In an example, a clamp may include a roller disposed on a swingarm, a slide disposed on the swingarm that may apply friction against the roller in a first position and in a second position, a cam to engage with the slide, and a latch to retain the slide in the second position. The slide may move from the first position to the second position as the slide moves along the cam, and the slide may apply a greater friction against the roller in the second position than in the first position.

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.

A sheet loading apparatus for carrying a sheet loaded in a first tray to a second tray includes: a grip portion configured to grip the sheet; a sliding portion configured to move the grip portion between a sheet gripping position and a sheet release position; a lift portion configured to move the grip portion and cause the grip portion to emerge from the sheet loading surface; and a common power transmission portion configured to transmit power to both the sliding portion and the lift portion, wherein in one cycle, after the sliding portion moves the grip portion to a downstream side, the lift portion moves the grip portion downward of the sheet loading surface to cause the grip portion to reach the release position, and after the sliding portion moves the grip portion to the upstream side, the lift portion moves the grip portion to the gripping position.

In an example, a clamp may include a chassis, a swingarm disposed on the chassis, a clamp wheel disposed on a first end of the swingarm to engage with a drag portion of the chassis, and an auxiliary bias member to exert a force against the clamp wheel to resist a rotation of the clamp wheel. The force may periodically increase in magnitude.

A joining unit includes: a suction holding member having a suction surface configured to suction an end section of a sheet; a moving mechanism configured to move the suction surface toward an intermediate section of a sheet of a delivery-side original material roll along a path set in advance so that tension is applied to the sheet; and a regulating mechanism that is configured to switch between a regulated state in which a movement of the end section of the sheet with respect to the suction holding member due to the tension is regulated and an allowable state in which the movement of the end section of the sheet with respect to the suction holding member is allowed. The controller switches the regulating mechanism to the regulated state during the movement of the suction surface toward the intermediate section of the sheet of the delivery-side original material roll.

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.

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.

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a system and method for inserting contents into envelopes that generally reduces the number of operative device components, locates all components in a readily and accessible location, reduces the number of adjustments needed to change envelope size and contents size, provides an efficient and aesthetically pleasing design, allows for a highly flexible arrangement of backup hoppers to primary hoppers for feeding envelope contents and otherwise affords a substantial number of improvements over currently available envelope inserters. The illustrative embodiment includes a feed table with a low-slung swing arm for handling contents, a pivoting feed table that exposes the operative components on the underside, a novel raceway belt with projecting lugs for transporting contents to the insertion area, a primary and secondary contents hopper backup system, a mechanism for easily adjusting for different-sized envelopes, and a variety of other novel features.

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.

A sheet loading apparatus for carrying a sheet loaded in a first tray to a second tray includes: a grip portion configured to grip the sheet; a sliding portion configured to move the grip portion between a sheet gripping position and a sheet release position; a lift portion configured to move the grip portion and cause the grip portion to emerge from the sheet loading surface; and a common power transmission portion configured to transmit power to both the sliding portion and the lift portion, wherein in one cycle, after the sliding portion moves the grip portion to a downstream side, the lift portion moves the grip portion downward of the sheet loading surface to cause the grip portion to reach the release position, and after the sliding portion moves the grip portion to the upstream side, the lift portion moves the grip portion to the gripping position.