Abstract: A duct is installed in an apparatus housing. The duct has an outside inlet, a first discharge opening, a second discharge opening, and an air filter. Outside air is taken into the duct from the outside inlet through the air filter. The air filter filters the outside air to prevent dust from getting into the duct. A cooling axial flow fan disposed in the vicinity of each of the first and second discharge openings. The cooling axial flow fans blow the filtered outside air into fixing devices to be cooled. Gaps are formed between the cooling axial flow fan and the first discharge opening, and between the other cooling axial flow fan and the second discharge opening, as inside inlets. When the air filter clogs, air in the housing is supplied to the cooling axial flow fans through the gaps, to circulate the air inside the housing.

Abstract: An optical printer records a color image by exposing color instant photo film extending two-dimensionally in a main scan direction and a sub scan direction. The optical printer includes a printing head, which includes a white color light-emitting element and a color separation filter unit. The color separation filter unit is disposed in a light path of white-color light from the light-emitting element, for color separation of the white-color light. The color separation filter unit has a tubular shape, has a central axis extending substantially parallel with the main scan direction, and is rotatable about the central axis. The white-color light travels through an entrance position along the light path into the color separation filter unit, out of which the light travels through an exit position along the light path.

Abstract: An electronic still camera with a printer includes a vibration detector and a system controller. The vibration detector detects vibration relative to a moving direction of an exposure head of the printer. When the vibration detector detects the vibration exceeding a prescribed level, the system controller interrupts a printing operation of the printer. After that, when the vibration detector detects the vibration falling below the prescribed level, the system controller resumes the printing operation. The exposure head is adapted to be moved, performing the printing operation one line by one line. Until the printing operation for one line is completed, the system controller suspends to interrupt the printing operation.

Abstract: A reflection case is attached to respective LEDs of an exposure head. An inner wall of the reflection case is formed with a first low-reflection area (reflectance is 0.1), a high-reflection area (reflectance is 0.9), and a second low-reflection area (reflectance is 0.1). These reflection areas are formed in an optical-axis direction from a side of the LED. The reflection case is disposed such that a middle point between the LED and a photosensitive surface of an instant film is positioned within the high-reflection area. The light emitted from the LED is reflected on the inner wall of the reflection case to be applied to the photosensitive surface of the instant film without dispersion. Owing to this, the effective exposure head may be produced.

Abstract: An Internet telephone apparatus which is capable of processing an Internet connection to an Internet telephone or to personal computer communications without requiring the installation of an additional public line, so that a cost for extension of a line and maintenance of the extended line can be eliminated. This Internet telephone apparatus has an incoming call determination unit for determining, based on information in a call setting message from a user, generated when a call is originated, whether the call is an incoming call directed to an access server for controlling communications such as personal computer communications or the like or an incoming call directed to an Internet telephone control unit for controlling the Internet telephone.

Abstract: In a thermal head, a partial glaze layer is formed on an alumina basal plate, and on that laminated are a heating body, an electrode and a protective layer. A photocatalytic layer composed of titanium oxide is provided on the protective layer. Stains of organic substances, adhered to the photocatalytic layer because of a transparent protective layer of a color thermal recording sheet softened in thermography, is photolized by ultraviolet ray from a magenta-fixing lamp, which loses a coloring capacity of a magenta thermal coloring layer.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a thermal printing head in an image forming section, which prints an image on one of first and second surfaces of a recording sheet oriented downwards. Feeder rollers feed the recording sheet to the image forming section after the recording sheet is set in a sheet supply slot. The printer includes at least one first memory for storing first image data of an image for being printed on the first surface, and second image data of an image for being printed on the second surface. The first or second image data are read from the first memory, and input to the image forming section. A second memory stores information of discrimination bar code adapted for designating the second image data associated with the first image data according to common assignment to the recording sheet. The information of the discrimination bar code is read from the second memory at a time of printing with the first image data to the first surface, and is printed on the first surface by the image forming section.

Abstract: A room has a door for closing a door opening in an openable manner. A thermal printer with electronic circuits is installed in the room. An air pressure managing system for the thermal printer includes a door state photo sensor for monitoring a state of the door, and outputs an open signal when the door is open. A dustproofing fan is actuated in response to outputting the open signal, for adjusting pressure of air in the thermal printer, to prevent the thermal printer from being influenced by air flowing from outside the door opening.

Abstract: A duct is installed in an apparatus housing. The duct has an outside inlet, a first discharge opening, a second discharge opening, and an air filter. Outside air is taken into the duct from the outside inlet through the air filter. The air filter filters the outside air to prevent dust from getting into the duct. A cooling axial flow fan disposed in the vicinity of each of the first and second discharge openings. The cooling axial flow fans blow the filtered outside air into fixing devices to be cooled. Gaps are formed between the cooling axial flow fan and the first discharge opening, and between the other cooling axial flow fan and the second discharge opening, as inside inlets. When the air filter clogs, air in the housing is supplied to the cooling axial flow fans through the gaps, to circulate the air inside the housing.

Abstract: Image data representing an image to be printed is captured, and a cutting pattern for cutting the outer form of an image printed on recording paper is selected from a plurality of different cutting patterns. In accordance with the captured image data, one or more images are printed on the recording paper in sizes and layout proper for the selected cutting pattern. Then, the outer forms of one or more images are cut on the recording paper in the selected cutting pattern. This eliminates the necessity of entering the size and layout of the image to be printed on the recording paper and editing a cutting method. Moreover, one or more images can be printed on the recording paper in a desired size and layout, and the outer forms of one or more images are cut on the recording paper in a desired cutting pattern.

Abstract: In a thermal head, a partial glaze layer is formed on an alumina basal plate, and on that laminated are a heating body, an electrode and a protective layer. A photocatalytic layer composed of titanium oxide is provided on the protective layer. Stains of organic substances, adhered to the photocatalytic layer because of a transparent protective layer of a color thermal recording sheet softened in thermography, is photolized by ultraviolet ray from a magenta-fixing lamp, which loses a coloring capacity of a magenta thermal coloring layer.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a goods-wrapping apparatus for wrapping a particular article of a plurality of articles, includes: a goods storing section operable to store the plurality of articles; a goods carrying in/out section operable to carry in the articles into the goods storing section and carry out the article from the goods storing section; a printer operable to print a printing content associated with the particular article onto a printing medium based on the particular article; and a wrapping section operable to wrap the particular article carried out from the goods carrying in/out section with the printing medium onto which the printing content associated with the particular article has been printed.

Abstract: A thermal printer has a conveyor roller set and three thermal heads along a feeding passage. In feeding a recording sheet, a pinch roller is deformed by pressing force of a capstan roller. In addition, platen rollers are also deformed by respective thermal heads. The feeding passage is bent to form V-shape at the feeding roller set and respective thermal heads, so the recording sheet is prevented from waving. By bending the feeding passage, the recording sheet is prevented from waving, so deviation in feeding speed is decreased even when the load to the recording sheet is changed. Moreover, since all thermal heads press the recording sheet simultaneously and are retracted to decrease the pressing force gradually after thermal recording, it is possible to decrease deviation in the load to the recording sheet.

Abstract: A room has a door for closing a door opening in an openable manner. A thermal printer with electronic circuits is installed in the room. An air pressure managing system for the thermal printer includes a door state photo sensor for monitoring a state of the door, and outputs an open signal when the door is open. A dustproofing fan is actuated in response to outputting the open signal, for adjusting pressure of air in the thermal printer, to prevent the thermal printer from being influenced by air flowing from outside the door opening.

Abstract: A digital camera and an image processing method in the digital camera, which make it possible to easily obtain interesting and unexpected images applied with special effects. An imaging system images a subject and converting a subject image into unaltered image data representing an unaltered image of the subject. Then, a special effect selector, which is provided with a random number generator generating a random number, selects one special effect from a plurality of special effects in accordance with the random number. A special effect image processor image-processes the unaltered image data under the special effect selected by the special effect selector so as to obtain special effect image data representing a special effect image. The special effect image data is recorded into an external memory, or sent to an external printer through a communication interface.

Abstract: The service server can be operated in a more practical rate structure by extending the storage period and/or reducing the recording fee for the information with high utilization factor, or increasing the recording fee for the information with low utilization factor among the information stored in the service server.

Abstract: When printing an image frame on the basis of digital image data, a printer produces a bar code representative of a memory location storing the image data, and prints it on one side of the image frame. To reprint the image frame, the printer reads out the bar code from the initial print, to retrieve the image data from the memory location determined by the bar code. Thus, the same image frame is reprinted on the basis of the same image data.

Abstract: A customer of an eating house orders refreshments by pressing a first touch panel provided at a customer's seat, watching a liquid-crystal monitor on which a menu of the refreshment and an average cooking time thereof are displayed. A cook inputs cooking-state information with a second touch panel provided in a kitchen when cooking is started and is completed. The cooking-state information is displayed on the liquid-crystal monitor so that it is possible to confirm a cooking state of the ordered refreshment. When the ordered refreshment is untouched, the customer can cancel or urge the refreshment by pressing the first touch panel. Upon instructing a check with the first touch panel, the check is printed out from a printer. The customer can order, cancel and urge the refreshments without calling a waitperson.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a thermal printing head in an image forming section, which prints an image on one of first and second surfaces of a recording sheet oriented downwards. Feeder rollers feed the recording sheet to the image forming section after the recording sheet is set in a sheet supply slot. The printer includes at least one first memory for storing first image data of an image for being printed on the first surface, and second image data of an image for being printed on the second surface. The first or second image data are read from the first memory, and input to the image forming section. A second memory stores information of discrimination bar code adapted for designating the second image data associated with the first image data according to common assignment to the recording sheet. The information of the discrimination bar code is read from the second memory at a time of printing with the first image data to the first surface, and is printed on the first surface by the image forming section.

Abstract: An image recording surface of an exposed instant film is held so as to face an optical head module. Read light (white light) emitted from a light source passes a transparent portion of a color-separation filter, a first mirror, a first graded-index-type optical fiber array, and a second mirror in order. Then, the read light is radiated toward an instant film from an opening of the optical head module. The second mirror is set to a read position where the read light is inclined by a predetermined angle relative to the instant film. The read light is reflected by the image recording surface of the instant film and enters a line-CCD sensor via a second graded-index-type optical fiber array. By moving the optical head module in a sub-scanning direction, it is possible to read an image from the instant film.