Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus conveying a roll of liner stock bearing removably adhered components such as labels. The liner is pulled through the feeder by a capstan drive having opposed fluted nip rollers driven by a stepper motor. Advance of the stepper motor is controlled by a programmable electronic controller. The linered labels are led through a tensioner and around an acute-angle peeler edge which separates the labels from the liner. The peeling action advances a label onto a platform comprising a bed of rollers having an inherently low-adherence surface. Preferably the rollers are undercut to form circumferential ridges and reduce the surface area in contact with the label adhesive and to minimize adherence thereto. When peeling of a label is completed, the label has been advanced onto the roller bed to precisely the proper location for acquisition by a pick-and-place machine.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus conveying a roll of liner stock bearing removably adhered components such as labels. The liner is pulled through the feeder by a capstan drive having opposed fluted nip rollers driven by a stepper motor. Advance of the stepper motor is controlled by a programmable electronic controller. The linered labels are led through a tensioner and around an acute-angle peeler edge which separates the labels from the liner. The peeling action advances a label onto a platform comprising a bed of rollers having an inherently low-adherence surface. Preferably the rollers are undercut to form circumferential ridges and reduce the surface area in contact with the label adhesive and to minimize adherence thereto. When peeling of a label is completed, the label has been advanced onto the roller bed to precisely the proper location for acquisition by a pick-and-place machine.

Abstract: A computerized system for augmenting data from a source database with data from a reference database to generate an augmented database that can be used for predictive modeling is disclosed. The present invention includes a method for using the Internet to obtain information, including, reading a data record stored in a field of data, searching a database for information describing the data record, condensing the information describing the data record into a value description, associating the value description with the data record, and augmenting the field of data with the value description associated with the data. The present invention also includes a computerized system for augmenting data from a source database with data from a reference database to generate an augmented database that can be used for predictive modeling and data mining to conduct searches of data in the augmented database.

Abstract: A gauge device and the associated method of using the gauge device to set the cut angles of a carpenter's mitering tools. The device includes a handle that has a longitudinal axis. A first arm is pivotably connected to the handle. The first arm has at least one straight edge. The straight edge of the first arm creates a first angle relative the longitudinal axis of the handle. A second arm is also pivotably connected to the handle. The second arm has a straight edge that creates a second angle relative the longitudinal axis of the handle. A spanning mechanism is provided that selectively maintains symmetry between the first angle of the first arm and the second angle of the second arm. The second arm is selectively detachable from the spanning mechanism and is movable to a retracted position. The second arm is retracted when the gauge device is used to set the cutting angle on a mitering tool.

Abstract: A feeder for a pick and place machine used in connection with the mounting of small discrete parts such as electrical and mechanical components comprises a frame and mechanisms connected to the frame for advancing a carrier tape product from a supply reel. The carrier tape product preferably includes a pair of spaced apart continuous parallel carrier tapes having a series of longitudinally spaced parts with opposite sides molded over adjacent inner side edges of corresponding ones of the carrier tapes so that each part bridges the two carrier tapes. The feeder further comprises a separation station mounted to the frame for receiving the carrier tape from the supply reel.

Abstract: A device and process for stabilizing two coaxially joined flexible magnetic disks is disclosed. Two or more flexible magnetic disks are coaxially joined by a coaxially located spacer. One of the disks is juxtaposed to and rotated against a flat stable Bernoulli surface. A second disk spaced by the spacer from the first disk contains centrally located perforations into which air can flow. According to certain embodiments, a flexible interdisk wiper is positioned between the disks and aids in stabilization thereof. In other embodiments, top and bottom disk wipers are also included.