Patent ID: 7437825

Claim:
A can opener for use with a can comprising a cylindrical wall closed at an end with a circular lid fixed thereto by means of an upstanding rim around the edge of the lid that clamps onto the end of the cylindrical wall, the can opener comprising: a body; a drive wheel for engaging the rim of the can; means for mounting said drive wheel to said body such that said drive wheel is rotatable about a first axis; a cutter wheel; means for mounting said cutter wheel to said body such that said cutter wheel is drivably rotatable about a second axis by said drive wheel; means for mounting a cutting knife to said cutter wheel, said cutting knife moveable on rotation of said cutter wheel to a cutting position in which the cutter knife forms a nip with the drive wheel such that the cutting knife penetrates through the cylindrical wall of the can to provide a cut therein as the opener orbits relatively therearound, wherein said cutting position is defined by a cutting interval corresponding to a segment of rotation of the cutter wheel in which the cutting knife is sufficiently proximal to the drive wheel to form said nip; and intermittent drive means for providing intermittent drive between the drive wheel and the cutter wheel when the cutting knife is in the cutting position to maintain the nip in place for a sufficient cutting interval and to provide a full orbital cut around the cylindrical wall of the can.