Abstract: A thermal developing unit in a photocopier in which a latent image is formed on a photo-sensitive material which is then pressed between an endless belt and a heating drum to be thermally developed. In order to maintain the correct temperature on the heating drum, the drum and belt are rotated during a warm-up period or whenever a long sheet of photo-sensitive material is being used. Alternatively, the endless belt can be made of a material having a low heat capacity.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus which uses one type of photo-sensitive material to transfer an image from a original having a different density scale. The original image is given a primary exposure to the photo-sensitive material and the photo-sensitive material is given a direct exposure as an auxiliary exposure. After a certain amount of auxiliary exposure has been performed, the ratio of the amount of auxiliary exposure with respect to the amount of the total exposure of the part on the photo-sensitive material corresponding to the high density part of the original, is small, but because the ratio with respect to the amount of the total exposure of the part on the photo-sensitive material corresponding to the low density part of the original is large, the apparent .gamma.-characteristics of the photo-sensitive material is lowered, and a favorable image corresponding to the gradation of the original can be obtained.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus in which an image recording material bearing an image to be recorded and an image receiving sheet are stacked together and pressurized with a pair of pressurizing rollers so that the image is transferred to the image receiving sheet. A back-up roller, the length of which is about one-third that of the pressurizing rollers, suitably presses at least one of the pressurizing rollers at the middle portion thereof.

Abstract: An image-forming method comprises imagewise exposing a light-sensitive material comprising a light-sensitive layer containing silver halide, a reducing agent and a polymerizable compound provided on a paper support; and simultaneously or thereafter heat-developing the light-sensitive material to imagewise polymerize the polymerizable compound. Another image-forming method comprises: imagewise exposing a light-sensitive material comprising a light-sensitive layer containing silver halide and a dye providing substance provided on a paper support; and simultaneously or thereafter heat-developing the light-sensitive material to imagewise form or release a diffusible dye. The paper support comprises a coating layer containing a hydrophobic polymer provided on a base paper sheet, and the light-sensitive layer is provided on the coating layer. The light-sensitive material is heat-developed after removal of water from the base paper sheet.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus in which a latent image formed on a photo-sensitive material by optical exposure is thermally developed. The photo-sensitive material is piled on an image receiving material so that the image developed on the photo-sensitive material is transferred onto the image receiving material. A moisture detecting sensor directly or indirectly detects the moisture content of the photo-sensitive material to output a control signal. In response to the control signal, a preheating roller preheats the photo-sensitive material or a humidifying nozzle is operated to humidify the photo-sensitive material, whereby the moisture content of the photo-sensitive material is maintained at a desired value.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus in which an image recording material bearing an image to be recorded and an image receiving sheet are stacked together and pressurized with a pair of pressurizing rollers so that the image is transferred to the image receiving sheet. A back-up roller, the length of which is about one-third that of the pressurizing rollers, suitably presses at least one of the pressurizing rollers at the middle portion thereof.

Abstract: A thermally developing apparatus for a light and pressure sensitive material. The exposed material is inserted between a rotating heated roller and an endless belt wrapped partially around the roller. Additionally, a temperature sensor detects abnormally high temperatures and, as a result, removes the material from the heated roller.

Abstract: A pressurizing-type image forming device comprises a platen roller and a projection roller which is axially parallel to the axis of the platen roller, and the projection roller having a plurality of projections which extend widthwise on the surface thereof, and which projection roller is positioned at a location where only the projections are brought into contact with the platen roller, the circumferential speed V.sub.2 at the surface of the projections on the projection roller being set higher than circumferential speed V.sub.1 at the surface of the platen roller, and the photosensitive member which is fed by way of the platen roller being struck by the projections.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermally developing a photosensitive material having an image produced by image-like exposure, comprising a heating roller, a plurality of support rollers, and a rotating endless belt stretched around these rollers. At least one of the support rollers is movable along its radius. A tension adjusting mechanism pushes the roller outwardly from the belt. The support rollers may have a flange on each end for preventing slippage of the endless belt from the rollers.

Abstract: A latent image on an exposed and developed sheet S of photosensitive material coated with microcapsules containing a color forming substance is transferred to a superposed image receiving sheet C by applying pressure to rupture some of the microcapsules. The applied pressure is selectively varied between at least two levels to attendantly control the color density of the transferred image.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus employs a photo- and pressure-sensitive heat-developable material having a substrate and a layer formed on the substrate from a material which is photosensitive and heat-developable and which enables the developed image to be fixed by a pressure. The apparatus is constituted by an exposure device 8, 10 for exposing the photosensitive materials to an original image so as to form a latent image on the photosensitive material; a heat-developing device 40 for heating the photosensitive material so as to thermally set the portion of the photosensitive material carrying the latent image thus developing and immobilizing the image; a transfer device 70, 88 for superposing the photosensitive material after the development and an image receiving material C and pressing them to each other; and a heating device disposed upstream of the transfer device and adapted to heat at least one of the photosensitive material and the image receiving material.

Abstract: A pressurizing image forming apparatus makes use of a photo- and pressure-sensitive heat-developable material including a substrate and a layer formed on the substrate from a heat-developable material which enables the developed image to be fixed by the application of pressure. The image on the exposed photosensitive material is developed by application of heat and then fixed by application of pressure onto an image receiving layer on the photosensitive material itself or a separate image-receiving sheet. The fixing of the image is effected by intermittant application of impact pressure by cooperation between an impact pressurizing means; and platen means disposed to oppose the impact pressurizing means.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus employs a photo- and pressure-sensitive heat-developable material having a substrate and a layer formed on the substrate from a material which is photo-sensitive and heat-developable and which enables the developed image to be fixed by a pressure, and an image receiving material. The photosensitive material and the image receiving material being adapted to be superposed one on the other and pressed to each other so as to transfer the image from the photosensitive material to the image receiving material. The pressing of these two materials is conducted by a means which includes a pair of pressing rolls for nipping the photosensitive material and the image receiving material therebetween; back-up rolls means having an axial length smaller than that of the pressing rolls and adapted for acting on at least one of the pressing rolls; and back-up roll pressing means capable of independently adjusting the pressure exerted by the back-up roll means on the pressing rolls.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus which makes use of a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive thermally developable medium having a carrier and a photosensitive substance applied to the surface of said carrier that is capable of developing a latent image thereon by application of heat and stabilizing the developed image by application of pressure, said apparatus comprising: exposure means; heating developing means; and transferring means for superposing an image receiving sheet member onto said photosensitive and pressure-sensitive developable medium and for pressurizing said image receiving sheet member and said photosensitive and pressure-sensitive developable medium together.

Abstract: A bar coating process for coating a coating liquid on a continuously travelling web which comprises the steps of supplying a coating liquid so as to form a liquid reservoir immediately before a position of contact between a bar and the web, and coating the coating liquids on the web using the bar, wherein the bar is axially positioned perpendicularly to the travelling direction of the web, is supported on a supporting member and is rotated in the same direction as that of the web while coming into contact with the web. The diameter of the bar being 6 to 25 mm.