Aspects of automated fabric picking are described. In one embodiment, a system includes a textile cutter including a tabletop upon which textile panels can be cut out from a textile sheet, a textile panel picker, and a computing device. The textile panel picker includes a flexible transport tube, a transport tube transfer arm to position the flexible transport tube over the tabletop and the textile panels, a textile hopper to collect the textile panels, and a pneumatic pump assembly to evacuate air from the textile hopper and through the flexible transport tube. The computing device identifies and tracks the textile panels on the tabletop, directs the transport tube transfer arm to position the flexible transport tube over the textile panels, and directs the pneumatic pump assembly to generate suction to pull the textile panels through the flexible transport tube and into the textile hopper.

Provided is an image forming apparatus including: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet fed from a container; a trailing edge regulating plate, which is movable in a feeding direction inside the container, and is configured to regulate a trailing edge position of the sheet; a detector configured to automatically detect a sheet size based on the position of the trailing edge regulating plate; and a receiver configured to receive a size of the sheet to be set for the container as a user set size.

Provided is an image forming apparatus including: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet fed from a container; a trailing edge regulating plate, which is movable in a feeding direction inside the container, and is configured to regulate a trailing edge position of the sheet; a detector configured to automatically detect a sheet size based on the position of the trailing edge regulating plate; and a receiver configured to receive a size of the sheet to be set for the container as a user set size.

A sheet binding processing apparatus including a crimp binding member that performs binding processing on a predetermined region of a sheet by sandwiching and pressing the sheet between an upper tooth and a lower tooth meshing with each other, and a detection unit that detects a state of the predetermined region of the sheet to be bound by the crimp binding member. If the detection unit detects that the predetermined region is not capable of binding, the binding processing on the predetermined region is prohibited.

A sheet binding processing apparatus including a crimp binding member that performs binding processing on a predetermined region of a sheet by sandwiching and pressing the sheet between an upper tooth and a lower tooth meshing with each other, and a detection unit that detects a state of the predetermined region of the sheet to be bound by the crimp binding member. If the detection unit detects that the predetermined region is not capable of binding, the binding processing on the predetermined region is prohibited.

A method for reducing the effects of variations in an unwinding, convolutely wound roll of web material is disclosed. The method utilizes the steps of: a. selecting a reference objective relating to a downstream operation, b. choosing at least one feedback device correlated to the reference objective, c. collecting process data from the at least one feedback device at different positions within a time-varying operation cycle for at least one operation cycle at a learning speed, d. calculating an error as the difference between the collected process data from step (c) and a reference signal related to the selected reference objective, e. generating a correction signal based upon the calculated error from step (d) and, f. applying the correction signal to the actuator during a succeeding time-varying operation cycle.

A paper sheet handling machine (for example, a banknote handling machine (10)) includes: a storage unit (for example, an escrow unit (20), banknote storages (30), a banknote storage cassette (40)) configured to store a paper sheet transported from a transport unit (16); and a shifting unit (19) provided in the transport unit (16) and configured to shift the paper sheet transported by the transport unit (16), in a width direction orthogonal to a direction in which the paper sheet is transported, according to a position, in the width direction, of a specific member (for example, a tape (136) in the escrow unit (20), a pair of feed rollers of a banknote feeding mechanism (32, 42) provided in the banknote storages (30), a banknote storage cassette (40)) in the storage unit.

A sheet processing machine (10) has a device (44) for monitoring sheets (12) and a transfer mechanism (26) for moving sheets (12) along a handling direction within the sheet processing machine (10). The device (44) comprises a light emitting element forming a light barrier in a sheet passage between the light emitting element and the light receiving element. A control unit (46) is connected to the light receiving element and is adapted to register each sheet (12) passing the sheet passage.

A device for detecting a foreign object attached on a surface of a sheet-like medium, comprising a static electricity providing part (A) for providing static electrical charges, a medium transporting part (B) for transporting a medium under detection, and a static electricity sensor and identifier part (C). The medium transporting part comprises a static electricity receiving unit and a static electricity absorbing unit sequentially connected. The static electricity receiving unit is connected to the static electricity providing part (A), and the static electricity absorbing unit is connected to the static electricity sensor and identifier part (C). The static electricity receiving unit is configured to transfer the static electrical charges obtained from the static electricity providing part (A) to the medium under detection. The static electricity absorbing unit is configured to absorb the static electrical charges of the medium under detection.

A sheet stacking system is disclosed that has improved tolerance for sheets that are not flat. Successive sheets are aligned onto a stack by a plurality of registration belts. The heights of the pivoting registration belts are compared with one another to determine the unevenness of the top of the stack. This unevenness is represented by the difference between the heights of the highest and lowest registration belt .sub.stack-height and is monitored to quantify the planarity of the top of the stack. When the unevenness (.sub.stack-height) exceeds a threshold, the system switches to a modified method to control the elevation of the stack. This method may include stopping the machine from stacking before the unevenness is too large for the registration belts to uniformly drive sheets. This invention prevents the stacker from attempting to stack when sheets are expected to skew thereby preventing jams and unusable stacks.