Centering method

Claim 1

An apparatus for positioning a sheet of material comprising: a) a first detector means adapted to detect a first edge of said material and provide an output thereof; b) a second detector means adapted to detect a second edge of said material and provide an output thereof; c) control means adapted to receive the output of said first and second detector means and generate a position control signal; and 'd) material positioning means responsive to said position control signal.

Claim 2

An apparatus for positioning a sheet of material comprising: a) a first detector means adapted to detect a first edge of said material and provide an output thereof; b) a second detector means adapted to detect a second edge of said material and provide an output thereof; c) control means adapted to receive the output of said first and second detector means and generate a position control signal; and 'd) material positioning means responsive to said position control signal.

Claim 4

A method for centering an object with respect to a central axis utilizing a first detection means having a plurality of sensors adapted to detect the position of a first edge of said object and a second detection means having a plurality of sensors adapted to detect the position of a second edge of said object and further utilizing means for positioning said object, comprising the steps of: a) sensing the number of sensors of said first detection means actuated by said first edge of said object; b) sensing the number of sensors of said second detection means actuated by said second edge of said object; c) moving said object in order to cause an equal number of sensors of said first detection means and said second detection means to be actuated; d) moving said object towards said first detection means until said first detection means has at least one more sensor activated than said second detection means to a first position; e) moving said object towards said second.detection means until said second detection means has at least one more sensor actuated than said first detection means to a second position; f) measuring the distance between said first position and said second position; and g) moving said object toward said first detection means one-half the distance between said first position and said second position.

Claim 5

A method for centering an object with respect to a central axis utilizing a first detection means having a plurality of sensors adapted to detect the position of a first edge of said object and a second detection means having a plurality of sensors adapted to detect the position of a second edge of said object and further utilizing means for positioning said object, comprising the steps of: a) sensing the number of sensors of said first detection means actuated by said first edge of said object; b) sensing the number of sensors of said second detection means actuated by said second edge of said object; c) moving said object in order to cause an equal number of sensors of said first detection means and said second detection means to be actuated; d) moving said object towards said first detection means until said first detection means has at least one more sensor activated than said second detection means to a first position; e) moving said object towards said second.detection means until said second detection means has at least one more sensor actuated than said first detection means to a second position; f) measuring the distance between said first position and said second position; and g) moving said object toward said first detection means one-half the distance between said first position and said second position.