An image forming apparatus includes a sensor, a tray, a gear, a protruding portion, and a processor. The sensor has a light transmitting unit and light receiving units and is configured to generate an output signal in accordance with an amount of light received by the light receiving units. The gear is configured to rotate in accordance with an amount of sheets stacked on the tray. The protruding portion is configured to rotate with the gear and move into a light path of light emitted from the light emitting unit to the light receiving units to partially block the light, the protruding portion having a width that determines how much light in the light path is blocked and varies gradually from a first end thereof to a second end thereof. The processor is configured to determine the amount of sheets stacked on the tray based on the output signal.

An image forming apparatus includes a sensor, a tray, a gear, a protruding portion, and a processor. The sensor has a light transmitting unit and light receiving units and is configured to generate an output signal in accordance with an amount of light received by the light receiving units. The gear is configured to rotate in accordance with an amount of sheets stacked on the tray. The protruding portion is configured to rotate with the gear and move into a light path of light emitted from the light emitting unit to the light receiving units to partially block the light, the protruding portion having a width that determines how much light in the light path is blocked and varies gradually from a first end thereof to a second end thereof. The processor is configured to determine the amount of sheets stacked on the tray based on the output signal.

A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a sheet supporting tray to support a sheet, a sheet conveyance unit to convey the sheet supported on the sheet supporting tray, a first detection sensor to detect the supported sheet at a first detection position, and a second detection sensor to detect the supported sheet at a second detection position farther from a center of the sheet supporting tray in a sheet width direction than the first detection position. In addition, a control unit controls the sheet conveyance unit in a first mode in a case where the first and second detection sensors detect the sheet, and controls the sheet conveyance unit in a second mode in which a sheet conveyance speed is slower than that of the first mode in a case where the first detection sensor detects the sheet and the second detection sensor detects no sheet.

A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a sheet supporting tray to support a sheet, a sheet conveyance unit to convey the sheet supported on the sheet supporting tray, a first detection sensor to detect the supported sheet at a first detection position, and a second detection sensor to detect the supported sheet at a second detection position farther from a center of the sheet supporting tray in a sheet width direction than the first detection position. In addition, a control unit controls the sheet conveyance unit in a first mode in a case where the first and second detection sensors detect the sheet, and controls the sheet conveyance unit in a second mode in which a sheet conveyance speed is slower than that of the first mode in a case where the first detection sensor detects the sheet and the second detection sensor detects no sheet.

An example a media sensor device may comprise a light source positioned on a first side of a media pathway, a light path to receive a light from the light source and direct the light through a plurality of openings from the first side of the media pathway to a second side of the media pathway, and a light sensor on the second side of the media pathway to detect print media within the light path based on an intensity of light received from the light source, wherein a heated enclosure aligns the light sensor with the light path.

An example a media sensor device may comprise a light source positioned on a first side of a media pathway, a light path to receive a light from the light source and direct the light through a plurality of openings from the first side of the media pathway to a second side of the media pathway, and a light sensor on the second side of the media pathway to detect print media within the light path based on an intensity of light received from the light source, wherein a heated enclosure aligns the light sensor with the light path.

A method that facilitates the automatic identification of the long edge or the short edge of the item of laundry by determining the lengths or the angles of the edge areas of the item of laundry extending from a lower corner of the item of laundry. It may be derived from the determined angles or lengths of the edge areas whether the respective edge area belongs to the long edge or to the short edge of the item of laundry. With this information, a targeted transverse or longitudinal feed of rectangular items of laundry may be carried out to a downstream inserting machine. The fully automated feeding of items of laundry to, for example, an inserting machine is carried out in a targeted way with either the long edge of the item of laundry extending transversely to the feed direction or the short edge extending transversely to the feed direction.

A method that facilitates the automatic identification of the long edge or the short edge of the item of laundry by determining the lengths or the angles of the edge areas of the item of laundry extending from a lower corner of the item of laundry. It may be derived from the determined angles or lengths of the edge areas whether the respective edge area belongs to the long edge or to the short edge of the item of laundry. With this information, a targeted transverse or longitudinal feed of rectangular items of laundry may be carried out to a downstream inserting machine. The fully automated feeding of items of laundry to, for example, an inserting machine is carried out in a targeted way with either the long edge of the item of laundry extending transversely to the feed direction or the short edge extending transversely to the feed direction.

A peripheral capable of sensing a media count includes a body, a stopper, a supply tray and a sensor assembly. The stopper is installed in the body. The supply tray accommodated within the body includes a base and a frame. The frame elastically and pivotally connected to the base supports media and pushes the media in a direction toward the stopper so that the media contacts the stopper. The sensor assembly installed in the body detects a position state of the frame to obtain a sensing signal corresponding to the number of the media.

A sheet processing system for automated sheet adjustment includes a sensor system which captures at least a first image of a sheet of print media as the sheet is conveyed on a main transport path between a print media supply module and a marking device of an image rendering module. A control module computes a lateral error for the sheet, based on the captured at least first image, and computes an adjustment based on the computed lateral error. A sheet transport path adjustment mechanism translates a first portion of the main transport path relative to a second portion of the main transport path, based on the computed adjustment.