Abstract:
A cartridge detachably mountable to a heating apparatus includes: a film; a supporting member for unwindably supporting the film; a winding-up member for winding up the film; a first container accommodating the supporting member and having a first opening; and a second container accommodating the winding-up member and having a second opening. The film is unwindable from the supporting member to the winding-up member through the first opening and the second opening. The first container and the second container are connected with each other so that the first container and the second container cover at least one side of the film, and the first container and the second container are disconnectable from each other to expose the film between the first opening and the second opening.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a film cartridge which is removably installable in a heating apparatus which heats recording medium through film. It relates to also a heating apparatus which uses a film cartridge. 
         [0002]    In recent years, it has come to be desired to output a print with a specific visual effect by partially or entirely altering a print in gloss. For example, it has come to be desired to output a print which looks like a silver-salt photograph, by increasing in gloss the entire surface of the print. One of the apparatuses capable of achieving such an objective is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application 2007-86747. According to this patent application, the apparatus is provided with a heating belt, and is structured to uniformly heat the entire surface of a print (image) through the belt in order to uniformly increase the print (image) in gloss, so that it can output a print which looks like a silver-salt photograph. 
         [0003]    It has also been desired to increase a part or parts of a print (image) in gloss in order to give the print (image) a visual effect attributable to the difference in glossiness between the part or parts of the print which are higher in gloss, and their adjacencies. The part or parts having such a visual effect are called watermarks, security marks, etc. 
         [0004]    It is difficult to give a print a visual effect such as the one described above with the use of a heating apparatus, such as the one disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application 2007-86747, which is structured to heat the entire surface of a print (image) with the use of a belt. That is, in the case of a heating apparatus structured as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application 2007-86747, the entirety of a print (image) is heated. Therefore, it is difficult to increase in gloss only a part or parts of the print (image), with the use of a heating apparatus such as the one disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application 2007-86747. 
         [0005]    Thus, in order to achieve the above described visual effect which can not be achieved by any of the conventional heating apparatuses, the inventors of the present invention came up with an idea to heat a part or parts of a print (image) with the use of a thermal head (heating means) through a sheet of film which is smaller in thermal resistance than the aforementioned belt. However, film which is low in thermal capacity is liable to deform as it is heated. Therefore, the film had to be frequently replaced. 
         [0006]    It is possible to use a role of film which can be easily replaced in entirety. However, the mechanism for suspending and keeping stretched the extended portion of a role of film is complicated. Further, as foreign substances such as dust adhere to the film and/or thermal head, the portions of the film having the foreign substances increases in thermal resistance, which may cause the heating apparatus to fail to properly heat a print (image). 
         [0007]    As one of the solutions to the above described problems, it is possible to place a role of film and a thermal head in a cartridge which has a container for an unused role of film and a container for a take-up roller for taking up the used portion of film, and which is structured so that the thermal head is positioned between the container for an unused role of film and container for a take-up roller. However, this structural arrangement requires that as the cartridge in a heating apparatus is replaced to replace the used role of film therein, the thermal head is replaced along with the used role of film. Therefore, it increases a heating apparatus in cost. Further, placing a thermal head in a film cartridge increases the cartridge in size. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In consideration of the above-described issues, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive film cartridge for a heating apparatus, which is structured so that it is removably installable in a heating apparatus and can minimize the amount by which foreign substances adhere to the film. 
         [0009]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge detachably mountable to a heating apparatus, said cartridge comprising a film; a supporting member for unwindably supporting said film; a winding-up member for winding up said film; a first container accommodating said supporting member and having a first opening; and a second container accommodating said winding-up member and having a second opening, wherein said film is unwindable from said supporting member to said wing-up member through said first opening and said second opening, wherein said first container and said second container are connected with each other so that said first container and said second container cover at least one side of said film, and wherein said first container and said second container are disconnectable from each other to expose said film between said first opening and said second opening. 
         [0010]    These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a gloss altering apparatus, that is, a heating apparatus, in the first embodiment of the present invention, and shows the general structure of the apparatus. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of either the take-up roller container or the feed roller container, as seen from the direction of the other container. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a schematic sectional view of the film cartridge, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the take-up roller container and feed roller container of which are in contact with each other as they are when a film cartridge is brand-new, and shows the general structure of the cartridge. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional view of the gloss altering apparatus and the film cartridge therein right after the complete insertion of the film cartridge into the gloss altering apparatus, and shows the general structure of the combination of the gloss altering apparatus and the film cartridge therein. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the film cartridge (as seen from its lengthwise direction), which is in the gloss altering apparatus, and the take-up roller container and feed roller container of which are in connection to each other as they are when the film cartridge is brand-new. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of the film cartridge (as seen from its lengthwise direction), which is in the gloss altering apparatus, and the take-up roller container and feed roller container of which are in separation from each other by a preset distance. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a schematic perspective view of one of the lengthwise end portions of the film cartridge (certain portions of which are not shown). 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a schematic sectional view of the joint between the main frame and lid of the gloss altering apparatus, and shows the general structure of the joint. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a schematic sectional view of the gloss altering apparatus in use, at a plane which is parallel to the moving direction of the film and coincides with the center of the film cartridge in the apparatus in terms of the widthwise direction of the film. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a combination of  FIG. 6  and the components for driving the gloss altering apparatus. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 11(   a ),  11 ( b ) and  11 ( c ) are schematic sectional views of the gloss altering apparatus, as seen from the lengthwise direction of the apparatus, and sequentially show how the film cartridge is readied for usage after the installation of the cartridge into the apparatus. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a schematic drawing of the gloss altering apparatus, as seen from the lengthwise direction of the film cartridge, while the film cartridge is uninstalled from the apparatus. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a plan view of a combination of the film cartridge, and the film slicing blade, in the second embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the lengthwise direction of the cartridge, immediately before the take-up roller container and feed roller container of the cartridge are separated from each other. 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a schematic plan view of a combination of the film cartridge and separation plate  152  in the third embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the lengthwise direction of the cartridge, immediately before the take-up roller container and feed roller container of the cartridge are separated from each other. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiment 1 
       [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-12 , the first embodiment of the present invention is described. First, referring to  FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus equipped with a gloss altering apparatus, which is a heating apparatus, is described about its general structure. 
       [General Structure of Image Forming Apparatus] 
       [0026]    The main assembly  1  of the image forming apparatus has an image forming section  3  and a recording medium conveying section  4 , which are in the top and bottom portions, respectively, of the main assembly  1 . The image formation section  3  has Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan) and Bk (black) stations, which form yellow, magenta, cyan, and black monochromatic images, respectively. Each station has: a photosensitive drum  30  as an image bearing member; a charging device  31  as a charging means; an LED unit  32  as an exposing means; a developing device  33  as a developing means; a primary transfer roller  35  as a transferring means; and a cleaner  36  as a cleaning means. The charging device  31  uniformly charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum  30 . The LED unit  32  forms an electrostatic latent image on the charged area of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum  30 . The developing device  33  develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum  30  into a visible image formed of toner (which hereafter may be referred to simply as toner image), with the use of toner, the particle diameter of which is in a range of 5-10 μm. 
         [0027]    The primary transfer roller  35  transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum  30  onto an intermediary transfer belt  34 . The cleaner  36  is a cleaning means for removing the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum  30 . The image forming section  3  has the intermediary transfer belt  34 . The aforementioned image formation stations are aligned along the intermediary transfer belt  34 . The intermediary transfer belt  34  is suspended and kept stretched by a driver roller  37 , a secondary transfer inside roller  38 , and a tension roller  39 . 
         [0028]    Next, the structure of the recording medium conveying section  4  is described. The recording medium conveying section  4  has a recording medium cassette  40 , in which multiple sheets S of recording medium are stored. The sheets S in the cassette  40  are sequentially fed into the apparatus main assembly  1  by a feed roller  41  while being separated one by one by a pair of separation rollers  42 . Then, each sheet S of recording medium is conveyed to a pair of registration rollers  44  by multiple recording medium conveyance rollers  43 . As each sheet S of recording medium reaches the pair of registration rollers  44 , it is delivered to the intermediary transfer belt  34  by the pair of registration roller  44  with such a timing that the sheet arrives at the secondary transfer section at the same time as the toner image on the intermediary transfer belt  34 . The toner image on the intermediary transfer belt  34  is transferred onto the sheet S of recording medium by a secondary transfer roller  46 , which is a transferring means. There are a conveyance belt for conveying a sheet S of recording medium, and a fixing device  47  for fixing the toner image on the sheet S to the sheet S, on the downstream side of the primary transfer roller  46 . After the fixation of the toner image, the sheet S is conveyed by a pair of recording medium conveyance rollers  48  to a gloss altering apparatus  6  which is a heating apparatus. 
         [0029]    Arriving at the gloss altering apparatus, the sheet S of recording medium is conveyed by a pair of recording medium conveyance roller  105  to the gloss altering section, in which a platen roller  101  and a thermal head (heating means) oppose each other, with the presence of the film between the platen roller  101  and thermal head  102 . The thermal head  102  has a large number of heating elements which can be selectively made to generate heat according to recording information (gloss alteration information). It presses on the sheet S of recording medium with the presence of a transfer film  200  between itself and the sheet S, and heats the sheet S. That is, the heating edge of the thermal head  102  contacts the top surface ( FIG. 1 ) of the transfer film  200 , and selectively heats various areas of the sheet S, which is in contact with the other surface (bottom side) of the transfer film  200 . Thus, the entirety of the toner image on the sheet S is altered in gloss, or a part or various parts of the toner image are selectively altered in gloss, whereby a watermark, a security mark, and the like pattern which are visually recognizable are effected. The transfer film  200  is controlled in tension by a tension roller  103 . It is separated from the sheet S of recording medium at the location of the separation roller  104 . After the gloss alteration of the sheet S (print), the sheet S is discharged into a delivery tray  49  by a pair of discharge rollers  106 . 
       [Film Cartridge] 
       [0030]    The aforementioned transfer film  200  is placed between the thermal head  102  and a sheet S of recording medium when heating the sheet S with the thermal head  102 . Therefore, it is formed very thin and flexible. For example, it is desired that its thickness is in a range of 3-9 μm, and its thermal resistance is in a range of 1.7-2.0° C./W. It is desired to be 0.8 W/m·K in thermal conductivity, and be formed of resin. In this embodiment, it is polyethylene terephthalete film coated with parting agent. The transfer film  200  and thermal head  102  are 350 mm, for example, in width (dimension in terms of direction perpendicular to sheet conveyance direction; their length in terms of front-to-rear direction of  FIG. 1 ), so that they can deal with a sheet of recording medium which is as large as A3 in size. 
         [0031]    The transfer film  200  is stored in a film cartridge  2 , which comprises a feed roller  202 , a take-up roller  204 , a feed roller container  201 , and a take-up roller container  203 . The feed roller  202  is the roller around which an unused roll of transfer film  200  is fitted, and from which the transfer film  200  is fed. The take-up roller  204  is a member for winding up (taking up) the used (heated) portion of the transfer film  200 . In other words, one end of the transfer film  200  is attached to the feed roller  202 , and the other end of the transfer film  200  is attached to the take-up roller  204 . Thus, the transfer film  200  is movable between the two rollers  202  and  204  by the rotation of the two rollers  202  and  204 . 
         [0032]    Next, referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the feed roller container  201 , which hereafter may be referred to as the first container, has an opening  201   m,  which hereafter may be referred to as the first opening. It contains the feed roller  202 . The take-up roller container  203 , which hereafter may be referred to as the second container, has an opening  203   m,  which hereafter may be referred to as the second opening. It contains the take-up roller  204 . The feed roller container  201  and take-up roller containers  203  have slanted surfaces  201   n  and  203   n,  respectively, which extend diagonally downward from the top surfaces of the containers  201  and  203 , respectively, and face each other. The two slanted surfaces  201   n  and  203   n  are angled so that the distance between the top edge of the surface  201   a  and the top edge of the surface  203   a  are greater than the distance between the bottom edge of the surface  201   n  and bottom edge of the surface  203   n.  The two surfaces  201   n  and  203   n  extend from the front end of the film cartridge  2  to the rear end of the film cartridge  2  (left-to-right direction in  FIG. 2 ; front-to-back direction in  FIG. 3 ). Incidentally, a term “widthwise direction” in this specification and its claim section of the present invention means the direction perpendicular to the direction in which a sheet S of recording medium is conveyed. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , as the film cassette  2  is inserted into the main assembly of the gloss altering apparatus, the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are separated from each other, and the thermal head  102  enters between the two containers  201  and  203 . When heating a sheet S of recording medium (print) which is on the opposite side of the transfer film  200  from the thermal head  102 , the thermal head  102  is placed in contact with the opposite side of the transfer film  200  from the sheet S, between the opening  201   m  of the feed roller container  201  and the opening of the take-up roller container  203 . The transfer film  200  is fed from the feed roller  202  through the opening  201   m  of the feed roller container  201 , and is taken up (wound up) by the take-up roller  204  through the opening  203   m  of the take-up roller container  203 . 
         [0034]    The film cartridge  2  structured as described above is removably installable in the gloss altering apparatus  6 . When it is not in the gloss altering apparatus, its feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  kept united with each other, as shown in  FIG. 3 , in such a manner that at least one surface of the transfer film  200  is covered with the feed roller container  201  and/or take-up roller container  203 . Incidentally, in the case of the film cartridge  2  shown in  FIG. 3 , the entirety of the transfer film  200  is covered with the two containers  201  and  203 , being thereby prevented from being exposed. However, the opposite surface of the transfer film  200  from the covered surface of the transfer film  200  may remain exposed through an opening which a part of the feed roller container  201  may be provided, and/or an opening which a part of the take-up roller container  203  may be provided. 
         [0035]    Further, when the film cartridge  2  is remaining properly positioned in the gloss altering apparatus  6 , the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  remain separated from each other as described above, and therefore, the transfer film  200  remains exposed between the opening  201   m  of the feed roller container  201  and the opening  203   m  of the take-up roller container  203 , enabling thereby the thermal head  102  to heat the preselected portion or portions of a sheet S of recording medium through the transfer film  200 , as described above. 
         [0036]    To describe more concretely, referring to  FIG. 2 , the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are provided with openings  201   m  and  203   m,  respectively, which are positioned so that when the two containers  201  and  203  are remaining united with each other as shown in  FIG. 3 , the openings  201   m  and  203   m  align with each other. The edges of at least one of the opening  201   m  of the feed roller container  201  and the opening  203   m  of the take-up roller container  203  is provided with an elastic member  205  (or  206 ). Further, when the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  is remaining united with each other as shown in  FIG. 3 , the elastic member  205  (and/or elastic member  206 ) is kept elastically pressed upon the edges of the opening of the other container, sealing thereby between the two containers  201  and  203 . 
         [0037]    In the case of the film cassette  2  shown in  FIG. 3 , the elastic members  205  and  206  are positioned so that they surround the opening  201   m  of the feed roller container  201  and the opening  203   m  of the take-up roller container  203 , respectively, and also, so that when the two containers  201  and  203  are remaining united with each other as shown in  FIG. 3 , the two elastic members  205  and  206  remain in contact with each other. However, it may be only one of the two openings  201   m  and  203   m  that is surrounded by an elastic member (it is not mandatory that the other opening also is surrounded by elastic member), so that when the two containers  201  and  203  are remaining united with each other as shown in  FIG. 3 , the elastic member attached to surround one of the two openings  201   m  and  203   m  directly contacts the edges of the other opening. Since the film cassette  2  is provided with the elastic member  205  and/or elastic member  206 , which are positioned as described above, it is ensured that foreign substances such as dust are prevented from invading into the containers when the film cartridge  2  is carried around before it is installed in the gloss altering apparatus. The elastic members  205  and  206  are desired to be capable of airtightly sealing between the two containers  201  and  203 , and therefore, are desired to be formed of polyurethane or the like substance. 
         [0038]    Next, referring to  FIG. 4 , the film cartridge  2  is installed into the gloss altering apparatus while its two contains  201  and  203  are kept united with each other as shown in  FIG. 3 . More concretely, the procedure for installing the film cartridge  2  into the gloss altering apparatus is as follows: First, the top lid  112  of the gloss altering apparatus is to be opened. As the lid  112  is opened, an opening  126  for allowing the film cartridge  2  to be installed into, or removed from, the gloss altering apparatus, is exposed. Next, the film cartridge  2  is to be inserted into the gloss altering apparatus through the opening  126 , while the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  of the film cartridge  2  are kept united with each other, in such a manner that the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  settle on the cartridge holders  108  and  110  of the gloss altering apparatus, respectively. 
         [0039]    As for the size of the opening  126  for inserting or removing the film cartridge  2 , it is required to be minimum for insertion or removal of the film cartridge  2 . This restriction is for preventing, as much as possible, foreign substances such as dust from entering the gloss altering apparatus. The cartridge holders  108  and  110  are on a pair of rails  109  and  111 , being therefore movable in the left-to-right (or right-to-left) direction of  FIG. 4  along the rails. 
         [0040]    The film cartridge  2  is provided with a pair of springs  113  and  114 . The spring  113  is between the cartridge holder  108  and the frame  6   a  (stationary) of the gloss altering apparatus, whereas the spring  114  is between the cartridge holder  110  and the frame  6   a  (stationary) of the gloss altering apparatus. Thus, the springs  113  and  114  keep the cartridge holder  108  and  110  pressured toward the holders  110  and  108 , respectively. This setup is for reuniting the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  (which are kept separated while they are in gloss altering apparatus) when replacing the film cartridge  2  in the gloss altering apparatus. The springs  113  and  114  are desired to be the same in coefficient of springiness, but may be different. 
         [0041]    The feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  of the film cartridge  2  need to be kept united while the film cartridge  2  is out of the gloss altering apparatus as described above. Therefore, one of the two containers  201  and  203  is provided with a pair of elastic hooks, which are at one of the lengthwise ends of each container, one for one, whereas the other container is provided with a pair of projections, which are at the lengthwise ends of the container, and with which the elastic hooks can engage, one for one, to keep the two containers  201  and  203  united as shown in  FIG. 5 . The hook can be disengaged from the projection by being elastically bent away from the projection. In this embodiment, the pair of elastic hooks and pair of projections make up the means for keeping the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  united. 
         [0042]    More concretely, in the case of the film cartridge  2  shown in  FIG. 5 , each of the lengthwise ends of its feed roller container  201  is provided with a pair of hooks  201   a  and  201   b,  which extend in the direction of the take-up roller container  203  from the top and bottom portions, respectively, of one of the lengthwise wall of the feed roller container  201 . Further, each of the lengthwise end walls of the take-up roller container  203  is provided with a pair of projections  203   a  and  203   b,  which perpendicularly project outward of the take-up roller container  203  from the top and bottom portions, respectively, of the lengthwise end wall. Thus, the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are kept united by the engagement between the hooks  201   a  and  201   b  and the projections  203   a  and  203   b,  respectively. Therefore, it does not occur that the distance between the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  will change while the film cartridge  2  is carried around by a user, for example. 
         [0043]    On the other hand, the cartridge holder  110 , on which the take-up roller container  203  of the gloss altering apparatus is mounted is provided with a projection, which is on the top surface of the holder  110 . Further, the lid  112  is provided with a pair of plates  152 , which are at the lengthwise ends of the lid  112 , one for one. Each plate  152  perpendicularly projects from the corresponding lengthwise end of the inward surface of the lid  112 . In terms of the widthwise direction of the lid  112 , each plate  152  is located so that when the lid  112  is remaining closed, the plate  152  is between the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203 . Further, each plate  152  is provided with a pin  152   p,  which projects from the outward surface of the plate  152  in such a direction that when the lid  112  is in the closed state, the pin  152   p  projects downward. Further, the opposite end portion of each plate  152  from the lid  112  is shaped so that the farther from the lid  112  (in terms of direction in which plate  152  intrudes between feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203 ), the narrower the plate  152 ; it has a pair of slanted edges  152   n.    
         [0044]    As the film cartridge  2  is installed into the gloss altering apparatus, with its feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  remaining united, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the pin  110   p  comes into contact with the bottom hook  201   b,  and elastically bends the hook  201   b  in such a manner that the end portion of the hook  201   b  moves upward. Thus, the hook  201   b  becomes disengaged from the projection  203   b.  Further, while the lid  112  is closed, the pin  152   p  comes into contact with the top hook  201   a  and elastically bends the hook  201   a  in such a manner that the end portion of the hook  201   a  moves downward. Thus, the hook  201   a  becomes disengaged from the projection  203   a.    
         [0045]    Incidentally, in a case where the feed roller container  201  is provided with a projection  201   a,  and the take-up roller container  203  is provided with a hook  203   a,  the cartridge holder  108  is provided with the bottom pin  110   p.  Further, the top and bottom sides of the film cartridge  2  may be different in terms of which of the two containers  201  and  203  is provided with a hook, or a projection. Moreover, the hooks, projections, pins, and holders are located at the lengthwise ends (front and rear ends when film cartridge  2  is in gloss altering apparatus), and therefore, they do not come into contact with the transfer film  200 . In other words, they are outside the path of the transfer film  200  in terms of the widthwise direction of the transfer film  200 . 
         [0046]    In order to install the film cartridge  2  into the gloss altering apparatus, the film cartridge  2  is to be inserted into the gloss altering apparatus so that the take-up roller container  203  is placed on the holder  110  as described above. As the film cartridge  2  is inserted into the gloss altering apparatus as described above, the pin  110   p  pushes the hook  201   b  upward, whereby the bottom side of the feed roller container  201  becomes disengaged from the bottom side of the take-up roller container  203 . Next, the lid  112  of the gloss altering apparatus is to be closed. As the lid  112  is closed, the plate  152  enters the gap between the slanted surface  201   n  of the feed roller container  201  and the slanted surface  203   n  of the take-up roller container  203 . That is, the gloss altering apparatus is structured so that the plate  152  can enter between the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203 . As the plate  152  enters between the two containers  201  and  203 , the pin  152   p  presses the hook  201   a  downward, whereby the top portion of the feed roller container  201  becomes disengaged from the top portion  203   a  of the take-up roller container  203 . In other words, in this embodiment, the pins  110   p  and  152   p  make up a means for disengaging the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  from each other. 
         [0047]    That is, as the lid  112  is closed, the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203 , shown in  FIG. 5 , are disengaged from each other, whereby it becomes possible for the distance between the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  to be changed. As the plate  152  is moved further downward (forward in terms of entering direction), the pair of diagonal edges  152   n  of the plate  152  come into contact with the slanted surfaces  201   n  and  203   n,  respectively, of the cartridge  2  while the plate  152  enters between the two containers  201  and  203 . As the plate  152  moves further downward, it forces the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  to move away from each other as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . After forcing the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  to move away from each other, the plate  152  remains between the two containers  201  and  203 . In other words, in this embodiment, the plate  152  makes up a means for separating and keeping separated the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  from each other. 
         [0048]    Next, referring to  FIG. 8 , the lid  112  provided with the plate  152  is in connection to the frame  6   a  of the gloss altering apparatus in such a manner that the lid  112  can be moved upward or downward. More concretely, the lid  112  is in connection to the frame  6   a  of the gloss altering apparatus with the presence of a hinge  122   a  and a rail  122   b  between the lid  112  and frame  6   a.  The first step to be taken in order to close the lid  112  when the lid  112  is open as shown in  FIG. 4  is to rotate the lid  112  about the hinge  112   a  so that the lid  112  becomes horizontal. The second step is to move the lid  112  downward along the rail  122   b.    
         [0049]    As the lid  112  is closed as described above, the center portion of the plate  152  enters between the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203 , and causes the cartridge holder  108  and  110  to come into contact with a pair of bumpers  120  and  121 , respectively, fixed to the frame  6   a  of the gloss altering apparatus. As a result, the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are precisely positioned relative to the frame  6   a  of the gloss altering apparatus, being thereby readied for its usage as shown in  FIG. 6 . When the film cartridge  2  is in the state shown in  FIG. 6 , the transfer film  200  remains exposed between the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203 . 
         [0050]    As described above, the film cartridge  2  can be changed in the distance between the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203 ; the distance between the feed roller container  201  and take-up container  203  before the film cartridge  2  is readied for its usage is smaller than that when the film cartridge  2  is ready for its usage. Therefore, the amount of space which the film cartridge  2  requires when it is carried around and/or stored outside the gloss altering apparatus is substantially smaller than when it is used. 
         [0051]    Next, referring to  FIG. 9 , while the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  remain separated from each other by a preset distance as described above, the thermal head  102 , tension roller  103 , and separation roller  104 , which are on the head support frame  151 , are between the two containers  201  and  203 . The head support frame  151  is on the inward surface of the lid  112 , and is positioned so that when the lid  112  is remaining closed, it is between the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203 . Further, in terms of the lengthwise direction of the gloss altering apparatus, the head support frame  151  is between the pair of plates  152  which are at the lengthwise ends of the lid  112 , one for one. 
         [0052]    The thermal head  102  is fixed to the opposite end of the head support frame  151  from the lid  112 . The tension roller  103  and separation roller  104  are rotatably supported by the head support frame  151 , by their lengthwise ends, and are on the upstream and downstream sides of the thermal head  102 , respectively, in terms of the recording medium conveyance direction. Therefore, as the lid  112  is closed, the thermal head  102 , tension roller  103 , and separation roller  104  come into contact with the portion of the transfer film  200 , which has just become exposed because of the separation of the feed roller container  201  and  203  from each other as described above. 
         [0053]    Then, as the lid  112  is moved downward, the thermal head  102 , tension roller  103 , and separation roller  104  press on the transfer film  200 , placing thereby the transfer film  200  in the preset position while tensioning the transfer film  200  and pulling the transfer film  200  out of the feed roller container  201 . That is, the transfer film  200  is kept stretched by the tension roller  103  and separation roller  104 , the thermal head  102  comes into contact with the portion of the transfer film  200 , which is between the two rollers  103  and  104 . When the gloss altering apparatus is in the above described state, the thermal head  102  opposes the platen roller  101  with the presence of the transfer film  200  between the thermal head  102  and platen roller  101 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 10  is a schematic sectional view of the gloss altering apparatus when the gloss altering apparatus is in operation. It shows the structure of the gloss altering apparatus, in particular, the components which drive the gloss altering apparatus. The feed roller  202  and take-up roller  204  are supported by shafts  202   s  and  204   s,  respectively, which are rotatably supported by the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203 , respectively. One of the lengthwise ends of the feed roller  202  is solidly fitted with a gear  202   g,  and the corresponding lengthwise ends of the take-up roller  204  is solidly fitted with a gear  204   g.  Further, the gloss altering apparatus is provided with a pair of gears  123  and  124 , which are in connection to a torque limiter  123   t  and a motor (unshown), respectively. 
         [0055]    When the film cartridge  2  is installed into the gloss altering apparatus, the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are separated from each other by the plate  152  as described above. As for the gears  202   g  and  204   g,  as the lid  112  is closed, they are moved toward the gears  123  and  124 , respectively, and as the gloss altering apparatus becomes ready for usage, the gears  202   g  and  204   g  mesh with the gears  123  and  124 , respectively as shown in  FIG. 10 , being thereby enabled to transmit torque to the feed roller  202  and take-up roller  204 , respectively. Therefore, while the gloss altering apparatus is in use, the feed roller  202  is provided with a preset amount of load by the torque limiter  123   t,  being thereby reliably controlled in rotation, whereas the take-up roller  204  is provided with torque from the motor, being enabled to take up the transfer film  200 . 
         [0056]    Incidentally, in the embodiment described above, the film cartridge  2  and gloss altering apparatus are structured so that as the lid  112  is closed, both the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are made to move in the direction to separate from each other. However, the structural arrangement for separating the two containers  201  and  203  from each other does not need to be limited to the one in this embodiment. That is, the structural arrangement may be such that only one of the containers  201  and  203  is moved while the other is kept stationary. For example, the take-up roller container  203  may be immovably attached to the frame  6   a  of the gloss altering apparatus in such a manner that when the film cartridge  2  is installed into the gloss altering apparatus, the driving force for taking up the transfer film  200  can be transmitted to the take-up roller  204 . That is, the gear  204   g  of the take-up roller  204  is engaged with the gear  124  which is in connection to the motor. Thus, the feed roller container  201  is moved to make the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  separate from each other. This setup ensures that the take-up roller  204  is connected to, and driven by, the motor. 
         [0057]      FIGS. 11(   a ),  11 ( b ) and  11 ( c ) are schematic drawings of the front side (rear side is symmetrical to front side) of the gloss altering apparatus, and shows the structure of the front side of the gloss altering apparatus. They sequentially show how the film cartridge  2  is readied for usage after its insertion into the gloss altering apparatus.  FIG. 11(   a ) shows the state of the combination of the film cartridge  2  and gloss altering apparatus immediately after the film cartridge  2  was inserted into the gloss altering apparatus.  FIG. 11(   b ) shows the state of the combination while the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are being separated from each other by the downward movement of the lid  112  for separating the two containers  201  and  203 .  FIG. 11(   c ) show the state of the combination while the gloss altering apparatus (film cartridge  2 ) is used. 
         [0058]    Next, how the film cartridge  2  is taken out of the gloss altering apparatus is described. When it is necessary to take the film cartridge  2  out of the gloss altering apparatus, the lid  112  is to be moved upward following in reverse the steps followed when the film cartridge  2  was installed into the gloss altering apparatus. That is, the sequence for taking the film cartridge  2  out of the gloss altering apparatus is a reversal of the sequence for installing the film cartridge  2 , and therefore, it progresses in the order of  FIGS. 11(   c ),  11 ( b ) and  11 ( a ). 
         [0059]    As the plate  152  is moved upward with the lid  112 , the pair of diagonal edges  152   n,  which make up the opposite ends of the plate  152  from the lid  112 , come into contact with the slanted surface of the feed roller container  201  and the slanted surface of the take-up roller container  203 . The feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are under the pressure generated in the direction to press the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  toward each other, by the combination of the compression spring  113  which is between the cartridge holder  108  and frame  6   a,  and the compression spring  114  which is between the cartridge holder  110  and frame  6   a.  Therefore, as the lid  112  is moved upward with the plate  152 , the cartridge holder  108  and  110  gradually approach each other, with the slanted surfaces  201   n  and  203   n  sliding on the diagonal edges  152   n,  one for one, as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0060]    Then, as the lid  112  is opened (rotated upward about hinge  122   a ), the state of the gloss altering apparatus changes into the one shown in  FIG. 4 , that is, the state in which the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are united with each other, allowing thereby the film cartridge  2  to be taken out of the gloss altering apparatus. As the state of the gloss altering apparatus changes into the one shown in  FIG. 4 , the hooks  201   a  and  201   b  engage with the projections  203   a  and  203   b,  respectively, preventing thereby the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  from separating from each other. 
         [0061]    Incidentally, the gloss altering apparatus may be structured so that the film cartridge  2  can be installed into, or removed from, the gloss altering apparatus in the following manner. That is, when the film cartridge  2  is removed, the feed roller  202 , which is the upstream roller in terms of the recording medium conveyance direction, is to be rotated, whereas when the film cartridge  2  is installed, the take-up roller  204 , which is the downstream roller, is to be rotated. More concretely, each of the feed roller  202  and take-up roller  204  is provided with its own motor, which is rotated during the installation or removal of the film cartridge  2 . Another example of the structural arrangement is to position a driving force transmitting mechanism between the gears  123  and  124 , and the lid  112  so that each of the feed roller  202  and take-up roller  204  is rotated by the opening or closing movement of the lid  112 . 
         [0062]    The reason why the downstream roller is to be rotated during the installation of the film cartridge  2  is that even if a small amount of dust or the like has adhered to the unrolled portion of the transfer film  200 , rotating the downstream roller can prevent the dust or the like on the unrolled portion of the transfer film  200  from adhering to the thermal head  102 . The reason why the gloss altering apparatus is structured so that when removing the film cartridge  2 , the upstream roller is rotated is that rotating only the downstream roller increases the gloss altering apparatus in film consumption. Obviously, if it is a greater concern to prevent dust or the like from adhering to the thermal head  102  than to reduce the gloss altering apparatus in film consumption, the downstream roller may be rotated even when removing the film cartridge  2 . 
         [0063]    In this embodiment, when the film cartridge  2  is out of the gloss altering apparatus, the transfer film  200  remains covered by the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203 . Therefore, it is unlikely for foreign substance from adhering to the transfer film  200  when the film cartridge  2  is out of the gloss altering apparatus. That is, when the film cartridge  2  is out of the gloss altering apparatus, its feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  remain united with each other as shown in  FIG. 3  so that the transfer film  200  is not exposed. That is, while the film cartridge  2  is carried around, installed into the gloss altering apparatus, or removed from the gloss altering apparatus, the transfer film  200  remains within the film cartridge  2 . Therefore, it is unlikely for foreign substances such as dust to adhere to the transfer film  200 , and therefore, it is unlikely for the thermal head  102  to be prevented by the foreign substances such as dust from properly heating a sheet of recording medium and the image thereon. 
         [0064]    Further, when the film cartridge  2  is out of the gloss altering apparatus, its feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  remain united with each other. Therefore, it is unnecessary for a user to use both hands to handle the film cartridge  2 ; the film cartridge  2  can be easily handled with a single hand. In other words, the film cartridge  2  in this embodiment is easy to handle or carry around. 
         [0065]    Further, it is after the installation of the film cartridge  2  into the gloss altering apparatus that the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are separated from each other to expose the transfer film  200 . Therefore, it is unlikely that foreign substances will adhere to the transfer film  200  while the film cartridge  2  is installed into, or uninstalled from, the gloss altering apparatus. That is, immediately after the installation of the film cartridge  2  into the gloss altering apparatus, the transfer film  200  is yet to be exposed as shown in  FIG. 4 . Then, as the lid  112  is closed, the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are separated from each other to expose the transfer film  200  as shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . As for the uninstallation of the film cartridge  2 , as the lid  112  is opened, the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are united to cover the transfer film  200  as shown in  FIG. 12 . Therefore, the combination of the gloss altering apparatus and film cartridge  2  in this embodiment can minimize the opportunity for foreign substances to adhere to the transfer film  200 , while being structured so that the film cartridge  2  is removably installable in the gloss altering apparatus. 
         [0066]    Further, this embodiment makes it possible for the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  to be separated from each other, or united, by the opening or closing movement of the lid  112 , being therefore excellent in terms of operational efficiency. Moreover, this embodiment prevents foreign substances from adhering to the transfer film  200 . Therefore, this embodiment makes it unnecessary for the thermal head  102  to be a part of the film cartridge  2 . Therefore, the film cartridge  2  in this embodiment is significantly less in cost than any film cartridge ( 2 ) in accordance of the prior art. 
         [0067]    By the way, as long as the surface of the transfer film  200 , which comes into contact with the thermal head  102 , remains covered with the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203 , it is unlikely to occur that the adhesion of foreign substances to the transfer film  200  will cause the gloss altering apparatus to improperly heat a sheet of recording medium and the image thereon. To describe in more detail, if the opposite surface of the transfer film  200  from the thermal head  102  remains exposed even when the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  remain united, foreign substances adhere to this surface of the transfer film  200 . Thus, it is possible that as the film cartridge  2  is installed into the gloss altering apparatus while separating the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  from each other, the platen roller  101 , for example, will come into contact with this surface, making it possible for the foreign substances on the transfer film  200  to adhere to the platen roller  101 . 
         [0068]    However, the platen roller  101  is one of the components that come into contact with recording medium. Thus, even if foreign substances adhere to the platen roller  101 , the foreign substances on the platen roller  101  hardly affect the performance of the thermal head  102  (gloss altering apparatus) when the thermal head  102  (gloss altering apparatus) is heating a sheet of recording medium and the image thereon. Therefore, all that is necessary is the surface of the transfer film  200 , which faces the thermal head  102 , remains covered when the film cartridge  2  is out of the gloss altering apparatus. 
         [0069]    In this embodiment, the combination of the gloss altering apparatus and the film cartridge  2  therefor is structured as described above. Therefore, when the film cartridge  2  is out of the gloss altering apparatus, at least the surface of the transfer film  200 , which comes into contact with the heating means, remains covered by the first and second containers. Therefore, it is unlikely for foreign substances to adhere to the surface of the transfer film  200 , which comes into contact with the heating means. Further, the transfer film  200  is exposed by separating the first and second containers from each other after the insertion of the film cartridge  2  into the gloss altering apparatus. Therefore, it is unlikely for foreign substances to adhere to the transfer film  200  while the film cartridge  2  is installed into, or uninstalled from, the gloss altering apparatus. Further, the heating means does not need to be integrated into the film cartridge  2 . Therefore, the film cartridge  2  in this embodiment is significantly lower in cost than any film cartridge ( 2 ) in accordance with the prior art. 
       Embodiment 2 
       [0070]    Next, referring to  FIG. 13 , the second embodiment of the present invention is described. In this embodiment, the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are kept united with the use of a piece of adhesive tape  301 , which is a means for keeping the two containers  201  and  203  united. The tape  301  is pasted to both of the lengthwise ends of the film cartridge  2 , being pasted to both containers  201  and  203  to keep the two containers  201  and  203  united. Further, the gloss altering apparatus is provided with a pair of blades  152   b,  which are attached to the pair of plates  152  which are at the lengthwise ends of the gloss altering apparatus, one for one. Each blade  152   b  projects from the opposite end of the plate  152  from the lid  112 . In other words, the gloss altering apparatus in this embodiment is provided with the pair of blades  152   b  instead of the pair of pins  152   p  with which the gloss altering apparatus in the first embodiment was provided. 
         [0071]    The blade  152   b  is a means for giving the tape  301  a small cut for ripping the tap  301 , by being placed in contact with the tape  301 . As the lid  112  is closed to ready the gloss altering apparatus after the insertion of the film cartridge  2  into the gloss altering apparatus, the blade  152   b  is moved downward together with the plate  152 , by the movement of the lid  112 , slightly cutting the tape  301 . As the lid  112  is closed further, the plate  152  enters between the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203 , separating thereby the two containers  201  and  203  from each other while following the slanted surface  201   n  of the feed roller container  201  and the slanted surface  203   n  of the take-up roller container  203 . Thus, the tape  301  is cut by the combination of the blade  152   b  and the force generated by the downward movement of the plate  152  in the direction to separate the two containers  201  and  203 . Consequently, the film cartridge  2  becomes ready for usage as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0072]    Incidentally, the tape  301  may be peeled away by a user. In a case where the tape  301  is to be peeled away by a user, the blade  152   b  is unnecessary. The operational sequence for taking the film cartridge  2  in this embodiment out of the gloss altering apparatus is the same as that for taking the film cartridge  2  in the first embodiment out of the gloss altering apparatus. That is, the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are made to approach to each other, and united, in the order shown in  FIGS. 11(   c ),  11 ( b ) and  11 ( a ). In this case, a user is to paste a fresh piece of tape  301  to the united feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , before the user takes the film cartridge  2  out of the gloss altering apparatus. 
         [0073]    Using the tape  301  as it is used in this embodiment makes unnecessary the hooks  201   a  and  201   b,  projections  203   a  and  203   b,  and pins  152   p  and  110   p,  which are the members for keeping the two containers  201  and  203  united with each other, or separating the two containers  201  and  203  from each other. Therefore, the combination of the gloss altering apparatus and film cartridge  2  in this embodiment is lower in cost than the combination of the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  in this first embodiment. The structural arrangement for the gloss altering apparatus and film cartridge  2  in this embodiment other than the above described ones, and the operational steps in this embodiment other than the above described ones, are the same as those in the first embodiment. 
       Embodiment 3 
       [0074]    Next, referring to  FIG. 14 , the third embodiment of the present invention is described. In this embodiment, the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are kept united by a pair of tensional springs  302 , which are pressure applying means. One end of each spring  302  is in connection to the feed roller container  201 , and the other is in connection to the take-up roller container  203 . Thus, the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  remain under the tensional force which pulls the two containers  201  and  203  toward each other. That is, the spring  302  keeps the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  pressured toward each other. The pair of springs  302  are attached to the lengthwise ends of the film cartridge  2 , one for one, and keep the two containers  201  and  203  bound to each other by the lengthwise ends of the two containers. 
         [0075]    After the insertion of the film cartridge  2  into the gloss altering apparatus, the lid  112  is to be moved downward to ready the gloss altering apparatus. As the lid  112  is moved downward, the movement of the lid  112  causes the plates  152  to intrude between the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203 , following the slanted surface  201   n  of the feed roller container  201  and the slanted surface  203   n  of the take-up roller container  203 . Consequently, the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are separated from each other, being thereby readied for usage as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0076]    The operational sequence for taking the film cartridge  2  out of the gloss altering apparatus is the same as the one in the first embodiment. That is, the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are made to approach each other as shown in  FIGS. 11(   c ),  11 ( b ) and  11 ( a ), by the resiliency of the springs  302 , until the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are united as shown in  FIG. 14 . It is after the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are united that the film cartridge  2  is to be taken out of the gloss altering apparatus. 
         [0077]    In this embodiment, the feed roller container  201  and take-up roller container  203  are kept pressured toward each other by the pair of tensional springs  302 . Therefore, such springs as the springs  113  and  114  shown in  FIG. 1  are unnecessary, nor are the components, portions, etc., such as the hooks  201   a,    201   b,  projections  203   a  and  203   b,  and pins  152   p  and  110   p,  which are the means for keeping the two containers  201  and  203  united, or separating the two containers  201  and  203  from each other. Therefore, the film cartridge  2  in this embodiment is substantially lower in cost than any film cartridge  2  in accordance with the prior art. The other structural arrangement and operational sequence for the combination of the film cartridge  2  and gloss altering apparatus, other than those described above, are the same as those in the first embodiment. 
         [0078]    While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth, and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims. 
         [0079]    This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 127091/2011 filed Jun. 7, 2011 which is hereby incorporated by reference.