This is an interesting problem. I'm trying to visualize this and I must be thinking about the problem incorrectly; perhaps you can help me wrap my head around it.
Since the pieces fall onto the faster conveyor belt with random spacing, isn't it possible that two consecutive pieces will have the spacing of the puffers they are destined for (within margins), regardless of the puffer placements?
Since the pieces fall onto the faster conveyor belt with random spacing, isn't it possible that two consecutive pieces will have the spacing of the puffers they are destined for (within margins), regardless of the puffer placements?