Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for decomposing, in the presence of subcritical water, a thermosetting resin comprising a polyester moiety and a crosslinking moiety therewith to provide a compound comprising an acid residue derived from the polyester moiety and a residue derived from the crosslinking moiety, and collecting the compound in an efficient yield, specifically, which comprises steps of: (I) decomposing the thermosetting resin in the presence of subcritical water to provide a solid comprising a compound comprising an acid residue derived from the polyester moiety and a residue derived from the crosslinking moiety, (II) subjecting the solid to an organic solvent to dissolve the compound into the organic solvent, wherein the organic solvent has a higher solubility which can dissolve the compound than that of water, and (III) collecting, separating or isolating the compound from the organic solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for decomposing, in the presence of subcritical water, a thermosetting resin comprising a polyester moiety and a crosslinking moiety therewith to provide a compound comprising an acid residue derived from the polyester moiety and a residue derived from the crosslinking moiety, and collecting the compound in an efficient yield, specifically, which comprises steps of: (I) decomposing the thermosetting resin in the presence of subcritical water to provide a solid comprising a compound comprising an acid residue derived from the polyester moiety and a residue derived from the crosslinking moiety, (II) subjecting the solid to an organic solvent to dissolve the compound into the organic solvent, wherein the organic solvent has a higher solubility which can dissolve the compound than that of water, and (III) collecting, separating or isolating the compound from the organic solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for decomposing a polymer into a monomer or oligomer by hydrolysis with sub- or supercritical water. The process of the present invention is characterized in that at least a part of the polymer is a polymer comprising a constitutional unit derived from an organic acid in the molecular structure, and the polymer being contacted with sub- or supercritical water in the presence of a water-insoluble base.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for decomposing a plastic so as to recycle useful substances therefrom as raw materials for a similar plastic. In particular, the present invention provides a method for decomposing a plastic, comprising the step of treating a thermosetting resin comprising a polyester and its crosslinking moiety, with subcritical water of a temperature lower than the thermal decomposition temperature of the thermosetting resin. According to the present invention, the thermosetting resin can be decomposed into a polyhydric alcohol, a polybasic acid and a compound comprising an acid residue derived from the polyester and a residue derived from the crosslinking moiety, without causing a random decomposition of the thermosetting resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for decomposing a plastic so as to recycle useful substances therefrom as raw materials for a similar plastic. In particular, the present invention provides a method for decomposing a plastic, comprising the step of treating a thermosetting resin comprising a polyester and its crosslinking moiety, with subcritical water of a temperature lower than the thermal decomposition temperature of the thermosetting resin. According to the present invention, the thermosetting resin can be decomposed into a polyhydric alcohol, a polybasic acid and a compound comprising an acid residue derived from the polyester and a residue derived from the crosslinking moiety, without causing a random decomposition of the thermosetting resin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for decomposing a polymer into a monomer or oligomer by hydrolysis with sub- or supercritical water. The process of the present invention is characterized in that at least a part of the polymer is a polymer comprising a constitutional unit derived from an organic acid in the molecular structure, and the polymer being contacted with sub- or supercritical water in the presence of a water-insoluble base.

Abstract: An overload protection apparatus for a small-sized tripod head which is capable of protecting the driving portion when overload is applied thereto without the need for a mechanical apparatus such as a slip mechanism and the like. Motors drive two driving shafts which are orthogonal to each other. Position sensors detect the rotating positions of the two driving shafts. When displacement of the driving shafts is not detected by the position sensors although a driving command signal is output by a microcomputer, it is judged that overload is applied to the motors and the motors are forcibly stopped. When the motors are forcibly stopped, the gears are reversed by a predetermined amount. When the gears are reversed, the backlash of the gear is corrected. Driving members are stored in the main chassis and a controller is stored in a storage portion which is formed by a sub-chassis outside of the main chassis.

Abstract: In automatic focusing apparatus of a video camera, any of the entire area, the central area and the midmost area of a picture is selected as an in-focus target area, so that an automatic focusing operation is performed in accordance with a focus evaluating value of the in-focus target area. When the entire area of the picture is selected as the in-focus target area, a focus evaluating value of the central area of the picture is simultaneously evaluated. When the automatic focusing operation starts, the entire area of the picture is selected as the in-focus target area, and if the focus evaluating value of the central area becomes higher than a predetermined value, the in-focus target area is switched to the central area of the picture. When the midmost area of the picture is manually set as the in-focus target area, the midmost area is selected with priority as the in-focus target area.

Abstract: In an automatic focusing apparatus of a video camera, a first focus evaluating value which steeply changes and a second focus evaluating value which gently changes relative to the position of a lens, are detected in response to a video signal obtained in an image sensing circuit (4). A switching circuit (19) alternately selects the first and second focus evaluating values every one field to apply the same to in-focus state detecting circuits (20, 21), respectively. The in-focus state detecting circuits (20, 21), together with a focusing motor control circuit (10), perform an automatic focusing operation by hill-climbing control. In addition, a calculating circuit (22) calculates the relative ratio of the first focus evaluating value to the second focus evaluating value.