In a medium conveying device, a projector projects light, a projection light amount of the light changes, at every fixed time, to a first projection light amount and a second projection light amount less than the first projection light amount, a receiver receives the light projected from the projector, a processor determines, at fixed sampling timings, whether a reception light amount of the receiver is at a first reception light level or a second reception light level smaller than the first reception light level, determines, when the reception light amount alternately changes to the first reception light level and the second reception light level, that a medium is not present on a conveying path, and determines, when the reception light amount is fixed to either the first reception light level or the second reception light level, that the medium is present on the conveying path.

A paper sheet storage apparatus (1) includes: a placement mount (10) on which bills (B) , i.e., an example of paper sheets, are placed; a leading-edge position restriction guide (20) that restricts the position of the leading edge portion of a bill (B) in an entering direction (D) in which the bill (B) advances when being transported onto the placement mount (10); and a sensor (30) that detects the presence/absence of an accumulation space (S) for bills (B) that is located above the placement mount (10). The sensor (30) detects the presence/absence of an accumulation space (S) by using detection light (L) emitted to a space between a first position (P1) that is located on an opposite side of the leading-edge position restriction guide (20) from the bills (B) on the placement mount (10) and a second position (P2) below the first position (P1) that is located on an opposite side of the bills (B) on the placement mount (10) from the leading-edge position restriction guide (20).

A sheet feeding device includes a sheet table, a sheet sensor, a first actuator including a contact portion and a first screen, and a second actuator including an effector and a second screen. The first actuator rotates in a second direction when the contact portion is lifted by a sheet, and rotates in a first direction when the contact portion falls into a hole. The second actuator rotates in the second direction such that the second slit overlaps with the first slit, when the effector is subjected to pressure of the sheet. The first slit is formed so as to differ a size of an aperture, depending on whether the contact portion is in contact with the sheet, or in the hole. The second slit is formed so as to reduce the size of the aperture compared with when the effector is free from the pressure.

A sensing apparatus can be configured to detect an edge of a paper that is received by an automated transaction machine (ATM). The paper can move along a path located inside the ATM, the path having opposite first and second sides. The sensing apparatus can include a light emitter and a light detector on the first side of the path, with the light emitter positioned so that it can emit light across the path to the second side. The light detector can be configured to detect light from the light emitter and can emit a signal corresponding to an amount of detected light. The sensing apparatus can also include a control circuit that can control a flow of power to the light emitter, and the control circuit can also receive the signal emitted by the sensor.

A tape removal apparatus is configured for automatically removing a tape attached to an electrode roll in order to fix the electrode roll. The tape removal apparatus includes a sensing unit configured to sense the tape attached to the electrode roll, an injection unit configured to inject air toward the tape, a support unit configured to support a non-adhesive portion of the tape, and a gripper configured to fix the non-adhesive portion of the tape together with the support unit.

A sensor control apparatus includes a control unit, a plurality of sensors connected in series to the control unit. Each of the plurality of sensors includes a detector configured to perform a detection operation based on a first voltage applied from the control unit, a first switch provided on an application path for applying a voltage, a second switch provided on a supply path for supplying the voltage applied from the control unit to a sensor connected in a subsequent stage, and a conduction control unit. The control unit brings the first switch into conduction and cut off the second switch in a case where the voltage on the application path is the first voltage, and cuts off the first switch and bring the second switch into conduction in a case where the voltage on the application path is a second voltage.

Unwinder of a thin ply product wound on a roll, of the type with automatic switching of the unwinding roll with a spare roll, said unwinder comprising—a first roll-holder assembly equipped with a first unwinding rod for a respective roll, on which the roll is adapted to be supported, and which has an axis of rotation transversal to the direction of movement of the ply unwound from the roll, —a second roll-holder assembly equipped with a second unwinding rod for a respective roll, on which the roll is adapted to be supported, said second rod being parallel to said first unwinding rod of the first roll-holder assembly, said second roll-holder assembly facing said first roll-holder assembly in an unwinding zone, wherein of said two roll-holder assemblies, one assembly holds the unwinding roll and the other assembly holds the spare roll to be switched, —a ply splicing assembly placed above said first and second facing roll-holder assemblies, —a ply accumulation unit to allow automatic switching between a roll being unwound in one said roll-holder assembly and a spare roll provided in the other roll-holder assembly, —a transversal position correction system for the side edges of the plies on the rolls present in said roll-holder assemblies.

In general, according to one embodiment, a paper sheet storage device that is capable of accurately detecting a near end of a stored roll paper sheet is provided. A paper sheet storage device in an embodiment includes a storage unit configured to store a roll paper sheet obtained by winding a long paper sheet, a near end detection unit configured to detect a near end since a diameter of the roll paper sheet stored in the storage unit becomes smaller, and a pressing unit configured to press the roll paper sheet stored in the storage unit in a direction of the near end detection unit.

A first detector detects a sheet between a first conveyance roller and a confluence position in a conveyance path. The first detector includes a first actuator and a first sensor. The first actuator is rotationally movable by contacting the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance roller. The first sensor is an optical sensor that detects rotational movement of the first actuator. A second detector detects the sheet between a second conveyance roller and the confluence position in a reconveyance path. The second detector includes a second actuator and a second sensor. The second actuator is rotationally movable by contacting the sheet conveyed by the second conveyance roller. The second sensor is an optical sensor that detects rotational movement of the second actuator. A single sensor board supports the first sensor and the second sensor. The sensor board has a wiring pattern connected to the first sensor and the second sensor.

A sheet feeding device feeds a sheet in a feed direction. The sheet feeding device includes a loading portion, a feeler, and a first detection sensor. The sheet is to be placed on the loading portion. The feeler rotates from a reference position to a pushed position around a support shaft in response to a push by a downstream end of the sheet, which is placed on the loading portion, in the feeding direction. The first detection sensor detects a rotation of the feeler from one of the reference position and the pushed position to the other of the reference position and the pushed position. The loading portion includes a second detection sensor to detect a state in which the sheet is placed on the loading portion.