Abstract: An image recording apparatus in which ink transfer from a donor sheet to an image-receiving sheet is carried out. The donor sheet has a size larger than the image-receiving sheet. The apparatus includes a rotating drum around which the image-receiving sheet and the donor sheet may be wound and laminated, and a squeeze roller. The squeeze roller has a middle portion with a fixed radius and a smaller radius portion at one or both ends. Outside an area for the image-receiving sheet, the drum has a first protruding mound portion with which the donor sheet is in surface-contact when the sheets are wound around the drum. A boundary of the smaller radius portion and the middle portion is positioned at an image-receiving sheet side of the first mound portion when the sheets are pressed against the drum.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus in which ink transfer from a donor sheet to an image-receiving sheet is carried out. The donor sheet has a size larger than the image-receiving sheet. The apparatus includes a rotating drum around which the image-receiving sheet and the donor sheet may be wound and laminated, and a squeeze roller. The squeeze roller has a middle portion with a fixed radius and a smaller radius portion at one or both ends. Outside an area for the image-receiving sheet, the drum has a first protruding mound portion with which the donor sheet is in surface-contact when the sheets are wound around the drum. A boundary of the smaller radius portion and the middle portion is positioned at an image-receiving sheet side of the first mound portion when the sheets are pressed against the drum.

Abstract: In a contact type recording head which moves relatively with respect to the recording material while its one portion is coming into contact with the recording material, and directly prints an image onto the recording material or indirectly prints an image onto the recording material through the recording material, the microscopic irregularity is provided on a material contact portion S of the heating element 45 which comes into contact with the recording material. It is preferable that the microscopic irregularity is formed in a streak-like manner in the direction of the relative movement with the recording material, and the average roughness Ra of the microscopic irregularity in the perpendicular direction to the relative movement direction is 0.03-0.5 &mgr;m.

Abstract: An air blowing unit is arranged so as to blow air toward a side edge of a sheet discharged from a discharging port. Alternatively, the air is blew from below the discharged sheet.

Abstract: In an ink ribbon separation device for use with a thermal transfer apparatus having a separation bar, the shape of the separation bar is such that the thickness of the bar in an ink ribbon travelling direction is greater at its center in the direction orthogonal to the ink ribbon travelling direction than that at the ends thereof. The center bulges in a downstream direction in a bow shape at a rate of 10 to 200 &mgr;m with respect to a toner width of 100 mm.

Abstract: A cleaning roller system, which is preferable for use in a printer having a printing head, is disclosed. The cleaning roller system comprises an adhesive roller which is provided on a recording material feeding side relative to a print head, the adhesive roller has adhesive property, and is in contact with a surface of said recording material, and rotates in a direction of transporting said recording material.

Abstract: A thermal head, in which the catching of a foreign object on a partial glaze is prevented and the head pressure of the partial glaze is not reduced, is provided such that the image quality is improved by preventing the occurrences of line voids, irregularities, and roughness. In a thermal head which includes a partial glaze, which protrudes and whose cross-sectional configuration is substantially arc-shaped, on a recording material opposing surface, the radius of curvature of a heater portion on the partial glaze is less than 50 mm and the height of the partial glaze from the recording material opposing surface is 40 .mu.m or less. Further, the height of the partial glaze from the recording material opposing surface at the conveying direction upstream side of the recording material may be set lower than the height of the partial glaze from the recording material opposing surface at the conveying direction downstream side of the recording material with the heater portion therebetween.