Abstract: There is disclosed an electronic still camera that has a printer section in addition to a camera section. The printer section prints an image on a self-developing type instant photo film unit in accordance with digital image data picked up and memorized through the camera section. A film pack containing a stack of instant photo film units is loaded in a loading chamber of the electronic still camera, such that the instant photo film units of the film pack are successively exposed through the printer section. A connector device for connecting a battery pack to the electronic still camera is provided in the loading chamber, whereas a charging circuit for charging a main power source with the battery pack is provided in the electronic still camera.

Abstract: In a printer, recording sheets of a standard type and a 16-frame sticker type are usable. A ROM inputs type information of the recording sheet representing one of the standard type and 16-frame sticker type. A controller designates one of first and second printing modes in accordance with the type information, and prints an image to the recording sheet in accordance with the designated printing mode. The first and second printing modes are preset in association with respectively the standard type and 16-frame sticker type.

Abstract: An UV-ray shielding layer and a moisture barrier layer are formed on edges of a recording paper which includes thermosensitive coloring layers having a fixing property to a ultraviolet ray. Another UV-ray shielding layer and another moisture barrier layer are formed in an opposite side of the support to the thermosensitive coloring layer. The UV-ray shielding layers prevent the ultraviolet ray from penetrating through the edge and the support and from reaching the thermosensitive coloring layers. Further, the moisture barrier layers prevent the thermosensitive coloring layer from absorbing moisture from air. Images are formed in the recording paper adequately without influence of the moisture and the ultraviolet ray during being stocked.

Abstract: A thermal head is swingably supported by a shaft. Arm members are swingably attached to the shaft. The arm member presses a head base of the thermal head via a pressure spring. Above the arm members, cam disks are rotatably arranged. The cam disk presses the arm member toward the thermal head. When printing is performed on a color thermosensitive recording paper having a narrow width, the inside cam disks press the arm members to press the thermal head against the recording paper. When printing is performed on another recording paper having a broad width, all the cam disks press the arm members to press the thermal head against the recording paper.

Abstract: A paper supplying method for supplying recording sheets from a paper cassette to a printer including rotating the paper supply rollers to feed the recording sheet into the printer in response to a print start command and rotating the paper supply rollers after an end of paper supply to return other recording sheets to a predetermined paper supply start position; or, rotating the paper supply rollers in response to a print start command, detecting the recording sheets which protrude from a predetermined paper supply start position, and returning those recording sheets to the paper supply start position; or, rotating the paper supply rollers to feed the recording sheet in response to a print start command, detecting that the paper cassette is loaded, and rotating the paper supply rollers to return the recording sheets to a paper supply start position at each loading of the cassette.

Abstract: A lock claw is provided on a pack loading door for opening a pack loading chamber. A lock lever is attached to the pack loading chamber. The lock lever is movable between a lock position where a lock claw engages with the lock claw, and a release position where a lock claw is away from the lock claw. The camera has a system controller and a film counter. The film counter counts a remaining number that represents the number of the instant film left inside the pack loading chamber. When a lock release button is operated, the system controller checks the remaining number. If the remaining number is equal to zero, the system controller controls a feeding motor to rotate inversely, so that the lock lever moves to the release position. If the remaining number is more than zero, the system controller keeps the lock lever at the lock position.

Abstract: An UV-ray shielding layer and a moisture barrier layer are formed on edges of a recording paper which includes thermosensitive coloring layers having a fixing property to a ultraviolet ray. Another UV-ray shielding layer and another moisture barrier layer are formed in an opposite side of the support to the thermosensitive coloring layer. The UV-ray shielding layers prevent the ultraviolet ray from penetrating through the edge and the support and from reaching the thermosensitive coloring layers. Further, the moisture barrier layers prevent the thermosensitive coloring layer from absorbing moisture from air. Images are formed in the recording paper adequately without influence of the moisture and the ultraviolet ray during being stocked.

Abstract: A thermal head is swingably supported by a shaft. Arm members are swingably attached to the shaft. The arm member presses a head base of the thermal head via a pressure spring. Above the arm members, cam disks are rotatably arranged. The cam disk presses the arm member toward the thermal head. When printing is performed on a color thermosensitive recording paper having a narrow width, the inside cam disks press the arm members to press the thermal head against the recording paper. When printing is performed on another recording paper having a broad width, all the cam disks press the arm members to press the thermal head against the recording paper.

Abstract: A plurality of sheets of photofixed-recording medium are stacked on top of each other and stored in a cartridge. An EEPROM is attached to the cartridge. The EEPROM is connecting to a memory connection section. A central processing unit is connected to the memory connecting section. The central processing unit can write information to the EEPROM of the cartridge or read information therefrom. Access to EEPROM can be correctly obtained only when the cartridge is properly inserted into a printing apparatus.

Abstract: A color thermal printer a conveyor for conveying a color thermosensitive recording sheet along a conveying path. A thermal head thermally records a full-color image to the recording sheet being conveyed. A fixer lamp applies ultraviolet rays of a predetermined range of wavelength to the recording sheet being conveyed, for optically fixing the recording sheet. In the thermal printer, a printer casing has a small height, and includes a front panel oriented vertically. An insertion opening in the front panel is adapted to insertion of the recording sheet before the recording, and ejection of the recording sheet after the recording. An air inlet and an air outlet are formed in the front panel. The insertion opening is disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet. An air passageway is disposed in the printer casing, and communicates from the air inlet to the air outlet via at least a portion of the conveying path.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a thermal printer component for image recording to a thermosensitive recording sheet. There is a loading opening through which the thermal printer component is supplied with the recording sheet. Plural guiding projections position the recording sheet in the loading opening. A recording sheet package includes a packaging case for containing a loose stack of plural recording sheets. The loading opening is loadable with the packaging case. A package outlet is formed in the packaging case for passage of each recording sheet, and set directed toward the thermal printer component. Plural cutouts are formed in a periphery of the packaging case, and receive the guiding projections. Blocking portions of a blocking frame are disposed inside the packaging case, and close the cut-outs. The blocking portions are shiftable inwards from the cutouts by the guiding projections.

Abstract: A color thermal printer a conveyor for conveying a color thermosensitive recording sheet along a conveying path. A thermal head thermally records a full-color image to the recording sheet being conveyed. A fixer lamp applies ultraviolet rays of a predetermined range of wavelength to the recording sheet being conveyed, for optically fixing the recording sheet. In the thermal printer, a printer casing has a small height, and includes a front panel oriented vertically. An insertion opening in the front panel is adapted to insertion of the recording sheet before the recording, and ejection of the recording sheet after the recording. An air inlet and an air outlet are formed in the front panel. The insertion opening is disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet. An air passageway is disposed in the printer casing, and communicates from the air inlet to the air outlet via at least a portion of the conveying path.

Abstract: A color thermal printer a conveyor for conveying a color thermosensitive recording sheet along a conveying path. A thermal head thermally records a full-color image to the recording sheet being conveyed. A fixer lamp applies ultraviolet rays of a predetermined range of wavelength to the recording sheet being conveyed, for optically fixing the recording sheet. In the thermal printer, a printer casing has a small height, and includes a front panel oriented vertically. An insertion opening in the front panel is adapted to insertion of the recording sheet before the recording, and ejection of the recording sheet after the recording. An air inlet and an air outlet are formed in the front panel. The insertion opening is disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet. An air passageway is disposed in the printer casing, and communicates from the air inlet to the air outlet via at least a portion of the conveying path.

Abstract: An electronic still camera of a printer built-in type is provided, in which an instant photo film pack for containing an instant photo film is used. A pack loading chamber is loaded with the instant photo film pack. A front opening is provided, through which the pack loading chamber is open in a forward direction. A taking lens is adapted for focusing of an image of an object to be photographed. A lens barrel accommodates the taking lens, is disposed to extend in the forward direction from the pack loading chamber, has a barrel rear end, and is inserted in the front opening. The barrel rear end is disposed in the pack loading chamber.

Abstract: A recording sheet package includes a stack of plural recording sheets. A packaging body contains the recording sheets. The packaging body or the recording sheets include humidity and temperature indicators which allows the degradation of the recording sheets to be compensated for in the course of thermal printing. A detection cutout is formed in the packaging body, for receiving insertion of a sheet remainder counter. The sheet remainder counter is allowed to push the recording sheets in a thickness direction thereof. The sheet remainder counter is adapted to detect a number of remaining ones of the recording sheets in the packaging body.

Abstract: A recording sheet package includes a stack of plural recording sheets. A packaging body contains the recording sheets. The packaging body or the recording sheets include humidity and temperature indicators which allows the degradation of the recording sheets to be compensated for in the course of thermal printing. A detection cutout is formed in the packaging body, for receiving insertion of a sheet remainder counter. The sheet remainder counter is allowed to push the recording sheets in a thickness direction thereof. The sheet remainder counter is adapted to detect a number of remaining ones of the recording sheets in the packaging body.

Abstract: An instant film unit advancing apparatus of reduced size, which avoids failure of a discharging film unit when a slip arises between a pair of spreading rollers and the film unit. Components to drive and support the pair of rollers and a picking claw for thrusting the film unit to a bite of the pair of rollers are arranged within the width of a film unit pack. Spreading rollers supporting means support a surface of the spreading rollers, and a driving power source unit includes a motor and a reducing gear train whose shafts are parallel to the spreading rollers. A rotating cam shaft moves the picking claw, which is also parallel to the spreading rollers, instead of a large cam plate used in conventional apparatuses. The cam shaft and a featured mechanism keep rotation of the spreading rollers independent from a cam mechanism for moving the picking claw.

Abstract: The printer built-in electric still camera has a pack chamber for loading a film pack, and a pack chamber door for opening and closing the pack chamber. On an inner face of the pack chamber door, plural film pressing devices are attached. When the pack chamber door is closed, the film pressing devices enter in a pack case from access openings formed on the pack case. The film pressing device has a frame and two pressure levers. The frame has a channel-shaped form and its bottom face is fixed on the pack chamber door. First and second shafts are attached to side plates of the frame, and ends of first and second pressure levers are rotatably fitted on the shafts. The first and second pressure levers are rotated by the bias of a strong spring and a weak spring. Other ends of the levers press the film unit.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electronic still camera with a printer section for printing an image on recording paper on the basis of image data obtained through a camera section of the camera. A paper roll chamber is formed around a lens barrel which holds a taking lens therein. A roll of recording paper, which is wound around a reel, is loaded in the paper roll chamber by fitting a center hole of the reel on the lens barrel. A lid for opening and closing the paper roll chamber is disposed on the front side of the camera. The lid has an opening for exposing the taking lens while the lid is closed.

Abstract: A recording sheet package includes a stack of plural recording sheets. A packaging body contains the recording sheets. The packaging body or the recording sheets include humidity and temperature indicators which allows the degradation of the recording sheets to be compensated for in the course of thermal printing. A detection cutout is formed in the packaging body, for receiving insertion of a sheet remainder counter. The sheet remainder counter is allowed to push the recording sheets in a thickness direction thereof. The sheet remainder counter is adapted to detect a number of remaining ones of the recording sheets in the packaging body.