Multi-color image recording apparatus capable of removing a recorded-on roll medium, without unrolling

A multi-color image recording apparatus comprising:

• image-forming/processing station means for forming images in a plurality of colors in a superposed manner, in units of individual colors, on an identical unrolled portion of a recording roll medium, in accordance with color image formation data;
• recording medium conveying means for reciprocating a plurality of times, when the images in the plurality of colors are to be formed, the identical unrolled portion of the recording roll medium in relation to said image-forming/processing station means, in accordance with formation of the image in the plurality of colors, and conveying a recorded-on unrolled portion of the recording roll medium to a downstream side of said image-forming/processing station means when image formation in the plurality of colors is completed;
• recording medium storing means, provided on the downstream side of said image-forming/processing station means, for temporarily storing the unrolled portion of the recording roll medium on which image formation in each of the plurality of colors is to be performed;
• recording medium discharging means, provided on the downstream side of said image-forming/processing station means, for discharging the unrolled portion of the recording roll medium on which image formation in each of the plurality of colors has been performed;
• and
• switching means, provided on the downstream side of said image-forming/processing station means, which can be switched between first and second positions, the first position being a position for guiding the unrolled portion of the recording roll medium toward said recording medium storing means when image formation in the plurality of colors is performed, and the second position being a position for guiding the unrolled portion of the recording roll medium toward said recording medium discharging means when image formation in the plurality of colors is completed.