Method and apparatus for recording images on both sides of a recording sheet

A method for recording an image on a sheet-like recording medium having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting an absence of an image on the first side of the recording medium;
• forming a layer of a material on an intermediate transfer member;
• applying a liquid to the layer formed on the intermediate transfer member so as to form a visible image on the layer, a viscosity of the liquid being increased by the material forming the layer on the intermediate transfer member;
• and
• transferring the visible image onto the first side of the recording medium.

A method for recording an image on a sheet-like recording medium having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a presence of an image on the first side of the recording medium;
• forming a layer of a material on an intermediate transfer member;
• applying a liquid to the layer formed on the intermediate transfer member so as to form a visible image on the layer, a viscosity of the liquid being increased by the material forming the layer on the intermediate transfer member;
• turning over the recording medium so that the second surface faces the intermediate transfer member;
• detecting an absence of an image on the second side of the recording medium;
• and
• transferring the visible image onto the second side of the recording medium.

A recording apparatus recording images on a sheet-like recording medium having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the recording apparatus comprising:

• means for forming a layer of a material on an intermediate transfer member;
• means for applying a liquid to the layer formed on the intermediate transfer member so as to form a visible image on the layer, a viscosity of the liquid being increased by the material forming the layer on the intermediate transfer member;
• means for transferring the visible image onto one of the first and second sides of the recording medium;
• means for turning over the recording medium after the visible image is transferred onto the one of the first and second sides of the recording medium;
• and
• means for repeating operations of means for forming, means for applying and means for transferring so as to transfer the visible image onto the other one of the first and second sides of the recording medium.

A recording apparatus recording an image on a sheet-like recording medium having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the recording apparatus comprising:

• means for detecting an absence of an image on the first side of the recording medium;
• means for forming a layer of a material on an intermediate transfer member;
• means for applying a liquid to the layer formed on the intermediate transfer member so as to form a visible image on the layer, a viscosity of the liquid being increased by the material forming the layer on the intermediate transfer member;
• and
• means for transferring the visible image onto the first side of the recording medium.

A recording apparatus recording an image on a sheet-like recording medium having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the recording apparatus comprising:

• means for detecting a presence of an image on the first side of the recording medium;
• means for forming a layer of a material on an intermediate transfer member;
• means for applying a liquid to the layer formed on the intermediate transfer member so as to form a visible image on the layer, a viscosity of the liquid being increased by the material forming the layer on the intermediate transfer member;
• means for turning over the recording medium so that the second surface faces the intermediate transfer member;
• means for detecting an absence of an image on the second side of the recording medium;
• and
• means for transferring the visible image onto the second side of the recording medium.

A recording apparatus recording an image on a sheet-like recording medium having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the recording apparatus comprising:

• an intermediate transfer belt carrying an image to be transferred onto the recording medium;
• a liquid ejecting head ejecting droplets of a liquid toward the intermediate transfer belt;
• an applicator applying a powder to a surface of the intermediate transfer belt so as to form a layer of the powder on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt, the powder being applied on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt prior to the application of the droplets of the liquid by the liquid ejecting head so that a visible image is formed by the droplets of the liquid on the layer of the powder, the powder absorbing the liquid so as to increase a viscosity of the droplets applied to the layer of the powder;
• a transfer roller pressing the visible image on the intermediate transfer belt against the recording medium so as to transfer the visible image onto the recording medium;
• a feeding mechanism feeding the recording medium so that the recording medium passes through a transferring position between the transfer roller and the intermediate transfer belt, the feeding mechanism including a first detector and a second detector, the first detector detecting an absence of an image on the first side of the recording medium and the second detector detecting an absence of an image on the second side of the recording medium, the feeding mechanism also including a switching mechanism to change a direction of feed of the recording medium so that the recording medium which has been passed through the transferring position is returned to a position on the upstream side of the transfer roller and is passed through the transferring position again, the recording medium being turned over while the recording medium is being returned to the position on the upstream side of the transfer roller;
• and
• a control unit controlling operation of the intermediate transfer belt, the recording head and the switching mechanism so that the visible image is transferred onto at least one of the first and second sides of the recording medium based on outputs of the first and second detectors.