Patent ID: 6133931
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A thermal recording method, using a thermal recording apparatus comprising an intermediate recording medium made of silicone rubber layer, having a surface thickness 1 mm or less, surface roughness 5 microns or less, contact angle cosine 0.4 or less, density 0.90 to 1.15, and rubber hardness 20 to 50.sup.HS, a fixing roll for pressing against the intermediate recording medium, a thermal recording head, and an ink sheet produced in a process including laminating a first layer and a second layer on one surface of a substrate, in approximately the same thickness, in the sequence of the first layer and the second layer from a side of the substrate, said ink sheet having a viscosity of the first layer on the substrate at 100.degree. C. of 10 cps or more and having a viscosity of the second layer on the substrate at 100.degree. C. of 100,000 cps or less, but more than that of the first layer, and said second layer having a colored material, the method comprising:selectively heating the second layer on the ink sheet by the thermal recording head to transfer the colored material on the intermediate recording medium so as to record characters and images;destroying coagulation near the middle of the entire coating thickness of the first layer and the second layer, having approximately the same thickness, when forming characters or images on the intermediate recording medium, thereby transferring substantially only the second layer onto the intermediate recording medium; andpassing an image receiving medium between pressing parts of the intermediate recording medium and the fixing roll, and transferring or fixing the characters and images by the second layer transferred on the intermediate recording medium onto the receiving medium so as to be recorded.