Abstract: Method of heating control includes preheating a heater to a first target temperature when an image forming device is powered on, is woken up from sleep, or receives a task to be processed; determining a voltage parameter of the heater or a characteristic of temperature change of a heating process of the heater, under the current environment of the power supply, according to a prior-preheating temperature, a post-preheating temperature, and a time length of the preheating; and according to the voltage parameter or the characteristic of temperature change under the current environment of the power supply, determining a heating start time of a second heating for the preheated heater and triggering the second heating at the heating start time, to allow a temperature of the heater to reach a second target temperature within a set time before an image to-be fixed arrives at the fixing assembly.

Abstract: A thermopile sensor that is a temperature measuring device of a fusing device is held on a substrate. The substrate is provided with a cylindrical member extending in front of the thermopile sensor and an aperture disposed at an end of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic member comprises preparing a base member, which have a front surface and a back surface, and wherein an anchor coat layer is formed on the front surface, and forming a composite magnetic layer on the anchor coat layer.

Abstract: A heating device includes a first rotator, a heater including a base and a heat generator, and a second rotator contacting the first rotator. The heat generator adjacent to the base defines a heat generation area having one edge close to one edge of the base in a longitudinal direction of the base. A length between the one edge of the base and the one edge of the heat generation area is longer than a length between the other edge of the base and the other edge of the heat generation area. The second rotator has one edge close to the one edge of the heat generation area. A length between the one edge of the second rotator and the one edge of the heat generation area is shorter than a length between the other edge of the second rotator and the other edge of the heat generation area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a first door rotatable about a first rotation axis extending in a width direction within a first rotation range between a first open position and a first closed position; a second door provided below the first door and rotatable about a second rotation axis extending in a direction orthogonal to the first rotation axis within a second rotation range between a second open position and a second closed position, a part of the first rotation range making inroads into the second rotation range; and a retracting portion configured to rotate the first door to a retracted position to allow a rotation of the second door in conjunction with the second door being rotated to the second closed position from a state in which the first door is in the first open position and the second door is in the second open position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a printing device, a sheet conveyance path, a protective cover, a swing member, and a biasing member. The sheet conveyance path includes an upper guide portion and a lower guide portion. The swing member is supported inside a main body and can swing upward from a standard position. The biasing member biases the swing member to the standard position. The swing member includes the upper guide portion. The protective cover includes the lower guide portion and a contact portion. The contact portion pushes the swing member upward when the protective cover pivots in an outward position from a closed position. The protective cover can pivot from the closed position to an open position as the contact portion pushes the swing member upward.

Abstract: Provided is an inkjet printing device including an ink storage unit configured to store an ink, an ejection head configured to eject the ink to form a print layer, and a heating unit configured to heat a material to be printed, wherein the ink is an aqueous clear ink including a resin and water, the inkjet printing device has a low gloss printing mode that is a printing mode for imparting low gloss, and a high gloss printing mode that is a printing mode for imparting high gloss, and the heating unit is configured to heat to satisfy the following formula Tmatte>Tgloss, where Tmatte (degrees Celsius) is a temperature of a low gloss printing region of the material to be printed where the low gloss printing region is printed with the low gloss printing mode when the aqueous clear ink is deposited on the material to be printed, and Tgloss (degrees Celsius) is a temperature of a high gloss printing region of the material to be printed where the high gloss printing region is printed with the high gloss printing m

Abstract: The heater including a substrate, a first heat generation member, a second heat generation member having a length substantially a same in a longitudinal direction as a length of the first heat generation member, a third heat generation member having a length shorter than lengths of the first heat generation member and the second heat generation member in the longitudinal direction, and a fourth heat generation member having a length shorter than length of the third heat generation member in the longitudinal direction, wherein the first heat generation member, the second heat generation member, the third heat generation member and the fourth heat generation member are arranged on the substrate.

Abstract: A supporting shaft extending in the direction of A heating unit is provided on A plate. A first bracket configured to support, on the supporting shaft, a center portion in a longitudinal direction of the heating unit and allow the heating unit to move in a rotating direction and a vertical direction with respect to the plate is provided in the heating unit. Receivers are provided at both end portions in the longitudinal direction in one unit of the heating unit and A fuser unit. Inserters are provided in the other unit to be opposed to the receivers. If the fuser unit is attached to the plate, the inserters are coupled to the receivers to restrict the heating unit from moving in the rotating direction and the vertical direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air blowing system including: an air blowing device; a duct that guides air blown by the air blowing device; and a ventilation section disposed downstream of the duct in terms of an air blowing direction in which air is blown by the air blowing device so that the air blown by the air blowing device strikes and passes through the ventilation section, wherein the duct has a distorted portion where a part of an inner wall face of the duct located between the air blowing device and the ventilation section is distorted perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the air blowing direction so that the air blown by the air blowing device flows perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the air blowing direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a heater disposed opposite the endless belt to heat the endless belt, and a pressing rotary body contacting an outer circumferential surface of the endless belt. A nip formation pad presses against the pressing rotary body via the endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressing rotary body, through which a recording medium is conveyed. The nip formation pad includes a nip face disposed opposite the endless belt. The nip face includes a first region having an increased thermal conductivity and a second region having a decreased thermal conductivity and being adjacent to the first region in an axial direction of the endless belt.

Abstract: Provided is a fixing device including a fixing member that fixes toner onto a recording material, a pressurizing member that forms a nip portion, through which the recording material passes, between the fixing member and the pressurizing member, a moving member that is disposed to be movable in response to passage of the recording material in a transport path of the recording material which passes through the nip portion, a detection unit that detects a presence or absence of the moving member, a displacement mechanism that changes a position of the pressurizing member with respect to the fixing member, and an attachment/detachment member that is disposed in a detachable manner at a facing position facing the displacement mechanism and comes into contact with the moving member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member, a heating unit, multiple sub-heaters disposed in the heating unit, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of the heating unit, and a heating control unit. The heating control unit controls the heating unit by controlling the multiple sub-heaters individually to heat the respective heating areas, such that a temperature at a portion of the fixing member corresponding to a blank area of the recording medium is lower than a temperature of a portion of the fixing member corresponding to an imaged area of the recording medium. The heating control unit further changes a size of a preliminary heating area to preliminarily heat the respective heating areas before the imaged area enters the fixing nip according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprises a heating unit configured to heat a sheet when the sheet is conveyed between a pair of rollers, a first guide unit that supports and guides movement of the heating unit in a first direction towards a predetermined position exterior to the sheet processing apparatus, and a second guide unit that supports and guides further movement of the heating unit in the first direction in cooperation with the first guide unit, the second guide unit including an abutment section configured to stop movement of the heating unit in the first direction when the heating unit reaches the predetermined position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing device having a heat source, a heating member, and a backup member; a temperature detecting member; a driving source configured to rotate at least one of the heating member and the backup member; a transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a driving force of the driving source; and a control device configured to control the heat source and the driving source, wherein, after a power is turned on, the control device turns on the heat source before the driving source is driven for the first time, and wherein, when at least one of a condition, where the temperature detected by the temperature detecting member becomes a first temperature, and a condition where a predetermined period elapses after the power is turned on, is satisfied, the control device turns off the heat source and then drives the driving source.

Abstract: A system for generating a differential gloss image useful for digital printing includes a digital front end configured for receiving variable image data; and an imaging device including a laser glossing imager, the imaging device being configured to receive raster image data from the digital front end, the raster image data being based on the received variable image data, and the imaging device being configured to generate a differential gloss image over a printed image based on the received variable image data.

Abstract: A recording substrate treatment apparatus, includes a heating device for directly heating a recording substrate, a condenser for condensing liquid from air from surroundings of a recording substrate, and an energy transfer system arranged for transferring energy from latent heat, which is released by the condensing of liquid by the condenser, to the heating device. Further, a method of drying a recording substrate and a method of fixing a printing substance on a recording substrate include heating a recording substrate by a heating device; condensing liquid from air from surroundings of the recording substrate; and transferring energy from latent heat, which is released by the condensing of liquid, to the heating device.

Abstract: The heating apparatus comprises a substrate extending in one direction and a plurality of heat generating members provided on one surface of the substrate along a longitudinal direction thereof and wherein at least one of the plural heat generating members has heat generating regions having different heat generation amount per unit length in the longitudinal direction, substrate reinforcing members are provided on the other surface of the substrate in correspondence to the high heat generating regions provided on one surface of the substrate. By the virtue of the invention, cost can be reduced, emergency safety upon occurrence of overrun of a CPU can be achieved, and increase in temperature of a sheet non-passing portion can be suppressed.

Abstract: According to various illustrative embodiments, an apparatus, method, and system for variable rate fuser release fluid application are described. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a supply of release agent material. The apparatus also comprises a release agent metering roller supported for contact with the supply of the release agent material. The apparatus also comprises a variable speed drive arranged to effect movement of the release agent metering roller in an endless path at different surface velocities. The apparatus also comprises a donor roller supported in contact with the release agent metering roller and a fuser roller of a contact fuser, the donor roller arranged to convey release agent material from the release agent metering roller to the fuser roller at various rates depending on a surface velocity of the release agent metering roller, wherein the variable speed drive is operative independently of the fuser roller.

Abstract: A scanning laser having a wavelength compatible with a coating binder so as to cure it as the laser scans and irradiates the coating on a moving web. A system and method for curing flakes by providing a scanning laser which scans across a moving coated substrate in a magnetic field allows images to be formed as magnetically aligned flakes are cured into a fixed position. The images have regions of cured aligned flakes. The scanning laser cures the magnetically aligned flakes within it region it irradiates. Alternatively an array of lasers can be used wherein individual lasers can be switched on and off to fix irradiated coating as a moving web is moved at a high speed.

Abstract: A fixing device and an image forming apparatus using this, in which even if permanent warping is produced on a roller member that forms a fixing nip portion, no collision sound is produced due to the collision of gears, the fixing device including: two roller members that form a nip portion in which a recording medium is pressed by pressure means and transported; and a drive gear that engages with a shaft portion of one of the two roller members and transmits driving force to that roller member. A key is formed in the drive gear and a key groove having a gap opened therein is formed in the shaft portion, and when a rotation velocity of the roller member increases, transmission of driving force from the drive gear to the shaft portion is suspended and the drive gear slides on the shaft portion.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus capable of reading documents includes a reading unit including a light emitting element, a mechanism configured to move the reading unit, and a control unit configured to control the reading unit and the mechanism both to carry out reading by turning on the light emitting element and moving the reading unit and to temporarily stop moving the reading unit upon occurrence of a predetermined factor. The control unit sets a first current value which is caused to flow through the light emitting element when reading is carried out and sets a second current value which is less than the first current value and which is caused to flow through the light emitting element when the reading unit is temporarily stopped.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided methods and systems that incorporate a model predictive controller (MPC) in an image reproduction machine with known disturbance information. The MPC uses the control action at a current time in order to minimize the impact of an impending disturbance as well as to maximize current control performance. The impending disturbance is used by the MPC to determine an incremental change that combines steady state and transient state impact on the image reproduction machine. Disturbance such as print media type, image content type, physical dimension of the print media, weight of the print media, and print job data can be employed. Further, control of the image reproduction machine is generated in real time over a receding horizon, for the purpose of minimizing a cost function indicative of image variation, energy consumption, or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus fixes ink on a substrate, such as in ink-jet printing. A leveling member is positioned to contact an ink-bearing side of the substrate at a nip. A radiation source is positioned to direct radiation to the ink-bearing side of the substrate at the nip, the radiation suitable for curing the ink on the substrate.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus of the invention includes a heating roller, a fixing roller, a fixing belt that is wound around the heating roller and the fixing roller and circulates between the heating roller and the fixing roller, a pressing roller to press the fixing roller through the fixing belt, a first heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a center part of the heating roller, a second heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a peripheral part of the heating roller, and a temperature control unit to control a temperature of the heating roller by an on/off control of the first heater and the second heater, and the temperature control unit performs the on/off control in which when one of the first heater and the second heater is turned on, the other is turned off.

Abstract: There is provided an image formation device including: a receiving section, which receives content information of a printing object from a content recording server via a network; a judgement section, which judges a category of the received content information; a specification section, which specifies a printing method and printing parameter in accordance with the judged category; and a printing section, which prints the printing object with the printing method in accordance with the specified printing parameter.

Abstract: There is provided a fixing device 6 including a heating body 22 which has a heating heat generation section 24 subjected to induction heating upon application of alternating magnetic fields generated by a exciting coil 27, a pressure roller 23 which has a pressing heat generation section 25 being higher in magnetic permeability than the heating heat generation section 24 and being subjected to induction heating by a part of magnetic flux in the alternating magnetic fields leaking from the heating heat generation section 24, and a drive circuit for applying drive voltage to the exciting coil, wherein a rate of the alternating magnetic fields leaking from the heating heat generation section 24 is changed by frequencies of the drive voltage.

Abstract: A direct image-recording device in which a predetermined gap set between an image carrier and a hole forming member can be maintained, and an image forming apparatus provided with the direct image-recording device.

Abstract: A print media preheating system and method of preheating print media that includes an upper heating plate that is arranged to heat a pre-printed side of the print media with a pressure of the upper heating plate on the print media being relieved by lifting the upper heating plate away from the print media so as to reduce smudging of ink printed on the pre-printed side of the print media.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus uses toner that is given color-generation information and a color-generation state or a non-color-generation state of the toner is controlled, and includes an image carrier, a unit that forms toner image on the image carrier, an intermediate transfer medium that the toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred to, a first transfer unit that transfers the toner image to the intermediate transfer medium surface, a unit that gives color-generation information to the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer medium, a second transfer unit that transfers the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer medium surface to a recording medium, a unit that fixes the toner image transferred to the recording medium and a unit that causes color generation in the toner image that the color-generation information is given.

Abstract: The present invention employs novel phase control for a fixing heater, which uses first and second heaters, to reduce the generation of a higher harmonic wave current and a power line terminal noise. With four consecutive half wavelengths (two cycles) of a power supply voltage employed as a period, two half waves are used for phase control and other two half waves are made full ON or full OFF for each of the first and second heaters and, at the same time, the phase control is performed complimentarily to both the heaters. That is, for each half wave, when the power is turned on with the phase control of one heater, the other heater is made full ON or full OFF. This causes turn-on switching to occur only on at most one heater in a half wave period. As a result, as compared with usual phase control, a power-supply higher-harmonic-wave current and a power line terminal noise are reduced.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can facilitate acquisition of an image output bundle that has a uniform and optimal gloss level as a whole. An image forming apparatus 10 fixes a toner image on a plurality of sheets. An image ratio calculation unit 233 calculates a composition ratio of image types in a plurality of pages of image data. A gloss level control unit 250 provides a control for uniformly fixing toner images formed on the plurality of pages to the plurality of sheets based on the calculation result by the image ratio calculation unit 233.

Abstract: A roll useful in fusing marking material to a print sheet includes a coating disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface thereof. A lamp disposed inside the roll supplies radiant energy to the inner surface. The coating changes its absorptivity (such as color) as desired, to obtain specific desired temperatures at different portions of the roll. The coating can be thermochromic, changing its absorptivity in response to local temperature; or electrochromic, changing its absorptivity in response to an external electrical stimulus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming a toner image on a recording material. A first accommodating body accommodates the image forming unit. A fixing unit fixes an image formed by the image forming unit on the recording material. A second accommodating body accommodates the fixing unit, with the second accommodating body being attached to an external part of the first accommodating body. An air current path is formed by a space created by connecting the first accommodating body and the second accommodating body such that the recording material on which the image has been formed is conveyed from the first accommo-dating body to the second accommodating body in order to fix the image. The air current path is adapted to guide air to move outside of the apparatus by use of fans.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording material transporting path that extends in a direction from below upward and that transports a recording material, a fixing device provided on the way of the recording material transporting path, the fixing device having a rotatable heating member that has a heating source provided inside thereof and a rotatable pressure member that forms a fixing nip in pressure contact with the heating member, and a detaching member that contacts the heating member in the vicinity at a downstream side of the of the fixing nip in the rotation direction of the heating member and detaches the recording material from the heating member. The detachment member has a detachment guide surface extending from a contact point with the heating member, and a tilt of the detachment guide surface toward the pressure member side in relation with a vertical line including the contact point is not more than 2.5°.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus of the invention includes a heating roller, a fixing roller, a fixing belt that is wound around the heating roller and the fixing roller and circulates between the heating roller and the fixing roller, a pressing roller to press the fixing roller through the fixing belt, a first heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a center part of the heating roller, a second heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a peripheral part of the heating roller, and a temperature control unit to control a temperature of the heating roller by an on/off control of the first heater and the second heater, and the temperature control unit performs the on/off control in which when one of the first heater and the second heater is turned on, the other is turned off.

Abstract: As a cooling mechanism that cools the entire paper passage area of a heat-producing belt, a rotational drive method of the heat-producing belt is employed and the heat-producing belt is cooled by rotational cooling by being made to idle when paper is not being passed through. An excitation apparatus and the above-described cooling mechanism are controlled so that recording paper is not passed through and the heat-producing belt is cooled while being heated over the heating width when the small-size recording paper is passed through until the temperature detected by a paper non-passage area temperature detecting sensor is at or below a predetermined fixing temperature. This fixing apparatus enables an excessive rise in temperature of a paper non-passage area of the heat-producing belt to be efficiently eliminated, and the temperature distribution of heat-producing belt to be made uniform in a short time.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming unit and a thermal fixing unit. The image forming unit uses a plurality of different color developing agents to form a color image on a recording medium. The plurality of different color developing agents are configured from binding resins with the same thermal properties. The plurality of different color developing agents include at least a high-resistance developing agent and a low-resistance developing agent. The high-resistance developing agent has a higher electrical resistance than the low-resistance developing agent and a lower charge-to-mass ratio than the low-resistance developing agent. The thermal fixing unit thermally fixes the color image onto the recording medium.

Abstract: The n image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material, includes a heater including a substrate, and plural heat generating resistors formed on the substrate along a longitudinal direction thereof, and plural switching elements connected electrically between a power source and the plural heat generating resistors, wherein the plural heat generating resistors include at least two first heat generating resistors driven by a first switching element and at least a second heat generating resistor driven by a second switching element, and the second heat generating resistor is provided between the at least two first heat generating resistors in a direction of a shorter side of the substrate. In this manner there can be provided an image heating apparatus with a heater of an excellent durability, and a heater adapted for use in such apparatus.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus is provided that enables a recording medium that has undergone heat-fixing to be separated smoothly from a heating medium without causing a sheet jam or image disturbance. In this apparatus, there are provided on the guide surface of a separator two step parts raised along the guide surface guide width direction. Recording paper is transported gripped by a fixing nip, is guided so as to come into contact with only the apex parts of step parts, and is separated from the surface of a fixing belt. Thus, a gap is formed between the guide surface and the heat-fixing surface of recording paper guided along the guide surface, the contact area between the heat-fixing surface of recording paper and the guide surface decreases, the heat-fixing surface of recording paper becomes less prone to adhere to the guide surface of the separator, and recording paper is smoothly separated from the fixing belt without causing a sheet jam or image disturbance.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for enabling a burst mode in a printing device to accelerate a first page out time for a print job. A warm up period typically allowed in a laser printer is used to heat up a fuser to an optimum temperature. When certain printing conditions exist, burst mode enables the printer to omit the warm up period and operate with the fuser at a lower temperature. The lower temperature is acceptable for most printing conditions without degrading print quality. If the print conditions indicate the warm up period is desirable, then burst mode is not enabled. Print conditions include temperature, humidity, print job length, print job coverage, print job media size, simplex/duplex mode, and the like.

Abstract: A fixing device to be installed in an image forming apparatus includes a housing for defining the fixing device. In the housing, a heating member which heats a recording medium onto which a toner image is transferred to fix the image and a pressing member which is brought into press contact with the heating member are provided. In the housing, a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path which has a path different from the first conveyance path is formed. A switching member which switches a destination of the recording medium to the first conveyance path or the second conveyance path is arranged in the housing. As a result, when the image recording medium is sent to a paper reversing device installed in the image forming apparatus, the length of a conveyance path extending to the switching member can be shortened.

Abstract: A pre-heating system usable with an image forming device based on a behavior profile of a user and a method thereof including sensing, according to time, program operation patterns of at least one user executing at least one application program of at least one terminal, in order to perform data printing by using the image forming device, storing program operation patterns of each user according to time as a user profile, respectively, and if one of the users executes the application program of the terminal, counting time, and if an amount of time determined based on the user profile passes, preheating the image forming device. Accordingly, the image forming device can immediately perform a printing process without wasting pre-heating time, and the printer can be preheated only as needed, thereby reducing a waste of resources.

Abstract: An image-recording apparatus. In a housing of the apparatus are a casing section that encases a light and heat sensitive recording material, an optical recording section that exposes the light and heat sensitive recording material fed from the casing section to record a latent image, a thermal developing section that develops the latent image by heating, an optical fixing section that fixes the developed image by irradiating it with light, and an outlet through which the image-recorded material is taken out.

Abstract: A thermal fixing device is provided in an image forming device having a main casing. The thermal fixing device includes a thermal fixing unit provided with a heat roller and a pressure roller for heatingly fixing a visible image onto a sheet, and a temperature sensor unit for detecting a temperature of the thermal fixing unit. The temperature sensor unit is mounted to the main casing, and the thermal fixing unit is detachably mounted to the temperature sensor unit.

Abstract: A fuser roller for a printing machine that is equipped with internally located heating elements and has a cylindrically shaped body that is closed off at each end by flanges. At least one connecting element, that is moveable in a rolling motion, is provided between the body and the flanges. A spring plate urges the flange, via an offset that has a chamfer, against the connecting element that is located inside an annular groove. The annular groove can also have a chamfer. Changes in the connection can be balanced out by movements of the connecting elements and commensurate pulling up of the flange by the spring plate.

Abstract: There is described a thermal development apparatus, which makes it possible to prevent generation of density variations caused by changes of the processing temperature during the thermal developing operation when the thermal developing photosensitive material is continuously processed, without increasing the cost of the apparatus so much. The thermal development apparatus includes a thermal developing processor to apply a thermal development processing to the thermal developing photosensitive material, a detector to detect the thermal developing photosensitive material to be conveyed into the thermal developing processor and a controller to control the thermal developing processor in a feed forward controlling mode based on a processing condition of the thermal developing processor. The processing condition is established in advance, corresponding to a load of processing the thermal developing photosensitive material detected in advance by the detector.

Abstract: A color thermal printer includes a photo fixer, which is constituted by a Braun tube. An electron beam gun emits electron. A fluorescent screen is excited by the electron, for generating near ultraviolet rays or ultraviolet rays. An image on thermosensitive recording material is fixed by application of the near ultraviolet rays or ultraviolet rays.

Abstract: A fixer (heater) includes a heat roller and a pressure roller pressing each other. The fixer heats a heated material by passing the heated material through a press region where the heat roller and the pressure roller meet. The fixer further includes an external heat roller heating the pressure roller from outside the pressure roller. A transit time taken for any given point on the heated material to pass through the press region is less than or equal to 2.3×10−2 sec. The surface temperature, T1 (° C.), of the heat roller and the surface temperature, T2 (° C.), of the pressure roller satisfy T1-T2≦100 (° C.), and preferably satisfy T1-T2≦70 (° C.). The load on the heat roller is reduced, and so is the power consumption.

Abstract: A light and heat sensitive recording material passes through an accommodating section and a heat-development section and reaches an optical recording section. At the optical recording section, optical recording is effected, at the heat-development section, development is effected and at the photo-fixing section, fixing is effected upon the light and heat sensitive recording material. Finally, the light and heat sensitive recording material is discharged from a discharge section to the outside. At the photo-fixing section, white light from the optical recording section is used and irradiated onto the light and heat sensitive recording material. Thus, by using the same light source, a latent image can be appropriately recorded on the light and heat sensitive recording material and the heat-developed image can be reliably fixed.