Image recording apparatus

An image recording apparatus for recording an image corresponding to an original on a developing medium with the use of a light-transmissive sheet and a photosensitive recording medium, said apparatus comprising:

• image-forming means for sequentially forming each of a plurality of light-shielding images on said light-transmissive sheet movable in a predetermined direction;
• exposing means disposed downstream of said image-forming means relative to the movement of said light-transmissive sheet for exposing said photosensitive recording medium to light through said light-transmissive sheet to form on said photosensitive recording medium a latent image corresponding to said light-shielding image;
• accumulating means disposed between said image-forming means and said exposing means for accumulating said light-transmissive sheet carrying said light shielding image thereon;
• developing means disposed downstream of said exposing means for developing said latent image on said photosensitive recording medium into a visible image on said developing medium, said developing medium being held in superposed relation with said photosensitive recording medium;
• and
• control means for controlling said image-forming means and said accumulating means to form a subsequent light-shielding image on a light-transmissive sheet during exposure of a photosensitive recording medium through a previous light-shielding image on a light-transmissive sheet and holding the light-transmissive sheet carrying said subsequent light-shielding image in a standby condition at said accumulating means to prevent said sheet from being fed into said exposing means during the exposure through said previous light-shielding image.