A drop assistance apparatus, comprising: at least one slider having an inclined surface over which an object slides down and passing the sliding down object to a next step; and at least one catch and hold assembly moving along a direction of extension of said inclined surface while it catches and holds the object sliding down over said inclined surface in cooperation with said inclined surface and allowing the caught and held object to drop, said catch and hold assembly including a catch and hold member having a catch and hold surface opposed to said inclined surface and catching and holding the object sliding down over said inclined surface such that said inclined surface and said catch and hold surface support the object from below, and a support member supporting said catch and hold surface and moving in a direction away from said slider so as to release the caught and held object in a lower portion of said inclined surface, said catch and hold surface of said catch and hold member being arranged as being inclined with respect to said inclined surface such that a distance between said inclined surface and said catch and hold surface gradually decreases downward, and said catch and hold member being pivotably supported by said support member such that inclination is variable, characterized in that said catch and hold assembly includes a force application member applying rotational force biasing said catch and hold member toward said slider. at least one slider having an inclined surface over which an object slides down and passing the sliding down object to a next step; and at least one catch and hold assembly moving along a direction of extension of said inclined surface while it catches and holds the object sliding down over said inclined surface in cooperation with said inclined surface and allowing the caught and held object to drop, said catch and hold assembly including a catch and hold member having a catch and hold surface opposed to said inclined surface and catching and holding the object sliding down over said inclined surface such that said inclined surface and said catch and hold surface support the object from below, and a support member supporting said catch and hold surface and moving in a direction away from said slider so as to release the caught and held object in a lower portion of said inclined surface, a catch and hold member having a catch and hold surface opposed to said inclined surface and catching and holding the object sliding down over said inclined surface such that said inclined surface and said catch and hold surface support the object from below, and a support member supporting said catch and hold surface and moving in a direction away from said slider so as to release the caught and held object in a lower portion of said inclined surface, said catch and hold surface of said catch and hold member being arranged as being inclined with respect to said inclined surface such that a distance between said inclined surface and said catch and hold surface gradually decreases downward, and said catch and hold member being pivotably supported by said support member such that inclination is variable, said catch and hold assembly includes a force application member applying rotational force biasing said catch and hold member toward said slider.