THERMAL TRANSFER RECORDING METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To repeatedly form a stable image free from density irregularity by superposing a transfer film obtained by adding a sublimable dye to the through-holes of a film having a large number of through-holes and an image receiving material one upon another and imagewise heating them to form an image on the image receiving material. SOLUTION: A porous transfer film 3 obtained by adding a sublimable dye to the holes of a porous base material film or to the resin in the holes by a sublimable dye supply means 1 and an image receiving material 5 are superposed one upon another and heated on the side of the transfer film 3 by the heat source of a recording heat 4 such as a thermal heat or laser and the sublimable dye in the transfer film is diffused through the holes of the transfer film 3 to form an image on the image receiving material 5 to complete transfer. Thereafter, the transfer film 3 is regenerated by supplying the sublimable dye in the holes of the film or in the resin of the holes by the sublimable dye supply means. By this constitution, a stable image free from density irregularity can be repeatedly formed.