Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by using a transfer recording medium having a transfer recording layer whose transfer characteristics change on application of a plurality of kinds of energy thereto. The apparatus comprises: a conveyor for conveying the transfer recording medium; a recording section disposed along an advancing route of the transfer recording medium conveyed by the conveyor and having energy applicators for selectively applying the plurality of kinds of energy to the transfer recording medium; a transfer section for transferring an image formed on the transfer recording medium in the recording section onto the recording medium; and a contacting member disposed between the recording section and the transfer section in such a manner as to be brought into contact with the transfer recording medium. Members constituting the advancing route of the transfer recording medium are formed separably from a main body of the unit.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for effecting the recording of an image on a recording medium has conveying member for conveying a transfer recording medium having a transfer recording layer whose transfer characteristic is varied by first energy and second energy differing from the first energy being imparted thereto, a recording section having first energy imparting member for imparting the first energy to the transfer recording medium and second energy imparting member for imparting the second energy to the transfer recording medium, the first and second energy imparting member being provided along the conveyance path of the transfer recording medium conveyed by the conveying member, a transfer section for transferring an image formed on the transfer recording medium in the recording section to the recording medium, and heater provided upstream of the recording section with respect to the direction of conveyance of the transfer recording medium for imparting heat energy to the transfer recording medium.

Abstract: This specification discloses an image recording apparatus having conveying means for conveying a transfer recording medium having a transfer recording layer whose transfer characteristic is varied by first energy and second energy being imparted thereto, a recording unit having first energy imparting means for imparting the first energy to the transfer recording medium and second energy imparting means for imparting the second energy to the transfer recording medium provided along the conveyance route of the transfer recording medium conveyed by the conveying means, a transfer unit for transferring an image formed on the transfer recording medium in the recording unit to a recording medium, and applying means for applying predetermined heat energy and a shearing force to the recording medium to which the image has been transferred in the transfer unit.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus for and a method of recording images on a recording medium by utilizing a transfer medium having a transfer layer whose transfer characteristics are caused to change by the application of a first energy and a second energy which differs from the first energy. The image recording apparatus includes a conveying device for conveying the transfer medium, a recording section disposed along the conveying path of the transfer medium conveyed by the conveying device, the recording section having a first energy applying device for applying the first energy to the transfer medium and a second energy applying device for applying the second energy to the transfer medium, a transfer section having a heating device and a pressure applying device used to transfer the image formed on the transfer medium in the recording section on the recording medium, and a fixing section for fixing the image transferred on the recording medium in the transfer section to the recording medium.

Abstract: A transfer recording medium comprising a substrate and a plurality of image forming elements bonded thereto by a binder is provided. The surface of each image forming element at least partially protrudes out of the binder. Such transfer recording medium may be prepared by applying the binder onto the substrate in a prescribed thickness, disposing the image forming elements in excess on the binder, and then removing the excess of the image forming elements. The thus prepared transfer recording medium provides an image having a high density and a faithfully reproducible color.

Abstract: A copying machine records an image on a recording sheet through the use of an ink donor sheet with thermally transferable ink.

Abstract: In a half-tone recording method and apparatus, half-tone expressing units, each consisting of several recording picture elements, express gradations of density in a document. The recording picture elements in the units are assigned various half-tone levels with the half tone level of at least one of the recording picture elements both increasing and decreasing as the gradation of the half-tone expressing unit increases.

Abstract: A heat storage correction apparatus and method determines the degree of solidity of a picture data to be recorded and increases the quantity of energy supplied to data elements recording substantially solid portions of the picture elements.

Abstract: Each picture element is made to correspond to a plurality of dots and the ratios of printing energy corresponding to respective dots in each picture element are determined to correspond to respective tones. The heat accumulation state of a heat generating member corresponding to a picture element to be printed is detected from the tones of picture elements about the picture element to be printed for controlling the printing energy supplied to the heat generating members corresponding to respective dots of the picture image to be printed in accordance with the printing energy ratio and the detected state. With this method it is possible to provide a half tone print having uniform high quality regardless of the tone of a previous line and tones of surrounding picture elements.

Abstract: A printing method is shown in which printing quality is improved when superimposed thermal-transfer recording is performed. According to the present invention, at least one of a plurality of thermal-transfer media is made of a material of different thermal characteristics from the remaining media. Different thermal-transfer media thermal characteristics are obtained by changing the thickness, melting point or viscosity of the thermal-transfer ink on the thermal transfer media, or by changing the thickness, quality of material or density of the base material of the thermal-transfer media.

Abstract: A copier capable of producing both color images and monochrome images is disclosed, which comprises a platen for mounting thereon a manuscript, a scanner unit adapted to reciprocate relative to the platen and generate image signals divided in three primary colors by reading the manuscript for each line or for each set of a plurality of lines, four thermal heads for receiving image signals and, in response thereto, selectively actuating heat generation elements, means for supplying the thermal heads with ink donor films of four colors including black, and means for effecting thermal transfer printing on record paper.

Abstract: An image reproducing apparatus wherein a halftone of an image is reproduced by repeating a picture element pattern composed of a plurality of dots as a unit and each dot display density of which is gradually controlled. The repetition of the same picture element patterns is avoided to improve tone reproducing performance.The image display unit includes a means for determining a disposition of dots composing a specific picture element pattern, i.e., display density of each dot in response to tone density of the original image, a means for comparing the disposition of dots of the specific picture element pattern determined by said means with a dot disposition or dispositions of one or plural surrounding picture element pattern or patterns, and a means for changing the dot disposition of said specific picture element pattern in the case when it is identical with dot dispositions of a predetermined number or more of surrounding picture element patterns.

Abstract: A thermal head drive circuit for use with a thermal head comprising multiple heat generating elements for data recording comprising a heat accumulation calculating unit (36) for calculating the heat residual from prior recording steps and a pulse width calculating unit (38) for calculating the pulse widths of voltage to be applied to an element dependent on the calculated residual heat and the pulse width of the prior recording step.

Abstract: A thermal head drive circuit is provided in which the thermal energy applied during printing is corrected due to the black-white ratio, the thermal head's heat accumulation and the heat history data. The circuit includes a heat accumulation state operator, a pulse width calculator, a pulse width memory and a pulse width determining circuit. The circuit also includes a fundamental pulse width determining circuit and an auxiliary pulse width determining circuit for determining the additional pulse width to be applied with the output from the fundamental pulse width determining circuit.

Abstract: A copying machine includes an optical sensor of the line scanning type for converting an image into electrical signals, a thermal recording head controlled in accordance with the image signals, and a heat-sensitive paper web on which the image is formed by heat generated from the thermal recording head. The platen moves with respect to the read unit and the read unit will read in both forward and reverse directions of the platen, and the magnification value can be varied. The total width of energized heating elements and the movement length and speed of the 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.

Abstract: Electric energy to be applied to each heating element of the thermal head is controlled by taking into account the energy applied to the heating element one scan period before as well as the effect of heat accumulated in heating elements surrounding the heating element, and then the energy thus controlled is recorrected taking into consideration the temperature change in a thermal head base plate or the change in printing time between lines.

Abstract: In a thermal printing utilizing a heat sensitive printing paper or an ink donor film, sticking of a heat sensitive color developing layer on the printing paper or a substrate film of the ink donor film to a thermal head is prevented by supplying a predetermined amount of electric energy to heat generating elements of the thermal head during time intervals between successive printing heat generations in the heat generating elements. For this purpose, warming pulses generated from a warming pulse generating circuit are applied during the time intervals to the heat generating elements for warming the same.

Abstract: A method and device for driving a thermal head taking into consideration not only picture data already recorded and picture data on the line containing the aimed data currently being recorded, but also picture data intended to be recorded.

Abstract: A thermo-sensitive recording apparatus individually controls the energization level of each of a plurality of heater elements formed on a substrate and constituting a thermal print head. In generating each energization level, the present and previous status of an individual heater element and selected neighboring elements are taken into consideration. Other factors combined in a selectively weighted manner include the latent heat of the individual heater element and its neighboring heater elements, the resistance of the heater element, the percentage of heater elements to be activated during the printing of a line, and the temperature of the substrate.

Abstract: A thermal head for use in thermal printing is operated according to a method in which the data of one line are recorded divisionally, with recording operations for the first and second halves of a line being carried out alternatingly and repeatedly.