PURPOSE: To detect the end of a roll sheet and the remaining state immediately independently of under carrying, by using two sensors and a virtual end mark given to the sheet.

CONSTITUTION: The end of the roll sheet 2 carried for cutting-off to a prescribed length is detected. The sensors 100, 101 detecting the carrying of the roll sheet 2 held in a holder 1 are arranged before and after a picture recording section (roller 5 and thermal head 6). Further, end alarm marks (a), (b) are provided at this side by a prescribed length from the end of the roll sheet 2. The (a), (b) are marks showing the difference in the sensing level. Further, the length l1 of the mark (a) is made longer than that between the sensors 100 and 101. The remaining state of sheets is detected by setting the l1 and l2; one sheet of paper remains when the mark (a) is detected by both the sensors, and less than one sheet of paper remains when the mark (b) is detected by the sensor 100.