Abstract: A medication support apparatus includes a container to store medicine packs, a pickup device including a suction device to pick up specific one of the medicine packs from the container, and a suction-device guide to change a posture of the suction device, a conveyor to move the pickup device, and processing circuitry configured to control an operation to pick up the medicine pack by the pickup device. When the suction device fails to pick up the medicine pack at a first pickup position indicating a certain amount of rise of the suction device relative to the medicine packs in the container, the processing circuitry controls the suction device to pick up the medicine pack at a second pickup position indicating another amount of rise of the suction device greater than the certain amount of rise of the suction device at the first pickup position.

Abstract: A medication support device includes a container to store a medicine package in which a plurality of medicines are packed, a pickup device to pick up the medicine package from the container, a conveyor to convey the medicine package picked up by the pickup device, a medicine dispenser including a prescribed position to which the medicine package conveyed by the conveyor is dispensed, a medication-related information reader to read medication-related information including at least a name of a patient who takes medicines and a time of medication, and processing circuitry to control a medicine dispensing operation in which the medicine package picked up from the container is dispensed to the medicine dispenser, based on the medication-related information read by the medication-related information reader, and skip a process with an abnormality and make the medicine dispensing operation continue after the medicine dispensing operation starts.

Abstract: A medication support device includes a container that stores a medicine package, a pickup device to pick up the medicine package from the container, a suction device disposed at the pickup device to suck the medicine package in the container by air, a conveyor to convey the medicine package picked up from the container using the suction device, a medicine dispensing container to dispense the medicine package conveyed by the conveyor at a specific one of a plurality of positions partitioned by a plurality of partitions, and a jogger to move the medicine package that has already been dispensed to the medicine dispensing container to a desired position of the medicine dispensing container when the medicine package is dispensed from the container to the medicine dispensing container a plurality of times.

Abstract: A medication assistance device includes a storing member, medicine dispenser, discharge/transport mechanism, pack information reader, pack information management system (PIMS), storing detector, and controller. The storing member stores medicine packs. The medicine dispenser arranges a medicine pack in a position. The discharge/transport mechanism discharges the medicine pack from the storing member to transport to a position of the medicine dispenser. The pack information reader in the discharge/transport mechanism reads medication associated information (MAI) attached to the storing member and/or medicine pack. The PIMS manages the MAI of the medicine pack. The storing detector detects attachment or detachment of the storing member to a device main body. The controller informs the PIMS and causes the pack information reader to read the MAI of the storing member based on a detection signal from the storing detector when the storing member is mounted in the device main body.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a fixed tray and a movable tray. The fixed tray is fixed at its downstream portion in a sheet transport direction and includes a sheet loading surface. A downstream portion of the sheet loading surface of the fixed tray is positioned at a higher level than an upstream portion thereof. The movable tray is pivotally supported, at its upstream portion, by a pivot support provided on the fixed tray. An angle between a sheet loading surface of the movable tray and a horizontal direction is more gentle than an angle between the sheet loading surface of the fixed tray and the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A paper processing apparatus includes: a discharging unit that discharges the paper onto a staple tray; a paper returning unit that reverses the paper discharged by the discharging unit and performs alignment in a conveying direction by abutting the paper against a rear end reference fence; a supporting unit that supports the discharging unit in a state capable of coming in contact with or separating from the paper; a contact and separation unit by which the discharging unit comes in contact with or separates from the paper; and a pressurizing unit that is moved by the contact and separation unit, does not load the discharging unit in a standby state where the discharging unit is held apart from the paper, and applies contact pressure in a state where the discharging unit is in contact with the paper.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a staple tray on which sheets are stacked temporarily and stapled after being aligned together and from which the stapled sheets are discharged to a discharge tray; a discharger to discharge the sheets to the staple tray; a rear end reference against which rear ends of the sheets are abutted to be aligned together; a returner to return the sheets discharged by the discharger and to align the sheets together in a conveying direction based on the rear end reference fence; a lifter to lift and lower the returner with respect to a sheet; and a guide configured to guide the sheets toward the rear end reference fence when the sheets are returned and to be lifted and lowered in synchronization with the lifting and lowering by the lifter.

Abstract: A paper processing apparatus includes: a discharging unit that discharges the paper onto a staple tray; a paper returning unit that reverses the paper discharged by the discharging unit and performs alignment in a conveying direction by abutting the paper against a rear end reference fence; a supporting unit that supports the discharging unit in a state capable of coming in contact with or separating from the paper; a contact and separation unit by which the discharging unit comes in contact with or separates from the paper; and a pressurizing unit that is moved by the contact and separation unit, does not load the discharging unit in a standby state where the discharging unit is held apart from the paper, and applies contact pressure in a state where the discharging unit is in contact with the paper.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a staple tray on which sheets are stacked temporarily and stapled after being aligned together and from which the stapled sheets are discharged to a discharge tray; a discharger to discharge the sheets to the staple tray; a rear end reference against which rear ends of the sheets are abutted to be aligned together; a returner to return the sheets discharged by the discharger and to align the sheets together in a conveying direction based on the rear end reference fence; a lifter to lift and lower the returner with respect to a sheet; and a guide configured to guide the sheets toward the rear end reference fence when the sheets are returned and to be lifted and lowered in synchronization with the lifting and lowering by the lifter.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a fixed tray and a movable tray. The fixed tray is fixed at its downstream portion in a sheet transport direction and includes a sheet loading surface. A downstream portion of the sheet loading surface of the fixed tray is positioned at a higher level than an upstream portion thereof. The movable tray is pivotally supported, at its upstream portion, by a pivot support provided on the fixed tray. An angle between a sheet loading surface of the movable tray and a horizontal direction is more gentle than an angle between the sheet loading surface of the fixed tray and the horizontal direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an auto document feeder, a scanner, a paper tray, and an image forming mechanism. The auto document feeder feeds an original sheet having an image and includes an original tray configured to load the original sheet having the image and a detecting mechanism configured to detect the original sheet set on the original tray. The detecting mechanism includes a terminal including a plane surface disposed to form a predetermined angle with respect to a sheet conveyance direction. The scanner scans the image on the original sheet fed by the auto document feeder to create image data. The paper tray supplies a recording medium. The image forming mechanism forms an image on the recording medium supplied from the paper tray with a developer according to the image data created by the scanner.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for corrugating the output of a reproduction device such as a photocopier includes a guiding arm for guiding an image carrying medium in a predetermined path towards a destination output bin and a projection for corrugating the image carrying medium as it is being guided by the guiding arm. The current corrugation device is suitable for a multiple tray sorter unit since it does not require additional corrugation members.

Abstract: A paper path switching mechanism including a plurality of feeding rollers which feed a page when the page is pressed against the feeding rollers by guide members of a switching guide. The switching guide has long guide members which press the paper against the feeding rollers and short guide members positioned near the edges of the page. The short guide members guide the page without imparting too much resistance at the edges of the page in order to reduce the frequency of paper jams. The longer guide members are tapered in width at portions near the periphery of the feeding rollers in order to reduce the size of the contact area of the page to the long guide members which reduces resistance on the page and consequently reduces paper jams. After the page passes between the switching guide and feeding rollers, its direction of travel is reversed and the page again contacts the switching guide but moves along a different edge of the guide members and along a different paper path in order to invert pages.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a device for turning a paper of the present invention has a transport roller constantly rotatable in a predetermined direction for paper transport. A reverse transport member is positioned downstream of the transport roller in the predetermined direction, and transports the paper, transported by the transport roller, in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction. A turn guide has a first guide face for guiding the paper toward the transport roller, and a second guide face for guiding in a paper discharge direction the paper being transported by the reverse transport member in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction. The end portion of the first and second guide faces close to the reverse transport member extends in the direction in which the end portion intersects the periphery of the transport roller.