Recording method and apparatus for controlling ink sheet conveyance in accordance with an interval between recording operations

In a heat transfer recording apparatus, ink of an ink sheet is transferred to a recording medium to record images on the recording medium. The apparatus includes conveying motors for the ink sheet and recording medium, and a timer for counting a recording interval from the termination of the image recording until the next conveyance of the ink sheet or recording medium is started. A waiting time is determined which corresponds to the recording interval. The apparatus is controlled so that image recording is effected on the recording medium after the lapse of the waiting time after the start of ink sheet conveyance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a heat transfer recording apparatus for 
transferring the ink of an ink sheet to a recording medium to thereby 
record images on a recording medium, and a facsimile apparatus. 
The term "heat transfer recording apparatus" covers, for example, a 
facsimile apparatus, an electronic typewriter, a copying apparatus, a 
printer apparatus, etc. 
2. Related Background Art 
Generally, a heat transfer printer uses an ink sheet comprising a base film 
having heat-meltable (or heat-sublimating) ink applied thereto, 
selectively heats the ink sheet by a thermal head in conformity with an 
image signal, and transfers the melted (or sublimated) ink to the 
recording sheet to thereby accomplish image recording. Generally, this ink 
sheet is such that the ink is completely transferred to the recording 
paper by one operation of image recording (a so-called one time sheet) and 
therefore, after the termination of recording of one character or one 
line, it has been necessary to convey the ink sheet by an amount 
corresponding to the length of the record, and then reliably bring the 
unused portion of the ink sheet to a recording position. This has 
increased the quantity of ink sheets used, and there has been the tendency 
that as compared with the ordinary thermosensitive printer which effects 
recording on thermosensitive paper, the running cost of the heat transfer 
printer becomes high. 
In order to solve such a problem, there has been proposed a heat transfer 
printer as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,392, Japanese Laid-Open Patent 
Application No. 58-201686 or Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-58917 
wherein recording paper and an ink sheet are conveyed with a velocity 
difference provided therebetween. As described in the aforementioned 
publications, an ink sheet capable of plural (n) times of image recording 
(a so-called multiprint sheet) is known, and if such an ink sheet is used, 
when a recording length L is to be continuously recorded, recording can be 
accomplished with the conveyance length of the ink sheet which is conveyed 
after or during the recording of each image being made smaller than the 
length L (L/n: n&gt;1). Thus, the efficiency of use of the ink sheet 
increases to n times and a reduction in the running cost of the heat 
transfer printer can be expected. This recording system is called 
multiprint. 
In such multiprint system, there has been the undesirable possibility that 
immediately after the start of image recording, the recording paper and 
the ink sheet stick to each other to prevent multiprint from being 
accomplished properly. Also, when intermittent recording is effected as 
during the image reception in a facsimile apparatus, printing is sometimes 
started from a state in which the ink sheet and the recording paper are 
completely stopped. In such case, there is the undesirable possibility 
that even if an electrical energization signal is output to a conveying 
motor for the conveyance of the ink sheet, the electrical energization of 
a thermal head is started and the recording operation is executed before 
the conveying motor for the ink sheet actually starts rotation and the 
conveyance of the ink sheet has begun. In such a case, image recording is 
effected with the ink sheet remaining stopped relative to the recording 
paper, and this has led to the undesirable possibility that the color 
forming area becomes smaller or the ink sheet and the recording paper 
stick to each other as previously mentioned. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat transfer 
recording apparatus and a facsimile apparatus which can improve the 
quality of a recorded image. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a heat transfer 
recording apparatus and a facsimile apparatus which can decrease the 
quantity of ink sheet consumed. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a heat 
transfer recording apparatus and a facsimile apparatus which can reduce 
the running cost. 
It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide a heat 
transfer recording apparatus and a facsimile apparatus in which after the 
conveyance driving of an ink sheet, image recording is effected in a time 
corresponding to the recording interval, whereby a relative velocity is 
reliably created between a recording medium and the ink sheet during image 
recording.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be 
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
The embodiment which will hereinafter be described is a heat transfer 
recording apparatus in which the recording interval from the termination 
of image recording until the next conveyance of the ink sheet or recording 
medium. Waiting time is determined correspondingly to the recording 
interval counted by the time counting means and which operates so as to 
effect the recording of an image on a recording medium after the waiting 
time elapses after the start of the conveyance of an ink sheet by 
conveying means for conveying the ink sheet. Also, the embodiment is a 
facsimile apparatus in which during the recording of a received image or 
an image signal from image input means, the recording interval from the 
termination of image recording until the next conveyance of the ink sheet 
or recording medium is counted by the counting means and the waiting time 
is determined correspondingly to the interval counted by the time counting 
means and which operates so as to effect the recording of the next image 
signal on a recording medium when the determined waiting time elapses 
after the start of the conveyance of an ink sheet by conveying means for 
conveying the ink sheet. 
Description of Facsimile Apparatus (FIGS. 1 and 2) 
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the construction of a heat 
transfer printer using an embodiment of the present invention as it is 
applied to a facsimile apparatus, FIG. 2A is a side cross-sectional view 
of the facsimile apparatus, and FIG. 2B is a pictorial perspective view of 
the facsimile apparatus. 
The construction will first be described schematically with reference to 
FIG. 1. 
In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 100 designates a reading unit for 
photoelectrically reading an original and outputting it as a digital image 
signal to a control unit 101, and the reading unit 100 is provided with an 
original conveying motor, a CCD image sensor, etc. The reference numeral 
101 designates a control unit for controlling the entire facsimile 
apparatus, and the control unit 101 codes the image data from the reading 
unit 100 and transmits it through a modem 106 and an NCU 107. During 
reception, the control unit 101 decodes the received coded image data and 
converts in into image data, and outputs it to a recording unit provided 
with a thermal head, etc. and reproduces the image data. The control unit 
101 is provided with a CPU 113 for outputting various control signals in 
accordance with a control program stored in an ROM 114 and controlling the 
entire apparatus, an ROM 114 storing therein the control program of the 
CPU 113 and various data, an RAM 115 for temporarily preserving various 
data as the working area of the CPU 113, etc. The reference numeral 116 
designates a timer used to count the time from the termination of the 
recording of one line until the next conveyance of the ink sheet or 
recording medium, as will be described later. This timer 116 is not always 
necessary, but for example, the time may be counted by software. 
The reference numeral 103 denotes an operation unit including keys for 
designating various functions such as the start of transmission and 
telephone number input keys. The reference character 103a designates a 
switch for indicating the kind of ink sheet 14 used. When the switch 103a 
is ON, it indicates that a multiprint ink sheet has been mounted, and when 
the switch 103a is OFF, it indicates that an ordinary ink sheet has been 
mounted. The reference numeral 104 denotes an indicating unit usually 
provided in the operation unit 103 to indicate various functions and the 
condition of the apparatus. The reference numeral 106 designates a modem 
(modulator-demodulator), and the reference numeral 107 denotes a net 
control unit (NCU). 
Before the construction of the recording unit is described, description 
will first be made with reference to FIG. 2A which is a side 
cross-sectional view of a facsimile apparatus and FIG. 2B which is a 
pictorial perspective view of the facsimile apparatus. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, 
elements corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are designated by similar 
reference numerals. 
In FIGS. 2A and 2B, the reference numeral 10 designates a roll of paper 
comprising recording paper 11 which is plain paper wound in the form of a 
roll on a core 10a. This roll of paper 10 is rotatably contained so that 
the recording paper 11 can be supplied to the thermal head 13 by the 
rotation of a platen roller 12 in the direction of arrow. The reference 
character 10b denotes a loading portion for the roll of paper in which the 
roll of paper 10 is removably loaded. The platen roller 12 conveys the 
recording paper 11 in the direction of arrow b and also presses the ink 
sheet 14 and the recording paper 11 between it and the heat generating 
member 132 of the thermal head 13. The recording paper 11 on which image 
recording has been effected by the heat generation of the thermal head 13 
is conveyed toward discharge rollers 16a and 16b by further rotation of 
the platen roller 12, and is cut into a page unit by the meshing 
engagement between cutters 15a and 15b and discharged when image recording 
by one page is terminated. 
The reference numeral 17 denotes an ink sheet supply roll on which the ink 
sheet 14 is wound. The reference numeral 18 designates an ink sheet 
take-up roll which is driven by an ink sheet conveying motor 25 to convey 
the ink sheet 14 in the direction opposite to the direction of conveyance 
of the recording paper 11, i.e., the direction of arrow a. The ink sheet 
supply roll 17 and the ink sheet take-up roll 18 are removably loaded in 
an ink sheet loading portion 70 within the apparatus body. Further, the 
reference numeral 19 denotes a sensor for detecting the remaining amount 
of the ink sheet 14 and detecting the conveyance velocity of the ink sheet 
14. The reference numeral 20 designates an ink sheet sensor for detecting 
the presence of the ink sheet 14, and the reference numeral 21 denotes a 
spring which presses the thermal head 13 against the platen roller 12 with 
the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14 interposed therebetween. The 
reference numeral 22 designates a recording paper sensor for detecting the 
presence of the recording paper. The reference numeral 72 denotes a roller 
for guiding the ink sheet 14. 
The construction of the reading unit 100 will now be described. 
In FIG. 2A, the reference numeral 30 designates a light source for 
illuminating an original 32, and the light reflected by the original 32 is 
input to a CCD sensor 31 through an optical system (mirrors 50, 51 and a 
lens 52) and converted into an electrical signal. The original 32 is 
conveyed correspondingly to the reading speed for the original 32 by 
conveying rollers 53, 54, 55 and 56 driven by an original conveying motor, 
not shown. The reference numeral 57 denotes an original supporting table, 
and a plurality of originals 32 supported on this supporting table 57 are 
separated one by one and conveyed to the reading unit 100 by the 
cooperation between a conveying roller 54 and a pressing-separating piece 
58 while being guided by a slider 57a, and are discharged onto a tray 77 
after they are read. 
The reference numeral 41 designates a control base plate constituting the 
essential portion of the control unit 101, and various control signals are 
output from this control base plate 41 to various portions of the 
apparatus. The reference numeral 106 denotes a modem base plate unit, and 
the reference numeral 107 designates an NCU base plate unit. 
A conveying system for the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14 in the 
recording unit is shown in detail in FIG. 1. 
In FIG. 1, the thermal head 13 is a line head which receives as inputs 
serial recording data corresponding to one line and a latch signal from 
the control unit 101 by way of a signal line 43 and is driven with a heat 
generating element which comprises the heat generating resistance member 
132 corresponding to one line being divided into a plurality of blocks, 
thereby effecting the recording of one line. The reference numeral 46 
designates a driving circuit which receives as an input a driving signal 
for the thermal head 13 from the control unit 101 and outputs a strobe 
signal 44 for driving the thermal head 13 at each block unit. The 
reference numerals 48 and 49 denote motor driving circuits for rotatively 
driving the corresponding recording paper conveying motor 24 and ink sheet 
conveying motor 25, respectively. Further, the reference numerals 26 and 
27 designate transmission gears for transmitting the rotation of the 
recording paper conveying motor 24 to the platen roller 12, and the 
reference numerals 28 and 29 denote transmission gears for transmitting 
the rotation of the ink sheet conveying motor 25 to the take-up roll 18. 
In the present embodiment, the recording paper conveying motor 24 and the 
ink sheet conveying motor 25 are stepping motors, but this is not 
restrictive, and they may be, for example, DC motors or the like. 
By the directions of conveyance of the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 
14 being thus made opposite to each other, the direction in which images 
are successively recorded lengthwisely of the recording paper 11 (the 
direction of arrow a, i.e., the direction opposite to the direction of 
conveyance of the recording paper 11) and the direction of conveyance of 
the ink sheet coincide with each other. Here, assuming that the conveyance 
velocity V.sub.P of the recording paper 11 is V.sub.P =-n.multidot.V.sub.I 
(V.sub.I is a conveyance velocity of the ink sheet 14, and the negative 
sign shows that the direction of conveyance of the recording paper 11 and 
the direction of conveyance of the ink sheet 14 differ from each other), 
the relative velocity V.sub.PI of the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 
14 as viewed from the thermal head 13 is expressed by V.sub.PI =V.sub.P 
-V.sub.I =(1+1/n)V.sub.P, and from this, it is seen that the relative 
velocity is V.sub.P or greater, that is, greater than the relative 
velocity V.sub.PI' (=(1-1/n)V.sub.P) when the recording paper and the ink 
sheet were conveyed in the same direction. 
Description of Recording Operation (FIGS. 1-5) 
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the reception of images corresponding to one 
page in the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment and the 
recording process therefor, and the control program of the CPU 113 which 
executes this process is stored in the ROM 114 of the control unit 101. 
This process is started by the image reception of the facsimile apparatus. 
First, when a facsimile signal is received at step S1, the timer 116 is 
started. Subsequently, at step S2, the received image signal is decoded, 
and the decoded image data is serially output to the thermal head 13. 
Then, at step S4, whether the transportation of the image data for one 
line to the thermal head 13 has been terminated is examined, and if it is 
not terminated, whether the image recording process for one page has been 
terminated is examined at step S5. If the image recording process is not 
terminated, return is made to the step S2, where the above-described 
operation is executed, but if the recording process for one page is 
terminated, advance is made to step S6. At the step S6, the time counting 
by the timer 116 is stopped, and at step S7, the recorded recording paper 
is cut by the cutter 15 and the cut recording paper is discharged out of 
the apparatus. 
On the other hand, when at step S4, the image data for one line is 
transported to the thermal head 13, advance is made to step S8. The ink 
sheet conveying motor 25 is then driven to convey the ink sheet 14 in the 
direction of arrow a, whereby the ink sheet 14 is conveyed in the 
direction of arrow a in FIG. 1 by an amount corresponding to 1/n line. 
Then, the recording paper conveying motor 24 is driven to convey the 
recording paper 11 in the direction of arrow b by an amount corresponding 
to one line. For example, in the facsimile apparatus, the length 
corresponding to one line is set to about 1/15.4 mm, and the amounts of 
conveyance of the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14 can be set by 
changing the energization pulse numbers of the motors 24 and 25, 
respectively. Advance is then made to step S9, where the timer 116 is 
stopped and the counted value by the timer 116 is read. On the basis of 
this counted value, the waiting (delay) time is determined, and at step 
S10, standby is effected for this waiting time. 
FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relation between the counted value and the 
waiting time. 
Here, the counted value indicates the time from after the recording of one 
line until the next conveyance of the ink sheet or recording medium, and 
in a section indicated by 400 wherein the counted value is up to "To", as 
the counted value increases, the waiting time likewise increases. When the 
counted value is equal to or greater than "To", the waiting time is set so 
as to be a maximum waiting time T.sub.WMAX. In FIG. 4, in the section 
indicated by 400, the waiting time continuously increases substantially in 
proportion to the increase in the counted value t, but for example, design 
may be made such that the waiting time increases stepwise relative to the 
counted value. In the present embodiment, for example, the maximum waiting 
time T.sub.WMAX is 3 [ms] and the counted value To is 30 [ms], although 
this is not restrictive, and the values may be suitably selected. 
When the waiting time thus determined elapses, advance is made to step S11, 
where the thermal head 13 is electrically energized to effect transfer 
recording. The thermal head 13 is divided into a plurality of heat 
generating element groups (blocks) and is electrically energized in block 
units to effect recording and therefore, at step S12, whether the 
electrical energization of all blocks of the thermal head 13 has been 
terminated is examined. When the electrical energization of all blocks is 
thus terminated, return is made to the step S1, where the timer 116 is 
started to start the counting of the time till the recording of the next 
line. 
In the series of cutting process for the recording paper 11 by the cutter 
15 at the step S7, the movement of the ink sheet 14 when the recording 
paper 11 is conveyed may be such that as during recording, it is conveyed 
at a velocity of V.sub.P /n in the direction opposite to the direction of 
conveyance of the recording paper 11, and the value of n may be made 
greater than that during recording. Also, the same movement as that of the 
recording paper 11 may be effected by the platen roller 12, or the ink 
sheet may remain stopped instead of being moved. In this flow chart, the 
conveyance of the recording paper 11 is effected at the step S8, but 
alternatively may be effected when the step S11 is started. 
In this embodiment, the recording time required per line is about 2.5 ms, 
the recording interval is less than about 30 ms, and the waiting time is 
less than about 2.5 ms. 
FIG. 5 shows the conveyance timing for the ink sheet 14 and the recording 
paper 11 when the aforedescribed control is effected. 
In FIG. 5, 501-504 show the energization time of the ink sheet conveying 
motor 25 and 505-508 show the recording time by the thermal head 13. Also, 
510, 511 and 512 show the waiting time. Further, 515 and 516 show the 
recording interval counted from the recording of one line till the image 
conveyance commencement of said ink sheet to record the next one line. 
The waiting time shown by 511 is a waiting time determined on the basis of 
the recording interval shown by 515 which is the interval between the end 
of recording time 505 and the commencement of ink sheet conveyance 502. 
Also, the waiting time shown by 512 is a waiting time determined on the 
basis of the recording interval shown by 516, which is the period 
following the end of recording period 507 and the start of ink sheet 
conveyance 504. Further, the recording time 507 has little or no recording 
interval ("0 (zero)") between it and the recording time 506 for the 
previous line and therefore, with the waiting time as "0" and in 
subsequence to the recording time 506, the recording of the next line 
(shown by 507) is started without a waiting time being provided. Thus, 
recording is effected without fail after the movement of the ink sheet 14 
is started. The aforementioned recording interval may also be found by 
subtracting the required recording time from the recording period. 
In order to reduce the waste of the ink sheet 14 as much as possible, it is 
desirable to reduce the waiting time as much as possible within a range 
which can ensure that image recording is to be effected during the 
movement of the ink sheet 14. 
Description of the Principle of Recording (FIG. 6) 
FIG. 6 shows the image recording condition when image recording is effected 
with the directions of conveyance of the recording paper 11 and the ink 
sheet 14 in this embodiment made opposite to one another. 
As shown, the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14 are nipped between 
the platen roller 12 and the thermal head 13, and the thermal head 13 is 
urged against the platen roller 12 with a predetermined pressure by the 
spring 21. The recording paper 11 is conveyed in the direction of arrow b 
at a velocity Vhd P by the rotation of the platen roller 12. On the other 
hand, the ink sheet 14 is conveyed in the direction of arrow a at a 
velocity V.sub.I by the rotation of the ink sheet conveying motor 25. 
When the heat generating resistance member 132 of the thermal head 13 is 
electrically energized and heated, that portion of the ink sheet 14 which 
is indicated by hatching 81 is heated. The reference character 14a 
designates the base film of the ink sheet 14, and the reference character 
14b denotes the ink layer of the ink sheet 14. The ink of the ink layer 81 
heated by the heat generating resistance member 132 being electrically 
energized melts, and that portion thereof which is designated by 82 is 
transferred to the recording paper 11. This ink layer portion 82 
transferred corresponds to approximately 1/n of the ink layer designated 
by 81. 
During this transfer, it is necessary to create a shearing force for the 
ink on the border line of the ink layer 14b to transfer only the ink layer 
portion 82 to the recording paper 11. However, this shearing force differs 
depending on the temperature of the ink layer, and tends to become smaller 
as the temperature of the ink layer becomes higher. So, if the heating 
time for the ink sheet 14 is shortened, the shearing force which must be 
applied to the ink layer becomes greater and therefore, if the relative 
velocity of the ink sheet 14 and the recording paper 11 is made greater, 
the ink layer to be transferred can be reliably peeled from the ink sheet 
14. 
According to this embodiment, the heating time of the thermal head 13 in 
the facsimile apparatus is as short as about 0.6 ms and therefore, by 
making the direction of conveyance of the ink sheet 14 and the direction 
of conveyance of the recording paper 11 opposite to each other, the 
relative velocity of the ink sheet 14 and the recording paper 11 is 
increased. 
Also, this embodiment has been described with respect to the case where the 
directions of conveyance of the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14 
during recording are opposite to each other, but this is not restrictive, 
and the present invention is also applicable to a case where the recording 
paper and the ink sheet are conveyed in the same direction and recording 
is effected. 
Description of the Ink Sheet (FIG. 7) 
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the ink sheet used in the multiprint of 
the present embodiment, and this ink sheet is constructed of four layers. 
A second layer is a base film which provides a support for the ink sheet 
14. In the case of multiprint, heat energy is applied to the same portion 
many times and therefore, the base film may advantageously be an aromatic 
polyamide film of high heat resistance or condenser paper, but the 
conventional polyester film will also stand use. The thickness of this 
layer should advantageously be as small as possible in respect of the 
quality of printing, from the viewpoint of its role as a medium, but may 
desirably be 3-8 .mu.m in respect of strength. 
A third layer is an ink layer containing therein an amount of ink capable 
of being transferred to the recording paper (recording sheet) n times. The 
chief components of this layer are a resin such as EVA as an adhesive 
agent, carbon black or nigrosine dye for coloring, and carnauba wax or 
paraffin wax as a binding material, and these are combined so as to stand 
n times of use in the same portion. The amount of application of these 
materials may desirably be 4-8 g/m.sup.2, but can be selected arbitrarily 
because sensitivity and concentration differ depending on the amount of 
application. 
A fourth layer is a top coating layer for preventing the ink of the third 
layer from being pressure-transferred to the recording paper in the 
portion thereof which should not be printed, and is composed of 
transparent wax or the like. Thus, it is only the transparent fourth layer 
that is pressure-transferred, and the ground of the recording paper can be 
prevented from being stained. A first layer is a heat resisting coat layer 
for protecting the base film which is the second layer from the heat of 
the thermal head 13. This is suitable for multiprint having the 
possibility of heat energy for n lines being applied to the same portion 
(when black information is continuous), but whether this layer should be 
used or not can be suitably chosen. Also, this is effective for a base 
film of relatively low heat resistance such as a polyester film. 
The construction of the ink sheet 14 is not limited to this embodiment, but 
the ink sheet may comprise, for example, a base layer and a porous ink 
retaining layer provided on one side of the base layer and containing ink 
therein, or may comprise a base film and a heat resisting ink layer 
provided on the base film and having a minute porous net-like structure, 
ink being contained in the ink layer. Also, the material of the base film 
may be a film composed, for example, of polyimide, polyethylene, 
polyester, polyvinyl chloride, triacetyl cellulose, nylon or the like, or 
paper. Further, the heat resisting coat layer is not always necessary, but 
the material thereof may be silicone resin, epoxy resin, fluorine resin, 
etholocellulose or the like. 
Also, as an example of the ink sheet having heat-sublimating ink, mention 
may be made of an ink sheet comprising a base material formed of 
polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, aromatic polyamide 
film or the like, spacer particles formed of quanamin resin and fluorine 
resin, and a color material layer containing a dye therein, said spacer 
particles and said color material layer being provided on said base 
material. 
The heating system is not limited to the aforedescribed thermal head system 
using a thermal head, but may be, for example, an electrical energization 
system or a laser transfer system. 
The recording medium is not limited to recording paper, but for example, 
cloth or a plastic sheet may be mentioned if it is a material capable of 
ink transfer. The ink sheet is not limited to the roll construction shown 
in the embodiment, but may be of the so-called ink sheet cassette type in 
which an ink sheet is contained in a housing removably mountable in the 
recording apparatus body and the housing is bodily removably mounted in 
the recording apparatus body. 
Furthermore, this embodiment has been described with respect to the case of 
the full line printer, whereas this is not restrictive, but the so-called 
serial printer may also be adopted. 
According to this embodiment, as described above, a waiting time conforming 
to the image recording interval is inserted during the time from the start 
of the conveyance of the ink sheet until image recording is effected, 
whereby recording can be reliably accomplished with the ink sheet being 
moved and therefore, the occurrence of an inconvenience such as the 
recording paper sticking to the ink sheet can be suppressed and the 
quality of image recording can be kept high. 
Also, the embodiment has been described with respect to a case where it is 
applied to a facsimile apparatus, whereas of course, the present invention 
is not restricted thereto, but for example, the heat ]0 transfer recording 
apparatus of the present invention is also applicable to a word processor, 
a typewriter, a copying apparatus or the like. 
According to the present invention, as described above, image recording is 
effected in a time corresponding to the recording interval after the 
conveyance driving of the ink sheet, whereby a relative velocity can be 
reliably created between the recording medium and the ink sheet during 
image recording and therefore, for example, the recording medium can be 
prevented from sticking to the ink sheet and thus, the quality of 
recording can be improved.