A control device using, as a learning target, a transporting apparatus, a rotation control section which controls at least one of a rotation speed of a first roller and a rotation speed of a second roller, and a position detection section which detects a position of the transport target matter, the control device including a state variable acquisition section which acquires a state variable and a detection result of the position detection section, the state variable being based on information of a state of the transport target matter and information of an environment to which the transport target matter is exposed, and a learning section which learns a control expression for calculating a control value of the rotation control section based on a dataset containing the state variable acquired by the state variable acquisition section and the detection result of the position detection section.

An improved method and tooling for a pouch forming machine to attach a fastener to the bag film layers. The method and fixture in one embodiment can unwind a double wide touch and close fastening material and then split the fastener into two strips using two turning bars, invert one of the strips, bring the strips together to interlock them with a nip roller, and then insert the interlocked strip between the bag film layers.

A sheet feeding device includes a support that detachably supports a roll, a rotation driver that rotates a spool, a guide including a facing portion and a guide portion, a support shaft that swingably supports the guide, a biasing member that presses the guide, a sensor that retractably projects from the facing portion and outputs a detection signal, a roller that contacts an outer circumferential surface of the roll, and circuitry that controls the rotation driver. The circuitry determines a passing time based on a first change rate and a second change rate, and causes the rotation driver to rotate the spool by a predetermined angle in a winding direction, from the passing time, to position a leading end of a continuous sheet at a feeding start position, and rotates the spool in the feeding direction to feed the continuous sheet from the feeding start position along the guide portion.

A tape drive comprises a roll of a tape that can be extended from a rolled state to an extended state. The tape includes a rigid material that supports the tape and a pliable material disposed at least partially on one side of the tape. A compression roller is disposed on a side of the tape and is biased toward the tape. A drive roller is disposed on the other side of the tape. The drive roller comprises an uneven surface that mechanically engages the pliable material of the tape, without protruding through the tape, as a result of the bias of the compression roller forcing the tape toward the drive roller. A motor turns the drive roller to extend the tape from the roll as the protrusions of the uneven surface of the drive roller mechanically engage the pliable material of the tape as the drive roller turns.

Disclosed is a method of making a conductive material or active material that includes graphene or other 2-D materials. The method includes obtaining a layered stack. The layered stack including one or more conductive materials or 2-D materials separated by a metal layer, and one or more substrate materials. The stack can be subjected to a metal removal process to obtain two conductive or active materials. A first conductive or active material can include a first substrate layer attached to the first active layer. The second conductive or active material can include a second substrate layer attached to the second active layer. The first and second active layers can be conductive graphene layers.

A medium aligning apparatus includes a load tray including a load surface on which a medium discharged from a discharge member that discharges a medium is loaded, a first aligning surface that aligns a plurality of mediums loaded on the load tray by positioning rear ends of the mediums, and a second aligning surface that aligns the mediums by positioning the rear ends of the mediums loaded on the load tray. In the medium aligning apparatus, the first aligning surface and the second aligning surface are switchable, and an angle formed between a wall surface in the discharge tray that receives the mediums discharged from the load tray, the wall surface having the rear ends of the mediums come in contact therewith, and the second aligning surface is smaller than an angle formed between the wall surface and the first aligning surface.

A sheet conveying device includes a first conveyance roller, a sheet conveyance path, a second conveyance roller, and a pair of bearing portions. The first conveyance roller is provided in an apparatus main body. The sheet conveyance path has a guide surface that guides a sheet member in a sheet conveyance direction. The second conveyance roller is rotatably attached to the guide surface via a shaft and abuts on the first conveyance roller by a predetermined pressing force. The bearing portions are provided on the guide surface and support the shaft. Each bearing portion includes a concave groove portion and a bush member. The concave groove portion is formed on the guide surface such that a groove depth direction is perpendicular to the guide surface. The bush member is attached to the concave groove portion so as to be slidable in the groove depth direction and support the shaft.

A pinch roller mechanism includes a rail, a slider, a roller bracket, a spring, and a pinch roller. The rail extends in a first direction crossing the conveyance direction of a medium while being apart from a medium driving roller configured to convey the medium. The slider is supported by the rail to be movable along the rail. The roller bracket is supported by the slider to be movable with respect to the medium driving roller. The spring is provided between the slider and the roller bracket and biases the roller bracket toward the medium driving roller. The pinch roller is rotatably supported by the roller bracket while setting the axial direction in the first direction.

A layer transfer device configured to transfer at least one layer of a multilayer film onto a toner image includes: a sheet conveying unit; a supply reel; a wind-up reel; a film transfer unit; and a peeling roller disposed between the film transfer unit and the wind-up reel in a conveyance path and configured to peel off the multilayer film from a sheet, and the film transfer unit includes: a first roller provided to contact the sheet; and a second roller provided to contact the multilayer film, and a tangent line of the second roller at a downstream end of a nip part passes between a center of the second roller and a center of the peeling roller, and an angle formed by the tangent line and a film tension portion of the multilayer film tensed between the nip part and the peeling roller is 15 to 37 degrees.

A sheet feeding device includes a support that detachably supports a roll, a rotation driver that rotates a spool, a guide including a facing portion and a guide portion, a support shaft that swingably supports the guide, a biasing member that presses the guide, a sensor that retractably projects from the facing portion and outputs a detection signal, a roller that contacts an outer circumferential surface of the roll, and circuitry that controls the rotation driver. The circuitry determines a passing time based on a first change rate and a second change rate, and causes the rotation driver to rotate the spool by a predetermined angle in a winding direction, from the passing time, to position a leading end of a continuous sheet at a feeding start position, and rotates the spool in the feeding direction to feed the continuous sheet from the feeding start position along the guide portion.