Abstract: An image formation method and a thermal transfer sheet for use in the image formation method are provided. According to the image formation method and the thermal transfer sheet, an intermediate transfer recording medium comprising a substrate film and a transfer part, comprising at least a receptive layer, provided separably on the substrate film is used, and, at the time of the transfer of the transfer part in the intermediate transfer recording medium onto an object, the transfer of the transfer part onto the object in its nontransfer region, onto which the transfer part should not be transferred, can be avoided without installing any special ancillary tool on an image forming apparatus. In the method for image formation, a thermal transfer sheet comprising a substrate and at least a peel-off layer provided on the substrate is provided.

Abstract: A color thermal printer includes feeder rollers for feeding thermosensitive recording material through a feeding path. A thermal head operates for thermal recording of an image in a recording region of the recording material being fed. An unused region is defined outside the recording region. A photo fixer fixes the image on the recording material by application of ultraviolet or violet rays thereto. A liquid crystal shutter unit is disposed between the photo fixer and the recording material, and includes plural shutter segments. The plural shutter segments are arranged in a form of plural parallel lines, and changeable independently between an opaque state and a transparent state, and when in the opaque state, block the ultraviolet or violet rays, and when in the transparent state, cause the rays to pass.

Abstract: A color thermal printer a conveyor for conveying a color thermosensitive recording sheet along a conveying path. A thermal head thermally records a full-color image to the recording sheet being conveyed. A fixer lamp applies ultraviolet rays of a predetermined range of wavelength to the recording sheet being conveyed, for optically fixing the recording sheet. In the thermal printer, a printer casing has a small height, and includes a front panel oriented vertically. An insertion opening in the front panel is adapted to insertion of the recording sheet before the recording, and ejection of the recording sheet after the recording. An air inlet and an air outlet are formed in the front panel. The insertion opening is disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet. An air passageway is disposed in the printer casing, and communicates from the air inlet to the air outlet via at least a portion of the conveying path.

Abstract: A thermal head of a thermal printer is provided with an array of parallel connected heating elements and transistors connected in series to the heating elements in one to one relation. In a resistance measuring mode, one of the transistors connected to one heating element whose resistance is to measure is turned on, and other transistors are turned off. In this condition, a capacitor connected in parallel to the heating element is charged up to a predetermined voltage, and then discharged. A counter circuit starts time-counting by a short unit time t0 when a predetermined delay time T min has passed since the start of discharging, and outputs a count Q when the charged voltage goes down to a predetermined level. Based on a discharge time T=T min+t0·Q, the resistance of the heating element is calculated.

Abstract: A color thermal printer a conveyor for conveying a color thermosensitive recording sheet along a conveying path. A thermal head thermally records a full-color image to the recording sheet being conveyed. A fixer lamp applies ultraviolet rays of a predetermined range of wavelength to the recording sheet being conveyed, for optically fixing the recording sheet. In the thermal printer, a printer casing has a small height, and includes a front panel oriented vertically. An insertion opening in the front panel is adapted to insertion of the recording sheet before the recording, and ejection of the recording sheet after the recording. An air inlet and an air outlet are formed in the front panel. The insertion opening is disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet. An air passageway is disposed in the printer casing, and communicates from the air inlet to the air outlet via at least a portion of the conveying path.

Abstract: A thermosensitive recording sheet includes a support and three thermosensitive coloring layers overlaid on the support. A print is produced by image recording to the recording sheet. A colorless gloss indicia is recorded by thermal recording, and discernible according to a glossiness difference. In a preferred embodiment, an image reading device comprises an image reader for reading an image from an original. A glossmeter unit measures glossiness of respectively unit areas in the original. An arithmetic operation unit obtains an average glossiness of the glossiness of respectively the unit areas. An indicia discriminator checks existence of a gloss indicia according to a glossiness difference between the glossiness of respectively the unit areas and the average glossiness. A controller allows the image reader to operate if the gloss indicia lacks, and generates an alarm signal if the gloss indicia exists.

Abstract: A yellow thermal head, a mazenta thermal head and a cyan thermal head are disposed along a feed path of the thermosensitive recording sheet at a predetermined distance. Each thermal heads confront to respective platen rollers. During feeding the thermosensitive recording sheet, a yellow image, a mazenta image and a cyan image are sequentially recorded. There is a difference in relative positions of the thermal heads to centers of the confronting platen rollers. An offset length has different values corresponding to coloring layers of the thermosensitive recording sheet. There is also a difference in withdraw angles at which the thermosensitive recording sheet leaves from the thermal heads. Each withdraw angle is determined corresponding to the thermal heads.

Abstract: A cyan thermal coloring layer, a magenta thermal coloring layer, and a yellow thermal coloring layer are successively formed on a base of a thermo-sensitive recording paper. A yellow thermal head, a magenta thermal head, and a cyan thermal head are disposed along a conveyance path. While the thermo-sensitive recording paper is being conveyed in the sub scanning direction along the conveyance path, three colors images are sequentially recorded by the three thermal heads. When the length of heat elements of the respective thermal heads are Ly, Lm and Lc in a sub scanning direction, it follows that Ly<Lm<Lc. When heated by the yellow thermal head, the isothermal curve shows minimum width in the surface of the thermo-sensitive recording paper. Meanwhile the isothermal curve of the cyan thermal head shows maximum width. By changing the isothermal curves of the three colors, the dots of the three colors are made equal in size.

Abstract: There is disclosed a heat sensitive type printer wherein glass plates (36, 37, 38) are secured at one ends to thermal heads (26, 27, 28), and extend substantially in parallel to a paper transport path of a heat sensitive color recording paper (14). Surface luminous devices (31, 32) for fixing coloring layers of the recording paper optically are disposed adjacent to heat sinks of the thermal heads with their light emission surfaces facing the paper transport path through the glass plates. Cooling fans send air into between the heat sinks and the surface luminous devices, to cool the heat sinks. Thereafter, the air guide guides the air to flow along a gap between the light emission surface and the glass plate, thereby to cool the light emission surface.

Abstract: A cyan thermal coloring layer, a magenta thermal coloring layer, and a yellow thermal coloring layer are successively formed on a base of a thermo-sensitive recording paper. A yellow thermal head, a magenta thermal head, and a cyan thermal head are disposed along a conveyance path. While the thermo-sensitive recording paper is being conveyed in the sub scanning direction along the conveyance path, three colors images are sequentially recorded by the three thermal heads. When the length of heat elements of the respective thermal heads are Ly, Lm and Lc in a sub scanning direction, it follows that Ly<Lm<Lc. When heated by the yellow thermal head, the isothermal curve shows minimum width in the surface of the thermo-sensitive recording paper. Meanwhile the isothermal curve of the cyan thermal head shows maximum width. By changing the isothermal curves of the three colors, the dots of the three colors are made equal in size.

Abstract: A yellow thermal head, a mazenta thermal head and a cyan thermal head are disposed along a feed path of the thermosensitive recording sheet at a predetermined distance. Each thermal heads confront to respective platen rollers. During feeding the thermosensitive recording sheet, a yellow image, a mazenta image and a cyan image are sequentially recorded. There is a difference in relative positions of the thermal heads to centers of the confronting platen rollers. An offset length has different values corresponding to coloring layers of the thermosensitive recording sheet. There is also a difference in withdraw angles at which the thermosensitive recording sheet leaves from the thermal heads. Each withdraw angle is determined corresponding to the thermal heads.

Abstract: In magenta fixation, when a rear end of a recording area reaches a first fixation area, a small shutter plate moves at a speed equal to conveyance of a recording material. When a shutter plate reaches a shutting position to cover a low-intensity area, a controller stops conveyance of the recording material. Then, Electromagnetic rays are applied to a rear portion of the stationary recording sheet, until an amount of applied rays of the rear end is equal to that of a front portion. Since the rear end of the recording area is faced to a high-intensity area, fixation time can be shortened without enlarging printer size.

Abstract: A thermal transfer material includes a support. A release layer is overlaid on the support. A coloring transfer layer is overlaid on the release layer, has thermoplasticity, and is colorable by being exposed and then pressurized. In a printer for use with the thermal transfer material, an image is formed by exposing the coloring transfer layer. The coloring transfer layer is placed on image receiving material after the image is formed. The thermal transfer material is heated and pressurized while the coloring transfer layer is placed on, so as to color the image and transfer the coloring transfer layer to the image receiving material.

Abstract: This printer performs a heating process via a thermal head 1 on TA paper 11 provided with color forming layers and fixes the heat processed TA paper 11 via a fixing lamp 7. The fixing lamp 7 is formed from: a fluorescent tube that has a fluorescent coating applied to the inside surface of the glass tube and inside which are sealed mercury and noble gases; filament electrodes provided at both ends of the fluorescent tube; a hot cathode fluorescent lamp formed from lead wires that supply power to the filament electrodes; and a magnetic circuit that is provided on a side surface of the fluorescent tube and that generates a magnetic field that acts on the current that flows through the fluorescent tube when power is fed to the filament electrodes.

Abstract: A color thermal printer a conveyor for conveying a color thermosensitive recording sheet along a conveying path. A thermal head thermally records a full-color image to the recording sheet being conveyed. A fixer lamp applies ultraviolet rays of a predetermined range of wavelength to the recording sheet being conveyed, for optically fixing the recording sheet. In the thermal printer, a printer casing has a small height, and includes a front panel oriented vertically. An insertion opening in the front panel is adapted to insertion of the recording sheet before the recording, and ejection of the recording sheet after the recording. An air inlet and an air outlet are formed in the front panel. The insertion opening is disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet. An air passageway is disposed in the printer casing, and communicates from the air inlet to the air outlet via at least a portion of the conveying path.

Abstract: A thermal head of the present invention comprises a substrate (1221) consisting of a metal such as a stainless steel, insulating layers (1226, 1223), with raised portions (1225, 1224) being formed by raising up a part of the surface thereof, and exothermic resistors (1228, 1229) formed on the raised portions. Common electrodes (1222, 1227) are disposed on the substrate, which protrude from the surface of the substrate, penetrate through the raised portions and are connected to the exothermic resistors, to thereby divide the resistors into first exothermic resistors and second exothermic resistors, centering on the connecting point.

Abstract: A thermal transfer material includes a support. A release layer is overlaid on the support. A coloring transfer layer is overlaid on the release layer, has thermoplasticity, and is colorable by being exposed and then pressurized. In a printer for use with the thermal transfer material, an image is formed by exposing the coloring transfer layer. The coloring transfer layer is placed on image receiving material after the image is formed. The thermal transfer material is heated and pressurized while the coloring transfer layer is placed on, so as to color the image and transfer the coloring transfer layer to the image receiving material.

Abstract: A thermal head records a first color frame on a first coloring layer of thermosensitive color recording paper while the recording paper is transported in a first direction through between the thermal head and a platen roller. After the first color frame is completely recorded, the first coloring layer is optically fixed, and the recording paper is transported in a second direction reverse to the first direction to return to a print start position where the thermal head starts recording the first color frame. Then, the thermal head starts recording a second color frame from the print start position. While the recording paper is transported in the second direction, the recording paper is heated by the thermal head to an extent that does not have an effect on those coloring layers which are not fixed, so the friction factor between the recording paper and the thermal head comes to be approximately equal in the opposite transporting directions.

Abstract: A color thermal printer a conveyor for conveying a color thermosensitive recording sheet along a conveying path. A thermal head thermally records a full-color image to the recording sheet being conveyed. A fixer lamp applies ultraviolet rays of a predetermined range of wavelength to the recording sheet being conveyed, for optically fixing the recording sheet. In the thermal printer, a printer casing has a small height, and includes a front panel oriented vertically. An insertion opening in the front panel is adapted to insertion of the recording sheet before the recording, and ejection of the recording sheet after the recording. An air inlet and an air outlet are formed in the front panel. The insertion opening is disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet. An air passageway is disposed in the printer casing, and communicates from the air inlet to the air outlet via at least a portion of the conveying path.

Abstract: The thermal recording apparatus includes an image recording device and a light irradiation device. The image recording device records an image by heating imagewise a thermal recording material. This material includes a color forming agent and a developer and optionally a light absorption dye on a substrate and is colored at a density corresponding to an added thermal energy. The light irradiation device irradiates light containing an absorption wavelength of 400 nm to 700 nm of a color forming dye of the thermal recording material to the thermal recording material heated and colored by the image recording device. The apparatus can form an image with a high contrast at a high sensibility while a sufficient dynamic range is secured, and the stability of the formed image is also high.

Abstract: A printing tape cassette contains a printing medium tape wound around a reel and held so that its coloring layers appear outside. The coloring layers are colored in different colors at corresponding temperatures and fixed by fixing rays of different wavelengths. The cassette is a substantially square box made of a ray cutting material. The cassette is set on a printer and has a slit-like port through which the printing tape is fed out, a window which cuts the fixing rays and through which window the printing tape accommodated in the cassette is confirmable visually. The printer comprises a reel drive shaft, a platen roller, a guide plate, a tape sensor, a thermal head, a ray cutting shutter, a fixing ray irradiator and a cutter.

Abstract: A thermal printer is used with thermosensitive recording sheet. The recording sheet includes a support, and at least one thermosensitive coloring layer, formed on the support, colorable with heat, and fixable with violet or ultraviolet rays. The recording sheet has a recording region, and first and second lateral sides between which the recording region is disposed. The thermal printer includes a feeder roller set for conveying the recording sheet along a conveying path. The first and second lateral sides are set to extend in a direction of the conveying path. A thermal head applies the heat to the coloring layer during conveyance of the recording sheet along the conveying path, to record an image. A fixer applies the violet or ultraviolet rays to the recording sheet being colored during conveyance of the recording sheet along the conveying path, to fix the coloring layer.

Abstract: A process of forming a diffusion resistant lenticular element: a) contacting at least one dye-donor element having a support having thereon a dye layer having an image dye in a binder having an infrared-absorbing material associated therewith, the image dye comprising a nonionic dye capable of being converted to a cationic dye with an acid, with a lenticular element having a support with a lenticular array thereon on the opposite side thereof; b) imagewise-heating the dye-donor element with a laser; c) transferring a dye image to the support of the lenticular element; d) contacting the dye image with an acidic mordanting layer; and e) heating the lenticular element to cause the nonionic dye to convert to a cationic dye which is mordanted in the acidic mordanting layer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a color thermosensitive printer which has a thermal head mounted on a carriage to scan the thermal head in opposite directions across a width of a color thermosensitive recording the recording paper. Yellow and magenta fixing members have linear tube lamps that are disposed across the width of the recording paper along the scanning directions of the thermal head. First and second exposure openings are formed through the carriage before and behind the thermal head with respect to a forward scanning direction. As the carriage moves in the forward scanning direction, the thermal head records yellow pixels on a yellow thermosensitive color layer of the recording paper, and the yellow fixing rays are projected onto the recording paper through the second exposure opening that follows behind the thermal head in the forward scanning direction.

Abstract: A thermosensitive color recording sheet includes yellow, magenta and cyan thermosensitive coloring layers formed on a support. A thermal head heats there recording sheet for recording on the yellow coloring layer while the recording sheet is transported in a forward direction through the thermal head at a speed predetermined according to a thermal sensitivity of the yellow coloring layer. A yellow fixing lamp disposed behind the thermal head in the forward direction applies near ultraviolet rays to the recording sheet to fix the yellow coloring layer. The yellow fixing lamp is maintained at an irradiance set value while the recording sheet is transported in the forward direction. The irradiance set value is determined based on a maximum irradiance of the yellow fixing lamp that is measured prior to the thermal recording on the yellow coloring layer while driving the yellow fixing lamp by a drive pulse signal at a maximum duty factor.

Abstract: A color thermosensitive recording material includes a support and yellow, magenta and cyan thermosensitive coloring layers formed on the support. The three coloring layers are different in thermal sensitivity. The yellow coloring layer is the farthest from the support and having fixability to ultraviolet rays of a first wavelength range. The magenta coloring layer has fixability to ultraviolet rays of a second wavelength range. To print a full-color image, the recording material is conveyed alternately in advancing and returning directions. In conveying the recording material in the advancing direction for three times, yellow, magenta and cyan images are recorded respectively to the three coloring layers inside a recording area on the recording material by use of a thermal head. A fixer is operated, which selectively applies ultraviolet rays of the first and second wavelength ranges to the recording material being moved past a ray applying region in a printing path, to fix the magenta and cyan color images.

Abstract: A method of forming a reversible color image of forming a multi color image to a reversible heat sensitive color recording medium in which recording layers each containing independently a plurality kinds of reversible heat color forming compositions having tone of formed color and color erasure starting temperature different from each other are formed on a support, the method comprising forming colors of all the compositions in the initial state and heating the color formed compositions not imagewise at different temperatures thereby erasing the color of the composition (recording layer 2). The color image can be formed simply and rapidly at a high energy efficiency.

Abstract: A color thermosensitive recording sheet includes a support and at least yellow, magenta and cyan thermosensitive coloring layers formed thereon. A color thermal printer has conveyor rollers for moving the recording sheet relative to a thermal head. The thermal head initially heats the recording sheet for recording on the yellow coloring layer. A yellow fixing lamp applies near ultraviolet rays to the recording sheet to fix the yellow coloring layer optically. The thermal head heats the recording sheet for recording on the magenta coloring layer. A magenta fixing lamp applies ultraviolet rays to the recording sheet to fix the magenta coloring layer optically. An irradiance sensor detects irradiance of the magenta fixing lamp during the magenta fixation. A refixing check circuit obtains a minimal irradiance of the detected irradiance, compares the minimal irradiance with a limit irradiance, and outputs a refixing command if the minimal irradiance is equal to or smaller than the limit irradiance.

Abstract: A fixer device for a color thermal printer has at least a yellow fixing ultraviolet lamp and an inverter. The inverter controls ray emitting intensity of the yellow fixing lamp in accordance with a lamp control value after a thermal recording image is effected to a thermosensitive recording sheet. The yellow fixing lamp applies ultraviolet rays to the recording sheet for fixation. The fixer device includes an irradiance sensor which measures irradiance of the yellow fixing lamp. Difference data is calculated as a difference between target irradiance data and data of the measured irradiance from the irradiance sensor. An irradiance difference multiplier multiplies the irradiance difference data by a gain value, to determine a correcting value. An integrator adds the correcting value to the lamp control value to correct the lamp control value, the inverter controlling the ray emitting intensity of the yellow fixing lamp in accordance with the corrected lamp control value.

Abstract: In a one-pass multi-head type color thermal printer having at least first to third printing stages arranged along a transport path, slacks are provided in the recording material between the first to third printing stages. The amounts of the slacks are measured by respective slack sensors. The transporting speed of the recording material through the second printing stage is fixed at a constant value, and the transporting speeds through the first and third printing stages are controlled in accordance with the outputs from the slack sensors, so as to maintain the amounts of the slacks constant. The slacks are provided during an initial loading of the recording material by delaying starting the transport of the recording material in downstream ones of the printing stages for a time after a leading edge of the recording material moves in each of the downstream printing stages until each of the slacks reaches a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An optical fixing device of a color thermal printer is used for fixing one of three color developing thermosensitive layers of a color thermosensitive recording medium. A pair of lamps are disposed side by side in a reflector of the optical fixing device, for projecting electromagnetic rays of a specific wavelength range toward the color thermosensitive recording medium. A plurality of apertures are formed through the reflector to provide a light path from each of the lamps to a single photosensor, wherein distances from the lamps to the photosensor are different from each other, and incident angles of the respective light paths onto the photosensor are determined such that the photosensor may receive an equal amount of electromagnetic rays from each of the lamps under the same conditions.

Abstract: A color thermal printer for printing a full-color image in frame-sequential fashion to a color thermosensitive recording sheet (12) including yellow, magenta and cyan coloring layers (26-28). A fixing station is disposed next to a thermal head (18). One of first and second fixing devices (30, 31) is alternatively set in a fixing station. While recording a yellow frame on the recording sheet transported in a forward direction to the fixing station, the first fixing device (30) is set in the fixing station to project ultraviolet rays for fixing the yellow coloring layer (28) onto the recording sheet. While the recording sheet temporarily stops with its end nipped between a pair of transport rollers, a shutter plate (70) is inserted between the recording sheet and the first fixing device still projecting the ultraviolet rays, at the same speed as the transport speed of the recording sheet to uniformly and sufficiently fix as much area of the recording sheet as possible.

Abstract: A recording unit is formed by successively adhering layers of ink donor film of differing colors to each other. A bottom layer is adhered to an image receiving sheet, along a top edge of the recording unit. The image receiving sheet is longer than the ink donor films. In order to print a color image, the bottom ink donor film is layered onto the image receiving sheet, while the rest of the ink donor films are flipped away from the image receiving sheet. The layered film and sheet are fed from a print starting position through a thermal transfer printer that feeds and prints the film and sheet in a forward direction to a print termination position, and then feeds the film and used sheet in a reverse direction to the print starting position. The used film is removed, the next film layered onto the image receiving sheet, and the process is repeated until all the ink donor films have been used.

Abstract: A color recording method and device which is capable of color recording images on large-sized paper in which a first color is developed in direct heat sensitive paper by directly supplying heat energy of thermal heads to the direct heat sensitive paper. Furthermore, in order to transfer a color ink to the direct heat sensitive paper to thereby obtain a second color, the heat energy of the thermal heads is supplied to a plurality of ink ribbons which are coated with both a desensitizing material for controlling the coloring reaction of the direct heat sensitive paper and the desired colored inks.

Abstract: A thermosensitive color recording paper is provided having a cyan thermosensitive coloring layer, a magenta thermosensitive coloring layer, and a yellow thermosensitive coloring layer, respectively laminated on a supporting material in this order. The thermosensitive color recording paper is placed on a platen drum which is rotated by a pulse motor via a timing belt in a subsidiary scan direction. During the rotation of the platen drum, the plane sequential thermal recording and light fixation of the thermosensitive color recording paper are performed by a thermal head. In thermally recording a pixel, each heating element of the thermal head generates a bias heat energy specific to each thermosensitive coloring layer followed by an image heat energy corresponding to the record density of the pixel.

Abstract: A color thermal printer has a thermal head (18) for printing a full-color image in frame-sequential fashion to a color thermosensitive recording sheet (12), which includes at least yellow, magenta and cyan thermosensitive coloring layers (26-28) for developing yellow, magenta and cyan colors. Two transport rollers (22) nip and transport the recording sheet (12) while a thermal head (18) records to the recording sheet (12). At least one first fixing lamp (30, 70, 76) generates ultraviolet rays associated with the yellow coloring layer (28). At least one second fixing lamp (31, 71, 77) generates ultraviolet rays associated with the magenta coloring layer (27). The recording sheet (12) is fixed in a fixing station by the first and second fixing lamps (30, 31; 70, 71; 76, 77), which are supported by a fixer support device (35, 72, 74) in fashion selectively settable in the fixing station.

Abstract: During a preheating period of a light beam heating apparatus for heating a material locally with a light beam, fans for cooling a lamp for generating a light beam are not operated. A power source supplies current to a lamp. A current detector detects the current supplied to the lamp from the power source. A delay circuit delays a current detection value from the current detector for a predetermined time period and then sends the value to a controller. Then, the controller starts to activate fans for cooling the lamp. Alternately, a temperature detector is provided to detect the temperature of the lamp. When the temperature reaches a prescribed temperature, the controller starts to activate fans for cooling the lamp. Thus, the internal temperature of the lamp reaches the thermal saturation temperature in a shorter period of time, and the optical energy for heating can be stabilized after preheating.

Abstract: A color thermal recording medium has three thermosensitive coloring layers for cyan, magenta and yellow formed in this order from the base material side. The upper layer has a higher thermal recording sensitivity. The color thermal recording medium is thermally recorded by three thermal heads by a one-pass method. At least two of the three thermal heads are driven in time-sharing fashion. Besides, drive voltage for the thermal heads for recording uppermost and next uppermost thermosensitive coloring layers are set lower than that applied for the thermal head for the innermost thermosensitive coloring layer. Instead of or in addition to adjusting the drive voltages, the maximum duration of drive times may be changed for each color.

Abstract: In a one-pass multi-head type thermal printer, a slack portion is provided in a recording sheet on each transport path from one thermal head to another. The slack portion is provided by a difference in transporting speed between adjacent two transport members, or by guiding the leading end of the recording sheet along a concavely curved guide member between the adjacent two thermal heads. A change in transporting speed caused by a change in load to the recording sheet during transportation is absorbed in the slack portion, and does not have bad influence on recording.

Abstract: A direct color thermal printing method supplements coloring density in a print start area for each color frame of a full-color image to be printed in a three color sequential fashion. A color thermosensitive recording sheet has cyan, magenta and yellow thermosensitive coloring layers formed on a base in this order. The heat sensitivities of the coloring layers become the lower the nearer to the base. Since the coloring density tends to be insufficient in the beginning of printing due to the temperature of the thermal head, supplementary drive pulses for supplementing coloring density is applied to each heating elements in addition to drive pulses for coloring. The supplementary heat energy is predetermined to be lower, the higher the line number from a print start position of the print area, and the higher the heat sensitivities of the thermosensitive coloring layers.

Abstract: A color thermal printing method capable of preventing a color registration shift and shading. A color thermosensitive recording sheet has cyan, magenta, and yellow thermosensitive coloring layers, respectively formed on a base in this order. A thermal sensitivity becomes lower the nearer the thermosensitive coloring layer is to the base. The thermosensitive coloring layer having a lower sensitivity is printed at an earlier timing to make the centers of three color print areas coincident with each other. According to a preferred embodiment, a preliminary pressed running section is provided in front of each print area. In the preliminary pressed running section, a thermal head is preheated and pressed against a color thermosensitive recording sheet. In order to reduce a change in the friction coefficient between the preliminary pressed running section and the print area, the heat energy for the preheating is set to a bias heat energy having a level just under a coloring energy.

Abstract: A thermal printer has a thermal head, which includes plural heating elements arranged in a main scanning direction. The heating elements are driven while the thermal head and a color thermosensitive recording sheet are moved relatively in a sub scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The heating elements apply bias heat energy and image heat energy to the recording sheet, thermally to record an ink dot on the recording sheet. The bias heat energy is determined to heat the recording sheet substantially to a temperature at which the recording sheet starts being colored. The image heat energy is determined in accordance with image data of a halftone image. Density correcting heat energy is additionally applied to the recording sheet through heating elements located in end positions in the thermal head. The heating elements of the end positions are so located that heat escapes therefrom fastest of the plural heating elements.

Abstract: A thermal printer for use with a thermosensitive recording sheet is provided with an optical fixing device which has at least a lamp to optically fix a thermosensitive color developing layer of the recording medium. The lamp extends across a transport path of the recording sheet such that an intermediate portion of the lamp where luminance is approximately uniform extends over a range exceeding a maximum width of the recording sheet. A photosensor is disposed on a lateral side of the recording sheet so as to receive electromagnetic rays from the intermediate portion of the lamp. A control device controls the quantity of electromagnetic rays generated from the lamp in accordance with an illuminance value detected by the photosensor, so as to maintain the illuminance of an illumination area in front of the lamp to be constant.

Abstract: A color thermosensitive recording sheet is formed by sequentially laying a cyan thermosensitive coloring layer, a magenta thermosensitive coloring layer, and a yellow thermosensitive coloring layer on a base. On this color thermosensitive recording sheet, a color image is printed with a thermal head by a three-color image sequential printing method. Each thermosensitive coloring layer develops color by a bias heating and an image heating. A bias heat energy slightly short of the coloring of a thermosensitive coloring layer to be colored and an image heat energy corresponding to the coloring density are used. A blank area is formed in the background of a binary image such as characters and line drawings. A blank frame is formed surrounding a half tone image area, Rearing elements facing such a blank area and a blank frame make a bias heating at a heat energy approximate to the magenta bias heat energy, for printing to the lowermost cyan thermosensitive coloring layer.

Abstract: A color thermal printing method capable of preventing a color registration shift and shading is unable with a color thermosensitive recording sheet having cyan, magenta, and yellow thermosensitive coloring layers, respectively formed on a base in this order. A thermal sensitivity becomes lower the nearer the thermosensitive coloring layer is to the base. The thermosensitive coloring layer having a lower sensitivity is printed at an earlier timing to make the centers of three color print areas coincident with each other. According to a preferred embodiment, a preliminary pressed running section is provided in front of each print area. In the preliminary pressed running section, a thermal head is preheated and pressed against a color thermosensitive recording sheet. In order to reduce a change in the friction coefficient between the preliminary pressed running section and the print area, the heat energy for the preheating is set to a bias heat energy having a level just under a coloring energy.

Abstract: A color direct thermal printer has a yellow fixing ultraviolet lamp and a magenta fixing ultraviolet lamp, in order to fix the coloring of color thermosensitive recording material. Behind the yellow and magenta fixing ultraviolet lamps is disposed a reflector, which has portions contacting the yellow and magenta fixing ultraviolet lamps for receiving heat from the yellow and magenta fixing ultraviolet lamps. Outside the reflector, a temperature sensor is mounted which measures tube temperature of the yellow and magenta fixing ultraviolet lamps through the reflector. When the measured temperature is greater than 40.degree. C., the fan is driven and sends air to the yellow and magenta fixing ultraviolet lamps. If the measured temperature is less than 30.degree. C. at the time of operating the starting key, a start of the printing operation is delayed. In the delay, the yellow and magenta fixing ultraviolet lamps are actuated and the tube temperature is raised.

Abstract: A color direct thermal printer has a yellow fixing ultraviolet lamp and a magenta fixing lamp, each having a longitudinal axis. Behind the yellow fixing lamp is disposed a reflector which has portions contacting the yellow fixing lamp in the longitudinal direction for receiving heat from the yellow fixing lamp. The yellow fixing lamp and the reflector is contained in a cylindrical housing of a channel shape with cooling fans which are respectively mounted on opposite ends of the housing. Outside the reflector, a pair of temperature sensors are mounted to be close to the respective fans, and each measure tube temperature of the yellow fixing lamp at right and left sides indirectly through the reflector. If measured temperature greater than 40.degree. C. is measured by at least one of the sensors, corresponding at least one of the fans is driven to send air to the yellow fixing lamp. The magenta fixing lamp is arranged in a same manner as the yellow fixing lamp.

Abstract: A color thermal recording medium has a cyan thermosensitive coloring layer, a magenta thermosensitive coloring layer, and a yellow thermosensitive coloring layer, respectively laminated on a supporting material in this order from the side of the supporting material. The upper layer has a higher thermal recording sensitivity, and is colored with lower heat energy. The color thermal recording medium is thermally recorded by three thermal heads by a one-pass method. The top yellow thermosensitive coloring layer and the adjacent magenta thermosensitive coloring layer are thermally recorded at lower voltages, which are applied to the thermal printers, than the voltage applied for the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer. In this case, the cooling time is shortened within a range for allowing thermal hysteresis to be relieved, and the image pulse duration is set longer. Instead of adjusting the application voltages, the mean resistance values of heating elements may be changed.

Abstract: A reversible thermosensitive coloring recording method for producing multi-color images by use of a reversible thermosensitive coloring recording medium which is composed of a support and a reversible thermosensitive coloring recording layer containing a plurality of reversible thermosensitive coloring compositions, each coloring composition being independently present separated from the other coloring compositions, and capable of reversibly forming a color development state with a different color in a predetermined color development temperature range, and a decolorization state in a predetermined decolorization temperature range by the application of heat thereto and maintaining the above two states at room temperature, the decolorization temperature range being located lower in terms of temperature than the color development temperature range therefor, comprises the steps of: temporarily applying heat to the recording medium to a color development temperature at which at least two of the coloring compositio

Abstract: A color video thermal printing method for printing a full-color frame image on the basis of a color video signal of a full-color field image by interpolation. Interpolation for at least one of three primary colors is made as follows: sums A1, A2 and A3 of image data D1 and D4; D2 and D5; and D3 and D6 of respectively two pixels P1 and P4; P2 and P5; and P3 and P6 are calculated, assuming the pixels P1, P2 and P3 are aligned in this order in a line of the field image, and the pixels P4, P5 and P6 are aligned in this order in an adjacent line of the field image, wherein the pixels P2 and P5 are aligned in the vertical direction with a pixel Px to be interpolated, and are disposed on opposite sides of the pixel Px. If A1<A2<A3 or A1>A2>A3, differences S1=.vertline.D1-D6.vertline., S2=.vertline.D2-D5.vertline., and S3=.vertline.D3-D4.vertline. are calculated. If S1<S2<S3, an average value (D1+D6)/2 is used as interpolation data.