Abstract: A paper feeding device 100 includes a support hook 5 that supports a lower edge of a front side of a bundle of stacked paper sheets X, and a paper trailing edge storing part 32 provided between a lower end of the abutting surface 31 and the paper feeding table 11, and the paper feeding device retracts the lowermost layer paper sheet of the loaded paper sheets so as to store its trailing edge in the paper trailing edge storing part 32 and then advance it.

Abstract: A work cell and method for automatically separating objects disposed in 3D clusters includes dispensing the objects onto a horizontal conveying surface to form a 2D array, reforming the 2D array into a 1D stream in which the objects move in single-file in a predefined moving direction, utilizing a vision-based or other stationary sensing system to identify a selected target object in the 1D stream as the target object passes through an image capture (sensing) region, calculating trajectory data defining the target object's time-based position in the 1D stream, and then utilizing the trajectory data to control a robot arm or other object removal mechanism such that only the selected object is forcibly removed (e.g., swiped or picked-up) from the horizontal conveying surface. A continuous-loop-type conveying mechanism includes two parallel conveyor-belt-type conveying structures and associated belt-switching structures. An AI-powered vision system identifies new object shapes during preliminary learning phases.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet storing tray for loading sheets, an apparatus main body to which the sheet storing tray is slidably attached, and a restriction mechanism that restricts a position of the sheet storing tray. The restriction mechanism includes an engagement portion provided in the apparatus main body and a stopper member that is provided in the sheet storing tray and engages with the engagement portion. The stopper member is configured so as to be movable in a crossing direction crossing a direction in which the sheet storing tray slides and determines a position in the crossing direction of the sheet storing tray with respect to the apparatus main body.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus has a main body with an insertion slot for a sheet cassette. The sheet cassette has a moveable pin member. A housing in the main body includes a lever partially rotatable about a first axis. The lever has a pin engagement portion at an end of the lever that rotates about a second axis and has an engagement groove into which the pin member can be inserted from a first pin engagement position and a second pin engagement position when the lever has rotated about the first axis. An elastic member applies a force to the lever to rotate the lever toward the insertion direction of the cassette. The housing includes a chassis having a guide groove extending along the insertion direction. The guide groove includes an inclining portion that is inclined with respect to the insertion direction.

Abstract: Method for automatic sorting of batteries, the method including generating a fan-shaped X-ray beam; scanning the batteries with the fan-shaped X-Ray beam; for each battery, capturing X-rays that pass though the battery with an X-ray detector and converting the X-rays into first and second digital images, wherein the first digital image represents X-rays at a first energy, and the second digital image represents X-rays at a second energy; automatically analyzing the first and second digital images to determine a type of the battery by identifying characteristic features of each battery type based on a gray spectrum of at least 8 bit resolution that is looked up in a model database branch; and sorting the batteries by type.

Abstract: The conveyance guide unit is provided with a guide member, a supporting frame, and an external cover. The guide member guides a sheet, which is discharged from a sheet discharge port of the image forming apparatus or from a sheet discharge port of a relay conveyance device installed in the image forming apparatus, to the sheet carrying-in port of a post-processing device. The supporting frame supports the guide member. The external cover is fixed to the supporting frame; the external cover covers an upper part of the guide member and side parts of the guide member in a traverse direction of a sheet conveyance path, which is perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction. The external cover has an upper surface serving as an extension part of a discharge tray part of the post-processing device, the extension part being extended downstream, in a sheet discharge direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a paper feeding cassette, a first conveying unit, a lift mechanism, a motor, a second conveying unit, and a control unit. The controller drives the motor and, if a value indicating a movement amount of the tray moving from when the lift mechanism starts the lifting of the tray until when a position of the top part reaches a first position is a first value, matches a position of the first conveying unit, which comes into contact with the top part to thereby rise together with the tray, with a second position and, if the value indicating the movement amount is a second value larger than the first value, matches the position of the first conveying unit, which comes into contact with the top part to thereby rise together with the tray, with a third position lower than the second position.

Abstract: A robotic surgery system includes a control unit assembly that supports and operates one or more robotic tools and a mechanical arm assembly that movably supports the control unit assembly in space. The mechanical arm assembly includes a boom assembly with one or more boom arms rotatably coupled to each other via one or more joints and having one or more actuators. An elevating linkage assembly is coupled to the boom assembly and has an actuator operable to allow vertical movement of the control unit assembly in a substantially weightless manner. Yaw and pitch control assemblies are interposed between the elevating linkage assembly and the control unit assembly and have actuators operable to allow movement of the control unit assembly in yaw and pitch. The one or more actuators are actuatable to allow movement of the control unit assembly in space upon actuation of one or more user interfaces of the control unit assembly.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a receiving member to hold a sheet pressing portion and receive a reaction force of an urging portion for urging the sheet pressing portion toward the first sheet guide, a detection unit having a first detection portion disposed on a first sheet guide, and a second detection portion facing the first detection portion and disposed on a second sheet guide. The detection unit changes an output value based on presence and absence of the sheet at a detection position in a sheet conveyance path, wherein the second guide provided with the second detection portion, and a receiving member are movably disposed with respect to the first guide provided with the first detection portion respectively, and are positioned with respect to the first guide independently from each other, and wherein the receiving member is pivotably supported around the pivot axis independently from the second guide.

Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a moving mechanism to move the set guide, a guide pair including a first guide having a first opening and a second opening, and a second guide to regulate a vertical direction of the medium conveyance path, a light emitting element and a light receiving element located on an outside of the medium conveyance path with the first guide in between, and on the downstream side of the first opening and the second opening so as to be apart from the moving mechanism by a predetermined distance or more in the medium conveying direction, a first light guide which is bent so as to guide a light emitted from the light emitting element to the first opening, and a second light guide which is bent so as to guide the light incident from the second opening to the light receiving element.

Abstract: Provided is a recording material processing apparatus including: a recording material support portion configured to support a recording material loaded thereon from below; a contact member disposed on a side of the recording material loaded on the recording material support portion and configured to be pushed by an edge portion of the recording material, the contact member being configured to move to a side opposite to the side of the recording material; an elastic member configured to receive a load from the contact member pushed by the edge portion of the recording material; and a member support portion disposed without contacting the recording material loaded on the recording material support portion and configured to support the contact member.

Abstract: A sheet storage apparatus includes a sheet housing portion, a handle for drawing the sheet housing portion, and a cover member. The sheet housing portion is drawably disposed in the apparatus main body and configured to house a sheet. The cover member is mounted to an end portion of the sheet housing portion in a drawing direction and having, in a portion facing the handle, a recess toward a sheet housing portion. A contact portion configured to come into contact with the sheet housing portion is disposed at a position corresponding to a portion in which the recess is formed, on a facing surface of the cover member, the facing surface facing the sheet housing portion.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a regulator to regulate a position of leading edges of first and second sheets supported on a sheet support. A drive transmission drives a return for returning the second sheet toward the sheet support and the regulator by a driving force, wherein the return includes a first cam follower, a first pivot shaft, and a claw supported pivotably around the first pivot shaft. The drive transmission includes a first cam to drive the return by engaging with the first cam follower and rotating, and the regulator includes a second pivot shaft that is parallel to the first pivot shaft. The regulating member includes the regulating surface and is arranged such that at least a portion of the regulating member is overlapped with the claw in an axial direction of the second pivot shaft.

Abstract: A sheet processing system for automated sheet adjustment includes a sensor system which captures at least a first image of a sheet of print media as the sheet is conveyed on a main transport path between a print media supply module and a marking device of an image rendering module. A control module computes a lateral error for the sheet, based on the captured at least first image, and computes an adjustment based on the computed lateral error. A sheet transport path adjustment mechanism translates a first portion of the main transport path relative to a second portion of the main transport path, based on the computed adjustment.

Abstract: A feeder includes: a mount board that moves vertically while allowing sheet-shaped media to be stacked thereon; a transport device that allows an uppermost one of the sheet-shaped media stacked on the mount board to be sucked by a suction portion to transport the uppermost sheet-shaped medium to a transporter and to feed the uppermost sheet-shaped medium to a destination; left and right edge air blowers that blow air to left and right edge portions, when viewed from an upstream side in a transportation direction, of upper ones of the sheet-shaped media stacked; and left and right detectors that are disposed on left and right sides of the suction portion at the same position in the transportation direction, and that individually detect downward or upward bend amounts of left and right edge portions of the uppermost sheet-shaped medium.

Abstract: A drive transmission device includes a chassis fixed to an apparatus main body and a driving roller that is driven by a driving source. A belt member transmits rotational force of the driving roller. A tension roller contacts the belt member to apply tension to the belt member. A support member supports the tension roller rotatably and is swingable about a rotational shaft of the chassis. A screw fixes the support member to the chassis at a predetermined position. A retaining member is able to be engaged with the chassis, in which the support member is arranged and fixed between a part of the retaining member and the chassis in an insertion direction of the screw.

Abstract: A feeding device includes a loading portion, a lifting mechanism, a conveying unit, a sheet detector, a near-end detector, and process circuitry. The loading portion stacks a plurality of sheets. The lifting mechanism lifts the loading portion. The conveying unit conveys the sheets on the loading portion. The sheet detector detects presence or absence of the sheets on the loading portion at a specified height position. The sheet count detector detects a number of sheets conveyed by the conveying unit. The near-end detector detects a near-end state in which a stack height of the sheets on the loading portion is a specified value or less. The process circuitry controls the lifting mechanism based on a detection result of the sheet detector before the near-end state is detected, and controls the lifting mechanism based on a detection result of the sheet count detector after the near-end state is detected.

Abstract: An edge position detecting apparatus includes a light emitting device, a detecting device, and a calculating circuit. The light emitting device includes a plurality of light sources with different emission wavelengths. The light emitting device irradiates a conveyed object with linear light along a width direction of the conveyed object, the width direction being perpendicular to a conveying direction of the conveyed object. The detecting device detects, at a plurality of positions in the width direction of the conveyed object, intensity of reflected light of light emitted by the light emitting device. The calculating circuit calculates, based on a detection result of the detecting device, a position of an edge of the conveyed object in the width direction.

Abstract: A document feeding device includes a document placement unit at which a document is placed, a feeding roller for feeding the document, and a ranging sensor for measuring a distance to the document located most upward on the document placement unit. A control unit stops feeding the document by the feeding roller based on post-processing distance data obtained by statistically processing time series data of the distance measured by the ranging sensor.

Abstract: An example a media sensor device may comprise a light source positioned on a first side of a media pathway, a light path to receive a light from the light source and direct the light through a plurality of openings from the first side of the media pathway to a second side of the media pathway, and a light sensor on the second side of the media pathway to detect print media within the light path based on an intensity of light received from the light source, wherein a heated enclosure aligns the light sensor with the light path.