PURPOSE: To perform recording of high quality and to prevent unnecessary feed of a sheet by controlling sheet feed by a signal indicating the end of picture data and a delay time signal corresponds to the distance from an image formation area of an image support body to a transfer area.

CONSTITUTION: A laser beam 2 emitted by a laser oscillator 1 is modulated 3 by an input signal from an information output device 56 and a rotating photosensitive drum 7 is exposed to it to form an image. The latent image formed on the photoreceptor 7 is transferred to a long-sized sheet 15 through a developing device 11. A control circuit 57 controls exposure, development, and transfer and the timing of a necessary driving part. When the picture data ends, a rotary encoder linked to the rotating shaft of the photoreceptor 7 measures a delay time corresponding to the distance from the image formation area to the transfer area and transfer rolls 19 and 21 are released. Then, a sheet 15 is fed backward and stops. Thus, recording of high quality is performed and unnecessary sheet feed is prevented.