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Thermal transfer recording method and thermal transfer printer

  • US 6,064,414 A
  • Filed: 03/07/1997
  • Issued: 05/16/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A thermal transfer recording method of recording a color image, comprising:

  • providing a thermal head comprising a plurality of heat generating elements being selectively energized;

    providing a controller to selectively energize and to control an amount of energy applied to the heat generating elements;

    providing ink films containing yellow heat-sublimation ink, magenta heat-sublimation ink, cyan heat-sublimation ink and transparent heat-melt ink;

    providing a sheet of paper;

    determining a first amount of energy to be applied for different densities of yellow, magenta and cyan heat-sublimation inks, including determining ranges of the first amount of energy where a matting phenomenon will occur;

    determining a second amount of energy to be applied for different densities of transparent heat-melt ink, including ranges of the second amount of energy where the matting phenomenon will occur;

    mapping the first and second energies to be applied;

    applying the first amount of energy to the heat generating elements to transfer the yellow heat-sublimation ink, magenta heat-sublimation ink, and cyan heat-sublimation ink to the sheet of paper;

    applying the second amount of energy to the heat generating elements to transfer the transparent heat-melt ink to the sheet of paper; and

    controlling the first amount of energy and the second amount of energy from the mapping so that the second amount of energy falls within a range wherein the matting phenomenon does not occur.

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