Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus for transferring an ink contained in an ink sheet onto a recording medium to record an image on the recording medium, includes a take-up roller for taking up the ink sheet, a driving unit for driving the take-up roller to take up the ink sheet, and a control unit for controlling a drive amount of the driving unit to maintain an almost constant conveyance ratio of the ink sheet to the recording medium in correspondence with a change in take-up amount by the take-up roller.

Abstract: In a thermal transfer recording apparatus, an image is recorded on a recording medium by transferring ink of an ink sheet. The ink sheet is wound onto a wind-up roll from a feed roll against an applied load. During the recording process the ink sheet and recording medium are conveyed in opposite directions. After recording of one page is completed, the recording medium is advanced, cut, and then retracted. During advancement of the recording medium to the cutter, the ink sheet is wound onto the wind-up roll at a speed such that the ratio of conveyance speeds of the ink sheet and recording medium is greater than during recording. During retraction of the recording medium, the ink sheet is conveyed by friction with the recording medium in a direction opposed to the load.

Abstract: A recording method for recording on a recording medium by using an ink jet recording head having plural electrothermal converting members and discharging ink using thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converting members. The method involves measuring a driving ratio of the electrothermal converting members for each one line, determining a time period between termination of recording of a previous line and commencement of a recording of the next line in accordance with the driving ratio responsive to the next line measured in the measuring step, and allowing the next line to be recorded after passage of the determined time period.

Abstract: An ink sheet cartridge mountable on a recording apparatus includes a frame, an ink sheet provided in the frame, a takeup reel for winding the ink sheet, a supply reel for unwinding the ink sheet, and a driving force transmission means for transmitting a driving force to the ink sheet changing a driving speed from the side of the recording apparatus so as to move the ink sheet from the supply reel to the takeup reel with a moving speed corresponding to the kind of the ink sheet, The recording apparatus can mount the ink sheet cartridge.

Abstract: A heat transfer recording method and apparatus for recording images onto a recording medium is realized by transferring ink contained in an ink sheet onto said recording medium. The apparatus comprises means for conveying the ink sheet in both the positive direction and the direction opposite to the positive direction, means for conveying the recording medium, and means for recording images onto the recording medium by acting on the ink sheet. The method is characterized in that a determination is made whether or not the length of images recorded onto the recording medium is less than or equal to that of the recording medium, and if so, the ink sheet is stopped and the recording medium is conveyed so that an end portion of said recording medium may be positioned at a recording position with the recording means.

Abstract: A recording apparatus has an apparatus body, a lid member openable and closable relative to the apparatus body, decurling means having a decurling member pivotably provided in the lid member and a guide member provided in the apparatus body, the decurling means guiding a recording sheet being conveyed so as to be bent in the direction opposite to the direction of curl of the recording sheet by the decurling member and the guide member, ink sheet cartridge loading means for loading an ink sheet cartridge containing an ink sheet therein between the decurling member and the lid member, and recording means for recording images on the recording sheet.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus is improved by providing mounting section for mounting and conveying an ink sheet and a recording medium in good condition, discriminating devices for detecting and discriminating width sizes of the ink sheet and the recording medium, a recording unit for recording an image on the recording medium by effecting the ink sheet, and a control unit for controlling a recording operation according to a detection result obtained through the discriminating devices. The image is thus ready for recording subject to the width sizes of both ink sheet and recording medium being coincident.

Abstract: In a heat transfer recording apparatus, ink of an ink sheet is transferred to a recording medium to record images on the recording medium. The apparatus includes conveying motors for the ink sheet and recording medium, and a timer for counting a recording interval from the termination of the image recording until the next conveyance of the ink sheet or recording medium is started. A waiting time is determined which corresponds to the recording interval. The apparatus is controlled so that image recording is effected on the recording medium after the lapse of the waiting time after the start of ink sheet conveyance.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus for transferring an ink contained in an ink sheet onto a recording medium to record an image on the recording medium, includes a take-up roller for taking up the ink sheet, a driving unit for driving the take-up roller to take up the ink sheet, and a control unit for controlling a drive amount of the driving unit to maintain an almost constant conveyance ratio of the ink sheet to the recording medium in correspondence with a change in take-up amount by the take-up roller.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording an image by transferring the ink contained in an ink sheet onto a recording medium, wherein the apparatus comprises ink sheet conveying means for conveying said ink sheet, recording medium conveying means for conveying said recording medium, recording means for recording onto said recording medium by acting on said ink sheet, and control means for controlling the driving amount of said ink sheet conveying means when the power is turned on.

Abstract: A heat transfer recording apparatus for transferring the ink of an ink sheet to a recording medium to thereby effect recording of images one the recording medium has an ink sheet loading portion for loading the ink sheet therein, discriminating means for discriminating the number of times of possible recording of the ink sheet loaded in the ink sheet loading portion, recording means for acting on the ink sheet to effect recording on the recording medium, and control means for setting the number of times of possible recording to a predetermined value when the number of times of possible recording of the ink sheet cannot be discriminated by the discriminating means, and controlling the conveyance of the ink sheet and the recording medium.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus for transferring an ink of an ink sheet to a recording medium to record an image on the recording medium includes a conveying unit for conveying the ink sheet, a determining unit for determining a relative speed of the ink sheet with respect to the recording medium in correspondence with image information, and a control unit for controlling the conveying unit on the basis of the relative speed determined by the determining unit. A thermal transfer recording method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus for performing the recording of an image on a recording medium by transferring ink contained in an ink sheet to the recording medium has an ink sheet, a conveyance unit for conveying the ink sheet, a recording medium conveyance unit for conveying the recording medium, a recording unit for recording an image on the recording medium by activating the ink sheet, a counting unit for counting the black dot numbers in the current line, a timing unit for measuring the elapsed time since the image recording in the last line by the recording unit, and a control unit for controlling the ink sheet to be conveyed for a predetermined length without conveying the recording medium in accordance with the timing value of the timing unit and the counting value of the counting unit subsequent to the current line recording by the recording, thus making it possible to separate the ink sheet and recording sheet more reliably to maintain a high recording quality.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermal transfer printer for image recording by ink transfer from an ink sheet onto a recording sheet, capable of stable sheet transportation and improvement in image quality. The printer has transport mechanisms for the ink sheet and the recording sheet, a thermal head for heating the ink sheet, and a controller. If a next recording operation is instructed at the end of a preceding recording operation, the controller starts the transportation of the sheets and at the same time activates the thermal head with an energy smaller than in the ordinary image recording, thus effecting pre-heating of the thermal head, prior to the start of next recording operation.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermal transfer recording apparatus in which the ratio of amount of transportation of ink sheet to that of recording sheet is varied according to a measured condition, for example head temperature, of the apparatus. When the temperature or humidity is higher, facilitating the ink transfer from the ink sheet, the ink sheet is advanced by a smaller amount to economize the consumption of the ink sheet.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus for transferring an ink of an ink sheet onto a recording medium to record an image on the recording medium, includes an ink sheet convey unit for conveying the ink sheet, a recording medium convey unit for conveying the recording medium, a recording unit which is driven in correspondence with image data and records an image on the recording medium using the ink sheet, and a control unit for, when a next recording operation is not instructed after image recording by the recording unit, driving the recording unit with an energy lower than that in a normal image recording mode, and for, when a time interval until the next recording operation becomes equal to or longer than a predetermined period of time after the above driving operation, driving the recording unit with an energy lower than that in the normal image recording mode at a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus for transferring an ink of an ink sheet to a recording medium to record an image on the recording medium includes a conveying unit for conveying the ink sheet, a determining unit for determining a relative speed of the ink sheet with respect to the recording medium in correspondence with image information, and a control unit for controlling the conveying unit on the basis of the relative speed determined by the determining unit. A thermal transfer recording method is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermal transfer printer utilizing a one time ink sheet or a multi-print ink sheet. In order to avoid sticking of the ink sheet and the recording sheet, for example where there is an interruption in facsimile transmission or when a recording interval exceeds a predetermined time, the thermal head is energized to maintain a high temperature state and then the recording paper is transported by a predetermined amount, thereby separating the ink sheet and the recording paper.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus which performs image recording by causing a recording head to act on an ink sheet so as to transfer ink from the ink sheet onto recording paper. Changes in the take-up amount of the ink sheet, which is fed by being wound onto a take-up roller, are detected from changes in the amount by which the ink sheet is fed with respect to a given drive amount of an ink-sheet feeding motor, and, on the basis of the changes detected, the driving torque for the ink-sheet feeding motor is changed, thereby reducing the noise generated and the power consumed by the apparatus.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink sheet cartridge suitable for use in thermal transfer recording. The cartridge has a supply reel and a winding reel for the ink sheet, and a guide pin or pins protruding from the container of the cartridge. The guide pins serve as a guide in cartridge loading, thus facilitating the loading operation and securely determining the cartridge position, thus avoiding eventual disengagement of the reels from the power transmitting gears of the recording apparatus.