Abstract: An absorbent article comprising a liquid retentive absorbent layer containing a superabsorbent polymer and a liquid-impermeable leak proof layer is disclosed. An agent having a skin care effect and substantially no decomposing action on the superabsorbent polymer is fixed on a prescribed region of the absorbent article in a state ready to be released from that region upon contact with moisture.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a card edge contact having a plurality of electrical contacts for transmission of a driving signal; a recording element substrate having a recording element for generating energy contributable to eject liquid onto a recording material in response to the driving signal; and an electrical flexible cable for electrical connection between the card edge contact and the recording element substrate.

Abstract: In a supply system which includes an ink container for reserving a predetermined amount of ink to be supplied to a printing head and which is configured such that ink is intermittently supplied to the container from an ink tank, there is provided a structure that fundamentally eliminates waste of ink associated with an operation of charging the container to apply a required negative pressure to the head. An ink containing body in which a negative pressure can be generated because of its elasticity is provided in the container. After the ink containing body is expanded to introduce ink into the same by depressurizing the interior of the container, the interior of the container is pressurized to contract the ink containing body, thereby returning a predetermined amount of ink to the tank. A negative pressure is thus generated in equilibrium with an ink meniscus holding ability of the head.

Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent article capable of suppressing rash of skin in regions which come into contact with a gather portion of the absorbent article, by applying a water-soluble skin care agent and oily skin care agent on the gather portion to be contacted with the skin of a wearer in wearing the absorbent article, and allowing at least a part of the above mentioned oily skin care agent to be transferred to the skin of a wearer when wearing before the above mentioned water-soluble skin care agent is transferred to the skin of a wearer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent article capable of further suppressing rash of skin, by applying a water-soluble skin care agent and oily skin care agent on a part or all of a surface to be contacted with the skin of a wearer in wearing of a diaper, and allowing at least a part of the above mentioned oily skin care agent to be transferred on the side of the skin of a wearer in wearing before the above mentioned water-soluble skin care agent is released.

Abstract: An ink container detachably mountable to an ink jet recording apparatus which includes a cartridge provided with a recording head and capable of detachably carrying the ink container, and includes a mechanical switch for detecting mounting of the cartridge by its displacement, the container including a bottom side which is provided with an ink supply port for supplying the ink from an inside of the container to the recording head and which takes a bottom position in use; a substantially vertical side having an engaging portion for mounting the ink container to the cartridge; a stepped portion, in the bottom side, forming a recess having an end which is open at the vertical side; and a projected abutment portion, provided adjacent the vertical side in the recess, for displacing the mechanical switch.

Abstract: For eliminating waste of ink and achieving high charging efficiency with a reduced charging time where a printing head is equipped with a second tank for reserving a predetermined amount of ink and a supply system is configured to supply ink from a first tank to the second tank intermittently, the second tank is provided with a variable internal volume. The internal volume is varied to cause the second tank itself to function as an actuator for charging ink and performing a venting process. Specifically, the internal volume is forcibly reduced to cause a reverse flow of a gas residing in the second tank along with ink into the first tank, which makes it possible to generate of waste ink that is released to the outside. A normal charging operation can be completed simply by causing a change in the opposite direction (the direction of increasing the internal volume). Relatedly, the second tank may be provided with a member for holding ink and generating a negative pressure originating from an elastic force.

Abstract: The present invention aims to enhance reliability regarding connection between electrical connection portions of a recording head and a head holding member and to enhance positioning accuracy of the recording head with respect to the head holding member. To this end, a recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a connector holding portion for supporting a card edge substrate to be mounted and dismounted with respect to a card edge connector through an elastic member so that the card edge substrate can be moved in two directions perpendicular to mounting and dismounting directions thereof.

Abstract: In response to changes in an input binary digital signal, a 3rd order cosine pulse waveform, which, when it is changed in the increasing direction, has “0” level in a first period of T/12 (T corresponding to one-half cycle of the binary digital signal), is changed as a waveform of (h/2)(1+cos (3&pgr;t/T)+&pgr;/4) in the next period of 4T/12 (−5T/12≦t≦−T/12) and has an h (constant) level in the remaining period of T/12, and when it is changed in the reducing direction, has the h level in the first period of T/12, is changed as a waveform of (h/2)(1+cos(3&pgr;t/T)−&pgr;/4) in the next period of 4T/12 (T/12≦t≦5T/12) and also has “0” level in the remaining period of T/12. By using this pulse wave, a flat part is generated in a time width of T/12 with respect to a judgment point.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus for forming an image by discharging liquid from a recording head onto a recording medium, comprising a carriage to which the recording head and a sub-tank for storing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head are mounted and which can be shifted reciprocally, a main tank disposed out of the carriage and adapted to store the liquid, a liquid flow passage connected between the main tank and the sub-tank in order to supply the liquid from the main tank to the sub-tank, a flow passage opening/closing valve disposed in the liquid flow passage on the way and adapted to open and close the liquid flow passage, and control means for controlling opening/closing of the flow passage opening/closing valve in accordance with an image forming condition during image formation using the recording head.

Abstract: In a structure which includes a second tank for reserving a predetermined amount of ink to be supplied to a printing head and in which a supply system is configured such that ink is intermittently supplied to the second tank from a first tank, a high charging efficiency to and shortened processing time for charging the second tank, and high overall usability of ink are achieved. In an orientation upon using the printing apparatus, a port of a channel located at the second tank side for supplying ink from the first tank to the second tank is arranged relatively high position and an outlet port for supplying ink from the second tank to the head is arranged relatively low position in relation to the direction of gravity, and a port of the channel located at the first tank side is arranged at the bottom of the first tank.

Abstract: An ink tank is formed having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, and air/fluid separating members having air pores are provided around at least the corner portions of the generally rectangular parallelepiped. The inner faces of wall members forming the outer faces of the generally rectangular parallelepiped are formed with an inclination of a predetermined angle as to the outer face of the wall member which it faces.

Abstract: In a supply system which includes an ink container for reserving a predetermined amount of ink to be supplied to a printing head and which is configured such that ink is intermittently supplied to the container from an ink tank, there is provided a structure that fundamentally eliminates waste of ink associated with an operation of charging the container to apply a required negative pressure to the head. An ink containing body in which a negative pressure can be generated because of its elasticity is provided in the container. After the ink containing body is expanded to introduce ink into the same by depressurizing the interior of the container, the interior of the container is pressurized to contract the ink containing body, thereby returning a predetermined amount of ink to the tank. A negative pressure is thus generated in equilibrium with an ink meniscus holding ability of the head.

Abstract: The present invention aims to enhance reliability regarding connection between electrical connection portions of a recording head and a head holding member and to enhance positioning accuracy of the recording head with respect to the head holding member. To this end, a recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a connector holding portion for supporting a card edge substrate to be mounted and dismounted with respect to a card edge connector through an elastic member so that the card edge substrate can be moved in two direction perpendicular to mounting and dismounting direction thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus for forming an image by discharging liquid from a recording head onto a recording medium, comprising a carriage to which the recording head and a sub-tank for storing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head are mounted and which can be shifted reciprocally, a main tank disposed out of the carriage and adapted to store the liquid, a liquid flow passage connected between the main tank and the sub-tank in order to supply the liquid from the main tank to the sub-tank, a flow passage opening/closing valve disposed in the liquid flow passage on the way and adapted to open and close the liquid flow passage, and control means for controlling opening/closing of the flow passage opening/closing valve in accordance with an image forming condition during image formation using the recording head.

Abstract: A structure which includes a container for reserving a predetermined amount of ink to be supplied to a printing head and in which a supply system is configured such that ink is intermittently supplied to the container from an ink tank as an ink supply source makes it possible to reduce the time for charging the container with ink. A member for holding ink and generating a negative pressure originating from an elastic force is provided in the container. With connecting the tank and the member, the pressure in the container is reduced to cause the member to expand, thereby introducing ink into the same. This introduction is stopped by regulating the expansion with a displaceable unit. A negative pressure is generated in the member by canceling regulation by the unit to put it in equilibrium with an ink meniscus holding ability of the printing head.

Abstract: For eliminating waste of ink and achieving high charging efficiency with a reduced charging time where a printing head is equipped with a second tank for reserving a predetermined amount of ink and a supply system is configured to supply ink from a first tank to the second tank intermittently, a second tank having a variable internal volume is provided, and the internal volume is varied to cause the second tank itself functions as an actuator for charging ink and performing a venting process. Specifically, the internal volume is forcibly reduced to cause a reverse flow of a gas residing in the second tank along with ink into the first tank, which makes it possible to generation of waste ink that is released to the outside. A normal charging operation can be completed simply by causing a change in the opposite direction (the direction of increasing the internal volume).

Abstract: In a structure which includes a second tank for reserving a predetermined amount of ink to be supplied to a printing head and in which a supply system is configured such that ink is intermittently supplied to the second tank from a first tank, a high charging efficiency to and shortened processing time for charging the second tank, and high overall usability of ink are achieved. In an orientation upon using the printing apparatus, a port of a channel located at the second tank side for supplying ink from the first tank to the second tank is arranged relatively high position and an outlet port for supplying ink from the second tank to the head is arranged relatively low position in relation to the direction of gravity, and a port of the channel located at the first tank side is arranged at the bottom of the first tank.

Abstract: An apparatus provided with a carriage is guided and supported by at least two guide members, a guide shaft and a guide rail, arranged to be parallel to each other to enable the carriage to reciprocate. The guide members are arranged apart from each other substantially in the vertical direction, and the horizontal distance L1 between each guide member and the gravitational center of the carriage is arranged to be larger than the vertical interval L2 between the contact portions of the carriage and each guide member. With the structure thus arranged, it is possible to maximize the reduction of the swinging or vibration of a carriage so that the apparatus provided with the carriage can reciprocate scanning exactly and stably, thus realizing a small and high-performance apparatus that records images in high precision or reads highly precise images.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a conveying roller for conveying a recording sheet, and a carriage that enables a recording head for recording on the recording sheet by discharging ink droplets to the recording sheet to reciprocate in the direction intersecting the conveying direction of the recording medium along a guide shaft having a substantially circular lateral section. The bearing portion of the carriage is structured to be in contact with the guide shaft at two points A and B on the upstream side and downstream side in the aforesaid conveying direction with respect to the vertical line running through the center of the guide shaft.