Patent ID: 6339443
Filing Date: 2002-01-15
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A thermal printing method, in which a thermosensitive recording material is conveyed and heat is applied by a thermal head to said recording material, to record an image to said recording material, said thermal head incorporating plural heating elements, arranged in an array crosswise to a predetermined conveying direction of said recording material, for generating said heat, said thermal printing method comprising a step of:advancing said recording material in said conveying direction via a pair of conveyor rollers; and pressing said thermal head against said recording material in a contact region predetermined on said thermal head such that during a printing operation, a center of said contact region is positioned downstream from a center of said heating elements with reference to said conveying direction, wherein said thermal head is pressed against said recording material in a heating surface and a cooling surface predetermined in said contact region, said heating surface being disposed on an outside of said heating elements for conducting said heat to said recording material, said cooling surface being disposed downstream adjacent to said heating surface in said conveying direction for cooling said recording material, wherein a back of said recording material is supported by a platen member while said recording material is pressed by said thermal head, wherein said recording material includes (1) a support, (2) at least one thermosensitive coloring layer overlaid on said support, and (3) a protective layer, overlaid on said coloring layer, for protection thereof, and wherein said cooling surface has a predetermined length with reference to said conveying direction, said predetermined length being so predetermined as to cool said recording material down to temperature equal to or lower than a glass transition point of said protective layer.