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.

An untaken sheet notification device to notify that the sheet is untaken from an ejection tray if an ejection tray sensor that detects presence or absence of the sheet on the ejection tray detects presence of the sheet, after a sheet is ejected, a document feeder, and an image forming apparatus include a counter that counts the number of the ejected sheets and a notification controller that performs a specific notification control to notify that the sheet is untaken if the number of the sheets counted by the counter is equal to or less than a predetermined reference number.

An untaken sheet notification device to notify that the sheet is untaken from an ejection tray if an ejection tray sensor that detects presence or absence of the sheet on the ejection tray detects presence of the sheet, after a sheet is ejected, a document feeder, and an image forming apparatus include a counter that counts the number of the ejected sheets and a notification controller that performs a specific notification control to notify that the sheet is untaken if the number of the sheets counted by the counter is equal to or less than a predetermined reference number.

A system includes a longitudinal rack storing a plurality of packs of cigarettes, 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, wherein spacing between each pair of sensors equals a thickness of a pack stored in 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 packs stored in the rack based on a particular number of packs corresponding to the particular sensor.

A system includes a longitudinal rack storing a plurality of packs of cigarettes, 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, wherein spacing between each pair of sensors equals a thickness of a pack stored in 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 packs stored in the rack based on a particular number of packs corresponding to the particular sensor.

An information processing apparatus includes a counting unit, a storage control unit, a first determination unit, and a second determination unit. The counting unit counts the number of objects queuing in a waiting line. The storage control unit stores estimated times when the objects enter the waiting line and the number of objects queuing in the waiting line counted by the counting unit in association with each other. The first determination unit determines estimated time when each object exits the waiting line based on the number of objects exiting the waiting line and the number of objects queuing in the waiting line. The second determination unit determines waiting time of each object in the waiting line based on the estimated time when the object enters the waiting line and the estimated time when the object exits the waiting line.

An untaken sheet notification device to notify that the sheet is untaken from an ejection tray if an ejection tray sensor that detects presence or absence of the sheet on the ejection tray detects presence of the sheet, after a sheet is ejected, a document feeder, and an image forming apparatus include a counter that counts the number of the ejected sheets and a notification controller that performs a specific notification control to notify that the sheet is untaken if the number of the sheets counted by the counter is equal to or less than a predetermined reference number.

An untaken sheet notification device to notify that the sheet is untaken from an ejection tray if an ejection tray sensor that detects presence or absence of the sheet on the ejection tray detects presence of the sheet, after a sheet is ejected, a document feeder, and an image forming apparatus include a counter that counts the number of the ejected sheets and a notification controller that performs a specific notification control to notify that the sheet is untaken if the number of the sheets counted by the counter is equal to or less than a predetermined reference number.

An apparatus that denests a stack of containers and methods of separating a stack of containers and making the apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a denester and a counting device. The denester is configured to separate a first stack of at least 2 containers into a plurality of second stacks of containers. Each of the second stacks includes an exact number of containers, the exact number being a positive integer less than m. The counting device is configured to count the exact number of containers in the first stack. The method of separating containers includes counting an exact number of containers in a first stack of m containers using the counting device, and separating the exact number of containers from the first stack using the denester.