PURPOSE: To enable printing with high and uniform density, by a method wherein the release of an ink film and a transfer recording paper from each other after supplying heat to the ink film is carried out while a heat-fusible component of an ink layer is in a molten state.
CONSTITUTION: A thermal transfer ink film 1 is momentarily brought into close contact with a recording surface of a transfer recording apper 4 by a thermal head 2, is heated by the head 2, is fed out from a rear part of the head 2, and is released from the paper 4, while the part 10' heated to be transferred of an ink layer 12 is transferred to the recording surface of the paper 4 between a central part 7' of an inlet of an ink film take-up guide groove 7 and the rear end 13 of the surface of the head 2 for contact with a base film 11, whereby a printed matter 10 is produced. The release is carried out while a heat-fusible component in at least the part 10' to be transferred of the ink layer 12 is maintained in a molten state. As a result, the ink easily undergoes cohesive failure, the amount of the ink transferred per run of printing becomes relatively large, and the printed matter 10 with a high and uniform density can be obtained.
NAKAYAMA TADAMITSU
OCHI TAKAHITO
YAMAGUCHI YUTAKA
