MXPA97000453A - Apparatus that counts the end of cans, adjustable - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus (20) for moving a series of similar articles to a disk (29), such as the ends of cans. The apparatus includes a mounting that moves the articles (26), a system that counts the articles (96) and a assembly that separates the articles (106). The assembly that moves the articles includes an adjustment assembly (56) for adjusting the assembly that moves the articles to accommodate a range of diameters of can ends that move through a displacement path (22). The can end counting system includes a detector (100) which detects the rotation of a component of the assembly that moves the can end. The detector is connected to a control device (98), which receives the detection information from the detector to determine the number of can ends that pass through the assembly that moves the end. The spacer assembly includes a blade (116) attached to an actuator assembly (114). The blade is inserted a distance sufficient to make contact with an edge portion (127) of an article and the drive assembly moves the group of articles that made contact by the movement of the blade member. The blade member includes a contoured tip (132) which generally corresponds to an outline of the edge portion of the article, thereby minimizing contact and the possibility of interfering with the integrity of the end surfaces of the article.

Description

DEVICE OUE COUNTS THE END OF CANS, ADJUSTABLE DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for receiving, handling and moving a plurality of disc-like articles, such as ends of cans. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus, which handles a stream of articles by receiving the articles, moving the articles, separating the articles, counting the articles as they are separated, and re-stacking and moving the article along a conveyor. . The apparatus of the present invention may find utility and other applications, however, the description provided herein makes particular reference to the handling of the ends of the container during the manufacturing operations as well as the subsequent use of such ends of the container. during packaging operations. For the manufacture and filling of containers, for example, beverage containers, a huge number of container ends is required. The present manufacturing and filling operations require the handling of large quantities of container ends at a high rate of speed in a more or less continuous process. A manufacturing or filling facility may have several lines of can ends in a stream to or from various stages of processing. In the whole description of the present invention, container end groups will generally be referred to as "end batteries" as commonly used in the industry. By way of background, many manufacturing steps may be involved in the manufacture of can ends including stamping or forming, whereby the embossed preform is formed into a can end and perhaps, the application of a pull tab or pull. Additionally, a suitable lining material or coating may be required depending on the type of the product, which is to be retained in the container. If a liner or coating material is used, a repair may have been made to seal any of the indentations or scratches that may have been encountered during the manufacturing process. A final stage of the manufacturing process may involve placing a predetermined number of container ends in a suitable bag or tray. Before the can ends are placed in a bag or placed on a tray, they may need to be counted. Increasingly, users of can ends require can ends counted accurately for their processing systems. In addition, it is important to have safety the number of ends of cans produced by the manufacturer of the ends and used by the end user.

In this regard, the can ends manufacturer benefits from an accurate account by not providing too many or too many can ends to a customer. The end user of can ends benefits from the security of the augmented account by paying only for a number of exact can ends, neither too few nor too many. In addition, the end user of the can end benefits from the exact count of the ends of the augmented can, accurate by the improved control over his processing systems. The end user or the filling operation also involves numerous stages. Initially, the ends of the container are transported from the manufacturing line or from the bag or tray in which they are stored and / or shipped after manufacture to the final assembly process. It should be noted that the ends of the container are often manufactured by an entity (the manufacturer) for use by a second entity (the end user) in some circumstances, the manufacturer of such container ends may also be the end user. When the manufacturer is also the end user, the process operates in a more or less continuous process starting with the sheet material as raw material which is manufactured, as described above, to form one end of the container.

It is also important and advantageous to be able to handle a variety of can end diameters. The can end fabricator and the end user can have containers of various sizes. This is especially true when it relates to operations that have products that are used in domestic markets as well as international or export markets. For example, beverage containers in the United States may have a diameter, which is standardized throughout the United States. However, beverage containers are used in countries outside the United States, for example, Japan, which have a can end diameter which is standardized for that country, which is different from the United States standard. As such, it would be highly advantageous to provide an apparatus that handles a can end which may be convenient and easily adjusted or modified to accommodate can ends of a variety of diameters. In this regard, it would be advantageous for a can end processing system to be employed to produce ends of cans of a diameter, for example, the end of the standard beverage container of the United States and then allow the operator to adjust various mechanisms throughout the process to accommodate a can end of a different diameter. Although most of the handling The can ends involve moving the can ends through pull tubes or pushing the ends of the can along a pair of guide tracks through such an extraction tube, at least one step in the entire process It is fixed to a specific can end diameter. More specifically, in the process of counting the ends of cans a pair of rolls is used to join or push the ends of cans through a displacement path. An example of such an apparatus is shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,163,073 to Chasteen et al., Issued November 10, 1992. A pair of rolls having a spiral groove formed on its outer side for coupling is provided. a portion of the outer edge of a can end to advance it along a displacement path. The can ends enter one end of the counting apparatus, flow laterally, whereby the rollers capture an edge of a can end and advance it through the travel path away from the can ends nearby. The screws in the device as shown in Chasteen are fixed and therefore can only accommodate a size of can end diameter. To accommodate a different can end diameter, the roller assembly must be replaced. Replacing the roller assembly may take too much time.

As an additional matter, this can end counting system can encounter some problems, such that the; The detector can not provide a degree of accuracy required in the can end counting. The detector counts each end of the individual can and in this way, any interference with the detector can interfere with the accuracy of the can end count. As such, it would be advantageous to provide an apparatus which increases the accuracy of the can end count. As yet another matter, during the operation of counting can ends, it may be advantageous to separate or transport a group of ends or a stack of ends away from the counting mechanism. As discussed in the foregoing, certain operations may require that a lining material or coating be used to repair any of the nicks or scratches on the can end surfaces, which may occur during the manufacturing process. Because considerable attention is paid to each can end during the manufacturing process, it is advantageous to maintain the integrity of the can end during the counting operation. Some apparatus for counting the end of the can can employ an assembly separator of articles, which has a cucifera for the insertion between the ends of close cans. Typically, the blade is inserted between the ends of cans at a depth of about the radius of the end of the can or half of the end of the can. When the separating knife is inserted at this depth, it can interfere with the contact surface of the product of the can end and thus increases the possibility of notching or scratching the end of the can. In addition, such a knife separation assembly may interfere with the opening device or the pull tab assembly attached to the can. If the article separator assembly interferes with the integrity of the can end, the damage caused thereby can result in other problems later in the process, for example during the filling operation. For example, if a pull tab is damaged by a separating knife, when the beverage container is filled and the end of the can is applied to the container, the beverage product will escape from the end of the can from the damaged area. This can interfere with the operation of the line of the can forming process or decrease the cleanliness as a result of the product making contact with the close filled containers. As such, it would be highly advantageous to provide an apparatus for handling the end of the can, which has an article separator assembly, which does not interfere with the integrity of the can end.

A general object satisfied by the claimed invention is to provide an apparatus for handling disc-like articles, such as ends of cans using an assembly that moves the article to move such ends of cans through a path of travel and which include an adjustment assembly attached to the mounting that moves the article, to adjust the mounting that moves the article to handle a range of can end diameters making adjustments. Another object satisfied by the present invention is that of providing an apparatus for counting the ends of cans, which indirectly counts the ends of cans to increase the accuracy of the count. Still another object satisfied by the present invention is that of providing an apparatus for handling can ends, which includes a spacer assembly having a blade which helps to maintain the integrity of the end of the can. In summary and in accordance with the foregoing, the present invention contemplates an apparatus for moving a series of similar articles to a disc, such as ends of cans. The apparatus includes an assembly that moves the article, an article counting system and a separation assembly of the article. The mounting that moves the item includes an adjustment assembly to adjust the mounting that moves the article to adjust a range of can end diameters that move through a displacement path. The can end counting system includes a detector, which detects the rotation of a component of the assembly that moves the end of the can. The detector is connected to a control device, which receives the detected information from the detector to determine the number of ends of cans passing through the assembly that moves the end. The spacer assembly includes a blade member attached to a drive assembly. The blade is inserted at a distance sufficient to make contact with an edge portion of an article and the drive assembly moves the group that made contact with the articles by moving the blade member. The blade member includes a contour which generally corresponds to an outline of the edge portion of the article, thereby minimizing contact and the possibility to interfere with the integrity of the can end surfaces. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The organization and form of the structure and function of the invention, together with other objects and advantages thereof, can be understood, by reference to the following description taken together with the attached drawings, in which reference numbers Similar identifiers identify similar elements and in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation, partially fragmented view of an apparatus for receiving and moving a series of disk-like articles including a mounting that moves the articles, a system that counts the articles and an article-separating assembly; Figure 2 is a front, enlarged perspective view of the apparatus showing in greater detail the assemblies and systems of the apparatus; Figure 3 is a side elevational view, partially fragmented, enlarged of the assembly that moves the articles as shown in Figure 1, showing in greater detail a bearing block and fitting assembly of the apparatus; Figure 4 is a top view, partially fragmented, taken along line 4-4 in Figure 3 of the assembly moving the article showing elements of the adjustment assembly and the bearing blocks; Figure 5 is a plan view, in cross section, partially fragmented of the assembly that moves the article and more particularly, the structures associated with the adjustment assembly, taken along line 5-5 in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a front elevation view, partially fragmented, enlarged taken along line 6-6 in Figure 1, showing additional details of the article counting system and the item separation assembly; and Figure 7 is a perspective view, partially fragmented, enlarged of one end of a blade of the assembly separating the articles, illustrating the engagement of the blade with a corresponding portion of a disc-like article, which will be in contact and will be moved by the assembly that moves the items. Although the present invention may be susceptible to a modality in different ways, it is shown in the drawings and in which it will be described in detail, an embodiment with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to that which is illustrated and described herein. Figure 1 shows a side elevational view of an apparatus 20 for handling a series of disc-like articles, such as can ends during a can end handling process. The can ends flow into the apparatus 20 on the left side of Figure 1, the flow area or trajectory (hereinafter, generally with the reference number 22 and the direction arrow) and the outward flow of the apparatus. handling 20 in an outward flow area or path (indicated usually by the reference number 24 and the direction arrow). The apparatus 20 includes an assembly 20 that moves the articles, which receives a series of articles from the entry path 22, then moves the articles along a displacement path 28 from there to the output path 24. : •• '.' Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the apparatus 20 taken from an opposite side of that as shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 similarly shows the entrance area or path 22, the exit area or path 24 and the area of the assembly 26 that moves the articles, which receives a series of articles from the entry path 22, then moves the articles along the displacement path 28 towards the exit path 24. As such, each article 29 that It flows in the stream of items, it can be managed to keep the flow through them. The assembly 26 that moves the articles is adjustable to accommodate a variety of dimensions of the article 29. As will be described in more detail in the following, the assembly 26 that moves the articles includes a pair of bearing blocks (see Figure 4), 32, 34 each of which rotatably retains a corresponding axis 36, 38. An end 40, 42 of each axis 36, 38 is attached to a drive mechanism 44 and an opposite end of each shaft 36, 38 has a roller 46, 48 respectively attached thereto. The drive mechanism 44 is positioned at the ends 40, 42 of the shafts 36, 38 to drive the rollers 46, 48. Each of the rollers 46, 48 includes a spiral thread 50 thereon. The thread 50 is configured and dimensioned for attaching an edge 127 of the article similar to a disk or a can end 29 (see Figures 2 and 7). The spiral or separate arrangement of the thread 50 in each of the rollers 46, 48 results in separating or spacing ends 29 of neighboring cans, spaced apart as they move between the rollers 46, 48. As discussed in the above, It would be beneficial and the present invention provides, an adjustment assembly 56 for adjusting the distance between the rollers 46, 48. As mentioned in the above the axes 36, 38 to which the rollers 46, 48 are attached, are retained on the bearing blocks 32, 34. The bearing blocks 32, 34 provide a stable structure which allows the shafts 36, 38 to be rotated by the drive mechanism 44. To adjust a dimension between the rollers 46, 48, it is necessary to move the bearing blocks 32, 34 inwardly or outwardly relative to a central axis 58 extending through the adjustment assembly 26. It should be noted that the bearing blocks 32, 34 are placed on the upper part of a structure base 60.

With additional reference to Figures 1-6, the adjustment assembly 56 includes a driving device 62 and a pair of connections 64, 66 connected to the driving device 62. The connections 64, 66 are also attached to the bearing blocks 32, 34 The driving device 62 as shown includes a nut 67 coupled with a threaded shaft 68, which is retained on and rotatable in relation to the base structure 60. The nut 67 has a hole 70 with internal threads formed therein and the threaded shaft 68 is a screw having threads that can be engaged with the nut 67. Therefore, the rotation of the screw of the shaft 68 results in the movement (as indicated by the arrow 72) of the nut 67 throughout of the central axis 58. The movement of the nut 67 moves the connections 64, 66 connected to it. The connections 64, 66 are pivotally connected to the driving device 62 as well as they are pivotally connected to the bearing block 32, 34. The pivotal movement of the connections 64, 66 in relation to the driving device 62 results in a translation of the movement . The translation of the movement allows the transverse movement (as indicated by the directional arrow 74) of the bearing blocks 32, 34 in relation to the linear movement 72 of the nut 67 parallel to the central axis 58. As such, the operation of the Fitting assembly 56 results in simultaneous and precise movement of the blocks of bearing 32, 34 which result in the simultaneous, symmetrical and exact movement of the rollers 46, 48 in relation to the central axis 58. The transverse movement 74 is facilitated by the use of guide portions or blocks 76, 78 attached to each one of the bearing blocks 32, 34. The guide blocks 76, 78 (as shown in Figures 3-5) are displaced in corresponding keyways 80, 82, respectively. The projections 84, 86 extending outward extend over a surface of the base 60 opposite the corresponding bearing blocks 32, 34. The combination of the guide blocks 76, 78 moving in the keyways 80, 82 and the bearing blocks 32, 34 which are attached to the guide blocks 76, 78 provide safe, accurate and precise directional movement of the blocks of bearing 32, 34 in relation to the central axis 58. During use, the apparatus 20 allows different diameters of ends 29 of cans to pass through the displacement path 28 from the inlet end 22 through the outlet end 24. As shown in Figure 4, the adjustment assembly 56 can be operated to adjust the spacing between the rollers 46, 48 within a range of diameters of: can end 29. For example, rollers 46, 48 are adjustable from a position which houses a can end 29 having a first diameter (as indicated by the arrow of dimension 88) and may also be in a position which will house a can end 29 having a second diameter (as indicated by dimension 90) as shown in the hidden line. The adjustment assembly 26 functions by rotating the screw 68, which is retained in the base 60 against movement along the central axis 58 but allowed to rotate relative to the central axis 58. The rotation of the screw 68 in a head 92 moves the nut 62, threadedly engaged with the screw 68 along the central axis 58. The connections 64, 66 are pivotally connected to the nut 62 and the guide blocks 76, 78. The guide blocks 76, 78 are joined together to the corresponding bearing blocks 32, 34 and move in the corresponding keyways 80, 82 to limit their movement (74), generally only perpendicularly to the central axis 58. As such, when it is necessary to adjust the rolls 46, 48, the the head 92 is rotated to operate the adjustment assembly 56. Once the desired diameter adjustment is achieved (see, for example, the size range 88, 90), the expression nut 94 is operated to maintain the shaft 68 against the rattan tion. The present invention also includes an article counting system 96, which counts articles moving through assembly 26 which moves articles through counting operation of assembly 26 moving articles. In this regard, the item counting system 96 of the present invention indirectly accounts for the actual number of items that pass through the system. The article counting system includes a control device 98, which is connected to the drive mechanism 44 of the assembly 26 that moves the articles and to a rotation detector 100. The detectable marks, shown as a projection 102 in the illustrated embodiment, are attached to the shaft 36. The detector 100 is positioned in relation to the shaft 36 to detect movement or rotation of the projection 102. As the drive mechanism 44 rotates the shaft 36, the projection 102 moves past the detector 100 e indicates the rotation of the axis 36. As shown in Figures 2 and 6, a movement detector 104 of the size is included in the article counting system 96. The movement detector 104 of size, detects the presence or absence of the ends of cans 29 in the assembly 26 that moves the articles. The motion detector 104 of the size is attached to the control device 98 to provide detection of the presence or absence of items to be counted. During use, the system is primed or adjusted with items in assembly 26 that move the articles. The size movement detector 104 detects the presence or absence of items therein. As the mechanism drive 44 operates the rollers 46, 48, the shaft 36 is rotated, thereby moving the projection 102 relative to the detector 100. The control device 98 detects both of the presence of items (as indicated by the detector 104) as well as the detection of movement of the shield 102. Each rotation of the axis 36 and the movement of the projection 102 relative to the detector 100, indicates a predetermined number of can ends moved by the assembly of articles 26. In In this form, the number of ends 29 of cans can be counted accurately, without considering the speed of movement of the ends through the assembly 26 that moves the articles, because the movement of the ends is controlled by the rotation of the ends. rollers 46, 48, which drive the ends 29 of cans along the path of travel 28. Compared with the prior art, the present invention does not count the ends of the real atas but detects the presence of the ends of cans and then counts the operation of the assembly 26 that moves the articles to calculate the number of can ends moved by it. As the ends of cans move through the assembly 26 which moves articles and counted by the article counting system 96, they accumulate in the outlet area 24. As the ends of the can accumulate in the area of exit 24, it may be advantageous to separate a group of ends of cans having a predetermined number of can ends therein from the outlet area 24. A spacer assembly 106 of articles with the present invention is provided for separating a group of items, generally indicated by the item group 108, of the article stream generally indicated by the reference numeral 110, passing through the article movement assembly 26. The article separator assembly 106 includes a horizontal movement assembly 112, an actuator assembly 114 and a blade 116. The blade 116 is usually vertical (118) operated by drive assembly 114 to insert blade 116 between the ends of neighboring cans, in the series of can ends flowing through stream 110. The drive assembly 114 and the blade 116 are transported in the horizontal movement assembly 112 to move the group of can ends 108 in contact with the blade 11. 6 separating from the assembly 26 that moves the articles. A groups of can ends 108 moves from the entry area 24 to the holding area 120, whereby another discharge or carriage device (not shown) can be used to transfer the group of can ends 108 into a device for placing in bags the end of cans or a desired alternate trajectory. Retention area 120 is of known construction including side members stiffeners 122 and skirts 124 of a rubber or other flexible material for retaining a portion of the group 108 in a vertical condition. An air retainer assembly 124 of the front end is used to retain the forward can end of the group 108. The air retaining assembly 124 of the leading end is of known construction as set forth in United States Patent No. 5,318,166 to Mojden et al. Mojden'166 was invented by one of the inventors of the present invention and is assigned to the same assignee of the present invention. In Mojden'166, air is urged against the leading end of a group of articles 108 to retain the leading end in a vertical position relative to the series of articles that make up the group. With further reference to Figures 2, 6 and 7, the blade 116 is inserted between the neighboring can ends, a dimension 126 (see Figure 7) which is sufficient to make contact with an edge portion 127 of the can end 29. It is important to distinguish separator assembly 106 of the present invention from that of prior art devices. In the present separator assembly 106, the blade 116 is inserted only a sufficient dimension 126, for contact with the edge portion 127. In this regard, the blade 116 does not contact a surface 128 of tin end 29 and generally does not contact a flange 130 of can end 29. Because the blade 116 only makes contact with an edge portion 127, it does not interfere with any of the structures or coatings on the surface or flange 28, 130. As more specifically shown in Figures 2, 6 and 7, the ends 29 of cans are generally circular, having an arched, convex edge portion 127. More specifically, the edge portion-includes a rim 134 at the edge portion 127. The rim 134, often referred to as a curl, is a portion of end 29 of the can which is coupled with a flange of the container. The flange 134 extends away from the flange 130 a sufficient distance, generally equal to or slightly greater than the dimension 126, in which the blade 116 extends between the ends of neighboring cans. To further facilitate secure engagement of the rear end can end 29, the blade 116 has a contoured tip 132, which generally corresponds to an outline of the edge portion 127. The contoured tip 132 is formed to accommodate the range of articles. , which can be moved through the assembly 26 that moves the items. In this regard, the arcuate shape of the contoured tip 132 is formed to accommodate the larger diameter can end, which will be moved to through assembly 26 that moves the items. This will ensure that the contoured, curved edge 132 will also accommodate the smaller range without hitting the flange 130 when it is inserted between neighboring can ends. The use of the contoured tip 132 on the blade 116 generally corresponds to the contour of the rim 134 which increases the contact area between the blade 116 and the rim 134. This enlarged contact area further facilitates the secure engagement of the blade 116 against the end of the rear end can to ensure positive engagement and movement of the group 108 of can ends by the spacer assembly 116 of articles. Further, with respect to the adjustment of a range of diameters of can ends, the drive assembly 114 can be adjusted to control the depth of insertion of the blade 116 depending on the diameter of the can ends passing through the assembly 26 that move the articles. This is realized because the drive assembly 114 is generally an air cylinder of known construction or other similar device, which will operate to provide generally linear, controlled movement of the blade 116 relative to the series of can ends that pass through assembly 26 that moves the items.

During use, the apparatus 20 of the present invention moves the articles 29 of an inlet stream 22 along the path of travel 28 through the assembly 28 which moves the articles to an outlet 24 supply area. they are counted as they pass through the assembly 26 that moves the articles by the article counting system 96. By counting, a predetermined number of can ends comprising a group 108, the article separator assembly 106 functions to separate groups 108 of the articles in the assembly 26 that moves the articles. The articles are fed in a generally continuous current 110 through a type of a guide bar of the structure type 136 of generally known construction. The articles pulled from the stream 110 by the assembly 26 which moves the articles, which functions to rotate the rollers 46, 48. The rollers 46, 48 have threads 50 which act to separate the ends of cans and create a space between them. the close ends of the ends of cans moving through the travel path. The counting system 96 having the detector 100 and 104, coupled to the control device 96 counts the ends of the can moving through the assembly 26 that moves the articles.

The drive mechanism 44 is also connected to the control device and likewise, the item separator assembly 106 is connected to the control device 98. As such, after a predetermined number of can ends 29 have been moved through the As assembly 26 moves the articles, the drive mechanism 44 will be decreased, thereby decreasing the rotation of the axes 36, 38 and the corresponding rollers 46, 48. The decrease of the rollers 46, 48 will allow the decrease in the accumulation of can ends in a group 108 in the feed area 24 outwards. The decrease in the accumulation of the ends of cans allows a residence time in the space between the neighboring ends and thus allows the drive assembly 114 to insert the blade 116 into a desired space without interfering with the movement or structure of the ends. the ends of can. Once the drive assembly 114 has moved the blade 116 in the proper position, the horizontal movement assembly 112 is operated to discharge the group 108 of can ends from the feed area 24 outward to the retaining area 120. Then the drive assembly 114 retracts the blade 116 from the can ends and the horizontal movement assembly 112 returns the drive assembly 114 and the blade 116 to the feed area 24 outward to separate a subsequent group of ends. When necessary, the assembly 26 that moves the articles can be adjusted to accommodate a different can end diameter within a range of diameters. This adjustment is effected easily and quickly by operating the adjustment assembly 56. The operation of the adjustment assembly 56 includes a set of loosening clamps 138, 140 on the bearing blocks 32, 34, for loosening the bearing blocks 32, 34. of the corresponding guide blocks 76, 78. By slightly loosening the fastener assembly 138, 140, the adjustment assembly 56 can be operated to rotate the screw 68 to drive the nut 62 along, by the movement (74) of the bearing blocks 32, 34 inwardly. or outward relative to the central axis 58. Once a desired dimension between the rollers is achieved, such that the can end having a predetermined dimension is retained between the threads 50 of the rollers 46, 48, the set of fasteners 138, 140 are once again tightened. The tightening of the fastener assembly 138, 140 securely holds the bearing blocks 32, 34 with the guide blocks 76, 78, corresponding to the base 60. Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention was shown and described it is contemplated that those • with skill in the art may contemplate various modifications and equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The invention is not intended to be limited by the foregoing description.

Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS An apeirato to receive a series of articles similar to a disc, the apparatus has a base, a mounting that moves articles including a pair of separated axes, a drive connected to the axes to drive the axes, the apparatus is characterized because: a pair of bearing blocks that are fitted adjustably at separate locations on the base, each of the axes is rotatably held in a corresponding block of the bearing blocks; an adjustment assembly connected to both of the bearing blocks to provide relative movement of the bearing blocks to accommodate a range of dimensions of items similar to a disc with the mounting that moves the articles.
2. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, said adjustment assembly driving device which is further characterized by: a driving device; a pair of connections, each of the pair of connections is connected to the driving device and corresponding to one of the bearing blocks; a threaded nut connected to the pair of connections; a threaded shaft coupled with the nut, the shaft that is rotatably retained in relation to the base for retaining the shaft against axial displacement, while allowing axial rotation of the shaft to axially move the nut along the shaft to simultaneously move the connections and the bearing blocks connected thereto.
3. 3. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 2, further characterized in that it comprises: the base having a pair of separate keyways, oriented generally perpendicular to the axis retained on the base; bearing blocks having guide portions coupled with a corresponding keyway of the pair of keyways in the base, the guide portions engaged in the keyways limit movement of the bearing blocks in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis.
4. 4. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 1, the apparatus defines a path of travel through which a series of items similar to a disc is moved, the apparatus is further characterized by: a counting system connected to the apparatus for counting disc-like articles that are moved to Through the apparatus, the counting system includes a mounting that moves articles, the moving assembly includes a pair of rollers, each of the pair of rollers is retained in separate locations to receive the disc-like articles and a drive that spin the rollers for driving the disc-like articles through the displacement path, control device and a rotation detector positioned next to a portion of at least one of the rollers to detect rotation of at least one of the rollers , the rotation detector that is connected to the control device and by which the rotation detector detects the rotation of a portion of a corresponding roll of the rolls, the rotation of the roll is proportional to the number of items similar to a disk that is they move through the displacement path, the control device that receives the signal from the rotation detector to count items similar to a disk.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the counting system is further characterized by: a motion detector positioned close to the travel path to detect the presence and absence of items similar to a disk in the path of displacement, the motion detector that is connected to the control device.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the counting system is further characterized by: the drive that is connected to the control device, the control device operates controllably to the drive mechanism in response to the presence and absence of disk-like articles in the travel path.
7. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further characterized in that: the drive has a variable speed electric motor for controlling a flow velocity of the series of disk-like articles moving through the path of travel.
8. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, such apparatus defining a path of travel through which a series of items similar to a disc is advanced by the assembly that moves the articles, the apparatus is further characterized by: an article separator assembly for separating a group of articles from the series of disk-like articles moving through the path of travel, the article separator assembly includes a drive assembly; a blade attached to the drive assembly, the drive assembly that insertable in a controllable manner the blade between adjacent articles of the series of articles, the blade has an insertion dimension sufficient to make contact with a portion of edge of nearby articles, the insertion dimension is less than a radius of articles similar to a disc.
9. 9. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 8, further characterized by: the blade having a contoured tip which corresponds generally to an outline of the edge portion of the disc-like articles.
10. 10. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 9, further characterized in that: the disc-like articles having a flange portion on the edge portion, the contoured tip of the blade corresponding to the contour of the edge portion for contacting and extending along the portion flange the item similar to a disc to separate items similar to a nearby disc.
11. 11. A separating blade for use with an apparatus for receiving and moving a series of disk-like articles, the apparatus has an article separator assembly for separating a group of articles from the series of disk-like articles that move to Through the apparatus along a path of travel, the separating blade is insertable between neighboring articles of the items similar to a disc between groups of articles, the separating blade is characterized by: a tip of the blade having a contour that generally corresponds to an outline of a corresponding edge portion of the disc-like articles. A separating blade for use with an apparatus according to claim 11, further characterized in that: the disc-like articles have an arched, convex edge portion, the tip of the blade has a complementary concave shape corresponding to the arched convex contour of the edge portion to contact only a flange portion of the edge portion to separate neighboring disc-like articles. SUMMARY An apparatus (20) for moving a series of similar articles to a disc (29), such as the ends of cans. The apparatus includes a mounting that moves the articles (26), a system that counts the articles (96) and a assembly that separates the articles (106). The assembly that moves the articles includes an adjustment assembly (56) for adjusting the assembly that moves the articles to accommodate a range of can ends that move through a path of travel (22). The can end counting system includes a detector (100) which detects the rotation of a component of the assembly that moves the can end. The detector is connected to a control device (98), which receives the detection information from the detector to determine the number of can ends that pass through the assembly that moves the end. The spacer assembly includes a blade (116) attached to an actuator assembly (114). The blade is inserted a sufficient distance to make contact with an edge portion (127) of an article and the drive assembly moves the group of articles that made contact by the movement of the blade member. The blade member includes a contoured tip (132) which generally corresponds to a contour of the edge portion of the article, thereby minimizing contact and possibility to interfere with the integrity of the can end surfaces.