load position with the lever 19 in a generally vertical position and a cutting position as shown in fig1 in which it overlaps the feed wheel 16 and the lever 19 extends generally horizontally located at the top portion of the lever 19 is a release button 21 which when depressed allows the user to remove the cutting mechanism 18 to facilitate the cleaning of the can opener 11 also attached to the lever 19 and coordinated with the cutting mechanism 18 is a metal plate 22 which supports a magnetic assembly 23 the magnet assembly 23 is used to retain the lid of a can after it has been separated from the sides of the can the housing 12 of the can opener of the present invention is made up of two basic parts one being a box like portion 25 and the other a front plate 26 the front plate 26 may be designated the support plate since it carries all the mechanism of the can opener including the motor 13 the feed wheel shaft 15 the cutting mechanism 18 and also a bag opener casing 27 the front plate 26 and the box like portion 25 cooperate to form an enclosure 28 within which the motor and reduction gearing are received the box like portion 25 which is best shown in fig2 is made of an inexpensive styrene plastic material since it performs little function except to enclose the mechanism carried by the front plate 26 the portion 25 is also formed with a forwardly projecting base 29 which provides the necessary support for the can opener preventing it from tipping forwardly when a can is received between the cutter 20 and the feed wheel 16 and force.