A copying machine records an image on a recording sheet through the use of an ink donor sheet with thermally transferable ink. The copying machine includes a platen of glass for supporting an original to be copied, a scanner unit movable reciprocally relative to the platen for reading a series of lines on the original and for generating an image signal for each line, a thermal head having a heating region for selectively generating thermal pulses in response to the image signal from the scanner unit, an ink donor sheet supply assembly for supplying the thermal head with an ink donor sheet coated with thermally transferable ink which can be fluidized or sublimable upon being heated, a recording sheet supply assembly for supplying a recording sheet in the vicinity of the thermal head, a contacting assembly for bringing the supplied recording sheet into intimate contact with a heating region of the thermal head with the ink donor sheet interposed between the thermal head and the recording sheet, and a recording sheet discharging assembly for discharging the recording sheet peeled off the ink donor sheet after the image has been recorded on the recording sheet.