Abstract: A liquid composition includes an inorganic particle and a multivalent metal salt, wherein the liquid composition has a tacking force of 50 mN or less in an area of cast-coated paper where the liquid composition is applied in an amount of 0.12 mg/cm2 for the cast-coated paper followed by heating at 80 degrees C. for 15 seconds.

Abstract: An ink and processing liquid set contains a processing liquid to be applied to a recording medium, the processing liquid including a multivalent metal salt and an ink to be applied to an area of the recording medium where the processing liquid has been applied, the ink including a urethane resin, a styrene-acrylic resin, and a pigment, wherein the following relations are satisfied: 0.5?B/C?0.7, where B represents a static surface tension of the ink and C represents a static surface tension of the processing liquid; and 0.5?E/D?0.9, and 35 (mN/m)?E?55 (mN/m), where D represents a dynamic surface tension at 15 ms of the processing liquid and E represents a dynamic surface tension at 1500 ms of the processing liquid.

Abstract: A liquid composition includes an inorganic particle and a multivalent metal salt, wherein the liquid composition has a tacking force of 50 mN or less in an area of cast-coated paper where the liquid composition is applied in an amount of 0.12 mg/cm2 for the cast-coated paper followed by heating at 80 degrees C. for 15 seconds.

Abstract: A printing method includes applying a processing fluid to a recording medium and applying an ink to the recording medium, wherein the processing fluid contains a first nonionic resin including the following structure unit a-1, the first nonionic resin having a glass transition temperature of 15 degrees C.

Abstract: An ink and processing liquid set contains a processing liquid to be applied to a recording medium, the processing liquid comprising a multivalent metal salt and an ink to be applied to an area of the recording medium where the processing liquid has been applied, the ink comprising a urethane resin, a styrene-acrylic resin, and a pigment, wherein the following relations are satisfied: 0.5?B/C?0.7, where B represents a static surface tension of the ink and C represents a static surface tension of the processing liquid; and 0.5?E/D?0.9, and 35 (mN/m)?E?55 (mN/m), where D represents a dynamic surface tension at 15 ms of the processing liquid and E represents a dynamic surface tension at 1500 ms of the processing liquid.

Abstract: A printing method includes applying a processing fluid to a recording medium and applying an ink to the recording medium, wherein the processing fluid contains a first nonionic resin including the following structure unit a-1, the first nonionic resin having a glass transition temperature of 15 degrees C.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, including: a pretreatment unit configured to bring a surface of a recording medium into contact with plasma; and an image forming unit configured to eject an ink onto the recording medium to thereby form an image; wherein the ink contains a pigment, water, a water-soluble organic solvent, and resin particles, wherein the water-soluble organic solvent is an amide compound having an inorganic/organic value (I/O value) of 1.1 to 2.0, and wherein the resin particles are ether-based polyurethane resin particles and have an acid group amount of 2.0 meq/g or more.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, including: a pretreatment unit configured to bring a surface of a recording medium into contact with plasma; and an image forming unit configured to eject an ink onto the recording medium to thereby form an image; wherein the ink contains a pigment, water, a water-soluble organic solvent, and resin particles, wherein the water-soluble organic solvent is an amide compound having an inorganic/organic value (I/O value) of 1.1 to 2.0, and wherein the resin particles are ether-based polyurethane resin particles and have an acid group amount of 2.0 meq/g or more.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inkjet ink which is excellent in image quality and high-speed printing on plain paper, in storage stability and in ejection stability and gives less load on a maintenance device for an inkjet recording apparatus; and an ink cartridge, an inkjet recording apparatus, and an inkjet recording method, using the inkjet ink. An inkjet ink containing a water dispersion of pigment-containing water-insoluble vinyl polymer particles; a water-soluble organic solvent; and water, wherein an ink residue from the inkjet ink has a viscosity of 3,000 mPa·s or less, the ink residue is obtained by leaving the inkjet ink to stand at a temperature of 25° C. and a humidity of 15% until substantially no mass change occurs, and wherein the inkjet ink, pH of which is adjusted to 7 with an acid, has a viscosity of 500 mPa·s or more.

Abstract: An ink-jet O/W emulsion ink of the present invention includes an aqueous continuous phase (a), and a nonaqueous discontinuous phase (b), wherein the aqueous continuous phase (a) includes water, at least one pigment and at least one ionic or nonionic surfactant, and the nonaqueous discontinuous phase (b) includes at least one water-insoluble organic material having a hydroxyl group.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a head unit configured to include line-type recording heads for ejecting ink droplets, a transport mechanism disposed facing the recording head and configured to transport a sheet, a maintain-recovery mechanism disposed downstream from the transport mechanism in a direction in which the sheet is transported and configured to maintain and recover the line type recording heads, and a head drive mechanism configured to move the head unit between a position facing the transport mechanism and a position facing the maintain-recovery mechanism in the direction in which the sheet is transported.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inkjet ink which is excellent in image quality and high-speed printing on plain paper, in storage stability and in ejection stability and gives less load on a maintenance device for an inkjet recording apparatus; and an ink cartridge, an inkjet recording apparatus, and an inkjet recording method, using the inkjet ink. An inkjet ink containing a water dispersion of pigment-containing water-insoluble vinyl polymer particles; a water-soluble organic solvent; and water, wherein an ink residue from the inkjet ink has a viscosity of 3,000 mPa·s or less, the ink residue is obtained by leaving the inkjet ink to stand at a temperature of 25° C. and a humidity of 15% until substantially no mass change occurs, and wherein the inkjet ink, pH of which is adjusted to 7 with an acid, has a viscosity of 500 mPa·s or more.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a head unit configured to include line-type recording heads for ejecting ink droplets, a transport mechanism disposed facing the recording head and configured to transport a sheet, a maintain-recovery mechanism disposed downstream from the transport mechanism in a direction in which the sheet is transported and configured to maintain and recover the line type recording heads, and a head drive mechanism configured to move the head unit between a position facing the transport mechanism and a position facing the maintain-recovery mechanism in the direction in which the sheet is transported.

Abstract: An ink-jet O/W emulsion ink of the present invention includes an aqueous continuous phase (a), and a nonaqueous discontinuous phase (b), wherein the aqueous continuous phase (a) includes water, at least one pigment and at least one ionic or nonionic surfactant, and the nonaqueous discontinuous phase (b) includes at least one water-insoluble organic material having a hydroxyl group.

Abstract: A water-in-oil type emulsion ink composed of 10-90% by weight of an oil phase and 90-10% by weight of an aqueous phase. The oil phase contains a petroleum solvent having a kinematic viscosity of greater than 6-10 mm.sup.2 /s at 40.degree. C. and such a carbon content distribution that a naphthenic carbon content C.sub.N is at least 34%, an aromatic carbon content C.sub.A is 2-20% and a paraffinic carbon content CP is less than 55%.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for use with, for example, a stencil printer and storing viscous ink therein is disclosed. The cartridge is free from damage and deformation during storage or transport in various kinds of atmospheres. Particularly, an ink outlet included in the cartridge is prevented from tilting. The cartridge can, therefore, be surely and accurately mounted to an apparatus. The ink outlet is protected from damage even when the cartridge is let fall by accident.