Abstract: A releasable ratchet strap having a plurality of strap teeth and a robust flexible inner core connected to a housing having a lock mechanism. A lever is hingedly connected to the housing. The housing retains a lock pin having at least one recess. The lock mechanism is oriented in an unlocked configuration when at least one recess of the lock pin is in alignment with a portion of the latch. When the latch is depressed, the latch tooth of the latch is released from contact with a strap tooth of the ratchet strap. When the lock mechanism is oriented in a locked orientation, no recess of the lock pin is in alignment with a portion of the latch. In a locked orientation, the lock pin obstructs the latch from hingedly pivoting and the latch tooth engages the strap tooth of a ratchet strap.

Abstract: To provide a packaging for a rivastigmine-containing adhesive patch having excellent temporal stability of rivastigmine, an adhesive patch product including the adhesive patch and a packaging bag, and a method for manufacturing the same. An adhesive patch product including a packaging bag formed from a laminate of at least three layers including an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer film and a rivastigmine-containing adhesive patch housed in the packaging bag and having a residual oxygen concentration of 10% by volume or less in the packaging bag, and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. In addition, a packaging for a rivastigmine-containing adhesive patch formed from a laminate including an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer film and having a residual oxygen concentration of 10% by volume or less therein is provided.

Abstract: A storage system including a storage base that includes a frame, a partition dividing the frame into first and second compartments where each of the first and second compartments includes a cavity formed therein with at least an open top and the partition wall includes an upper portion extending above the level of the frame to form a handle.

Abstract: A composite package (100) comprises a plurality of primary packages (104) and a handle (108) attached at two extremities (110, 708) thereof to said composite package (100), the plurality of primary packages (104) being gathered into several secondary packages (102a, 102b), wherein said handle (108) comprises at least one separation line (112) which divides said handle (108) into a plurality of sub-handles (114a, 114b) each attached at the extremities thereof to one of the secondary packages (102a, 102b), such that when one of said plurality of secondary packages (102a, 102b) is extracted from the composite package (100), said handle (108) separates along said at least one separation line (112) into a plurality of sub-handles (114a, 114b) each attached to said one of the secondary packages (102a, 102b) and retained therewith.

Abstract: A shell and retainer containment system for storing and transporting bottles, comprising an outer shell and an upper retainer. The outer shell includes a base, a number of sidewalls, and a top rim cooperatively forming a central cavity. The top rim includes a set of handles, a set of forklift fork openings for lifting the outer shell and retainer containment system via a forklift fork, and stacking geometry. The upper retainer secures the bottles in the central cavity and includes a brace and four corner reinforcements. The brace is positioned above the bottles and includes access openings for allowing access to bung openings of the bottles. The corner reinforcements extend upwards toward upper corners of the outer shell and include fastener openings for attaching the upper retainer to the outer shell via fasteners for securing the bottles in the central cavity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a packaging film (1) for use in packaging a consumer product, especially a pack of smoking articles, comprising: an area or expanse (2) of film material configured to cover the consumer product; and opening means (3) formed in the area or expanse (2) of the film material to assist or promote opening or removal of the film when it covers the product in order to access the product, the opening means (3) including at least two frangible seams (5) which extends across at least a portion of the area or expanse (2) of the film material, wherein the at least one frangible seam (5) comprises at least two lines of weakness (7) that extend generally parallel and together define a single, desirably substantially linear, tear path (P).

Abstract: Provided is an inexpensive packaging member whereby musical drums can be packaged for transportation, in a short time and in the most compact manner, and can be safely transported. The packaging member can be inexpensively produced using a simple structure whereby cardboard or other sheet member is cut in a predefined shape and perforations are made therein. Furthermore, the packaging member is flat-packed and therefore does not occupy space during transportation and storage. In addition, packaging time can be shortened and drums can be safely transported. The flat-packed packaging member can be reused countless times if the contents are the same size.

Abstract: Methods and systems for calculating a suitability indicator which corresponds to a suitability of a packaging system for packaging a substance, where a stability indicator which corresponds to a stability of the substance or of a component of the substance is determined as a function of at least one ambient condition, preferably the relative humidity and/or temperature of the environment of the substance, and the suitability indicator is calculated with at least one parameter relating to the ambient condition and with the stability indicator of the substance.

Abstract: An evacuated bottle system including a bottle defining a hollow interior, the bottle having a neck defining an opening that provides fluid communication with the interior; a cap assembly including a funnel having a first portion and a second portion, where the second portion extends radially outward from the first portion to form a floor on an interior thereof and a shoulder on an exterior thereof, the first portion defining a first bore and the second portion defining a second bore fluidly connected to the first bore; a self serum stopper having a self sealing membrane that extends radially outward to overlie at least a portion of the floor of the funnel; and a cap having a cap wall sized to fit over the funnel and a cover portion extending radially inward from the cap wall.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a thermal treatment to a product, such as food, is described. One embodiment of the apparatus includes lime and water contained separately within a sealed reaction vessel. The reaction vessel includes a flexible wall portion that is adjacent to a perforator that can puncture a membrane separating the lime and water. In one embodiment, the perforator is separate from and fee-floating within the water. In another embodiment, the reaction vessel is substantially surrounded by the product. The reaction vessel is hermetically sealed against underpressure or overpressure, permitting use with pressurized food. The reaction vessel can be incorporated into a variety of containers and the reaction vessel and container can be sterilized for packaging food.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a package convertible into a frame, comprising: a flat rectangular support plate, a rectangular frame element, and a rectangular lid element. The support plate, the frame element and the lid element are formed and arrangeable with respect to each other in such a way that in the package state the support plate is circumferentially grippable by at least a lower edge of an outer wall of the frame element. On an upper wall of the frame element parallel to the support plate the lid element is arranged so that a package in parallelepiped shape is created. In the frame state the frame element is arranged on a front surface of the support plate along its circumference, and the lid element is arranged either on a rear surface of the support plate or between a front surface of the support plate and the frame element.

Abstract: A screw-operated dispenser providing for prevention of breakage of an engaged screw when a user rotates a turn member in the wrong direction, i.e., repels rather than propels an elevator. A tubular body holds a supply of product, which is dispensed by action of the elevator along a threaded shaft upon turning a base to either propel or repel the elevator along the shaft which is threadably engaged with the elevator. Certain lowermost revolutions of the thread on the shaft are chamfered at the bottom edge thereof so that when the elevator is in a lowermost position on the screw shaft and a user mistakenly rotates the turn member in a repel direction, the thread of the elevator will not engage, i.e., will override, the thread of the screw shaft thereby eliminating stress and/or pressure between the threads which may result in breakage of the screw shaft and render the dispenser inoperable.

Abstract: A filling head gun assembly has a housing; a handle assembly connected to the housing; a filling head attached to the housing; and a plunger. The plunger extends through an opening of the housing and an activator reservoir attached to the plunger. The reservoir is moved into position to contact the filling head via the plunger to feed pressurized activator through the filling head to an aerosol can. A cover is releasably attached to an end of the filling head which provides a seal around the filling head.

Abstract: A bulk material shipping container unloader having an expandable supporter, a pallet receiver supported by the extendable supporter, and a material director supported by the pallet receiver.

Abstract: A container may have a floor, a ceiling, a first side wall, and a second side wall, a first end wall, and a second end wall. The first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, and the second end wall may be formed from a container wall for reducing an effective radar cross section of the container. The first side wall and the second side wall in a longitudinal direction of the container mid-height between the floor and the ceiling may be foldable inward into the interior of the container. The first side wall may include a first cladding board that is permeable to radar rays and reduces the effective radar cross section of the container. The first cladding board may have a reflective agent that reflects radar rays and can be aligned to be at least partially inclined relative to a plane of a main extent of the first cladding board.

Abstract: The portable collapsible container includes a collapsible frame assembly having a plurality of open frames and a plurality of scissor linkages. Adjacent ones of the open frames are adjustably coupled to one another by a respective one of the scissor linkages. The collapsible frame assembly further includes a plurality of hinged vertically extending panels mounted to and extending between adjacent open frames. A first cover member is secured to a first end frame and a second cover member is secured to a second end frame. A first end of an upper foldable panel is secured to an upper end of the first cover member, and a first end of a lower foldable panel is secured to a lower end of the first cover member. Pulling the second cover member away from the first cover member expands the collapsible frame assembly.

Abstract: A corner piece for forming a corner of a container, with a hold which can be grabbed by external gripping device, stacking elements in the shape of a solid protrusion and coupling elements which can be activated and deactivated and which includes a movable coupling element which can be moved between an activated position and a deactivated position, as well as an activator mechanism for activating and deactivating the coupling elements, which activator mechanism can be coupled to external driving elements.

Abstract: A sheet which constitutes a liner, cover or curtain is secured to a shipping container. The sheet has an elongate attachment zone which is thicker than the material of the sheet. A clip is formed with an elongate hollow portion having a longitudinal slit along the length thereof. The attachment zone of the sheet is in the hollow portion of the clip with the sheet emerging from the clip through the slit. A cord is connected to a lashing point in the shipping container. The clip has a passageway through which the cord passes thereby to attach the, clip and the attachment zone to the lashing point.

Abstract: A trash bag apparatus for trash bags having a main body, front and rear panels, detachable cutout sections that may be perforated and a flip section that provides a user access to the trash bags within the trash bag apparatus. The detachable cutout sections, when detached, enable dispensing of trash bags from the apparatus. The trash bag apparatus also contemplates a number of mounting holes that align with the holes of trash bags and bars or mounting structures of trash bag receptacles.

Abstract: A lid system for a front load dumpster is provided. The lid system provides a container assembly, an upper frame assembly having a curved lid, and a lower frame assembly, wherein the container assembly may rotate relative to the lower frame assembly and the upper frame assembly in a forward direction and an opposing rearward direction, while the upper frame assembly may rotate relative to the lower frame assembly only in the rearward direction so that the curved lid opens during dumping when the container assembly is in an upended condition, but the upper frame assembly and its curved lid may remain locked in a closed configuration when the container assembly is in an upright condition, before and after the dumping.

Abstract: Lift rod assemblies for waste receptacles having pedal-operated lids are provided. Such lift rod assemblies can include a first end configured to couple to the pedal and a distal second end configured to couple to the lid, and a spring configured to dampen a force in excess of a predetermined force threshold applied to the pedal by the user and transferred to the elongated lift rod assembly. Waste receptacles including such lift rod assemblies are also provided.

Abstract: A simplified lift and lowering system is provided that includes a base carriage arrangement that operates along a stationary belt attached to a pivoting arm. The arm has a lower end that is capable of linear lateral extensions and the upper end that returns to the same position when the arm is retracted. The arm has a curved upper portion and is mounted to discharge or dump containers into the charging hopper section of a side-loading refuse vehicle. The stationary belt is carried in a recessed central area of the arm and is anchored at the upper end of the curved section of the arm and attached to a spring-loaded belt tensioner at the lower end of the arms.

Abstract: Autonomous vehicles may be deployed to areas where an item is in demand, and configured to fulfill orders for the item received from the areas. The autonomous vehicles are loaded with the item and dispatched to the area under their own power or in a carrier. When an order for the item is received, an autonomous vehicle delivers the item to a location in the area. Autonomous vehicles may also be equipped with a 3D printer or other equipment and loaded with materials for manufacturing the item. When an order for the item is received, the autonomous vehicle manufactures the item from such materials, and delivers the item. Autonomous vehicles may be configured for collaboration, such as to deliver or manufacture items in multiple stages and to transfer the items between vehicles. Autonomous vehicles may also be configured to automatically access locations in the area, e.g., using wireless access codes.

Abstract: A flexible composite conveyor belt, such as for use as a belt wrapper in overlying combination with a metal belt in cooking or heating operations. The belt includes a protrusion attached to a flexible substrate. The protrusion includes an engagement surface adapted to secure the protrusion to a portion of the underlying metal belt to drive the belt at a same speed as the conveyor belt. Protrusions on opposing ends of the belt negate the need for conventional lacing in securing the ends of the belt together.

Abstract: A wire mesh belt for use as a conveyor. The wire mesh belt has a plurality of links which are interlocked to form the wire mesh belt. First straight portions, second straight portions and bent portions of the links form passages which extend across the length of each link. A longitudinal axis of each link extends generally transversely to a longitudinal axis of the wire mesh belt. Support inserts are provided in the passages of respective links. The cooperation of the support inserts with the links provides support to the wire mesh belt to minimize the deformation of the wire mesh belt.

Abstract: A conveyor belt includes a conveyor belt slat that is coupled to a side carrier by a locking connection between the slat and the carrier at least along the side edges of the conveyor belt slat.

Abstract: Apron feeders, having a material hopper and chain conveyors with outboard chain driven pans, are under significant stress and at risk of premature failure at the material-control wings. Herein, embodiments of pan are provided fit with mechanically-fastened wings to mitigate stress risers. Each pan has an upper plate with overhanging portions forming left and a right outboard chain connection. At a high stress location, between the hopper walls and the chain connections, the wings are mechanical secured to an upper plate of the pan. In embodiments, the wings are formed of an L-shaped wing, such as a bent plate, having a base portion for parallel and mechanical connection to the upper plate. The wing's base portion can be fastened with one or more of the bolt holes and bolts that also secure the pan to the chain conveyors.

Abstract: The apparatus includes an operating unit, which can be a welding unit for welding a closing film to an edge zone of a containing element or a separating unit for separating containing elements from portions of sheet material. The apparatus includes a control unit programmed to enable the operating unit to selectively process a continuous strip of containing elements or discrete groups of containing elements.

Abstract: A modular conveyor belt constructed of a series of conveyor belt modules, some of which include retainers for removably retaining plates, such as cutting boards, to the outer surface of the belt. The longitudinal extent of each of the retained plates in the direction of belt travel exceeds the articulation pitch of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for moving objects, comprising a plurality of individually-movable conveyor movers (29) for conveying the objects, a track system (21) for said conveyor movers (29) in which the conveyor movers (29) can be moved along at least one predetermined track in a conveyor direction (T), and a control device for controlling the movements of said conveyor movers in the track system (21), the conveyor movers (29) each comprising at least one runner (27) that interacts with said track system (21), at least one carrier (29) for objects and, mounted on said runner (27), at least one retainer (31) for the carrier (29), said carrier (29) being adjustable relative to the runner (27) between a lower conveyor position and an upper functional position and thus being guided by the retainer (31).

Abstract: A control apparatus for use with a stone spreader vehicle improves the control of particulate material travelling on a conveyor. The control apparatus has an endless belt supported about a plurality of rollers, a capture volume at its leading edge for receiving the incoming particulate material on the conveyor, and a release volume at its trailing edge for releasing the particulate material from the control apparatus.

Abstract: A monitoring and feedback system may provide real-time feedback on the bearings in the chain of a proofer/oven conveyor system. The system may detect a bearing seizure before any damage can occur to the track and/or may provide for improper lubrication detection. Accordingly, a chain section or a bearing may be pulled out of the conveyor system for repair/replacement, thereby prolonging the life of the conveyor system as a whole, including the conveyor chain and bearings.

Abstract: A system and method for determining and controlling a speed of a conveyor belt configured for transferring material from a source of the material to a haul vehicle includes a motor and associated head pulley shaft operatively coupled to a conveyor belt head pulley configured for driving the conveyor belt. The motor is connected to a conveyor belt tensioner block configured to enable adjustment of a tension in the conveyor belt, and the head pulley shaft is rotatably supported within the conveyor belt tensioner block. A speed ring gear is mounted on the head pulley shaft and located at least partially within a bore through the conveyor belt tensioner block. A speed sensor is mounted on the conveyor belt tensioner block in a position radially outward from teeth of the speed ring gear as the speed ring gear and head pulley shaft rotate within the bore through the belt tensioner block.

Abstract: A conveyor belt scraper (40) which includes a base (10) and a scraper element (42) which is molded to the base (10).

Abstract: A discharge device is constructed so that, when conveyance destinations for a preceding conveyed object and a closely spaced succeeding conveyed object are different, the objects can be conveyed without stopping the conveyance of the succeeding conveyed object. The device has: a) discharge members that extend and retract between a plurality of conveying bodies in a main conveying conveyor, come into contact with a conveyed object when the discharge members extend between the conveying bodies, and impart a conveying force to the conveyed object, the force being in a direction different from that of the conveying bodies; b) a base member that supports the discharge members; and c) a and base swinging unit that swings the base member. By swinging the base member, it is possible to make the discharge members on the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveyance direction individually extend and retract between the conveying bodies.

Abstract: An apparatus for the movement of bottles in bottling plants includes a frame and a star-shaped structure adapted to rotate on a vertical axis through first moving unit and including at least a side edge, the side edge being adapted to abut on a bottle so as to move it, wherein a scoop is pivoted and placed adjacent on the at least a portion of end of the side edge and adapted to abut on the bottle, so that the side face and the side edge create a continuous supporting profile for the first bottle, the scoop being coupled to a moving mechanism adapted to make the scoop rotate, so as to vary the angle between the side face and the side edge; wherein the moving mechanism includes a cam guide fixed to the frame, a first and second levers coupled to the scoop.

Abstract: A suction failure recovering process of a component mounting method includes: executing an imaging process in which an image of a pitch-fed pocket of a carrier tape is obtained; executing a pocket position detection process in which a pocket position is detected; and executing a positional displacement determination process in which it is determined whether the detected pocket position falls into a permissible range or not. When it is determined that the pocket position does not fall into the permissible range, the imaging process, the pocket position detection process and the positional displacement determination process are executed sequentially and repeatedly until the pocket position falls into the permissible range. When it is determined that the pocket position falls into the permissible range, a suction position is corrected based on the pocket position at a time point at which the pocket position falls into the permissible range.

Abstract: A substrate processing device includes shafts, rollers, a gas blowing unit, bearings, and s suction unit. The shafts include internal spaces and first through holes communicated with the internal spaces. The rollers are attached to the shafts to be rotatable about axes of the shafts for conveying a substrate. The gas blowing unit is configured to blow gas to the substrate carried by the rollers. The bearings support the shafts to be rotatable and include second through holes communicated with the first through holes of the shafts. The bearings include inner rings fitted on the shafts, outer rings opposed to outer peripheries of the inner rings, respectively, and rolling components disposed between the inner rings and the outer rings. The suction unit is configured to suck air in the internal spaces of the shafts.

Abstract: A handling system with independent and coordinated shuttles for industrial automation, of the LSM moving coils drive type, wherein multiple shuttles with on-board coils act on a rail with permanent magnets in an independent but coordinated way, synchronous and/or asynchronous with respect to each other, with a high level of speed, precision in positioning and versatility of use. The system is particularly suitable for the automated machining of flat semi-finished products such as photovoltaic cells, printed circuits and other circuit boards or for the transport and filling of containers such as phials or flacons.

Abstract: A separator placer assembly is used with a lumber stacker, which creates a stack of lumber, includes a frame, a separator transfer assembly, and a plurality of transfer arm assemblies. The separator transfer assembly includes a continuous loop chain, preferably a plurality of continuous loop chains, with upper and lower reaches mounted to the frame. Separators are transferred to lugs on the chain at a first position along the lower reach. The plurality of transfer arm assemblies, each with first and second arms, is mounted to the frame beneath the lower reach at a transfer position downstream of the first position. A separator supported by the lugs is removed from the lugs by the arms and released onto the stack of lumber.

Abstract: A method of making a laminated shingle is provided. The method includes coating a shingle mat with roofing asphalt to make an asphalt-coated sheet, adhering a reinforcement member to a portion of the asphalt-coated sheet, covering the asphalt-coated sheet, and optionally covering the reinforcement member, with granules to make a granule-covered sheet, dividing the granule-covered sheet into an overlay sheet and an underlay sheet, wherein the overlay sheet has a tab portion normally exposed on a roof and a headlap portion normally covered-up on a roof, the headlap portion having a lower zone adjacent the tab portion and an upper zone adjacent the lower zone, and wherein the reinforcement member is adhered to the lower zone of the headlap portion and laminating the overlay sheet and the underlay sheet to make the laminated shingle.

Abstract: A shuttle bar (20) for a freight-handling device for transferring cargo from road to rail and vice versa using horizontal transverse loading, for moving a railcar pallet of a freight car to a loading platform and vice versa, wherein the shuttle bar (20) includes lifting mechanism for raising and lowering of the railcar pallet from or onto a railcar undercarriage of the freight train as well as from or onto the loading platform, wherein the shuttle bar (20) includes a bar base frame (30), a lifting bar (31), and a lifting-bar drive device (32) for raising and lowering the lifting bar (31) relative to the bar base frame (30), as well as a freight-handling device for combined freight transport with such shuttle bars, and a freight-handling method.

Abstract: A method of leveling a parked semi-trailer at a loading dock, the method comprising: (a) positioning a portable stabilizing device at least partially underneath a forward portion of the parked semi-trailer; (b) positioning a lift associated with the portable stabilizing device to bear weight of the forward portion of the parked semi-trailer; (c) reorienting the parked semi-trailer so a floor of the parked semi-trailer goes from a substantially parallel orientation to an approximately non-parallel orientation with respect to a horizontal floor of the loading dock by repositioning at least one of the jack and a landing gear of the parked semi-trailer; and, (e) maintaining the lift in a weight bearing position while goods are at least one of unloaded from or loaded onto the parked semi-trailer.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a cassette and a first sensor unit. The first sensor unit includes a first conductive plate and a first coil circuit board, so as to output a first output value corresponding to a position of the first conductive plate. A first moving mechanism moves the first conductive plate according to remaining quantity of paper sheets. The first conductive plate is attached to the cassette. The first coil circuit board is not attached to the cassette. A control unit determines current remaining quantity of paper sheets based on a magnitude of the first output value. The control unit determines whether or not the cassette is attached based on the magnitude of the first output value and a reference value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a stacking unit, an access detecting unit, a malfunction detecting unit, a counting unit, and a process deciding unit. The stacking unit receives, as stacked, a recording material. The access detecting unit detects an access to the stacking unit by an operator. The malfunction detecting unit detects that a conveyance malfunction of the recording material has occurred on a conveying path guiding the recording material supplied from the stacking unit. The counting unit counts, after the access detecting unit detects an access to the stacking unit by the operator in a state that the malfunction detecting unit does not detect that the conveyance malfunction has occurred, the number of the conveyance malfunction detected by the malfunction detecting unit. The process deciding unit decides a process to address the conveyance malfunction based on the number of the conveyance malfunction counted by the counting unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet supporting portion to support a sheet, a feeding portion to feed the sheet, a swing unit to swingably support the feeding portion between a feed position and a separation position, a swing shaft to swingably support the swing unit, an urging portion to urge the swing unit toward the feed position, and a holding portion to hold the swing unit at the separation position against an urging force of the urging portion. The swing unit includes first and second bearing portions to slidingly support the swing shaft, a metal member to hold the first and second bearing portions, and a resin member including a guide surface to guide the sheet fed by the feeding portion.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus, including: a sheet container; a roller; an arm rotatably supporting the roller; and a presser plate for pressing sheets in the container, wherein distal and basal portions of the presser plate define a bend angle when bent, the bend angle being an angle defined on one side of the presser plate farther from the arm, the bend angle being maintained at an obtuse angel in a first-amount loaded state of the container, and wherein a contact angle of the arm and the sheets at a contact position thereof is smaller than a maximum angle from a maximally loaded state to the first-amount loaded state, the maximum angle being an angle defined by: the basal portion in the maximally loaded state; and the arm whose roller contacts the presser plate in the maximally loaded state when assumed that the sheets are not loaded on the presser plate.

Abstract: A guide member (14) has an upper surface assisting conveyance of workpieces (44) mounted on a table (12) and is arranged downstream of the table (12) in a workpiece conveyance direction. A belt drive mechanism (16) has pulleys (26a to 26d, 28a to 28b), and endless belts (32a to 32d) wound around these pulleys, and is arranged above the table (12) and the guide member (14) so as to stride over the table (12) and the guide member (14). A first opening portion is formed on a bottom portion of the belt drive mechanism (16) to generate an upward suction force. A second opening portion is formed on the upper surface of the guide member (14) to generate a downward suction force. A magnitude of the suction force generated in the first opening portion exceeds a magnitude of the suction force generated in the second opening portion.

Abstract: A sheet supplier, including: a tray including a sheet support surface; a sheet supply roller configured to supply an uppermost one of sheets; a rotational member configured to contact a lowermost one of the sheets; a presser configured to press the supply roller relative to the rotational member; and a supporter configured to support the rotational member by a contact portion such that the rotational member is rotated by a movement of the lowermost sheet and to limit a movement of the rotational member caused by a force of the lowermost sheet in a sheet supply direction; wherein, where static friction coefficients between the supply roller and the uppermost sheet, between the sheets on the support surface, between the rotational member and the lowermost sheet, and between the rotational member and the contact portion are respectively defined as ?2, ?3, and ?4, the following expressions are satisfied: ?1>?4>?2, ?3>?4.

Abstract: A capacitive sensing system based on projected self-capacitance is suitable for use in printing systems/products to sense paper tray status. In example embodiments, a capacitive sensing system is adapted for sensing the condition/characteristics of paper in the paper tray, such as paper size, stack height and page count and paper dielectric. The capacitive sensing system can be configured with one or more shielded capacitive sensors incorporated into the paper tray, and oriented relative to the paper according to the paper condition/characteristic sensed.