The specification discusses various lacing engine configurations for use in an automated footwear platform. For example, lacing engines with mechanisms to detect lace cable position and/or lace cable tensions are discussed. In an example, the lacing engine can include a housing, a lace spool and a detection mechanism. The lace spool can be at least partially disposed within the housing, and be adapted to collect a portion of the lace cable in response to rotation in a first direction during tightening of the footwear platform. The detection mechanism can detect a state of the lace cable manipulated by the lacing engine.

Lacing engine systems, apparatus, and methods of operation are discussed. In an example, a lacing engine apparatus can include a housing, a drivetrain, and a lace take-up mechanism for retracting a length of lace cable upon activation. The drivetrain can include various reduction gears to reduce rotational speed out of the motor and power the lace take-up mechanism. The lace take-up mechanism can include structures such as a double-yoke, a radial pulley including an outer rotating disc and an inner stationary disc, a variable take-up spool, or a zip-strip mechanism.

In some examples, a non-transitory machine readable medium can include instructions executable by a processing resource to assert a low print media level notification responsive to determination that a first amount of print media in a media receptacle of an imaging device is less than a set value, detect a second amount of print media in the media receptacle of the imaging device, compare the detected second amount of print media to a print media threshold that is based on the set value and a selectable print media value, and maintain the low print media level notification responsive to a determination that the detected second amount of print media is less than the print media threshold.

A conveyance device is capable of preventing a remaining portion of a cut sheet from being caught in a conveyance path. A sheet supply device includes an urging mechanism capable of switching between a supply state of applying force in a direction away from a pressing position to an upstream part, in a conveyance direction, of a cut position of a sheet of a supply side roll, the cut position being cut by a cutter, and a stopped state of stopping application of the force, and a controller configured to switch the urging mechanism from the stopped state to the supply state in accordance with a timing when the sheet is cut by the cutter.

A sheet size detecting mechanism includes a sheet guiding module, a sensing module and a control unit. The sensing module includes a contact element and a circuit board. The circuit board includes a first conducting part, a second conducting part and plural fixed resistors. The first conducting part includes plural conductive segments. The plural conductive segments are connected with the corresponding fixed resistors, respectively. While the sheet guiding module is moved relative to the sheet input tray, the contact element is moved with the sheet guiding module. When the electric connection between a first conductive segment and the second conducting part is established through the contact element, the corresponding fixed resistor provides a resistance value, and the circuit board issues a sensing signal according to the resistance value. The control unit acquires the size of the paper sheet according to the sensing signal.

The current invention is generally directed to apparatuses and methods for controlling tension and tension disturbances in a web being continuously unwound from a roll of spirally wound web material. In accordance with the present disclosure, a rotary dancer mechanism is used for applying active and variable forces to a moving web in response to irregularities, such as variations in tension. In one aspect, the apparatus and method of the present disclosure may be used to attenuate undesired disturbances in the web as the web is being fed into a process.

An apparatus having a first aligner rigidly connected to a first sensor component. The apparatus having a second aligner rigidly connected to a second sensor component. The apparatus having a gap positioned to receive media, wherein the first aligner is configured to attract the second aligner across the gap to align the first sensor component with the second sensor component.

A sheet size detecting mechanism includes a sheet guiding module, a sensing module and a control unit. The sensing module includes a contact element and a circuit board. The circuit board includes a first conducting part, a second conducting part and plural fixed resistors. The first conducting part includes plural conductive segments. The plural conductive segments are connected with the corresponding fixed resistors, respectively. While the sheet guiding module is moved relative to the sheet input tray, the contact element is moved with the sheet guiding module. When the electric connection between a first conductive segment and the second conducting part is established through the contact element, the corresponding fixed resistor provides a resistance value, and the circuit board issues a sensing signal according to the resistance value. The control unit acquires the size of the paper sheet according to the sensing signal.

A medium transporting apparatus includes a feeding roller that rotates to transport a medium along a transportation path, an electrode installed downstream of the feeding roller on the transportation path and having conductivity, and an electric charge detecting circuit that outputs a signal having a magnitude corresponding to an amount of an electric charge, which moves from the medium to the electrode after the medium being transported along the transportation path comes into contact with the electrode.

The current invention is generally directed to apparatuses and methods for controlling tension and tension disturbances in a web being continuously unwound from a roll of spirally wound web material. In accordance with the present disclosure, a rotary dancer mechanism is used for applying active and variable forces to a moving web in response to irregularities, such as variations in tension. In one aspect, the apparatus and method of the present disclosure may be used to attenuate undesired disturbances in the web as the web is being fed into a process.