METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE CUTTING AND PLACEMENT OF COMPONENTS ON A MOVING SUBSTRATE, AND ARTICLE MADE THEREWITH

A distinctive apparatus and method for selectively providing predetermined segments of web material comprises a supplying mechanism for providing the web material. A first sensing mechanism detects a reference marker on the web material to generate at least one reference marker datum which is associated with a selected web segment. A separating mechanism includes a sensor mechanism for providing at least one separation datum, and divides the web material along a separation region during a production of the web segment. A phase regulating mechanism controls a relative phasing between the reference marker detected by the first sensing mechanism and the dividing by the separating mechanism. The phasing is conducted with respect to a set reference value. An assembling mechanism places the web segment onto a substrate, and a second sensing mechanism separately detects a location of the separation region relative to the reference marker to generate at least one location datum which is in correspondence with the separation datum. A location correlating mechanism generates at least one comparison datum associated with a web segment, and a data processing mechanism evaluates the comparison datum to generate an updated set reference value. A reference regulating mechanism selectively adjusts the phase regulating mechanism to incorporate the updated set reference value.