Abstract: A slave device includes a first connector, a second connector, a switch, and a communication circuit. The switch is alternatively connectable to the first connector or the second connector according to a connection way via which the slave device is connected to a master device and another slave device. The communication circuit is connected to the first connector and the switch. The communication circuit is configured to transmit and receive a first communication signal to and from the first connector, and is configured to transmit and receive a second communication signal to and from the switch.

Abstract: A communication system comprising a first industrial machine and a second industrial machine, which are configured to communicate with each other, wherein the first industrial machine is configured to transmit a copy instruction to the second industrial machine, and wherein the second industrial machine is configured to: update data in a first storage area based on its own operation; copy the data in the first storage area to a second storage area when the copy instruction is received; and transmit the data in the second storage area to the first industrial machine.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet separation device, a first sheet feeder, a second sheet feeder, an image forming device, and circuitry. The sheet separation device is configured to separate a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The first sheet feeder is configured to feed the two-ply sheet. The second sheet feeder is configured to feed an inner sheet to be inserted between the two sheets. The image forming device is configured to form an image on a surface of the inner sheet. The circuitry is configured to cause the first sheet feeder to feed the two-ply sheet, perform a sheet separating operation on the two-ply sheet and cause the second sheet feeder to start feeding the inner sheet before completion of the sheet separating operation on the two-ply sheet.

Abstract: A sheet processing device separates a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and partially bonded and sandwich a sheet medium between the two sheets. The sheet processing device includes a relay conveyance path, a sheet loader, and control circuitry. The sheet medium is fed from an image forming apparatus connected upstream of the sheet processing device through the relay conveyance path. The sheet loader loads at least one of the two-ply sheet and the sheet medium. The control circuitry performs a mixing mode to feed the two-ply sheet or the sheet medium from the sheet loader.

Abstract: A sheet laminator includes a sheet separation device, a sheet insertion device, and circuitry. The sheet separation device is configured to perform a sheet separating operation to separate a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet, and a sheet inserting operation to insert an inner sheet between the two sheets. The sheet lamination device is configured to perform a sheet laminating operation on the two-ply sheet after the sheet separating operation and the sheet inserting operation. The circuitry is configured to cause the sheet lamination device to perform the sheet laminating operation on the two-ply sheet while causing the sheet separation device to perform the sheet separating operation on another two-ply sheet subsequent to the two-ply sheet or the sheet separating operation and the sheet inserting operation on said another two-ply sheet.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a sheet processing device, and control circuitry. The image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet. The sheet processing device performs post-processing on the sheet. The sheet processing device includes a first conveyance path through which the sheet is conveyed and subjected to the post-processing and a second conveyance path through which the sheet is conveyed without the post-processing. In response to an instruction of print jobs including both a print job of one or N copies subjected to the post-processing and a print job not subjected to the post-processing, the circuitry executes the job not subjected to the post-processing during execution of an M-th copy of the job subjected to the post-processing and causes the sheet to be conveyed through the second conveyance path, where N is two or greater and M satisfies 1?M<N.

Abstract: A medication support apparatus includes a container, a medicine distribution member, a port, a take-out device, and a transfer device. The container is configured to store one-dose packages of medicines. The medicine distribution member includes a plurality of partitions configured to separately include the one-dose packages of medicines. The medicine distribution member is configured to enter and exit the medication support apparatus through the port. The take-out device is configured to take out a specific one of the one-dose packages of medicines from the container. The transfer device is configured to transfer the specific one of the one-dose packages of medicines taken out from the container. The one-dose packages of medicines are configured to be placed at predetermined positions partitioned by the plurality of partitions in the medicine distribution member.

Abstract: A sheet processing device inserts a sheet-shaped medium into a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlaid and partially bonded. The sheet processing device includes control circuitry to execute a single insertion mode in which one sheet-shaped medium is inserted into the two-ply sheet and a multiple insertion mode in which a plurality of sheet-shaped media are inserted into the two-ply sheet along a conveyance direction. The control circuitry inserts the one sheet-shaped medium into the two-ply sheet in the single insertion mode and the plurality of sheet-shaped media into the two-ply sheet in the multiple insertion mode, with the two-ply sheet being stopped.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is configured to sandwich one or more sheet media in a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlaid and bonded together at a portion of the two-ply sheet. The sheet processing apparatus includes circuitry configured to control insertion processing to insert the one or more sheet media into the two-ply sheet based on a length of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction, a length of one of the one or more sheet media in the conveyance direction, and a number of the one or more sheet media.

Abstract: A sheet processing device sandwiches a sheet-shaped medium in a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlaid and partially bonded. The sheet processing device includes a separator, a conveyor, and a switching member. The separator separates the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The conveyor is disposed downstream from the separator in a sheet conveyance direction and conveys the two-ply sheet. The switching member is disposed downstream from the conveyor in the sheet conveyance direction. The switching member switches a conveyance path of the two-ply sheet to convey the two-ply sheet to a fixing path on which fixing processing is performed on the two-ply sheet or a non-fixing path on which no fixing processing is performed on the two-ply sheet.

Abstract: A sheet processing device is configured to separate a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at one end as a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The sheet processing device includes a first sheet feeder configured to feed the two-ply sheet, a second sheet feeder configured to feed an inner sheet to be inserted between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet in a state in which the non-bonding portion of the two-ply sheet is separated, and circuitry configured to cause the first sheet feeder to feed the two-ply sheet, perform a sheet separating operation on the two-ply sheet to separate the non-bonding portion of the two-ply sheet, and cause the second sheet feeder to start feeding the inner sheet before completion of the sheet separating operation on the two-ply sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet separation device, a first sheet feeder, a second sheet feeder, an image forming device, a heat source, and a circuitry. The sheet separation device is configured to separate a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at one end as a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The first sheet feeder is configured to feed the two-ply sheet. The second sheet feeder is configured to feed an inner sheet to be inserted between the two sheets. The image forming device is configured to form an image on the inner sheet fed from the second sheet feeder. The heat source is disposed upstream from the sheet separation device in the sheet conveyance direction. The circuitry is configured to cause the two-ply sheet fed from the first sheet feeder, to detour the heat source to the sheet separation device.

Abstract: A sheet separation device is configured to separate a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at one end as a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The sheet separation device includes a conveyance roller pair and circuitry. The conveyance roller pair is configured to convey the two-ply sheet while nipping the two-ply sheet, when separating the non-bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The circuitry is configured to control sheet conveyance. The circuitry is configured to stop the conveyance roller pair, cause a leading end of the two-ply sheet conveyed toward the conveyance roller pair to contact a nip region of the conveyance roller pair while the conveyance roller pair is stopped, and start the conveyance roller pair to rotate to nip the two-ply sheet.

Abstract: A sheet separation device separates a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at one end of the two-ply sheet. The sheet separation device includes a separator that includes a first separator and a second separator. The first separator is inserted into a gap between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The second separator is inserted between the two sheets at said another end of the two-ply sheet that is opposite to the one end of the two-ply sheet and moves in a width direction of the two-ply sheet after the first separator is inserted into the gap and relatively moves from the one end to said another end.

Abstract: A sheet separation device separates a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The sheet separation device includes a separator, an abnormality detection device, and circuitry. The separator is configured to move to be inserted into a gap formed between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The abnormality detection device is configured to detect an abnormal state in which the gap larger than a predetermined size is not formed between the two sheets before the separator is inserted into the gap. The circuitry is configured to control movement of the separator based on a result detected by the abnormality detection device.

Abstract: A sheet separation device separates a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The sheet separation device includes a winding roller and a gripper. The winding roller rotates and winds the two-ply sheet to separate the two-ply sheet. The gripper is disposed in the winding roller and configured to grip a gripped portion of the two-ply sheet at one end of the two-ply sheet without abutting a tip of the gripped portion at the one end of the two-ply sheet on a member.

Abstract: A slave device includes a first connector, a second connector, a switch, and a communication circuit. The switch is alternatively connectable to the first connector or the second connector according to a connection way via which the slave device is connected to a master device and another slave device. The communication circuit is connected to the first connector and the switch. The communication circuit is configured to transmit and receive a first communication signal to and from the first connector, and is configured to transmit and receive a second communication signal to and from the switch.

Abstract: A communication system comprising a first industrial machine and a second industrial machine, which are configured to communicate with each other, wherein the first industrial machine is configured to transmit a copy instruction to the second industrial machine, and wherein the second industrial machine is configured to: update data in a first storage area based on its own operation; copy the data in the first storage area to a second storage area when the copy instruction is received; and transmit the data in the second storage area to the first industrial machine.

Abstract: Provided is a communication system, in which a first industrial machine and a second industrial machine are configured to communicate to/from each other, the communication system comprising circuitry configured to synchronize first time information updated by the first industrial machine and second time information updated by the second industrial machine with each other, wherein the second industrial machine is configured to: acquire state data on the second industrial machine; and transmit to the first industrial machine the second time information at a time when the state data is acquired and the state data.