A sheet processing apparatus includes a discharge unit, a loading unit, an abutting unit, a support unit, and a control unit. The discharge unit discharges, from a discharge port, a sheet bundle transported along a transport path. The loading unit is loaded by the sheet bundle being discharged onto the loading unit. The abutting unit is disposed forward from the discharge port in a discharge direction of the sheet bundle so that the abutting unit abuts with a top surface of the discharged sheet bundle. The support unit is protrusible from and retractable into the discharge port and protrudes to an underside of the sheet bundle temporarily to support the sheet bundle when the sheet bundle is discharged. The control unit controls movement of the support unit such that the support unit reaches a position of the abutting unit after the sheet bundle abuts with the abutting unit.

A method for splicing two sheets of material containing alkaloids is provided, the method including: providing a first sheet of material containing alkaloids wound in a first bobbin; providing a second sheet of material containing alkaloids wound in a second bobbin; unwinding the first sheet wound in the first bobbin; evaluating one or more of the following parameters of the unwound first sheet: moisture, thickness, width, stickiness, and presence or absence of holes or tears; and depending on a value of the evaluated one or more parameters, unwinding the second sheet wound in the second bobbin, and splicing the first sheet and the second sheet. A system for splicing two sheets of material containing alkaloids is also provided.

A sheet conveying device includes: a sheet conveyance path that receives a sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus and allows the sheet to be conveyed on the sheet conveyance path; a turnover conveyance path that diverges from the sheet conveyance path, receives the sheet conveyed from the sheet conveyance path to turn over the sheet, and allows the turned-over sheet to be conveyed on the turnover conveyance path; a first shunt conveyance path that is formed to connect to the turnover conveyance path and have a circularly curved shape and allows the sheet conveyed from the turnover conveyance path to be shunted and switched back on the first shunt conveyance path; and a first U-turn conveyance path that is formed to diverge from the first shunt conveyance path and allows the sheet switched back on the first shunt conveyance path to be conveyed toward the image forming apparatus.

A sheet processing apparatus includes a discharge unit, a loading unit, an abutting unit, a support unit, and a control unit. The discharge unit discharges, from a discharge port, a sheet bundle transported along a transport path. The loading unit is loaded by the sheet bundle being discharged onto the loading unit. The abutting unit is disposed forward from the discharge port in a discharge direction of the sheet bundle so that the abutting unit abuts with a top surface of the discharged sheet bundle. The support unit is protrusible from and retractable into the discharge port and protrudes to an underside of the sheet bundle temporarily to support the sheet bundle when the sheet bundle is discharged. The control unit controls movement of the support unit such that the support unit reaches a position of the abutting unit after the sheet bundle abuts with the abutting unit.

A medium discharge device includes a loading stand configured to be loaded with a medium onto which a liquid was ejected by a printing device, a regulation unit that is movable between a regulation position at which a position of the medium discharged to the loading stand is regulated and a retraction position retracted from the regulation position, and a second control unit that controls the movement of the regulation unit. The second control unit determines the retraction position, based on an amount of the liquid ejected onto the medium by the printing device.

A sheet conveying device includes: a sheet conveyance path that receives a sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus and allows the sheet to be conveyed on the sheet conveyance path; a turnover conveyance path that diverges from the sheet conveyance path, receives the sheet conveyed from the sheet conveyance path to turn over the sheet, and allows the turned-over sheet to be conveyed on the turnover conveyance path; a first shunt conveyance path that is formed to connect to the turnover conveyance path and have a circularly curved shape and allows the sheet conveyed from the turnover conveyance path to be shunted and switched back on the first shunt conveyance path; and a first U-turn conveyance path that is formed to diverge from the first shunt conveyance path and allows the sheet switched back on the first shunt conveyance path to be conveyed toward the image forming apparatus.

A method for splicing two sheets of material containing alkaloids is provided, the method including: providing a first sheet of material containing alkaloids wound in a first bobbin; providing a second sheet of material containing alkaloids wound in a second bobbin; unwinding the first sheet wound in the first bobbin; evaluating one or more of the following parameters of the unwound first sheet: moisture, thickness, width, stickiness, and presence or absence of holes or tears; and depending on a value of the evaluated one or more parameters, unwinding the second sheet wound in the second bobbin, and splicing the first sheet and the second sheet. A system for splicing two sheets of material containing alkaloids is also provided.

A medium discharge device includes a loading stand configured to be loaded with a medium onto which a liquid was ejected by a printing device, a regulation unit that is movable between a regulation position at which a position of the medium discharged to the loading stand is regulated and a retraction position retracted from the regulation position, and a second control unit that controls the movement of the regulation unit. The second control unit determines the retraction position, based on an amount of the liquid ejected onto the medium by the printing device.