Thermosensitive image transfer recording medium

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention will now be explained in more detail.
FIG.
1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a thermosensitive image transfer recording medium according to the present invention.
In this example, on a support 1, there are successively formed a peel-off layer 2 and a transparent thermofusible ink layer 3 comprising a plurality of different color sections, a yellow ink section (Y), a magenta ink section (M), and a cyan ink section (C) formed side by side in the form of a repeating unit.
When necessary, a black ink section (Bk) may be added to the repeating unit as illustrated in FIG.
2.
Further, a back layer 4 also may be provided on the back side of the support 1 in order to protect the support 1 from the heat of a thermal head (not shown) or in order to improve the running of the thermal head on the back side of the support 1.
When the thermosensitive image transfer medium is in the shape of a ribbon and is used as such a printing ribbon and the ink sections are formed on the peel-off layer 2 in stripes in the transverse direction of the peel-off layer 2 in a repeated, predetermined color order, narrow markers extending in the transverse direction 51, 52, 53 and 54 for identifying the color of the adjacent ink section may be placed between the adjacent ink sections as illustrated in FIG.
3.
As the material for the support 1, conventionally known films and paper can be employed.
As such films and paper, it is preferable to use heat resistant plastic materials such as polyester, polycarbonate, triacetylcellulose, nylon and polyimide, and other heat resistant materials such as cellophane and parchment paper.
When a thermal head is used for thermal image transfer, it is preferable that the thickness of the support 1 be in the range of 2 to 15 .
mu.
m.
However, when the transparent thermofusible ink layer 3 can be selectively heated, for instance, by application of laser beams, there is no restriction to the thickness of the support 1