A sheet feeder device includes: a pickup roller that separates paper sheets placed on a manual feed tray from one another, and transfers a paper sheet; a pair of sheet feed rollers that include an upper feed roller and a lower feed roller, form a sheet nip portion when the upper feed roller and the lower feed roller are pressed against each other, and transfer the paper sheet transferred from the pickup roller; a top edge vibrator that vibrates a top edge of the paper sheet, the top edge vibrator being located on an upstream side of the pair of sheet feed rollers; and a hardware processor that controls sheet feeding of the paper sheets placed on the manual feed tray, wherein, when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the sheet feeding, the hardware processor controls the top edge vibrator, to vibrate the top edge of the paper sheet.

According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an accommodation unit and at least one driving roller. The accommodation unit accommodates a paper sheet therein. The at least one driving roller is disposed contactably with the paper sheet. A rotation direction of the at least one driving roller with respect to the paper sheet at a contact part between the paper sheet and the roller intersects a carrying direction of the paper sheet.

According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an accommodation unit and at least one driving roller. The accommodation unit accommodates a paper sheet therein. The at least one driving roller is disposed contactably with the paper sheet. A rotation direction of the at least one driving roller with respect to the paper sheet at a contact part between the paper sheet and the roller intersects a carrying direction of the paper sheet.

Disclosed is a supply apparatus for drug packaging, used to supply a plurality of units of a drug to drug packaging members. The supply apparatus includes: a supply unit providing a supply path along which the units of a drug are supplied; a support unit elastically supporting the supply unit in such a manner such that the supply unit is inclined; a vibration unit vibrating the supply unit; and a detection unit detecting the units of a drug passing through the supply unit. According to this structure, it is possible to reduce drug supply errors, thereby improving drug supply efficiency.

According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an accommodation unit and at least one driving roller. The accommodation unit accommodates a paper sheet therein. The at least one driving roller is disposed contactably with the paper sheet. A rotation direction of the at least one driving roller with respect to the paper sheet at a contact part between the paper sheet and the roller intersects a carrying direction of the paper sheet.

According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an accommodation unit and at least one driving roller. The accommodation unit accommodates a paper sheet therein. The at least one driving roller is disposed contactably with the paper sheet. A rotation direction of the at least one driving roller with respect to the paper sheet at a contact part between the paper sheet and the roller intersects a carrying direction of the paper sheet.

According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an accommodation unit and at least one driving roller. The accommodation unit accommodates a paper sheet therein. The at least one driving roller is disposed contactably with the paper sheet. A rotation direction of the at least one driving roller with respect to the paper sheet at a contact part between the paper sheet and the roller intersects a carrying direction of the paper sheet.

A device for separating and gripping an outermost sheet of ferromagnetic material from a stack of ferromagnetic sheet material, comprising: a carrier structure with a mount for attaching the carrier as an end-of-arm-tool (EOAT) to a robotic arm arranged for moving and positioning the device into an operating position adjacent a side of a stack of ferromagnetic sheets and a remote position removed from the stack of ferromagnetic sheets; a magnetic fanning apparatus mounted at the carrier structure and having a switchable magnet and a pair of fanning pole shoes magnetisable by the magnet with opposite polarities, the fanning pole shoes located at the carrier such that when in the operating position of the device these face the side of stacked sheets and extend over the thickness of at least the outermost and an underlying sheet of the stack, whereby in an on state of the magnet magnetic fields of like polarity are induced by the fanning pole shoes in overlapping sections of edge regions of these sheets and repulsive forces are generated whereby the outermost sheet seeks to lift away from the underlying sheet by magnetic repulsion; and preferably but optionally a sheet gripping apparatus mounted at the carrier structure arranged for contacting a face of the outermost sheet and secure the sheet to the EOAT for retrieval thereof upon the device being displaced from its operative position away from the stack of sheets.

A device for separating and gripping an outermost sheet of ferromagnetic material from a stack of ferromagnetic sheet material, comprising: a carrier structure with a mount for attaching the carrier as an end-of-arm-tool (EOAT) to a robotic arm arranged for moving and positioning the device into an operating position adjacent a side of a stack of ferromagnetic sheets and a remote position removed from the stack of ferromagnetic sheets; a magnetic fanning apparatus mounted at the carrier structure and having a switchable magnet and a pair of fanning pole shoes magnetisable by the magnet with opposite polarities, the fanning pole shoes located at the carrier such that when in the operating position of the device these face the side of stacked sheets and extend over the thickness of at least the outermost and an underlying sheet of the stack, whereby in an on state of the magnet magnetic fields of like polarity are induced by the fanning pole shoes in overlapping sections of edge regions of these sheets and repulsive forces are generated whereby the outermost sheet seeks to lift away from the underlying sheet by magnetic repulsion; and preferably but optionally a sheet gripping apparatus mounted at the carrier structure arranged for contacting a face of the outermost sheet and secure the sheet to the EOAT for retrieval thereof upon the device being displaced from its operative position away from the stack of sheets.

A method for loading blanks from a stack of blanks to a head press of a stamping press line is provided. The method may include: providing a loading robot; providing one or more separating robots configured to separate one blank at the top of a stack of blanks from the underlying blanks; providing a stack of blanks and applying separating robots to at least one side of the stack; recognizing the position of the stack of blanks using the position of the separating robots; picking up the blank located at the top of the stack of blanks with the loading robot, using the recognized position of the stack; loading the blank to the head press of the stamping press line using the loading robot. Furthermore disclosed is a system for loading blanks to a head press of a stamping press line.