Transfer puck with compressible surface member

A transfer puck for transferring and placing a discrete article onto a receiving surface, the transfer puck comprising:

• a puck body comprising a back surface and an article carrying surface having vacuum holes formed therein to retain the discrete article thereon via a vacuum, the article carrying surface including a central region and at least one side region adjacent the central region, the at least one side region aligned lengthwise along the puck body;
• and
• a puck insert arrangement comprising one or more puck inserts positioned about a portion of a perimeter of the transfer puck, with each of the one or more puck inserts engaged with the puck body in a respective side region to protrude above the article carrying surface;
• wherein each of the one or more puck inserts comprises a resilient structure that is depressible inward toward the article carrying surface upon an application of force thereto.

A method of transferring a discrete article from a transfer puck to a receiving surface, the method comprising:

• retaining the discrete article on an article carrying surface of the transfer puck via a vacuum communicated through the transfer puck, the transfer puck including one or more puck inserts affixed to the article carrying surface at one or more side regions thereof so as to be positioned about a portion of a perimeter of the transfer puck, with each of the one or more puck inserts protruding above the article carrying surface and comprising a resilient structure that is depressible inward toward the article carrying surface upon an application of force thereto;
• and
• transferring the discrete article off of the transfer puck and onto the receiving surface at an article placement location, wherein transferring the discrete article includes:
• bringing the discrete article retained on the article carrying surface into contact with the receiving surface at the article placement location;
• and
• applying a pushing force from the transfer puck onto the receiving surface as the discrete article is brought into contact with the article carrying surface to transfer the discrete article from the article carrying surface onto the receiving surface;
• wherein the pushing force causes the one or more puck inserts to depress inwardly toward the article carrying surface.