Abstract: An apparatus for recycling used oil filters is disclosed wherein an oil filter canister of the type having a base portion and a cover portion enclosing a pleated filter element is placed in a separating means wherein the filter cover is separated or cut from the filter base to expose the pleated filter element. The oil filter cover is sent to a crusher, while the pleated filter element is sent to a spin means or centrifuge to remove excess oil therefrom. Miscellaneous parts are then removed from the oil filter and sent to scrap bin. The pleated filter element, having the oil removed, is suitable for use in landfills. The separating means and the spin means provide for the collection of used motor oil in an oil reservoir.

Abstract: An oil filter recycler for severing the casing of an automotive oil filter, for separating the filter into its components for recycling, and for removing engine waste oil for environmentally safe disposal, characterized by a turntable for rotating a cylindrically shaped filter about its' axis and a knife for severing the casing of the filter as it is rotated. The turntable is rotatable either manually or automatically. The knife is radially adjustable relative to the axis of the turntable. A releasable ratchet pawl spring biased for engagement with a rotatable threaded rod on a slidable knife holder provides for slidable, rotatable adjustment of the knife, and for quick release and retraction of the knife.

Abstract: An electric powered can opener has a housing, a feed gear that is motor connected and rotatably mounted to drive and rotate a can by holding it by its rim. An operating lever is pivoted above the gear on the housing and carries a cutter mechanism to remove the can lid. To this conventional arrangement an improvement is added in the cutter mechanism of a non-round cutter wheel connected to and movable by the lever and having a lobed or flat portion within the periphery and oriented so that the cutter wheel is substantially stationary as it is pulled into the can lid such that the meeting edge of the periphery at the flat and round periphery provides a power pierce whereupon the cutter wheel then rotates for a clean severing of the can lid. The cutter is preferably a dish-shaped cutter with a hollow ground flat or lobe portion. The lever is preferably spring biased for rotation toward the can at all times and has a slidable switch actuator that is linkage-connected to the lever for manual operation.

Abstract: A method and tools for forming a hermetically sealed container from a previously used can characterized by removing a portion of a top of a can radially inward of an inward edge of an annular depression of the top to form an opening, placing a continuous sealing member in the annular depression, assemblying a lid on a top with the lid having an annular shoulder for engaging the sealing member and an annular flange which has a reversed bend and extends from the shoulder over the rim to provide an annular skirt which extends along the outer surface of the rim and terminates therebelow, forcing the lid into sealing engagement with the sealing member, and while holding the lid in the sealing engagement, crimping the annular skirt beneath the rim to hold the lid in the sealing engagement.