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.

A sheet feeding device includes a sheet stacker configured to stack a sheet bundle; a blower configured to float a sheet on an upper portion of the sheet bundle; a conveyor configured to convey the sheet floated by the blower; a lift configured to lift up and down the sheet stacker; a first reflective optical sensor configured to detect the sheet floated by the blower; a second reflective optical sensor configured to detect the sheet bundle and a side face of the sheet stacker, the side face including a detection region to be detected by the second reflective optical sensor and a non-detection region not to be detected by the second reflective optical sensor; and circuitry configured to control the lift based on a detection result of the first reflective optical sensor and a detection result of the second reflective optical sensor. The circuitry is configured to cause the lift to lift up the sheet stacker in response to a change from a detection state to a non-detection state of the second reflective optical sensor.

A system for detecting the level of a media supply in a printer has a frame having a support for seating the printer thereon. A first light source is positioned on the support and is energizable to direct a first beam of light into the printer. A first detector is positioned on the support and provides an analog signal in response to reflection of the first beam of light from within the printer. A control logic processor is in signal communication with the first detector and compares the analog signal to a stored/predetermined value and reports a low media condition according to the comparison.

A distance measure between a beginning and an end of a material strip wound onto a body in a tangential direction can be determined by creating a height profile of a surface of the material strip, which covers the beginning and the end of the wound material strip in the tangential direction. If a position value of the beginning of the material strip is determined in the created height profile, the distance measure can be determined using this position value and the height profile covering the end of the material strip.

Printing devices include a media supply storing print media, a luminescent belt positioned adjacent the media supply in a location to move sheets of the print media from the media supply, a print engine positioned adjacent the luminescent belt in a location to receive the sheets from the luminescent belt, an optical sensor positioned adjacent the belt in a location to receive belt-emitted light from the luminescent belt, and a processor electrically connected to the optical sensor. The processor receives the image from the optical sensor and identifies locations of the sheets on the belt based on where the sheets block the belt-emitted light from the luminescent belt.

An adjustment method for adjusting the heights of the nipping belts in a transport conveyor that moves flat articles in series and on edge, so that a transport height is substantially constant for the flat articles. The method causes the conveyor to operate empty in such a manner that the nipping belts of heights that are to be adjusted run without any flat article in the conveyor, emits two parallel and superposed light beams towards a belt of height to be adjusted, spaced apart by a certain distance equal to the width of the belt between the two opposite edges of the belt to be adjusted, the light beams emitted from a portable tool, and manipulate a tensioner adjusting the belt so as to move the belt heightwise while it is running empty until the two light beams intersect respective ones of the two opposite edges of the belt.

A sheet feeding device includes a sheet tray, a blower, a feeder, an illuminator, an imager, and circuitry. The sheet tray stacks sheets. The blower blows air to the sheets stacked on the sheet tray and floats an uppermost sheet of the sheets. The feeder feeds the uppermost sheet. The illuminator illuminates the uppermost sheet floating. The imager captures an image including the uppermost sheet illuminated by the illuminator. The circuitry adjusts an imaging condition based on the image captured by the imager.

A system for detecting the level of a media supply in a printer has a frame having a support for seating the printer thereon. A first light source is positioned on the support and is energizable to direct a first beam of light into the printer. A first detector is positioned on the support and provides an analog signal in response to reflection of the first beam of light from within the printer. A control logic processor is in signal communication with the first detector and compares the analog signal to a stored/predetermined value and reports a low media condition according to the comparison.

An adjustment method for adjusting the heights of the nipping belts in a transport conveyor that moves flat articles in series and on edge, so that a transport height is substantially constant for the flat articles. The method causes the conveyor to operate empty in such a manner that the nipping belts of heights that are to be adjusted run without any flat article in the conveyor, emits two parallel and superposed light beams towards a belt of height to be adjusted, spaced apart by a certain distance equal to the width of the belt between the two opposite edges of the belt to be adjusted, the light beams emitted from a portable tool, and manipulate a tensioner adjusting the belt so as to move the belt heightwise while it is running empty until the two light beams intersect respective ones of the two opposite edges of the belt.