A photo-interruptor unit includes a photo-interruptor and a supporting portion to detachably support the photo-interruptor. The supporting portion includes a hole which is formed on an attaching surface and through which a hook portion is inserted, and a guide portion to protrude from the attaching surface and guide the hook portion so that it deforms in a deformation direction when the photo-interruptor is moved in a movement direction intersecting an insertion direction. A regulating portion protrudes from the attaching surface and forms continuously with the guide portion to regulate a position in the movement direction of the photo-interruptor. The guide portion includes a first rib portion and a second rib portion that oppose one another in the deformation direction, and a distance between the first rib portion and the second rib portion in the deformation direction narrows toward a downstream direction of the movement direction.

A spool unloading device comprising: a spindle; a first bulk spool of material is mounted on the spindle, wherein the spindle is rotatably controlled to dispense the material; a series of pulleys for receiving the unspooled material such that a variable length of the material is stored within the device before exiting the device to an upstream equipment; and a drive mechanism for indexing the unspooled material exiting the spool unloading machine at a controlled rate.

A tape attachment apparatus includes a tape supply unit configured to provide a tape to be attached to a tip of an electrode roll, a tape attachment unit configured to attach the tape provided by the tape supply unit to the electrode roll, and a frame configured to allow the tape attachment unit to be mounted to the frame. A tape attachment process to prevent unwinding of the electrode roll is automatically performed.

A sheet accommodating apparatus includes an apparatus body, a first cassette to be drawn out in a draw-out direction with respect to the apparatus body, a second cassette disposed adjacent to the first cassette in a vertical direction, a holder member attached to the apparatus body, and a first light emitting member and a second light emitting member that are supported by the holder member. The first cassette includes a first accommodating container and a first cover. The second cassette includes a second accommodating container and a second cover. The first cover has a first hole in a position opposing the first light emitting member such that the light emitted from the first light emitting member passes therethrough. The second cover has a second hole provided in a position opposing the second light emitting member such that the light emitted from the second light emitting member passes therethrough.

A conveyor includes a conveyance roller to convey a conveyed object, a pair of roller supports opposing to each other and supporting both ends of the conveyance roller in an axial direction thereof, a position sensor to detect a position of the conveyed object, and a sensor support supporting the position sensor. Each of the pair of roller supports has an insertion hole into which the sensor support is inserted. The insertion hole determines a position of the sensor support in a direction intersecting an insertion direction of the sensor support. The sensor support includes a positioning portion determining the position of the sensor support with respect to at least one of the pair of roller supports. The positioning portion determines the position of the sensor support in the insertion direction, a direction opposite to the insertion direction, and a rotational direction about an axis along the insertion direction.

A sheet stacker includes a sheet stacking portion, a pair of sheet restrictors, a sheet feeder, and a position detector. A bundle of sheets is stacked on the sheet stacking portion in a stacking direction, and the sheet stacking portion moves in the stacking direction. The pair of sheet restrictors move in a width direction to regulate a position of the bundle of sheets in the width direction. The sheet feeder feeds a top sheet of the bundle of sheets at a sheet feeding position in a sheet feeding direction. The sheet feeding position is disposed at a top of the bundle of sheets in the stacking direction. The position detector is disposed between the pair of sheet restrictors in the width direction and above the sheet feeding position in the stacking direction. The position detector detects a position of the pair of sheet restrictors in the width direction.

A motor driver drives a motor that controls a position of an object based on a command from a controller. The motor driver includes: a correction command output part that outputs a correction command for correcting a position of the motor based on a position of the object detected by a displacement sensor that detects the position of the object; and a position controller that outputs a drive signal for driving the motor based on the command from the controller and the position of the motor detected by an encoder that detects the position of the motor, or based on the correction command and the position of the motor detected by the encoder.

A sheet feeder includes a controller configured to control an emitter to emit an ultrasonic wave toward a target sheet being fed along a sheet guide, control a measurer to measure a first reception intensity of a first component of the ultrasonic wave received by a receiver during a first period of time, control the measurer to measure a second reception intensity of a second component of the ultrasonic wave received by the receiver during a second period of time, and determine a feeding state of the target sheet in a detectable area between the emitter and the receiver within the sheet guide, based on the first reception intensity and the second reception intensity.

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 medium transport apparatus includes a controller that determines how many transport roller pairs disposed on a medium transport route are transporting a medium, based on detection information from detectors disposed in relation to respective transport roller pairs. Then, the controller sets a threshold to a larger value as a larger number of transport roller pairs are transporting the medium and sets the threshold to a lower value as a smaller number of transport roller pairs are transporting the medium.