Abstract: An image reading device includes a memory unit for storing positional information of a sensor for moving by a drive unit to read an image of a document and a control unit for controlling the drive unit to move the sensor based on the positional information stored in the memory unit. The control unit drives the drive unit by an amount of driving sufficient for an image reading unit to move in a predetermined direction to abut the stop members, controls the drive unit to move the sensor so as to detect the position mark, and updates the positional information of the memory unit to a predetermined initial value based on the detection of the position mark by the sensor. The image reading device can store data of a reference position promptly even if a photo-interrupter is not provided when the data of the reference position is not stored in a memory unit.

Abstract: An image feeding apparatus for feeding sheets by separating sheets one by one by a separating device has a pickup arm and a stopper. The uppermost document of stacking documents to be copied contacts and downwardly press down the pickup arm, and then the pickup arm and the uppermost document downwardly press down the stopper so as to make a passage of the uppermost document. After the uppermost document passes through, the stopper ascents by gravity in response to elevation of the pickup arm. The stopper can be reliably operated by a simple and low-cost construction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming unit disposed within a main body and adapted to form an image on a recoding sheet, a recording sheet supply device for supplying the recording sheet to the image forming units, a stacking portion on which recorded recording sheets are discharged and stacked, an image reading unit for reading an original sheet, and an original supply device for supplying the original sheet to the image reading unit. The stacking portion for the recording sheets intersects with a supply path for the original sheet.

Abstract: There is disclosed a recording apparatus for recording an image by transferring the ink contained in an ink sheet onto a recording medium, wherein the apparatus comprises ink sheet driving unit for driving said ink sheet, recording medium conveying unit for conveying said recording medium, recording head for recording onto said recording medium by acting on said ink sheet, slackness removing device for removing the slackness of said ink sheet, and control unit for controlling said slackness removing device so as not to remove the slackness of said ink sheet, when it is impossible to record with said recording head.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus for performing recording of data on a recording medium by transferring ink of an ink sheet on said recording medium comprises conveying means for conveying said ink sheet and recording medium, recording means for effecting said ink sheet to record image data on said recording medium, and control means for counting time after image recording by said recording means and driving said recording means when the next image recording is not performed in a predetermined time period.

Abstract: An ink sheet reel capable,of being loaded into a recording apparatus has an ink sheet winding portion on which an ink sheet can be wound, and power transmission means provided so as to create an axial thrust in the ink sheet winding portion.

Abstract: Thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording image on the recording medium by transferring ink of the ink sheet on the recording medium characterized by being provided with the ink sheet conveying means, the recording medium conveying means, recording means to record the image on the recording medium by being driven in accordance with the image data and working on the ink sheet and control means to drive the recording means with the energy smaller than that used at the time of ordinary recording utilizing the inverted data of the image data used in the preceding recording, the apparatus providing such advantage as the improvement of image quality, saving of consumption of ink sheet and saving of running cost, etc.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a stamp or the like along a conveying path to perform stamping on a recording sheet. By performing stamping using a recording material which is different from a recording material used in a recording unit, an output image from the communication apparatus is identified. When the image output from the communication apparatus is copied by a copier, the image output from the communication apparatus can be definitively discriminated from a copied image which is a recorded image obtained using a single recording material.

Abstract: In a thermal transfer recording apparatus, an image is recorded on a recording medium by transferring ink from an ink sheet. The apparatus includes a holder for the ink sheet, conveyors for the ink sheet and recording medium, and an ink sheet detector. When the detector determines that the ink sheet is loaded into the holder, the ink sheet is conveyed so as to take up the slack in the ink sheet until the ink sheet reaches a predetermined speed.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording onto a recording medium comprises a loading section for loading rockably an ink sheet cartridge having an ink sheet containing ink, a first winding member for winding said ink sheet, a second winding member for winding said ink sheet, and a frame body for holding the first winding member and the second winding member rockably, with the loading section loading the ink sheet cartridge detachably, a positioning device for positioning the first winding member and the second winding member, and a recording head for recording onto the recording medium by acting on the ink sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeder has a feed cassette containing sheets to be supplied to an image forming unit in an image recording apparatus and able to be drawn out of the apparatus through a front portion of the apparatus, and another feed cassette able to be drawn out of the apparatus through a side portion. The feed cassette that can be drawn out through the side portion has a portion projecting outward from the side portion of the apparatus and located below a discharge tray for receiving sheets on which images are formed and which are discharged. This feed cassette can contain sheets having a size larger than the maximum size of recording sheets containable in the feed cassette drawn out through the front portion.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus for image recording on a recording medium by transferring the ink of an ink sheet onto said recording medium, comprises ink sheet transport means for transporting said ink sheet, recording medium transport means for transporting said recording medium, recording means for effecting said ink sheet thereby recording an image on said recording medium, timer means for measuring time after image recording by said recording means, heat generation means for driving said recording means to effect heat generation with same data as in the preceding image recording prior to a next recording operation when a predetermined time is measured by said timer means, and control means adapted, when a time exceeding said predetermined time is measured by said timer means, to control the energy for driving said recording means prior to the next recording operation according to the time measured by said timer means.

Abstract: In a thermal transfer recording apparatus, a recording medium of a continuous web form and an ink sheet are transported with respect to each other. During image recording, the amounts by which the recording medium and ink sheet are transported satisfy a first relationship. After image recording, the recording medium is transported for cutting, and the recording medium and ink sheet are each transported by predetermined amounts which satisfy another relationship different from the first.

Abstract: A heat transfer recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by transferring an ink possessed by an ink sheet to the transfer medium comprises conveying means for conveying the ink sheet and the recording medium, recording means for recording an image on the recording medium, and control means for controlling the recording means after an image has been recorded by the recording means so as to record the image over again by using the same data after the ink sheet has been conveyed while the recording medium being stopped.

Abstract: In a thermal transfer recording apparatus, an image is recorded on a recording medium by transferring ink of an ink sheet. The ink sheet is wound onto a wind-up roll from a feed roll against an applied load. During the recording process the ink sheet and recording medium are conveyed in opposite directions. After recording of one page is completed, the recording medium is advanced, cut, and then retracted. During retraction of the recording medium, the ink sheet is conveyed by friction with the recording medium in a direction opposed to the load.

Abstract: In a thermal transfer recording apparatus, an ink sheet and a recording medium are conveyed relative to each other, and an image is recorded by transferring ink from the ink sheet onto the recording medium. The apparatus includes a detector which detects whether the recording is continuous or intermittent, and a controller which changes the amount by which the ink sheet is conveyed in accordance with the detected result.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording an image by ink transfer from an ink sheet to a recording sheet, capable, in conveyance of either sheet only, of preventing the other sheet, from being drawn therewith by increasing the holding force for retaining the other sheet in the stopped state at conveyance of the first-mentioned sheet.

Abstract: An ink sheet cartridge mountable onto a recording apparatus comprises a supply reel around which an ink sheet is wound, a take-up reel for winding the ink sheet supplied from the supply reel, and a frame body for holding the supply reel and the take-up reel, wherein the strength of the take-up reel is made greater than that of the supply reel.

Abstract: In a thermal transfer recording apparatus, an ink sheet and a recording medium are separately conveyed, an image is recorded on the recording medium, and the recording mode is discriminated. The conveyance amounts of the ink sheet and recording medium are controlled in accordance with the recording mode so that the density of the recorded image is maintained constant.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus for performing the recording an image on a recording medium by transferring ink contained in an ink sheet to the recording medium has ink sheet a conveyance unit for conveying the ink sheet, a recording medium conveyance unit for conveying the recording medium, a recording unit for recording an image on the recording medium by activating the ink sheet, a counting unit for counting the black dot numbers in the current line, a timing unit for measuring the elapsed time since the image recording in the last line by the recording unit, and a control unit for controlling the ink sheet to be conveyed for a predetermined length without conveying the recording medium in accordance with the timing value of the timing unit and the counting value of the counting unit subsequent to the current line recording by the recording, thus making it possible to separate the ink sheet and recording sheet more reliably to maintain a high recording quality.