Improvements in Can Opening Devices.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1899
Improvements in Can Opening Devices.
We, ROBERT KENDRICK, 4, East Street, Leicester, Agent, and WILLIAM HARDING,
of 10A, Horsefair Street, Leicester, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to devices used for the purpose of opening
hermetically sealed tins or cans containing meat, fish, fowl, fruit, milk and other
foodstuffs and has for its object to provide a can opening device which may be used
with less liability to personal injury and to more expeditiously and easily open such
cans than is possible with the devices at present in use.
The device constituting the present invention comprises a suitable knife
fulcrummed near its cutting end to a bar arranged on its underside to fit over or
partly around the upper edge of the can to be opened and also form what may be
termed a combined guard and a guide for the can while it is being moved by the
operator.
The said bar may be adjustably connected to a stand so as to admit of being
raised or lowered or desired for varying heights of tius, or it may be fixed to.some
part of a bench or counter or in any position in which the device is most suitable
for use.
The can to be opened is placed under the bar as described and sufficient, pressure
is then exerted upon the haft of the knife to cause it to pierce and enter the top of
the can when the latter is partly rotated by hand under the knife each time the
lätter is given a stroke to cut the tin.
Improvements in Can Opening -Devices.
We, ROBERT KENDRICK, Thurcaston, formerly of 4, East Street, Leicester, Agent,
and WILLIAM HARDING, of 10A, Horsefair Street, Leicester, Solicitor, 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 has reference to a new or improved can opening device or apparatus
by the use of which hermetically sealed tins containing meat, fruit, milk, and other

page_text: foodstuffs or commodities may be more easily and expeditiously opened and the
contents of the tin turned out in a more intact condition than is possible with the
can openers at present in use.
The invention will be understood from the following further description in reference
to the accompanying drawings in which.
Figures 1 and 2 are side and front elevations respectively of a can opening
device or apparatus constructed in accordance with one part of this invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional detail on the line X X of Figure 1.
Figure 2B is a sectional detail of the arm.
Figures 3 and 4 are side elevations of a modification shown as fixed to a vertical
and a horizontal support respectively.
Figure 5 is a further modification.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the
figures.
A can opener constructed according to one part of this invention comprises a
stand of convenient construction, an arm rigidly or adjustably fixed thereto and a
suitable knife or cutter, fulcrummed to the said arm.
A stand of convenient formation consists, as will be seen upon reference to
Figures 1 and 2, of a vertical pillar A provided with two or more splayed feet A' as
shown or any suitable base adapted to be fixed to a counter, bench or other fixed
support by screws A².
The pillar is provided with a through slot or aperture A" in which is located a
slider or movable piece B the position of which can be varied within the limits of
the slot A³ to adapt the can opener for use with tins of different heights.
The said slider is reduced in width to pass through the said slot and the said
reduced part constitutes a shank B¹ which is screwthreaded and has placed thereover
a washer B2 and a thumb nut B³.
The tightening of the latter causes the two shoulders B B³ Fig 2ª formed at the
point where the width of the slider is reduced to bind against the pillar on each
side of the slot A3 and thus hold the slider B firmly in position.
The slider is also furnished with two short projecting limbs or knuckles B6 B7
forming a bifurcation in which the end of an arm C is located and allowed to move
freely on a pin connection C¹ therein, the said pin being kept in position by a nut C
on the end thereof.
The arm may be of any convenient length and have fulcrummed thereto at D¹ in
any suitable manner a knife D of the construction shown or otherwise suitable for
can opening purposes.
The part of the arm C adjacent to the fulcrum D¹ of the knife D may be enlarged
or widened as at C³ so as to rest against the exterior side of the tin to be opened
or a groove C' Figs. 2 and 2B may be formed in the underside of the said arm so as
to rest upon and partly embrace the upper edge of the said tin.
Although it is preferable to make the arm C adjustable ou the stand yet
if desired it may be rigidly and non-adjustably attached thereto in any suitable
manner.
It is found that if the knife D is arranged or fulcrummed on the arm C as most
clearly indicated in Figure 2 so that the cutting position of the knife is at an angle
to the side of the tin E, shown in dotted line, the handle of the knife being
directed outwardly and away from the tin, the lid of the latter can be removed
almost intact, leaving a. comparatively clean and smooth edge around the upper
edge of the tin at the point where the lid was attached, thus enabling the contents
to be turned out of the tin in as perfect a condition as that in which they were
placed therein.
A tin so opened will be found to form a very striking contrast to one opened by
an ordinary can opener in which the cut or severed edge is exceedingly jagged and
irregular, invariably to such an extent as to mutilate the sides or exterior of the
contents of the tin, which detracts considerably from the appearance of the latter
when placed upon the table.

page_text: To impart this angle to the knife the arm may be somewhat twisted or arranged
on the skew or the flat part of the arm to which the knife is fulcrummed may be
bevelled somewhat for that
purpose.
It is not essential to the successful working of the present invention that the
knife should be arranged at the cutting angle shown and herein stated although
the best results are obtained from such an arrangement.
In the modifications shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the staud is dispensed with and
the arm C to which the knife D is fulcrummed at D¹ is jointed in any suitable
manner at Cx and at its other end it is movably pivotted at F1 to a plate For
between two of such plates arising from and forming part of a base plate F which
may be fixed by screw F to a bench or horizontal support G as in Fig. 4 or to a
wall or other vertical support II as in Fig. 3.
In some cases instead of jointing the arm it may consist of a single piece C
curved as in Fig. 5 or otherwise and adapted to be attached to a bench or wall in
the manner described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.
The arm in Figs. 3, 4 and adjacent to the knife may be adapted to rest
against the exterior side of the tin being opened, or grooved to rest on the
upper edge thereof as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
The action of the device is as follows :-
The operator grasps with his left hand the cylindrical part of the tin to be
opened and takes hold of the knife with his right hand and holds it in a vertical
position above the top of the tin.
He then brings down the kuife with sufficient force to cause its point to enter
the top of the tin as near as possible to the side thereof.
The tin is then moved up against the enlarged part 03 of the arm or so
that its upper edge is under the groove C+ in the latter. Then while holding
the tin firmly the handle of the knife is pressed down, thereby raising the cutting
edge of the knife under the lid to effect the cutting operation.
The operator then moves the tin slightly round to the right and the knife action
is repeated, the tin continuing to be turned and the knife handle depressed in
succession until the lid is removed when it will be found that the lid has been so
cleanly severed from the tin that when the latter is inverted the contents will drop
out without any trouble whatever and in as good a condition as regards the external
appearance as when placed therein.
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. A can opener consisting of an arm adapted at one end to be fixed to a
wall, bench or other support and a knife fulcrummed to the other end of the said
arm.
2. A can opener consisting of an arm adapted at one end to be fixed to a wall,
bench or other support and a knife fulcrummed at the opposite end of the said arm,
the latter being jointed at a point intermediate of its ends.
3. A can opener consisting of an arm adapted at one end to be fixed to a wall,
bench or other support and at the other end to rest against the side or engage the
upper edge of the can to be opened and a knife fulcrummed to that end of the arm
contiguous to the can to be opened.
4. A can opener consisting of a stand, an arm one end of which is movably
connected to the latter and a kuife fulcrummed to the other end of the said
arm.
5. A can opener consisting of a stand, an arm having one end movably and
adjustably connected thereto and a knife fulcrummed to the other end of the said
arm.
6. A can opener consisting of an arm adapted at one end to be fixed to a bench,
wall or other support and a knife fulcrummed to the other end of the said arm and

page_text: the cutting angle of which is arranged so that the lid is severed close against the
side of the tin substantially as described.
7. A cau opener constructed and operating substantially as described and
illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.
8. A can opener constructed and operating substantially as described and
illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawing.
-
9. A can opener constructed and operating substantially as described and
illustrated in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 18th day of March 1899.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.