Abstract: A head unit is used for production of a media sheet that has a medium region row including a plurality of medium regions, the medium regions being to be separate personal information media. The head unit includes a plurality of thermal heads configured to thermally transfer dots exhibiting a structural color from a ribbon to a target. The plurality of thermal heads are arranged so that each thermal head corresponds to a respective one of the medium regions constituting the medium region row.

Abstract: A printing system includes a first printing unit that performs printing using a material that exhibits structural color, based on first data, a second printing unit that performs printing using a material that includes pigment, based on second data, and a control apparatus that outputs the first data and the second data; the first data causes the first printing unit to print the first personal information items of a first information group in respective regions, and an item of identification information linked to the first information group; and the second data causes the second printing unit to print the second personal information items of a second information group linked to the item of identification information on the corresponding respective regions on which the first personal information items corresponding to the respective second personal information items have been printed.

Abstract: A head unit is used for production of a media sheet that has a medium region row including a plurality of medium regions, the medium regions being to be separate personal information media. The head unit includes a plurality of thermal heads configured to thermally transfer dots exhibiting a structural color from a ribbon to a target. The plurality of thermal heads are arranged so that each thermal head corresponds to a respective one of the medium regions constituting the medium region row.

Abstract: A printing system includes a first printing unit that performs printing using a material that exhibits structural color, based on first data, a second printing unit that performs printing using a material that includes pigment, based on second data, and a control apparatus that outputs the first data and the second data; he first data causes the first printing unit to print the first personal information items of a first information group in respective regions, and an item of identification information linked to the first information group; and the second data causes the second printing unit to print the second personal information items of a second information group linked to the item of identification information on the corresponding respective regions on which the first personal information items corresponding to the respective second personal information items have been printed.

Abstract: An image producing device that produces an image by thermally transferring an image pattern from a transfer ribbon to a transfer medium. The device includes take-up means for taking up the transfer ribbon, supply means for supplying the transfer ribbon according to the taking up of the transfer ribbon performed by the take-up means, thermal transfer means for thermally transferring an image to the transfer medium by bringing the transfer ribbon that is between the supply means and the take-up means into contact with the transfer medium, and a regulating means for regulating the supply of the transfer ribbon performed by the supply means.

Abstract: Thermal transfer image data is used to transfer part of a transfer material layer in a transfer ribbon to an image-receiving layer in an intermediate transfer ribbon to form a plurality of image cells on the intermediate transfer ribbon. A method for providing thermal transfer image data includes converting a multitone input image into a multitone image having fewer different tone values than the input image, based on a predetermined threshold; and dithering respective tone values of the image.

Abstract: An image producing device that produces an image by thermally transferring an image pattern from a transfer ribbon to a transfer medium. The device includes take-up means for taking up the transfer ribbon, supply means for supplying the transfer ribbon according to the taking up of the transfer ribbon performed by the take-up means, thermal transfer means for thermally transferring an image to the transfer medium by bringing the transfer ribbon that is between the supply means and the take-up means into contact with the transfer medium, and a regulating means for regulating the supply of the transfer ribbon performed by the supply means.

Abstract: Thermal transfer image data is used to transfer part of a transfer material layer in a transfer ribbon to an image-receiving layer in an intermediate transfer ribbon to form a plurality of image cells on the intermediate transfer ribbon. A method for providing thermal transfer image data includes converting a multitone input image into a multitone image having fewer different tone values than the input image, based on a predetermined threshold; and dithering respective tone values of the image.

Abstract: An image producing device that produces an image by thermally transferring an image pattern from a transfer ribbon to a transfer medium. The device includes take-up means for taking up the transfer ribbon, supply means for supplying the transfer ribbon according to the taking up of the transfer ribbon performed by the take-up means, thermal transfer means for thermally transferring an image to the transfer medium by bringing the transfer ribbon that is between the supply means and the take-up means into contact with the transfer medium, and a regulating means for regulating the supply of the transfer ribbon performed by the supply means.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus using an indirect transferring method, an ink ribbon is selectively heated by a thermal head, in a state where an intermediate transfer film and the ink ribbon are put one on the other on a platen roller, so that a record-image is formed as a mirror image on an image-forming layer of the intermediate transfer film. Then, the intermediate transfer film and a target object are supplied with heat and pressure between a heating roller and a pressure roller, so that the record-image is transferred along with the image-forming layer of the intermediate transfer film to the target object. The intermediate transfer film and the ink ribbon are respectively accommodated in cassettes detachably mounted in the apparatus, and are used for forming the record-image while being fed from the cassettes.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus using an indirect transferring method, an ink ribbon is selectively heated by a thermal head, in a state where an intermediate transfer film and the ink ribbon are put one on the other on a platen roller, so that a record-image is formed as a mirror image on an image-forming layer of the intermediate transfer film. Then, the intermediate transfer film and a target object are supplied with heat and pressure between a heating roller and a pressure roller, so that the record-image is transferred along with the image-forming layer of the intermediate transfer film to the target object. The intermediate transfer film and the ink ribbon are respectively accommodated in cassettes detachably mounted in the apparatus, and are used for forming the record-image while being fed from the cassettes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus uses an ink ribbon having ink layers of different colors, and a long, film-like intermediate transfer medium. A platen for holding the medium during transfer is driven by a motor via a synchronous reduction gear whose speed reducing ratio is an integer multiple. The ink ribbon is selectively heated by a thermal head having regular polygonal or circular heat-generating portions. Under the control of a controller, the thermal head is driven on the basis of image information, and a record image containing an area gradation image is formed on the medium. This area gradation image has a color set by stacking dots having different colors in the same spot. The medium on which the record image is formed is overlapped on a target body and heated and pressed by a heat roller, thereby transferring the record image from the medium onto the target body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus uses an ink ribbon having ink layers of different colors, and a long, film-like intermediate transfer medium. A platen for holding the medium during transfer is driven by a motor via a synchronous reduction gear whose speed reducing ratio is an integer multiple. The ink ribbon is selectively heated by a thermal head having regular polygonal or circular heat-generating portions. Under the control of a controller, the thermal head is driven on the basis of image information, and a record image containing an area gradation image is formed on the medium. This area gradation image has a color set by stacking dots having different colors in the same spot. The medium on which the record image is formed is overlapped on a target body and heated and pressed by a heat roller, thereby transferring the record image from the medium onto the target body.

Abstract: In the present invention, the thermal efficiency and concentration of a thermal head on a transfer film over the surface of a transfer drum are improved, thereby improving the reproducibility of gradation in printing, which enables highly minute transfer images to be printed on the transfer film. This makes it possible to form a highly minute image on an image-transferred member. To do this, a cushion layer made of elastomer and a rigid layer with a surface finish of less than 2.0 .mu.m on a surface of the cushion layer are provided on a surface of the drum base of the transfer drum.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus based on an observation of a coincidence of a circular length and a chord length. A precise transfer of the image on a transfer object is accomplished without breaking of the image by maintaining a fixed attitude of the object; by allowing the object's movement at heating and pressing of the transfer film and the object; and by preventing an adhesive layer of the film from adhering to clamps for the object and a rubber. Transfer of an accurate image from the film onto the transfer object by the image transfer apparatus is accomplished by a movable stage which is movable in a longitudinal direction of the film to locate a transfer object to be pressed and heated via a transfer film by a heating roller and a holding apparatus which is located on or on a side of the stage and which is relatively moved along with the stage while partially holding the transfer object.

Abstract: An image transfer device for transferring a clear image to a transfer object includes transport device for a transferring film, an image writing device for transferring ink from a transfer ribbon onto the film by a thermal head, a stage for fixing a transfer object, a guiding means for a inked image of the film onto the object on the stage, a transfer roller for transferring the inked image to the object, and a peel roller disposed in the vicinity of the transfer roller for peeling the transferred film from the object.

Abstract: The card producing apparatus which records magnetic data or printed data on many cards, which washes the cards and records predetermined data on predetermined areas of the cards so that there will not develop erroneous recording, and which rejects cards in case erroneous recording developed, all automatically. The card producing apparatus characterized by the structure comprising a feeder that takes out a predetermined number of accommdated cards every time, magnetic data recording means for recording magnetic data on cards, a cleaner for washing the surfaces of cards, a printer for printing data on the surfaces of cards, a stacker for accommodating cards on which data are recorded, card carrier devices in the apparatus, and a controller for controlling them.