A sheet feeding device includes a support, a rotation driver, a guide, a support shaft, a biasing member, a leading end sensor, a roller, an outer diameter sensor, and circuitry. The circuitry causes the rotation driver to rotate a spool in a winding direction to determine a timing at which a signal change rate exceeds a change rate threshold as a passing time at which a leading end of a continuous sheet passes through the leading end sensor, causes the rotation driver to rotate the spool by a rotation angle in the winding direction, from the passing time, to position the leading end of the continuous sheet at a feeding start position, and rotates the spool in a feeding direction to feed the continuous sheet from the feeding start position along a guide portion. Further, the circuitry changes the change rate threshold based on an outer diameter of a roll.

An image forming apparatus, comprises: a setting unit configured to set a divider region in a group of images that are continuously printed during feeding from a feeding apparatus in which a roll-shaped printing medium has been set, the divider region being for separating the roll-shaped printing medium into a plurality of rolls. The setting unit sets the divider region based on the number of rolls indicating the count of the plurality of rolls, the number of rolls being required in terms of a configuration of a post-processing device that executes post-processing with respect to the roll-shaped printing medium on which printing has been performed by the printing unit.

A liquid ejection apparatus includes a conveying unit, a winding unit, a printing unit, and a rotation control unit. The conveying unit is configured to intermittently convey a printing medium by a predetermined feed amount. The winding unit is configured to wind the printing medium conveyed by the conveying unit. The printing unit is configured to perform printing on the conveyed printing medium. The rotation control unit is configured to control the winding unit to rotate in a winding direction at a predetermined timing after the conveying unit has started to convey the printing medium intermittently, and then cause the winding unit to rotate in a reverse direction opposite to the winding direction.

A sheet conveyor includes: a holder that detachably holds a sheet roll; a rotation measuring device that measures a rotation amount of the sheet roll; a conveyance roller that conveys a sheet pulled out from the sheet roll held by the holder; a tensioner that is provided between the holder and the conveyance roller and that contacts with the sheet pulled out from the sheet roll toward the conveyance roller; a position detector that detects a position of the tensioner; a motor that generates driving force for rotating the conveyance roller; and a controller that controls the motor. The controller estimates a diameter of the sheet roll based on a conveyance amount of the sheet caused by rotation of the conveyance roller, a rotation amount of the sheet roll measured by the rotation measuring device, and a position of the tensioner detected by the position detector.

According to an example, a media loading device may comprise a motor and a leading-edge sensor. The motor may rotate a media roll having a leading-edge in a winding direction and unwinding direction, the motor being controlled by a processor. The leading-edge sensor may comprise a pivot arm and a detecting element. The pivot arm may contact the media roll and the detecting element may issue a leading-edge presence signal to the processor upon contact between the detecting element and the leading-edge occurs.

A printing apparatus (printer) is provided in which a base material is conveyed by a roll-to-roll method and feedback control is performed on a tension imposed on the base material, and which includes a control unit, a first drive motor (front drive motor) configured to control a speed of conveyance of conveying the base material, and a second drive motor (feeding motor, rear drive motor, winding motor) configured to control the tension imposed on the base material. In a case where a conveyance operation for conveying the base material is stopped based on detection of a foreign object, and when a speed of the first drive motor is at a predetermined value or less, the control unit stops the tension control performed by the second drive motor.

A control system is provided for a converting line. The converting line has an unwinder for unwinding web material from a roll of web material and at least one independently driven roll for directing the web material unwound from the unwinder to the converting line. The control system has a controller and a tension sensor configured to be arranged downstream of the at least one driven roll. The tension sensor is configured to sense a tension in the web as the web is passed downstream of the driven roll, generate a signal indicative of sensed web tension, and transmit the signal of sensed web tension to the controller. The controller is configured to a generate and transmit to the unwinder a signal to change the speed of the unwinder based upon the tension sensed by the tension sensor.

An unwinder for rolls of paper web material includes: a support frame; a spindle cylinder, rotationally associated with the frame, supporting a parent roll with a longitudinal axis; unwinder to unwind a paper web from the parent roll; actuator keeping the unwindier contacting the parent roll; a command and control unit; first motor rotating the spindle cylinder; two support and drive rollers; units to measure instantaneous radius of the parent roll, rotational speed of the spindle cylinder, quantity of web unrolled from the parent roll per unit time, and weight unloaded from the parent roll onto the support and drive rollers; second motor synchronously rotating the support and drive rollers; and third motor moving the spindle cylinder vertically. The control unit receives and processes values detected by the measurement unit, causing the motor to maintain the weight force unloaded onto the rollers from the roll as the diameter varies.

A liquid ejection apparatus includes a conveying unit, a winding unit, a printing unit, and a rotation control unit. The conveying unit is configured to intermittently convey a printing medium by a predetermined feed amount. The winding unit is configured to wind the printing medium conveyed by the conveying unit. The printing unit is configured to perform printing on the conveyed printing medium. The rotation control unit is configured to control the winding unit to rotate in a winding direction at a predetermined timing after the conveying unit has started to convey the printing medium intermittently, and then cause the winding unit to rotate in a reverse direction opposite to the winding direction.

A tape lamination head for applying composite tape onto a mold or mandrel amid the formation of a composite workpiece. The tape lamination head is but one component of a larger tape lamination machine and assembly. Among its components, the tape lamination head includes a tape supply reel, a backing paper take-up reel, and a tape tension control system. The tape tension control system has a first dancer roller assembly located downstream of the tape supply reel and has a second dancer roller assembly located upstream of the backing paper take-up reel. The first dancer roller assembly can include a first roller, a first guide, a first actuator, a first lock, and a first position sensor. The second dancer roller assembly can include a second roller, a second guide, a second actuator, a second lock, and a second position sensor.