Patent ID: 6091438
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: B41J,B41M

Abstract:
A transfer-type thermal printer, comprising:a thermal head for providing heat according to a color image signal for forming an image using inks of a plurality of colors;an ink ribbon including a base material disposed on said thermal head and a thermally fusible ink layer formed on said base material; anda platen located opposite to said thermally fusible ink layer so that a recording sheet passes therebetween, said ink ribbon transferring at least one of the inks of the plurality of colors onto said recording sheet by thermal fusion when said platen is pressed against said recording sheet,wherein said recording sheet has a plurality of interconnected pores which have openings formed in a surface of said recording sheet,wherein a proportion of a total area of the openings of said pores is more than 50% and less than 80% of a total surface area of said recording sheet,wherein a proportion of a number of the openings of said pores having a pore diameter of 5-35 .mu.m is more than 50% of a total number of the openings of said pores,wherein a proportion of a number of the openings of said pores having a pore diameter of at least 35 .mu.m is less than 5% of the total number of the openings of said pores,wherein a difference between: (i) a contact angle of each of the inks of the plurality of colors and a liquid comprising at least one of water and alcohol, and (ii) a contact angle of said recording sheet and said liquid is not larger than 20 degrees; andwherein a proportion of the total surface area of said recording sheet which includes pores having a pore diameter not smaller than 10 .mu.m and not larger than 30 .mu.m is at least 50%, and a proportion of the total surface area of said recording sheet which includes Pores having a Pore diameter exceeding 30 .mu.m is not larger than 5%.