US Patent 7585065 Ink-jet recording apparatus

One embodiment of the invention relates to an ink-jet recording apparatus comprising an ink-jet head with an ink passage having an inner volume and a preservative in the ink passage in a preservative residual ratio of no greater than 10%. Another embodiment of the invention relates to a preservative having water, a penetrant, and a humectant. A further embodiment of the invention relates to a processing method involving filling an inner volume of an ink passage in an ink-jet recording apparatus with a preservative and removing a portion of the preservative from the inner volume such that a preservative residual ratio is no greater than 10%.