Abstract: A multiple purpose tool comprises a pair of holders, holding different media, and a generally cylindrical coupling member. Each holder has a pair of tabs on opposite sides of the medium held therein. The tabs are elastically deformable, have concave interior faces and convex exterior faces, and fit removably into recesses in opposite ends of the coupling member.

Abstract: A composite holding tool has a space in a rear barrel to be effectively used in order to expand a range of use of one composite holding tool. The composite holding tool includes a front barrel, a rear barrel rotatably connected to the front barrel, a plurality of holding bodies housed in the front barrel non-rotatably relative to the front barrel and movably in an axial direction, a cam cylinder that rotates integrally with the rear barrel, and can selectively hold any of the plurality of holding bodies, with a tip of the holding body protruding from a tip of the front barrel, by a relative rotation between the front barrel and the rear barrel, and a cartridge connected to the rear barrel or the cam cylinder and placed in the rear barrel.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer sheet for use in an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer recording method comprising a support, and at least a release layer and a receptive/adhesive layer laminated on the support in this order, the release layer comprising an acrylic resin, a polyester resin and a joint agent.

Abstract: In a the structure of end tape for revealing impending exhausting of a coating film tape supply, the end tape is connected to the core by a first single-sided adhesive tape, and to the coating film tape by a second single-sided adhesive tape, both adhesive tapes having a thickness of not more than 25?. The thickness of the second single-sided adhesive tape is 20% to 70% of the total thickness of the adhered section where the second single-sided adhesive tape, the end tape and the coating film tape overlap, and at least 30% of the thickness of the adhered section where the second adhesive tape is adhered directly to the coating film tape. The thickness of the first adhesive tape is 30% to 70% of the total thickness of the adhered section, where the first adhesive tape and the end tape overlap.

Abstract: A structure for coupling a coating film transfer tool to an article of stationery comprises a shaft-shaped member integrally formed on an end of the coating film transfer tool, and a bore-shaped member integrally formed on an end of the article of stationery. A projection is formed on the shaft-shaped member, an L-shaped cut-out, into which the projection can be inserted, is provided on the side wall of the bore-shaped member, and a stop for retaining the projection is provided adjacent the innermost end of the cut-out section. The coating film transfer tool and the article of stationery are connected by inserting the projection into the cut-out section and rotating the transfer tool when the projection reaches the end of the entry leg of the L-shaped cut-out, until the projection passes over the stop.

Abstract: A combined coating film transfer tool and article of stationery comprises a member formed on an end of a coating film transfer tool and another member formed on an end of stationery article. One of the members is in the shape of a shaft and the other is in the shape of a bore. The two members have cooperatively fitting parts at least one of which is elastically deformable.

Abstract: In a combination coating film transfer tool and ball-point pen, the transfer tool comprises a case, and a replacement cassette comprising supply and take-up reels and a transfer head. The cassette fits tightly, but removably, in the case, with the tip of the transfer head projecting from the case. The cassette is replaced from time to time, but the case can be reused. Consequently waste of plastic is reduced, and the replacement units can be manufactured less expensively.

Abstract: A composite holding tool has a space in a rear barrel to be effectively used in order to expand a range of use of one composite holding tool. The composite holding tool includes a front barrel, a rear barrel rotatably connected to the front barrel, a plurality of holding bodies housed in the front barrel non-rotatably relative to the front barrel and movably in an axial direction, a cam cylinder that rotates integrally with the rear barrel, and can selectively hold any of the plurality of holding bodies, with a tip of the holding body protruding from a tip of the front barrel, by a relative rotation between the front barrel and the rear barrel, and a cartridge connected to the rear barrel or the cam cylinder and placed in the rear barrel.

Abstract: A small-sized coating film transfer tool is provided, in which a transfer head is capable of turning relative to a casing. A bearing hole extends widthwise through the main body of a transfer head, and an insertion member, provided at the end of the casing, is inserted into the bearing hole. In the assembly of the tool, the insertion member is inserted into the bearing hole of the transfer head, and, when the casing is united with its cover, an end of the insertion member is engaged with a part of the cover. The inside of the bearing hole of the transfer head comes into line contact with the insertion member, allowing the transfer head to turn smoothly relative to the casing about the contact location.

Abstract: In a coating film transfer tool, a tape is unwound from a supply reel, fed over a transfer head, and wound onto a take-up reel driven from the supply reel by a drive mechanism having slippage. Instead of setting the average slipping torque at a high value, or minimizing its variations, to prevent it from falling below the winding threshold, the initial slipping ratio is set at a value of at least 34%. This avoids slackening of the tape without the need for close manufacturing tolerances or lubricants, and without causing a condition in which excessive force is required to wind the tape onto a take-up reel in the later stages of the tool's useful life.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive transfer recording medium comprising a substrate and a heat-sensitive transfer ink layer provided on the substrate, the heat-sensitive transfer ink layer being a coating of a hot-melt ink containing no solvent therein, the heat-sensitive transfer ink layer containing carbon black having a DBP oil absorption of 100 to 200 ml/100 g and a BET specific surface area of 100 m2/g or less, and the heat-sensitive transfer ink layer having a surface resistivity of not more than 1013 &OHgr;/□.

Abstract: A multi-gradation recording method comprising the steps of: providing a thermal transfer recording medium comprising a substrate, a release layer, a first ink layer and a second ink layer provided in this order on the substrate, and carrying out a gradation recording using the thermal transfer recording medium, the step of carrying out a gradation recording comprising: (a) in the case of recording in a middle density/high density region, carrying out a gradation expression based on an area gradation expression by transferring the first ink layer and the second ink layer together, and (b) in the case of recording in a low density region, carrying out a gradation expression by transferring only the second ink layer by causing a cohesive failure in the second ink layer, thereby changing the area of transferred ink per one dot and the thickness of transferred ink dots.

Abstract: A color thermal transfer recording medium for forming a multi-color image by superimposing printing of a plurality of different color inks wherein transfer layers corresponding to a plurality of colors to be superimposed are provided on separate substrates or on a single substrate in a side-by-side relation, the transfer layers each comprising at least a release layer, a color ink layer and an adhesive layer stacked in this order from the substrate side, the release layer comprising a wax material as a main component by weight, the adhesive layer comprising a binder comprising a thermoplastic resin as a main component by weight and particles dispersed in the binder, wherein the thickness d1 of a release layer for a first color; the thickness d2 of a color ink layer for a second color; the thickness d3 of an adhesive layer for a second color; and the average particle size R of the particles contained in the adhesive layer for the second color satisfy the following relation: (d1+d2+d3)×2>R&g

Abstract: A heat meltable ink image-receiving sheet used in a melting type thermal transfer method, comprising a sheet substrate and a porous ink-receiving layer, comprising a resin formed on at least one side of the sheet substrate, the porous ink-receiving layer having a thickness of 3 to 50 &mgr;m and a water vapor permeability (JIS L 1099) of not less than 300 g/(m2·hour) and less than 1,000 g/(m2·hour).

Abstract: A color image-forming method, comprising the steps of: using a transfer sheet comprising a foundation, a release layer and a colored ink layer stacked in this order on one side of the foundation wherein the release layer is capable of being fused or softened by heat at the time of a thermal transferring process and the colored ink layer is incapable of being softened by heat at the time of the thermal transferring process; and an image receiving body having at least a surface layer capable of being fused or softened by heat at the time of the thermal transferring process, superposing the colored ink layer of the transfer sheet onto the image receiving body and heating the transfer sheet/image receiving body from the transfer sheet side to form a color image on the image receiving body.

Abstract: A method for forming an image by thermal transfer: comprising forming a multi-color image using two chromatic color thermal transfer ink ribbons A and B, the thermal transfer ink ribbons A and B having respective chromatic colors which satisfy the following relations: YA+YB≧1.0 MA+MB≧1.0 CA+CB≧1.0 wherein YA, MA, and CA are defined respectively as values obtained by color separation of the optical reflection density of the thermal transfer ink ribbon A into Y, M, and C components, and YB, MB, and CB are defined respectively as values obtained by color separation of the optical reflection density of the thermal transfer ink ribbon B into Y, M, and C components.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive transfer tape such as transfer-type pressure sensitive correction tape or transfer-type pressure sensitive adhesive tape, for mounting in a handy-type transfer tool is provided, comprising a film support, which in turn comprises an organic polymer, and a pressure sensitive transfer layer on the film support, the pressure sensitive transfer layer comprising at least a pressure sensitive adhesive layer, the support having a first coefficient of kinetic friction on the transfer layer side of the support against a surface of a receiving object and a second coefficient of kinetic friction on the rear side of the support against a head member of a transfer tool, the first coefficient of kinetic friction being larger than the second coefficient of kinetic friction, and the difference between the first coefficient of kinetic friction and the second coefficient of kinetic friction being not less than 0.01.