Abstract: An ink set for ink-jet recording includes a dye ink containing a water-soluble dye and water and a pigment ink containing a self-dispersible pigment and water; wherein the dye ink further contains a polymer having a lactam structure; and the pigment ink further contains a substance having a surface active ability, a blending amount of the substance having the surface active ability being set in a ratio to fulfill a condition that a line width of a one-dot line is not less than 115 ?m when an amount of one liquid droplet of the pigment ink to be discharged is set to be within a range of 22 pL to 28 pL and the one-dot line is printed on a regular paper sheet.

Abstract: Provided is a treatment liquid used for ink-jet recording including polyallylamine, water, and at least one acid selected from the group consisting of amidosulfonic acid, and itaconic acid.

Abstract: A printer comprises an ink-jet head, and a control unit which has a judgment pattern printing control section. When a judgment pattern is printed, the judgment pattern printing control section allows the discharge of ink droplets of a second color to an area on which ink droplets of a first color are to be landed, before discharging the ink droplets of the first color having a small color difference with respect to a color of a medium. Accordingly, the ink discharge malfunction is reliably judged for the nozzle irrelevant to the color of the recording medium and the color of the ink discharged from the ink-jet head.

Abstract: An evaluation method for evaluating a pigment ink for ink-jet recording used together with a dye ink and containing a pigment and water includes an aggregation property evaluation method for the pigment in which 10 parts by weight of an aqueous sodium chloride solution is added to 100 parts by weight of the pigment ink; the evaluation method including first aggregation property evaluation adding an X wt % aqueous sodium chloride solution; and second aggregation property evaluation adding a Y wt % aqueous sodium chloride solution; wherein concentrations of the aqueous sodium chloride solutions are set to fulfill the following condition in the first and second aggregation property evaluations: 1.0?X<Y?2.5. The optical density of a printed matter and the dispersion stability of the pigment when the pigment ink is brought in contact with the dye ink can be easily evaluated before the printing.

Abstract: A water-based infrared absorptive ink for ink-jet recording is provided that absorbs electromagnetic waves in the infrared range without adversely affecting the color tone of recorded objects. The water-based infrared absorptive ink for ink-jet recording contains antimony-tin composite oxide fine particles and a coloring agent.

Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus includes a container mounting portion and a liquid container. The liquid container includes a case configured to store liquid therein, and a movable member positioned in the case. The movable member and the case comprise a pair of magnetic materials on which a magnetic force acts, such that the pair of magnetic materials attracts each other. When the liquid container is not mounted to the container mounting portion, the movable member is in a fixed state in which the movable member is fixed to the case by the magnetic force acting between the pair of magnetic materials. The container mounting portion includes a release member configured to release the movable member from the fixed state by generating a magnetic force acting between the pair of magnetic materials, such that the pair of magnetic materials separates away from each other.

Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus includes a container mounting portion and a liquid container. The liquid container includes a case configured to store liquid therein, a first movable member positioned in the case, a second movable member positioned on the case, and a retainer configured to retain the second movable member in the first position. The first movable member and the second movable member include a pair of magnetic materials. When the second movable member moves from a first position to a second position, the first movable member is released from a fixed state in which the first movable member is immovably fixed to the case by a magnetic force acting between the pair of magnetic materials.

Abstract: Provided is a treatment liquid used for ink-jet recording including polyallylamine, water, and at least one acid selected from the group consisting of nitric acid, amidosulfonic acid, and itaconic acid.

Abstract: A water-based ink set for ink-jet recording includes: the infrared absorptive ink that contains the antimony-tin composite oxide fine particles and water; and the color ink that contains the coloring agent and water. The water-based ink set for ink-jet recording is applicable to an ink-jet recording method for recording an image by ejecting the inks onto a recording medium to cause the inks to adhere to the recording medium. When an image having infrared absorptivity is recorded, at least the infrared absorptive ink is ejected onto a recording medium to cause the infrared absorptive ink to adhere to the recording medium.

Abstract: A printer comprises an ink-jet head, and a control unit which has a judgment pattern printing control section. When a judgment pattern is printed, the judgment pattern printing control section allows the discharge of ink droplets of a second color to an area on which ink droplets of a first color are to be landed, before discharging the ink droplets of the first color having a small color difference with respect to a color of a medium. Accordingly, the ink discharge malfunction is reliably judged for the nozzle irrelevant to the color of the recording medium and the color of the ink discharged from the ink-jet head.

Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus includes a container mounting portion and a liquid container. The liquid container includes a case configured to store liquid therein, and a movable member positioned in the case. The movable member and the case comprise a pair of magnetic materials on which a magnetic force acts, such that the pair of magnetic materials attracts each other. When the liquid container is not mounted to the container mounting portion, the movable member is in a fixed state in which the movable member is fixed to the case by the magnetic force acting between the pair of magnetic materials. The container mounting portion includes a release member configured to release the movable member from the fixed state by generating a magnetic force acting between the pair of magnetic materials, such that the pair of magnetic materials separates away from each other.

Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus includes a container mounting portion and a liquid container. The liquid container includes a case configured to store liquid therein, a first movable member positioned in the case, a second movable member positioned on the case, and a retainer configured to retain the second movable member in the first position. The first movable member and the second movable member include a pair of magnetic materials. When the second movable member moves from a first position to a second position, the first movable member is released from a fixed state in which the first movable member is immovably fixed to the case by a magnetic force acting between the pair of magnetic materials.

Abstract: An evaluation method for evaluating a pigment ink for ink-jet recording used together with a dye ink and containing a pigment and water includes an aggregation property evaluation method for the pigment in which 10 parts by weight of an aqueous sodium chloride solution is added to 100 parts by weight of the pigment ink; the evaluation method including first aggregation property evaluation adding an X wt % aqueous sodium chloride solution; and second aggregation property evaluation adding a Y wt % aqueous sodium chloride solution; wherein concentrations of the aqueous sodium chloride solutions are set to fulfill the following condition in the first and second aggregation property evaluations: 1.0?X<Y?2.5. The optical density of a printed matter and the dispersion stability of the pigment when the pigment ink is brought in contact with the dye ink can be easily evaluated before the printing.

Abstract: An ink set for ink-jet recording includes a dye ink containing a water-soluble dye and water and a pigment ink containing a self-dispersible pigment and water; wherein the dye ink further contains a polymer having a lactam structure; and the pigment ink further contains a substance having a surface active ability, a blending amount of the substance having the surface active ability being set in a ratio to fulfill a condition that a line width of a one-dot line is not less than 115 ?m when an amount of one liquid droplet of the pigment ink to be discharged is set to be within a range of 22 pL to 28 pL and the one-dot line is printed on a regular paper sheet.

Abstract: A determining method is provided which can more easily determine whether an ink contains an amphoteric metal oxide or whether a recorded matter is recorded with an ink containing an amphoteric metal oxide. The determining method includes applying an acidic aqueous solution or an alkaline aqueous solution to an ink for ink-jet recording or a recorded portion of a recorded matter recorded with an ink for ink-jet recording, and observing pH change.

Abstract: A water-based ink set for ink-jet recording includes: the infrared absorptive ink that contains the antimony-tin composite oxide fine particles and water; and the color ink that contains the coloring agent and water. The water-based ink set for ink-jet recording is applicable to an ink-jet recording method for recording an image by ejecting the inks onto a recording medium to cause the inks to adhere to the recording medium. When an image having infrared absorptivity is recorded, at least the infrared absorptive ink is ejected onto a recording medium to cause the infrared absorptive ink to adhere to the recording medium.

Abstract: A water-based infrared absorptive ink for ink-jet recording is provided that absorbs electromagnetic waves in the infrared range without adversely affecting the color tone of recorded objects. The water-based infrared absorptive ink for ink-jet recording contains antimony-tin composite oxide fine particles and a coloring agent.