Driving method for thermal head and thermal printer utilizing the same

A thermal printer for image recording on a recording medium with a thermal head having plural heat generating elements, comprising:

• means for causing relative movement of the thermal head and the recording medium;
• transport means for transporting said recording medium to an image recording position with said thermal head;
• and
• control means adapted, in the power supply to each heat generating element according to a heating signal, to detect the presence of past, present and future heating signals, in an area, in at least four directions around each said heat generating element and to control the supply energy to each said heat generating element in response to the result of said detection, if the heating signals are present in all the detecting area, to minimize the supply energy to each said heat generating element in comparison with a case in which the heating signals are not present in all the detecting area.

A thermal printer for recording an image which is erasable if necessary, comprising:

• a mounting unit for mounting an ink ribbon having emulsion ink;
• a thermal head having plural heat generating elements;
• means for causing relative movement of said thermal head and a recording medium;
• and
• control means adapted, in the power supply to each heat generating element according to a heating signal, to detect the presence of past, present and future heating signals, in an area, in at least four directions around each said heat generating element and to control the supply energy to each said heat generating element in response to the result of said detection, if the heating signals are present in all the detecting area, to minimize the supply energy to each said heat generating element in comparison with a case in which the heating signals are not present in all the detecting area.