same way.
The pivots of the guide may be of any suitable type, but are preferably the same
as described in Letters Patent No. 1136910, that is to say, the pivots project from
each side of the bar after the manner of trunnions. These are preferably of a
segmental transverse section. The bearings are of a similar shape, access to thein
being through openings in their fronts. The width of an opening corresponds with
the versed sine of the are of the periphery of a pivot, and the bottom surfaces of
the bearings are lower than the said openings for the purpose of preventing the
pivots slipping out.
Dated this 95th day of Maral 1901
HENRY H. LEIGH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sheet Metal Can and Case Openers.
1. HENRY HARINgton Leigh, M. Inst. C.E., Fel. Inst. P.A., practising as
Phillips & Leigh of No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 relates to improvements in openers for sheet metal cans and cases
such as are retailed as containing sardines, preserved fruits, salmon, and other
viands and its objects are to provide a safe and easily operated opener, easily, i.e., by
persons not more expert in the use of tools than are those engaged in the operations
of the kitchen.
In carrying it into effect I provide a bar from one end of which projects, at right
angles with its length a strong point which is circular in cross section. The
opposite end is finished off to serve as a handle. The cutter block is adjustable at
any point along the length of the bar. It is also provided with a second adjustment
which may be a vertical one or one about its own axis whichever may be the more
convenient.
I do not confine myself to the precise mechanical details by which this adjusta-
bility is secured. But a desirable construction consists of a longitudinal groove in
the bar, a cutter block beneath the bar, a screw passing up through the slot and a
tightening nut.
The cutter block is furnished with either or both of two cutters. One is vertical
and projects downwards from the block; the other is horizontal and projects from
the side.
A strong pointed knife is fixed to the end of the bar, from which it projects.
This knife has its cutting edge on the top.
A guide is pivotted to the end of the bar with its outer side vertical. It is
angular in cross section, and lies half of it one side of the said knife and half on the
other.
In order that my invention and the means by which it is to be carried into
practical effect may be thoroughly understood, I will now describe them in detail,
referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part
of this Specification and read therewith.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation shewing the invention in use on a round can, such as a
tin of condensed milk.
Fig. 2 is a plan corresponding therewith.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation illustrating the use of my invention on a round can, and
cutting round the side.
Fig. 4 is a plan corresponding with Fig. 3

page_text: Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line A-B of Fig. 3 looking at the plane
of section in the direction of the arrows in the last mentioned figure.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the. invention shewing the position of the parts
immediately after a cut has been effected.
Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the guide.
Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on the line C-D of Fig. 6, looking at the
plane of section in the direction of the arrows in the last mentioned figure.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the invention from the side opposite to that illustrated
in Fig. 6, shewing the position of the parts when the handle is raised preparatory to
pushing the opener forward before making the next cut.
Fig. 10 is a plan illustrating the invention in use on a rectangular can.
E is the bar of the opener; and F, the handle. G is the strong point or
pointed centre pin. This is circular in cross section, and projects from the end
of the bar opposite to the handle at right angles with the bar. In respect of
length, it is long enough for its taper point to pass clear through the cover of
the can into the interior of the latter. The parallel portion of the said centre
pin will consequently be fairly in contact with the whole circumference of the
hole made by its passage through the cover; and, as the plane of the surface
of the said portion is parallel with that of the hole in the cover, the rotary
motion of the pin in the hole at the time that there is a stress upon it as a
result of the cutter being forced along its path through the cover, cannot lead
to the pin being forced out of the hole as it might be if it (the pin) were
tapered for the whole of its length.
H is the cutter-block; and, the cutter fast thereon and projecting downwards
therefrom parallelly with the axis of the centre pin G.
Inasmuch as the diameters of round cans vary, provision is made for the operative
position of the cutter-block being adjustable upon the bar E.
This may be
accomplished in any convenient way. The drawings illustrate two methods, either
of which, or any equivalent thereof, may be adopted.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 6, 8, 9 and 10, I is a web projecting at right angles from
the bar E, and extending for the whole of its length. is a longitudinal slot
formed in the said web radially to the axis of the centre pin G. is a screw
standing up from the top of the cutter-block I, and is small enough in respect of
its diameter to pass through the slot and to be moved easily along it, and long
enough to receive a wing or tightening nut K which will, when screwed down the
screw, hold the block H firmly to the underside of the web 1, and the cutter -
inasmuch as the adjacent faces of the block and web are parallel-vertical.
A modified adjustable device is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. According to
this, is a screw radial to the centre pin G, and m' its head fast upon the screw and
provided with thumb hits m, or other equivalent device, by which the screw can be
rotated about its axis. o, o are the screw bearings. His the cutter-block which
is, for the purpose of the modification now under description, bored and screwed
with a female thread, so as to adapt it for being permanently engaged by the
Screw As the latter has only one motion, ei:.: that of rotation about its axis, it
follows that such motion will move the cutter-block forwards or backwards
according to the direction in which the screw is turned. The web I is in part
retained, and a corresponding notch is formed in the adjacent side of the cutter-
block for the purpose of providing a suitable guide adapted to maintain the cutter
block in a vertical position.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate a further modification which relates only to the plane
in which the cutter stands. According to the construction illustrated in
Figs. 1, 2, 6, 9 and 10, the cutter is adapted to cut through the same plane in which
the centre pin G. holds and is rotated. But according to the modification now
under description, the cutter h' stands in the horizontal plane and is thereby adapted
to cut through the side of the can.
In addition to the cutters or 2 described above, the opener which forms the

page_text: subject of the present invention is provided with a special cutter and guide for
opening flat cans. This special cutter, its guide, and connection to the handle are
fully illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10.
m
L is the guide, and 1, its pivots. The latter may be of any suitable type,
but are preferably the same as described in Letters Patent No. 11369, that
is to say, the pivots project from each side of the bar E after the manner of
trunnions. These are preferably of a segmental transverse section. The bearings
are formed in the sides of the guide, access to them being through openings in
their fronts. The width of an opening corresponds with the versed sine of the
are of the periphery of a pivot, and the bottom surfaces of the bearings are
lower than the said openings for the purpose of preventing the pivots
slipping out.
N is the special cutter. It is a strong pointed blade fast in, and projecting from
and in front of, the nose of the bar E. Its upper edge is the cutting one. The
guide L is half on one side of the cutter N, and half on the other. A longitudinal
slot o is formed in the guide to make room for or receive the upturned edges of
the cut metal.
is a flange or downward continuation of the outer side of the guide of which it
is an important member, so making it an angle-guide.
pis a block on the underside of the guide against the adjacent edge of which the
cutter N cuts.
Both flange and block may be placed on the other side of the guide
TO OPEN A ROUND CAN SUCH AS A TIN OF CONDENSED MILK:-
See Figs. 1 and 2.
Adjust the cutter-block H upon the bar E so that the distance separating the
point of the pin G and the vertical cutter h is less than half a diameter. Force the
said point through the centre of the top of the tin and the cutter also through
the top. Grasp the tin firmly with the left hand and pull the handle F round,
completing the circular cut as far as may be desired.
TO OPEN A ROUND CAN SUCH AS A TIN OF SALMON :--- -See Figs. 3 and 4.
Adjust the cutter-block H till the horizontal cutter is at the proper level, and
the distance between the point of the pin G and the said cutter is rather less than
half a diameter. Force the point through the side of the can and pull the handle F
quite round the tin.
TO OPEN A SQUARE TIN SUCH AS A BOX OF SARDINES: -See Fig. 10.
Make holes, 9, 9², y³ at each corner with the point of the pin G. Push the
point of the cutter N into one, taking care that the angle-guide Ĺ rides on the edge
of the side of the tin. Work the handle F with an up-and-down motion, at the
same time pushing it forward. When the cutter N enters the hole at the end of
the cut take it out, turn the box and proceed with the next side to be cut, in the
same way.
Fig. 10 shows one side-cut 4, and one end-cut, as having been made, and
the third cut qas in process of being made.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,
1. The combination with a guide pivotted upon the nose of the bar of the opener,
of a cutter fast to the end of the said bar and projecting in front thereof and in line
therewith, as set forth.

page_text: 2. The combination with a guide pivotted upon the nose of the bar of the opener,
of a cutter fast to the end of said bar, projecting in front thereof in line therewith
and having half of the guide on each side thereof, and a block for the cutter to act
against, as set forth.
3. The combination of bar, guide pivotted upon the nose of the bar of the opener,
cutter fast to the end of the said bar, projecting in front thereof and in line there-
with, a sliding cutter adjustable upon said bar, and a centre pin, as set forth.
Dated this 8th day of May 1891.
HENRY H. LEIGH.