Sheet treating apparatus featuring a linear conveyance path within a heat developing region

A sheet treating method comprising the steps of:

• performing recording on a sheet at a recording position;
• conveying a recorded sheet from the recording position to a position above the recording position;
• and
• heat-developing the recorded sheet above the recording position without curling the sheet, wherein the recorded sheet is conveyed along a straight conveyance path at least when the recorded sheet is heat-developed,
• wherein a position where the sheet is contained before the recording, a position where performing of the recording is performed, and a position where the heat-developing is performed are arranged such that the recorded sheet is heated over a predetermined length of said straight conveyance path, wherein the position where the sheet is contained, the position where performing of the recording is performed and the position where the heat-developing is performed are arranged in a vertical direction, with the heat-developing being performed in a position above the position where the sheet is contained and the position where performing of the recording is performed, wherein the position where the heat-developing is performed is disposed in a position so as to vertically overlap the position where the sheet is contained and the position where performing of the recording is performed, and wherein a length of a conveyance path from the recording position where the recording is performed to the position where the heat-developing is performed is longer than a length of the recorded sheet in the direction of conveyance.

A sheet treating apparatus comprising:

• a container for containing a plurality of sheets therein;
• a recorder for effecting recording on a sheet;
• a conveyance path for conveying a recorded sheet;
• a heater for heating the recorded sheet in said conveyance path,
• wherein said conveyance path is straight within at least said heater,
• wherein said heater heats the recorded sheet over a predetermined length of said straight conveyance path, and said straight conveyance path where heating is performed, said container and said recorder being arranged in a vertical direction, with said heater being disposed at a position above said container and said recorder and being disposed so as to vertically overlap said container and said recorder, and a length of the conveyance path from a recording position where recording is effected by said recorder to said heater is longer than a length of the recorded sheet in the direction of conveyance.