Sheet detection circuit using electrical elements contacting conductive vacuum belt

An apparatus comprising:

• an electrically conductive belt capable of moving sheets of media;
• electrically conductive brushes contacting said electrically conductive belt, wherein said electrically conductive brushes rest on said electrically conductive belt, said electrically conductive brushes are in a fixed position adjacent said electrically conductive belt, and said electrically conductive brushes maintain contact with electrically conductive belt as said electrically conductive belt moves by said electrically conductive brushes, wherein at least a first of said electrically conductive brushes is positioned to be separated from said electrically conductive belt by said sheets of media on said electrically conductive belt and at least a second of said electrically conductive brushes is positioned to contact said electrically conductive belt where said sheets of media do not pass;
• a voltage source connected to said electrically conductive brushes;
• a voltage detector operatively connected to said voltage source, wherein said voltage source, said electrically conductive brushes, said electrically conductive belt, and said voltage detector form an electrical circuit, and wherein said voltage detector is capable of detecting a voltage of said electrical circuit;
• and
• a processor operatively connected to said voltage detector, wherein said processor is capable of identifying leading edges of said sheets of media on said electrically conductive belt when voltage of said electrical circuit changes from a relatively higher voltage to a relatively lower voltage, and identifying trailing edges of said sheets of media on said electrically conductive belt when said voltage of said electrical circuit changes from said relatively lower voltage back to said relatively higher voltage.

An apparatus comprising:

• an electrically conductive belt capable of moving sheets of media;
• electrically conductive brushes contacting said electrically conductive belt, wherein said electrically conductive brushes rest on said electrically conductive belt, said electrically conductive brushes are in a fixed position adjacent said electrically conductive belt, and said electrically conductive brushes maintain contact with electrically conductive belt as said electrically conductive belt moves by said electrically conductive brushes, wherein at least a first of said electrically conductive brushes is positioned to be separated from said electrically conductive belt by said sheets of media on said electrically conductive belt and at least a second of said electrically conductive brushes is positioned to contact an underside of said electrically conductive belt where said sheets of media do not pass;
• a voltage source connected to said electrically conductive brushes;
• a voltage detector operatively connected to said voltage source, wherein said voltage source, said electrically conductive brushes, said electrically conductive belt, and said voltage detector form an electrical circuit, and wherein said voltage detector is capable of detecting a voltage of said electrical circuit;
• and
• a processor operatively connected to said voltage detector, wherein said processor is capable of identifying leading edges of said sheets of media on said electrically conductive belt when voltage of said electrical circuit changes from a relatively higher voltage to a relatively lower voltage, and identifying trailing edges of said sheets of media on said electrically conductive belt when said voltage of said electrical circuit changes from said relatively lower voltage back to said relatively higher voltage.