IMAGE FORMATION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMATION METHOD

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation device in which unused transfer material included in each area of used transfer medium can be reused, without preparing an electronic memory for memorizing the use state of the transfer medium.SOLUTION: It is determined through a panel color detected by a ribbon sensor at a sensor position Ps whether or not unused parts included in each area (panel) of an ink ribbon 4 used for former image formation of a 6×4 size which is a half of the ink ribbon 4 of a 6×8 size can be reused for new image formation of 6×4 size. When it is determined as reusable, the ink ribbon 4 is rewound to the reverse direction (D direction) of the carriage direction (C direction) at printing until the forefront position of unused areas in half-unused yellow panels comes to a head position Ph. And, new image formation is implemented with using an unused panel area.