Transfer apparatus and transfer method

A transfer apparatus for bringing a heating member and a transfer platen into press-contact with each other via a transfer film and transferring an image formed on the transfer film to a recording medium, comprising:

• an image transfer section, having the heating member and the transfer platen, configured to be able to shift between an actuation position in which the heating member and the transfer platen are brought into press-contact with each other and a retracted position in which the heating member and the transfer platen are separated;
• a recording medium transport device transporting the recording medium;
• a peeling member disposed on a downstream side in a transfer film transport direction in image transfer by the image transfer section to peel off the transfer film from the recording medium;
• a transfer film transport device transporting the transfer film on the downstream side of the peeling member in the transfer film transport direction in image transfer;
• a control device for controlling the transfer film transport device to change a peeling tension of the transfer film in peeling off the transfer film from the recording medium;
• and
• an environmental temperature detecting sensor that detects an outside air temperature outside the apparatus,
• wherein the control device determines an intensity of the peeling tension of the transfer film corresponding to a temperature of the recording medium, and
• the control device judges a temperature of the recording medium using the outside air temperature detected by the environmental temperature detecting sensor, and when the temperature of the recording medium is high, makes the peeling tension lower than in a case where the temperature of the recording medium is low.

A transfer method for bringing a heating member and a transfer platen into press-contact with each other via a transfer film and transferring an image formed on the transfer film to a recording medium, including:

• a first transfer step of bringing the transfer film and the recording medium into press-contact with each other with the heating member and the transfer platen to transfer an image formed on the transfer film to a first surface of the recording medium;
• a first peeling step of peeling off the transfer film from the first surface of the recording medium while transporting the transfer film with a first tension;
• a reversing step of reversing the recording medium so that a second surface faces the transfer film;
• a second transfer step of bringing the transfer film and the recording medium into press-contact with each other with the heating member and the transfer platen to transfer an image formed on the transfer film to a second surface of the recording medium;
• and
• a second peeling step of peeling off the transfer film from the second surface of the recording medium while transporting the transfer film with a second tension,
• wherein the second tension is set to be lower than the first tension.