System and method for aligning a movable cart to an assembly apparatus

A method of aligning a movable cart to an assembly apparatus, the assembly apparatus having at least one item of a plurality of items for replacement within the assembly apparatus, the assembly apparatus including a docking station, the movable cart being configured to receive a used item or provide a new item to the assembly apparatus, the movable cart including an interface configured to dock within the docking station of the assembly apparatus, the method comprising:

• providing a sensor on one of the assembly apparatus and the movable cart;
• directing a laser toward the sensor, the laser being associated with the other of the assembly apparatus and the movable cart,
• wherein the sensor and the laser are configured to align the movable cart with the assembly apparatus after an initial docking of the movable cart within the docking station of the assembly apparatus, the sensor being configured to produce an output signal that can be connected to a subsystem of the assembly apparatus, and
• wherein the subsystem is a controller configured to process the output signal produced by the sensor, the controller including software that is configured to convert the output signal into x-axis and z-axis relative or absolute coordinates;
• and
• calibrating the laser, the laser being calibrated to one side of the movable cart to a target that will ensure that the laser emits a beam that is aligned to the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis coordinate of the movable cart.