Abstract: To provide a container supply device which is capable of improving accommodation efficiency of containers and simplifying accommodation work. The container supply device includes: a transfer mechanism which transfers the containers a feed position opposing a feed port of the containers of the container storage; and a feed mechanism which sequentially feeds the containers having been transferred to the feed position by the transfer mechanism toward the supply position through the feed port, wherein the transfer mechanism includes: one or more container mounting lane unit in which the containers are arranged so as to be movable in a column direction, the container mounting lane unit being arranged so as to be lined up in a row direction intersecting the column direction; and a lane transfer unit which moves the container mounting lane unit in the row direction and transfers the containers on a side of the feed port mounted on the container mounting lane unit to the feed position.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a water purification apparatus and a method thereof utilizing an elongated closed water channel, and having increased purification efficiency and facilitated maintenance. The filtration apparatus 1A is provided with: a plurality of tube bodies arranged in parallel with their longitudinal directions directed in the vertical directions; and communication parts adapted to connect adjacent pairs of the tube bodies, thereby forming a water channel. The communication parts connect the tube bodies arranged in parallel alternately on upper and lower sides of the tube bodies. The tube bodies constitute the biofiltration part by aerobic bacteria, and the tube body constitutes the biofiltration part by anaerobic bacteria. The communication part is equipped with a control valve adapted to arbitrarily control a flow rate of water to be purified flowing into the tube body.

Abstract: A splash suppressing device for a water tank is provided with a housing mounted inside a water tank, having a cavity therein, having an opening in a portion of the bottom side thereof which is submerged under water in the water tank, and having a closed upper side; a fixing member for fixing the housing to the inner wall of the water tank; an air stone mounted in the cavity of the housing; a connecting section provided to a part of the housing and connected to an air tube from an external air pump; and an air introducing path for interconnecting the connecting section and the air stone to allow flow of gas. The air introducing path can be easily replaced.

Abstract: A method for purifying water including nitrification by aerobic bacteria and denitrification by anaerobic bacteria in an apparatus by providing an elongated, closed water channel.

Abstract: A method for purifying water including nitrification by aerobic bacteria and denitrification by anaerobic bacteria in an apparatus by providing an elongated, closed water channel.

Abstract: A filtration device for tank water for aquarium fish having several partitions dividing the casing into several filtration chambers. A removable filtration cartridge is inserted into each filtration chamber. The cartridge has top and bottom panels with perforations formed in the panels to allow water to flow through the cartridge. The partitions are arranged in an alternating pattern. One partition has an opening near the bottom of the casing, and the partition extends to the top of the casing. The next partition does not have an opening near the bottom of the casing and the partition does not reach the top of the casing. This arrangement allows water to flow through the filtration device in a zigzag pattern. The removable cartridges allow individual filter mediums to be replaced without removing all the beneficial bacteria from the system.

Abstract: The surface of a blank for a textured amorphous carbon substrate is polished in a surface with a predetermined surface roughness, and then the blank with a polished surface is heated at a predetermined temperature in an oxidizing atmosphere to form minute irregularities in the polished surface through a reaction expressed by C+O.sub.2 =CO.sub.2 so that the surface is textured in an appropriate surface roughness. A randomly textured amorphous carbon substrate has a randomly textured surface with a surface roughness Ra in the range of 20 to 100 .ANG. and the ratio Ra.sub.2 /Ra.sub.1, where Ra.sub.1 is the surface roughness with respect to a circumferential direction, and Ra.sub.2 is the surface roughness with respect to a radial direction, in the range of 0.75 to 1.25 .ANG.. A concentrically textured amorphous carbon substrate has a concentrically textured surface with a surface roughness Ra in the range of 30 to 100 .ANG. or in the range of 40 to 200 .ANG., and the ratio Ra.sub.2 /Ra.sub.1 of 1.75 or greater.

Abstract: A chromic acid solution can advantageously be recovered from the waste water by a process which comprises passing the waste water successively through an anion-exchange column system consisting of two or more serially interconnected anion-exchange resin columns each packed with an anion-exchange resin thereby deionizing the waste water, and, in the course of this deionization treatment, column backwashing the first anion-exchange resin when the anion-exchange capacity thereof has fallen to the point where the influent to and the effluent from the first anion-exchange resin column have become substantially equal in terms of chromate ion content. In the course of the regeneration treatment, the waste water is diverted to enter the anion-exchange column system through the second anion-exchange resin column. After the regeneration treatment has been completed, the first anion-exchange resin column is put back into service in the anion-exchange system so as to serve as the last stage.