Can cutter

Abstract

The present invention provides a can cutter that allows for stable and continuous pressure of the cutter part against the can during cutting through simple operation. [Solution] The device comprises a first retaining member and a second retaining member arranged opposite to each other, wherein the second retaining member has a blade portion that extends toward the first retaining member, and the first retaining member includes a drive portion having a gear portion, the gear portion having a first gear provided on an annular portion along the outer edge of the rear end surface of a disc shape, and a second gear having teeth formed on the outer circumferential surface of a small diameter portion surrounded by the annular portion, A stepped portion is formed by the annular portion and the outer circumferential surface of the small-diameter portion, and the blade portion faces the annular portion in the opposing direction. By operating the operating member, a first state and a second state can be selectively realized. In the second state, when the blade portion is pressed against the stepped portion, the drive shaft portion is rotated by operating the drive unit, thereby displacing the position in which the blade portion is pressed against the object, and thus cutting the object.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a can cutter, and particularly to a can cutter used for cutting open the lid of a pail can. [Background Art]

[0002] As can openers for cutting open cans, for example, the can openers disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have been proposed. Patent Document 1 discloses a rotary can opener comprising: a drive wheel provided at an end of a drive shaft for engaging with an upper edge of a can; and a cutter supported by a cutter operation gear so as to be movable, wherein the cutter operation gear is configured to move the cutter toward the drive wheel or away from the drive wheel.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a can opener that cuts a can by clamping the joint wall of the can between: a convex wheel mounted on a tip end of a roll shaft and provided with a plurality of notches on an outer periphery thereof; and a cutting wheel attached to an end of a shaft perpendicular to the roll shaft. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3169281 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 63-54699 [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0005] However, in the rotary can opener described in Patent Document 1 and the can opener described in Patent Document 2, the drive wheel or wheel and the cutter or cutting wheel make contact with the inner and outer surfaces of the can, respectively, while cutting. However, since the drive wheel or wheel and the cutter or cutting wheel are positioned offset from each other in the vertical direction, the contact position and angle with respect to the can tend to change with the displacement of the cutter or cutting wheel. As a result, the cutting trajectory tends to fluctuate vertically, and the cutting width and depth also tend to fluctuate due to the change in the contact angle. Because of these factors, it can be difficult to make a stable cut, and the cut mark may be uneven vertically in the in-plane direction of the can, or the width and depth of the cut may be uneven, resulting in a state where some parts are cut and others remain untouched. This may endanger the worker who removes the lid after cutting, or it may become necessary to make another cut.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a can cutter that can cut the lid from the can body, which allows for stable and continuous pressure of the cutter against the can during cutting with simple operation, enables cutting with a clean cut with minimal deviation in position, width, and depth, and is less likely to leave partial incomplete cuts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the can cutter of the present invention comprises a first holding member and a second holding member arranged opposite to each other, and two support shafts, each inserted into the second holding member with its head positioned on the rear side of the second holding member when the first holding member is the front and the second holding member is the rear in the direction opposite to the first holding member, and the tip of the shaft portion extending along the opposite direction is fixed to the first holding member, and the front end and rear end are held by the first holding member and the second holding member, respectively, and by their elastic force It includes two coil springs that apply a force to the first and second retaining members that causes them to move away from each other in opposing directions, a cam member having a pivot axis in a direction perpendicular to the opposing directions, this pivot axis is along the line connecting the heads of the two support shafts, and an outer surface that is not at a constant distance from the pivot axis is in contact with the back of the second retaining member, an operating member for rotating the cam member around the pivot axis, a cutter portion provided on the second retaining member as an annular outer edge portion that extends toward the first retaining member, and on the first retaining member, along the opposing directions The drive unit comprises a drive shaft portion that extends through the drive shaft portion, and a gear portion provided concentrically with the drive shaft portion at the rear end of the drive shaft portion. The gear portion comprises a first gear having teeth arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive shaft portion on an annular portion along the outer edge of the disc-shaped rear end surface, and a second gear having teeth formed parallel to the axial direction of the drive shaft portion on the outer surface of a small diameter portion that is surrounded by the annular portion at the rear end surface and protrudes rearward in a disc shape from the rear end surface. A step is formed between the annular portion and the outer surface of the small diameter portion, and the blade portion faces the annular portion in the opposing direction, and is operated by the operation of the operating member. The system selectively achieves two states: a first state in which the area of ​​the outer surface closer to the pivot axis is in contact with the back surface, and a second state in which the area of ​​the outer surface further from the pivot axis is in contact with the back surface. In the first state, the blade is separated from the stepped portion by the elastic force of the two coil springs. In the second state, the two coil springs contract and the blade is positioned within the stepped portion. By operating the operating member, the blade is pressed against an object that is in contact with the first and second gears within the stepped portion. In this second state, the drive shaft is rotated by operating the drive unit.It is characterized by cutting the object by displacing the position where the blade is pressed against the object.

[0008] In the can cutter of the present invention, the object to be cut is a can in which the outer edge of the lid is fixed to the upper part of the main body by crimping, and in the second state, it is preferable that the blade portion is pressed against the joint formed by the crimping. With the above configuration, the joint strength is high and reliable and stable cutting can be performed even at joints where the surface is not aligned vertically.

[0009] In the can cutter of the present invention, a disc-shaped guide portion is provided that is rotatable around the central axis of a shaft portion attached to a first holding member. The guide portion is replaceable with a disc shape having an outer diameter corresponding to the shape of the joint portion. In the second state, it is preferable that the guide portion abuts against the main body below the joint portion. With this configuration, by replacing the guide portion with one having a diameter corresponding to the thickness of the joint portion, the contact state between the joint portion and the gear portion, and the contact state between the outer surface of the guide portion and the body of the can can be reliably maintained when moving the can cutter along the joint portion, thereby enabling stable cutting.

[0010] In the can cutter of the present invention, it is preferable that the outer surfaces of the annular portion and the small-diameter portion are perpendicular to each other in the stepped portion, on the surface including the axis of the drive shaft portion. With this configuration, the teeth of the first gear and the second gear can be reliably brought into contact with the outer surface and upper surface of the joint portion, thereby enabling the can cutter to move reliably along the outer edge of the can.

[0011] In the can cutter of the present invention, the operating member is a rod-shaped first operating member with one end fixed to a cam member, and the second holding member is provided with a second operating member fixed so as to extend along the axial direction of the blade, and in the first state the first operating member extends along the opposite direction, and it is preferable to move to the second state by rotating the first operating member around the pivot axis of the cam member to a position parallel to the second operating member. This makes it possible to rotate the cam part easily and reliably.

[0012] In the can cutter of the present invention, it is preferable that the front end of the drive shaft extends from the front surface of the first holding member and is connected to a connecting body, and that the gear part is rotated by operating the connecting body with a tool, thereby moving over the object. This allows cutting work to be easily performed using existing tools. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, the joint to be cut is clamped between the first gear and the blade of the cutter, which are facing each other. As a result, the pressure applied to the joint and the position and angle of the cut by the blade remain stable during the cutting process, providing a can cutter that can cut with a clean cut with minimal wobble in terms of position, width, and depth. Furthermore, since the angle between the first gear and the second gear is 90 degrees at the stepped portion of the drive unit, the movement of the can cutter during cutting can be stabilized, thereby enabling cutting with a cut with minimal wobble. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is an exploded perspective view of a can cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] (a) is a cross-sectional view of the second retaining member in an embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the first retaining member. [Figure 3] (a) is a cross-sectional view of the can cutter in a first state according to an embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the can cutter in a second state according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] (a) is a bottom view of the can cutter in a first state according to an embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a bottom view of the can cutter in a second state according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] (a) is a perspective view of the drive unit in an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the rear, and (b) is a perspective view of the drive unit, viewed from the front. [Figure 6] This is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of Figure 18. [Figure 7] This is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of Figure 12. [Figure 8]It is a diagram illustrating the assembling step of the cutter unit in an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) shows the state before assembling, (b) shows the state where an annular member is inserted into the cutter unit, (c) shows the state where the cutter unit inserted with the annular member is inserted into the support hole, and (d) shows the state where a bolt is inserted through the annular member of (c) and screwed into the support hole, respectively. [Figure 9] It is a perspective view of the can cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention in the second state, as viewed from the front side. [Figure 10] It is a perspective view of the can cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention in the second state, as viewed from the rear side. [Figure 11] (a) is a rear view of the can cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention in the first state, and (b) is a rear view of the can cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention in the second state. [Figure 12] (a) is a side view of the can cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention in the first state, and (b) is a partial cross-sectional view of the can cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention in the first state. [Figure 13] (a) is a side view of the can cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention in the second state, and (b) is a partial cross-sectional view of the can cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention in the second state. [Figure 14] It is a partial cross-sectional view showing the state before the can cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention is set on the joint of a pail can and clamped. [Figure 15] It is a perspective view showing a state where the joint of a pail can is clamped in the can cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] (a) is a cross-sectional view showing the state before a blade is brought into contact with the joint of a pail can in an embodiment of the present invention, (b) is a cross-sectional view showing the state where the blade is inserted near the boundary between the joint and the lid of the pail can, and (c) is a cross-sectional view showing the state after cutting is completed by the blade. [Figure 17] (a) is a perspective view showing the state where the lid has dropped after cutting the pail can in an embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a perspective view showing the state where the dropped lid is taken out upward in (a). [Figure 18]This is a partial cross-sectional view showing the state in which the joint portion of a pail can is being clamped in a can cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] (a) A perspective view showing a first state in which a can cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention is set on the joint of a pail can, and (b) A perspective view showing a second state in which the first operating member is pulled up from the state in (a). [Figure 20] This is a bottom view of the can cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention when it is in a second state and clamping the joint of a pail can. [Figure 21] (a) is a perspective view showing the state after rotating the can cutter 90 degrees along the joint from the state shown in Figure 19(b), and (b) is a perspective view showing the state after rotating it another 90 degrees from the state shown in (a). [Figure 22] (a) is a perspective view showing the state after the can cutter has been rotated another 180 degrees along the joint from the state shown in Figure 21(b), and (b) is a perspective view showing the state in (a) after the lid, which has been cut 360 degrees from the state shown in Figure 19(b), has fallen downward. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Hereinafter, a can cutter according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following explanation, the Z1-Z2 direction in Figure 1 will be referred to as the vertical direction, the X1-X2 direction as the front-back direction, and the Y1-Y2 direction as the left-right direction. The X1-X2 direction and the Y1-Y2 direction are perpendicular to each other, and the XY plane containing them is perpendicular to the Z1-Z2 direction. Also, the view from the top (Z1 side) to the bottom (Z2 side) is sometimes called a plan view.

[0016] The can cutter 10 works by clamping a joint C3 formed by crimping onto a pail can C (see Figures 15 and 16), in which the outer edge of the lid C2 is crimped and fixed to the upper part of the main body C1, with a gear portion 92 positioned on the outside and a blade portion 81 positioned on the inside. With the blade portion 81 cutting into the innermost part of the lid C2 at the joint C3 (Figures 6 and 18), the pail can C is displaced in the circumferential direction, thereby cutting open the lid C2 and making it possible to separate the lid C2 from the main body C1.

[0017] In this embodiment, a steel cylindrical can, called a pail can C, is used as the object to be cut. However, the can cutter 10 according to the present invention can cut objects other than pail cans, cans made of metals other than steel, containers made of materials other than metal, such as synthetic resin, containers with shapes other than cylindrical, and objects with flat or curved surfaces.

[0018] As shown in Figure 1, the can cutter 10 comprises a first holding member 20, a second holding member 30, two support shafts 41 and 42, two coil springs 51 and 52, a cam member 60, a first operating member 71, a second operating member 72, a cutter section 80, and a drive section 90. Each component will be described below.

[0019] <First retaining member, second retaining member> As shown in Figure 1, the first retaining member 20 and the second retaining member 30 are metal members having the same flat plate-like external shape, with a semi-circular cross-section in the front-to-back direction (X1-X2 direction). The first retaining member 20 and the second retaining member 30 are positioned such that the back surface 20b of the first retaining member 20 (see Figure 2(a)), which is positioned at the front, and the front surface 30a of the second retaining member 30 (see Figure 2(b)), which is positioned at the rear, face each other along the front-to-back direction. Hereinafter, the front-to-back direction (X1-X2 direction) may be referred to as the opposing direction, and the back surface 20b and front surface 30a may be referred to as the opposing surfaces. Here, Figures 2(a), (b) and 3(a), (b) are cross-sectional views along the line 2A-2A' in Figure 11.

[0020] As shown in Figures 1 and 2(a), the first retaining member 20 has two first guide holes 21a and 22a drilled in the front-rear direction at positions symmetrical to each other in the left-right direction (Y1-Y2 direction). On the left side (Y1 side), a first retaining hole 21b with a larger diameter is drilled concentrically behind the 21a, and on the right side (Y2 side), a first retaining hole 22b with a larger diameter is drilled concentrically behind the 22a. As a result, the left first guide hole 21a and the first retaining hole 21b penetrate the 20 in the front-rear direction, and the right first guide hole 22a and the first retaining hole 22b also penetrate the first retaining member 20 in the front-rear direction.

[0021] The two first guide holes 21a and 22a have inner diameters that allow the shaft portions 41a and 42a of the support shafts 41 and 42 to pass through, respectively, but these inner diameters are smaller than the diameters of the coil springs 51 and 52. On the other hand, the two first retaining holes 21b and 22b are set to be larger than the diameters of the coil springs 51 and 52. Therefore, when the shaft portions 41a and 42a of the support shafts 41 and 42, and the coil springs 51 and 52 externally fitted to them, are inserted into the first retaining holes 21b and 22b from the rear, the tips of the coil springs 51 and 52 are restricted from being inserted into the first guide holes 21a and 22a and are accommodated in the first retaining holes 21b and 22b, while the support shafts 41 and 42 are inserted into 22a and 22b, respectively (see Figures 3(a) and (b)).

[0022] <Support shaft> As shown in Figure 1, the two support shafts 41 and 42 are made of metal material, have the same shape as each other, and are arranged to extend in the front-rear direction, respectively, and each has a shaft portion 41a and 42a, and a large-diameter head portion 41b and 42b provided at the rear end of the shaft portions 41a and 42a. The two support shafts 41 and 42 are inserted into the second holding member 30 with the head portions 41b and 42b positioned on the rear side (X2 side) of the second holding member 30, respectively, and the shaft portions 41a and 42a extending in the opposing direction (X1-X2 direction) are screwed and fixed to the first holding member 20, respectively. More specifically, when the shaft portions 41a and 42a are inserted into the 21a and 22a of the first retaining member 20, respectively, as shown in Figures 1, 3(a) and 3(b), the tip portions 41c and 42c extend forward (towards X1), and the tip portions 41c and 42c of the two support shafts 41 and 42 are fixed to the first retaining member 20 by screwing a pair of nuts 121b and 121c onto a groove formed on the outer circumferential surface of the tip portion 41c via a washer 121a, and a pair of nuts 122b and 122c onto a groove formed on the outer circumferential surface of the tip portion 42c via a washer 122a. In this state, the second retaining member 30 is displaceable relative to the two support shafts 41 and 42 along the front-rear direction.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the head portions 41b and 42b are formed with support holes 41d and 42d, respectively, which penetrate in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft portions 41a and 42a. The support holes 41d and 42d are arranged along the left-right direction (Y1-Y2 direction) when assembling the support shafts 41 and 42 to the first holding member 20 and the second holding member 30, and the shaft member 101 that rotatably supports the cam member 60 is inserted through them. After the shaft member 101 is inserted through the heads 41b and 42b, the fastener 102 is fitted into the recess 101a located on the left side of the head 41b, the fasteners 103 and 104 are fitted into the recesses 101b and 101c located on the left and right sides of the cam member 60, respectively, and the fastener 105 is fitted into the recess 101d located on the right side of the right head 42b, thereby becoming one with the heads 41b and 42b and fixing its position in the left-right direction (see Figures 10(a), (b), and 11(a), (b)). In this embodiment, two support shafts 41 and 42 are used, but three or more support shafts may be provided.

[0024] <Coil spring> The two coil springs 51 and 52 are made of metal, have the same shape, and are externally fitted onto the two support shafts 41 and 42, respectively, as shown in Figures 3(a) and (b). Both ends are housed in the first holding holes 21b and 22b of the first holding member 20 and the second holding holes 31a and 32a of the second holding member 30, respectively. Their elastic force exerts a force on the first holding member 20 and the second holding member 30 that causes them to move away from each other in opposing directions. More specifically, as shown in Figures 1, 3(a) and (b), the front ends 51a and 52a are located in the first holding holes 21b and 22b of the first holding member 20, respectively, and the rear ends 51b and 52b are located in the second holding holes 31a and 32a of the second holding member 30, respectively (see Figures 2(a) and (b)).

[0025] The two coil springs 51 and 52 have their front ends 51a and 52 abutting against the inner surfaces 21c and 22c of the first retaining holes 21b and 21b, respectively, where the opening diameter increases towards the rear, and their rear ends 51b and 52b abutting against the stepped connecting portions 31c and 32c that form the boundary with the second guide holes 31b and 32b, respectively, in the second retaining holes 31a and 32a (see Figures 3(a) and 3(b), and Figures 2(a) and 2(b)). These contact states are maintained by the elastic force of the coil springs 51 and 52 as they tend to extend in the front-rear direction, regardless of whether the distance between the first retaining member 20 and the second retaining member 30 is different, as shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b), depending on the rotational state of the cam member 60.

[0026] <Drive Unit> As shown in Figures 5(a), (b) and 7, the drive unit 90 is formed by shaping a metal material and comprises a drive shaft portion 91 arranged along the front-rear direction, an intermediate shaft portion 96 concentrically connected to the rear side (X2 side) of the drive shaft portion 91 and having a larger diameter than the drive shaft portion 91, and a gear portion 92 concentrically connected to the rear side of the intermediate shaft portion 96.

[0027] The gear section 92 includes a first gear 93, a second gear 94, and a stepped section 95 as a positioning section. The first gear 93 has a circular disc-shaped rear end surface with a larger diameter than the intermediate shaft portion 96, and a ring portion 93c along the outer edge of this ring portion 93c has multiple teeth 93a arranged at regular intervals in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction (X1-X2 direction) of the drive shaft portion 91.

[0028] The second gear 94 has a small diameter portion that protrudes rearward in a disc shape within the area enclosed by the annular portion 93c on the first gear 93 where the teeth are formed, and multiple teeth 94a are formed on its outer circumferential surface at regular intervals parallel to the axial direction of the drive shaft portion 91. The circular plane of the disc-shaped second gear 94 constitutes the rear end surface 90a of 90.

[0029] <First retaining member> As shown in Figure 2(b), the first retaining member 20 includes a central hole 23a and a first accommodating hole 23b, which are concentrically drilled in the front-to-back direction, starting from the front side (X1 side), at the center in the left-to-right direction. The first accommodating hole 23b is formed with a larger diameter than the central hole 23a. The central hole 23a and the first accommodating hole 23b, which are continuous in the front-to-back direction, penetrate the first retaining member 20.

[0030] The central hole 23a and the first housing hole 23b have an inner diameter through which the drive shaft portion 91 of the drive unit 90 can be inserted, but this inner diameter is set to be smaller than the diameter of the intermediate shaft portion 96 and the gear portion 92. Also, the inner diameter of the first housing hole 23b is larger than the diameter of the intermediate shaft portion 96 and smaller than the diameter of the gear portion 92. Therefore, when the drive unit 90 is inserted from the rear (X2 side) with the drive shaft portion 91 facing forward, the drive shaft portion 91 is inserted into the central hole 23a, the intermediate shaft portion 96 is housed in the first housing hole 23b and its movement is restricted, and the gear portion 92 is restricted by the rear surface 20b and is not housed in the first housing hole 23b.

[0031] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, an annular fixing member 97 is screwed into and fixed to the first housing hole 23b. The inner diameter of the fixing member 97 is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the intermediate shaft portion 96. By inserting the intermediate shaft portion 96 into the fixing member 97 fixed to the first housing hole 23b from the rear, the drive shaft portion 91 is inserted into the central hole 23a, and the gear portion 92 extends rearward from the back surface 20b of the first holding member 20. The fixing member 97 is made of a material with sufficient strength and durability to reliably hold the drive unit 90 inside the first holding member 20 even during the cutting operation by the can cutter 10, such as a metal material or synthetic resin.

[0032] The bottom surface 20c of the first retaining member 20 is provided with two bottomed holes (not shown) drilled upward at symmetrical positions. As shown in Figures 1, 4(a), and 4(b), two guide members 25 and 26 are attached to each hole, each having a shape in which shaft portions 25b and 26b extend upward from disc-shaped guide portions 25a and 26a, respectively, and are rotatable around the central axis of the shaft portions 25b and 26b.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4(a), the guide portions 25a and 26a of the guide members 25 and 26 have a diameter such that the rearmost position of their outer peripheral surface is approximately the same in the front-rear direction as the rear end surface 90a of the drive unit 90 fixed to the first holding member 20 (see Figure 5) (position P in Figure 4(a)).

[0034] <Second retaining member> As shown in Figures 1 and 2(a), the second retaining member 30 has two second retaining holes 31a and 32a drilled in the front-rear direction at positions symmetrical to each other in the left-right direction (Y1-Y2 direction). A second guide hole 31b with a smaller inner diameter is drilled concentrically behind the left second retaining hole 31a, and a second guide hole 32b with a smaller inner diameter is drilled concentrically behind the right second retaining hole 32a. As a result, the left second retaining hole 31a and the second guide hole 31b penetrate the second retaining member 30 in the front-rear direction, and the right second retaining hole 32a and the second guide hole 32b also penetrate the second retaining member 30 in the front-rear direction.

[0035] The two second guide holes 31b and 32b have inner diameters through which the shaft portions 41a and 42a of the support shafts 41 and 42 can be inserted, respectively. These inner diameters are set to be smaller than the diameters of the heads 41b and 42b of the support shafts 41 and 42, and the diameters of the coil springs 51 and 52. On the other hand, the two second retaining holes 31a and 32a are set to be larger than the diameters of the coil springs 51 and 52. Therefore, when the shaft portions 41a and 42a of the support shafts 41 and 42 are inserted into the second guide holes 31b and 32b from the rear, the heads 41b and 42b are restricted by the second guide holes 31b and 32b and cannot be inserted, while the shaft portions 41a and 42a extend forward of the second retaining member 30 through the second retaining holes 31a and 32a, respectively.

[0036] When the two coil springs 51 and 52 are externally fitted onto the shaft portions 41a and 42a, which extend forward from the second retaining member 30, from the front side (X1 side), the rear ends 51b and 52b of the coil springs 51 and 52 are restricted from being inserted into the second guide holes 31b and 32b, and are housed within the second retaining holes 31a and 32a, and come into contact with the connecting portions 31c and 32c, respectively (see Figures 3(a) and (b)).

[0037] As shown in Figure 2(a), a bottomed second housing recess 33 is provided in the center of the second holding member 30 in the left-right direction, drilled from the front surface 30a. The second housing recess 33 has an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the gear portion 92 and has a depth in the front-rear direction that is capable of accommodating the second gear 94, the stepped portion 95, and at least a part of the first gear 93 (see Figures 14 and 18).

[0038] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, when the first retaining member 20 and the second retaining member 30 are positioned opposite each other such that the back surface 20b and the front surface 30a face each other, the first retaining holes 21b, 22b and the first housing hole 23b of the first retaining member 20 and the second retaining holes 31a, 32a and the second housing recess 33 of the second retaining member 30 are positioned concentrically in corresponding locations.

[0039] As shown in Figure 1, a bottomed fixing hole 36 is provided in the center of the upper surface of the second retaining member 30, drilled downwards. A groove is formed on the inner surface of this fixing hole 36, into which the tip 72a of the second operating member 72 can be screwed in. With this configuration, the second operating member 72, which is made of metal and has a rod-like shape, can be screwed in and fixed in a state where it extends in the vertical direction.

[0040] <Cutter section> As shown in Figures 2, 3(a), (b), 6, 7, and 8(a), (b), (c), and (d), the bottom surface of the second holding member 30 is provided with a bottomed support hole 37 drilled upward (towards Z1). A cutter section 80, which has a rotationally symmetrical, outward-facing circular blade section 81 with an annular material 82 inserted inside, is inserted into this support hole 37 from below (towards Z2). By screwing a bolt 83, which is inserted through the cutter section 80 and the annular material 82, into the support hole 37, the cutter section 80 is held in a state that allows it to rotate around the central axis of the bolt 83. The cutter section 80 follows the change in rotational position when the can cutter 10 is pressed against the joint C3 and rotated around the pail can C. Here, Figures 6, 7, 12(b), 13(b), 14, and 18 are cross-sectional views along the line 6A-6A' in Figure 4(a).

[0041] <Cam component> As shown in Figure 1, the cam member 60 has a hole 61 that penetrates along the left-right direction (Y1-Y2 direction), and the shaft member 101 inserted through the support shafts 41 and 42 is inserted through this hole 61. As a result, the cam member 60 becomes rotatable with the central axis 61x (Figure 10) of the hole 61 as the pivot axis along the direction perpendicular to the opposing direction (X1-X2 direction).

[0042] The cam member 60 is made of a metal material, and the outer surface of the hole 61 around the central axis 61x is not at a constant distance from the central axis 61x as a pivot axis, and comprises at least a flat surface 62 and a curved surface 63 whose distance from the central axis 61x is smaller than that of the flat surface 62.

[0043] As shown in Figure 12(b), the cam member 60 is provided with a bottomed fixing hole 64 drilled from the outer circumferential surface toward the hole 61 at a position opposite to the curved surface 63 with respect to the hole 61, and the tip portion 71a of the rod-shaped first operating member 71, which is made of metal, is screwed into and fixed to this fixing hole 64.

[0044] As shown in Figures 12(a), (b) and 13(a), (b), the first operating member 71 can be rotated around the central axis 61x by the cam member 60. When the first operating member 71 is in a position extending in the front-rear direction (Figures 12(a), (b)), the cam member 60 is in a first state S1 in which the curved surface 63 is in contact with the back surface 30b of the second holding member 30. When the first operating member 71 is rotated around the central axis 61x to be in a position extending in the vertical direction (Figures 13(a), (b)), it is in a second state S2 in which the flat surface 62 of the cam member 60 is in contact with the back surface 30b of the second holding member 30. As shown in Figures 13(a), (b), the first operating member 71 has a length such that in the second state its upper end is at the same position as the upper end of the second operating member 72. Because of this shape, the operator can easily perform the operation of raising the first operating member 71 from the first state to the second state against the elastic force of the coil springs 51 and 52.

[0045] As shown in Figures 5(a) and 7, the second gear 94 protrudes further rearward (towards X2) than the first gear 93, so that the annular portion 93c on which the teeth 93a of the first gear 93 are formed and the outer circumferential surface on which the teeth 94a of the second gear 94 are formed form a stepped portion 95 that serves as a positioning portion. Here, the annular portion 93c on which the teeth 93a of the first gear 93 are formed and the outer circumferential surface on which the teeth 94a of the second gear 94 are formed are formed at right angles to each other. The annular portion 93c is a positioning portion in the front-rear direction, and the outer circumferential surface on which the teeth 94a are formed is a positioning portion in the up-down direction. In addition, the position of the rear end surface 90a of the second gear 94 in the front-rear direction is approximately the same as the rearmost position P of the outer circumferential surfaces of the guide members 25 and 26 (see Figure 4(a)). As a result, when the can cutter 10 is moved along the joint C3, the contact between the joint C3 and the gear part 92, and the contact between the outer surfaces of the guide parts 25 and 26 and the body C1 of the can C can be reliably maintained, thus enabling stable cutting.

[0046] The intermediate shaft portion 96 has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the fixing member 97 and the same length in the front-rear direction as the fixing member 97. Therefore, as shown in Figures 3(a) and (b), the intermediate shaft portion 96 can be inserted into the internal space of the fixing member 97 and housed without extending from the fixing member 97 in the front-rear direction.

[0047] As shown in Figures 1 and 7, the cutter portion 80 has a rotationally symmetrical shape and has a blade portion 81 that extends outward at its lower part. The blade portion 81 extends in a circular shape when viewed from above and is positioned to face the area below the second gear 94 of the stepped portion 95 in the opposing direction (X1-X2 direction).

[0048] As shown in Figures 1, 5(a), and 5(b), the drive shaft portion 91 of the drive unit 90 is provided with a locking hole portion 91a that penetrates in a direction perpendicular to the central axis 90x of the drive unit 90. As shown in Figure 14, when the drive shaft portion 91 is inserted into the first retaining member 20, the tip portion including the locking hole portion 91a extends forward of the front surface 20a of the first retaining member 20, and a cylindrical connector 110 is fitted onto this extended portion.

[0049] The connector 110 is provided with a hole 110a that penetrates the connector 110 in a direction perpendicular to its central axis 110x (see Figure 9). When the connector 110 is fitted onto the extension portion of the drive unit 90 from the first holding member 20, and the rear end surface of the connector 110 is brought into contact with the front surface 20a of the first holding member 20, the locking hole 91a of the drive unit 90 and the hole 110a of the connector 110 are positioned at the same location in the front-rear direction, thereby creating a hole that communicates in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and passes through the connector 110 and the drive unit 91. By press-fitting and fixing the connecting pins 111 and 112 into this hole, the drive unit 90 and the connector 110 are integrated, and by rotating the connector 110 around its central axis 110x, the drive unit 90 can be rotated.

[0050] As shown in Figure 15, one of the various tools T1, T2, or T3 (examples) is mounted inside the connector 110, and the connector 110 is rotated by the movement of the tool, thereby rotating the drive pair 90 around its central axis 90x. The inner surface of the connector 110 has a polygonal cross-section perpendicular to the central axis 110x of the connector 110, such as a hexagon or a square. Tools with mounting parts corresponding to this shape, such as a ratchet wrench, air ratchet, impact wrench, or air impact wrench, are mounted and operated. Here, it is preferable to use a tool with a ratchet mechanism, such as a ratchet wrench or air ratchet, as this makes it easier to stabilize the rotation of the drive unit 90 and thus easier to finish the cut surface cleanly.

[0051] As shown in Figure 6, the front-to-back length D1 of the stepped portion 95, in other words, the height at which the second gear 94 protrudes rearward from the first gear 93, is preferably the same as the thickness D2 of the connecting portion C3. The radial length H1 of the gear portion 92 of the stepped portion 95, in other words, the amount of radial displacement between the first gear 93 and the second gear 94, is preferably the same as the vertical height of the connecting portion C3. In this relationship, the connecting portion C3 is positioned to just fill the space of the stepped portion 95, and the first gear 93 and the second gear 94 are formed to be perpendicular to each other. Therefore, during the cutting process, the connecting portion C3 can rotate along the outer edge of the pail can C while stably maintaining contact between the outer surface C3b and the upper surface C3a of the connecting portion C3. Accordingly, it is preferable to set the lengths D1 and H1 according to the shape of the connecting portion C3.

[0052] As shown in Figures 6, 7, 14, 18, and 20, the blade portion 81 is positioned to cut into the lid portion C2 and the joint portion C3 near the boundary between them in the vertical direction (Z1-Z2 direction). In this cut state (Figure 16(b)), the can cutter 10 is moved along the outer circumference of the pail can C by rotating the drive unit 90, causing C2 to be separated near the boundary with the joint portion C3. Once the entire circumference of the pail can C is cut, the lid portion C2 is severed from the joint portion C3 (Figure 17(a)). Here, Figures 16(a), (b), and (c) are cross-sectional views in the vertical direction of the position where the blade portion 81 is in contact with the joint portion C3, but hatching has been omitted for structural clarity.

[0053] The following describes the process of cutting the pail can C using the can cutter 10. (1) Installation process First, as shown in Figure 19(a), the can cutter 10 is positioned in a first state S1 in which the first operating member 71 extends in the front-rear direction (X1-X2 direction) and the second operating member 72 extends in the up-down direction (Z1-Z2 direction), so that the circular joint portion C3 in plan view of the pail can C is sandwiched between the first holding member 20 and the second holding member 30. More specifically, as shown in Figure 7, the blade portion 81 and the stepped portion 95 are separated by a predetermined distance, and then, as shown in Figure 14, the joint portion C3 is positioned between the blade portion 81 and the stepped portion 95 (see Figures 3(a), 11(a), 12(a), (b), 4(a), and 16(a)).

[0054] (2)Pinching / engraving process Next, as shown in Figure 19(b), the first operating member 71 is rotated to a second state S2 where it is parallel to the second operating member 72. In this operation, as shown in Figures 3(a) and 14, the curved surface 63 is in contact with the back surface 30b of the second holding member 30. However, due to the rotation of the cam member 60 around the hole 61 caused by the operation of the first operating member 71, the plane 62, which is further from the hole 61 than the curved surface 63, comes into contact with the back surface 30b of the second holding member 30, as shown in Figures 3(b) and 18 (see Figures 3(b), 9, 10, 11(b), 13(a), (b), 18, and 4(b)).

[0055] In the second state S2, relative to the first retaining member 20, whose position remains unchanged compared to the first state S1, the second retaining member 30 is displaced forward against the elastic force of the two coil springs 51 and 52 so as to approach the first retaining member 20. As a result, as shown in Figures 6, 16(b), and 18, the coupling portion C3 is clamped between the blade portion 81 and the first gear 93, and the blade portion 81 is engraved into the lid portion C2 and the coupling portion C3 near the boundary between the lid portion C2 and the coupling portion C3 (see Figure 20).

[0056] (3) Incision process In the second state S2 shown in Figure 19(b), one of the tools T1, T2, or T3 illustrated in Figure 15 is fitted inside 110, and the connecting body 110 is rotated around its central axis 110x by operating the tool, causing the drive unit 90 to rotate together with the connecting body 110. As a result, the teeth 94a of the second gear 94 engage with the upper surface C3a (Figure 6) of the joint C3, and the second gear 94 rotates around the central axis 90x, causing the drive unit 90 to move along the circumferential direction of the pail can C. During this movement, the elastic force of the two coil springs 51 and 52 and the surface configuration of the stepped portion 95 maintain contact between the outer surface C3b (Figure 6) of the joint C3 and the teeth 93a of the first gear 93, allowing for accurate and stable movement. During this movement, the blade portion 81 rotates driven by contact with the pail can C, cutting open the engraved lid portion C2 and joint portion C3. Figure 21(a) shows the state after a 90-degree rotation in the circumferential direction, Figure 21(b) shows the state after a 180-degree rotation, and Figure 22(a) shows the state just before a 360-degree rotation.

[0057] (3) Separation process Figure 22(b) shows the state in which the lid C2 is separated from the joint C3 and falls off by moving the can cutter 10 360 degrees around the pail can C. In this state, as shown in Figures 16(c) and 17(a), the end of the lid C2 is separated from the joint C3 and the lid C2 falls downward. The lid C2 is then removed from the main body C1 to the outside, as shown in Figure 17(b).

[0058] As configured as described above, according to the above embodiment, the joint portion C3 to be cut is clamped between the first gear 93 and the blade portion 81 of the cutter portion 80, which are facing each other. Therefore, the pressure applied to the joint portion C3 and the position and angle of the cut by the blade portion 81 are stable during the cutting process, resulting in a clean cut with minimal wobble in terms of position, width, and depth. Furthermore, since the angle between the first gear 93 and the second gear 94 is 90 degrees at the stepped portion 95 of the drive unit 90, the movement of the can cutter 10 during cutting can be stabilized, thereby enabling a cut with minimal wobble. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0059] 10 Can cutters 20 First retaining member 20a Front surface of the first retaining member 20b Back surface of the first retaining member 20c Bottom surface of the first retaining member 21a, 22a First guide hole 21b, 22b 1st holding hole 21c, 22c inner surface 23a Center hole 23b First housing opening 25, 26 Guide members 25a, 26a Guide section 30 Second retaining member 30a Front surface of the second retaining member 30b Back surface of the second retaining member 31a, 32a 2nd holding hole 31b, 32b Second guide hole section 31c, 32c connection 33. Second accommodating recess 36 Fixing hole 37 Support hole 41, 42 Support shaft 41a, 42a shaft part 41b, 42b head 41c, 42c tip 41d, 42d Support hole 51, 52 Coil springs 51a, 52a Front end of coil spring 51b, 52b Rear end of coil spring 60 Cam component 61 Hole 61x Central axis (rotation axis) 62 Plane (outer surface) 63 Curved surface (outer surface) 64 Fixed hole 71 First operating member 71a Tip of the first operating member 72 Second operating member 72a Tip of the second operating member 80 Cutter section 81 Blade part 82 Ring Material 83 volts 90 Drive unit 90a Rear end surface of the drive unit 90x Drive unit central axis 91 Drive shaft section 91a Locking hole 92 Gear section 93 First gear 93a Teeth of the first gear 93c Circular section 94 Second gear (small diameter section) 94a Teeth of the second gear 95 Step section 96 Intermediate shaft section 97 Fixing member 101 Shaft member 110 Connector 110x Central axis of the connector C. Pail can C1 Main Unit C2 Lid C3 joint C3a Upper surface of the joint C3b Outer surface (front) of the joint S1 First state S2 Second state

Claims

1. A first retaining member and a second retaining member are arranged facing each other, In the opposing directions between the first and second holding members, with the first holding member facing the front and the second holding member facing the rear, the two support shafts are inserted into the second holding member with their heads positioned on the rear side of the second holding member, and the tips of the shafts extending along the opposing directions are fixed to the first holding member. Two coil springs are externally fitted onto the two support shafts, respectively, and their front and rear ends are held by the first and second retaining members, respectively, and their elastic force exerts a force on the first and second retaining members that causes them to move away from each other in the opposing direction. A cam member having a pivot axis aligned in a direction perpendicular to the opposing direction, the pivot axis aligning with the line connecting the heads of the two support shafts, and an outer surface whose distance from the pivot axis is not constant abutting against the back surface of the second holding member, An operating member for rotating the cam member around the pivot axis, In the second holding member, the blade portion provided as an annular outer edge is provided with a cutter portion that extends toward the first holding member, The first retaining member includes a drive shaft portion inserted so as to extend along the opposing direction, and a drive unit having a gear portion provided concentrically with the drive shaft portion at the rear end of the drive shaft portion, Equipped with, The gear section comprises a first gear having teeth arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive shaft on an annular portion along the outer edge of the rear end surface of the disc shape, and a second gear having teeth formed parallel to the axial direction of the drive shaft on the outer circumference of a small-diameter portion that is surrounded by the annular portion at the rear end surface and protrudes rearward in a disc shape from the rear end surface. A stepped portion is formed by the annular portion and the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion. The blade portion is directly facing the annular portion in the opposing direction. By operating the aforementioned operating member, a first state is achieved in which the region of the outer surface that is close to the pivot axis is brought into contact with the back surface, and a second state is achieved in which the region of the outer surface that is far from the pivot axis is brought into contact with the back surface. In the first state, the blade portion is separated from the stepped portion by the elastic force of the two coil springs, and in the second state, the two coil springs contract and the blade portion is located within the stepped portion. A can cutter characterized in that, by operating the operating member, the blade portion is pressed against an object that is in contact with the first gear and the second gear within the stepped portion, and in this second state, the drive shaft portion is rotated by operating the drive unit, thereby displacing the position in which the blade portion is pressed against the object, and cutting the object.

2. The object is a can in which the outer edge of the lid is fixed to the upper part of the main body by crimping, and in the second state, the blade is pressed against the joint formed by the crimping. The can cutter according to claim 1.

3. It comprises a disc-shaped guide portion that is rotatable around the central axis of the shaft portion attached to the first holding member, The guide portion is replaceable with the disc shape having an outer diameter corresponding to the shape of the joint portion. In the second state, the guide portion abuts against the main body below the connecting portion. The can cutter according to claim 2.

4. In the stepped portion, the annular portion and the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion are perpendicular to each other in the plane containing the axis of the drive shaft portion. The can cutter according to claim 1.

5. The operating member is a rod-shaped first operating member whose end is fixed to the cam member, The second holding member is provided with a second operating member fixed so as to extend along the axial direction of the blade portion. The first operating member extends along the opposing direction in the first state, The second state is achieved by rotating the first operating member around the pivot axis of the cam member to a position parallel to the second operating member. The can cutter according to claim 1.

6. The front end of the drive shaft extends from the front surface of the first holding member and is connected to a connector. By manipulating the connector with a tool, the gear is rotated, thereby moving the drive shaft over the object. The can cutter according to claim 1.

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