Abstract: A developing roller comprising a conductive layer formed around a shaft carries a non-magnetic one-component developer on its outer surface to form a thin film of the developer and contacts a photoconductor drum having an electrostatic latent image borne on its surface whereby the latent image is developed to form a toner image. In one embodiment, the surface of the conductive layer has a DIN 4776 core roughness depth Rk of 0.5-3.5 .mu.m in a circumferential direction of the roller, and the ratio of circumferential Rk to axial Rk is greater than 1.0. In another embodiment, the surface of the conductive layer is provided with microscopic ridges and recesses which are alternately disposed in a rotational direction to define wavy streaks having a longitudinal direction substantially aligned with an axial direction of the roller.

Abstract: A transfer ribbon feed arrangement for use in a transfer type recording apparatus which transfers onto a recording sheet by sequentially feeding the transfer ribbon includes a feed roller disposed on the feed side of the transfer ribbon for feeding the transfer ribbon from the feed roller, a take-up roller for winding up the transfer ribbon around it and a tension unit disposed on the feed side of the transfer ribbon for applying a constant load on the transfer ribbon to keep it under a constant tension.

Abstract: According to the recording apparatus of the present invention, recording papers are wound by the winding member while the end portions of the recording papers are tightly held. The recording papers can therefore be correctly reciprocated. Furthermore, before recording is effected by the recording head, the recording papers are one wound back by the winding member to an initial position, thereby removing strains or deflections of the recording papers. Also, in the case of a color printer of thermal transcription, images in each of the four colors can be accurately overlapped without disagreement.