Brother Kogyo Kabushiki-kaisha

Motoshi Ohno

Shigeyuki Hayashi

Yoichi Horaguchi

Takashi Nakata

Takashi Tomizawa

Eiji Shibata

Kazumasa Makino

Kazuhito Ishida

Makoto Suzuki

Makoto Yamada

Toshio Sugiura

Tsuyoshi Suzuki

Osamu Nagata

Kazunori Tanabe

An automatic winding mechanism which includes a rotatable winding shaft, a first guide including a circular first guide portion and a second guide including a substantially U-shaped second guide portion is disclosed. A leader portion of a continuous sheet fed by a pair of feed rollers is introduced along a circumferential surface of the winding shaft by the first and second guide portions which are disposed so as to enclose the winding shaft in cooperation with each other. The continuous sheet is then automatically wound on the winding shaft since the circumferential velocity of the winding shaft is set higher than the feeding speed of the feed rollers. The winding mechanism also includes a first sensor for sensing whether the winding shaft is in place. The winding mechanism is started if the winding shaft is sensed and the winding mechanism is prevented from starting if the winding shaft is not sensed. A second sensor for sensing that a leader portion of the continuous sheet is disposed between the feed rollers and the winding shaft is also provided. When the second sensor is provided, tapered flanges are formed on both ends of the winding shaft and are tapered toward its center. A nip of the sheet by the feed rollers is cancelled by a nip cancelling mechanism when a leader portion of the continuous sheet is sensed by the second sensor. As a result, the leader portion is permitted to move freely to a proper centered position on the winding shaft.

Automatic winding mechanism for a continuous sheet and the like

An image recording apparatus employs a transfer type recording medium which includes a photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording sheet and a developer sheet. The former sheet is exposed to light to form a latent image corresponding to an image of an original. This sheet is exposed to light while being transported at a speed equal to or in the case of making a copy of enlarged or reduced size, at a speed different from a speed at which the original is scanned by light. The photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording sheet on which the latent image is formed is brought into facial contact with the developer sheet and the latent image is developed under pressure to provide a visible image on the developer sheet. This developing operation is performed while moving the superposed two sheets at the same speed as the speed when the latent image is formed on the photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording sheet. Since both the exposure and developing operations can be performed substantially simultaneously, the copying speed is increased. Further, no receiving unit needs to be provided in a position between the exposure unit and the developing unit, which may otherwise be needed for receiving the exposed recording sheet if development is performed upon completion of the exposure. Thus, the overall apparatus can be made compact in size.

Image recording apparatus using photosensitive pressure-sensitive

In a heat/pressure applying unit, a pair of rollers cooperate with each other to define a nip therebetween. A recording medium is caused to pass through the nip at which at least one of heat and pressure is applied to the recording medium by the pair of rollers. First and second strippers are associated with at least one of the pair of rollers. The first stripper is arranged adjacent the nip for stripping the recording medium from the one roller. The second stripper is arranged at a location spaced from the first stripper along a peripheral surface of the one roller, for forcibly stripping the recording medium from the one roller.

Heat/pressure applying unit for copying apparatus

An image recording apparatus for forming a latent image on a photosensitive pressure sensitive sheet and for developing the latent image on a developer sheet. The apparatus includes an exposure unit and a developing unit positioned close to each other. The apparatus also includes an optical system for irradiating light onto an original and directing the light reflected at the original toward the exposure zone. The original has an original image facing downwardly, and the photosensitive sheet has an imaging surface facing downwardly at the exposure zone. The optical system provides a U or J-shaped optical path extending from the original to the exposure zone. The optical system has reflection mirror unit vertically movably secured to a pair of frames of the apparatus. The frames are reinforced with a partition member which also functions as a light shielding member. The partition member divide an internal space defined by the frames into two chambers so as to accommodate therein the developing unit and the optical system, respectively.

Image recording apparatus having separated optical and developing units

An exposure device having a light source section which includes a light source and a pair of light reflection means. One of the light reflection means is disposed movable toward and away from remaining reflection means so as to provide an open space for facilitating handling such as replacement of the light source.

Exposure device in image recording apparatus

An exposure device for use in an image recording apparatus for exposing a photosensitive recording medium to light so as to form a latent image thereon. The device comprises a sheet storage cartridge detachably provided to the image recording apparatus, the cartridge being formed of a light-shielding material for storing therein the photosensitive recording medium and having an exposure zone on an outer surface thereof; exposure means which emits an original image carrying light directing in alignment with the outer surface for exposing the first surface of the photosensitive medium in the exposure zone to light to form the latent image on the photosensitive medium; sheet feeding means driven in timed relation with an exposure for pulling the photosensitive recording medium from the sheet cartridge and positioning the medium at the outer surface; and, a color-tone controlling means fixed to the outer surface and having a reflectivity distribution for exposing the second surface of the photosensitive recording medium for correcting exposure amount with respect to the photosensitive medium with at least one of specific light having at least one of selected wavelengths.

Exposure device

An image forming system for forming images by using a pressure-sensitive photosensitive medium having a surface coated with a photosensitive material. The system includes an exposing device for exposing the surface of the photosensitive medium to a radiation and thereby forming a latent image thereon according to an amount of exposure of the medium to the radiation, a developing device having a first and a second member which cooperate with each other to press the exposed medium therebetween and thereby develop the latent image into a visible image, and a rotatably supported endless belt which passes between the second member of the developing device and the photosensitive medium, and thereby inhibit a direct contact of the second member with the surface of the photosensitive medium.

Image forming system using a photosensitive medium

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a developer sheet. The apparatus includes an exposure unit, a pressure developing unit and thermal fixing unit. The developer sheet is fed through a sheet path extending from a developer sheet cassette to the pressure developing unit where the sheet is superposed with a microcapsule sheet carrying a latent image, and these sheets are pressed together. To avoid diagonal feeding of the developer sheet to the pressure developing unit or to avoid image recordation on the developer sheet having improper size, such undue developer sheet can be detected and is fed toward the outside at toward the outside at the upstream side of the pressure developing unit. For this, there is provided a detecting means, a branch path and sheet change over means these being positioned close to the sheet path.

Image recording apparatus

An image recording apparatus for forming an image on an image recording medium is disclosed. The apparatus includes optical components for irradiating light to an original and for directing the light reflected from the original toward an exposure unit along which the image recording medium is movably provided. The optical components includes at least one lens and mirror. Positions, postures and orientations of these components are adjustable by the mechanical interconnection with adjusting means provided at external side of the apparatus.

Image recording apparatus having adjustable optical system

In a color picture recording apparatus, a picture image of an original document is formed on a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording medium which may be either a self-coloring type or a transfer type made up of a microcapsule sheet and a developer sheet. According to one aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus of the type in which the transfer type recording medium is used, the copy sheets are discharged face-up so as to facilitate an operator's confirmation of the copied picture image. According to another aspect of the invention, the cut developer sheets are stacked in a sheet cassette so that the surface on which the developer material is coated is face-down so that a feeding roller for feeding out the developer sheet does not come into contact therewith. According to still another aspect of the invention, in an apparatus of the type in which a mask member is used for forming a latent image on the recording medium, the mask member and the recording medium are held in intimate contact with each other when exposure is taking place.

Growing community of inventors

Nagoya, Japan

Motoshi Ohno