A paper sheet handling apparatus includes a calculation unit and a determination unit. The calculation unit calculates, on the basis of a thickness of a paper sheet that passes through a conveyance path and a contour of the paper sheet, a total area of a cumulative area of overlapping regions of the paper sheet in the contour and an area of a non-overlapping region of the paper sheet in the contour. The determination unit determines the number of the paper sheets on the basis of the calculated total area.

A paper sheet handling apparatus includes a calculation unit and a determination unit. The calculation unit calculates, on the basis of a thickness of a paper sheet that passes through a conveyance path and a contour of the paper sheet, a total area of a cumulative area of overlapping regions of the paper sheet in the contour and an area of a non-overlapping region of the paper sheet in the contour. The determination unit determines the number of the paper sheets on the basis of the calculated total area.

The retail cigarette inventory-monitoring system is configured for use with a plurality of prepackaged smoking materials. Each of the plurality of prepackaged smoking materials is a container referred to as a pack. The retail cigarette inventory-monitoring system is a storage system configured for use in storing the plurality of prepackaged smoking materials. The retail cigarette inventory-monitoring system comprises a package rack and a counting device. The counting device attaches to the package rack. The package rack stores as individual packs each pack contained within the plurality of prepackaged smoking materials. The counting device automatically counts the number of packs contained within the plurality of prepackaged smoking materials contained within the package rack of the retail cigarette inventory-monitoring system.

The retail cigarette inventory-monitoring system is configured for use with a plurality of prepackaged smoking materials. Each of the plurality of prepackaged smoking materials is a container referred to as a pack. The retail cigarette inventory-monitoring system is a storage system configured for use in storing the plurality of prepackaged smoking materials. The retail cigarette inventory-monitoring system comprises a package rack and a counting device. The counting device attaches to the package rack. The package rack stores as individual packs each pack contained within the plurality of prepackaged smoking materials. The counting device automatically counts the number of packs contained within the plurality of prepackaged smoking materials contained within the package rack of the retail cigarette inventory-monitoring system.

Devices and methods for counting planar substrates stacked on a first plane are disclosed. Image capturing sensors are arranged collinearly in a manner substantially perpendicular to the first plane. The image capturing sensors are configured to capture images of portions of counting sides of the stacked planar substrates. The image capturing sensors are configured so that the images captured by every two consecutive image capturing sensors comprise an overlapping portion of the stacked planar substrates.

Devices and methods for counting planar substrates stacked on a first plane are disclosed. Image capturing sensors are arranged collinearly in a manner substantially perpendicular to the first plane. The image capturing sensors are configured to capture images of portions of counting sides of the stacked planar substrates. The image capturing sensors are configured so that the images captured by every two consecutive image capturing sensors comprise an overlapping portion of the stacked planar substrates.

Systems and methods are provided for measuring articles contained within and/or dispensed from a receptacle. The present invention incorporates a counter device that measures the displacement of a conductive target relative to an LC circuit using an inductance-to-digital converter. In operation, a change in weight of articles in a receptacle will displace or deform a conductive target relative to the position of the LC circuit and, as such, it will create a measurable differential relating to inductance. Based on the measured differential, the number of articles (e.g., pills) within and/or taken from the receptacle is determined using a processor. In accordance with a further aspect, the counter is configured to compensate for a temperature-dependent variation in the measured electrical parameter algorithmically using the processor and/or through the particular configuration of the receptacle components.

In some embodiments, a counting machine may include a counting area configured to count a plurality of items. The counting area may include a fixed pressure plate, a movable pressure plate, and one or more sensors configured to measure the distance between the fixed pressure plate and the movable pressure plate, and a processor configured to determine the number of items in the counting area by comparing a sampled thickness value to the thickness of the items located between the fixed pressure plate and the movable pressure plate.

In some embodiments, a counting machine may include a counting area configured to count a plurality of items. The counting area may include a fixed pressure plate, a movable pressure plate, and one or more sensors configured to measure the distance between the fixed pressure plate and the movable pressure plate, and a processor configured to determine the number of items in the counting area by comparing a sampled thickness value to the thickness of the items located between the fixed pressure plate and the movable pressure plate.

A system includes a longitudinal rack storing a plurality of items, a shoe movably attached to the rack, a magnet coupled to the shoe and a longitudinal circuit board arranged along the length of the rack. The circuit board includes an array of sensors along the length of the rack. Each sensor generates a voltage value depending on a position of the magnet in relation to the sensor. The circuit board further includes a memory storing voltage values generated by the sensors, and a processor configured to monitor voltage values generated by the sensors, detect that a particular sensor has generated a maximum voltage value and determine a number of items stored in the rack based at least in part upon a particular number of items corresponding to the particular sensor.