Suction apparatus

A suction apparatus comprising:

• a suction unit configured to suction and hold merchandise with a negative pressure;
• a negative pressure detection unit configured to detect a negative pressure value in the suction unit whenever the suction unit suctions the merchandise;
• a suction abnormality determination unit configured to determine that the suction unit is abnormal in a case where the detected negative pressure value is lower in negative pressure degree than a standard value, and presence of an abnormality is determined for the suction unit consecutively a predetermined number of times;
• a notification unit configured to provide a notification in a case where the suction unit is determined to be abnormal;
• and
• a suction control unit configured to control an operation of suctioning and holding the merchandise in the suction unit,
• wherein the standard value is a predetermined suction determination negative pressure value,
• the suction unit includes a plurality of suction units,
• the negative pressure detection unit detects negative pressure values in the plurality of suction units, respectively,
• the suction abnormality determination unit determines presence/absence of an abnormality for each of the plurality of suction units, and
• the suction control unit stops the suctioning and holding operation in the suction unit in a case where a number of the suction units that are determined to be abnormal by the suction abnormality determination unit is equal to or more than a predetermined number of abnormality determinations.