Method and apparatus for detecting the placement of components on absorbent articles

An apparatus for examining a web, which includes an interconnected plurality of articles, to determine a location of a selected component thereof, comprising:

• indicating means for providing marker data corresponding to the presence of a selected article;
• metering means for generating gauge data corresponding to selected incremental lengths of said article along a movement direction of said web;
• first designating means for providing first reference data corresponding to a selected reference point on said article;
• locating means for detecting location data corresponding to a position of a selected component of said article;
• first evaluating means for processing said first reference data, said location data and said gauge data to determine first spacing data corresponding to a spaced distance between said component and said reference point;
• second designating means, which is spaced from said first designating means, for providing additional, updated reference data corresponding to said selected reference point on said article;
• second evaluating means for processing said first spacing data and said updated reference data to determine updated spacing data corresponding to said component and said reference point;
• comparator means for determining a difference between said updated spacing data and a predetermined acceptance spacing range;
• and
• culling means for identifying selected articles for which said updated spacing data is outside of said acceptance spacing range.