Opening tool for beverage cans

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11873202-B2
Application number	US-202217745388-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2022
Priority date	Sep 1, 2017
Publication date	Jan 16, 2024
Grant date	Jan 16, 2024

Abstract

The present invention discloses an opening tool for opening and/or removing a tab portion of a beverage can. The opening tool includes a hollow housing. The hollow housing includes a generally cylindrical housing body having a top end, a bottom end, an outer surface, an inner surface and an open cavity extending from a top end towards a bottom end of the housing body. The opening tool further includes one or more claws, having a claw body extending between a claw end portion and a claw tip such that the tip of each of the claws is adapted to be hangingly disposed within the open cavity of hollow housing. In operation, when a beverage can is passed through the hollow housing from the bottom end towards the top end, the claw tip of at least one of the claws engages and pulls-opens the tab portion while the beverage can moves out of the housing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vending machine for dispensing a beverage can, the vending machine comprising:
an elevator shaft having a top end portion and a bottom end portion;
a movement mechanism configured to drive an upward movement of the beverage can from the bottom end portion of the elevator shaft toward the top end portion of the elevator shaft; and
an opening tool including:
a hollow housing defining an open cavity configured to allow the beverage can to pass therethrough; and
an opening mechanism configured to create an opening in the beverage can, wherein the opening mechanism is configured to create the opening in the beverage can prior to the beverage can exiting the vending machine,
wherein the opening tool is at a spaced-apart distance from the top end portion of the elevator shaft; and
wherein the beverage can is opened and then moved vertically along the elevator shaft toward the top end portion.

2. The vending machine of claim 1 , wherein the opening mechanism includes at least one claw configured to engage a tab portion of the beverage can and lift the tab portion of the beverage can to create the opening in the beverage can.

3. The vending machine of claim 2 , wherein the at least one claw includes a plurality of claws positioned about a circumference of the hollow housing and each having a claw tip extending radially into the open cavity.

4. The vending machine of claim 2 , wherein the at least one claw includes an end portion movably connected to the hollow housing, and a claw tip configured to engage the tab portion of the beverage can.

5. The vending machine of claim 2 , wherein the at least one claw has a generally concave shaped body extending towards a claw tip, wherein the claw tip is configured to slide under the tab portion of the beverage can.

6. The vending machine of claim 1 , wherein the movement mechanism includes an elevating platform.

7. The vending machine of claim 1 , wherein the opening mechanism includes a claw, and a tab orienting mechanism for orienting a tab portion of the beverage can in a position adjacent to the claw.

8. The vending machine of claim 7 , wherein the tab orienting mechanism includes a friction wheel configured to rotate the beverage can, and a switch idler configured to sense an orientation of the tab portion of the beverage can.

9. An opening tool for creating an opening in a beverage can, the opening tool comprising:
a hollow housing having a top end, a bottom end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the hollow housing defining an open cavity configured to allow the beverage can to pass therethrough; and
an opening mechanism configured to extend within the open cavity of the hollow housing, wherein the opening mechanism is configured to create an opening in the beverage can upon the beverage can being moved upwardly through the open cavity of the hollow housing;
wherein the opening mechanism includes at least one claw and a tab orienting mechanism for orienting a tab portion of the beverage can in a position adjacent to the claw; and
wherein the tab orienting mechanism includes a friction wheel configured to rotate the beverage can and a switch idler configured to sense an orientation of the tab portion of the beverage can.

10. The opening tool according to claim 9 , wherein the opening mechanism includes the at least one claw pivotably coupled to the hollow housing and having a claw tip being oriented in a downward direction and protruding radially into the open cavity of the hollow housing, wherein the claw tip is configured to engage the tab portion of the beverage can and pivot from the downward direction to an upward direction, whereby the claw tip lifts the tab portion of the beverage can to create the opening in the beverage can.

11. The opening tool of claim 10 , wherein the claw tip is configured to pivot from the downward direction to the upward direction in response to the beverage can moving upwardly through the hollow housing.

12. The opening tool according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one claw includes a plurality of claws positioned about a circumference of the hollow housing and each having a claw tip extending radially into the open cavity.

13. The opening tool of claim 10 , wherein the at least one claw has a generally concave shaped body extending towards the claw tip, wherein the claw tip is configured to slide under the tab portion of the beverage can.

14. The opening tool of claim 9 , further comprising an elevating platform configured to move the beverage can upwardly through the hollow housing.

15. A method for opening and dispensing a beverage can, the method comprising:
engaging a tab portion of the beverage can with a claw of a vending machine, whereby the claw creates a drinking opening in the beverage can; and
moving the opened beverage can upwardly through an elevator shaft of the vending machine and out of the vending machine.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein engaging the tab portion with the claw includes sliding the claw under the tab portion of the beverage can and moving at least one of the claw or the tab portion of the beverage can relative to the other to open the tab portion.

17. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising moving the beverage can upwardly through a hollow cavity defined by a hollow housing as the beverage can moves upwardly through the elevator shaft, the claw being pivotably coupled to the hollow housing.

18. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
determining a location of the tab portion; and
rotating the beverage can relative to the claw to position the tab portion adjacent the claw.

Assignees

• Anheuser Busch Inbev Sa

Inventors

• Gaafar Robert
• Devine Maisie
• O'Riordan Patrick
• Farnsworth Hilary
• Daly Peter
• Swift Doreen
• Cassara Ralph
• Drost Glenn
• Mcgaugh Rodney

Classifications

• B67B7/403 Primary

  adapted for engaging the ring of a pull tab for opening an aperture · CPC title