Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for print media buffering and sorting. An apparatus for performing at least one of buffering and sorting during an operation includes an enclosure, a storage section within the enclosure, an input section configured to receive at the enclosure at least a portion of a printed element, a gripper associated with the input section, the gripper configured to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the input section to the storage section and to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the storage section within the enclosure, and an output section configured to selectively transfer the at least a portion of the printed element from the enclosure.

A system for gathering one or more mail items. The system includes a first gathering mechanism configured to press against a first of the mail or other articles, wherein the first gathering mechanism is configured to expand from a compact state to an expanded state. The area of surface contact between a first one of the one or more mail items and the first gathering mechanism increases when the first holder mechanism is in the expanded state.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for print media buffering and sorting. An apparatus for performing at least one of buffering and sorting during an operation includes an enclosure, a storage section within the enclosure, an input section configured to receive at the enclosure at least a portion of a printed element, a gripper associated with the input section, the gripper configured to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the input section to the storage section and to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the storage section within the enclosure, and an output section configured to selectively transfer the at least a portion of the printed element from the enclosure.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for print media buffering and sorting. An apparatus for performing at least one of buffering and sorting during an operation includes an enclosure, a storage section within the enclosure, an input section configured to receive at the enclosure at least a portion of a printed element, a gripper associated with the input section, the gripper configured to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the input section to the storage section and to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the storage section within the enclosure, and an output section configured to selectively transfer the at least a portion of the printed element from the enclosure.

A post-processing apparatus for post-processing paper discharged from an image forming apparatus comprises: a paper discharging roller for conveying both first and second paper sequentially discharged from an image forming apparatus to an intermediate loading part; a main paddle part for conveying the first and second paper loaded on the intermediate loading part to a compiling region; a reverse roller for conveying, together with the main paddle part, the first and second paper to the compiling region; and a binding part for processing the first and second paper conveyed to the compiling region, the paper discharging roller allows the first paper to stand by on a standby path, and conveys the first and second paper to the intermediate loading part in a state in which the leading end of the first paper protrudes further than the leading end of the second paper.

The invention concerns a method of handling stacks of flexible substrates (14) by means of a gripper (8) as well as a robot cell (1) for carrying out the method. The gripper (8) is arranged on an arm (6) of a robot (2) and has a lower finger and a corresponding upper finger. The method comprises the steps of inserting said lower finger below a bottom substrate (14) of a stack resting on a base and said upper finger above a top substrate (14) of the stack, and gripping the stack by clamping it between said lower and upper finger. Then by means of the gripper (8) starting at a stack front the entire stack is lifted into a pendent state and moved to a support (16). There the stack is lowered such that a stack rear, which is opposite to said stack front, comes into contact with the support (16). Finally the entire stack is laid out on the support (16) with said bottom substrate (14) up by further lowering and while horizontally displacing the gripper (8) in a bottom-to-top substrate direction before letting the gripper (8) release the stack.

A sheet transporting mechanism transports a sheet from a storage tray to a stacking tray, and includes: a first transporter that moves between initial and first positions to transport the sheet from the initial position toward the stacking tray; a second transporter that transports the transported sheet by the first transporter to the stacking tray; a single motor that drives the first and second transporters; a guide rail that guides movement of the second transporter; a first transmission gear that transmits a driving force of the single motor to move the first transporter between the initial and first positions; a second transmission gear that transmits the driving force of the single motor to move the guide rail in an upward and downward direction; and a third transmission gear that transmits the driving force of the single motor to allow the second transporter to be guided by the guide rail.

The present invention provides automated systems and methods of loading finished mail within the trays for subsequent processing. The systems and methods of the present invention result in economic and operational efficiency to increase the process of loading the mail in the trays.

Provided is a print medium finishing apparatus including a print medium stacking plate; a stacker tray; and a print medium discharging apparatus configured to discharge, to the stacker tray, print media on the print medium stacking plate, wherein the print medium discharging apparatus includes at least one driving gear that is rotatable; a moving member configured to move linearly and curvilinearly with respect to the at least one driving gear and including a motion converting gear configured to engage the at least one driving gear and convert rotation of the at least one driving gear into a linear motion and a curvilinear motion; and a grip member configured to be moved linearly and curvilinearly by the moving member while holding the print media on the print medium stacking plate, and to place the print media on the stacker tray.

According to one embodiment, a paper sheet processing system includes a paper sheet processing apparatus which includes an inspection device, a reject device, and a first communication module, and a robot device which includes a robot arm and a second communication module. The reject device rejects a rejected paper sheet and a batch card to a rejecting port. When the batch card is detected, the first communication module transmits a predetermined signal to the robot device. Upon receiving the predetermined signal, the robot device takes the rejected paper sheet and the batch card out of the rejecting port by the robot arm, moves them to another storage section, and transmits a move completion signal to the paper sheet processing apparatus.