THERMAL TRANSFER TYPE THERMAL RECORDER

PURPOSE:To enable favorable recording to be performed even when using ink films differing in characteristics related to feeding conditions thereof such as coefficient of friction and releasing force, by reading a tension mark provided at an outer end part of an ink film, and controlling a feeding mechanism in a recorder so as to feed the ink film under an optimum tension. CONSTITUTION:At the time of initialization of a recorder setting, an ink film 4 is fed at a high velocity for taking up a slack of the film 4 or for passing a lead film provided at a leading end part of the film 4. When a tension mark provided at an outer end part of the ink film 4 passes between photosensor elements 13a and 13b in this operation, tension information on the film 4 is detected, and is sent to a mechanism-controlling CPU 16. The CPU 16 controls a brake motor 9a based on the tension information, thereby applying to the film 4 an optimum tension for feeding the film 4. Thus, the ink film 4 is fed through the position of a recording head 1 under the optimum tension according to the characteristics of the film, and a favorable image recording is achieved.