Abstract: A raw material supply apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a container configured to store a solution of a first solid raw material dissolved in a solvent or a dispersion system of the first solid raw material dispersed in a dispersion medium; a removal part configured to form a second solid raw material by removing the solvent or the dispersion medium from the solution or the dispersion system stored in the container; a detection part configured to detect a completion of a removal of the solvent or the dispersion medium from the solution or the dispersion system; and a heater configured to heat the second solid raw material.

Abstract: An article detection device includes: an image acquiring unit acquiring a surroundings image; a first information image preparing unit preparing a first information image by converting information on a load/unloading target portion of the article to an easily recognizable state based on the surroundings image; a first calculation unit calculating at least one of a position and a posture of the load/unloading target portion; a second information image preparing unit preparing a second information image by converting information on a pitch angle detection portion of the article to an easily recognizable state; and a second calculation unit configured extracting at least two edge candidates for the article extending in a specific direction and included in the second information image based on a calculation result from the first calculation unit and calculating a three-dimensional direction vector indicating a pitch angle of the article from the edge candidates.

Abstract: An aqueous metallic ink for a ball-point pen which is prevented from causing deterioration such as sedimentation of aluminum powder during the storage for a long period of time and which can be continuously used for writing. The ink comprises an aluminum powder, a natural polysaccharide or a dierivative thereof as a thickener, a water-soluble organic solvent and water, and has a viscosity of 100 to 1,500 P (ST rotor of E-type viscometer, 1 rpm, 25.degree. C. ) and a ratio of the viscosity at 1 rpm to that at 10 rpm of at least 3.0.