Abstract: A method of operating a transfer printer configured to transfer ink from a printer ribbon to a substrate which is transported along a predetermined substrate path adjacent to the printer. The printer comprises a tape drive comprising two tape drive motors, two tape spool supports on which said spools of ribbon may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of said motors. The printer further comprises a printhead being displaceable towards and away from the predetermined substrate path and being arranged to, during printing, contact one side of the ribbon to press an opposite side of the ribbon into contact with a substrate on the predetermined substrate path, and a printing surface. The printer further comprises a controller configured to control the tape drive to transport ribbon between the first and second ribbon spools.

Abstract: A method of operating a thermal transfer printer, the thermal transfer printer comprising first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool of ribbon; a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first spool support to the second spool support along a predetermined ribbon path; and a printhead. The printhead is moveable towards and away from a printing surface, and, during printing, is configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate as the substrate and printhead are moved relative to one another at a print speed. The method comprising causing relative movement between the ribbon and the printhead at a ribbon speed. A relative speed of movement between the ribbon and the substrate during printing is controlled based upon a force exerted upon the ribbon by the printhead during a printing operation, and/or a parameter indicative of an area of contact between a portion of the printhead and a portion of the printing surface.

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 tape drive for use in for example a transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon. The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor. A controller controls the energization of the motor such that the ribbon is transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool support. The controller is operative to energize both motors to drive the spools of ribbon in the direction of ribbon transport to achieve push-pull operations. Ribbon tension is monitored to enable accurate control of ribbon supply and ribbon take-up, the ribbon tension being monitored, for example, by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors.

Abstract: The technique of producing a printing on a foil in a thermal printing operation during a packaging operation in which the foil is used as a packaging foil or as an information foil sheet to be applied to or below a wrap around or packaging foil for packaging a product being an organic or inorganic product. The examples of products relevant in the present context are unlimited ranging from toys, cosmetics, consumer products, foodstuffs, drugs etc. In general, any product which is to be packed in a foil or to be applied with an information printing after the product has been included in a separate package may be relevant in the present context. High speed printing and packaging operations in which the foil on which the printing is to be applied is moved at a speed up to several hundred millimetres per second.

Abstract: A thermal printer for producing a printing on the surface of a foil in an ink transfer operation. The thermal transfer ribbon is moved relative to an energizable printing device along a specific direction of motion for causing the ink of the thermal transfer ribbon to be transferred at the specific locations to the foil at specific areas thereof constituting the printing so as to smear the ink of the thermal transfer ribbon at the specific locations onto the foil through the motion of the thermal transfer ribbon relative to the foil.

Abstract: A method of producing a printing on a surface of a foil by an energizable printing head and a thermal transfer ribbon including an ink which is transferable in an ink transfer operation at specific locations of the thermal transfer ribbon by heating the specific locations to an elevated temperature by the energizable printing head causing the ink to be fluid. The thermal transfer ribbon is arranged in facial contact with the surface of the foil. The energizable printing head is arranged in contact with the thermal transfer ribbon opposite to the foil. The foil and the energizable printing head are moved relative to one another at a specific speed while pressing the energizable printing head and the foil together so as to sandwich the thermal transfer ribbon therebetween in a constrained state, and while energizing the energizable printing head.

Abstract: A method of printing utilizing a printing apparatus with a print head that has a plurality of printing elements. During the printing process there is relative movement between the print head and the substrate being printed on. In addition, there is relative movement between the print head and the ink ribbon. In one embodiment the ink ribbon is moved in the same direction as the print head relative to the substrate, but a lesser velocity than the print head.

Abstract: A thermal printer has a multiple element print head which is movable relative to a platen in a printing stroke to transfer ink from a ribbon to a substrate film sandwiched between the print head and the platen. The print head is mounted so as to be movable across the platen in the printing stroke and in a return stroke, and towards and away from the platen at the beginning and end of the printing stroke respectively, The print head is driven by a print head drive mechanism including and electric motor. The motor is so coupled to the print head as to cause it to execute each of the above-described print head movements. During the printing stroke, the ribbon is moved in the same direction as the print head.

Abstract: A thermal printer having a supply of media with a rotatable platen on which the media is moved for printing by a thermal printing head. A supply spindle supplies print ribbon from a supply spool mounted thereon, and a take-up spindle takes up the used print ribbon on a take-up spool. The spindles are each driven by a motor and controlled by a controller which detects the Back EMF (BEMF) of the motors, and calculates the velocity of the spindles, spool, and print ribbon to control each motor based on the BEMF. The status of the print ribbon as to low condition, breaks, ribbon full and other monitoring functions can be provided to a remote host computer or other monitoring station.

Abstract: A thermal printer for printing on a continuous print medium by ink transfer from a thermal print ribbon has a print head which is pivotally mounted and which is driven in an oscillatory nodding motion by means of a stepper motor so as repeatedly to bring a linear array of energizable printing elements to bear against a platen roller. Both the element array and the platen extend transversely to respective paths of travel of the print medium and the ribbon. The print medium is fed through the printer from an inlet region, between the platen and print head, and thence to an outlet region. The instantaneous rate of travel of the print medium past the print head is substantially the same as the rate of feed of print medium to the printer. Typically this rate is of the order of 250 to 400 mm per second. The ribbon also travels between the print head and the platen, overlying the print medium and is driven in such a manner that it travels at the same rate as the print medium during each printing operation.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a ribbon winding mechanism of a printing apparatus which is adapted to perform a printing operation in which at a printing station a print head is moved relative to a first length of the ribbon to transfer print medium from the first length of the ribbon onto a substrate and the ribbon is subsequently advanced a predetermined amount to present a second length of ribbon at the printing station for use in a further printing operation, the winding mechanism comprising a supply spool and a take-up spool and there being a ribbon path between the supply and take-up spool through the printing station, and a motive means to cause the ribbon to be moved along the ribbon feed path and wound onto the take-up spool, and a sensing means to sense movement of the ribbon as the take-up spool is rotated and to provide a signal to a control means in response, the method being characterized in that prior to performing the printing operation, the take-up spool is rotated a predetermined amount whilst the

Abstract: A method of printing that utilizes a printing head having a plurality of printing elements each of which is operable to transfer a pixel print medium from a carrier on to an adjacent substrate.

Abstract: A compact thermal color printer enables the use of a thermal type printing medium having heat sublimation type inks for a multiple-print use and a heat melting type ink for a single-print use. In the process of printing characters or symbols, using the two types of inks, by pressing the printing medium against a print object through a thermal head, the transport distances for the thermal print medium and the print object are adjusted, depending on whether a heat sublimation type ink is being printed or a heat melting type ink is being printed. This arrangement for the transport distance adjustments enables to simplify the printer drives to make the apparatus more compact, and enables to reduce consumption of the sublimation type inks for color printing and increases the service life of the printing ribbon to reduce the operating cost.

Abstract: A thermal printer for printing on a continuous print medium by ink transfer from a thermal print ribbon has a print head which is pivotally mounted and which is driven in an oscillatory pivotable motion by a stepper motor so as to repeatedly bring a linear array of energizable printing elements to bear against a platen roller. The print medium is fed through the printer between the platen roller and the print head. The instantaneous rate of travel of the print medium past the print head is substantially the same as the rate of feed of the print medium to the printer. The ribbon also travels between the print head and the platen roller, overlying the print medium, and is driven in such a manner that it travels at the same rate as the print medium during each printing operation up to a speed equivalent to the maximum printing speed of the print head.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink sheet cartridge loadable into a recording apparatus for performing the recording onto a recording sheet. The cartridge comprises a first winding member for winding an ink sheet of multi-print having the ink on a carrier, a second winding member for winding the ink sheet, an ink sheet conveying rotational body for applying a conveying force to the ink sheet, the ink sheet conveying rotational body being provided on the recording head downstream thereof in a direction of conveying the ink sheet, and a frame body for containing the first winding member, the second winding member and the ink sheet conveying rotational body.

Abstract: In a printer for printing on a recording medium using a transfer medium, a transfer medium capable of being repeatedly used at the same portion thereof (e.g., a multi-pass thermal transfer ribbon) is conveyed in the normal direction in performing the printing process by a recording means such as a thermal head etc. and the conveying amount of the transfer medium which is used for printing is measured at that time. The transfer medium is conveyed in the reverse direction by a given amount based on the result of the measurement and the reverse direction conveying ratio of the transfer medium to the used length of the transfer medium which is arbitrarily set by a transfer medium reverse direction conveying ratio setting means irrespective of the used amount of the transfer medium every time a unit of printing is completed. Thereafter the transfer medium is conveyed in the normal direction for printing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending the useful life of a printing ribbon by controlling the ratio of ink used to ink applied to the ribbon, while maintaining visual clarity of printed characters. A counter accumulates the number of characters printed, and the print density, over a preset period of time. The number of characters printed is compared with predetermined triggering numbers of characters, and the print density is likewise compared with a predetermined triggering print density. As a result of this comparison, the speed of the printer ribbon is increased to allow an increase in the ratio of ink applied to ink used, when the number of characters and print density are high. Conversely, ribbon speed is decreased when the number of characters printed during the preset time period, and the print density, are low, to prevent overinking and fouling of printer hammers. This condition applies when the ribbon is relatively new.

Abstract: A thermal printer for printing on a continuous print medium by ink transfer from a thermal print ribbon has a print head which is pivotally mounted and which is driven in an oscillatory nodding motion by a stepper motor so as to repeatedly to bring a linear array of energizable printing elements to bear against a platen roller. Both the element array and the platen extend transversely to respective paths of travel of the print medium and the ribbon. The print medium is fed through the printer from an inlet region, between the platen and print head, and thence to an outlet region. The instantaneous rate of travel of the print medium past the print head is substantially the same as the rate of feed of print medium to the printer. Typically this rate is of the order of 250 to 400 mm per second. The ribbon also travels between the print head and the platen, overlying the print medium and is driven in such a manner that it travels at the same rate as the print medium during each printing operation.

Abstract: A thermal recording device suitable for use in an electronic typewriter for printing characters on a printing paper by means of an ink sheet. The device has a thermal recording head adapted to be pressed onto the printing paper through the ink sheet so as to print the characters on the printing paper. The ink sheet is adapted to be fed by a reversible winding device. The recording device further has a first detector for detecting the length of the ink sheet fed by the feeding device in a period between a moment at which the feeding is commenced and a moment at which the thermal recording head reaches the first image recording position, and a second detector for detecting the length of the ink sheet fed by the feeding device in a period between a moment at which the thermal recording head leaves the final image recording position and a moment at which the thermal recording head is stopped.

Abstract: A printer having a spring-loaded print head which can be pressed against a counterpressure roller, wherein an active strand of a printing ribbon and a medium to be printed run between the print head and the counterpressure roller, can be configured such that the printing ribbon is unwound from a first spool and is wound up on a second spool, can preferably have a slip clutch disposed between the drive of the second spool and the second spool and/or between a drive and a drive roller in contact with the medium to be printed, and the slip clutch can be disposed in a wheel with a concentric shaft. Between the shaft and the wheel there can be at least one pair of axially spring-loaded friction discs.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer which controls a speed of an ink sheet based on density information of document image data uses a counting part for counting the number of maximum density pixels or gradation pulses in document image data and uses a speed ratio changing part for changing a speed ratio between a feeding speed of a recording medium and a feeding speed of an ink sheet based on the number of maximum density pixels or gradation pulses which have been counted by the counting part.

Abstract: A record head is energized in accordance with received image data to transfer an ink of an ink sheet to a record medium and perform image recording on the record medium while the ink sheet and the record medium are fed in opposite directions. The rotation period of a roller driven during feeding of the record medium or the feed direction of the record medium is detected to detect adhesion between the ink sheet and the record medium. When adhesion between the ink sheet and the record medium is detected, a recording operation is interrupted to feed the ink sheet and the record medium to release adhesion between the ink sheet and the record medium. When the adhesion is released within a predetermined time period, the recording operation is continued. When the adhesion is not released within the predetermined time period, an alarm sound is issued.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette of which the type of ink ribbon accommodated in the ribbon cassette may be identified by detection switches arranged on the carriage of a thermal transfer printer, without using a plurality of types of ribbon cassette case which are different in shape. A ribbon cassette in which a simple construction is used to prevent sticking to each other of the ink ribbon and the guide roller immediately after printing. A ribbon cassette by which a stain on the recording sheet due to contact between the sheet and the ink ribbon at the time of printing operation may be prevented and the stability of running of the ink ribbon is improved. A thermal transfer printer in which: the stability of running of the ink ribbon may be improved; both hot peeling printing and cold peeling printing are possible in an excellent condition; and the consumption of the, ink ribbon may be reduced.

Abstract: A printer for reducing the consumption of a ribbon at a printing completion section. A ribbon feeder feeds an ink ribbon so as to carry out printing during a period in which heat transfer is being effected on recording paper. Further, the ribbon is continuously fed to a blank area or portion existing in the printing to determine the printing. When a final portion detector detects a final area or portion to be printed during the continuation of feeding of the ribbon toward the blank portion or during a period in which the feeding of the ribbon to the blank portion is stopped to wait for recommencement of the printing, a difference calculator calculates a difference between a feed length of a ribbon required to determine the printing and a length of a ribbon fed toward a blank portion calculated by a blank feed length calculator. Further, the ribbon feeder continues to feed the ribbon by the calculated difference, to thereby fix printing characters subjected to the heat transfer onto the recording paper.

Abstract: A traveling amount calculating unit calculates a minimum traveling amount of a printing transfer material required for a plurality of shapes printed previously not overlying a shape to be printed next on the printing transfer material. Based on the traveling amount, a traveling unit travels the printing transfer material. Then, a transfer unit transfers a shape to be printed next.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer includes an arrangement for continuously and automatically varying the rate of advance of the thermal transfer ribbon during printing, the rate of advance being correlated with the nature of the image being printed, and the variable advance rate being provided by a driven friction feed roller and a pair of ribbon guides which cooperate with the friction feed roller and are so positioned that the transfer ribbon is held tightly against the friction feed roller, contacting the circumference of the friction feed roller over more than 90.degree. its circumference and preferably at least 180.degree. of its circumference.

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: A thermal printing postage dispensing apparatus that is able to print a postage indicia on a mail piece in a secure manner. A thermal ribbon is provided which has pre-formed images thereon that are of a reduced size in the longitudinal direction. When the images are to be transferred to an envelope to print a postage indicia by a dot matrix thermal printer, the envelope is driven at a greater speed than the ribbon. This results in the indicia being printed on the envelope with a standard size. The preformed images represent the non-variable portion of a postage indicia; whereas, the variable data of the postage indicia is printed by a thermal printer in blank areas left by the pre-formed images.

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 thermal transfer printer includes an arrangement for continuously and automatically varying the rate of advance of the thermal transfer ribbon during printing, the rate of advance being correlated with the nature of the image being printed, and the variable advance rate being provided by a driven friction feed roller and a pair of ribbon guides which cooperate with the friction feed roller and are so positioned that the transfer ribbon is held tightly against the friction feed roller, contacting the circumference of the friction feed roller over more than 90.degree. its circumference and preferably at least 180.degree. of its circumference.

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 recording apparatus capable of regulating the amount of transport of ink sheet according to the selected recording sheet, thereby maintaining uniform quality of image recording. The apparatus is provided with an ink sheet transporting mechanism, a recording sheet transporting mechanism, a thermal recording head, a selector for selecting the recording sheet, and a controller for regulating the transport amount of ink sheet according to the selected recording sheet. For a recording sheet with rougher recording surface, the transport amount of ink sheet is so regulated to increase the amount of transferred ink, thereby better covering the rougher recording surface.

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 printer has a rotatably mounted supply spool, and a rotatably driven print drum for unwinding a dye donor web from the supply spool and advancing the web past a thermal print head at a print zone where dye is transferred to a print receiving medium by the print head. The print drum causes the supply spool to rotate as it unwinds web therefrom and further causes the web to be paid out of the print zone at a constant rate. A rotatably mounted take-up spool accumulates web paid out of the print zone and tensions the web. A capstan roller is interposed between the print drum and the take-up spool. The capstan roller drivingly engages the web and controllably advances the web towards the take-up spool as the web is paid out of the print zone. The capstan roller advances the web at a slower rate than the web is paid out of the print zone to eliminate tension on the donor web caused by the take-up spool as the donor web exits the print zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal printer and a printing method thereby, using a step motor for feeding a sheet of paper, a scanning type thermal head and a control unit by which the paper feeding operation is temporarily stopped and the printing operation is restarted after the stopped period. This thermal printer further comprises a delay drive unit which drives the thermal head with delay of one or two clock periods, predetermined as a control parameter for this printing operation, by a phase switch timing point for the step motor, in response to the time-lag defined by the phase switch timing point to an actual paper feeding motion; and a pre-print unit which outputs a command signal to begin the printing operation of the thermal head for printing one or more times the print data which follows the final print data of when the paper feeding operation was stopped, prior to the above described regular drive operation of the thermal head at the restart of the printing operation.

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 recording apparatus for image recording by ink transfer from an ink sheet, in which the thermal head is energized in divided manner in plural blocks, and the recording sheet and the ink sheet are so transported as to generate a relative speed therebetween, thus facilitating the ink peeling from the ink sheet.

Abstract: An impact printer for recording onto a sheet by striking an ink ribbon and for correcting the recorded data by striking a correction ribbon. The printer comprises: a platen to support a recording sheet; a print hammer to strike a recording ink ribbon and a correction ribbon onto the sheet; a supply reel to feed the ink ribbon; a first memory to store ink ribbon feeding amounts in the case where the ink ribbon and correction ribbon are overlaid and struck by the recording head to thereby correct the recorded data; a controller to control the supply reel on the basis of the ink ribbon feeding amount stored in the first memory and to feed the ink ribbon upon correction; and a second memory to store types of correction ribbons. The controller reads out the ink ribbon feeding amount from the first memory on the basis of the type of the correction ribbon and changes the ink ribbon feeding amount of the supply reel in accordance with the type of recording ribbon which is used.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermal transfer printer for image recording by ink transfer from an ink sheet onto a recording sheet, which is 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 not instructed by 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 the next recording operation.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus, which transfers ink contained on an ink sheet onto a recording medium to record images thereon, and comprises a means for conveying the ink sheet and recording medium; recording means for effecting the ink sheet to record the image on the recording medium; and adjusting means for adjusting the conveyance amount of the ink sheet against the recording medium at the time of starting the next recording action if the recording action is suspended after the unit of a predetermined amount of image data has been recorded by the above-mentioned recording means.

Abstract: A ribbon control mechanism for a serial encoding device is provided to conserve the usage of single-strike ribbon consumed during printing. The mechanism includes a ribbon transport mechanism and means for signaling the transport mechanism to reverse the ribbon between documents to position the ribbon for printing in unspent ribbon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for setting a desired color in a thermal transfer printer using a color ink ribbon which has ink sections of plural colors arranged in continuous repeating units in the longitudinal direction of the ink ribbon. Taking note of the fact that in a short distance from a color detecting sensor up to a printing position, the amount of the ribbon wound up for a rotational amount corresponding to one step of a ribbon winding motor is almost constant, irrespective of the amount of the ink ribbon used, the present invention was accomplished. According to the present invention, the number of steps of the motor for feeding a color distinguishing marker on the ink ribbon is counted by a sensor and the ribbon is fed from the position of the said sensor up to the printing position by a predetermined integer multiple of steps of the counted value, whereby a desired color is set in the printer accurately.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes motor control apparatus for variably controlling the rotational speed of a take-up spool used to wind-up an expended dye-bearing donor web after passage through a print zone. The donor web is moved through the print zone at a substantially constant velocity by a rotatably driven print drum which cooperates with a thermal print head to unwind the donor web from a supply spool. The motor control apparatus operates to rotate the take-up spool at a speed inversely proportional to the instantaneous take-up spool diameter, whereby the expended donor web is accummulated at a rate slightly slower than the rate at which it is payed-out of the print zone during the printing operation. Preferably, the desired rate of rotations of the take-up spool, which gradually decreases with the number of prints made, is determined by the use of a shaft encoder mounted on the support shaft of the supply spool.

Abstract: In a shuttle dot line printer including a hammer bank shuttling back and forth at a given speed in a direction to transverse a sheet of print paper while turning around at two opposite ends, and an endless ink ribbon uni-directionally moving through a space between the hammer bank and the sheet of print paper, the ink density of the characters printed when the hammer bank is moving in the direction opposite to the ink ribbon is lowered. To prevent such occurrence, the ink ribbon is moved at a low speed lower than a regular speed when the moving direction of the hammer bank is opposite to that of the ink ribbon. On the other hand, when the moving direction of the hammer bank is same as that of the ink ribbon, the ink ribbon is moved at the regular speed after a predetermined period of time has been expired when the hammer bank turns around at one end and starts moving in the same direction as the ink ribbon.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermal transfer recording apparatus utilizing an ink sheet and a recording sheet, provided with a thermal head, an ink sheet feeding mechanism, and a recording sheet feeding mechanism, in which, after the image recording, the ink sheet is fed at a speed lower than that of the recording sheet, thereby preventing the formation of creases or slack in the ink sheet.

Abstract: A recorder has a feeder for feeding a sheet of recording paper and an ink sheet wound around a circumferential face of a winding member from a supplying roller portion between a recording head and a platen in a state in which the ink sheet overlaps with the sheet of recording paper and a relative feed speed ratio of the sheet of recording paper to the ink sheet is set to be greater than one; and a device for performing a thermal transfer recording operation with respect to the sheet of recording paper through the ink sheet, the winding member being rotated by a rotary driving source rotating at a constant speed, the rotary driving source being adapted to determine a feed speed of the ink sheet. A feeding amount of the ink sheet is smaller than that of the sheet of recording paper.

Abstract: Thermal printing apparatus includes motor control means for variably controlling the rotational speed of a take-up spool used to wind-up an expended dye-bearing donor web after passage through a print zone. During a printing step in which the donor web is contacted by a thermal print head, the take-up spool is rotated at a relatively slow speed, whereby the spool takes up the donor web at a rate slower than that at which the web is payed-out of the print zone. By this arrangement, the take-up spool exerts zero tension on the web during the printing operation, and certain tension-produced artifacts in the thermal print are eliminated. During the interval between successive printing operations, the take-up spool is rotated at a rate sufficient to take-up the web slack produced during printing.