JPS6451964A - Color thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase a speed at which an image is drawn when some required pixels are not contained in an image to be drawn by transporting ink sheet at two different speeds in accordance with information relative to the total number of color dots in image data. CONSTITUTION:A thermal head 1 and a platen roller 9 are released from their contact under pressure using a pressure contact release means 11. Then ink sheet 7 for recording is transported by means of an ink sheet transport means 14 until a block mark 10 is detected by a mark detector 16, and after determination of a yellow position, the head 1 and the roller 9 are brought under pressure contact to perform thermal transfer for recording in yellow while paper 2 is transported. After this, thermal transfer of magenta and cyan is performed for recording in the same manner. If the total number of dots in image data is 0, when information relative to the number of dots is received by a receiving means of information relative to the number of dots prior to thermal transfer of each color for recording, the thermal transfer of that color for recording is not performed. At the same time, the receiving means 15 keeps the pressure contact between the head 1 and the roller 9 released, ad the ink sheet transport means 14 is caused to transport the sheet 7 at high speed until the mark detector 16 detects a color identification mark 17. Thus thermal transfer of the following color is possible for recording.