According to one embodiment, a paper conveyance apparatus includes: a paper feed section on which paper is placed; a first roller configured to be arranged at the upstream side of a reading position where the paper is read to convey the paper at a first speed; a second roller configured to be arranged between the first roller and the paper feed section to convey the paper at a second speed faster than the first speed; a motor; a fourth roller configured to be arranged between the first roller and the reading position and driven by the motor to convey the paper to the reading position at the first speed; and a transmission section configured to always transmit a rotation driving force of the motor to the first roller and the fourth roller.

Apparatus and methods are provided for a self-contained tension control system. An example self-contained tension control system can include a brake system configured to provide tension friction to a web, a tension transducer to provide tension information indicative of tension of the web, a controller configured to receive the tension information, to compare the tension information to set point information, and to provide a command signal to the brake system, and an enclosure configured to enclose the brake system, the tension transducer, and the controller, the enclosure including a first web opening and a second web opening configured to allow the web to enter the enclosure and to pass through the enclosure to equipment downstream of the self-contained tension control system.

A placement station for placing flat items has multiple transport elements extending through a related opening in a placement deck of the placement station. All transport elements are driven by a single drive motor via toothed belt discs and toothed belts. At least one trigger sensor is arranged in the placement station on the exit side of the mail-item flow. The drive motor and the trigger sensor are electrically connected with means for controlling the transport speed of the flat items. Each transport element is carried by a transport module. The placement station has multiple transport modules, each extending with a transport element mounted on its head side through a related opening in a placement deck of the placement station. The transport modules are lowerable below the placement deck in a direction contrary to a spring force. The direction of traction can be changed by turning at least one transport module before or during operation of the placement station. Each transport element has a barrel-shaped body with an equator, wherein different friction values of said body of the transport element are provided on both sides of the equator. The transport modules are directionally positioned such that the half of the body of the transport element with the higher friction value is closest to the alignment wall.

A sheet conveyance device includes a center shaft; a driving portion and a rotatable member. The rotatable member includes an engaging hole to engage with the center shaft, a drive coupling portion disposed on an outer diameter side of the engaging hole and coupled to the driving portion, and a restricting portion disposed on the outer diameter side of the engaging hole and for restricting movement of a moving member. The rotatable member changes a position of the restricting member by being rotated between a first position and a second position rotated from the first position about the center shaft by driving of the driving portion. As viewed in an axial direction of the center shaft, a position of a center of gravity of the rotatable member is positioned in an inner diameter side of an inner diameter surface of the engaging hole.

A current detecting device includes: a drive signal generating unit configured to generate a control signal based on a control voltage value indicating drive force to be applied to a target; a current detecting unit configured to detect a current value output based on the control signal generated by the drive signal generating unit; and a correction unit configured to correct the current value detected by the current detecting unit, based on at least a magnitude of the control voltage value.

A motor driving apparatus for causing drive current to flow in first and second armature coils of two-phases to rotate a rotator, includes a drive unit configured to give first and second PWM pulse signals to ends of the first and second armature coils. The drive unit includes a first shift unit configured to, when a difference between pulse widths of the first PWM pulse signals given to the ends of the first armature coil is less than or equal to a first predetermined value, shift forward any one of pulses of the first PWM pulse signals, and a second shift unit configured to, when a difference between pulse widths of the second PWM pulse signals given to the ends of the second armature coil is less than or equal to a second predetermined value, shift backward any one of pulses of the second PWM pulse signals.

A motor controller includes a drive control portion. The drive control portion is configured to: execute feedback control of a drive current to be supplied to a drive motor, by using an inputted control signal indicating a target rotation speed for the drive motor and a detection signal of a rotation speed detection portion configured to detect a rotation speed of the drive motor; control the drive current in a first control period in which the target rotation speed is changed, such that the drive current is equal to or less than a predetermined first upper limit; and control the drive current in a second control period in which the target rotation speed is constant, such that the drive current is equal to or less than a predetermined second upper limit less than the first upper limit.

According to one embodiment, a paper conveyance apparatus includes: a paper feed section on which paper is placed; a first roller configured to be arranged at the upstream side of a reading position where the paper is read to convey the paper at a first speed; a second roller configured to be arranged between the first roller and the paper feed section to convey the paper at a second speed faster than the first speed; a motor; a fourth roller configured to be arranged between the first roller and the reading position and driven by the motor to convey the paper to the reading position at the first speed; and a transmission section configured to always transmit a rotation driving force of the motor to the first roller and the fourth roller.

A motor driving apparatus for causing drive current to flow in first and second armature coils of two-phases to rotate a rotator, includes a drive unit configured to give first and second PWM pulse signals to ends of the first and second armature coils. The drive unit includes a first shift unit configured to, when a difference between pulse widths of the first PWM pulse signals given to the ends of the first armature coil is less than or equal to a first predetermined value, shift forward any one of pulses of the first PWM pulse signals, and a second shift unit configured to, when a difference between pulse widths of the second PWM pulse signals given to the ends of the second armature coil is less than or equal to a second predetermined value, shift backward any one of pulses of the second PWM pulse signals.

A sheet stacker includes a load table to stack a bundle of sheets; a conveyor to convey a sheet to the load table in a conveyance direction at a conveyance speed; a guide including a holder to: hold a leading end of the sheet conveyed by the conveyor by the holder at a standby position; and move the holder to guide the sheet along a movement path in the conveyance direction at a moving speed while holding the sheet by the holder; and a leading-end alignment mechanism including a partition extending to the movement path of the holder, the leading-end alignment mechanism to align, in the conveyance direction, a leading-end position of the sheet on the load table; and circuitry configured to differentiate the conveyance speed of the conveyor and the moving speed of the holder.