PURPOSE: To enable to perform clear heat transfer recording without any contamination, by a method wherein a printer using a heat-sensitive transfer ink body is provided with a means for cleaning the surface of a platen.

CONSTITUTION: In a printer performing heat transfer recording by using a heat- sensitive transfer ink ribbon R, a cleaning means 14 for removing an ink adhered to the outside peripheral surface of the planten 9 is provided in proximity to the outside surface of the platen 9. The cleaning means 14 is constituted of, for example, a cleaning blade (e.g., a urethane rubber blade) 20 having a width of larger than the maximum printing width the tip of which is brought into contact with the outside surface of the platen 9.