Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

Thermal transfer printing method and apparatus are provided to make initial character image data left on a spent ink ribbon illegible. In the method, after forming an initial character image FGi₁ on an ink layer 11b in black of the ink ribbon 11, a forefront position S1 of the ink layer 11b is aligned with a forefront position S2 of an intermediate transfer film 25. Then, overwrite character image data UGD₁ is applied on a thermal head 19 to produce a first superimpose character image KG1i₁ on the ribbon 11 and a first superimpose character image KG1m₁ on the film 25. After that, the forefront position S1 of the ink layer 11b is shifted from the forefront position S2 of the film 25 by a predetermined distance and further, the overwrite character image data UGD₁ is applied on the thermal head 19 to produce a second superimpose character image KG2i₁ on the ribbon 11 and a second superimpose character image KG2m₁ on the film 25. In this way, the initial character image data left on the ribbon 11 and the film 25 can be together brought into illegible condition.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim