Brother Kogyo Kabushiki-kaisha

Takashi Tomizawa

Takashi Nakata

Shigeyuki Hayashi

Yoichi Horaguchi

Motoshi Ohno

Osamu Takagi

Kazumasa Makino

Kazuhito Ishida

Kazunori Tanabe

Eiji Shibata

Shunichi Higashiyama

Hiroshi Taira

Makoto Suzuki

Jun Sakai

Yumio Matsumoto

Makoto Yamada

Toshio Sugiura

Michitoshi Akao

Tsuyoshi Suzuki

Kiyoharu Hayakawa

Takatoshi Takemoto

Ichiro Sasaki

Mitsuru Ohta

Osamu Nagata

Hiroshi Kawahara

Yasuo Kimura

Satoru Kuwabara

Keiko Suzuki

Takakuni Sonoda

Yousuke Ito

An image recording apparatus having an exposure unit, a pressure developing unit and a thermal fixing unit. The apparatus employs a separate type image recording mediums including a microcapsule sheet and a separate developer sheet. The thermal fixing unit applies heat to the developer sheet carrying an output image thereon. A heat application means of the thermal fixing unit is positioned spaced away from the imaging surface of the developer sheet for avoding direct contact therewith.

Image recording apparatus

An image recording apparatus forms the image by using a photo-sensitive sheet accommodated in a cartridge, one side of which has a bar code attached. In this recording apparatus, a remaining amount of the sheet in the cartridge at a given time is calculated by substracting a used amount of the sheet detected by a rotary encoder installed on a motor shaft of a sheet feeding device from a total amount of the sheet detected by reading the bar code through a bar code reading device, and is displayed on a display. And, this recording apparatus corrects the remaining amount of the sheet in the cartridge based on a rewound amount of the sheet detected by the rotary encoder when a single copy mode is selected. Further, the apparatus displays copyable numbers according to the remaining amount of the sheet based on a copy size set. Therefore, it is possible by the recording apparatus to precisely recognize the remaining amount of the sheet in the cartridge at an arbitrary time and a timing for exchanging the old cartridge for a new cartridge.

Image recording apparatus with a detecting device for detecting a

An image recording medium is provided with an identifying index indicative of whether or not one side of the image recording medium is a front side coated with developing agent. In another image recording medium coated with developing agent, electrical resistance material is coated on at least one side of the image recording medium. In a detecting device for the another image recording medium, an electrode unit is provided for measuring electric conductivity of one side of the image recording medium. A control unit is connected to the electrode unit for identifying the image recording medium on the basis of the electric conductivity measured by the electrode unit. In another detecting device, a light emitting unit emits light with which at least one of front and back sides of an image recording medium is illuminated. A light receiving unit receives light reflected from the at least one side of the image recording medium. An identifying unit is connected to the light receiving unit for identifying the front and back sides and presence and absence of the image recording medium on the basis of the light received by the light receiving unit.

Image recording medium and detecting device therefor

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 recording apparatus of the type in which an image of an original is recorded on a recording sheet with the use of an elongated, web-like microcapsule sheet, it is contemplated to tightly wind the exhausted microcapsule sheet around a take-up roller without adversely affecting the formation of a latent image on a microcapsule sheet and/or development of the latent image. To this effect, when the recording operation is not being performed, a particular portion of the exhausted microcapsule sheet is grasped by a grasping unit and the take-up roller winds the exhausted microcapsule sheet while imparting a high tension thereto, whereby a space for accommodating the take-up roller can be made small. During the recording operation, the exhausted microcapsule sheet is free from the grasping force and the sheet is wound around the take-up roller while imparting a low tension thereto.

Image recording apparatus having a tension device in the wind-up path

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 apparatus and a method for loading a photosensitive recording sheet such as a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet or the like to an image recording apparatus such as a photocopier or the like. The apparatus comprises a supplying roll accommodating a new photosensitive recording sheet, a take-up roll for winding the photosensitive recording sheet from the supplying roll, and a recording sheet loading means comprising a sheet like guide member having one end secured to the take-up roll and another end detachably connected to the leading end portion of the new photosensitive recording sheet, or an attaching member for connecting the leading end portion of the new photosensitive recording sheet to the tail end portion of a consumed photosensitive recording sheet which is wound around the take-up roll, thereby to automatically insert the photosensitive recording sheet into the image recording apparatus in correspondence with the winding operation of the take-up roll.

Apparatus and method for loading a photosensitive recording sheet to an

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 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.

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.

Color picture image recording apparatus

The heating device and the feeding device of an image medium which are provided in an image recording apparatus in order to furnish the image medium with glosses are made movable with each other by a contacting mechanism. Normally, the heating device and the feeding device are separated so that unnecessary heat transfer from the heating device to the feeding device is avoided, whereby the heating capacity of the heating device is minimized and no cooling mechanism for the feeding device is needed. When the image medium comes, the two devices are contacted to pinch and directly heat the image medium therebetween, whereby a beautiful gloss surface is obtained.

Image recording apparatus for producing glossy image medium

A pressure developing device has a pair of pressure developing rollers for pressing a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet with a latent image formed thereon and a color developer sheet in overlapping relation to develop the latent image into a visible image and transfer the visible image onto the color developer sheet. The pressure developing rollers have respective pressing surfaces for pressing the photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording sheet and the color developer sheet, and at least one of the rollers has non-pressing surface extending axially of the roller.

Growing community of inventors

Aichi, Japan

Takashi Tomizawa