A sheet processing apparatus includes a tray, a first binder, a second binder, a feeder, and circuitry. The tray receives and stores a sheet bundle. The first binder presses the sheet bundle to bind the sheet bundle. The second binder penetrates the sheet bundle with a needle to bind the sheet bundle. The feeder feeds the sheet bundle in a first direction, and moves the sheet bundle in a second direction. The circuitry causes the feeder to move the sheet bundle on the tray in the second direction, moves the first binder from a binding position to a home position different from the binding position, and moves the second binder to the binding position in the width direction to bind the sheet bundle by the second binder after the sheet bundle is moved in the second direction and the first binder is moved to the home position.

A tape feeder (part feeding device) includes a main body including a transporting passage for guiding a part feeding tape to a part removing position, a conveyor for positioning a storage of the part feeding tape which is inserted to the transporting passage to the part removing position, and a part detector for detecting the part stored in the storage in the transporting passage at the upstream side of the part removing position. The transporting passage includes a travelling surface for supporting the part feeding tape from underneath, a pair of side guides for guiding two side surfaces of the part feeding tape, and a squeezed portion in which a distance between the pair of side guides is gradually reduced from the upstream side of the part detector toward a part detecting position of the part detector.

A tape feeder (part feeding device) includes a main body including a transporting passage for guiding a part feeding tape to a part removing position, a conveyor for positioning a storage of the part feeding tape which is inserted to the transporting passage to the part removing position, and a part detector for detecting the part stored in the storage in the transporting passage at the upstream side of the part removing position. The transporting passage includes a travelling surface for supporting the part feeding tape from underneath, a pair of side guides for guiding two side surfaces of the part feeding tape, and a squeezed portion in which a distance between the pair of side guides is gradually reduced from the upstream side of the part detector toward a part detecting position of the part detector.

A device and a method for separating sheet material is provided. The separation of sheet material is not effected statically, but a suitable pick-up position and/or a suitable pick-up mechanism is selected for each sheet material piece, for example in dependence on the quality of a surface of the sheet material piece to be picked up, in order to pick up the sheet material piece from the sheet material stack and remove it from the same.

A device and a method for separating sheet material is provided. The separation of sheet material is not effected statically, but a suitable pick-up position and/or a suitable pick-up mechanism is selected for each sheet material piece, for example in dependence on the quality of a surface of the sheet material piece to be picked up, in order to pick up the sheet material piece from the sheet material stack and remove it from the same.

A method for facilitating web position tracking is disclosed. The method involves receiving a representation of a plurality of first-stage anomaly locations representing locations of anomalies detected on a web at a first web processing stage, receiving a representation of a plurality of second-stage anomaly locations representing locations of anomalies detected on the web at a second web processing stage, for each of a plurality of different candidate location offsets: comparing the candidate location offset to the plurality of first-stage anomaly locations and the plurality of second-stage anomaly locations to determine a representation of a difference to be associated with the candidate location offset; and associating the representation of the difference with the candidate location offset, and identifying a determined location offset from the candidate location offsets based at least in part on the representations of the differences. Other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed.

There is provided a winding device, including: a winding part that winds a longitudinal recording medium in which an image is formed: a suppressing member that suppresses generation of a strain in the longitudinal recording medium wound by the winding part; and an operation part that operates the suppressing member in a case where the strain in the longitudinal recording medium wound by the winding part is a threshold value or more.

There is provided a winding device, including: a winding part that winds a longitudinal recording medium in which an image is formed: a suppressing member that suppresses generation of a strain in the longitudinal recording medium wound by the winding part; and an operation part that operates the suppressing member in a case where the strain in the longitudinal recording medium wound by the winding part is a threshold value or more.

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.

A positional adjustment apparatus for an attractor includes a positioning plate disposable at least adjacent to a surface of a mold, at least one drive operatively connected to the positioning plate to move the positioning plate and alter at least one of a first height, a first angle of tilt, a first lateral position, and a rotational position of the positioning plate with respect to the surface of the mold, at least one positioner disposed in an opening through the positing plate, the positioner hanging from and being moveable independently of the positioning plate, at least one attractor connected to the at least one positioner, and a joint disposed between the positioner and the positioning plate, the joint permitting the at least one positioner to change at least one of a second height, a second angle of tilt, and a second lateral position with respect to the positioning plate.