From DDL Wiki
Product Dissection
The following notes were taken prior to and during product dissection.
Function/Purpose:
This can opener provides a low effort method to opening any size can.
Inputs/Outputs:
- INPUTS: Battery Power
- INPUTS: Positioning of opener
- INPUTS: Press button until unit begins to move
- OUTPUTS: Cut through can to open
- OUTPUTS: Rotates around can
Use:
1. Opener is removed from storage place and placed in position on top of can.
2. Button is held until opener begins to move.
3. Let go and wait for opener to finish.
- If the can is larger than a standard soup can multiple cycles must be used.
4. Lift the opener off of the can.
- Because of the magnet, this also lifts the top off of the can.
5. Remove top of can from opener and replace opener in storage place.
Functional Operation:
1. Opener is positioned on can, which presses a safety switch.
2. Button on top is pressed to close main circuit using manual switch.
3. Motor engages and turns several gears to drive movement wheel and move the cutting wheel into position.
- There are four gears used to gear down the movement wheel, with a fifth gear to further slow the cutting wheel.
4. As cutting wheel gets into position, the main circuit is closed using an automatic switch that is pressed by the top of the cutting wheel shaft.
5. The cutting wheel is even further geared down using a secondary portion to its gear. This allows it to rotate roughly ten degrees about six times through the cutting process.
6. When the cycle is nearly completed the cutting wheel is retracted again and the automatic switch is released, stopping the opener.
7. A magnet on the underside of the opener lifts the top of the can with it when the opener is lifted off.
Components
The can opener has several components and electrical assemblies. It appears that most are purchased from suppliers while casings are injection molded in house. Some components seem like they could be removed to allow for a faster and easier assembly. Also, with a large enough scale of production, it may be beneficial to begin making some of the injection molded gears in house as well. Much more detail as to what individual components are used, what their purpose is, and their likely manufacturing processes.
Part Number | Part Name | Qty | Function | Manufacturing Process | Picture
|
001
| Battery Casing | 1 |
- Encloses batteries
- Protects against cutting wheel
- Holds magnet
| Injection Molded Plastic |
|
002
| Lower Shell | 1 |
- Holds Batteries
- Holds internal components
| Injection Molded Plastic
|
003
| Upper Shell | 1 |
- Holds button in place
- Holds internal components
| Injection Molded Plastic |
|
004
| Screws(large) | 7 |
- Used to fasten top and bottom cases together
| Cast |
|
005
| Pressure switch | 2 |
- Safety feature to make sure battery casing is on
- Safety feature to make sure opener is positioned on can
| Electrical Switch, Stamped Sheet Metal and plastic housing
|
006
| Movement Wheel | 1 |
- Provides pressure so that cutting wheel can pierce can
- Rotates opener around can
| Cast or Forged
|
007
| Cap Screw | 1 |
- Attaches cutting wheel to gearing
| Cast
|
008
| Washer | 1 |
- Provides adequate spacing between cap screw and cutting wheel
| Stamped |
|
009
| Cutting Wheel | 1 |
- Cuts through can to remove lid
| Stamped |
|
010
| Magnet | 1 |
- Keeps opener mounted to can lid
- Lifts top of can off when opener is lifted off
| Cast |
|
011
| Reverse Switch | 1 |
- Reverses the direction of the motor
| Electrical Switch, Injection Molded Plastics
|
012
| Manual Pinion | 1 |
- Allows manual rotation of the gear system using a screwdriver
| Injection Molded Plastic
|
013
| Positive Terminal | 2 |
- Attaches to positive end of battery
| Stamped
|
014
| Negative Terminal | 2 |
- Attahced to negative end of battery
| Stamped
|
015
| Main button | 1 |
- Initially turns on power to engage motor
| Injection Molded Plastic |
|
016
| Internal Switch | 2 |
- Completes circuit to power motor
| Stamped Metal and Injection Molded Plastics
|
017
| Switch Spacer | 1 |
- Spreads switch blades so it is only engaged when button is pressed
| Injection Molded Plastics
|
018
| Screw(small) | 1 |
- Mounts Switch Spacer to Upper Shell
| Cast
|
019
| Motor | 1 |
- Drives geartrain, movement wheel, and cutting wheel
| Electrical Assembly, Case Drawn |
|
020
| Circuit Board | 1 |
- Allows reverse switch to reverse the motor's polarity
| Electrical Assembly, single layer copper
|
021
| Motor Pinion | 1 |
- Transfers motor rotation to geartrain
| Injection Molded Plastics
|
022
| Ratio Gears | 3 |
- Gear down motor output to usable speed and torque
| Injection Molded Plastics
|
023
| Movement Gear | 1 |
- Drives the movement wheel
- Drives the cutting gear
| Injection Molded Plastics
|
024
| Bent Pin | 1 |
- Attaches movement gear to movement wheel
| Wire drawn or extruded
|
025
| Cutting Gear | 1 |
- Moves cutting wheel into position
- Slowly rotates cutting wheel
| Injection Molded Plastic
|
026
| Slow Drive Gear | 1 |
- Moves the cutting gear slowly while engaged
| Injection Molded Plastic
|
027
| Shaft | 6 |
| Extruded
|
The geartrain is very compact although it does allow for a large conversion from motor speed to torque allowing for an easily made cut.
DFMA, FMEA, DFE Analysis