Abstract: The invention relates to an ink-jet recording apparatus having a nozzle provided on a nozzle face of an ink-jet head and a cleaning device for cleaning the nozzle face. The cleaning device contains a gas with a solubility in water lower than that of air in water.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a novel dinoflagellate alga; and a macrolide compound which can be used as a novel anticancer agent. Specifically disclosed is a macrolide compound produced by a dinoflagellate Amphidinium sp. Strain HYA002 or HYA0024. The macrolide compound has excellent proliferation-inhibiting effect against a human tumor cell and therefore can be used as a novel anticancer agent.

Abstract: A water-based ink for ink-jet recording and an ink-jet recording method allow the formation of sharp text and lines in high density black, and the formation of a high quality gradation image in which the graininess is reduced in a black image of a medium lightness to a high lightness (e.g., an achromatic image in dark gray to light gray) in ink-jet recording. The water-based ink combination for ink-jet recording comprises a black ink, and a color ink (A) and a color ink (B) that satisfy a color relationship of the following expression (I): about 120°?|???|?about 240°??(I) wherein ? is the hue angle of the color ink (A) and ? is the hue angle of the color ink (B).

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to an ink-jet recording apparatus comprising an ink-jet head with an ink passage having an inner volume and a preservative in the ink passage in a preservative residual ratio of no greater than 10%. Another embodiment of the invention relates to a preservative having water, a penetrant, and a humectant. A further embodiment of the invention relates to a processing method involving filling an inner volume of an ink passage in an ink-jet recording apparatus with a preservative and removing a portion of the preservative from the inner volume such that a preservative residual ratio is no greater than 10%.

Abstract: An embodiment of the description relates to an ink-jet recording apparatus which includes an ink cartridge in which ink is stored in an ink chamber, and a mechanism that optically detects the amount of ink remaining in the ink chamber. The receding contact angle of the ink with respect to an inner wall surface of the ink chamber is about 20° or more.

Abstract: A fluorescent water base ink for ink-jet recording includes water, a first fluorescent dye, and a second fluorescent dye. The first fluorescent dye absorbs light in a first absorption wavelength region in an ultraviolet region to emit fluorescence, and the first fluorescent dye absorbs light in a second absorption wavelength region to emit no fluorescence. The second fluorescent dye absorbs light in an absorption wavelength region in the ultraviolet region, which is different from the first absorption wavelength region of the first fluorescent dye, to emit fluorescence. A wavelength region of the fluorescence of the second fluorescent dye is not overlapped with the first absorption wavelength region of the first fluorescent dye, but at least a part of the wavelength region of the fluorescence of the second fluorescent dye is overlapped with the second absorption wavelength region. The fluorescence intensity of the ink is increased.

Abstract: An embodiment of the description relates to an ink-jet recording apparatus which includes an ink cartridge in which ink is stored in an ink chamber, and a mechanism that optically detects the amount of ink remaining in the ink chamber. The receding contact angle of the ink with respect to an inner wall surface of the ink chamber is about 200 or more.

Abstract: A fluorescent water base ink for ink-jet recording contains a first fluorescent dye and a second fluorescent dye. The first fluorescent dye has a first ultraviolet absorption wavelength region in an absorption spectrum and a first fluorescence emission wavelength region in a fluorescence spectrum. The second fluorescent dye has a second ultraviolet absorption wavelength region which is different from the first ultraviolet absorption wavelength region in an absorption spectrum and a second fluorescence emission wavelength region in a fluorescence spectrum. The first fluorescent dye further has an absorption wavelength region which is different from the first ultraviolet absorption wavelength region and which overlaps at least a part of the second fluorescence emission wavelength region.

Abstract: A water base ink set for ink-jet recording includes a water base ink which contains an acid dye, and a water base ink which contains a basic dye. The water base ink contains a polymer which has an average molecular weight of 3,000 to 20,000 and which is represented by the following formula (1): wherein X represents H or COONa, and Y represents H, COONa, SO3Na, or CH2OR in the formula (1). R represents a substituted group having SO3Na with carbon atom or atoms of a number of 1 to 5. When the ink containing the acid dye and the ink containing the basic dye are mixed with each other, then the head discharge section is prevented from any clog-up, and it is possible to perform the stable jetting operation.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a rubber member in an ink flow passage. The rubber member is pretreated with an organic solvent having a high boiling point, a water-based liquid containing a coloring agent, or a mixture of the two. The pretreatment is effective for preventing additives in the rubber material from being eluted into a water-based liquid for ink-jet recording, which can lead to clogging of ink-jet nozzles and the like.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to an ink-jet recording apparatus comprising an ink-jet head with an ink passage having an inner volume and a preservative in the ink passage in a preservative residual ratio of no greater than 10%. Another embodiment of the invention relates to a preservative having water, a penetrant, and a humectant. A further embodiment of the invention relates to a processing method involving filling an inner volume of an ink passage in an ink-jet recording apparatus with a preservative and removing a portion of the preservative from the inner volume such that a preservative residual ratio is no greater than 10%.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink-jet recording apparatus having a nozzle provided on a nozzle face of an inkjet head and a cleaning device for cleaning the nozzle face. The cleaning device contains a gas with a solubility in water lower than that of air in water.

Abstract: A fluorescent water base ink for ink-jet recording contains a fluorescent dye having a xanthene skeleton, and a glycol. In the fluorescent dye, the difference in hydrophilic index log P is not less than 2.6 between a substituent bonded to C-9 carbon atom of the xanthene skeleton and other portion of the fluorescent dye than the substituent bonded to the C-9 carbon atom. The glycol has a distance between hydroxyl groups substantially equivalent to or longer than an interatomic distance between atoms directly bonded to C-3 and C-6 carbon atoms of the xanthene skeleton of the fluorescent dye, respectively. It is assumed that the glycol is coordinated with the xanthene skeleton in a bridge form to increase the fluorescence intensity by increasing the electron density of the xanthene skeleton. The ink having high fluorescence intensity and in which the fluorescence intensity is not lowered in a time-dependent manner is provided.

Abstract: A fluorescent water base ink for ink-jet recording to be used for an ink-jet printer contains water, a pigment, a compound having primary or secondary amide group, and a fluorescent dye represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 represents OH or N(R3)R4, R2 represents hydrogen atom or halogen atom, and each of R3 and R4 represents hydrogen atom or alkyl group. A sufficient OD value and a fluorescence value are obtained while securing the vivid color development and the excellent water resistance principally in accordance with the interaction of the fluorescent dye and the compound having the amide group.

Abstract: A method for selecting a resin or rubber material to construct an ink flow passage of an ink-jet recording apparatus includes immersing the resin or rubber material in water at 60° C. for 2 weeks in a tightly closed vessel, and determining an amount of eluted fatty acid derivative. If the amount of fatty acid derivative is not more than 20 ppm with respect to a total amount of the resin or rubber material, it is judged that the resin or rubber material is appropriate as the material for the ink flow passage. It is possible to select, by the convenient method, the material which is most suitable for the actual condition of use, without examining components and compositions of respective materials.

Abstract: A water-based ink for ink-jet recording enables the expression of sharp text and lines in high density black, and the formation of a high quality gradation image in which the graininess is reduced in a black image of medium to high lightness. The inks include a color ink (A) and a color ink (B) each of which independently has a lightness index L* according to the L* a* b* calorimetric system of about 60 or less. The color ink (A) and the color ink (B) satisfy the following expression (I): about 120°?|???| about ?240°??(I) wherein ? is the hue angle of the color ink (A) and ? is the hue angle of the color ink (B). The chroma C* of a hue obtained by the combination of the color ink (A) and the color ink (B) is about 30 or less.

Abstract: A water-based ink for ink-jet recording and an ink-jet recording method allow the formation of sharp text and lines in high density black, and the formation of a high quality gradation image in which the graininess is reduced in a black image of a medium lightness to a high lightness (e.g., an achromatic image in dark gray to light gray) in ink-jet recording. The water-based ink combination for ink-jet recording comprises a black ink, and a color ink (A) and a color ink (B) that satisfy a color relationship of the following expression (I): about 120°?|???|?about 240°??(I) wherein ? is the hue angle of the color ink (A) and ? is the hue angle of the color ink (B).

Abstract: With a magnetic record and playback device that permits rapid switching from fast forward (FF) mode or rewind (REW) mode to playback (FWD) mode, when it is necessary to switch rapidly from fast forward (FF) mode or rewind (REW) mode to playback (FWD) mode, the device is operated in a first take-up mode in which magnetic tape is wound on the rotating head drum, and when it is not necessary to switch rapidly from fast forward (FF) mode or rewind (REW) mode to playback (FWD) mode but is required to increase magnetic tape transport speed, the device is operated in a second take-up mode in which the magnetic tape is not wound on the rotating head drum, whereby it is possible to shorten the fast forward/rewind time by raising the transport speed of the magnetic tape without increasing the load on the magnetic tape or the magnetic head.

Abstract: An ink for ink-jet recording includes water, a basic dye, and a specified pH-adjusting agent. Those usable as the pH-adjusting agent include, for example, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, ammonium hydrogencarbonate, and sodium carbonate. An image, which is excellent in chromaticness and color feature, can be formed. Further, metal portions, especially an ink tank, a head, and ink flow passages thereof are prevented from corrosion which would be otherwise caused by the ink.

Abstract: A fluorescent water base ink for ink-jet recording includes water, a first fluorescent dye, and a second fluorescent dye. The first fluorescent dye absorbs light in a first absorption wavelength region in an ultraviolet region to emit fluorescence, and the first fluorescent dye absorbs light in a second absorption wavelength region to emit no fluorescence. The second fluorescent dye absorbs light in an absorption wavelength region in the ultraviolet region, which is different from the first absorption wavelength region of the first fluorescent dye, to emit fluorescence. A wavelength region of the fluorescence of the second fluorescent dye is not overlapped with the first absorption wavelength region of the first fluorescent dye, but at least a part of the wavelength region of the fluorescence of the second fluorescent dye is overlapped with the second absorption wavelength region. The fluorescence intensity of the ink is increased.