Can opener

Kitchen-Modern-Can-Opener

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Corned beef-can opener

HK Canned food Greatwall brand chopped pork and ham can opener key Jan-2012

容器文化ミュージアム (49515199027)

Can opener

A can opener (also known as a tin opener) is a device used to open tin cans (metal cans). Although preservation of food using tin cans had been practiced since at least 1772 in the Netherlands, the first can openers were not patented until 1855 in England and 1858 in the United States. These early openers were basically variations of a knife, but the first can opener with a cutting wheel was invented in 1870. The modern can opener with two handles and a rotating cutting wheel was invented in 1925.

History

The preservation of food in tin cans was first patented by Peter Durand in 1810. Early cans were robust containers, which required ingenuity to open, using whatever tools were available. The first dedicated can opener was patented by Ezra Warner of Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1858. Warner's can opener was adopted by the United States Army during the American Civil War.

In 1870, William Lyman patented a can opener with a rotating cutting wheel. This design was improved in 1925 by the Star Can Company of San Francisco, which added a second, serrated wheel to hold the cutting wheel on the can's rim. This is the basis for the modern can opener.

Types of Can Openers

There are several types of can openers, including:

• Manual can openers: These include the basic lever-type openers and the more advanced rotating wheel openers.
• Electric can openers: These are powered by electricity and automate the process of opening cans.
• Military can openers: Compact and portable, such as the P-38 can opener used by the United States Armed Forces.

Operation

A typical modern can opener consists of a pair of handles, a cutting wheel, and a serrated wheel. The cutting wheel is placed on the rim of the can, and the handles are squeezed together to pierce the lid. The serrated wheel grips the edge of the can, and turning the handle rotates the cutting wheel around the rim, slicing through the lid.

Safety

Modern can openers are designed with safety in mind. Some models feature a smooth-edge cutting mechanism that leaves a safer, non-jagged edge on the can and lid. Electric can openers often have automatic shut-off features to prevent accidents.

Related Pages

• Tin can
• Food preservation
• Peter Durand
• Ezra Warner
• William Lyman
• P-38 can opener
• United States Army
• American Civil War