PURPOSE: To obtain a heat-sensitive transfer recorder easily attachable with an ink carrier and preventing the occurrence of wrinkles in the ink carrier by a method in which the ink carrier is attached to an ink carrier winder by separating an ink carrier housing from a recording medium housing.

CONSTITUTION: When releasing the contact between an ink film 33 and a recording paper 22 by turning upwardly a thermal head with a heating resistor 26 through a drive system 32, ink film winding shafts 34a and 34b and pinch rollers 35 and 57 come out to the outside. The ink film 33 is taken out of the shaft 34a until just before the shaft 34b by hooking it on the outsides of the pinch rollers 35 and 57. A tape provided at the tip of the ink film 33 is removed, and the ink film 33 is attached to an ink film winding core 125.