Abstract: Disclosed is an ink jet recording apparatus including an image forming unit that forms a first image including a first liquid and a coloring material on an ink receiving medium; and a liquid absorbing member that includes a porous body which is configured to be brought into contact with the first image so as to absorb at least a portion of the first liquid from the first image, in which an average pore diameter of a first surface of the porous body which is configured to be brought into contact with the first image is equal to or smaller than 0.6 ?m, an arithmetic average roughness Ra defined by JIS B 0601:2001 of the first surface of the porous body is equal to or smaller than 1.9 ?m, an average pore diameter of a second surface, which is a back surface of the first surface, of the porous body is larger than the average pore diameter of the first surface, and a Gurley value defined by JIS P 8117 of the porous body is equal to or shorter than 10 seconds.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms a first image containing a first liquid and a coloring material on an ink receiving medium; and a liquid absorbing member that includes a porous body which is configured to be brought into contact with the first image so as to absorb at least a portion of the first liquid from the first image, in which the porous body is a porous sheet in which a first layer which is configured to be brought into contact with the first image, a second layer including a second fiber and a third layer including a third fiber are laminated in this order.

Abstract: On a conveyance path of a liquid absorbing member including a porous body, a liquid absorbing unit 2 that absorbs a first liquid from a first image, a recovery liquid applying unit 3 that applies a recovery liquid to the porous body absorbing the liquid and a liquid collecting unit 4 that collects a liquid component absorbed by the porous body are arranged in this order, and a cleaning unit 5 that brings a cleaning member into contact with the conveyance path of the porous body is disposed at least between the liquid absorbing unit and the recovery liquid applying unit or between the liquid collecting unit and the liquid absorbing unit.

Abstract: Reaction liquid application S1 to an ink receiving medium, formation of a first image by ink application S2, liquid absorption S3 from the first image by a porous body of a liquid absorbing member, cleaning S4 of the porous body, and liquid collection S5 from the porous body are repeated in an inkjet printing method. When the porous body comes into contact with the first image, first chemical species in the reaction liquid contributing to increasing the ink viscosity is contained, on the ink receiving medium and in the porous body, at a higher level in terms of molar equivalent per unit area than second chemical species in the ink also contributing to increasing the ink viscosity. In the liquid collection S5, the liquid is collected so that the liquid remains in the porous body on the side to be brought into contact with the first image.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method repeatedly performing the following steps on a transfer body, a step of forming a first image including a liquid component containing water and a water-soluble organic solvent and an insoluble solid content; a liquid removing step of forming a second image, from which a part of a liquid component contained in the first image is removed; and a transferring step of transferring the second image onto a recording medium by heating the second image to a temperature equal to or higher than a minimum filming temperature of the second image, wherein the minimum filming temperature of the second image is a temperature equal to or higher than 100° C.; and the first image is not subjected to a heat history equal to or higher than a boiling point of the water after the step of forming the first image and before the liquid removing step.

Abstract: A porous body that includes a first porous layer including a first resin, a second porous layer including a second resin, and a third porous layer including a third resin in this order. The second porous layer has a portion where no material is present when viewed in a thickness direction.

Abstract: A method for producing a porous body for use in an ink jet recording apparatus including an image forming unit configured to form a first image including a first liquid and a coloring material on an ink receiving medium, and a liquid absorbing member including the porous body that contacts with the first image to absorb part of the first liquid from the first image. The method includes laminating a first porous layer that contacts with the first image and includes a first resin, and a second and a third porous layer including a second and a third resin; and heating the laminated first to third porous layers, wherein the second porous layer has a void when viewed in a thickness direction, and softening temperatures T1 through T3 of the first to third resins and heating temperature T in heating the first to third porous layers satisfy T2<T, T<T1, T<T3.

Abstract: A method for producing a porous body for use in an ink jet recording apparatus including an image forming unit configured to form a first image including a first liquid and a coloring material on an ink receiving medium, and a liquid absorbing member including the porous body that contacts with the first image to absorb part of the first liquid from the first image. The method includes laminating a first porous layer that contacts with the first image and includes a first resin, and a second and a third porous layer including a second and a third resin; and heating the laminated first to third porous layers, wherein the second porous layer has a void when viewed in a thickness direction, and softening temperatures T1 through T3 of the first to third resins and heating temperature T in heating the first to third porous layers satisfy T2<T, T<T1, T<T3.

Abstract: In an ink jet printing apparatus, a moisture content of a print sheet is estimated without decreasing productivity of the printing apparatus and appropriate conditions of printing operation in the subsequent printing process are specified. More specifically, by measuring a change in thickness of the print sheet after printing, a state of moisture content is estimated. Estimating a state of moisture content allows determination of appropriate conditions of the printing operation such as a minimum drying time required for printing a high-quality image on various types of print sheets such as print coated paper or coated paper.

Abstract: A porous film includes a first layer made of a porous fluororesin and a second layer. The first layer has a thickness of 20 ?m or less and a water resistance, measured by Method B of the Hydrostatic Pressure Test specified in JIS L 1092, of 200 kPa or more. The second layer has an average distance between local peaks, specified in JIS B 0601: 1994, in the range of 3 ?m to 40 ?m.

Abstract: In an ink jet printing apparatus, a moisture content of a print sheet is estimated without decreasing productivity of the printing apparatus and appropriate conditions of printing operation in the subsequent printing process are specified. More specifically, by measuring a change in thickness of the print sheet after printing, a state of moisture content is estimated. Estimating a state of moisture content allows determination of appropriate conditions of the printing operation such as a minimum drying time required for printing a high-quality image on various types of print sheets such as print coated paper or coated paper.

Abstract: Provided is an image recording method, including an intermediate image formation step of forming an intermediate image by applying ink onto a first intermediate transfer member; a first transfer step of transferring, onto a second intermediate transfer member, the intermediate image that is formed on the first intermediate transfer member; and a second transfer step of transferring, onto a recording medium, the intermediate image that is transferred onto the second intermediate transfer member, in which the following relationship is satisfied: Fa<Fb<Fc, where Fa represents an adhesion force between the first intermediate transfer member and the intermediate image, Fb represents an adhesion force between the second intermediate transfer member and the intermediate image, and Fc represents an adhesion force between the recording medium and the intermediate image.

Abstract: In an ink jet printing apparatus of the present invention, a moisture content of a print sheet is estimated without decreasing productivity of the printing apparatus and appropriate conditions of printing operation in the subsequent printing process are specified. More specifically, by measuring a change in thickness of the print sheet after printing, a state of moisture content is estimated. Estimating a state of moisture content allows determination of appropriate conditions of printing operation such as a minimum drying time required for printing a high-quality image on various types of print sheets such as print coated paper or coated paper.

Abstract: Provided is an image recording method, including an intermediate image formation step of forming an intermediate image by applying ink onto a first intermediate transfer member; a first transfer step of transferring, onto a second intermediate transfer member, the intermediate image that is formed on the first intermediate transfer member; and a second transfer step of transferring, onto a recording medium, the intermediate image that is transferred onto the second intermediate transfer member, in which the following relationship is satisfied: Fa<Fb<Fc, where Fa represents an adhesion force between the first intermediate transfer member and the intermediate image, Fb represents an adhesion force between the second intermediate transfer member and the intermediate image, and Fc represents an adhesion force between the recording medium and the intermediate image.

Abstract: In an ink jet printing apparatus of the present invention, a moisture content of a print sheet is estimated without decreasing productivity of the printing apparatus and appropriate conditions of printing operation in the subsequent printing process are specified. More specifically, by measuring a change in thickness of the print sheet after printing, a state of moisture content is estimated. Estimating a state of moisture content allows determination of appropriate conditions of printing operation such as a minimum drying time required for printing a high-quality image on various types of print sheets such as print coated paper or coated paper.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium by forming a raw image on an intermediate transfer member with a liquid ink containing a coloring material and transferring the raw image onto the recording medium. The apparatus has an applicator unit for applying a reactive liquid onto the surface layer of the intermediate transfer member prior to the formation of the raw image. The reactive liquid urges the coloring material in the liquid ink to coagulate. The apparatus further has an adjustment unit for adjusting the thickness of the raw image according to the surface roughness of the recording medium.

Abstract: There is provided an inkjet printing apparatus which are used to obtain a printed matter having a small degree of glossiness unevenness and a flat surface. The apparatus is the inkjet printing apparatus for forming an image on a print medium by relatively scanning a first ejection unit for ejecting a first ink and a second ejection unit for ejecting a second ink to the print medium. The apparatus includes forming unit configured to form the image with the first and second inks on the print medium in each of a first printing mode for completing an image by scanning the first ejection unit one time and a second printing mode for completing an image by scanning the second ejection unit plural times. A gloss value of a solid image with the second ink is greater than a gloss value of a solid image with the first ink.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus that can substantially prevent possible variation in the color of an image on a print medium discharged from an ink jet printing apparatus. A drying condition is determined under which the color of the image varies until the color of the image becomes a target one having a color difference ?E of at most 3 from a stable color with substantially no temporal variation. The image is dried according to the drying condition. The print medium is then discharged from the printing apparatus. This enables variation in the color of the image on the print medium discharged from the printing apparatus to be prevented from exceeding 3 in terms of color difference ?E. As a result, a user can be prevented from perceiving variation in color.

Abstract: There is provided an inkjet printing apparatus which are used to obtain a printed matter having a small degree of glossiness unevenness and a flat surface. The apparatus is the inkjet printing apparatus for forming an image on a print medium by relatively scanning a first ejection unit for ejecting a first ink and a second ejection unit for ejecting a second ink to the print medium. The apparatus includes forming unit configured to form the image with the first and second inks on the print medium in each of a first printing mode for completing an image by scanning the first ejection unit one time and a second printing mode for completing an image by scanning the second ejection unit plural times. A gloss value of a solid image with the second ink is greater than a gloss value of a solid image with the first ink.

Abstract: A method of forming a laminate and a method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device using the laminate are provided. The laminate forming method includes a first step of forming an intermediate layer on a base member, and a second step of forming a metal layer on the intermediate layer, the adhesion of the metal layer to the base member being lower than that of the intermediate layer, the reflectance of the metal layer being higher than that of the intermediate layer. The rate of formation of the metal layer is increased at an intermediate stage in the second step. The laminate thereby formed has improved characteristics and is capable of maintaining improved reflection characteristics and adhesion even under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions or during long-term use.