Abstract: A card manufacturing method for manufacturing the card and a card manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the card are provided. The card 51 includes a card base 1, a first receptor layer 1a arranged on one side of the card base 1 to contain a sublimation-ink image 8, a protecting layer OC1 laminated on the first receptor layer 1a and an invisible-ink image 10 formed on the protecting layer OC1. Owing to the interposition of the protecting layer OC1 between the sublimation-ink image 8 and the invisible-ink image 10, the card 51 is capable of suppressing color fading of a sublimation ink in the image 8 in spite of a card structure where the sublimation ink and an invisible ink are printed so as to overlap each other, allowing the card 51 to be used for a long time.

Abstract: Thermal transfer printing method and apparatus are provided to make initial character image data left on a spent ink ribbon illegible. In the method, after forming an initial character image FGi1 on an ink layer 11b in black of the ink ribbon 11, a forefront position S1 of the ink layer 11b is aligned with a forefront position S2 of an intermediate transfer film 25. Then, overwrite character image data UGD1 is applied on a thermal head 19 to produce a first superimpose character image KG1i1 on the ribbon 11 and a first superimpose character image KG1m1 on the film 25. After that, the forefront position S1 of the ink layer 11b is shifted from the forefront position S2 of the film 25 by a predetermined distance and further, the overwrite character image data UGD1 is applied on the thermal head 19 to produce a second superimpose character image KG2i1 on the ribbon 11 and a second superimpose character image KG2m1 on the film 25.

Abstract: Regarding a card storage cassette for use in a card recording apparatus in which a plurality of cards are stacked vertically with their face maintained substantially horizontal, the present invention provides in one embodiment a card recording apparatus and its card storage cassette in which cards can be replenished even when the undermost card is being ejected from the card storage cassette. While the card storage cassette (30) to be detachably mounted on the cassette mount platform formed on the right side plate of the outer chassis of the card recording apparatus is framed by joining a cassette body and a cassette cover, the cassette cover can be removed from the cassette body along a vertical guide member.

Abstract: A card manufacturing method for manufacturing the card and a card manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the card are provided. The card 51 includes a card base 1, a first receptor layer 1a arranged on one side of the card base 1 to contain a sublimation-ink image 8, a protecting layer OC1 laminated on the first receptor layer 1a and an invisible-ink image 10 formed on the protecting layer OC1. Owing to the interposition of the protecting layer OC1 between the sublimation-ink image 8 and the invisible-ink image 10, the card 51 is capable of suppressing color fading of a sublimation ink in the image 8 in spite of a card structure where the sublimation ink and an invisible ink are printed so as to overlap each other, allowing the card 51 to be used for a long time.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing machine 10 for thermally transferring image information on an information carrying medium to a printing medium is provided. The thermal transfer printing machine 10 includes a first platen roller 11 adapted so as to be rotatable, a second platen roller 12 adapted so as to be rotatable, the second platen roller 12 being separated from the first platen roller 11 and also paralleled thereto substantially, and a thermal print head 21 disposed between the first and second platen rollers 11, 12. The thermal print head 21 is adapted so as to be movable between a first transfer position to allow the thermal print head 21 to oppose the first platen roller 11 and a second transfer position to allow the thermal print head 21 to oppose the second platen roller 12.

Abstract: In a process of peeling off a transfer layer of an intermediate transfer film, an amount of energy, which is supplied to a thermal head 3 so as to heat the thermal head 3, is changed in accordance with a location of the thermal head 3 in a peeling area 71P and its neighboring area. The amount of energy is designated to be maximum energy E1 when the thermal head 3 is positioned in the neighborhood of a boundary area of the peeling area 71P while the thermal head 3 relatively moves from outside the peeling area 71P, that is, a non-peeling area 71NP to inside the peeling area 71P. In a case that the thermal head 3 is positioned in the non-peeling area 71NP or outside the peeling area 71P, a certain amount of energy is supplied to the thermal head 3 so as to maintain a temperature T of the thermal head 3 at a temperature of less than a predetermined temperature PA while heating the thermal head 3.

Abstract: Regarding a card storage cassette for use in a card recording apparatus in which a plurality of cards are stacked vertically with their face maintained substantially horizontal, the present invention provides in one embodiment a card recording apparatus and its card storage cassette in which cards can be replenished even when the undermost card is being ejected from the card storage cassette. While the card storage cassette 30 to be detachably mounted on the cassette mount platform formed on the right side plate of the outer chassis of the card recording apparatus is framed by joining a cassette body and a cassette cover, the cassette cover can be removed from the cassette body along a vertical guide member.

Abstract: In a process of peeling off a transfer layer of an intermediate transfer film, an amount of energy, which is supplied to a thermal head 3 so as to heat the thermal head 3, is changed in accordance with a location of the thermal head 3 in a peeling area 71P and its neighboring area. The amount of energy is designated to be maximum energy E1 when the thermal head 3 is positioned in the neighborhood of a boundary area of the peeling area 71P while the thermal head 3 relatively moves from outside the peeling area 71P, that is, a non-peeling area 71NP to inside the peeling area 71P. In a case that the thermal head 3 is positioned in the non-peeling area 71NP or outside the peeling area 71P, a certain amount of energy is supplied to the thermal head 3 so as to maintain a temperature T of the thermal head 3 at a temperature of less than a predetermined temperature PA while heating the thermal head 3.