Patent ID: 7448616

Claim:
A method for positioning a first item that is substantially flat in predetermined juxtaposition to a second item that is substantially flat, comprising the steps of: providing a first conveyor means; adapting said first conveyor means to transport said first item; rotatably mounting a hard nip roller on an axle so that said hard nip roller engages said first conveyor means and passively rotates in driven relation to said first conveyor means; providing a second conveyor means and disposing said second conveyor means at a predetermined angle relative to said first conveyor means; further disposing said second conveyor means so that a discharge end thereof meets said first conveyor means at said hard nip roller; adapting said second conveyor means to transport said second item; mounting a first soft roller on said axle on a first side of said hard nip roller and dimensioning said first soft roller to have a diameter slightly greater than a diameter of said hard nip roller; mounting a second soft roller on said axle on a second side of said hard nip roller and dimensioning said second soft roller to have a diameter slightly greater than a diameter of said hard nip roller; spacing said first and second soft rollers apart from one another by a distance less than a width of said second item; whereby said second item is substantially simultaneously engaged by said hard nip roller and said first and second soft nip rollers; whereby said substantially simultaneous engagement separates said second item from said second conveyor means and deposits said second item onto said first item at a predetermined location on said first item.