Abstract: A light-and pressure-sensitive recording sheet and an original, overlapping each other, are introduced into an image forming apparatus, and are exposed to radiation on a transparent drum by means of a light source in the drum, whereupon a latent image, based on the contents of the original, is formed on the recording sheet. Then, the recording sheet is separated from the original by means of a separator, and is passed between a pair of pressure rolls. When the recording sheet is exposed, microcapsules thereon change their hardness. These microcapsules are ruptured selectively by pressure applied to the sheet. As a result, a chromogenic material, contained in the microcapsules, and a developer material, on the surface of a substrate of the recording sheet, react with each other, so that the sheet surface changes its color. Thus, the latent image is developed to accomplish copying in accordance with the original.

Abstract: In a pressure developing device employed in an imaging device like a duplicating machine, an optical printer etc., pressure force for evenly pressurizing a recording medium is capable of being varied in accordance with the width of the recording medium to be pressurized.

Abstract: A sheet supplying device is disclosed comprising a drive shaft, a first arm, a second arm, an elevator arm having a suction cup for attracting a sheet, and a roller. When the drive shaft starts to rotate counterclockwise, the first arm rotates counterclockwise together with the elevator arm until the roller disposed on the elevator arm is in contact with the uppermost sheet. When the roller contacts the uppermost sheet, the elevator arm starts to slide along the first arm and rotates clockwise about a point at which the roller contacts the uppermost sheet. The elevator arm and the first arm continue to move until the suction cup contacts the uppermost sheet, and then the suction cup is actuated to attract the uppermost sheet. When the suction cup has attracted the uppermost sheet, the drive shaft starts to rotate clockwise, the first arm rotates clockwise, and then the elevator arm with the suction cup attracting the sheet slides along the first arm.

Abstract: A suction type sheet feeding device which attracts an uppermost sheet of a sheet stack to a suction cup by a negative pressure, and transfers the attracted sheet to a predetermined position. For producing the negative pressure, a bellows or accordionlike enclosure is employed. In accordance with axial shrinkage and expansion of the bellows, the negative pressure is produced. The bellows is in fluid communication with the suction cup. Improvement is also made on a cleaning arrangement for cleaning the suction cup, and on the structure of the suction cup unit.

Abstract: In a pressure developing device, employed in an image recording unit, including a pair of pressure developing rollers for pressurizing a material on which a visible image is to be developed through elastic springs, provided are backup rollers arranged to be brought into contact with each of the pair of pressure developing rollers. Thus, a pressure force generated between the pair of pressure developing rollers are uniformly applied to the material along a direction which the pair of pressure developing rollers are extended. Further, a pressure force, i.e., a length of each of the elastic springs is arranged to be adjusted from the outside of the pressure developing device with a simple operation by means of a screw and so forth.

Abstract: A sheet storage case for storing therein a stack of sheets. The sheet storage case is assembled into a sheet feeding device which feeds out an uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets. The sheet storage case includes a bottom plate, a first positioning member fixedly secured to the bottom plate and a slidably movable second positioning member provided in the bottom plate. The second positioning member has a sheet receiving portion for receiving the stack of sheets. The second positioning member is movable toward and away from the first positioning member. To mount a stack of sheet on the sheet storage case, the second positioning member is moved away from the first positioning member, the sheets are placed on the sheet receiving portion, and then the second positioning member is moved toward the first positioning member. The side edges of the sheets are aligned, because the sheets are fittedly interposed between the two positioning members.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus employs a transfer type recording medium which includes a photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording sheet and a developer sheet. The former sheet is exposed to light to form a latent image corresponding to an image of an original. This sheet is exposed to light while being transported at a speed equal to or in the case of making a copy of enlarged or reduced size, at a speed different from a speed at which the original is scanned by light. The photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording sheet on which the latent image is formed is brought into facial contact with the developer sheet and the latent image is developed under pressure to provide a visible image on the developer sheet. This developing operation is performed while moving the superposed two sheets at the same speed as the speed when the latent image is formed on the photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording sheet.

Abstract: In a pressure developing device employed in an imaging device like a duplicating machine, an optical printer etc, pressure force for pressurizing a recording medium is capable of being varied in accordance with the width of the recording medium to be pressurized.A sensor for detecting the width of the recording medium is provided, and the pressure force is varied based upon the detected value.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for forming a latent image on a photosensitive pressure sensitive sheet and for developing the latent image on a developer sheet. The apparatus includes an exposure unit and a developing unit positioned close to each other. The apparatus also includes an optical system for irradiating light onto an original and directing the light reflected at the original toward the exposure zone. The original has an original image facing downwardly, and the photosensitive sheet has an imaging surface facing downwardly at the exposure zone. The optical system provides a U or J-shaped optical path extending from the original to the exposure zone. The optical system has reflection mirror unit vertically movably secured to a pair of frames of the apparatus. The frames are reinforced with a partition member which also functions as a light shielding member.

Abstract: In a heat/pressure applying unit, a pair of rollers cooperate with each other to define a nip therebetween. A recording medium is caused to pass through the nip at which at least one of heat and pressure is applied to the recording medium by the pair of rollers. First and second strippers are associated with at least one of the pair of rollers. The first stripper is arranged adjacent the nip for stripping the recording medium from the one roller. The second stripper is arranged at a location spaced from the first stripper along a peripheral surface of the one roller, for forcibly stripping the recording medium from the one roller.

Abstract: An image transfer system including a photosensitive medium having a layer of microcapsules formed on a substrate, an exposing device having a cathode ray tube for emitting a radiation for imagewise exposing the photosensitive medium, and a CRT control device for controlling the cathode ray tube. Each microcapsule includes a photosensitive resin whose strength is varied according to an amount of exposure thereof to the radiation, and contains a chromogenic material capable of chemically reacting with a developer material, to form a visible image. The CRT control device stores image signals representative of a picture frame, and applying the image signals to the cathode ray tube, to cause the tube to emit the radiation for forming a latent image of the picture frame on the photosensitive medium, so that the latent image is subsequently developed into a visible image.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus, a desired recording sheet is automatically selected from a sheet feeding section that is provided with plural types of image recording sheets at least one of which is a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet, based on encoded data that corresponds to the individual types of recording sheets. The selected recording sheet is fed through feeding means to an image recording section where an image recording operation is performed in accordance with the type of the selected sheet.

Abstract: An image transfer system wherein latent images formed on a photosensitive medium by exposure to a radiation according to image signals are developed into visible images, the photosensitive medium having a basic minimum amount of exposure to the radiation, which substantially defines a lower limit of a density-variable range in which a density of the visible images is varied according to an amount of exposure of the medium to the radiation. The present image transfer system includes a first device, a second device and a developing device. The first device is adapted to expose the medium a predetermined basic amount not larger than the basic minimum amount. The second device exposes local areas of the medium to a controlled intensity of the radiation represented by the image signals, and thereby cooperates with the first device to form the latent images on the photosensitive medium. The latent images are developed into the visible images by the developing device.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of exposing a photosensitive medium for forming thereon a latent image which corresponds to an original image to be reproduced and which is developed into a visible image. The photosensitive medium has a basic minimum amount of exposure to a radiation, below which a density of the visible image remains constant and above which the density varies with an amount of exposure to the radiation. An entire recording surface of the photosensitive medium is evenly exposed to a first radiation by a predetermined first exposure amount determined by the basic minimum amount, and each label area of the recording surface is exposed to a second radiation by a second exposure amount which corresponds to a density in a corresponding local area of the original image, so that the first and second exposure amounts cooperate to form the latent image.

Abstract: An exposure device having a light source section which includes a light source and a pair of light reflection means. One of the light reflection means is disposed movable toward and away from remaining reflection means so as to provide an open space for facilitating handling such as replacement of the light source.

Abstract: An image recording system including a photosensitive medium having a layer of microcapsules formed on a substrate, each of the microcapsules having a photosensitive resin which is curable upon exposure to a radiation, and a colorless chromogenic material or color former which is capable of chemically reacting with a developer material, to form a visible image. The system further includes an exposing device for forming a latent image on the photosensitive medium according to image signals, by exposure of the medium to the radiation. The latent image is developed into a visible image. A communication device is provided for translating facsimile signals into corresponding picture signals. The facsimile signals are received from a remote facsimile transmitter through a communication channel and represent an image of a subject copy.

Abstract: An exposure device for use in an image recording apparatus for exposing a photosensitive recording medium to light so as to form a latent image thereon.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a developer sheet. The apparatus includes an exposure unit, a pressure developing unit and thermal fixing unit. The developer sheet is fed through a sheet path extending from a developer sheet cassette to the pressure developing unit where the sheet is superposed with a microcapsule sheet carrying a latent image, and these sheets are pressed together. To avoid diagonal feeding of the developer sheet to the pressure developing unit or to avoid image recordation on the developer sheet having improper size, such undue developer sheet can be detected and is fed toward the outside at toward the outside at the upstream side of the pressure developing unit. For this, there is provided a detecting means, a branch path and sheet change over means these being positioned close to the sheet path.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for forming an image on an image recording medium is disclosed. The apparatus includes optical components for irradiating light to an original and for directing the light reflected from the original toward an exposure unit along which the image recording medium is movably provided. The optical components includes at least one lens and mirror. Positions, postures and orientations of these components are adjustable by the mechanical interconnection with adjusting means provided at external side of the apparatus.

Abstract: In a color picture recording apparatus, a picture image of an original document is formed on a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording medium which may be either a self-coloring type or a transfer type made up of a microcapsule sheet and a developer sheet. According to one aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus of the type in which the transfer type recording medium is used, the copy sheets are discharged face-up so as to facilitate an operator's confirmation of the copied picture image. According to another aspect of the invention, the cut developer sheets are stacked in a sheet cassette so that the surface on which the developer material is coated is face-down so that a feeding roller for feeding out the developer sheet does not come into contact therewith.