Patent ID: 7617921

Claim:
A can manipulating system for orienting a series of certain sized juxtapositioned cans moving on a longitudinal axis through the system in a can processing production line comprising an adjustable can feed assembly adapted to position and support a juxtapositioned series of cans received from a production line feeding a can manipulating system, a can manipulator adapted to receive cans from said adjustable can feed assembly, said can manipulating means comprising a cylinder having a disc plate at each end, a series of conduits secured between said disc plates for passing cans therethrough between said discs, said conduits adapted to pass a respectively selected series of cans therethrough in a side by side orientated juxtaposition, and said adjustable can feed assembly comprises a frame for supporting said adjacent can feed assembly, a first horizontal rack gear tube secured to said frame extending laterally to the path of cans to be manipulated, a first rack gear slidably mounted in said first rack tube with gear teeth adapted to operably engage a pinion gear, a second stationary horizontal rack gear tube secured to said frame parallel to said first rack tube to accept a pinion gear therebetween, a second rack gear slidably mounted in said second rack tube and having gear teeth opposing gear teeth of said first rack gear teeth and operably oriented to accept a pinion with said first rack gear, a pinion shaft rotatably mounted on said frame between said rack gear tubes, a pinion secured to said pinion shaft to rotate with said pinion shaft, said pinion having gear teeth in operable engagement with said rack gear teeth of said first and second rack gear teeth to move said first and second rack gears' teeth in opposite directions when said shaft is rotated, right guide rails secured to lower rack gear for guiding and supporting right side of passing cans, an upper vertical rack gear tube extending vertically downwardly toward the path of cans to be manipulated, a vertical rack gear slidably mounted in said vertical rack tube with gear teeth adapted to operably engage a pinion gear, a top pinion shaft rotatably mounted on said frame adjacent said vertical rack, a top pinion gear secured to said top pinion shaft to rotate with said top pinion shaft, said pinion having gear teeth in operable engagement with said vertical rack teeth to move said vertical gear rack vertically up or down when said vertical shaft is rotated, a bottom guide rail secured to said lower rack gear to move laterally with said lower rack gear for adjustably supporting cans passing over said bottom guide rail whereby when cans are moved through said can manipulator from between said adjustable can feed assembly and the containers will be supported on four sides as the containers pass along and within the guide rail systems.