SUBLIMATION TYPE PRINTER

PURPOSE:To reproduce a stable image of high quality by providing a means controlling the preheating means of a thermal head, a means controlling a cooling means and a means controlling the supply quantity of a current. CONSTITUTION:The heat applied to a thermal head 1 is controlled corresponding to the temp. of the head detected by a temp. detection means 7. For example, when the temp. of the head is 20 deg.C or lower, a preheating means 8 is operated by a heat control circuit 13 to heat the thermal head 1 to 20 deg.C or higher. Printing becomes possible only when the temp. of the head is 20-60 deg.C and, by supplying a current to the thermal head 1 by selecting a proper current supply pulse from an LUT 11 corresponding to the temp. of the head, the sublimable dye on an ink sheet A is heated and sublimed to reproduce an image on image receiving paper B. Herein, a cooling means 9 is driven at the time of the supply of a current to cool the head. When the temp. of the thermal head 1 reaches 60 deg.C or higher, the heat control circuit 13 stops the printing due to the thermal head 1 and the forcible cooling of the head is carried out by a cooling means 9.