Methods and apparatus of producing collectible cards are disclosed. An example method includes producing a first stack of cards including a first card type and a second card type from a single substrate sheet, separating the first stack of cards into a first sub-stack and a second sub-stack. The first sub-stack includes the first card type and the second sub-stack includes the second card type. The example method includes comparing a first top card of the first sub-stack to a first reference card and, based on the first top card being substantially similar to the first reference card, automatically transferring the first sub-stack to a first tray designated to receive the first card type.

To ensure reliable and productive processing of printed sheets into stacks, a sheet stacker includes: a flipping device for flipping a sheet with respect to the sheet's orientation before being received by the flipping device onto a stack support or a stack of sheets on the stack support; a sensor assembly for detecting an out-of-plane deformation of a top sheet with respect to the underlying stack support or a stack of sheets on the stack support at least for each sheet added to the stack; and a controller configured to determine from data from the sensor assembly whether the top sheet was successfully flipped and stacked.

Methods and apparatus of producing collectible cards are disclosed. An example method includes producing a first stack of cards including a first card type and a second card type from a single substrate sheet, separating the first stack of cards into a first sub-stack and a second sub-stack. The first sub-stack includes the first card type and the second sub-stack includes the second card type. The example method includes comparing a first top card of the first sub-stack to a first reference card and, based on the first top card being substantially similar to the first reference card, automatically transferring the first sub-stack to a first tray designated to receive the first card type.

Methods and apparatus of producing collectible cards are disclosed. An example method includes producing a first stack of cards including a first card type and a second card type from a single substrate sheet, separating the first stack of cards into a first sub-stack and a second sub-stack. The first sub-stack includes the first card type and the second sub-stack includes the second card type. The example method includes comparing a first top card of the first sub-stack to a first reference card and, based on the first top card being substantially similar to the first reference card, automatically transferring the first sub-stack to a first tray designated to receive the first card type.

A printing system includes a print station disposed at a sheet transport path, a feed section arranged to feed media sheets of different media types into the transport path so as to be fed sequentially to the print station, and a controller arranged to receive print instructions concerning images to be printed, to schedule a sequence of the media sheets, and to control the feed section and the print station such that each image is printed on a sheet of a media type that has been specified for that image in the print instructions. A sensor is arranged at the transport path for detecting a quality condition of the sheets being fed to the print station, and the controller is adapted to receive a quality signal from the sensor and, when the quality of a sheet is found to be insufficient, to skip that sheet and to reroute the corresponding image to another scheduled sheet that is compatible with the print instructions.

A printing system includes a print station disposed at a sheet transport path, a feed section arranged to feed media sheets of different media types into the transport path so as to be fed sequentially to the print station, and a controller arranged to receive print instructions concerning images to be printed, to schedule a sequence of the media sheets, and to control the feed section and the print station such that each image is printed on a sheet of a media type that has been specified for that image in the print instructions. A sensor is arranged at the transport path for detecting a quality condition of the sheets being fed to the print station, and the controller is adapted to receive a quality signal from the sensor and, when the quality of a sheet is found to be insufficient, to skip that sheet and to reroute the corresponding image to another scheduled sheet that is compatible with the print instructions.

An apparatus for forming and sorting informational items comprises a folding unit, a conveyor belt, a camera, a controller, and a diverter assembly. The folding unit forms a folded article from a sheet of paper. The conveyor belt transports the folded article. The camera captures an image of the folded article as it passes by the camera. The controller receives and processes the image, and the diverter assembly causes the folded article to move off of the conveyor belt when the controller determines that the folded article fails to satisfy at least one predetermined criteria.

An apparatus for forming and sorting informational items comprises a folding unit, a conveyor belt, a camera, a controller, and a diverter assembly. The folding unit forms a folded article from a sheet of paper. The conveyor belt transports the folded article. The camera captures an image of the folded article as it passes by the camera. The controller receives and processes the image, and the diverter assembly causes the folded article to move off of the conveyor belt when the controller determines that the folded article fails to satisfy at least one predetermined criteria.

An image forming apparatus includes a control portion configured to control, based on a detection position of a sheet in a width direction, in a case where a center of an image formed on a first surface at an image forming portion in the width direction is displaced from a center of the sheet in the width direction at the image forming position and an image is to be formed on a second surface of the sheet, a moving portion to move the sheet in the width direction such that a position of the center of the sheet on a conveyance path in the width direction at the sheet forming position when the image is formed on the first surface and a position of a center of the sheet on the conveyance path in the width direction at the sheet forming position when the image is formed on the second surface coincide.

An image forming apparatus includes a control portion configured to control, based on a detection position of a sheet in a width direction, in a case where a center of an image formed on a first surface at an image forming portion in the width direction is displaced from a center of the sheet in the width direction at the image forming position and an image is to be formed on a second surface of the sheet, a moving portion to move the sheet in the width direction such that a position of the center of the sheet on a conveyance path in the width direction at the sheet forming position when the image is formed on the first surface and a position of a center of the sheet on the conveyance path in the width direction at the sheet forming position when the image is formed on the second surface coincide.