Abstract: An apparatus for conveying articles in carrier cases between one location in a hospital to a second location is disclosed. A station with a control panel is located in each room in the hospital which is to be reached by the system. A main conveyance path including a linear induction motor extends between each station. The stations include a branch conveyance path extending from a stop position on the main conveyance path to an input/output section for inputting carrier cases into the system or receiving carrier cases sent from other locations. A transferring device is located at each stop position and transfers carrier cases from the main conveyance path to each station. The system is run by a central control unit which controls the conveyance of the carrier cases along the main conveyance path as well as transference of the articles between the main conveyance path and the station and the movement of the carrier cases at the station itself.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus picks up and transports a topmost sheet of a stack of sheets in a one-by-one manner. A suction drum with a cylindrical member rotating in a cyclic manner picks up the leading edge of the topmost sheet by suction force when the cylindrical member is substantially in a momentary stop state. A stationary separation suction head disposed adjacent the stack in the transport direction separates by suction force any sheets underlying the topmost sheet undesirably picked up by the operation of picking the topmost sheet from the stack. A belt conveyor system disposed adjacent the stationary separation suction head in the transport direction gradually grasps the leading edge of the sheet picked-up by the suction drum while the trailing portion of the grasped sheet is also attracted by the suction drum means so that a slight tension is given to the sheet until it is firmly held and transported by the belt conveyor system.