A conveying system employs independently controlled flights. The flights are controlled separately from a conveying surface using a linear transport system. The linear transport system allow the position of the flights to be controlled based on a parameter, such as the length of a conveyed object. The flights are pivotally mounted to a mover of the linear transport system and can pivot relative to the conveying surface to allow the flights to fit in a space between an end of carryway and a receptacle.

Disclosed is an automated insert feeding system and related methods, capable of removing bulk-packaged items from a tray or other package, and separating the bulk-packaged items individually for distribution into individual packages in high speed reliable fashion. The disclosed systems can also be loaded with multiple packages of the pre-packaged items for automatic feeding into the system which allows human operators to load several packages and allow the system to work unattended, thereby reducing man-hours spend on the process.

An implementation of an assembly of the present teachings includes a transport roll having a shaft with a tapered surface and an encoder having a coupler that defines a recess and has a tapered surface. During use of the assembly, the tapered surface of the shaft physically contacts the tapered surface of the coupler, and the encoder can be urged toward the transport roll using a spring such as a leaf spring.

An endless belt includes a band-shaped belt main body made of a vulcanized rubber, and a coupling part that is made of a thermoplastic resin and is provided between both end parts of the belt main body, wherein the vulcanized rubber of the both end parts of the belt main body and the thermoplastic resin of the coupling part are chemically bonded to each other.

A media transfer system comprising a media drive component and a vent. The media drive component supports and transfers a media in a drive direction. The vent directs air flow towards the leading edge of the media in the drive direction to exert a separating force on the leading edge of the media, the separating force acting on the media away from the media drive component.

A media transfer system comprising a media drive component and a vent. The media drive component supports and transfers a media in a drive direction. The vent directs air flow towards the leading edge of the media in the drive direction to exert a separating force on the leading edge of the media, the separating force acting on the media away from the media drive component.

A driving apparatus includes an endless belt, a belt roller which engages the endless belt, a steering member and an adjustment member. The belt roller has a rotation shaft. The steering member contacts the endless belt at the inner side of the endless belt. The adjustment member is supported rotatably. The adjustment member receives a force in response to the endless belt moving in a longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft of the belt roller, and generates a pressing force that tilts the steering member via a rotational movement of the adjustment member.

An automated greeting card conveyance system is disclosed that includes a first conveyor configured to transport pre-decorated greeting cards along a first conveyance path and a second conveyor configured to transport envelopes along a second conveyance path. A control system controls customization of each greeting card and envelope by (a) determining a card identifier of the greeting card, (b) identifying customized content associated with an order for the greeting card having the card identifier, and (c) causing the customized content to be printed on the greeting card and envelope. A coupling system may also be used to automatically insert the greeting card into the envelope. In addition, a sealing system may be used to automatically seal envelope having a pointed envelope flap.

Printing apparatus includes a paper support configurated to support a sheet body, a TOF sensor configured to detect a distance to the sheet body, a conveyor configured to convey a sheet medium in the sheet body, a printing device configured to print on the sheet medium conveyed by the conveyor, and a controller. The controller is configured to execute remaining amount detection processing that detects a remaining amount of the sheet medium based on a detection result of the distance to the sheet body by the TOF sensor, and calibration processing that corrects distance detection deviation of the TOF sensor based on a detection result of a distance to a predetermined detection object by the TOF sensor in a predetermined state in which a distance from the TOF sensor to the detection object is a predetermined value.

A conveying apparatus includes a conveyor and a conveyed object receptor. The conveyor includes a conveyance surface facing downward and configured to convey a conveyed object having a sheet-like shape. The conveyed object receptor is arranged below the conveyor and configured to receive the conveyed object having fallen from the conveyor.