Abstract: A transferred medium is provided. In one exemplary embodiment a transferred medium includes a projection part projected in a transferring direction. The projection part can be integrally formed at a front end of the transferred medium. The transferred medium can have a plate shape that can be nipped between a feed driving roller that is rotationally driven and a feed driven roller that is rotationally driven in contact with the feed driving roller. The transferred medium can also be configured to be transferred in the transferring direction with the rotation of the feed driving roller. Further, the transferred medium can include a plurality of the projection parts at its front end in a direction perpendicular to the transferring direction of the transferred medium with a predetermined pitch. Other embodiments of a transferred medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: An azo dye represented by formula (1): wherein, R11 represents a monovalent substituent, R12 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent, Ar1 represents a specific heterocyclic group such as a group such as a group shown below, and X represents atoms necessary to form a ring; wherein, in the heterocyclic group, R61 to R63 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a takeup reel driving motor which, after printing, takes up an ink ribbon to eliminate a slack in the ink ribbon. The printing apparatus includes a control device for comparing a distance (a) over which the ink ribbon R is taken up to eliminate the slack in the ink ribbon R with a distance (b) from a print end position to a print start position for a next color.

Abstract: Thermal printers and methods for operating thermal printers are provided. In one method, a sequence of thermal print head control signals is generated that is adapted to cause an array of thermal elements to cause the donor material to transfer from a donor ribbon in a manner that is modulated in accordance with image data and attenuated in accordance with an attenuation pattern. A receiver medium is urged through the printing nip while the thermal print head control signals are transmitted to the thermal print head to cause the donor material to transfer from the donor web in an image modulated pattern having a longitudinal length that is larger than a longitudinal length of the receiver medium. The attenuation pattern provides a relatively high level of attenuation at a portion of the printing wherein there is greater risk that the receiver medium will not be within the printing nip.

Abstract: Constant tension in the thermal printing ribbon is maintained in a loading drum placed after the thermal print head that directs the ribbon by means of a planetary pivotable support lever arm to define a loop, thereby maintaining constant tension throughout the printing stage to ensure operational quality. The printing method includes threading the thermal printing ribbon between the pivotable support lever arm and the cylindrical drum, and the mechanism retains the printing ribbon against the loading drum by a biasing force on the lever arm, the lever arm being kept in biasing mode during the printing operation.

Abstract: A printer using a thermal head to sublime ink on an ink ribbon includes a cylindrical ribbon core around which the ink ribbon is wound, a rotating shaft to rotate the ribbon core, first and second magnets to generate magnetic force lines in a space surrounded by an inner peripheral face of the ribbon core, and a magnet sensor located in the space to detect the magnetic force lines generated by the first and second magnets only when the magnetic force lines are set in prescribed directions by rotation of the ribbon core. The ribbon core includes a cylindrical outer core with an outside peripheral surface around which the ink ribbon is wound and a cylindrical inner core with an outside peripheral surface to which the first and second magnets are fixed. The inner core with the first and second magnets fixed thereto is installed inside the outer core.

Abstract: A thermal transfer laminate film includes a base film, a non-transferable release layer made of a rubber-elastic resin and disposed on one side of the base film, and an image-protecting layer disposed on the non-transferable release layer.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive transfer image forming method, containing: superposing receptor layer side of image-receiving sheet and dye layer side of ink sheet, making a thermal head contact with the sheets from lubricating layer side of ink sheet, and applying heat while making the head and ink sheet move at 60 mm/s or more relatively, and thereby transferring dye to form an image; wherein image-receiving sheet has heat insulation layer containing hollow polymer particles, receptor layer and/or heat insulation layer contains a water-soluble polymer; lubricating layer contains inorganic particles in 0.01-5 mass % to the total solid content of lubricating layer, the particles have Mohs' hardness 3-6 and mean particle size 0.3-5 ?m, and the ratio of the maximum width of each particles to the sphere equivalent diameter thereof is 1.5-50; and when 0.7 J/cm2 energy is applied, contact distance between the head and lubricating layer is 350-450 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and apparatuses for the separations of IC fabrication and assembling of separated IC components to form complete IC structures. In an embodiment, the present fabrication separation of an IC structure into multiple discrete components can take advantages of dedicated IC fabrication facilities and achieve more cost effective products. In another embodiment, the present chip assembling provides high density interconnect wires between bond pads, enabling cost-effective assembling of small chip components. In an aspect, the present process forms interconnect wires on a thermal decomposable adhesive, and after positioning the wires at proper bond pad locations, releases the interconnect wires onto the bond pads.

Abstract: A thermal printer in which a thermal head can be attached easily to a print unit without requiring a tool such as a screw driver. The thermal printer has a printing unit (40) having a left ribbon frame (43) and a right ribbon frame (42) facing each other. A head housing (60) is attached between the frames (42, 43) while supporting a thermal head (12). A supporting-recess in the surface of the left ribbon frame (43) faces the right ribbon frame (42) and supporting the left side face (64) of the head housing (60). A frame cover (70) is fitted on and removed from a fitting portion provided on the outer surface of the right ribbon frame which is at the back side of the surface facing the left ribbon frame (43) and the cover supporting a right side face (62) of the head housing (60) through a through-hole (50a) formed on the right ribbon frame (42).

Abstract: A heat-transfer imaging system and a method of using the same. The heat-transfer imaging system includes a heat-transfer sheet and an activating ink. The heat-transfer sheet and the activating ink are specially formulated so that only the areas of the heat-transfer sheet onto which the ink has been printed become adhesive under heat-transfer conditions. This effect may be achieved by designing the sheet to include an ink-receptive coating whose melting temperature is higher than that typically encountered during normal heat-transfer conditions and by formulating the activating ink to include a plasticizer that, when printed onto the ink-receptive coating, lowers the melting temperature of the ink-receptive coating sufficiently so that the modified melting temperature falls within the temperature range encountered during heat-transfer.

Abstract: A ribbon supply shaft drive motor (8) and a ribbon take-up shaft drive motor (10) are drivingly controlled separately. If the state of a ribbon is not changed after a control cycle is repeated for a set time, the rotational speed of the drive motors (8, 10) is increased step by step.

Abstract: Apparatus for thermal transfer printing of an image from a thermal retransfer sheet onto an article, includes heating means adapted to supply a flow of heated gas for causing dye transfer, and oscillating vane means for directing the heated gas in a direction transverse to the direction of flow, for distributing the heated gas over article(s) during dye transfer. Also disclosed is a method of printing an image, and the resulting printed article.

Abstract: When printing on a printing medium, a second image adjacent to a first image, which is already printed, control is performed such that the trailing edge of a first coating layer of the first image transferred onto the printing medium does not reach the trailing edge of the first image, and the leading edge of a second coating layer transferred onto the second image is either the same as the trailing edge of the first coating layer of the first image or is made to overlap with the trailing edge of the first coating layer.

Abstract: A receiver medium transport system for a thermal printer, a method for operating a receiver medium transport system and a thermal printer are provided that enable the recording of at least a portion of a second superimposed image on a second receiver medium during the recording of a first superimposed image on a first receiver medium.

Abstract: A printer device is disclosed. The printer device includes: a base chassis that accepts therein and ejects therefrom the printing medium; a top chassis that is disposed to be able to freely open and close in a direction vertical to the basis chassis; an ink ribbon cartridge holder that is disposed between the top chassis and the base chassis, and is attached with an ink ribbon cartridge including therein the ink ribbon; and a thermal head that prints an image to the printing medium by heating the ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cartridge attached to the ink ribbon cartridge holder.

Abstract: A printer transfers to one image formation area a plurality of single colors of ink repeatedly arranged in a longitudinal direction of the ink sheet, to thus produce in an image formation area of an intermediate transfer sheet a transfer image formed as a result of lamination of single color images, and also transfers the transfer image of the intermediate transfer sheet to a subject to be printed, thereby producing a desired image on the subject. During the course of a first single color of ink C being transferred from the ink sheet to an image formation area of an intermediate transfer sheet, to thus produce a single color image in the first color on the intermediate transfer sheet, a position mark is transferred by use of a black ink area provided at a widthwise edge of an area of the first single color of ink of the ink sheet and outside the image formation area of the intermediate transfer sheet.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer includes: a pealing roller which is disposed downstream of a printing position set between a thermal head and a platen roller and defines a peeling start position of an ink ribbon; and a tension plate which is disposed on a further downstream side than the peeling roller and slidably stretches the ink ribbon under a tension relative to the printing position, via the peeling roller. With a back tension being ensured by means of the tension plate to prevent slackness of the ink ribbon, the peeling roller performs peeling, thereby avoiding retention of dust or the like and the lowered quality of paper due to such retention. In this manner, problems such as wrinkles occurring with the ink ribbon are eliminated without damaging paper, and further, improvement of printing quality is compatible with that of paper quality, through a design based upon a mechanism concerning the occurrence of wrinkles.

Abstract: A sheet material conveying apparatus for conveying a sheet material under attraction to a conveying belt has an attraction unit for attracting the sheet material to the conveying belt, and which exerts a attraction in succession from a front end to a rear end of the sheet material in a conveying direction thereof and from a position in the front end toward both ends in the direction of width, or in succession from an end at either side in the direction of width of the sheet material and a front end in the conveying direction thereof toward a rear end thereof, and from the either end toward an end at the other side.

Abstract: A thermal activation device has a thermal activation head that thermally activates a heat-sensitive adhesive layer of a sheet material having a printing layer on one surface of a sheet-like base material and the heat-sensitive adhesive layer formed on the other surface thereof. A platen roller conveys the sheet material and is disposed in pressure contact with the thermal activation head so that the platen roller and the thermal activation head apply a holding force on the sheet material. A pair of conveyor rollers hold and convey the sheet material and are disposed on a downstream side of the thermal activation head in a conveying direction of the sheet material. A holding force applied on the sheet material by the pair of conveyor rollers being larger than a holding force applied on the sheet material by the platen roller and the thermal activation head.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a takeup reel driving motor which, after printing, takes up an ink ribbon to eliminate a slack in the ink ribbon. The printing apparatus includes a control device for comparing a distance (a) over which the ink ribbon R is taken up to eliminate the slack in the ink ribbon R with a distance (b) from a print end position to a print start position for a next color.

Abstract: Thermal printers and methods of operating thereof are provided. In one embodiment, a thermal printer comprising a thermal print head, thermal media including a direct thermal thermally sensitive coating on at least a first side thereof, and a thermal transfer ribbon installed between the thermal print head and the first side of the thermal media is provided, wherein the thermal print head is adapted to apply heat at a first temperature to image the direct thermal thermally sensitive coating without transferring a thermal transfer coating associated with the thermal transfer ribbon and a second temperature to image the direct thermal thermally sensitive coating and transfer the thermal transfer coating associated with the thermal transfer ribbon.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer for film capable of thermal transfer printing on a plastic film. The thermal transfer printer for film is provided with a conveyance for conveying the plastic film along a predetermined path, an ink ribbon moving mechanism which includes a holder for holding a plurality of ink ribbons 11 and moves an ink ribbon selected arbitrarily from the plurality of ink ribbons to a print position arranged on the predetermined path, and a print head which prints on the plastic film by heating the ink ribbon moved to the print position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing substantially intimate rolling contact between a portion of a donor sheet and a portion of an acceptor element in a laser-induced thermal transfer printer comprises a rotatably mounted cylindrical drum, an acceptor element affixed to and supported by the cylindrical drum, a rotatably mounted dispensing roller for dispensing a donor sheet, and a rotatably mounted receiving roller for receiving the donor sheet, so that the donor sheet is extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller. A plurality of rotatably mounted contact rollers configured to bring a portion of the donor sheet extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller into contact with a portion of the acceptor element is also included.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a printer apparatus which can perform printing to the whole surface of a recording sheet with no margin while print quality is not lost. A configuration of the invention is a printer apparatus which has a printing unit comprising a pressing member which is provided in parallel with a heat generating unit of the thermal head while being opposite the heat generating unit of the thermal head; a first roller which is provided in parallel with the pressing member; and an endless belt which is extended with a tension so as to involve the pressing member and the first roller. In the printer apparatus, the thermal head is pressed against the pressing member through an ink sheet and the endless belt, the recording sheet is conveyed between the ink sheet and the endless belt, and the printing is performed by transferring ink in the ink sheet to the recording sheet with the thermal head.

Abstract: A compact printer that includes a sensor system for monitoring the position and/or status of media is provided. The system includes a photo source extending along a line across all or a portion of the width of a media path. The photo source can comprise a number of sources, such as a number of focused LED sources. A single detector or receiver is disposed on a side of the media path opposite the source. The location of the single receiver with respect to the width of the media path can be adjusted by a user. Information related to the intensity of light received at the receiver is passed to a controller, which can use the information to generate a media out signal or to determine the location of an index mark.

Abstract: In a first aspect of the invention, a method is provided for operating a thermal printer adapted to print images by transferring donor material from patches of donor material from a donor ribbon onto a receiver medium, said printer being operable to print images in a manner that exhausts a full donor patch set or a fractional donor patch set during printing. In accordance with the method, a print order is received and it is determined whether a fractional donor patch set is available for printing. An image is printed using donor material from the fractional donor patch set where at least part of the print order can be satisfied using donor material from the fractional donor patch set.

Abstract: A card printing apparatus includes an information recording unit for printing an image to a card medium having at least a rewrite printing region capable of repeatedly coloring and deleting of color through application of heat. The information recording unit has a single thermal head for printing the image to a rewrite printing region and an individual information printing region where the coloring and deleting of color are not performed.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer according to the invention includes at least one printing unit for thermal transfer printing with a print head via a ribbon having a dye layer; a first bending member for bending the ribbon after thermal transfer, the first bending member having at least one curved surface that is aligned perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the ribbon and protrudes toward one or the other surface of the ribbon; a second bending member disposed at a distance from the first bending member, the second bending member having at least one acute apex that is aligned perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the ribbon and protrudes toward the one or the other surface of the ribbon, the apex causing a bend line to be formed in the used ribbon conveyed from the first bending member; a folder for folding the ribbon conveyed from the second bending member along the bend line; and a heater for fusing opposing dye layers of the folded ribbon together.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus, an ink ribbon is always placed under a tension by a stop torque of a torque limiter while a take-up bobbin is driven through the torque limiter when recording paper is conveyed near a stationary ink ribbon.

Abstract: An image formation device (facsimile machine, printer, copier, etc.) is provided, which is capable of reducing the amount of ink ribbon rolled up for the removal of slack of the ribbon. When a ribbon roll-up process is started, the operation mode of the image formation device is first set to a ribbon roll-up mode in which a ribbon roll-up spool is driven without driving a platen. The slack of the ribbon is removed by driving the ribbon roll-up spool to roll up the ribbon without driving the platen, which can reduce the amount of ribbon rolled up for the removal of the slack (the amount of ribbon wasted).

Abstract: A printing apparatus (10) includes a carrier ribbon supply tool (12) and a carrier ribbon take-up spool (16), a print head (22) having a plurality of heating elements which are individually addressable and energizable selectively to remove pixels of marking medium from the carrier ribbon (14) during a printing operation, a first motor (13) which when the printing apparatus (10) is operated in a first configuration, moves the print head (22) during a printing operation relative to a substrate (15) on which an image is to be printed and when the (10) is operated in a second configuration, the first motor (13) moving the carrier ribbon (14) relative to the print head (22) during a printing operation, and there being a second motor (25) which is operative when the printing apparatus (10) is operated in the first and second configurations to advance carrier ribbon (14) from which pixels of marking medium have been removed in a previous printing operation, onto the carrier ribbon take-up spool (16), the printing ap

Abstract: A method of thermal printing resulting in reduced or no wrinkling of the thermal printing ribbon during printing is described, wherein the ribbon includes inorganic particles in a polymeric host material in at least one layer of the ribbon. The ribbon has improved mechanical and thermal properties as compared to ribbons not incorporating the inorganic particles. The method can be used in high speed printing.

Abstract: Provided is a printer apparatus, including: a thermal print head that performs printing by contacting a heat-sensitive color-developing layer of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet that includes a printable surface made from the heat-sensitive color-developing layer on one surface of a sheet-like base material, and a heat-sensitive adhesive layer on another surface of the sheet-like base material; a thermal-activation thermal head that activates the heat-sensitive adhesive layer by heating; a cutter device that cuts the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet; a transporting unit that transports the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet; and a controlling unit that controls the thermal print head, the thermal-activation thermal head, and the cutter device.

Abstract: An article for receiving an image by thermal transfer printing includes an image-receiving surface of plastics material coated with a layer of dye-receptive material capable of accepting an image by means of a dye thermal transfer process, wherein the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the dye receptive material is at least 50° C. lower than the softening point of the plastics material of the image-receiving surface. By having a difference between the softening point of the plastics material article surface and the Tg of the material coated thereon of at least 50° C. it is possible to achieve printing in a single step transfer process of high density images without distortion of the plastics material. The invention can be used with three-dimensional articles possibly having compound curves, including casings for mobile telephones made of polymers such as polycarbonate.

Abstract: When some trouble occurs to a facsimile apparatus 1 that reads component-identification information of an ink ribbon cartridge 60 and it is impossible to read the component-identification information even if the ink ribbon cartridge 60 is a standard product, a permanent release mode is set to permanently prohibit an identification information reading processing (S24). On the other hand, when any trouble does not occur to the facsimile apparatus 1 but some trouble occurs to the ink ribbon cartridge 60, it is impossible to read the component-identification information so long as the ink ribbon cartridge 60 is used. Therefore, a temporary release mode is set to temporarily prohibit the identification information reading processing (S24). Accordingly, it becomes possible to reduce an economical burden on a user and to perform a printing operation with favorable printing quality.

Abstract: A thermal transfer film comprises a coloring layer formed on a substrate film via an intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer contains a thermally fusible substance and a non-transferable binder resin, the melt viscosity of the thermally fusible substance in the temperature range 15 to 25° C. higher than the fuse peak temperature of the thermally fusible substance is in the range of 100 to 1000 mPa·s, the fuse peak temperature of the thermally fusible substance is in the range of 50 to 110° C., the crystallization peak temperature of the thermally fusible substance is in the range of ?20 to 100 ° C., the crystallization peak temperature of the thermally fusible substance is lower than the fuse peak temperature by 10° C. or more, and the softening temperature of the binder resin measured by the ring and ball method is in the range of 130 to 400° C. This thermal transfer film is capable of forming a printed product with a good printing quality.

Abstract: A thermal printer is adapted to prevent crease formation in successive dye transfer areas of a dye donor web that can cause line artifacts to be printed on a dye receiver during dye transfer from each dye transfer area to the dye receiver in a dye transfer printer.

Abstract: Applicable to machines having a moving carriage (4) that can move transversally with respect to the continuous band to be printed and that includes a thermal printing head (9) by which passes a thermal ribbon, from a cassette of origin (5) to a destination cassette (10), which pulls said ribbon (7), its characteristics centred on the fact that the drive motor for said ribbon (7) instead of being established on the moving carriage (4) is established on the fixed plate (3) along which the aforementioned carriage may travel, for which purpose said motor acts directly or indirectly on a roller (12) mounted on the fixed plate (3), aided by a return roller (14) to establish a transmission belt (14) which bends in its path due to a pair of auxiliary rollers (16–16?) mounted free to revolve about the carriage (4), by which bend the belt (13) is connected to a drive roller (15) that is also mounted on the carriage (4), which transmits the motion to the pulling cassette (10) by a transmission belt (20) and by a clutch

Abstract: A thermal activating device has an activation heating apparatus for heating and activating a heat sensitive adhesive on a thermal activator layer of a thermal activation sheet. A pressing device presses the thermal activation sheet into pressure contact with the activation heating apparatus to heat and activate the heat sensitive adhesive on the thermal activator layer of the thermal activation sheet. A detector detects the presence of the thermal activation sheet at a predetermined position along its path of travel. A pressure releasing device releases the pressure contact between the thermal activation sheet and the activation heating apparatus when the detector does not detect the presence of the thermal activation sheet at the predetermined position.

Abstract: Apparatus for permitting the laser transfer of organic material from a donor onto a substrate to form a layer of organic material on one or more OLED devices, wherein the donor includes a laser light-absorbing layer, and a layer with heat transferable organic material.

Abstract: A method of registering the position of a ribbon by moving the ribbon with a constant angular velocity and detecting the amount of ribbon used in a photo printer. The ribbon includes dye regions each having several dye frames, and black bar regions each prior to a dye region. The first dye frame of each dye region is registered after each black bar region is detected. The amount of ribbon used is determined based on the moved time of the black bar region. And while one of the dye frames is finished printing, the required time for moving the ribbon to register the start position of the subsequent dye frame is obtained based on the moved time of the black bar region, the length of the printed part of the dye frame, and the length from non-printed part of the dye frame to the subsequent dye frame.

Abstract: A transfer sheet separated from a support member is held and its recording position is detected, and the separated transfer sheet is returned and superposed on the recording surface of a support member which is then delivered in. Based on the result of the detection of the recording position, the returning position of the transfer sheet is changed or image data to be recorded are changed, thereby carrying out a recording operation over the support member by using an unrecorded section present between the recorded stripes of the transfer sheet. For example, the transfer sheet is returned to almost the same position as that set before the separation and the recording position is shifted at an arrangement pitch of a stripe corresponding to 1 to 1.5 pitches to carry out the recording operation. Thus, the recording operation is performed over the support member by using an unrecorded section.

Abstract: A recording deice includes a cylinder (1) of heat-sensitive ink ribbon (2), a rewinding cylinder (5), and a marking header (19). The device prevents unused segments of ribbon being left between markings. The device has a moving support (6) guiding the ribbon (2) along an additional path (16), a braking mechanism (10, 11, 12, 14) for the cylinder (1). When the ribbon (2)is tractioned and the cylinder is braked, the support (6) is forced to move against the action of an elastic element (13), reducing the additional path (16). Thus, after a marking (a-b) the ribbon and the support (6) move back to (c) so that the next marking (b-d) is made immediately after the first marking (a-b). The braking mechanism, after one or more markings, are released, unrolling a length of ribbon (2) from the cylinder, then braking again, with the process repeated.

Abstract: A thermal printer capable of preventing crease formation in a dye transfer area of a dye donor web that can cause a line artifact to be printed on a dye receiver during a dye transfer from the dye transfer area to the dye receiver, includes a print head having a bead of selectively heated resistive elements that make contact across the dye transfer area of the dye donor web and opposite edge areas of the dye donor web that are alongside the dye transfer area as the dye transfer area and the edge areas are progressively advanced under a longitudinal tension over the bead of resistive elements.

Abstract: A radiation-curable ink, a method of making the ink, a thermal transfer printer ribbon having a radiation-curable ink layer, and a thermal transfer printer with an actinic energy source are provided. A method of thermal transfer printing using an ink ribbon having radiation-curable components is also provided. The radiation curable components of the ink can be thermally dried and are cured after printing of an image on a receiving article.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which comprises a dye transfer section for transferring a dye of a dye transferring member onto an outer surface of a circularly moving recording intermediate belt, wherein the dye transferring member comprises a base material and the dye is provided on the base material; and a recording paper transfer section for transferring the dye transferred onto the recording intermediate belt onto recording paper. In a dye transfer operation state, the second roller draws out the dye transferring member and the dye on the drawn dye transferring member is transferred onto the recording intermediate belt facing the dye transferring member. When the dye transfer operation state is changed to a standby state, the first roller winds back the dye transferring member so that a portion of the dye transferring member from which the dye has been transferred faces the recording intermediate belt.

Abstract: A compact disc transporter has been described that includes a two-step printer. The printer uses an intermediate transfer sheet to receive a print image that is subsequently transferred to a compact disc. The transporter allows parallel processing of image data and content data. A significant time reduction can be achieved by preprinting the image to a transfer sheet prior to transferring the image to a CD.

Abstract: There are provided a thermal transfer film which can yield a thermally transferred print possessing excellent fastness or resistance properties such as excellent abrasion resistance, lightfastness, and alteration preventive property, is less likely to cause damage to an object, is free from a deterioration in quality of the print, and does not incur an increase in production cost, a method for image formation using the thermal transfer film, and an image formed object. The thermal transfer film according to the present invention comprises a substrate and one or a plurality of layers including a thermal transfer layer provided on one side of the substrate, the thermal transfer layer being located on the uppermost surface of the thermal transfer film, a convex being provided on a part of the thermal transfer layer.

Abstract: A printer includes a supply shaft wound with unused film including contrast agent, a winding shaft wound with used film including used contrast agent, rotation-speed detector for detecting a rotation speed of the supply shaft, and remaining-amount detector for determining an amount of unused film from the detected rotation speed detected. In the printer, the remaining amount of unused film such as ink film, roll paper or the like can be determined accurately.