Improved Apparatus for Opening Sheet Metal-cans, Boxes, and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1893-Accepted, 1st July, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Opening Sheet Metal-cans, Boxes, and
the like.
We, CARL ALRIK HULT of 30 Westmannagatan, Stockholm, in the Kingdom
of Sweden, and OSCAR WALFRID HULT, of 14 Carlavägen, also of Stockholm
aforesaid, Mechanicians, 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 a simple and easily manipulated apparatus for cutting
open sheet metal cans and boxes of various shape, such as round, oval or square,
the said apparatus particularly applicable for opening sardine, anchovy and other
preserve boxes, the operation being performed by turning a handle with one hand,
while the other hand is holding the box to be cut open. In this way, a continual
and uniform cut can with this apparatus be made in a moment all around the lid of
the tin-box. The apparatus is further so arranged that it can be fixed to a wall
table or the like.
In order to enable the invention to be fully understood we will describe the same
by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus fastened to a table.
Figure 2 is a front view of the same partly in section on the line a-b of
Figure 1.
Figures 3 and 4 represent a modification.
To the body of the apparatus is fixed a knife A of the shape shewn in the
drawing and in the said body is journalled the shaft B, supporting at one end two
small steel wheels C and D which when the shaft B is rotated, turn one on each
side of the knife A. One wheel D is located immediately against the knife A and
assists in the cutting operation. The other wheel C is toothed at the rim and is
located at a little distance from the knife A and has for object to feed and fold up
the tin plate to be cut open.
The cutting wheel D can likewise be toothed at the
rim and when so constructed not only assists to feed the plate but facilitates the
cutting of the plate. To the body of the apparatus there is further secured a
pointed knife E. By turning the box on edge and so that the point of the knife E
rests at the rim of the box-lid and then by pressing the box against the knife, the
latter will penetrate the lid and make an opening through which the billed part of
the knife A can be brought down at the inside of the lid. In order to prevent the
opening to be cut up too far from the edge of the lid, there is at a sufficient
distance above the knife E a projection K under which the edge of the box may be
placed when the knite is to be pressed in through the lid.
When making the opening, the box is held in the position indicated by the
dotted lines a¹ and for introducing the knife into the opening thus made the box is
turned in the position indicated by the dotted lines. By turning the handle F
in the direction indicated by the arrow d the tin plate will, as already said, be fed
and cut by the sharp fore edge of the knife A and the cutting wheel D. At the
same time also the edge of the lid pressing against the side of the knife will be
bent upwards being pressed down by the feeding wheel the rim of which is
bevelled, thus making way for feeding the knife A between the edges of the
tin-plate, so that the box can in the course of the cutting operation be turned
without hindrance from the knife, when executing a curvilinear cut along the rim
of the lid. A further advantage is that the lid can easily be caught at the edge
and bent upwards after being cut open. The apparatus can be modified as shewn
by Figures 3 and 4 and in this case it is to be compared with a pair of rotatory
shears. The knife A is replaced by an arm G of about the same shape and fixed

page_text: in about the same manner as the knife and to the lower end of which is fixed a
cutting wheel H. This passes under the plate, when the arm G, similarly to the
knife A, is brought down through an opening in the plate. The cutting wheel D
which together with the feeding wheel C is secured on the shaft B passes above the
plate. The operation of cutting with the shears modified in this way will be easily
understood without further description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1
(1.) An apparatus for opening sheet-metal cans, boxes and the like consisting of
two wheels fixed on a rotatory shaft between which wheels a knife is located, the
said knife bearing against one of the wheels and being located at a little distance
from the other wheel which is toothed at the rim, whereby the lid of the can or
box may, after the point of the knife has been pushed down through an opening in
the same, be fed by the toothed wheel towards the other wheel and cut by the
latter and by the knife pressing against it substantially as hereinbefore described.
(2.) In an apparatus, such as that referred to in Claim 1, the use of a feeding
wheel having a rim bevelled at the side turned towards the knife so that the edge
of the lid pressed by the wheel and bearing against the knife may be bent upwards
substantially as hereinbefore described.
(3.) In an apparatus, such as that referred to in Claim 1, the employment of a
pointed knife or a point projecting from the body of the apparatus and against which
the lid of the box may be pressed so that the said knife penetrates the same and
makes an opening through which the other knife may be introduced substantially as
herein before described.
(4.) In an apparatus, such as that referred to in Claim 1, replacing the knife to
be inserted through the lid by an arm, shaped and fixed in the same manner as the
said knife the said arm having a cutting wheel fixed thereto, which, together with
the cutting wheel secured on the shafts, constitutes a pair of rotatory shears
for cutting open the lid of a sheet metal box or can substantially as hereinbefore
described.
(5.) The improved apparatus for opening sheet-metal cans, boxes and the like
herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawing.
(6.) The improved apparatus for opening sheet metal cans, boxes and the like
herein before described and illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawing.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.