Abstract: A method and apparatus to facilitate accurately matching and placing non-uniformly spaced tip-on products from a friction feeder onto non-uniformly spaced base products that are traveling on a base conveyor while both the friction feeder and the base conveyor are continuously moving. Using encoders on the conveyor drive motors to track conveyor position and electronic sensors to detect the arrival on tip-on products and base products at predetermined points along their respective conveyors, a programmed microcontroller implements an algorithm for adjusting the speed of the sheet feeder's discharge conveyor so that the tip-on product and base product arrive at a matchpoint simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method to facilitate installation and/or removal of components in which one of the components is a shared component. The components are installed based on a valid order, such that shared components are installed after other components have been installed. According to one aspect, one or more properties associated with a shared component may be manipulated to facilitate installation and/or removal of components, including the shared component and dependent components.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method to facilitate installation and/or removal of components in which one of the components is a shared component. The components are installed based on a valid order, such that shared components are installed after other components have been installed. According to one aspect, one or more properties associated with a shared component may be manipulated to facilitate installation and/or removal of components, including the shared component and dependent components.