Abstract: Disclosed are a master holder of a stamper electroforming apparatus and an electroforming method using this master holder. The master holder is for use in a stamper electroforming apparatus that forms a metal film by electroforming on a conductive film formed on a master having a minute relief pattern on its surface; and this master includes: a contact ring for electrically connecting the conductive film to a power source; and a structure for controlling the rate at which the metal film is formed, which structure is provided on the contact ring and adapted to control the metal-film-formation rate such that the thickness of a peripheral portion of the metal film gradually decreases in the vicinity of the contact ring.

Abstract: A thermal transfer material comprising a support and an ink layer disposed thereon comprising a binder and a colorant, wherein the binder comprises 40-80 wt. % of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and 20-60 wt. % of a wax based on the total weight of the binder, and the ink layer has a breakdown strength of 30-80 kg/cm.sup.2 at 25.degree. C.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive transfer medium comprising a support and at least two heat-transferable ink layers including a first and a second ink layer. The first ink layer has relative adhesions with the second ink layer and the support which are reverse at a higher temperature from those at a lower temperature. When the heat-sensitive transfer medium is superposed with paper, a heat energy is applied, and the transfer medium is separated from the paper; the second ink layer is selectively transferred or both the first and second ink layers are transferred to the paper depending on the length of time from the heat application until the separation of the transfer medium, whereby two color images can be formed by a single transfer medium.

Abstract: A thermal transfer material suitable for two-color recording comprises a support and at least an adhesive layer, a first ink layer, and a second ink layer disposed in this order on the support. The adhesion strength F.sub.1 between the support and the first ink layer and the adhesion strength F.sub.2 between the first and second ink layers satisfy the relations of F.sub.1 >F.sub.2 at a higher temperature and F.sub.1 <F.sub.2 at a lower temperature. The adhesion strength F.sub.1 is in the range of 1.0-10 g/cm in the case of F.sub.1 <F.sub.2 after heating. Sharp edge cutting of the heated portion and excellent transferability thereof are ensured by the definition of the adhesion strength F.sub.1 after heating.

Abstract: A fluid ink which is substantially nonadhesive but can be imparted with an adhesiveness on application of an energy such as electrochemical energy or heat energy, is obtained by impregnating a crosslinked substance such as guar gum or polyvinyl alcohol compound with a liquid dispersion medium such as water. The fluid ink, preferably formed into a layer in advance, is supplied with a pattern of energy to be provided with an adhesive pattern, which is then transferred to a recording medium, such as plain paper, directly or by the medium of an intermediate transfer medium to form an ink pattern corresponding to the energy pattern applied.

Abstract: A thermal transfer material suitable for two-color recording comprises a support and at least a first ink layer and a second ink layer disposed in this order on the support. The adhesion strength F.sub.1 between the support and the first ink layer and the adhesive strength F.sub.2 between the first and second ink layers satisfy the relations of F.sub.1 >F.sub.2 at a higher temperature and F.sub.1 <F.sub.2 at a lower temperature. The total ink layers on the support having a tensile strength of 8-20 kg/cm.sup.2. Two color recording is effected by superposing the thermal transfer material on plain paper, applying a pattern of heat and separating the thermal transfer material from the paper while changing the time from heating until the separation, i.e., temperatures at the time of separation. Sharp edge cutting of the heated portion is ensured by the definition of the tensile strength.

Abstract: Image recording is indirectly achieved on a recording sheet via an intermediate transferring medium. First, the circumferential surface of a rotatable transferring medium having heat-transferable ink contained therein is fused or softened in response to image information by means of a recording electrode which is disposed at the position opposite to the transferring medium while the intermediate transferring medium is interposed therebetween. After completion of the first transferring step the ink image which has been transferred onto the intermediate transferring medium is transported to the position where a second transferring step is achieved while the ink image is kept in the fused or softened state. The second transferring step is achieved in such a manner that the ink image is transferred onto the recording sheet under the effect of pressure which is imparted by a pressure roller. The intermediate transferring medium may be made of electric conductive material.

Abstract: A thermal transfer material suitable for two-color recording comprises a support and at least a first adhesive layer, a first ink layer, and a second ink layer disposed in this order on the support. The adhesion strength F.sub.1 between the support and the first ink layer and the adhesive strength F.sub.2 between the first and second ink layers satisfy the relations of F.sub.1 >F.sub.2 at a higher temperature and F.sub.1 <F.sub.2 at a lower temperature. The first ink layer comprises a binder having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 0.degree. C. or below and 25-85 wt. % of a pigment. Two color recording is effected by superposing the thermal transfer material on plain paper, applying a pattern of heat and separating the thermal transfer material from the paper while changing the time from heating until the separation, i.e., temperatures at the time of separation. Sharp edge cutting of the heated portion is ensured by the definition of the composition of the first ink layer.

Abstract: A process of recording using fluid ink which is substantially non-adhesive but can be imparted with an adhesiveness on application of an energy such as electrochemical energy or heat energy. The ink is obtained by impregnating a crosslinked substance such as guar gum or polyvinyl alcohol compound with a liquid dispersion medium such as water. The fluid ink, preferably formed into a layer in advance, is supplied with a pattern of energy to be provided with an adhesive pattern, which is then transferred to a recording medium, such as plain paper, directly or by the medium of an intermediate transfer medium to form an ink pattern corresponding to the energy pattern applied.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive transfer medium comprises a support and at least two heat-transferable ink layers including a first and a second ink layer. The first ink layer has relative adhesions with the second ink layer and the support which are reverse at a higher temperature from those at a lower temperature. When the heat-sensitive transfer medium is superposed with paper, a heat energy is applied, and the transfer medium is separated from the paper; the second ink layer is selectively transferred or both the first and second ink layers are transferred to the paper depending on the length of time from the heat application until the separation of the transfer medium, whereby two color images can be formed by a single transfer medium.

Abstract: Thermal transfer recording is carried out through the steps of: applying a heat or electric energy in a pattern to a peripheral surface of an ink roll having the peripheral surface composed of a heat-transferable ink, thereby to form a melted or softened pattern of the heat-transferable ink; causing the peripheral surface of the ink roll to contact a recording medium to transfer the melted or softened ink pattern onto the recording medium; and smoothing the peripheral surface of the ink roll.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive transfer material capable of giving transferred images of good printed letter quality even on a recording medium with poor surface smoothness, is provided by forming, on a support, a heat transfer layer comprising a micro-network porous resin structure of a thermoplastic resin and a heat-fusible gel ink contained in the micropores of the porous resin structure. The heat-fusible gel ink comprises a colorant, an oil incompatible with the thermoplastic resin and a gelation agent for the oil.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive transfer material having a heat-transferable ink layer formed on a support. Said heat-transferable ink layer is constituted of microcapsules dispersed in a heat-fusible binder and enclosing a penetrating ink. Said penetrating ink is constituted of a colorant and an oil agent which is liquid or semi-solid at room temperature. During recording, the ink released from the microcapsules will penetrate into the fibrous structure of the recording paper to give printed letters of good quality even on a recording paper with poor surface smoothness.