US Patent 7301551 Thermal image forming apparatus

A thermal image forming apparatus is provided. A platen roller supports a recording medium having first and second sides opposite to each other. A recording head includes a heating part that applies heat to the recording medium for image formation. The recording head rotates around the platen roller to move the heating part to first and second locations respectively facing the first and second sides of the recording medium. A conveying part conveys the recording medium. When the recording head is positioned at the first and second locations, locations of the heating part are symmetrical with each other with respect to a reference line, which passes through the conveying part and a center of the platen roller.