It is one object of the present invention to provide a thermal history estimation apparatus, a thermal history estimation method and a thermal history estimation program that can estimate variation in thermal history within a plane of a sheet heated by a heating apparatus. The thermal history estimation apparatus includes a first acquisition unit that acquires color information on a sheet plane heated by the heating apparatus, and a first estimation unit that estimates information on variation in thermal history on the sheet plane based on the acquired color information.

The invention relates to a machine for dispensing perfume-testing supports, comprising support storage means for storing a batch of supports, support-dispensing means for transporting the supports one by one to a delivery point, and support impregnation means for depositing a perfume sample on each dispensed support, before the dispensing thereof. The dispensing means comprise support-marking means for Marking each dispensed support at the moment of the dispensing thereof, the marking means and the impregnation means being automatically actuated during the dispensing process.

A gripping apparatus includes an impermeable layer defining a vacuum port, a first flow media layer associated with the impermeable layer, and a second flow media layer opposed from the first flow media layer to define a receiving space therebetween.