PURPOSE: To enable a transfer paper to be fed in both directions, by setting one of transfer paper shafts on the tension side and the other on the load side in accordance with a recording direction, in overlap recording.

CONSTITUTION: Before recording, tensions F1, F2 generated on transfer paper rolls 1, 2 are uniform. After setting position (a) of the transfer paper 6 to a recording-starting position, a thermal head 4 is pressed against a platen roller 3 to clamp a recording paper 6 and the transfer paper 6 therebetween, and the roller 3 is rotated, whereby a feeding force F4 of the roller 3 corresponding to the pressure F3 exerted by the head 4 is generated. When a frictional force F5 between the paper 5 and the transfer paper 6 satisfy the relation F5>F4, the papers 5, 6 are simultaneously fed. In this case, the tensions are in the relationship F1+F4>F2, so that the transfer paper 6 is taken up by the roll 1. When recording is completed, position (b) of the transfer paper 6 is set to the preceding recording-completing position, and then the roller 3 is again rotated with the head 4 pressed against it under a pressure F3, whereby the tensions on the transfer paper 6 satisfy the relationship F1<F2+F4, so that the transfer paper 6 is taken up by the roll 2.