Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha

Iwao Fujii

Junichi Yamamoto

Yutaka Maeda

Akihiko Onuma

Yasukuni Omata

Yasuhiro Kyoden

Yoshio Tohyama

Shoji Konda

A CPU of a thermal printer operates an estimated temperature of a thermal head 2 after printing image data of one line, based on image data of each line stored in a memory and a pulse width corresponding to the temperature of the thermal head and the like. The CPU compares the estimated temperature with the temperature of the thermal head after the printing, and the thermal head is released from its contact with a platen roller when the temperature of the thermal head is higher than the estimated temperature.

Method and apparatus for preventing overheating of a thermal head

A thermal transfer recording device for recording an image on a recording sheet by means of an ink film. The device has a cassette accommodating recording sheets and a unit accommodating an ink film both of which are loadable into the main body of the device, and further has a first sensor for detecting the type of the cassette and a second sensor for detecting the type of the unit. The device alerts the operator when the type of the unit is judged to be incompatible with the type of the cassette according to the result of detection by the first and second sensors.

Thermal transfer recording device

A paper feeding device which extracts from a cassette accommodating a stack of sheets such sheets one at a time and feeds them to the next step, namely an image forming part, comprises an attracting member capable of being moved between an attracting position at which the attracting member attracts a sheet from within the cassette and a feeding position which lies above the attracting position, a pressing roller capable of being moved between a position of retraction and the feeding position, and a rotary roller capable of cooperating with the pressing roller in nipping the sheet at the feeding position. The pressing roller moves to the feeding position after the elapse of a prescribed time following the completion of the motion of the sheet by the attracting member to the feeding position. The rotary roller is rotatably set in place at the feeding position. The rotary roller may be attached to the attracting member in such a manner as to be moved vertically in both directions in conjunction with the attracting member. When the leading end of the sheet being conveyed by the attracting member from the attracting position to the feeding position comes into contact with the pressing roller held at the position of retraction, the pressing roller acts upon the sheet in the direction of returning the sheet to the cassette.

Paper feeding device

A thermal transfer recording apparatus permitting detachable disposition therein of an inked film cassette provided with a takeup reel holding part and a supply reel holding part. In the inked film cassette, the takeup reel holding part disposed at one end thereof and the supply reel holding part disposed at the other end thereof protrude in mutually opposite directions from the cassette casing.

Thermal transfer recording apparatus and inked film cassette therefor

A multihead thermal printer comprises a plurality of thermal heads arranged around a platen roller. An ink film associated with each thermal head includes an end mark leaving a length to an end of the ink film at least equal to that of one sheet of recording paper. A device for detecting the end mark is disposed adjacent to each thermal head. When the detecting device detects the end mark, the printer completes the printing of a sheet of recording paper in the process of printing, but stops the feed of a succeeding sheet.

Thermal printer

A thermal transfer recording technique for printing a multiple tone image by applying energy to a recording head for a period of time corresponding to digital tone data which represents the levels of tones as binary digits. In this technique, a least significant digit of the digital tone data is output as a first signal and second signals are output repeatedly the number of times being equal to the digital tone data of binary form except the least significant digit data. The recording head is driven in response to the first and second signals so as to electrify the recording head for the unit time according to the first signal and for a period of twice as long as the unit time according to the second signal.

Multitone thermal transfer recording method and apparatus

A thermal printer comprising a transfer section where an ink film is pressed into tight contact with recording paper for transferring ink from the ink film to the recording paper by means of a thermal head, thereby to form an image on the recording paper. When the printer is switched on, the ink film and the recording paper located at the transfer section are moved onward to a recording paper separating device. The ink film and the recording paper remain in tight contact with each other when the power is cut in a printing operation. However, when the power supply for the printer is resumed, the ink film and the recording paper are moved to the separating means to release the ink film and recording paper from the mutual tight contact, thereby facilitating ink film takeup.

Growing community of inventors

Sagamihara, Japan

Iwao Fujii