Abstract: A method for evaluating rubber is provided which can evaluate the degree of crosslinking of a crosslinked rubber product within a short period of time without performing any specific treatment. In the above method, the amount of energy shift of the peak (such as the peak of C12p3/2 of chlorinated butyl rubber) of a constituent element of the rubber is measured by photoelectron spectroscopy, and the degree of crosslinking of the rubber is evaluated from the amount of energy shift. In addition, a method for manufacturing a rubber product is also provided which includes the steps of measuring the amount of energy shift of the peak of a constituent element of the rubber product by a photoelectron spectrometer which is installed in a manufacturing line and then feeding back measurement result to adjust heat molding conditions so as to obtain a desired degree of crosslinking.

Abstract: A metal film according to the present invention has a cubic crystal structure having a periodic pattern of crystal orientation in a plane. The crystal orientation is gradually rotated about a particular crystal-axis direction such that a {100} plane, a {110} plane, and a {111} plane appear.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head, which can effectively prevent any bubble and solid matter such as dust existing in supplied ink to reach the vicinity of a nozzle, includes a plurality of energy generating elements for generating energy for discharging the ink, a plurality of discharge ports provided at locations opposed to the respective energy generating elements to discharge the ink therethrough, a plurality of ink flow paths communicating with the respective discharge ports, and an ink supplying port for supplying the ink to the plurality of ink flow paths. Water repellent protruding portions having their surfaces formed of a material having surface energy smaller than the interfacial energy between them and the ink are provided upstream of the discharge ports with respect to an ink flow direction in which the ink flows from the ink supplying port into the ink flow paths and is discharged from the discharge ports.

Abstract: A metal film according to the present invention has a cubic crystal structure having a periodic pattern of crystal orientation in a plane. The crystal orientation is gradually rotated about a particular crystal-axis direction such that a {100} plane, a {110} plane, and a {111} plane appear.

Abstract: A method for evaluating rubber is provided which can evaluate the degree of crosslinking of a crosslinked rubber product within a short period of time without performing any specific treatment. In the above method, the amount of energy shift of the peak (such as the peak of C12p3/2 of chlorinated butyl rubber) of a constituent element of the rubber is measured by photoelectron spectroscopy, and the degree of crosslinking of the rubber is evaluated from the amount of energy shift. In addition, a method for manufacturing a rubber product is also provided which includes the steps of measuring the amount of energy shift of the peak of a constituent element of the rubber product by a photoelectron spectrometer which is installed in a manufacturing line and then feeding back measurement result to adjust heat molding conditions so as to obtain a desired degree of crosslinking.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head which makes it difficult for any bubble and solid matter such as dust existing in supplied ink to reach the vicinity of a nozzle includes a plurality of energy generating elements 2 for generating energy for discharging the ink, a plurality of discharge ports 1 provided at locations opposed to the respective energy generating elements to discharge the ink there through, a plurality of ink flow paths 4 communicating with the respective discharge ports 1, and an ink supplying port 7 for supplying the ink to the plurality of ink flow paths 4. Water repellent protruding portions 6 having their surfaces formed of a material having surface energy smaller than the interfacial energy between them and the ink are provided upstream of the discharge ports 1 with respect to an ink flow direction in which the ink flows from the ink supplying port 7 into the ink flow paths 4 and is discharged from the discharge ports 1.

Abstract: An ink jet cartridge includes an ink jet recording head; an ink container for containing ink to be supplied to the recording head; an ink supply source connecting portion which is provided in the ink container and which is connectable with an ink supply source to permit filling of the ink into the ink container; a pressure reduction source connecting portion connectable with a pressure reduction source for reducing pressure in the ink container to permit filling of the ink; an absorbing material provided in the ink container, the absorbing material is capable of retaining the ink and functioning as a negative pressure source for the recording head; a gas-liquid separating member which is disposed between the absorbing material and the pressure reduction source connecting portion and which has a gas permeability and liquid penetration resisting property; and supporting members, disposed at respective sides of the gas-liquid separating member, for supporting the gas-liquid separating member.

Abstract: An ink jet cartridge includes an ink jet recording head; an ink container for containing ink to be supplied to the recording head; an ink supply source connecting portion which is provided in the ink container and which is connectable with an ink supply source to permit filling of the ink into the ink container; a pressure reduction source connecting portion connectable with a pressure reduction source for reducing pressure in the ink container to permit filling of the ink; an absorbing material provided in the ink container, the absorbing material is capable of retaining the ink and functioning as a negative pressure source for the recording head; a gas-liquid separating member which is disposed between the absorbing material and the pressure reduction source connecting portion and which has a gas permeability and liquid penetration resisting property; and supporting members, disposed at respective sides of the gas-liquid separating member, for supporting the gas-liquid separating member.

Abstract: Provided is a fine powder material for forming an ink-receiving layer on a recording medium, wherein a pore radius maximum exists within a range of from 90 to 120 Å in a pore radius distribution of said fine powder material and wherein a total volume of pores having radii not exceeding 50 Å is not more than 6.0% of a volume of all pores.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus typically comprises a first housing provided with a feeding tray for containing recording mediums before recording by a recording section, a second housing provided with an outlet tray for storing the recording mediums carried from the first housing, and a coupling and carrying device for coupling the first housing and the second housing in such a manner as to be able to displace them relatively. This coupling and carrying device forms a flexible carrier path to guide each recording medium carried from the first housing to the second housing. With the structure thus arranged, this recording apparatus can achieve significant space saving when installed.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus typically comprises a first housing provided with a feeding tray for containing recording mediums before recording by use of recording means, a second housing provided with an outlet tray for storing the recording mediums carried from the first housing, and coupling and carrying means for coupling the first housing and the second housing in such a manner as to be able to displace them relatively. This coupling and carrying means forms a flexible carrier path to guide recording medium carried from the first housing to the second housing. With the structure thus arranged, this recording apparatus can implement a significant space saving when installed.

Abstract: There is provided a recording medium comprising a substrate and an ink-receiving layer containing alumina hydrate formed thereon, wherein the alumina hydrate is present unoriented in the ink-receiving layer and a diffraction intensity fluctuation &dgr; in a diffraction pattern is not more than 5%, when irradiating an electron beam to a cross section of the ink-receiving layer.