Abstract: A continuous and sequential temporal storing and conveying of plate shaped members to the next processing step, in which the differently sized and randomly ordered plate shaped members can be easily handled and manipulated, A substantially vertical wall surface is provided and the plate shaped members are temporarily stored in a state of leaning against the wall surface and sequentially fed toward the wall surface. Then, a nearest-to-wall plate shaped member among the stored plate shaped members is drawn to the wall surface in order to vertically erect the nearest-to-wall plate shaped member and separate the nearest-to-wall plate shaped member from remaining stored plate shaped members. Then, the vertically erected nearest-to-wall plate shaped member is conveyed to the next processing step along the wall surface.

Abstract: A high precision thermal printing capable of thermally printing diverse patterns on variety of printing targets having not necessarily flat printing surfaces, stably and efficiently, at a very high precision. In this thermal printing, a first film for carrying a thermally transferrable applied material and a second film for receiving the applied material thermally transferred from the first film are provided. Then, a desired printing pattern is formed on the second film by applying heat to a desired part of the applied material on the first film in a shape of the desired printing pattern, and the desired printing pattern formed on the second film is then thermally transferred to a printing target.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for printing at desired positions on four sides of a box shaped object of an arbitrary size, automatically, quickly, without complicating a configuration of the apparatus excessively. In the apparatus, carrier rollers are rotated in a normal direction in order to place the box shaped object at a predetermined printing position on the carrier passage; one corner of the box shaped object at a predetermined printing position on the carrier passage is held by a holding mechanism; desired printing patterns are printed on one side of the box shaped object facing toward the printer by printer; the carrier rollers are forcefully stopped while the printer prints on one side of the box shaped object facing toward the printer; the carrier rollers are rotated in a reverse direction such that the box shaped object is rotated by 90.degree.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for thermal printing capable of thermally printing diverse patterns on large printing areas at a high accuracy. In the apparatus, the carbon ribbon is moved along a first track and then along a second track which are spatially separated from the first track; a printing object is carried along the second track below the carbon ribbon; the desired printing patterns are imprinted on the carbon ribbon moving along the first track by a printing head placed on the first track; and the carbon ribbon is pressed onto the printing object by thermal transfer roller placed on the second track so as to thermally transfer the desired printing patterns on the carbon ribbon to the printing object.