Power tool powered can seamer

Abstract

A can seaming apparatus comprising a frame, a can handling assembly and a can seaming assembly. The frame has a bottom end and a top end, an upper mounting plate and a lower mounting member. The can handling assembly has an upper chuck and a lower chuck, the upper and lower chucks configured to releasably retain a can and top therebetween. The can seaming assembly includes a roller frame with a first and second roller, wherein the first and second rollers are directable into contact with the can and top while being retained by the upper and lower chucks. The upper chuck is fixed to an axle that extends through the upper mounting plate, and is rotatably coupled to the upper mounting plate. The axle extends beyond the upper mounting plate and structurally configured to be free from obstruction sufficient to allow a for the operable attachment of a chuck of a power tool. A combination can seaming apparatus and power tool is likewise disclosed, as are methods of operation.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A can seaming apparatus comprising:
 a frame;   an upper chuck fixed to an axle that is rotatably mounted to the frame, the axle having an end configured to be received by a chuck of a power tool;   a lower chuck having an axle extending therefrom, the lower chuck being rotatably mounted to the frame with at least one of the upper chuck and the lower chuck being movable toward and away from each other so as to releasably retain a can therebetween; and   a first roller rotatably movable about an axis and a second roller rotatably movable about an axis, the first and second rollers being translatable relative to the frame toward and away from the upper chuck sufficient to engage the can retained by the upper chuck and lower chuck.   
     
     
         17 . The can seaming apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising the power tool having the chuck. 
     
     
         18 . The can seaming apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the frame further includes a power tool mount adapted to retain the power tool when the chuck receives the end of the axle. 
     
     
         19 . The can seaming apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the power tool mount further comprises a fork defining a slot adapted to receive a body of the power tool. 
     
     
         20 . The can seaming apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the first roller and the second roller are rotatably coupled to a roller frame which is pivotably coupled to the frame, and having a handle extending outwardly from the roller frame, whereupon pivoting of the handle selectively moves each the first roller and the second roller toward and away from the upper chuck. 
     
     
         21 . The can seaming apparatus of  claim 20  further comprising the power tool, with the power tool having an actuator, the power tool being positionable on a first side with the handle being positionable on a second side, to allow for a user to operate the actuator with a first hand and the handle with a second hand. 
     
     
         22 . The can seaming apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the frame comprises:
 a tower portion having a back wall, a first side wall on one side of the back wall, a second side wall a side of the back wall opposite the first side wall, a first side wing extending between the back wall and the first side wall, and being oblique to each, and a second side wing extending between the back wall and the second side wall, and being oblique to each; 
 a base portion having a central region, a first side wall on one side of the central region and a second side wall on a side of the central region opposite the first side wall, the first side wall including a front flange that is insertable through a lower slot of the first side wing of the tower portion and the second side wall including a front flange that is insertable through a lower slot of the second side wing of the tower portion. 
 
     
     
         23 . The can seaming apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the central region of the base portion is perpendicular to the back wall of the tower portion. 
     
     
         24 . The can seaming apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising a shield assembly including:
 a shield having a first side edge, a second side edge, a lower edge and an upper edge, the shield configured so as to extend between the first side wall and the second side wall; 
 a shield frame bracket having a first side flange proximate the first side edge and a second side flange proximate the second side edge; 
 a shield handle extending from a front of the shield; 
 a first side linkage having a first end pivotably coupled to the first side wall and a second end pivotably coupled to the first side flange; 
 a second side linkage having a first end pivotably coupled to the second side wall and a second end pivotably coupled to the second side flange; 
 the handle of the overcenter mechanism is attached to at least one of the handle and the shield proximate the lower edge of the shield, 
 wherein the pivoting the shield by the handle relative to the first side linkage and the second side linkage moves the lower chuck between a lower position and an upper position. 
 
     
     
         25 . The can seaming apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the first side wall includes a notch along a front edge thereof and the second side wall includes a notch along a front edge thereof, with the first side flange of the shield frame bracket engaging with the notch of the first side wall when the lower chuck is in the upper position, and with the second side flange of the shield frame bracket engaging with the notch of the second side wall when the lower chuck is in the upper position. 
     
     
         26 . The can seaming apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the first side wall of the tower portion includes a first foot, the second side wall includes a second foot, the first side wall of the base portion includes a third foot, and the second side wall of the base portion includes a fourth foot, the first, second, third and fourth foot forming a stable base upon which the can seaming apparatus is placeable on an outside surface. 
     
     
         27 . The can seaming apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the tower portion is formed from a single planar sheet, and wherein the base portion is formed from a single planar sheet. 
     
     
         28 . The can seaming apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising an upper cover member positioned over the upper mounting plate, with the axle extending through the upper cover member. 
     
     
         29 . A combination can seaming apparatus and power tool, wherein the can seaming apparatus further comprises:
 a frame;   an upper chuck fixed to an axle that is rotatably mounted to the frame, the axle having an end configured to be received by a chuck of a power tool;   a lower chuck having an axle extending therefrom, the lower chuck being rotatably mounted to the frame with at least one of the upper chuck and the lower chuck being movable toward and away from each other so as to releasably retain a can therebetween; and   a first roller rotatably movable about an axis and a second roller rotatably movable about an axis, the first and second rollers being translatable relative to the frame toward and away from the upper chuck sufficient to engage the can retained by the upper chuck and lower chuck; and   the power tool further a body, an actuator and a chuck, the chuck being releasably attachable to the axle.   
     
     
         30 . The combination of  claim 29  wherein the frame further includes a power tool mount adapted to retain the power tool when the chuck receives the end of the axle. 
     
     
         31 . The combination of  claim 30  wherein the power tool mount further comprises a fork defining a slot adapted to receive a body of the power tool. 
     
     
         32 . The combination of  claim 31  wherein the first roller and the second roller are rotatably coupled to a roller frame which is pivotably coupled to the frame, and having a handle extending outwardly from the roller frame, whereupon pivoting of the handle selectively moves each the first roller and the second roller toward and away from the upper chuck. 
     
     
         33 . The combination of  claim 20  wherein the power tool being positionable on a first side with the handle being positionable on a second side, to allow for a user to operate the actuator with a first hand and the handle with a second hand. 
     
     
         34 . A method of sealing a can comprising the steps of:
 providing a can seaming apparatus comprising:
 a frame; 
 an upper chuck fixed to an axle that is rotatably mounted to the frame, the axle having an end configured to be received by a chuck of a power tool; 
 a lower chuck having an axle extending therefrom, the lower chuck being rotatably mounted to the frame with at least one of the upper chuck and the lower chuck being movable toward and away from each other so as to releasably retain a can therebetween; and 
 a first roller rotatably movable about an axis and a second roller rotatably movable about an axis, the first and second rollers being translatable relative to the frame toward and away from the upper chuck sufficient to engage the can retained by the upper chuck and lower chuck; and 
   providing the power tool, the power tool including a body, an actuator and the chuck;   attaching the chuck to the axle of the upper chuck;   retaining a can with a top between the upper chuck and the lower chuck;   actuating the power tool;   engaging the can with the top by the first roller, and   engaging the can with the top by a second roller.   
     
     
         35 . The method of sealing a can of  claim 34  further comprising the step of:
 placing a shield assembly over the can during the steps of actuating the power tool, engaging the can with the top by the first roller and engaging the can with the top by a second roller.