Abstract: The exposure head includes at least one light source of a broad area type, an optical waveguide gradually broadening in a broad area direction of the light source toward a traveling direction of light emitted from the light source, a member collimating the light traveling in a perpendicular direction to the broad area direction, the light being emitted from the optical waveguide and a light modulating device including a plurality of modulation units arrayed in the broad area direction. The image recording apparatus includes the above exposure head an optical system for focusing on a predetermined position the light emitted from the exposure head and a scanner for allowing the exposure head and a photosensitive material to move relatively, while regulating the photosensitive material at the predetermined position.

Abstract: The gradation reproduction method is capable of smooth gradation depiction without making graininess of an image conspicuous when gradation levels for reproducing the image are reproduced by dot patterns, and the gradation-reproduced image is depicted by the gradation reproduction method. A plurality of gradation levels including at least a gradation level having an area coverage modulation ratio of approximately 50% are reproduced by periodically arranging dots changing a size thereof in response to the gradation level in an approximately constant interval. And, a gradation level having the area coverage modulation ratio of 10% or less is reproduced by dots having a micro density lower than a micro density of dots for reproducing a solid portion. In this case, the gradation level having the area coverage modulation ratio of 10% or less is reproduced by randomly arranging the dots in an inconstant interval.

Abstract: An image printing method, wherein one pixel is formed from a plurality of dots arranged in a primary scanning direction, in which printing elements are arranged, and in a secondary scanning direction perpendicular to the primary scanning direction; wherein the tone of one pixel is expressed by changing the overall printing area in accordance with whether or not the dots are printed; and wherein a multicolor image is printed by combination of one yellow pixel, one magenta pixel, one cyan pixel, and one black pixel, the method comprising the step of: setting to a nonintegral multiple a dimensional ratio among one yellow pixel, one magenta pixel, one cyan pixel, and one black pixel in the secondary scanning direction.

Abstract: An image correction method structured such that supplied image data is converted into image data which must be output when supplied image data is output by a printing apparatus including a line-type head, the image correction method including steps of performing: CMS-conversion (21) of supplied image data in three dimensional or higher order; increase (30) of a gradation accuracy of image data after the CMS conversion has been performed; a correction process (31) of image data having the increased gradation accuracy; and a multivalued dither process (32).

Abstract: A thermal printer free of the unevenness of an image is devised so that dust is prevented from adhering to an ink ribbon. In the thermal printer for generating a color image on a recording material by a thermal head and others using an ink ribbon, the ink ribbon is automatically rewound by a length within one image plane and kept on standby after printing is finished and at the time of next printing, the ink ribbon is automatically let out by the length formerly rewound and gets ready for printing.

Abstract: The density correction method according to the present invention includes recording an image on said recording medium at a predetermined halftone density, measuring record density of a result of recording of the halftone density by a densitometer, raising the relative speed between the recording head and the recording medium when the measured record density is higher than the required density and lowering the relative speed when the measured record density is lower than the required density, recording an image on said recording medium at two or more halftone densities after a set value of the relative speed has been changed, and updating a density conversion table for converting input data in such a manner that the record density of a result of recording substantially coincides with the predetermined density.

Abstract: An optical disk (2) includes a plurality of layers in a three-dimensional direction (i.e., “thickness direction” or “depth direction”) thereof. A plurality of recording surfaces are respectively formed on the layers, the recording surfaces each has data recording tracks (16) extending along a peripheral direction of the optical disk (2). Sample servo marks (11) each has at least two mark portions (11a, 11b). The two mark portions (11a, 11b) are arranged in a zig-zag manner to be shifted in the thickness direction of the optical disk (2) such that the two mark portions (11a, 11b) interpose one of the data recording tracks (16).

Abstract: An optical disk (2) includes a plurality of layers in a three-dimensional direction (i.e., “thickness direction” or “depth direction”) thereof. A plurality of recording surfaces are respectively formed on the layers, the recording surfaces each has data recording tracks (16) extending along a peripheral direction of the optical disk (2). Sample servo marks (11) each has at least two mark portions (11a, 11b). The two mark portions (11a, 11b) are arranged in a zig-zag manner to be shifted in the thickness direction of the optical disk (2) such that the two mark portions (11a, 11b) interpose one of the data recording tracks (16).

Abstract: A liquid droplet containing thermosetting or ultraviolet curing adhesive material is jetted out to either of a transfer member (5) or an image receiving member (11) so as to correspond to a shape of an image so that a latent image is formed. The transfer member (5) and the image receiving member (11) are brought into close contact with each other so that the latent image is interposed between the transfer member (5) and the image receiving member (11). Then, heat or ultraviolet ray is applied for curing the adhesive material so that a transfer material formed on the transfer member (5) is fixed to the image receiving member (11) through the cured adhesive material. Then, the transfer member (5) and the image receiving member (11) are separated from each other so that only the fixed transfer material is transferred to the image receiving member (11). As a result, a required image is formed.

Abstract: A part of the insertion platform 3′ to send the sheets in which the image receiving sheet on which the image is formed, and the transfer sheet onto which the image is to be transferred, are superimposed, to the heat roller pair to heat and press the sheets, in the image transfer apparatus is structured by the member 2G having a function to transmit the light from the lower side. The light transmission function member is any one of a transparent portion, translucent portion, light diffusion portion, or opening portion, and the light source 2L is arranged on its lower side.

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: First, an image receiving sheet is put on an insertion table of an image transfer device, next, the paper is overlapped on the image receiving sheet, then, a flexible hygroscopic carrier sheet is further overlapped on them and they are inserted between the pair of heat rollers in that state.

Abstract: To provide an inexpensive printer capable of printing a high-resolution print data item at high speed. A multi-head printer, wherein taking a pitch at which the printing elements are moved in the secondary scanning direction, or in the direction in which the printing elements are arranged, as “p,” and “j” as a natural number, and a pitch between the printing heads as “Q,” a relationship between the printing heads and their movement in the secondary scanning direction is defined so as to satisfy a relationship Q=j×p.

Abstract: A sheet conveying mechanism for a printer which records an image on a sheet fed from a sheet feeder, includes a hard pinch roller; and a capstan roller confronting the pinch roller, the capstan roller associating with the pinch roller to convey at least one sheet. The capstan roller has a surface on which a plurality of projections are formed. The height of the projections is 60 &mgr;m±40 &mgr;m, a projection pitch in an axial direction of the capstan roller is 0.5 mm±0.2 mm, and the projections are arranged on half or more of the area of the surface of the capstan roller.

Abstract: A hollow drum-type recording apparatus includes: a hollow drum which has an opening and whose hollow circular arc-shaped main body rotates; a recording sheet which is wound around the surface of the circular arc-shaped main body of the hollow drum from a recording sheet roll; an internal holder for a feed roll and an internal holder for a take-up roll for respectively accommodating and disposing inside the hollow drum a feed roll for feeding a toner sheet and a take-up roll for taking up the toner sheet through the opening; and an external holder for a feed roll and an external holder for a take-up roll for respectively accommodating and disposing outside the hollow drum the feed roll for feeding the toner sheet and the take-up roll for taking up the toner sheet through the opening, wherein the winding, releasing, and discharging of the toner sheet are effected by appropriately moving the feed roll and the take-up roll between the internal holders and the external holders and by rotating the hollow drum.

Abstract: Recording apparatus 1 builds up positive pressure in its interior with air being supplied by means of fan 3. Filter 4 rejects any dust and dirt contained in the air so they will not enter the apparatus. Humidifier 5 has a water-imbibed water-retaining material in its interior and humidifies the interior of the recording apparatus 1 so that the internal humidity is always maintained at an optimum value. The recording apparatus 1 ensures that there will be no change of the internal humidity that would otherwise deteriorate the performance of the constituent members of the apparatus or reduce the sensitivity of the sensitive material in the recording medium and this contributes to preventing unevenness in the finished image. The recording apparatus is also free from the development of static charge in the areas of contact between the recording medium and the constituent members and from the subsequent occurrence of transport jam and failures in electronic components.

Abstract: A thermal recording system for recording an image or the like on a thermo-sensitive recording medium using a laser beam under a preheated condition of the thermo-sensitive recording medium. In the thermal recording system, a preheating means preheats the thermo-sensitive recording medium which has leuco dyes, a developer and light-absorbing dyes all provided on a support and which develops color in continuous tone at a density corresponding to the energy of applied heat, to a predetermined temperature less than a color-developing temperature. A heating-beam generating means allows the thermo-sensitive recording medium to be scanned with a laser beam emitted therefrom so as to heat the thermo-sensitive recording medium to a predetermined color-developing temperature. Thus, the heating-beam generating means can control the laser beam in a sufficient control range, thereby making it possible to record an image or the like on the thermo-sensitive recording medium with high accuracy.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a thermal printer free of the unevenness of an image which is devised so that dust is prevented from adhering to an ink ribbon.

Abstract: A direct heat-sensitive recording method and device using a light-fixing-type heat-sensitive recording material in which are layered on a support a heat-sensitive recording layer and at least one light-fixing-type heat-sensitive recording layer, which have heat recording sensitivities higher than a heat recording sensitivity of the heat-sensitive recording layer and which are fixed by electromagnetic waves of respectively different wavelengths, each layer of the light-fixing-type heat-sensitive recording material developing to a respectively different color, including: an exposing device for deactivating imagewise each of the light-fixing-type heat-sensitive recording layers corresponding to respective colors by modulating light amounts of electromagnetic waves having respectively different wavelengths and illuminating the electromagnetic waves onto the light-fixing-type heat-sensitive recording layer; and a heat recording device for developing the heat-sensitive recording layer imagewise and developing undea

Abstract: A printer with sheet preheating in which toner applied to a toner ribbon is heat-transferred onto a heat adhesive recording sheet, wherein: a heating member heats the recording sheet at a temperature within the range of predetermined temperatures before the heat transfer is provided. Accordingly, the heat adhesiveness of the recording sheet can be substantially constant regardless of the environment of circumferential temperature, and the variation in sensitivities due to the difference in environment to be used and the difference in the order of transfer can be reduced.