Abstract: A method for forming an image, which comprises subjecting a photosensitive layer of a photosensitive lithographic printing plate having a photosensitive layer comprising a photopolymerizable composition formed on a support surface to scanning exposure with a laser light having a wavelength in a range of from 650 to 1,300 nm, developing an image, and then further subjecting the photosensitive lithographic printing plate having the developed image to whole image exposure with a light exposure energy of from 1 to 70 times larger than the light exposure energy at the time of the laser light scanning exposure.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus, it is possible to assuredly execute replenishment of ink into an ink tank and control of a pressure within the ink tank during ink replenishment by a simple configuration, and reduce the size and the weight of the apparatus, and improve reliability of the apparatus. The ink-jet recording apparatus includes an ink tank for receiving ink from an ink intake, an ink supply unit for receiving ink from a replenishing tank into the ink tank by a negative pressure introduced from a suction port of the ink tank in the inside of the ink tank, and a negative-pressure controller for causing the negative pressure within the ink tank to remain in an ink supply channel from the replenishing tank to the inside of the ink tank, so that the negative pressure within the ink tank does not return to an atmospheric pressure while receiving ink.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus which performs recovery process for recording device by a recovery system having capping device being closely in contact with or parting from recording device installed on a head installation unit for recording by discharging ink to a recording medium. For this recording apparatus, the cap of the recovery system is made controllable so that the cap can be at a first position where it is in close contact with the recording head, and at a second position where the recording sheet is made conveyable. Then, when recording data is transferred, the cap and a movable platen is allowed to shift from the first position to the second position so as to make recording possible. When the recording operation terminates, the cap and the movable platen shifts from the second position to the first position so as to enable it to return to the capping status.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus in which a front portion of an airbag is inflated earlier than a rear portion of the airbag. A passenger-side airbag apparatus includes an airbag, a container accommodating the airbag, an inflator for generating gas for inflating the airbag, and a lid for covering an opening in the top of the container. A rear portion of the airbag is first folded, left and right portions of the airbag are then folded, and after that, a front portion (vehicle-front-side portion) of the airbag is folded.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing apparatus, an ink-supplying apparatus, and a method for supplying ink are configured so that a mode of ink supply is changed to another mode, for example the mode of supplying ink to an ink tank is changed to another in accordance with a fact that a next page is intended to be printed or not, when an ink tank that requires the supply of ink is detected, with the result that the printing speed is increased.

Abstract: A liquid tank according to the present invention comprises negative-pressure introducing sections for introducing negative pressure into the liquid tank, a liquid intake section for taking a liquid in the liquid tank on the basis of the negative pressure introduced by the negative-pressure introducing sections, an atmosphere communication port that is closed when the liquid is introduced through the liquid intake section, and a gas-liquid separating element disposed in the negative-pressure introducing sections so as to pass through only a gas. The gas-liquid separating element has a joined portion formed at least on the outer periphery of the gas-liquid separating element and joined to he negative-pressure introducing sections, and a ventilation area that contributes to ventilation.

Abstract: An air bag device providing for reduced effects of heat on a bag. A bag and an inflator of an air bag device are affixed in a retainer by a bag plate. The bag plate includes a semi-circular arch portion and flanges formed at the sides of the arch portion. The arch portion of the bag plate is provided with circular openings and beads projecting toward the inside, the beads being disposed at the outer sides of the circular openings, respectively. When assembled, the beads are in line contact with a cylindrical outer face of the inflator. By virtue of the beads, the area of direct contact between the bag plate and the cylindrical outer face of the inflator is reduced and a gap is formed therebetween. As a result, heat generated when the inflator operates is not likely to be transmitted to the bag plate.

Abstract: For the sake of achieving both the size and weight reductions of a printing apparatus and increasing the reliability thereof, an ink tank is provided with a gas-permeable member that permits air to pass without permitting ink. The ink tank is capable of introducing ink through an ink inlet by negative pressure introduced in the ink tank through a common suction port.

Abstract: A photosensitive lithographic printing plate comprises a photosensitive layer and a protective layer formed in this order on a support, wherein the photosensitive layer has a maximum peak of spectral sensitivity within a wavelength range ranging from 390 to 430 nm, the minimum exposure for the photosensitive lithographic printing plate for image formation at a wavelength of 410 nm (S410) is at most 100 &mgr;J/cm2, and the relation between the minimum exposure for image formation at a wavelength of 450 nm (S450) and the minimum exposure for image formation at a wavelength of 410 nm (S410) is 0<S410/S450<0.1.

Abstract: A joint device includes a supply pipe having an ink supply port, a closing device for opening and closing the ink supply port, a deformation device for deforming the closing device and an urging device for urging the deformation device. An ink jet recording apparatus includes the above joint device, a supply pipe, a closing device, a deformation device, and an urging device. An ink supplying device includes a negative-pressure introducing device introducing negative pressure into the ink tank an ink supplying device supplying the ink to the ink tank, a gas-liquid separating device provided between the ink tank and the negative-pressure introducing device, for transmitting gases therethrough while not transmitting the ink therethrough, and an isolation device separating the negative-pressure introducing path.

Abstract: An ink tank has a fixed-negative-pressure generating means between a gas-liquid separating means and a source of negative pressure required to suck and supply the ink, to prevent a fixed amount or more of negative pressure from being exerted on the gas-liquid separating means. An ink jet recording head is installed on the ink tank. An ink jet cartridge is also installed on the ink tank. An ink jet recording apparatus has an ink tank which supplies an ink to an ink jet recording head via an ink supplying port, a gas-liquid separating means in a suction port transmitting gases therethrough while not transmitting said ink therethrough, and a fixed-negative-pressure generating means between the gas-liquid separating means and a source of the negative pressure.

Abstract: In an ink-jet recording apparatus, it is possible to assuredly execute replenishment of ink into an ink tank and control of a pressure within the ink tank during ink replenishment by a simple configuration, and reduce the size and the weight of the apparatus, and improve reliability of the apparatus. The ink-jet recording apparatus includes an ink tank for receiving ink from an ink intake, an ink supply unit for receiving ink from a replenishing tank into the ink tank by a negative pressure introduced from a suction port of the ink tank in the inside of the ink tank, and a negative-pressure controller for causing the negative pressure within the ink tank to remain in an ink supply channel from the replenishing tank to the inside of the ink tank, so that the negative pressure within the ink tank does not return to an atmospheric pressure while receiving ink.

Abstract: An airbag device including an airbag that provides more effective protection of an occupant. The airbag has an indentation located approximately in the center of a contact surface thereof. The indentation is formed in the shape of a recess or a valley to form the airbag into a heart-like shape. The area including the indentation is at least greater than an area where comes in contact with the face of an occupant. The deepest point of the dent (the farthest point from the occupant in the contact surface) is positioned below the jaw of the occupant. The contact surface extending from the deepest point of the dent to the upper projection top thereof overhangs toward the occupant to have an angle between 0° and 45° (preferably, between 15° and 25°) relative to the cervical vertebrae axis of the occupant.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a method for protecting information in a printing apparatus capable of performing a normal operation by restoring valid information even if abnormality occurs in a part of information stored in a non-volatile memory, are provided. This apparatus is equipped with electrically programmable and erasable first and second memory means.

Abstract: A strut-type suspension apparatus for a vehicle has a lower arm composed of a lateral arm (31) and a compression arm (60). One end of the lateral arm is swingably connected to a hub carrier that supports the wheel (1), and the other end thereof is swingably connected to a vehicle body (2). One end of the compression arm is swingably connected to the lateral arm at a first junction (50, 54) at the hub-carrier-side end portion of the lateral arm, and the other end thereof is swingably connected to the vehicle body at a second junction (70) separated from the other end of the lateral arm in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. When an external force acts on the wheel, the other end of the compression arm is displaced along a straight line connecting the first and second junctions. The suspension apparatus is compact and highly durable.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable composition for a photosensitive lithographic printing plate, comprising (A) addition-polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated bond-containing monomers, (B) a photopolymerization initiator system and (C) a polymer binder having carboxyl groups in its molecule, wherein the addition-polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated bond-containing monomers (A) contain a specific monomer which is a phosphoric acid ester compound (A-1) having at least one (meth)acryloyl group and/or a compound (A-2) of the following formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, X is a C.sub.1-6 alkylene group which may be branched and may be substituted by halogen, and m is an integer of at least 2, and the polymer binder (C) having carboxyl groups in its molecule, is a compound having at least a part of the carboxyl groups reacted with an alicyclic epoxy group-containing unsaturated compound.

Abstract: An operation method on an ink jet recording apparatus, comprises the steps of: moving a recording head to a position at which the recording head faces to a cap, causing the recording head to discharge ink from an ink discharge port thereof into the cap after each lapse of a predetermined time period or each lapse of a printing operation period for a predetermined numbers of lines; and idle-discharging the ink collected in the cap when the removing operation of a recording medium is performed succeedingly to the discharge, or when the period longer than said printing operation period has been lapsed while the recording head stays at the position.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes memories for storing full-color image information to be recorded, a recording head for recording an image on a recording medium, and a control unit including a CPU, a counter, a delay circuit, and a head driver. The control unit has a normal paper recording mode for driving the recording head so that an erected image is recorded on the normal recording sheet and a B.P.F. (Back-Print Film) recording mode for driving the recording head so that the same erected image is recorded on the B.P.F. sheet when the image is veined from the back side of the sheet.

Abstract: A cooling fan for automobiles which is drivable by an electric motor includes a plurality of blades, each having distal and proximal ends inclined at attachment angles larger than an attachment angle at which an intermediate portion of the blade is inclined, thereby reducing noises produced by the cooling fan.