Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronically controlled movement and positioning. The method includes encoding absolute position signals, reading out digital velocity signals from a memory responsive to the absolute position signals in accordance with a velocity-position profile, converting the digital velocity signals to analog signals and scaling the analog signals so that they may be used to drive a motor. The apparatus is a programmable electronic controller which performs the method.

Abstract: A multiple position programmable movement machine including movable transfer means; means for producing signals indicating the actual position of the transfer means; drive means coupled to the transfer means for moving the transfer means; and programmable electronic control means for the drive means to position the transfer means at a plurality of selected positions. The control includes segmented velocity-position profile means to produce velocity profile outputs in response to actual position signals and modification signal generation means for producing a modification signal at about the final velocity-position segment to correct differences between the actual and selected positions of the transfer means.

Abstract: An apparatus is made of a tube for containing a number of thin parts in a stack arrangement, having a loading end and a dispensing end, a device for feeding parts to the separating device, from the loading end to the dispensing end of the tube, and a device positioned at the dispensing end of the tube for separating at least one of the parts from the remainder of the parts and positioning the part at the dispensing of the tube for pick-up. A method for feeding and positioning a thin part to be grasped by a pick-up device includes stacking thin parts in a tube, separating one of the parts from the stack, positioning the part at the end of the tube for pick-up, and feeding more parts to the separating step.