Abstract: A thermal recording method and apparatus for printing picture information with use of a thermal head, in which picture information corresponding to one unit to be printed is divided into a plurality of blocks using counters, etc., and the rate of black data contained in each of the divided blocks is detected to know the distribution of black data contained in the one unit, whereby printing is carried out with the minimum number of printing determined by the distribution of black data in the one unit.

Abstract: A printing system is provided which allows selected characters or symbols to be emphasized without increasing the density thereof. A video signal containing printing data for a character to be emphasized is delayed and logically added to an undelayed video signal to expand the "black" portion of the signal on the time axis.

Abstract: In a multi-station recording apparatus, the ink donor sheets extend along the paper path substantially to the next recording station while in contact with the recording paper to maintain proper paper registration.

Abstract: A plurality of image sensors cover overlapping regions and provide output signals which are selected during nonoverlapping times and combined into a synthetic video signal. The timing of all sensor selections except the first are keyed to the first so that adjustment of the first starting time can move the entire scanning interval.

Abstract: A step motor driving circuit having A-phase and B-phase exciting windings which are independently supplied with exciting current in a sequence of four states per step of the step motor. The driving circuit is capable of applying a large or a small current to each phase winding and the currents are applied in a sequence to result in a trapezoidal shaped exciting current. During a first state only one phase is excited and it is excited with the large current. During the second state the one phase is excited with the large current and the other phase with the small current. During the third state both phases are excited with large currents. During the fourth state the one phase is excited with the small current and the other phase with the large current.

Abstract: A device for recording predetermined magnetization patterns on a magnetic recording medium such as for use in a copying machine. The magnetic medium is first magnetized with a uniform magnetization pattern then passed to a thermal printing head upon which a number of heat generating elements are arranged one-dimensionally on a supporting substrate. The heat generating elements are selectively activated to heat the recording magnetic medium to a temperature greater than the Curie temperature thereof so as to change the direction of the magnetization of the magnetic medium in cooperation with a biasing magnetic field.

Abstract: A copying machine includes an optical sensor of the line scanning type for converting an image into electrical signals, and a thermal recording head controlled in accordance with the image signals. Either the platen or read unit are movable and the read unit will read in both forward and reverse directions of movement, and the magnification value can also be varied. The total width of energized heating elements and the movement length of the read unit or platen may be controlled in accordance with the size of the original. The total number of heating elements energized at any one time is limited, and the machine includes input and output terminals for sending image information externally and for receiving and recording image information other than directly from the read unit. A cutter is provided for cutting the recording paper web immediately prior to discharge.

Abstract: The retard roll in a paper transport mechanism is rotated by the feed roll to transport manually supplied paper when a photodetector indicates that manually supplied paper is present, the retard roll is substantially stationary and serves its normal purpose of preventing more than one sheet at a time from being transported by the feed roll as it rotates in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A signal receiver quantization circuit for an image data transmission device in which received signals are quantized correctly even if they are subjected to distortion in their time positions so that degradation of the received images is prevented. In accordance with the invention, a signal receiver includes a digital PLL circuit, a PLL control circuit for detecting the transition times of an input received signal with the digital PLL circuit being controlled in accordance with an output of the PLL control circuit, and a circuit for sampling the input signal in response to an output signal of the digital PLL circuit. In a preferred embodiment, the PLL control circuit detects the transition times of the input signal only during predetermined time slots determined in accordance with the relative phase between the input received signal and a sampling clock.

Abstract: A carrier signal recovery circuit to be used in a receiving side of an image information transmitting apparatus, such as in a facsimile system, including an N-bit counter for counting reference clock pulses for a period corresponding to 2.sup.L (L being an integer) cycle periods of the received carrier signal. A first latch holds the most significant bits from the count of the N-bit counter while a second latch holds the least significant bits from the count of the N-bit counter. A frequency divider has a frequency dividing ratio corresponding to one cycle period of the carrier signal with the value of the frequency dividing ratio being initially set by the output of the first latch circuit. An auxiliary counter receiving an input from the second latch provides an output to the frequency divider for correcting the frequency dividing ratio such that the recovered carrier signal is outputted from the frequency divider.

Abstract: A method of driving a heat-sensitive recording head with a very small number of components. In the recording head, leads are arranged on an insulated substrate extending on both sides of the substrate in parallel with one another with heat generating elements disposed between adjacent leads. A microcomputer divides data inputted thereto in a time division manner into data blocks each having a predetermined amount of data. The data in each data block is rearranged by skipping data every predetermined number of data. The data thus rearranged is applied in a parallel mode to a plurality of shift registers and from the shift registers coupled to leads on one side of the recording head successively.

Abstract: A multicolor recording apparatus includes a number of recording sections for applying different colors of inks. A main transport path travels through all recording sections, while bypass paths are provided for recording sheets which are to be recorded monochromatically, for example, so that any one or more of the recording sections may be bypassed. To eliminate wastage of ink donor sheet, the web containing the solid ink is not conveyed in recording sections bypassed by the sheet.

Abstract: A thermal recording medium has two or more kinds of thermo sensitive ink on a base member thereof, and each of the inks has a different melting point and a different color. At least one of the inks also contains an achromatizing agent for concealing a color of at least one of the inks. The thermal transfer recording medium thus constructed is capable of producing multiple colors on a recording sheet by utilizing a device having only one heating head.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive recording head having heat generating elements arranged on an insulating substrate and a system for preheating said substrate and controlling the heat generated during the recording operation. In one embodiment the substrate is placed in contact with a larger heat sink which is heated by a carbon-type internal resistor, a printed circuit contacting resistor, or a conventional heater. A thermal sensor detects the temperature of the heat sink and is fed to controls for controlling the overall application of heat. In another embodiment the substrate is placed in contact with a Peltier effect device which controls heat generation and absorption.