Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus includes a droplet ejection head configured to eject droplets from nozzles formed in a nozzle face; and a wiping unit configured to move relative to the droplet ejection head to thereby wipe the nozzle face of the droplet ejection head with a wiping member. The wiping member includes nap-like or brush-like projections and recesses on a wiping surface, and the projections of the wiping surface enter the nozzles during wiping of the nozzle face by the wiping member.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink composition containing at least: a water-soluble organic solvent; a pigment; water; and a nonionic polymer thickener. The content of the water-soluble organic solvent is from 5 weight % to 30 weight % relative to the total amount of the ink composition. The ratio of Vhigh/Vlow, in which Vhigh represents 25° C. viscosity (mPa·s) measured at a shear rate of 1.5×105 (s?1) and Vlow represents 25° C. viscosity (mPa·s) measured at a shear rate of 3.0×103 (s?1), is from 0.70 to 0.95. The invention further provides an image formation method including at least ejecting the ink composition onto an image recording medium using an image formation apparatus to form an image on the image recording medium.

Abstract: An inkjet recording method recording on an inkjet recording medium having an ink receiving layer containing at least inorganic microparticles, a water-soluble resin and a crosslinking agent, by ejecting (1) an inkjet ink containing at least a dye, water and a water-soluble organic solvent, wherein 50% by weight or more of the water-soluble organic solvent is a solvent which gives a swelling ratio of 3% or less for the water-soluble resin crosslinked by the crosslinking agent, using (2) an image forming apparatus equipped with an ink circulating apparatus including: (i) a plurality of liquid droplet ejecting elements, (ii) a common flow channel, and (iii) a common circulation channel, wherein the inkjet ink is supplied from the common flow channel to the plurality of liquid droplet ejecting elements, and circulates to the common circulation channel. The inkjet recording method gives a sharp and high-density printing, and is excellent in ejection stability.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting head capable of efficiently removing air bubbles while maintaining liquid circulation efficiency, and an image forming apparatus are provided. Plural supply-side common flow channels and circulation-side common flow channels are disposed alternately, and plural pressure-chambers that each communicates with the supply-side common flow channel via an ink supply channel are provided. The plural pressure-chambers each communicates with the circulation-side common flow channel via an ink circulation channel. A bypass flow channel, connecting the supply-side common flow channel and the circulation-side common flow channel disposed adjacent thereto, and flowing the ink from the supply-side common flow channel to the circulation-side common flow channel, is provided at an end portion at the most downstream side of the supply-side common flow channel.

Abstract: A liquid droplet jetting apparatus is provided. The liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes: a plurality of pressure chambers, in each of which is disposed a nozzle for jetting a liquid filling the pressure chambers; a common supply channel that is equipped with branching channels connected to each of the pressure chambers and which supplies the liquid to each of the pressure chambers from the branching channels such that the liquid fills each of the pressure chambers; and a pressure applying component that applies pressure to the liquid filling the pressure chambers to cause the liquid to be jetted from the nozzles such that a frequency of pressure waves propagating in the liquid inside the common supply channel when pressure has been applied to the liquid filling the pressure chambers does not become equal to a resonance frequency of the common supply channel.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink composition containing at least: a water-soluble organic solvent; a pigment; water; and a nonionic polymer thickener. The content of the water-soluble organic solvent is from 5 weight % to 30 weight % relative to the total amount of the ink composition. The ratio of Vhigh/Vlow, in which Vhigh represents 25° C. viscosity (mPa·s) measured at a shear rate of 1.5×105 (s?1) and Vlow represents 25° C. viscosity (mPa·s) measured at a shear rate of 3.0×103 (s?1), is from 0.70 to 0.95. The invention further provides an image formation method including at least ejecting the ink composition onto an image recording medium using an image formation apparatus to form an image on the image recording medium.

Abstract: An inkjet recording method recording on an inkjet recording medium having an ink receiving layer containing at least inorganic microparticles, a water-soluble resin and a crosslinking agent, by ejecting (1) an inkjet ink containing at least a dye, water and a water-soluble organic solvent, wherein 50% by weight or more of the water-soluble organic solvent is a solvent which gives a swelling ratio of 3% or less for the water-soluble resin crosslinked by the crosslinking agent, using (2) an image forming apparatus equipped with an ink circulating apparatus including: (i) a plurality of liquid droplet ejecting elements, (ii) a common flow channel, and (iii) a common circulation channel, wherein the inkjet ink is supplied from the common flow channel to the plurality of liquid droplet ejecting elements, and circulates to the common circulation channel. The inkjet recording method gives a sharp and high-density printing, and is excellent in ejection stability.

Abstract: The invention provides an image formation method including at least ejecting an ink composition onto an image recording medium using an image formation apparatus to form an image on the image recording medium. The ink composition contains at least water, a colorant, and one or more water-soluble organic solvents. The one or more water-soluble organic solvents contains at least a water-soluble organic solvent having a solubility parameter value of 27.5 or less at a content of 70% by mass or more with respect to the total content of the one or more water-soluble organic solvent. The image formation apparatus contains at least an ink circulation unit. The ink circulation unit supplies the ink composition to a plurality of droplet ejecting devices from a common flow path and circulating the ink composition through a common circulation path.