Abstract: Impurities containing a pungent taste component are removed from a hot red pepper oleoresin as a starting material therefrom by a supercritical gas extraction method using a carbon dioxide as an extracting reagent, and the extraction residue is used as a red coloring matter. Even when the hot red pepper is used as the raw material, the invention can provide a natural red coloring matter evaluated as having "no pungent taste" by an organoleptic test. When the natural red coloring matter is prepared from the hot red pepper as the raw material by the supercritical gas extraction method, the invention can drastically reduce the gas pressure of the extracting reagent in comparison with the prior art.

Abstract: A boundary of leads of an integrated circuit component shown by binary picture elements on a recognition plane of an image display means is detected by a conventional boundary detecting method, and respective corners of the leads are detected on the basis of variation of an angle between a predetermined axis and a line connecting two picture elements having a predetermined distance from each other on the boundary. Moreover, a shape of the lead is recognized on the basis of the shapes of the corners. Subsequently, a search zone containing a tip portion of one lead is set by referring the midpoint of the tip of the lead, and is scanned by horizonal scanning lines and vertical scanning lines. Then segments of both the scanning lines overlapping on the tip portion are obtained, and a protruding direction of the lead is detected referring to a segment touching on a boundary of a search zone. Furthermore, a midpoint of the tip is calculated from coordinate values of plural segments crossing the tip portion.

Abstract: A tape structure provided with electronic components includes a base tape having a width and an attachment tape having a width which is approximately half the width of the base tape. The attachment tape extends parallel to and along a first half side of the base tape, the base tape and the attachment tape being bonded together so as to support the terminal legs of the electronic components between the base tape and the attachment tape. Projections are provided on a second half side of the base tape. When the tape structure is cut into segments, and held between a pallet and pressing arms, the projections prevent each segment from being turned while the segment is held between the pallet and the pressing arms.

Abstract: An assembly suitable for mounting an electronic circuit element, such as a moisture detecting element, comprises a base member having apertures therein, and a supporting member having hooked projections passing through the apertures fastening the electronic circuit element to the base member. The supporting member from which the hooked projections project is positioned under the base member. Additional projections may be provided which pass through second apertures to prevent the circuit element from being moved. The additional projections extend from the supporting member. The base member may be a part of a moisture-sensed sample.