Thermal lift-off correctible record and erase printer

Abstract

A thermal printer for thermal transfer printing, adapted to use a printing ribbon carrying a fusible ink layer and an erasing ribbon carrying a thermoadhesive resin layer. The thermal head of the thermal printer has a printing heating unit disposed opposite to a platen with the printing ribbon extended therebetween and an erasing heating unit disposed beside the printing heating unit and opposite to the platen with the erasing ribbon extended therebetween. In correcting a misprint, the misprint is located opposite to the erasing heating unit and the erasing ribbon is heated and pressed against the misprint with the erasing heating unit to lift off the misprint. After lifting-off the misprint, the corrected portion is located opposite to the printing heating unit for correct printing operation. The area of each heating element of the erasing heating unit is greater than that of the corresponding heating element of the printing heating unit so that the area of the heating element of the printing heating unit can be covered entirely with the area of the heating element of the erasing heating unit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.