Abstract: A thermal printer is used with a thermosensitive recording sheet, and records an image on the recording sheet. A predetermined discernment code is provided for the recording sheet. A code reader inputs the predetermined discernment code. A system control block stores reference code, and checks the predetermined discernment code with reference to the reference code to judge whether the recording sheet is acceptable or unacceptable. If the recording sheet is unacceptable, printing operation is inhibited and/or an alarm signal is generated.

Abstract: A direct color thermal printing method supplements coloring density in a print start area for each color frame of a full-color image to be printed in a three color sequential fashion. A color thermosensitive recording sheet has cyan, magenta and yellow thermosensitive coloring layers formed on a base in this order. The heat sensitivities of the coloring layers become the lower the nearer to the base. Since the coloring density tends to be insufficient in the beginning of printing due to the temperature of the thermal head, supplementary drive pulses for supplementing coloring density is applied to each heating elements in addition to drive pulses for coloring. The supplementary heat energy is predetermined to be lower, the higher the line number from a print start position of the print area, and the higher the heat sensitivities of the thermosensitive coloring layers.

Abstract: Upon detecting a freeze button depressed, while a tape is played back on a video tape player, a system control of a video printer supplies the tape player with a control signal to stop the playback operation on the tape. In the state in which the playback operation on the tape is stopped, a subsequent depression of the freeze button causes the system control to send out a control signal to instruct the tape player to initiate the playback operation on the tape, and a storing of picture signals in a frame memory causes the system control to send out the control signal to instruct the tape player to stop the playback operation.

Abstract: In a video printer, to delete a frame of video data stored in a frame memory, mute data is written in the frame memory over previously written video data by operating a memory delete key. Thereby, a mute image is displayed on a monitor. To delete one of a matrix of sub-frames of a multi-frame image, the sub-frame to be deleted is designated prior to operating the memory delete key, so that mute data is written in a corresponding location of the frame memory. Thereby, an image containing a blank in at least one sub-frame may be printed out.

Abstract: A protective sheet protects a recording surface of a recording sheet. Plural recording sheets are stacked with the recording surface of the recording sheets oriented toward the protective sheet. The recording sheet is fed for recording while an advancing edge of the recording sheet is advanced. The protective sheet includes a discriminative mark, disposed away from the advancing edge and on a surface oriented opposite to the plural recording sheets for signaling presence of the protective sheet. For use with those sheets, a printer records with a thermal head on a recording surface of a recording sheet set on a platen drum in rotation of the platen drum. The advancing edge is clamped by a clamper on the platen drum. The recording sheets and the protective sheet are fed one after another toward the platen drum, to pass the advancing edge of the one fed sheet inside the clamper. The advancing edge at the clamper is detected by the position sensor.