Thermal transfer recording apparatus with the ink sheet conveyed, before recording, in a different direction and by a fractional amount relative to that by which the recording medium is conveyed

A thermal transfer recording apparatus for transferring ink of an ink sheet to a recording medium thereby recording an image thereon, comprising:

• recording means for effecting energization in plural blocks for acting on said ink sheet thereby recording the image on said recording medium, wherein said recording means is adapted to energize a thermal head in a divided manner in m blocks;
• and
• transport means for transporting said recording medium and said ink sheet in different directions at a recording area and in such a manner as to generate a relative speed therebetween, said ink sheet only being conveyed before recording, and said transport means being adapted, in recording a length of the image, to transport said recording medium and/or said ink sheet respectively by -1/m' and 1/(m'.times.n) wherein m' is a dividend or a multiple of m/(m,n>1 and m' not equal to m or 1), so that said recording medium is conveyed by a first amount and said ink sheet is conveyed by a second amount which is a fraction of said first amount.