US 4,833,487 A · Method of and apparatus for recording image onto a recording medium without subjecting the medium to undesired external forces

Abstract

An image is recorded on an elongate image recording medium by feeding the image recording medium in an auxiliary scanning direction from a loading unit and applying a light beam to the image recording medium in a main scanning direction transverse to the auxiliary scanning direction. A loose loop is formed out of the image recording medium between the loading unit and an image scanning recording unit. Guide plates are angularly displaced to allow the image recording medium to hang by gravity with the image recording medium with the image recorded thereon having a free distal end. The hanging image recording medium is moved back toward the image scanning recording unit after the image has been recorded. The guide plates are displaced back to deliver the image recording medium to a next process.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method of recording an image on an elongate image recording medium by feeding the image recording medium in an auxiliary scanning direction from a loading unit and applying a light beam to the image recording medium in a main scanning direction transverse to the auxiliary scanning direction, said method comprising the steps of:

forming a loop out of the image recording medium between said loading unit and an image scanning recording unit;
displacing guide means to allow the image recording medium to move to a first position where it hangs by gravity with a leading end of the image recording medium with the image recorded thereon being a free end;
returning the hanging image recording medium toward said image scanning recording unit after the image has been recorded;
and displacing said guide means to deliver the image recording medium to a second position different from said first position.

1 more element

driving a feed means disposed between said loading unit and an auxiliary scanning feed means to feed the image recording medium stored in the loading unit by at least a length required for image recording and to allow the image recording medium to pass to a first position where it hangs by gravity;
driving said auxiliary scanning feed means to feed the image recording medium in the auxiliary scanning direction toward said feed means after said feed means has been inactivated, while applying the light beam to the image recording medium in the main scanning direction;
and driving at least one of said auxiliary scanning feed means and said feed means to feed the image recording medium to a second position different from said first position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of and apparatus for recording image onto a recording medium without subjecting the medium to undesired external forces

Life of this patent

Method of and apparatus for recording image onto a recording medium without subjecting the medium to undesired external forces

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11