Abstract: A thermal head for a printer includes a heating resistor temperature which is controlled by a temperature control apparatus. The temperature control apparatus senses the temperature of the heating resistor from a current flowing through the heating resistor and a temperature coefficient of the resistor. The temperature control apparatus includes a down-counter for decreasing an initial data corresponding to a current of the heating element when the heating element has a positive temperature coefficient. While, the temperature control apparatus includes an up-counter for increasing an initial data corresponding to a current of the heating element up to a full-count data when the heating element has a negative temperature coefficient.

Abstract: A ink transfer printer includes a thermal head having an array of heating elements, a film having through-holes facing the heating elements, an ink space formed between the thermal head and the film, and a mechanism which brings a recording medium in contact with the film. When the heating element generates heat, the ink is transmitted through the through-hole of the film and is transferred to the recording medium. An ink amount controller is provided in the ink space, which controls the amount of ink transmitted through the through-hole to the recording medium.

Abstract: An ink transfer printer has an electrically-insulated base plate. An array of electric heater elements, aligned with each other, is provided on a surface of the base plate, the heater elements being selectively and electrically energized in accordance with a series of digital image-pixel signals. A frame member, having an opening, is securely provided on the base plate such that the array of elements is encompassed by the opening of the frame member. A sheet of film covers the frame member such that the opening of the frame member is defined as an ink space fillable with ink, and the film sheet has a plurality of fine pores arranged along the array, with at least one of the plurality of fine pores being allocated to each of the heater elements. A heat dissipating conductor is formed of a thermal conductive material, and is associated with the film sheet such that thermal energy, locally generated by an electrical energization of at least one of the electric heater elements, is promptly dissipated.