Abstract: Disclosed is a disk label printer that includes a slot-in type optical disk driving mechanism and a printing mechanism integrated with each other, has a small size, and smoothly transfers optical disks. The disclosed disk label printer includes: a case that has a slot through which an optical disk is inserted or ejected formed therein; an optical disk driving mechanism that is provided in the case and writes and/or reads signals to and/or from the optical disk mounted to a disk mounting portion; and a printing mechanism that is provided in the case and includes a thermal head which prints a desired image on a label surface of the optical disk. The printing mechanism is provided on a transfer path of the optical disk toward the optical disk driving mechanism between the slot and the optical disk driving mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk label printer that includes a slot-in type optical disk driving mechanism and a printing mechanism integrated with each other, has a small size, and smoothly transfers optical disks. The disclosed disk label printer includes: a case that has a slot through which an optical disk is inserted or ejected formed therein; an optical disk driving mechanism that is provided in the case and writes and/or reads signals to and/or from the optical disk mounted to a disk mounting portion; and a printing mechanism that is provided in the case and includes a thermal head which prints a desired image on a label surface of the optical disk. The printing mechanism is provided on a transfer path of the optical disk toward the optical disk driving mechanism between the slot and the optical disk driving mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk label printer that includes a slot-in type optical disk driving mechanism and a printing mechanism integrated with each other, has a small size, and prints a high-quality image on the label surface of an optical disk. The disclosed disk label printer includes: a case that has a slot through which an optical disk is inserted or ejected formed therein; an optical disk driving mechanism that is provided in the case and writes and/or reads signals to and/or from the optical disk mounted to a disk mounting portion; and a printing mechanism that is provided in the case and includes a thermal head printing a desired image on a label surface of the optical disk. The printing mechanism is provided on a transfer path of the optical disk toward the optical disk driving mechanism between the slot an optical disk driving mechanism.

Abstract: In an image forming method in which a dither matrix comprised of a plurality of dots are used to record one pixel and an image having multistage gradations is recorded by changing the diameter of this dot, a threshold value of a dither matrix in one pixel is arranged such that each dot is sequentially plotted in the scanning direction of a thermal head. Further, in response to gradations, an image is recorded without using a dither matrix of a threshold value in which an energization time of a thermal head becomes discontinuous.

Abstract: The potency to be written via ink during recording so as to write the ink image and the re-transferability during re-transferring of the ink image on a recording medium should be retained, securely, for a long term. The transferring layers of the intermediate transferring medium comprise surface layer and intermediate layer, wherein the material of the surface layer comprises a silicone rubber containing 1 to 20 parts by weight of a non-reactive organopolysiloxane of a viscosity of 100 to 100,000 at 25.degree. C. per 100 parts by weight of an addition-type silicone rubber with no inorganic filler; and the material of the intermediate layer comprises a silicone rubber containing 1 to 20 parts by weight of a non-reactive organopolysiloxane of a viscosity of 100 to 100,000 at 25.degree. C. per 100 parts by weight of an addition-type silicone rubber.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer of the intermediate transfer type that first melts ink of an ink ribbon by heat of a thermal head and subsequently transfers the molten ink onto an intermediate transfer member to thereby form a primary recording image, and finally re-transfers this primary recording image onto paper to thereby perform a desired recording. The intermediate transfer member is made of a material selected in such a manner that the coefficient of friction for this material is equal to or more than 1.0. In one embodiment, the material of the intermediate transfer member is silicon rubber.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer member for a thermal transfer printer adapted to an intermediate transfer method and comprising: an intermediate transfer member, which has a transfer layer, and on which an ink image is written by thermal transfer; and a printing medium onto which the ink image written on the intermediate transfer member is again transferred, wherein material of at least a surface layer of the transfer layer is silicon rubber containing: (a) alkenyl-group-containing organopolysiloxane; (b) organohydrogenpolysiloxane (c) non-reactive organopolysiloxane expressed by the following formula (1): ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group having no aliphatic unsaturated group or a hydroxyl group, R.sup.2 are the same or different groups, such as methyl groups and phenyl groups, and 1 mol % to 30 mol % of all of R.sup.2 in each molecule are phenyl groups; and (d) a hydrosilylated reactive catalyst, the silicon rubber containing no inorganic filler.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal transfer printer which causes neither blur in first printing nor stain on a sheet even in both-side printing, and which can securely maintain ink writing properties in recording to write an ink image by an intermediate transfer member, and re-transfer properties in re-transfer of an ink image to a printing medium over a long period time.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer comprises an intermediate transfer roller, a thermal print head for transferring portions of an ink layer formed on an ink ribbon to the circumference of the intermediate transfer roller in ink dots, and a pressure drum to be pressed against the intermediate transfer roller to transfer the ink dots from the intermediate transfer roller thereto, provided with grippers on its circumference and with end plates each having a cam section. The cam sections have a height from the circumference of the pressure drum greater than that of the upper ends of the grippers from the circumference of the pressure drum at its opposite ends to avoid the collision of the grippers with the intermediate transfer roller, and have a radially outward convex curved shape. The length of the bases of the cam sections is greater than the distance between two edges between the circumference of the pressure drum and the flat surface formed by cutting a portion of the circumference of the pressure drum.

Abstract: A gradation printer feeds heat-sensitive paper at a constant speed and varies the heating time and hence, the coloring area depending upon printing dots, thereby representing a shading pattern by a multiplicity of printing dots having different densities. If the number of density degradations is N, and the heating time for producing the coloring area of the maximum density gradation is T, the heating time for producing a coloring area which corresponds to each density gradation is obtained by multiplying T/(N-1) by an integer, and the heating times which correspond to the respective density gradations are arranged at substantially regular intervals with the time T/2 as the center, the time T/2 being the point at which T/2 has elapsed from the start of the heating time T.