Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha

Hitachi, Ltd.

Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.

Takayuki Yokoyama

Masato Yoshida

Hiroshi Nishihara

Hirokatsu Shimada

Yasuhiro Kyoden

Tetsuya Watanabe

Yosei Chosa

Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi

A workflow server is provided with, in association with a user management tablefor managing work items for each user, a listof substitute users for indicating a substitute user for each work or process and a listof users in charge who designates the user as a substitute. When a client terminal user selects a specific user among the users in charge on the list, the workflow server checks the power of substitute by referring to the listof substitute users for the selected user, thereby to allow the client terminal user to process a predesignated unprocessed work item instead of the selected user in charge.

Workflow server and workflow system control method

A transfer recording medium capable of obtaining a satisfactory transfer image is provided without fusing a base film due to heat even if the medium is used for a printer using a large-output laser beam. The medium is made by forming an adiabatic layer or a heat absorbing layer between the base film and a light-heat conversion layer or an ink layer containing a light-heat conversion agent and sublimating dye formed on one side of the base film or forming the heat absorbing layer on the other side of the base film.

Transfer recording medium

A thermal transfer recording apparatus for thermally transferring ink to an image recording paper via a laser beam. In the thermal transfer recording apparatus, at least one of the opposing surfaces of a print head and a platen is curved, and a transfer portion is provided on the print head at a position displaced a predetermined amount from a nip portion which is formed by the print head and the platen such that an image is formed on a recording paper without the recording paper contacting an ink film. With such an arrangement, voids produced in forming images on image recording paper are prevented and it becomes possible to form images on image recording paper without image irregularities. Further, by providing a removed portion on the print head relative to the transfer portion in the above thermal transfer recording apparatus so as to accomplish transfer without both sides of the ink film making contact with both the print head and the image recording paper, it becomes possible to minimize the light energy of the laser beam used to expose the ink film.

Thermal transfer recording apparatus

A thermal transfer color recording method of and an apparatus for recording a color image on a transfer paper by successively transferring inks of different colors from an ink film to the transfer paper at a recording station. A ink of one color is transferred from the ink film to the transfer paper by a thermal head based on an image to be recorded while the ink film and the transfer paper are moved through the recording station in a forward direction in intimate contact with each other. After the transfer of the ink of one color, the transfer paper in intimate contact with the ink film is transported in the forward direction with the ink film not taken up to thereby slacken the ink film. Then, the transfer paper is transported in the reverse direction to position the leading end of the recorded area of the transfer paper at the recording station to transfer an ink of another color from the ink film to the transfer paper from the leading end of the recorded area thereof. Further, the ink film may be moved to position the ink of another color at the recording station after transport of the transfer paper to position a non-recorded area of the transfer paper at the recording station.

Growing community of inventors

Yokohama, Japan

Takayuki Yokoyama