Two-color copying machine

Abstract

A two-color copying machine records an image on a recording sheet in two colors such as red and black by using thermally transferable red and black inks on ink donor sheets. The two-color copying machine includes a platen for supporting an original to be copied, a scanner unit movable reciprocally with respect to the platen for reading the original and for generating an image signal for each line which is separated into two single color image signals, each corresponding to one of the two colors, a pair of thermal heads each for selectively generating thermal pulses in response to the image signal from the scanner unit, an ink donor sheet supply assembly for supplying the thermal heads with respective ink donor sheets coated with thermally transferable inks of different colors, respectively, which can be fluidized or sublimated upon being heated, a recording sheet supply assembly for supplying a recording sheet in the vicinity of the thermal heads, a recording sheet contacting assembly for bringing the supplied recording sheet into intimate contact with a heating region of each of the thermal heads with the ink donor sheet interposed between a thermal head and an ink donor sheet, a recording sheet peeling assembly for peeling the recording sheet off the ink donor sheets after the image has been recorded on the recording sheet, and a discharge assembly for discharging the peeled recording sheet.