Abstract: An ink absorbing member is inserted in an ink tank housing which at least partly has a transparent portion. Used as this ink absorbing member is one having a reflection density after ink removal which is close to the reflection density of a melamine foam before ink injection. The amount of ink remaining in a cartridge of such a construction can be detected, for example, by a separate line sensor. The results of detection by the line sensor can be displayed by a remaining ink amount indicator provided on a control panel of the printing apparatus.

Abstract: An ink jet head comprises parts for holding liquid ink, the parts being sealed with a moisture-curing sealant composed mainly of an organic high polymer compound having an alkoxysilane moiety represented by Formula (1) in the molecule thereof: ##STR1## where X is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl or halogen; R is methyl, ethyl or propyl; and n is 1, 2 or 3.

Abstract: A method of making a replaceable ink cartridge uses a molded, one-piece container body with an open bottom, elongated front, back and top walls, two side walls providing major surfaces of the cartridge, and a partition attached to the side walls and extending from the top wall toward the open bottom to divide the container body into first and second compartments. A sponge-like absorbent material is inserted into the second compartment through the open bottom, which is then sealed with a bottom wall, so that the cartridge has first and second chambers communicating with each other through an opening formed by a gap between the partition and the bottom wall.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for manufacturing a liquid container having an enclosed space within an inner wall of the liquid container, the enclosed space filled with a plurality of porous members. The plurality of porous members include a plurality of inner porous members and a plurality of outer porous members. The method includes the step of packing the porous members into the enclosed space so that the inner porous members only contact and press against other inner porous members and/or outer porous members, and the outer porous members contact and press against the inner porous members and the inner wall of the liquid container. The method also comprises a step of compressing the porous members. The apparatus has compressing means for compressing the porous members and packing means for packing the porous members into the liquid container.

Abstract: A package for an ink jet cartridge includes an opaque casing having an accommodating portion for accommodating the ink cartridge; a covering member including an evaporated aluminum layer and a nylon layer for sealing of an access opening of the casing; and a box having a rectangular parallelepiped configuration for accommodating the casing sealed by the covering member, the box being provided with an opening portion and a hook for display.

Abstract: An ink tank having an ink storing portion encases an ink-absorbent member for holding ink. The ink-absorbent member comprises a porous material having therein compressed open cells. The compression ratio r.sub.1 of an apparent volume V.sub.1 before compression to an apparent volume V.sub.2 after compression (r.sub.1 =V.sub.1 /V.sub.2) and the cell number p represented by number of cells per inch in the state of V.sub.1 satisfy the relation (I) below, and p being not more than 60.100 [inch.sup.-1 ].ltoreq.r.sub.1 .multidot.p.ltoreq.200 [inch.sup.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording process is provided which comprises applying inks to a recording medium having at least an ink-transporting layer and an ink-retaining layer, from the ink-transporting layer side of said recording medium, and thereby forming with a plurality of ink dots a unicolored area observable from the ink-retaining layer side, the dots being formed respectively by application of at least two ink droplets in superposition.A mixed color dot is similarly formed, wherein the amount of ink forming the unicolor dot and the mixed color dot is about the same to provide similar image density, resolution and uniformity.

Abstract: A recording medium comprises a substrate and an ink-receiving layer provided on said substrate, wherein said ink-receiving layer contains a reaction product of a gelling agent with a coupling agent. An image forming method comprises applying ink-jet recording to the recording medium, thereby forming an image.

Abstract: A recording medium comprising a substrate and an ink-receiving layer containing highly water-absorptive resin particles and a binder thereon, wherein resin particles protruding to a height of not less than 1 .mu.m from the surface of a binder layer of said ink-receiving layer are present in the number of from 50 to 5,000 per 1 mm.sup.2 of an ink-receiving surface, is provided.

Abstract: A recording medium comprising a substrate and a non-porous ink receiving layer is provided. The ink receiving layer contains a water-insoluble polymer containing a cationic resin. The recording medium may be employed for recording by attaching droplets of a recording liquid thereon.

Abstract: A recording medium having an ink retaining layer and an ink transporting layer provided on a substrate of a resin film or a glass plate, said ink transporting layer comprising combinedly a surfactant and an acetylene glycol and/or an acetylene alcohol is provided.

Abstract: A recording medium is provided which includes an ink-transporting layer and an ink-retaining layer, the ink-transporting layer being chiefly comprised of particles and a binder, wherein d.gtoreq.0.1 .mu.m when an average value of primary particle diameter of the particles is assumed as d, and the volume of the particles whose particle diameter (x) is included in the range of d/2.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.2d is in a proportion of 90% or more of the whole particles. The purpose of this particle and binder arrangement is to provide a recording medium having high gloss and image density, and one particularly having a greatly superior ink absorbing ability and capable of giving recorded images of high image quality that are free from feathering and having high recording density. An ink jet recording process employing the above-mentioned recording medium is also provided.

Abstract: A recording medium is provided which comprises an ink-transporting layer and ink-retaining layer. The ink-transporting layer contains in combination a surfactant and/or a penetrant and a material having the property of fixing a colorant contained in an ink.

Abstract: A recording medium comprising a substrate and a non-porous ink receiving layer is provided. The ink receiving layer contains a water-insoluble polymer containing a cationic resin. The recording medium may be employed for recording by attaching droplets of a recording liquid thereon.