Abstract: A counting device for counting rimmed articles arranged in a nested configuration to define a series of stacked rims defining a stacked direction is disclosed. The counting device has a gear with a plurality of teeth adapted to engage the article rims such that advancement of the articles along the stacked direction adjacent the gear rotates the gear. An indicator wheel is provided configured to rotate with rotation of the gear. The indicator wheel has a plurality of indicia thereon for monitoring rotation of the gear. At least one sensor is positioned to detect the indicia and to generate an output signal as the indicator wheel rotates to bring the indicia into alignment with a detection axis. The sensor is in communication with a counter which produces in response to the output signal of the sensor a usable output representing a quantity of articles having engaged the gear.

Abstract: A counting device for counting rimmed articles arranged in a nested configuration to define a series of stacked rims defining a stacked direction is disclosed. The counting device has a gear with a plurality of teeth adapted to engage the article rims such that advancement of the articles along the stacked direction adjacent the gear rotates the gear. An indicator wheel is provided configured to rotate with rotation of the gear. The indicator wheel has a plurality of indicia thereon for monitoring rotation of the gear. At least one sensor is positioned to detect the indicia and to generate an output signal as the indicator wheel rotates to bring the indicia into alignment with a detection axis. The sensor is in communication with a counter which produces in response to the output signal of the sensor a usable output representing a quantity of articles having engaged the gear.

Abstract: A cutter-sealer (10) and a method (300) for cutting and sealing layers of film (70) together. The cutter-sealer (10) provides a heated blade (20), part of which moves through sheets of tautly held layers of film (70) into a slot defined by the seal pad (40). The blade's (20) motion is arrested by a set of blade shoulders (26) that press against the layers of film (70) for a period of time, thereby sealing the layers of film (70) together. The method (300) includes cutting layers of film (70) without liquefaction and sealing the newly cut edges of the layers of film (70) together, also without liquefaction of the layers of film (70).