Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus determines the timing of executing discharge recovery processing based on the discharge amount of ink for each predetermined region discharged from a recording head, and controls the discharge recovery processing to be executed at the determined timing. Thereby, the discharge performance of the ink can be kept to be good, and the discharge recovery processing can be executed at the suitable timing without producing any deterioration of the image quality of a recorded image, and with the deterioration of throughput reduced.

Abstract: This invention prevents a possible color mixing, that may occur more than a predetermined time after the wiping operation, by executing a pre-printing cleaning ejection while at the same time minimizing the amount of waste ink produced by the cleaning ejection. To this end, if a color mixing is determined as being likely to occur an elapsed time after the previous wiping operation, the pre-printing cleaning ejection uses a second ink volume U, which represents both the color mixing elimination ink volume and the ejection failure elimination ink volume. If it is decided that there is no likelihood of the color mixing occurring the elapsed time after the wiping operation, the pre-printing cleaning ejection uses the first ink volume D which represents only the ejection failure elimination ink volume.

Abstract: In an inkjet apparatus using an inkjet head ejecting multiple types of inks different in viscosity after evaporation of solvent, a replacement timing for a component is judged by using a consumption amount of each type of ink and a generation rate in amount of ink droplets. Accordingly, in the case of using a large amount of ink strongly susceptible to fixed adhesion and increase in viscosity, the component is replaced at an earlier timing, which prevents fixed adhesion from influencing the print performance and the printing apparatus main body. By contrast, in the case of using a large amount of ink less susceptible to fixed adhesion and increase in viscosity, the component is replaced at a later timing and thus can be used until reaching its lifetime.

Abstract: In an inkjet apparatus capable of ejecting an ink and a treatment liquid for insolubilizing or coagulating a color material in the ink, a replacement timing for a component of the apparatus is judged based on both the consumption amounts of the ink and treatment liquid measured when the two are consumed together and the consumption amount of the ink measured when the ink is consumed alone. Thus, the component is replaced at an earlier timing when the influence of fixed adhesion is great due to frequent ejection of both of the ink and treatment liquid, which prevents fixed adhesion from influencing the print performance and the printing apparatus main body. By contrast, when the fixed adhesion slowly develops because of less-frequent ejection of both of the ink and treatment liquid, the component is replaced at a later timing and thus can be used until reaching its lifetime.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus determines the timing of executing discharge recovery processing based on the discharge amount of ink for each predetermined region discharged from a recording head, and controls the discharge recovery processing to be executed at the determined timing. Thereby, the discharge performance of the ink can be kept to be good, and the discharge recovery processing can be executed at the suitable timing without producing any deterioration of the image quality of a recorded image, and with the deterioration of throughput reduced.

Abstract: This invention prevents a possible color mixing, that may occur more than a predetermined time after the wiping operation, by executing a pre-printing cleaning ejection while at the same time minimizing the amount of waste ink produced by the cleaning ejection. To this end, if a color mixing is determined as being likely to occur an elapsed time after the previous wiping operation, the pre-printing cleaning ejection uses a second ink volume U, which represents both the color mixing elimination ink volume and the ejection failure elimination ink volume. If it is decided that there is no likelihood of the color mixing occurring the elapsed time after the wiping operation, the pre-printing cleaning ejection uses the first ink volume D which represents only the ejection failure elimination ink volume.

Abstract: In an inkjet apparatus capable of ejecting an ink and a treatment liquid for insolubilizing or coagulating a color material in the ink, a replacement timing for a component of the apparatus is judged based on both the consumption amounts of the ink and treatment liquid measured when the two are consumed together and the consumption amount of the ink measured when the ink is consumed alone. Thus, the component is replaced at an earlier timing when the influence of fixed adhesion is great due to frequent ejection of both of the ink and treatment liquid, which prevents fixed adhesion from influencing the print performance and the printing apparatus main body. By contrast, when the fixed adhesion slowly develops because of less-frequent ejection of both of the ink and treatment liquid, the component is replaced at a later timing and thus can be used until reaching its lifetime.

Abstract: In an inkjet apparatus using an inkjet head ejecting multiple types of inks different in viscosity after evaporation of solvent, a replacement timing for a component is judged by using a consumption amount of each type of ink and a generation rate in amount of ink droplets. Accordingly, in the case of using a large amount of ink strongly susceptible to fixed adhesion and increase in viscosity, the component is replaced at an earlier timing, which prevents fixed adhesion from influencing the print performance and the printing apparatus main body. By contrast, in the case of using a large amount of ink less susceptible to fixed adhesion and increase in viscosity, the component is replaced at a later timing and thus can be used until reaching its lifetime.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus determines the timing of executing discharge recovery processing based on the discharge amount of ink for each predetermined region discharged from a recording head, and controls the discharge recovery processing to be executed at the determined timing. Thereby, the discharge performance of the ink can be kept to be good, and the discharge recovery processing can be executed at the suitable timing without producing any deterioration of the image quality of a recorded image, and with the deterioration of throughput reduced.

Abstract: Before starting printing and/or after finishing printing, a preliminary ejection of ink is performed for a cap, which covers a recording head, until the cap is almost filled (S17, S23, S38). Then, a sucking operation (S18, S24, S39) is performed to suck ink stored in the cap. Alternatively, based on a predetermined criterion such as the accumulated number of printed dots, the number of printed pages, or a print time (S71, S72), a first print operation (S73), which preliminarily ejects a predetermined amount of ink at least before starting printing or after printing, and a second print operation (S74), which preliminarily ejects more ink than the predetermined amount at least before starting printing or after printing, are alternately performed. This prevents ink from adhering to a restoring system of an ink-jet recorder and allows the sucking operation and the preliminary ejection operation to be performed smoothly.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink-jet recording apparatus capable of automatically adjusting the feed of a recording medium without troubling a user. Such an ink-jet recording apparatus is provided with a means for forming at least two adjustment charts for one band by means of at least one nozzle disposed at both end portions of a print head, a nozzle width detecting means for detecting the nozzle width of the print head on the basis of information of two adjustment charts in the same band printed by both end portions, a feed detecting means for detecting an actual feed of the recording medium on the basis of information of adjustment charts printed in adjacent bands by either one end portion out of both end portions, and a compensating means for performing a compensation for a predetermined feed for one band of the recording medium on the basis of the detected nozzle width and the actual feed.

Abstract: A process for producing a carbon fiber reinforced carbon composite material, comprising dispersing a short fibrous bundle of carbon fibers which comprises a plurality of single fibers, preparing a sheet in which fibers are in the two-dimensional random orientation, impregnating with a resin or pitch, laminating and molding, and then applying a baking and densifying treatment, a dispersion degree of the bundle of carbon fibers being controlled based on the formula (1) expressing correlation between the dispersion degree of the bundle of carbon fibers and the mechanical strength of the carbon fiber reinforced composite material:Dispersion degree=A-B.times.coefficient of friction (1)wherein A and B are constants determined experimentally, to produce a carbon fiber reinforced carbon composite material having desired mechanical characteristic.

Abstract: A method of resetting an anode spike in a vertical type Soderberg electrolytic furnace for aluminum, comprising inserting at least one paste block prepared by molding packing paste into a configuration conforming to that of the top end of a spike in the spike pit formed after pulling out the spike, and setting the spike again.

Abstract: An anode paste for use in Soderberg-type electrolytic furnace for aluminum is disclosed, the paste comprising an aggregate and a binder, wherein the aggregate contains 20 to 35% by weight of a coke of a diameter of smaller than 0.08 mm and the weight ratio of the particles thereof of size of 0.2 to 2 mm to those of size of smaller than 0.08 mm is 0.5 to 1.3.