Abstract: A paper feeder is capable of minimizing abnormal noise produced at a separation pad during paper feed, without reducing the paper feed capability, for use in an image forming apparatus using the same. Buffers are mounted on the separation pad. This arrangement ensures that, when a stick-slip condition occurs between the paper and separation pad during paper feed, and the separation pad is vibrated by the paper, the buffer vibrates so as to dissipate the vibration energy of the separation pad, with the result that the vibration of the separation pad is minimized, thereby to reduce any abnormal noise.

Abstract: A paper feeder is capable of minimizing abnormal noise produced at a separation pad during paper feed, without reducing the paper feed capability, for use in an image forming apparatus using the same. Buffers are mounted on the separation pad. This arrangement ensures that, when a stick-slip condition occurs between the paper and separation pad during paper feed, and the separation pad is vibrated by the paper, the buffer vibrates so as to dissipate the vibration energy of the separation pad, with the result that the vibration of the separation pad is minimized, thereby to reduce any abnormal noise.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming system having a form cassette for storing forms, a transfer unit for forming an image, a feeder for feeding the forms to the transfer unit and a fusing device for fusing transferred image of the form. The electrophotographic image forming system provides in a path for feeding the form with unfused colored particles (toner) deposited thereon, a form guide so as to contact the non-printing area of the surface of the form with unfused colored particles (toner) deposited thereon.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming system having a form cassette for storing forms, a transfer unit for forming an image, a feeder for feeding the forms to the transfer unit and a fusing device for fusing transferred image of the form. The electrophotographic image forming system provides in a path for feeding the form with unfused colored particles (toner) deposited thereon, a form guide so as to contact the non-printing area of the surface of the form with unfused colored particles (toner) deposited thereon.

Abstract: In order to provide an electrophotographic image forming system characterized by a mechanism of stabilizing the behavior of the tip of the form when the form with unfused colored particles (toner) deposited thereon is fed to the fusing device, the present invention has a form posture correcting protrusion provided on the non-printing area of the surface of the form with unfused colored particles (toner) deposited thereon inside the feed path of the form with unfused colored particles (toner) deposited thereon, so that form behavior can be controlled when the form is fed to the fusing device. Furthermore, the present invention has a form guide provided on the form ejection side of the fusing device to control the behavior of the form moving in the direction of being wound on the fusing roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a thermal transfer printing ink-sheet in a cartridge case and for indicating a characteristic of the ink-sheet, comprises an ink-sheet including an ink which is transferred from the ink-sheet by a heat energy, a shaft on which the ink-sheet is wound and which is mounted detachably and in a rotatable manner on the cartridge case, and an indicating member which is discrete in relation to the cartridge case, indicates the characteristic of the ink-sheet, is rotatable in relation to the shaft, and is connected to the shaft so that an integral combination of the indicating member and the shaft is kept on a replacement of the ink-sheet, and the indicating member and the shaft are separated simultaneously from the cartridge case on the replacement of the ink-sheet.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer which can use both an ink sheet provided with a positioning mark to indicate the top position of a set of three color ink patches necessary for producing one image, and an ink sheet provided with no such positioning mark, without the need of switching an operation mode. The thermal transfer printer has an optical sensor which can equally detect a color change between 3rd and 1st color patches on the ink sheet provided with no positioning mark and a color change between a positioning mark and a 1st color patch on the ink sheet provided with the positioning mark. There is also disclosed an ink sheet cassette for use in the thermal transfer printer, the ink sheet cassette accommodating the ink sheet in which a positioning mark is coated with the same color(s) of ink as those for printing and information about the color sequence of the ink coated patches for printing is also recorded in the coated pattern of the positioning mark.

Abstract: In a thermal transfer recording system, an ink paper cassette containing an ink paper having ink layers and an ink paper feed bobbin with the ink paper wound therearond, and further containing a take-up bobbin for taking up the ink paper fed from the feed bobbin, is used in conjunction with a recording paper, a platen roller, and a thermal head. The recording paper and the ink paper fed from the feed bobbin are disposed in a superimposed manner on the platen roller and are pressed toward the platen roller form the ink paper side and heated by the thermal head, thereby allowing ink to be transferred to the recording paper form the ink paper in accordance with information provided to the thermal head. A discrimination is made as to whether the ink paper cassette is a first ink paper cassette which contains a first ink paper having only ink layers, or a second ink paper cassette which contains a second ink paper having both a receiving layer and ink layers.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus wherein printing on record paper is performed with the record paper fixed on a platen roller is constituted such that, when the record paper is to be fixed, transmission of power to the platen roller is interrupted and the platen roller is fixedly held at a predetermined position, which enables realization of a transporting system for a transport system of a thermal transfer recording apparatus of the record paper fixing type which system includes a single motor therein.

Abstract: A platen roller apparatus having a cylindrical platen roller, a recording sheet retaining member capable of moving while being maintained in parallel with the axis of the platen roller, a positioning member for positioning a recording sheet on the platen roller; and members for urging the recording sheet retaining member inwardly in the radial direction of the platen roller. The recording sheet is retained while being pinched between the outer circumferential surface of the platen roller and the recording sheet retaining member.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing apparatus includes a reading device for reading a code registered section provided on an ink sheet cassette, and a color discrimination device, a part of which is provided on a thermal head. The apparatus acts to heat an ink sheet superposed on a print paper by means of the thermal head to print an image on the print paper. The ink sheet cassette includes a pair of ink shafts on which both ends of a continuous ink sheet having a continuous film or paper with inks applied thereon are wound, and a cassette case in which the ink shafts are received, at least one of the ink shafts being adapted to be drivingly connected in the axial direction to a torque supply shaft inserted from the outside of the cassette case so that driving torque is supplied from the torque supply shaft to the ink shaft.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer which can use both an ink sheet provided with a positioning mark to indicate the top position of a set of three color ink patches necessary for producing one image, and an ink sheet provided with no such positioning mark, without the need of switching the operation mode. The thermal transfer printer has an optical sensor which can equally detect color change between 3rd and 1st color patches for the ink sheet provided with no positioning mark and color change between a positioning mark and 1st color patch for the ink sheet provided with the positioning mark. There is also disclosed an ink sheet cassette for use in the thermal transfer printer, the ink sheet cassette accommodating the ink sheet in which a positioning mark is coated with the same color(s) of ink as those for printing and information about the color sequence of the ink coated patches for printing is also recorded in the coated pattern of the positioning mark.