Patent ID: 7384040

Claim:
A sheet-like material detection system comprising: a frame; a plurality of hoppers operably coupled to the frame, wherein the hoppers are positioned in a vertically spaced apart arrangement, wherein the hoppers are each configured to hold sheet-like materials; at least one belt that is configured to move sheet-like materials after their removal from the hoppers; at least one roller disposed over the belt that is configured to roll over a sheet-like material moved by the belt, wherein the roller is rotatably coupled to a first axle, wherein the first axle is coupled to a shaft that is coupled to second axle that is pivotally coupled to the frame, wherein the first and second axles are spaced apart by the shaft; an arm that is coupled to the second axle such that when a sheet-like material passes beneath the roller, both the shaft and the arm pivot about the second axle; a potentiometer in contact with the arm, wherein the potentiometer is configured to produce an electrical signal that is related to the amount of movement of the arm that is turn is related to the amount of movement of the roller when one or more sheet-like materials is beneath the roller.