Thermal recorder with ink sheet cassette removably mounted in openable housing

Claim 2

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a record sheet, comprising: a first housing having a record sheet mounting portion for mounting a record sheet thereon; a second housing divisible and openable relative to said first housing, said second housing having: an ink sheet cassette mounting portion for mounting thereon an ink sheet cassette removably mountable with respect to said apparatus, the ink sheet cassette having an ink sheet carrying ink thereon and a drive force receiving portion for receiving a drive force for conveying the ink sheet, means for maintaining the ink sheet cassette in a mounted state against weight of the ink sheet cassette itself and for engageably restraining the ink sheet cassette on said ink sheet cassette mounting portion in a removable condition, and a record head for effecting a record operation in accordance with image information in order to transfer the ink carried by the ink sheet onto the record sheet so as to record the image on the record sheet; drive force transmitting means for transmitting the driver force to the drive force receiving portion of the ink sheet cassette so as to convey the ink sheet; displacing means for relatively displacing the drive force receiving portion of the ink sheet cassette mounted on said ink sheet cassette mounting portion and said drive force transmitting means in an opening direction of said first and second housings; and conveying means for conveying the record sheet along a conveyance path.

Claim 3

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a record sheet, comprising: a first housing having: a record sheet mounting portion for mounting a record sheet thereon, and a platen disposed along a conveyance path for the record sheet mounted on said record sheet mounting portion; a second housing divisible from and openable relative to said first housing, said second housing having: an ink sheet cassette mounting portion for mounting thereon an ink sheet cassette removably mountable with respect to said apparatus, the ink sheet cassette having an ink sheet carrying ink thereon and a drive force receiving portion for receiving a drive force for conveying the ink sheet; means for maintaining the ink sheet cassette in a mounted state against weight of the ink sheet cassette itself and for engageably restraining the ink sheet cassette on said ink sheet cassette mounting portion in a removable condition; and a record head for effecting a record operation in accordance with image information in order to transfer ink carried by the ink sheet onto the record sheet so as to record the image on the record sheet; drive force transmitting means for transmitting the drive force to the drive force receiving portion of the ink sheet cassette mounted on said ink sheet cassette mounting portion so as to convey said ink sheet; conveying means for conveying the record sheet along said conveyance path; and load absorbing means provided on said drive force transmitting means for absorbing a load over a predetermined value so as to prevent such load over the predetermined value from being transmitted to the drive force receiving portion of the ink sheet cassette mounted on said ink sheet cassette mounting portion.

Claim 4

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a record sheet, comprising: a first housing having: a record sheet mounting portion for mounting a record sheet thereon, and a platen disposed along a conveyance path for the record sheet mounted on said record sheet mounting portion; a second housing divisible from and openable relative to said first housing, said second housing having: an ink sheet cassette mounting portion for mounting thereon an ink sheet cassette removably mountable with respect to said apparatus, the ink sheet cassette having an ink sheet carrying ink thereon and a drive force receiving portion for receiving a drive force for conveying the ink sheet; means for maintaining the ink sheet cassette in a mounted state against weight of the ink sheet cassette itself and for engageably restraining the ink sheet cassette on said ink sheet cassette mounting portion in a removable condition; and a record head for effecting a record operation in accordance with image information in order to transfer ink carried by the ink sheet onto the record sheet so as to record the image on the record sheet; drive force transmitting means for transmitting the drive force to the drive force receiving portion of the ink sheet cassette mounted on said ink sheet cassette mounting portion so as to convey said ink sheet; conveying means for conveying the record sheet along said conveyance path; and load absorbing means provided on said drive force transmitting means for absorbing a load over a predetermined value so as to prevent such load over the predetermined value from being transmitted to the drive force receiving portion of the ink sheet cassette mounted on said ink sheet cassette mounting portion.

Claim 5

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a record sheet, comprising: a record sheet mounting portion for mounting a record sheet thereon; conveying means for conveying the record sheet mounted on said record sheet mounting portion; an image reading portion for reading an image on an original and outputting image information obtained by reading the image; an ink sheet cassette mounting portion for mounting thereon an ink sheet cassette removably mountable with respect to said apparatus, the ink sheet cassette having an ink sheet carrying ink thereon, and a drive force receiving portion for receiving a drive force for conveying the ink sheet; means for releasably maintaining the ink sheet cassette in a mounted state against weight of the ink sheet cassette itself and for engageably restraining the ink sheet cassette on said ink sheet cassette mounting portion in a removable condition; a record head for effecting a record operation in accordance with image information output by said image reading portion in order to transfer the ink carried by the ink sheet onto the record sheet so as to record the image on the record sheet; drive force transmitting means for transmitting the drive force to the drive force receiving portion of the ink sheet cassette mounted on said ink sheet cassette mounting portion so as to convey the ink sheet; displacing means for relatively displacing the drive force receiving portion of the ink sheet cassette mounted on said ink sheet cassette mounting means and said drive force transmitting means; and an original loading portion disposed upstream in an original conveyance direction with respect to said image reading portion and openable with respect to a main body of said apparatus, wherein said original loading portion includes at least said ink sheet cassette mounting portion, said restraining means and said record head in union.

Claim 6

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a record sheet, comprising: a record sheet mounting portion for mounting a record sheet thereon; conveying means for conveying the record sheet mounted on said record sheet mounting portion; an image reading portion for reading an image on an original and outputting image information obtained by reading the image; an ink sheet cassette mounting portion for mounting thereon an ink sheet cassette removably mountable with respect to said apparatus, the ink sheet cassette having an ink sheet carrying ink thereon, and a drive force receiving portion for receiving a drive force for conveying the ink sheet; means for releasably maintaining the ink sheet cassette in a mounted state against weight of the ink sheet cassette itself and for engageably restraining the ink sheet cassette on said ink sheet cassette mounting portion in a removable condition; a record head for effecting a record operation in accordance with image information output by said image reading portion in order to transfer the ink carried by the ink sheet onto the record sheet so as to record the image on the record sheet; drive force transmitting means for transmitting the drive force to the drive force receiving portion of the ink sheet cassette mounted on said ink sheet cassette mounting portion so as to convey the ink sheet; displacing means for relatively displacing the drive force receiving portion of the ink sheet cassette mounted on said ink sheet cassette mounting means and said drive force transmitting means; and an original loading portion disposed upstream in an original conveyance direction with respect to said image reading portion and openable with respect to a main body of said apparatus, wherein said original loading portion includes at least said ink sheet cassette mounting portion, said restraining means and said record head in union.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said apparatus is a facsimile machine having transmitting means for transmitting the image information read by said image reading portion.

Claim 8

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a record sheet, comprising: a first housing having a record sheet mounting portion for removably mounting a record sheet thereon; a second housing divisible and openable relative to said first housing, said second housing having: an ink sheet mounting portion for removably mounting an ink sheet with ink, the ink sheet being integrally formed with a drive force receiving portion for receiving a drive force for conveying the ink sheet mounted on said ink sheet mounting portion, an engaging-restraining portion for engaging and restraining the ink sheet on said ink sheet mounting portion in a removable condition, and recording means for effecting a record operation in accordance with image information in order to transfer the ink carried by the ink sheet onto the record sheet so as to record the image on the record sheet; drive force transmitting means for transmitting the drive force to the drive force receiving portion to convey the ink sheet; conveying means for conveying the record sheet; and load absorbing means for absorbing a load over a predetermined value, so as to prevent the load from being transmitted to the drive force receiving portion.

Claim 9

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a record sheet, comprising: a first housing having a record sheet mounting portion for removably mounting a record sheet thereon; a second housing divisible and openable relative to said first housing, said second housing having: an ink sheet mounting portion for removably mounting an ink sheet with ink, the ink sheet being integrally formed with a drive force receiving portion for receiving a drive force for conveying the ink sheet mounted on said ink sheet mounting portion, an engaging-restraining portion for engaging and restraining the ink sheet on said ink sheet mounting portion in a removable condition, and recording means for effecting a record operation in accordance with image information in order to transfer the ink carried by the ink sheet onto the record sheet so as to record the image on the record sheet; drive force transmitting means for transmitting the drive force to the drive force receiving portion to convey the ink sheet; conveying means for conveying the record sheet; and load absorbing means for absorbing a load over a predetermined value, so as to prevent the load from being transmitted to the drive force receiving portion.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the record sheet is of a roll.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the ink sheet is of a roll.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said recording means has a thermal head.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said load absorbing means is disposed on said drive force transmitting means.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said engaging-restraining portion maintains the ink sheet in a mounted state against weight of the ink sheet itself.

Claim 15

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a record sheet, comprising: a first housing having a record sheet mounting portion for removably mounting a record sheet thereon; a second housing divisible and operable relative to said first housing, said second housing having: an ink sheet mounting portion for removably mounting an ink sheet with ink, the ink sheet being integrally formed with a drive force receiving portion for receiving a drive force for conveying the ink sheet mounted on said ink sheet mounting portion, an engaging-restraining portion for engaging and restraining the ink sheet on said ink sheet mounting portion in a removable condition, and recording means for effecting a record operation in accordance with image information in order to transfer the ink carried by the ink sheet onto the record sheet so as to record the image on the record sheet; drive force transmitting means for transmitting the drive force to the drive force receiving portion to convey said ink sheet; displacing means for relatively displacing the drive force receiving portion and said drive force transmitting means in an opening direction of said first and second housings; and conveying means for conveying the record sheet.

Claim 16

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a record sheet, comprising: a first housing having a record sheet mounting portion for removably mounting a record sheet thereon; a second housing divisible and operable relative to said first housing, said second housing having: an ink sheet mounting portion for removably mounting an ink sheet with ink, the ink sheet being integrally formed with a drive force receiving portion for receiving a drive force for conveying the ink sheet mounted on said ink sheet mounting portion, an engaging-restraining portion for engaging and restraining the ink sheet on said ink sheet mounting portion in a removable condition, and recording means for effecting a record operation in accordance with image information in order to transfer the ink carried by the ink sheet onto the record sheet so as to record the image on the record sheet; drive force transmitting means for transmitting the drive force to the drive force receiving portion to convey said ink sheet; displacing means for relatively displacing the drive force receiving portion and said drive force transmitting means in an opening direction of said first and second housings; and conveying means for conveying the record sheet.

Claim 17

An image recording apparatus adapted to record an image onto a recording sheet, comprising: a first take-up portion capable of taking up an ink sheet having ink therein; a second take-up portion capable of taking up the ink sheet; a first housing having a recording sheet mounting portion for removably mounting the recording sheet; a second housing openable relative to and separably from said first housing, said second housing having an ink sheet mounting portion for removably mounting the ink sheet and recording means for transferring ink in the ink sheet to the recording sheet and for performing a recording operation to record the image in response to image information; transmitting means having a first drive force transmitting system for transmitting a drive force to said second take-up portion so as to convey the ink sheet from said first take-up portion to said second take-up portion, and a second drive force transmitting system for transmitting a drive force to said first take-up portion so as to convey the ink sheet from said second take-up portion to said first take-up portion; first load absorbing means provided in said first transmitting system for absorbing a predetermined load applied to said second take-up portion; second load absorbing means provided in said second transmitting system for absorbing a predetermined load applied to said first take-up portion; and conveying means for conveying the recording sheet.

Claim 18

An image recording apparatus adapted to record an image onto a recording sheet, comprising: a first take-up portion capable of taking up an ink sheet having ink therein; a second take-up portion capable of taking up the ink sheet; a first housing having a recording sheet mounting portion for removably mounting the recording sheet; a second housing openable relative to and separably from said first housing, said second housing having an ink sheet mounting portion for removably mounting the ink sheet and recording means for transferring ink in the ink sheet to the recording sheet and for performing a recording operation to record the image in response to image information; transmitting means having a first drive force transmitting system for transmitting a drive force to said second take-up portion so as to convey the ink sheet from said first take-up portion to said second take-up portion, and a second drive force transmitting system for transmitting a drive force to said first take-up portion so as to convey the ink sheet from said second take-up portion to said first take-up portion; first load absorbing means provided in said first transmitting system for absorbing a predetermined load applied to said second take-up portion; second load absorbing means provided in said second transmitting system for absorbing a predetermined load applied to said first take-up portion; and conveying means for conveying the recording sheet.

Claim 19

An image recording apparatus adapted to record an image onto a recording sheet, comprising: a first housing having a recording sheet mounting portion for removably mounting the recording sheet; a second housing operable relative to and separably from said first housing, having an ink sheet mounting portion for removably mounting the ink sheet and recording means for transferring ink in the ink sheet to the recording sheet and performing a recording operation to record the image in response to image information; transmitting means for transmitting a drive force to the ink sheet so as to convey the ink sheet; conveying means for conveying the recording sheet; and load absorbing means for absorbing a predetermined load so as to prevent application of the load to the ink sheet, wherein said recording sheet mounting portion and said ink sheet mounting portion are exposed when said first and second housings are opened.

Claim 20

An image recording apparatus adapted to record an image onto a recording sheet, comprising: a first housing having a recording sheet mounting portion for removably mounting the recording sheet; a second housing operable relative to and separably from said first housing, having an ink sheet mounting portion for removably mounting the ink sheet and recording means for transferring ink in the ink sheet to the recording sheet and performing a recording operation to record the image in response to image information; transmitting means for transmitting a drive force to the ink sheet so as to convey the ink sheet; conveying means for conveying the recording sheet; and load absorbing means for absorbing a predetermined load so as to prevent application of the load to the ink sheet, wherein said recording sheet mounting portion and said ink sheet mounting portion are exposed when said first and second housings are opened.

Claim 21

An image recording apparatus adapted to record an image onto a recording sheet, comprising: a first housing having a recording sheet mounting portion for removably mounting the recording sheet; a second housing openable relative to and separably from said first housing, said second housing having an ink sheet mounting portion for removably mounting the ink sheet and recording means for transferring ink in the ink recording sheet to the recording sheet and performing a recording operation to record the image in response to image information; transmitting means for transmitting a drive force to the ink sheet so as to convey the ink sheet; conveying means for conveying the recording sheet; and load absorbing means for absorbing a predetermined load so as to prevent application of the load to the ink sheet, wherein said load absorbing means absorbs the predetermined load, so that the ink sheet is conveyed under a predetermined tension.

Claim 22

An image recording apparatus adapted to record an image onto a recording sheet, comprising: a first housing having a recording sheet mounting portion for removably mounting the recording sheet; a second housing openable relative to and separably from said first housing, said second housing having an ink sheet mounting portion for removably mounting the ink sheet and recording means for transferring ink in the ink recording sheet to the recording sheet and performing a recording operation to record the image in response to image information; transmitting means for transmitting a drive force to the ink sheet so as to convey the ink sheet; conveying means for conveying the recording sheet; and load absorbing means for absorbing a predetermined load so as to prevent application of the load to the ink sheet, wherein said load absorbing means absorbs the predetermined load, so that the ink sheet is conveyed under a predetermined tension.

Claim 23

An image recording apparatus according to claim 2, 5, 12 or 13, wherein said load absorbing means absorb the predetermined load so that the ink sheet is conveyed under a predetermined tension.

Claim 24

An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 5, 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein the ink sheet is conveyed from a supply side to a take-up side under application of back-tension by a sliding clutch, and drive of said supply side is stopped by a one-way clutch during recording by said recording means.

Claim 25

An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 5, 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein, during recording by said recording means, the ink sheet is conveyed from a supply side to a take-up side, and take-up speed of said take-up side is set higher than a conveying speed of said platen, and the ink sheet is subjected to a front-tension by slide movement of a sliding clutch.

Claim 26

An image recording apparatus according to claim 5 or 11, wherein said recording means includes a thermal head having heating elements.

Claim 27

An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 5, 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein said image recording apparatus is a facsimile machine having an original read-out system for reading out an original.

Claim 28

An image recording apparatus according to claim 5, 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein the ink sheet is contained in an ink sheet cassette attachable to said apparatus.

Claim 29

An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 5, 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein the recording sheet can be reversely conveyed.

Claim 30

An image recording apparatus adapted to record an image onto a recording sheet, comprising: a first housing having a recording sheet mounting portion for mounting the recording sheet; a second housing openable relative to said first housing, said second housing having an ink sheet mounting portion for mounting an ink sheet containing ink thereon and recording means for recording the image onto the recording sheet by means of the ink sheet; transmitting means for transmitting a drive force to the ink sheet so as to convey the ink sheet under tension; and load absorption means for absorbing load so as to prevent the ink sheet from being subjected to tension in excess of a predetermined amount when the ink sheet is conveyed by the drive force transmitted by said transmitting means.

Claim 31

An image recording apparatus adapted to record an image onto a recording sheet, comprising: a first housing having a recording sheet mounting portion for mounting the recording sheet; a second housing openable relative to said first housing, said second housing having an ink sheet mounting portion for mounting an ink sheet containing ink thereon and recording means for recording the image onto the recording sheet by means of the ink sheet; transmitting means for transmitting a drive force to the ink sheet so as to convey the ink sheet under tension; and load absorption means for absorbing load so as to prevent the ink sheet from being subjected to tension in excess of a predetermined amount when the ink sheet is conveyed by the drive force transmitted by said transmitting means.

Claim 32

An apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising take-up means for taking up the ink sheet and a platen roller via which said transmitting means applies tension to the ink sheet, and via which the recording sheet is conveyed, wherein a take-up speed with which the ink sheet is taken up by said take-up means is greater than a conveying speed with which the ink sheet and the recording sheet are conveyed by said platen roller.

Claim 33

An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said load absorption means comprises a sliding clutch, and absorbs by slide movement of said sliding clutch any excess amount of the take-up speed of the ink sheet over the conveying speed of the ink sheet.

Claim 34

Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said load absorption means is provided on a part of a drive force transmitting route via which said transmitting means transmits the drive force to the ink sheet.

Claim 35

An image recording apparatus adapted to record an image onto a recording sheet, comprising: a first housing having a recording sheet mounting portion for removably mounting the recording sheet, and a rotatable platen roller; a second housing openable relative to said first housing, said second housing having an ink sheet mounting portion for removably mounting an ink sheet, and a thermal head for recording the image onto the recording sheet by heating the ink sheet mounted on said ink sheet mounting portion; transmitting means for transmitting drive force to the ink sheet in such a manner that a take-up speed with which the ink sheet is taken up is greater than a conveying speed with which the ink sheet and the recording sheet are conveyed by rotation of said platen roller in a state in which said thermal head presses said platen roller against the ink sheet and so presses the ink sheet against the recording sheet; and load absorption means for absorbing load so as to prevent the ink sheet from being subjected to tension greater than a predetermined amount when the ink sheet is conveyed by the drive force transmitted by said transmitting means.

Claim 36

An image recording apparatus adapted to record an image onto a recording sheet, comprising: a first housing having a recording sheet mounting portion for removably mounting the recording sheet, and a rotatable platen roller; a second housing openable relative to said first housing, said second housing having an ink sheet mounting portion for removably mounting an ink sheet, and a thermal head for recording the image onto the recording sheet by heating the ink sheet mounted on said ink sheet mounting portion; transmitting means for transmitting drive force to the ink sheet in such a manner that a take-up speed with which the ink sheet is taken up is greater than a conveying speed with which the ink sheet and the recording sheet are conveyed by rotation of said platen roller in a state in which said thermal head presses said platen roller against the ink sheet and so presses the ink sheet against the recording sheet; and load absorption means for absorbing load so as to prevent the ink sheet from being subjected to tension greater than a predetermined amount when the ink sheet is conveyed by the drive force transmitted by said transmitting means.

Claim 37

An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said load absorption means is provided on a part of a drive force transmitting route via which said transmitting means transmits the drive force to the ink sheet.

Claim 38

An image recording apparatus adapted to record an image onto a recording sheet, comprising: a first housing having a recording sheet mounting portion for mounting the recording sheet; a second housing openable relative to said first housing, said second housing having an ink sheet mounting portion for mounting an ink sheet containing ink thereon and recording means for recording the image onto the recording sheet by means of the ink sheet; transmitting means for transmitting a drive force to the ink sheet so as to convey the ink sheet selectively in a forward direction and in a reverse direction opposed to said forward direction; first load absorption means for absorbing load so as to prevent the ink sheet from being subjected to tension greater than a predetermined amount when the ink sheet is conveyed in said forward direction by said drive force transmitted by said transmitting means; and second load absorption means for absorbing load so as to prevent the ink sheet from being subjected to tension greater than the predetermined amount when the ink sheet is conveyed in said reverse direction by said drive force transmitted by said transmitting means.

Claim 39

An image recording apparatus adapted to record an image onto a recording sheet, comprising: a first housing having a recording sheet mounting portion for mounting the recording sheet; a second housing openable relative to said first housing, said second housing having an ink sheet mounting portion for mounting an ink sheet containing ink thereon and recording means for recording the image onto the recording sheet by means of the ink sheet; transmitting means for transmitting a drive force to the ink sheet so as to convey the ink sheet selectively in a forward direction and in a reverse direction opposed to said forward direction; first load absorption means for absorbing load so as to prevent the ink sheet from being subjected to tension greater than a predetermined amount when the ink sheet is conveyed in said forward direction by said drive force transmitted by said transmitting means; and second load absorption means for absorbing load so as to prevent the ink sheet from being subjected to tension greater than the predetermined amount when the ink sheet is conveyed in said reverse direction by said drive force transmitted by said transmitting means.

Claim 40

An apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising take-up means for taking up the ink sheet and a platen roller via which said transmitting means applies the drive force to the ink sheet, wherein tension is applied to the ink sheet in such a manner that a take-up speed with which the ink sheet is taken up by said take-up means is greater than a conveying speed with which the ink sheet is conveyed by said platen roller when the ink sheet is conveyed in said forward direction during image recording by said recording means.

Claim 41

An apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising take-up means for taking up the ink sheet and a platen roller via which said transmitting means applies the drive force to the ink sheet, wherein tension is applied to the ink sheet in such a manner that a take-up speed with which the ink sheet is taken up by said take-up means is greater than a conveying speed with which the ink sheet is conveyed by said platen roller when the ink sheet is conveyed in said reverse direction while said recording means is not performing image recording.

Claim 42

An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said transmitting means comprises a platen roller, in a state in which said recording means pinches the ink sheet and said recording means against said platen roller.

Claim 43

An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said transmitting means includes ink sheet take-up means and a platen roller for transmitting said first drive force to the ink sheet.

Claim 44

An image recording apparatus adapted to record an image onto a recording sheet, comprising: a first housing having a recording sheet mounting portion for mounting the recording sheet; a second housing openable relative to said first housing, said second housing having an ink sheet mounting portion for mounting an ink sheet containing ink thereon and recording means for recording the image onto the recording sheet using the ink sheet; and transmitting means for transmitting a first drive force to the ink sheet so as to convey the ink sheet and for transmitting a second drive force to the recording sheet so to convey the recording sheet; and load absorption means for absorbing load so as to prevent the ink sheet from being subjected to tension greater than a predetermined amount when the ink sheet is conveyed by said first drive force transmitted by said transmitting means.

Claim 45

An image recording apparatus adapted to record an image onto a recording sheet, comprising: a first housing having a recording sheet mounting portion for mounting the recording sheet; a second housing openable relative to said first housing, said second housing having an ink sheet mounting portion for mounting an ink sheet containing ink thereon and recording means for recording the image onto the recording sheet using the ink sheet; and transmitting means for transmitting a first drive force to the ink sheet so as to convey the ink sheet and for transmitting a second drive force to the recording sheet so to convey the recording sheet; and load absorption means for absorbing load so as to prevent the ink sheet from being subjected to tension greater than a predetermined amount when the ink sheet is conveyed by said first drive force transmitted by said transmitting means.