Abstract: A stacking device includes a stacking unit, a regulation member, an interlocking member, a pivoting member provided on the interlocking member, a sensor having an output, and a determination unit. The stacking unit stacks a sheet on the stacking unit. The regulation member moves in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction and regulates a position of the sheet by abutting on an edge of the sheet stacked in the stacking unit. The interlocking member interlocks with the regulation member. The pivoting member rotates. The sensor output changes based on positions of the interlocking member and the pivoting member. The determination unit determines a size of the sheet based on the output of the sensor.

Abstract: A paper feeder includes: first and second accommodation units which are arranged side by side in a casing along a recording paper conveyance direction and in which recording paper is loaded in a specified accommodation orientation; and an erroneous loading detection unit which is provided in a non-loaded region between the first and second accommodation units, detects whether or not the recording paper is loaded, and detects recording paper accommodated in an orientation other than the specified accommodation orientation, wherein the paper feeder can shift a bundle of the recording paper loaded in the second accommodation unit to the first accommodation unit arranged on a downstream side of the recording paper conveyance direction.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a stacking assembly accepts mail-pieces traveling from a re-direct mechanism in a first direction and urges a leading edge portion of a mail-piece toward a registration wall of a sortation bin. The stacking assembly may include a plurality of neighboring cam shafts, each with at least one cam, arranged along the first direction, such that rotation of the cam shafts results in synchronized rotation of the cams to guide an incoming mail-piece. Rotation of the cam shafts may also urge a previously stacked mail-piece away from the cams, and into the sortation bin, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a tablet printing apparatus includes: a conveyor belt configured to convey a tablet; a print head configured to perform printing on the tablet conveyed by the conveyor belt; and a belt-position detector configured to detect the position of the conveyor belt in a direction crossing the conveying direction of the tablet in a horizontal plane. The conveyor belt includes a plurality of holes arranged in a row along the conveying direction of the tablet to hold the tablet. The belt-position detector includes an imaging device configured to capture an image of two or more of the holes; and an image processing device configured to detect the position of the conveyor belt in the crossing direction based on the image captured by the imaging device.

Abstract: A motor driving unit controls motor conducted current of a brushed DC motor on the basis of a motor control signal. A motor control unit provides the motor control signal to the motor driving unit and thereby controls the brushed DC motor. A brush noise detecting unit detects brush noises in conducted current of the brushed DC motor and outputs a brush noise detection signal. A speed determining unit determines a time interval of the brush noises and determines a rotation speed of the brushed DC motor on the basis of the time interval. Further, the motor control unit determines whether the brushed DC motor is in a lock status or not on the basis of the rotation speed in a period that the motor control signal is provided to the motor driving unit to cause the brushed DC motor to be in operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a stacking unit for stacking types of envelopes, an image forming unit that forms an image on a conveyed envelope, a rear-end regulating plate, provided on the stacking unit, that regulates a trailing end of the stacked envelope at an upstream side of a conveyance direction, side regulating plates, provided on the stacking unit, that regulate both side ends of the stacked envelope in a perpendicular direction to the conveyance direction, an attachment, removably mounted on the stacking unit, that regulates a trailing end of the stacked envelope, an operation unit that accepts a type of envelope via an instruction by a user, and a controller that determines, based on the type of the accepted envelope, whether the attachment is necessary, and, if it is determined that the attachment is necessary, displays information, on the operation unit, prompting the user to mount the attachment.

Abstract: A document conveyance device includes a feed roller, a separation roller, a first motor for generating a first drive force for driving the separation roller, a planet gear, a drive gear, a second motor for generating a second drive force, and a position switching mechanism for switching a position of the planet gear from a first position in which the planet gear is separated from the drive gear and does not transmit the first drive force to the separation roller to a second position in which the planet gear engages with the drive gear and transmits the first drive force to the separation roller, based on the second drive force. The position switching mechanism includes a support member for supporting the planet gear, and a transfer mechanism for moving the support member so that the planet gear engages with the drive gear, based on the second drive force. The further movement of the planet gear is prevented after the planet gear engaged with the drive gear.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inspection device includes a transmitter, a receiver, a feeder, and a processor. The transmitter emits an ultrasonic wave. The feeder causes an inspection object to move relative to the transmitter and the receiver in a space between the transmitter and the receiver. The processor processes a received signal corresponding to the ultrasonic wave obtained by the receiver. In a first state in which the inspection object includes a first region and a second region, the first region includes a foreign object, and the second region does not include the foreign object. The received signal includes a first signal level in a first interval, a second signal level in a second interval, and a third signal level in a third interval. The processor detects the foreign object by detecting at least one extreme value occurring in the received signal in a fourth interval.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a substrate cooler that reduces the temperature of substrates bearing dried ink images. The substrate cooler has a plurality of rollers, at least one actuator operatively connected to the plurality of rollers, and a controller operatively connected to the least one actuator. The controller is configured to operate the at least one actuator to move the rollers relative to one another to vary the length of the path along which the substrates move through the substrate cooler.

Abstract: A manual feed tray includes a tray body and a lift unit, and the lift unit includes a lift plate, a lift spring and a pair of cursors. The cursor includes a guide portion. When the manual feed tray is closed from a sheet feeding state of the lift plate, the guide portion comes into contact with a facing wall portion, whereby a downstream side of the lift plate in a covering direction moves downward. Thus, even if the manual feed tray is closed with the lift plate moved upward, the lift plate smoothly moves downward.

Abstract: A sheet end position regulating device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a first contact body disposed movable on a sheet loading portion on which a sheet is loaded and configured to contact an end portion of the sheet, a fixing body disposed movable between a fixing position at which a position of the first contact body to the sheet loading portion is fixed and a releasing position at which the position of the first contact body is released, and a second contact body disposed movable between a contact position at which the fixing body contacts a contact target portion to regulate movement of the fixing body form the fixing position to the releasing position and a non-contact position at which the fixing body does not contact the contact target portion.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and a sheet conveyance apparatus attached detachably to the image forming apparatus. A guide guides the sheet conveyance apparatus to be attached to the image forming apparatus, and an urging portion urges a door toward a first position that is opened with respect to an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus in a case where the door is positioned at a second position opened further than the first position. The sheet conveyance apparatus includes a pressing portion to press the door positioned at the first position toward a closed position when the sheet conveyance apparatus is guided to be attached to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet discharge device has a sheet discharge port, a conveying guide, discharge roller pairs, corrugation members, and first biasing members, and discharges sheets onto a discharge tray sequentially. The corrugation members are arranged between the discharge roller pairs to protrude beyond a nip portion in them and stiffens the sheet by pressing one side of the sheet. The first biasing members bias the corrugation members in the protruding direction. Each of the corrugation members has, in a region extending from the upstream side to a downstream-side end part of the discharge roller pairs in the sheet discharge direction and including the nip portion, a first pressing part making contact with one side of the sheet and, in a region further on the downstream side of the downstream-side end part of the discharge roller pairs, a second pressing part making contact with one side of the sheet.

Abstract: A paper feeding device includes a lower cover, an upper cover pivotally connected to the lower cover, at least one motor mounted to the lower cover, a feeding roller assembly and a paper skew judging module. The feeding roller assembly is pivotally connected to the lower cover and connected with the at least one motor. The paper skew judging module disposed to the lower cover, has an infrared light emitter, an infrared light receiver, a cantilever arm rotatably assembled to the lower cover, a sensing roller pivotally connected with the cantilever arm, and a lens. The infrared light emitter is mounted to the lower cover. The infrared light receiver is mounted to the lower cover and is disposed opposite to the infrared light emitter. The lens is fastened to the cantilever arm, and disposed between the infrared light emitter and the infrared light receiver. The lens has different photopermeabilities.

Abstract: An example disclosed output hopper includes a cavity to receive media units from an output of a media processing device, the cavity to cause the media units to form a stack in a first direction; a first door pivotably movable between a closed position and an open position, the first door to retain the media units in the cavity when in the closed position; a second door movable between the closed position and the open position, the second door to retain the media units in the cavity when in the closed position; wherein the first door is configured to pivot on a first axis substantially parallel to the first direction; and the second door is configured to pivot on a second axis substantially parallel to the first direction.

Abstract: A core module for an Automated Transaction Machine (ATM) includes a housing including a plurality of cassette bays, a first document delivery system, and a second document delivery system. The first document delivery system is capable of transporting a document between the cassette and the second document delivery system via a first transport path. The second document delivery system is capable of transporting a document between the first document delivery system and an other ATM location via a second transport path.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus is provided with a disengaging mechanism configured to disengage a conveyance member and a separating member to be apart from each other. Either one of the conveyance member and the separating member is provided in a unit, which is attached to an apparatus body and is configured to be detached from the apparatus body toward a downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, while the other provided in the apparatus body. A restriction portion is configured to restrict the unit from being attached to and detached from the apparatus body in a state where the conveyance member and the separating member are in contact with each other and to permit the unit to be attached to and detached from the apparatus body in a state where the conveyance member and the separating member are disengaged by the disengaging mechanism.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a casing that comprises a sheet feeding port, a first sheet feed tray in which a first medium is loaded and that is arranged along a sheet feeding port, and a cover that rotates from a position opposite the first sheet feed tray of the casing to a first sheet feed tray side and covers the sheet feeding port. The cover includes a second sheet feed tray that causes a second medium differing in size from the first medium to be capable of being loaded in the sheet feeding port when the cover covers the sheet feeding port.

Abstract: A printer includes an apparatus body having a recording head for performing recording onto a sheet of paper. The printer also includes a unit body that is accommodated inside the apparatus body and has a path-forming surface formed at least on a portion of the periphery of the unit body. The path-forming surface forms a medium transport path. The unit body includes a plurality of openings that are in communication with a sound absorber disposed inside the unit body. The plurality of the openings are provided at least on a portion of the path-forming surface.

Abstract: A conveyor includes a plurality of belt support assemblies each having a drive wheel assembly at one end and an idler wheel assembly at the other end. Each of the drive and idler wheel assemblies includes a motion converter for converting the rotational movement of a shaft into linear motion along the shaft and an actuator for selectively engaging the motion converter and the shaft. A controller controls the operation of the shafts and the actuators to selectively and individually control the location of each end of each belt assembly relative to one another and to a centerline of the conveyor.