Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes: a container that accommodates loaded sheets; a feeding mechanism that continuously feeds the sheet from the container; a conveyance path on which the sheet is conveyed; and a pitch adjustment mechanism provided on the conveyance path and which adjusts a pitch of a preceding sheet and a subsequent sheet, wherein the pitch adjustment mechanism includes a pitch adjustment roller pair including a first pitch adjustment roller and a second pitch adjustment roller that sandwich the conveyance path and are in pressure contact with each other, the first pitch adjustment roller is driven and rotated in a direction following a sheet conveying direction, the second pitch adjustment roller is driven and rotated in the direction following a sheet conveying direction, and the second pitch adjustment roller is connected to a drive shaft that drives the second pitch adjustment roller via a one-way clutch.

Abstract: A paper sheet handling device (a banknote handling device) includes a paper sheet detection device (a tracking sensor) configured to detect a paper sheet, and a handling unit performing handling related to the paper sheet based on the time when the paper sheet detection device detects an end of the paper sheet. The paper sheet detection device includes a pair of rolling bodies (rollers) facing each other, disposed on a transport path transporting the paper sheet, and configured so that the paper sheet passes therebetween, and a detection unit detecting displacement of the rolling bodies when the paper sheet passes between the pair of rolling bodies to detect the paper sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device capable of improving user's convenience even in a case where non-long sheets and long sheets are switchingly used. A sheet storage opened and closed for storing sheets to be used for image formation. A deck supply path feeds sheets from the sheet storage. A first and a second lift plate are provided in the sheet storage, side by side, in a sheet feeding direction. The first and second lift plates can be lifted up and down by a lift mechanism. A CPU determines whether or not an operation concerning storing long sheets in the sheet storage has been performed. When it is determined that the operation has been performed, the CPU controls the lift mechanism to cause the levels of the first and second lift plates to match each other.

Abstract: A sheet storage apparatus (for example, a banknote storage mechanism) includes an entering unit (for example, a pushing unit) configured to enter into a storage bag (for example, a banknote storage bag) supported by a supporter (for example, holding members) and a controller configured to control the driving unit (for example, a motor) for driving the entering unit. The controller controls the driving unit such that the entering unit enters into the storage bag supported by the supporter and comes in contact with the sheet stored in the storage bag to detect an upper end position of the sheet stored in the storage bag.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt conveyance device that corrects leaning of an endless belt member, the belt conveyance device being detachably attachable to an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus; a first guiding portion that supports a first guided portion provided in a frame member supporting rotatably a first roller on which the belt member is laid under tension and guides the belt conveyance device being attached to or detached from the apparatus body; and a second guiding portion that supports a second guided portion provided in a steering unit supporting rotatably a second roller on which the belt member is laid under tension, releases the second guided portion at an attachment position of the belt conveyance device to the apparatus body, and guides the belt conveyance device being attached to or detached from the apparatus body.

Abstract: A shift-by-wire shifting control apparatus for a vehicle includes a housing, and a D-gear switch, an N-gear switch, and an R-gear switch installed in the housing. The D-gear switch corresponds to a drive gear, the N-gear switch corresponds to a neutral gear, and the R-gear switch corresponds to a reverse gear. A specific switch that is one of the D-gear switch, the N-gear switch, and the R-gear switch is movable from the first position to a third position between the first and second position by a first pressing force and is movable from the third position to the second positions by a second pressing force greater than the first pressing force.

Abstract: A method of making a strain wave includes the steps of a) providing a circular spline, a flexspline meshed with the circular spline, and an initial wave generator having an initial outer profile of a standard ellipse with a perimeter S0, and b) producing a modified wave generator rotatably fitted within the flexspline and having a modified outer profile with a perimeter S. A difference ES between the perimeter S of the modified outer profile and the perimeter S0 of the initial outer profile satisfies the equation ES=S?S0=0.1 m to 0.8 m, wherein m is the modulus of the flexspline. Through a special parameter design of the modified wave generator, the meshing ratio between the circular spline and the flexspline is increased, thereby improving the transmission accuracy and reducing the average load.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has a conveyance roller and a driven roller disposed upstream of a print head in the first direction, a platen facing the print head and supporting the print medium, a producing unit producing a holding force for holding the print medium at the platen. A conveyance operation includes a first conveyance operation in which the print medium is conveyed without any release from between the conveyance roller and the driven roller and a second conveyance operation in which the print medium is released from between the conveyance roller and the driven roller. A rotation amount of the conveyance roller during the second conveyance operation is increased than that during the first conveyance operation.

Abstract: A medium processing apparatus includes a processing unit that performs processing on a sheet-like medium; an outer wall on which a discharge port, from which the medium processed by the processing unit is discharged, is open; a stacking portion that has a stacking surface on which the medium discharged from the discharge port is stacked; a suction unit that sucks air on the stacking surface via a suction port provided below the discharge port; and a control unit that controls a workload of the suction unit. The control unit reduces the workload of the suction unit according to an open area of the suction port which is occluded by the medium stacked on the stacking portion and is decreased.

Abstract: A shift fork and a method of manufacture. The shift fork may be made by bending a rod to form a first prong, a second prong, and a ring portion. First and second intermediate segments of the rod may extend from the ring portion to the first and second prongs, respectively.

Abstract: In an example implementation, an example printer system includes a lift, an indicator, a trigger, and a reset mechanism. In an example implementation, a lift is orientable by an amount of media when adjacent to the lift and a trigger has a first portion engageable with the lift at a first orientation of the lift. In an example implementation, the trigger causes the indicator to move towards a first location relative to an aperture defined by an exterior surface in response to engagement with the lift. In an example, the reset mechanism has a first portion engageable with the lift at a second orientation of the lift and the reset mechanism causes movement of the indicator away from the first location in response to engagement with the lift.

Abstract: A steering gear for a vehicle includes a steering pinion and a master rack. A toothing of the master rack includes a constant helix angle and a toothing of the steering pinion includes a changing helix angle.

Abstract: A money handling apparatus 10 for handling money includes a storage and feeding unit 150, 270 configured to store the money and feed out the stored money, a dispensing unit 172, 260 configured to eject the money to an outside, a transport unit 170, 264 configured to transport the money fed out from the storage and feeding unit 150, 270 to the dispensing unit 172, 260, and a control unit 12 configured to perform dispensing process of the money by the dispensing unit 172, 260 by controlling at least one of the storage and feeding unit 150, 270 and the transport unit 170, 264. The control unit 12 performs the dispensing process of the money at an arbitrary timing after certain process of the money is performed.

Abstract: A paper feed apparatus for a multifunction image forming apparatus includes a paper feeding portion that sends-out a paper placed in a paper placing tray. The paper feed apparatus comprises a first regulating portion and a second regulating portion arranged in the vicinity of a downstream side of a paper feeding position by the paper feeding portion. The first regulating portion is arranged outside a second width paper passage area to regulate a movement of a first width paper placed in the paper placing tray toward a feeding direction. The second regulating portion is arranged inside the second width paper passage area to regulate a movement of a second width paper placed in the paper placing tray toward a feeding direction. By this arrangement, the second width paper such as a name card can be fed in addition to the first width paper such as A4 paper.

Abstract: The sheet feeding apparatus includes a stacking device on which a sheet is stacked, a feeding device, which is configured to feed the stacked sheet, a contact portion arranged at a position at which the stacked sheet is brought into contact with the contact portion, and a moving member, which is movable in a direction in which a protruding amount of the stacked sheet changes.

Abstract: An apparatus for picking a product, including a control circuit, at least one vacuum cup arranged to adhere at least one sheet of material to the at least one vacuum cup, and at least one sensor configured to monitor an area proximate the at least one vacuum cup, and transmit at least one signal regarding a presence of at least one sheet of material in the area, wherein the apparatus is arranged to displace to a second location while continuously monitoring the area proximate the at least one vacuum cup, the at least one sensor is configured to transmit the at least one signal, and the control circuit is arranged to determine, responsive to the at least one signal, the sheet of material is not present in the area, and generate an error signal indicating that the at least one sheet of material is not present in the area.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a conveyor including a first pair of conveyance rollers and a second pair of conveyance rollers each configured to nip and convey a sheet; a first jam releaser configured to separate rollers of the first pair of conveyance rollers from each other; a second jam releaser configured to separate rollers of the second pair of conveyance rollers from each other; and a controller configured to control the conveyor. In stopping sheet conveyance by the conveyor upon occurrence of a failure, the controller controls the conveyor to prevent a sheet from being nipped only by the first pair of conveyance rollers prior to separation of the rollers of the first pair of conveyance rollers from each other by the first jam releaser.

Abstract: A media-sheet stacking system for stacking media sheets on a device output tray comprises a kicker to advance a media sheet along the output tray by pushing a trailing edge of the media sheet as it exits the device, and a movable element arranged to face the output tray across a space that receives media sheets exiting the device. A drive mechanism is provided to drive the movable element in the direction of advance of the media sheet along the output tray.

Abstract: A cash box has a storage area for storing several notes of value and a counterpressure unit, which delimits the storage area and is movable between first and second positions. The cash box includes a sensor unit with at least one sensor element, the sensor unit emitting a sensor signal that is dependent on the position of the sensor element. The counterpressure unit has a recess for receiving at least a part of the sensor element. The sensor element and the recess are arranged such that the sensor element is only received whenever the counterpressure unit is in the first position and no note of value is present between the sensor element and the recess. The cash box has a control unit which determines on the basis of the sensor signal of the sensor unit and the position of the counterpressure unit whether the cash box is empty.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus conveying a sheet includes a conveyance roller and first and second rotary members. A first virtual line and a second virtual line cross each other when viewed in the rotation axis direction of the conveyance roller, with the first virtual line passing through the rotation center of a first longitudinal end of the first rotary member and a rotation center of a second longitudinal end of the first rotary member when viewed in the rotation axis direction of the conveyance roller. A second virtual line passes through the rotation center of a third longitudinal end of the second rotary member and the rotation center of a fourth longitudinal end of the second rotary member when viewed in the rotation axis direction of the conveyance roller.