Recording apparatus

Claim 2

A recording apparatus comprising: a thermal head having a plurality of islands generally disposed in a common plane, said islands being thermally independent of one another and capable of heating separately and selectively by electrical signals; a print member, disposed opposite to said islands, comprising a heat-resistant back-up layer and a thin film formed of an adhesive resin of low melting point disposed over said back-up layer; recording paper disposed to face the thin film of said print member and being free of any material which is thermosensitive for coloring; means for urging said thermal head against said print member for bringing all of said plurality of islands into intimate contact with said heat-resistant back-up layer and said film into intimate contact with said recording paper; and means for producing said electrical signals to selectively heat said plurality of islands so as to melt the corresponding part of said adhesive resin to transfer it onto said recording paper.

Claim 3

A recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for reciprocating said thermal head along said recording paper.

Claim 4

A recording apparatus comprising: a thermal head having a plurality of islands generally disposed in a common plane, said islands being thermally independent of one another and capable of heating separately and selectively by electrical signals; a carriage carrying said thermal head thereon; a rail supporting said carriage for sliding movement thereon and for defining the path of movement of said carriage; a print member disposed opposite to said islands, comprising a heat-resistant backup layer and a thin film formed of an adhesive resin of low melting point disposed over said back-up layer; recording paper disposed to face the thin film of said print member and being free of any material which is thermosensitive for coloring; means for reciprocatingly moving said thermal head along said rail; means for urging said thermal head against said print member during a first stroke in which said carriage moves along said rail in one direction for bringing all of said plurality of islands into intimate contact with said heat-resistant back-up layer and said thin film into intimate contact with said recording paper; means for producing said electrical signals to selectively heat said plurality of islands during said stroke so as to melt the corresponding part of said adhesive resin to transfer it onto said recording paper; and means for releasing said urging means to separate said print member from said recording paper during a second stroke in which said carriage moves along said rail in the other direction.

Claim 5

A recording apparatus comprising: a thermal head having a plurality of islands generally disposed in a common plane, said islands being thermally independent of one another and capable of heating separately and selectively by electrical signals; a carriage carrying said thermal head thereon; a rail supporting said carriage for sliding movement thereon and for defining the path of movement of said carriage; a print member disposed opposite to said islands, comprising a heat-resistant backup layer and a thin film formed of an adhesive resin of low melting point disposed over said back-up layer; recording paper disposed to face the thin film of said print member and being free of any material which is thermosensitive for coloring; means for reciprocatingly moving said thermal head along said rail; means for urging said thermal head against said print member during a first stroke in which said carriage moves along said rail in one direction for bringing all of said plurality of islands into intimate contact with said heat-resistant back-up layer and said thin film into intimate contact with said recording paper; means for producing said electrical signals to selectively heat said plurality of islands during said stroke so as to melt the corresponding part of said adhesive resin to transfer it onto said recording paper; and means for releasing said urging means to separate said print member from said recording paper during a second stroke in which said carriage moves along said rail in the other direction.

Claim 6

A recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a toothed member provided along said rail, and a reel provided on said carriage for taking up said print member, said reeL being connected via a one-way clutch to a gear meshing with said toothed member so that said reel is rotatable only when said carriage is moved in said first stroke.

Claim 7

A recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: means for extending said print member along said recording paper; means for bringing a portion of said print member to be traversed by said thermal head into contact with said recording paper; and means for disengaging a portion of said print member already traversed by said thermal head from said recording paper.

Claim 8

A recording apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for fixing said print member extended along said recording paper against movement in said one direction when said carriage is moved in said one direction.

Claim 9

A recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means provided on said carriage for holding said print member in a sandwiched fashion during the movement of said carriage in said other direction.

Claim 10

A recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: means for extending said print member along said recording paper; a pair of opposed nip members for fixedly holding said print member; means for controlling the hold of said nip members; and rollers including a one-way rotatable roller disposed on said carriage so as to hold said print member therebetween.

Claim 11

A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of thermal heads is arrayed in a row so as to define a print line and disposed at a fixed position.

Claim 12

A recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for moving said print member relatively to said thermal head during said first stroke in which said carriage moves in said one direction.