A gage apparatus includes a probe, a processor, and a memory. The probe includes a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers both aligned in an axial direction along the probe. The processor is in electronic communication with the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of receivers. The memory is in electronic communication with the processor. The memory includes programming code for execution by the processor. The programming code is configured to determine a length of a structure disposed adjacent to the probe based on which of the plurality of receivers receive signals transmitted by the plurality of transmitters and reflected off the structure.

A sheet conveying device, which is incorporated in an image forming apparatus, includes a first detector to detect an angle deviation of a recording medium to a sheet conveying direction, a second detector to detect a lateral shift of the recording medium to a width direction, a third detector to detect at least one of the angle deviation and the lateral shift after correction of the angle deviation detected by the first detector and the lateral shift detected by the second detector, and a rotary body to perform a primary movement by (1) rotating in the sheet conveying direction and returning to a reference position and by (2) moving in the width direction and returning to the reference position, and a secondary movement by performing at least one of (1) and (2) after the primary movement.

Belt conveyor system comprising: an endless mesh belt, the belt having a mesh structure and having edge areas at the lateral sides, a drive mechanism drivable by a drive motor to rotate the belt, and a steering roller for steering the lateral position of the belt, wherein an edge area comprises a band running substantially parallel to the lateral sides, the band comprising an elastic filler being provided inside the mesh structure, the elastic filler being discernible from the mesh structure, and wherein the belt conveyor system further comprises a band position detector for detecting the lateral position of the band.

An apparatus (20) for steering a web (22), including a web path having at least one steering roller (24) and an exit roller (26), each having a mount; wherein the steering roller(s) (26) each have an axis of rotation and wherein the mounts for the steering roller(s) (26) can pivot those axes with a total of two degrees of freedom. An array (30) comprising a plurality of sensors (30a) for monitoring the position of the web (22) is present connected to a controller so as to determine the position and angular orientation of the web (22). The controller adjusts the pivot(s) of the mount(s) so as to control the angular orientation and the lateral position of the web (22) at a particular point along the web path.

A sensor can sense a weight of items in an area. A sensor can sense a height of items in the area. An available capacity of the area can be determined based on the sensed weight and height.

The image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveyance part, an image forming part, and a sheet reading unit. The sheet reading unit includes a line sensor. The line sensor includes split line sensors. The line sensor reads a conveyed sheet. The line sensor includes a plurality of split line sensors. The split line sensors are placed at non-stretching positions, respectively. Each non-stretching position is such a position that as in the main scanning direction, a main-scanning-direction distance from a gap between one split line sensor and another split line sensor to an ideal edge position of every usable regular size exceeds a permissible value.

A transportation apparatus includes a transportation section that transports continuous paper in a transportation direction intersecting with a shaft direction of a transportation roller. An imaging section includes plural photoreceptor elements and captures an image of the continuous paper transported by the transportation section. The photoreceptor elements are arranged in a first direction and a second direction, the first direction intersecting with the shaft direction, and the second direction intersecting with the first direction. A transportation amount acquisition section acquires a transportation amount of the continuous paper in the transportation direction on the basis of the image captured by the imaging section. The transportation amount acquisition section acquires the transportation amount of the continuous paper by correcting a movement amount of the continuous paper in the first direction with a correction value that changes in accordance with orientation of the first direction.

A medium conveying apparatus conveyable a passport includes a guide pair including a first guide, and a second guide located so as to sandwich a medium conveyance path together with the first guide, to regulate a vertical direction of the medium conveyance path, a light emitting element located on an outside of the medium conveyance path with one of the first guide or the second guide in between to detect the medium, a light receiving element located on an outside of the medium conveyance path with the first guide in between, to receive a light emitted by the light emitting element, and an opening provided in the first guide, to pass the light emitted from the light emitting element. A reflectivity in a periphery of the opening of the first guide is 55% or less.

A medium conveying apparatus includes a moving mechanism to move the set guide, a guide pair including a first guide having a first opening and a second opening, and a second guide to regulate a vertical direction of the medium conveyance path, a light emitting element and a light receiving element located on an outside of the medium conveyance path with the first guide in between, and on the downstream side of the first opening and the second opening so as to be apart from the moving mechanism by a predetermined distance or more in the medium conveying direction, a first light guide which is bent so as to guide a light emitted from the light emitting element to the first opening, and a second light guide which is bent so as to guide the light incident from the second opening to the light receiving element.

A sheet conveying device includable in an image forming apparatus that uses a method of conveying a conveyance target medium and a method of forming an image, includes a position detector, a position adjuster, and circuitry. The position detector is configured to detect a position of a conveyance target medium. Based on a detection of the position of the conveyance target medium by the position detector, the position adjuster moves in at least one of a width direction of the conveyance target medium and a rotation direction of the conveyance target medium within a plane of conveyance of the conveyance target medium and repeatedly adjusts the position of the conveyance target medium while conveying the conveyance target medium. The circuitry changes a conveying speed of the conveyance target medium, according to a change of the position of the conveyance target medium after adjusted by the position adjuster.