A sheet conveying device includes a sheet cassette including a first housing, a pressing plate, a raising plate, a first resilient member, and a second resilient member. The sheet conveying device further includes a second housing, a sheet-cassette accommodating portion, a first electrode, a second electrode, a sheet conveyor, a driver, a first signal output device, and a second signal output device. When controlling the driver to move the raising plate to move the pressing plate upward, the controller detects a state change in the first signal output device from not outputting a conduction signal to outputting the conduction signal; upon this detection, starts counting the number of pulse signals; and determines an amount of upward movement of the pressing plate based on the counted number.

A sheet conveying device includes: a sheet cassette including a first housing, a pressing plate, a raising plate, a first resilient member, and a second resilient member; a second housing; a sheet-cassette accommodating portion; a first electrode; a second electrode; a sheet conveyor; a driver; a first output device that outputs a first signal and a second signal; a second output device that outputs a rotation pulse signal; and a controller that receives the first signal, the second signal, and the rotation pulse signal. The controller counts pulses of the rotation pulse signal received from the second output device, determines the number of pulses of the rotation pulse signal, and determines an amount of upward movement of the pressing plate based on the number of pulses of the rotation pulse signal.

In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided for improved handling of lithography masks including loading a mask via a first load port from a first carrier; inverting the mask using a first contact pad; cleaning the mask; inverting the mask using a second contact pad; and unloading the mask via a second load port into a second carrier. Numerous other aspects are provided.

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.

Printer circuits and components for detecting a media low condition on a printer are provided. The printer circuit comprises a motor coupled to a platen roller, a current sense resistor coupled in series with the motor, a current measuring circuit comprising an operational amplifier circuit configured to receive input voltage and output voltage of the current sense resistor, generate a differential voltage based at least in part on the input voltage and the output voltage, and convert the differential voltage to a current, and an analog-to-digital converter and control mechanism configured to receive the current from the current measuring circuit and control operation of the motor based at least in part on the current.

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.

In an example, a lacing engine apparatus can include a housing and a drivetrain. The housing can be securable within a footwear article. The drivetrain can include a motor, a sun gear, a planet gear, a rotating ring gear, and a spool. The spool can be secured to the ring gear and can be rotatable therewith. The spool can be configured to control a lace of the footwear article and can be configured to wind the lace as the ring gear rotates in a first direction.

A sheet conveying device includes: a sheet cassette including a first housing, a pressing plate, a raising plate, a first resilient member, and a second resilient member; a second housing; a sheet-cassette accommodating portion; a first electrode; a second electrode; a sheet conveyor; a driver; a first output device that outputs a first signal and a second signal; a second output device that outputs a rotation pulse signal; and a controller that receives the first signal, the second signal, and the rotation pulse signal. The controller counts pulses of the rotation pulse signal received from the second output device, determines the number of pulses of the rotation pulse signal, and determines an amount of upward movement of the pressing plate based on the number of pulses of the rotation pulse signal.

A base material processing apparatus includes a transport mechanism, a force detection part, a meandering prediction part, a processing part, and a controller. The transport mechanism transports an elongated strip-shaped base material in a longitudinal direction thereof along a transport path aimed by a plurality of rollers of the transport mechanism. The force detection part detects a force applied to a sensing roller in an axial direction of a rotation shaft thereof, the sensing roller being at least one of the plurality of rollers. The controller predicts the meandering state of the base material to output meandering prediction information, based on the force applied to the sensing roller in the axial direction of the rotation shaft thereof. The meandering prediction part corrects the widthwise position of the base material relative to the processing part, based on the meandering prediction information. Thus, the base material processing apparatus is capable of sensing the meandering state of the base material through the use of the existing rollers of the transport mechanism in the processing part, and is capable of correcting the widthwise position of the base material relative to the processing part.

A medium processing apparatus includes the liquid applier, a first liquid storage, a second liquid storage, a liquid flow passage, a liquid leakage detector, and a liquid flow limiter. The liquid applier applies a liquid on a sheet on which a given process is to be performed. The first liquid storage stores liquid to be supplied by the liquid applier. The second liquid storage stores the liquid to be supplied to the first liquid storage. The liquid flow passage connects the first liquid storage and the second liquid storage. The liquid leakage detector detects leakage of the liquid from at least one of the first liquid storage or the second liquid storage. The liquid flow limiter limits a flow of the liquid from at least one of the first liquid storage or the second liquid storage in response to a detection of the leakage by the liquid leakage detector.