According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a leading end gripper and a trailing end gripper provided on a drum. The leading end gripper is moved by a leading end gripper driving mechanism. The trailing end gripper switches between a standby position where this gripper is stopped relatively to the rotating drum and a grip position where this gripper rotates with the drum. The leading end gripper and a recording medium pass through an inside of the trailing end gripper stopped in the standby position. If a trailing end of the recording medium reaches the trailing end gripper, the trailing end gripper is released and switches to the grip position. Thus, the trailing end of the medium is held on the drum by the trailing end gripper. The trailing end gripper moves in a rotating direction of the drum while continuing nipping the trailing end of the medium.