Abstract: A head is formed with a plurality of nozzles and a common ink chamber fluidly connected with the nozzles. A sub ink tank is provided above the head. Ink housed in a main ink tank is supplied into the sub ink tank through the common ink chamber when an image forming operation is not performed. At this time, air bubbles existing in the common ink chamber is brought into the sub ink tank along with the ink supplied from the main ink tank. The air bubbles collected into the sub ink tank in this manner are released into the ambient air through a valve provided to the sub ink tank.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording medium such as a color thermal transfer paper or ribbon which is used in combination with a thermal head or pen to print an image on an image forming body or sheet. The thermal transfer recording medium comprises a polyester supporting film, a first thermal transfer layer formed on the supporting film, which consists mainly of a saturated polyester copolymer having a molecular weight of 8,000 to 30,000 and containing a sublimation or hot-melt transfer dye. A second thermal transfer layer containing a dye as that of the first transfer layer may be formed on the first transfer layer. The thermal transfer image forming body comprises a supporting body, a dyeing image forming layer formed on the supporting body and made mainly of a thermoplastic resin having four or more OH group per molecule, a tensile break strength of 300 kg/cm.sup.2 or more and tensile break elongation of 20% or more, and a surface layer made of a silicone resin.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a decorative panel having an embossed surface and different degrees of glass corresponding to a pattern, thereby producing a stereoscopic aspect, i.e., the impression of relief and solidity.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating the contact between solid particles and a fluid, which apparatus comprises a multi-layered network structure composed of a plurality of network structures consisting of a plurality of square nets of equal size held at regular intervals by means of spacers extending parallel to the nets separate fluid flow, said spacers concurrently forming plural elongated compartments with rectangular cross-section in conjunction with two adjacent nets, a bottom member placed at the lower ends of said nets alternately between two adjacent nets and edge holders for said nets as fixed parallel to said spacers, a housing to accommodate said multi-layered network structure and solid particles packed in said compartments of alternate layers of the multi-layered network structure; thereby a fluid being passed through fluid flow passages formed as alternate layers between said packed layers contacts solid particles.