Abstract: A fusion splicer includes: a heater that heats a glass of an optical fiber; a pair of clamps that clamp a coated part of the optical fiber, wherein the pair of clamps is constituted by: a lower clamp on which a coated part of the optical fiber is disposed; and a coated part clamp that presses the coated part of the optical fiber against the lower clamp; a windproof cover that covers the heater and the coated part clamp; a retreat mechanism that causes the coated part clamp to retreat from the lower clamp; an opening/closing mechanism that opens and closes the windproof cover; and a pair of glass clamps attached to an inner surface of the windproof cover.

Abstract: The invention provides a suction holding apparatus and a suction holding method that allow suction-holding a substrate reliably irrespective of substrate type, with a simple and inexpensive structure. The suction holding apparatus comprises a suction plate (2) having a suction surface (21); a lifting mechanism for changing the relative position of a glass substrate (P1) and the suction plate (2); a. temperature changing section (5) for changing the temperature of the suction surface (21); and a control device (100) for controlling the temperature changing section (5) so as to cause dew condensation on the suction surface (21) when the glass substrate (P1) is suctioned onto the suction surface (21). The suction surface (21) is cooled to a temperature at or below the dew point temperature, whereupon the glass substrate (P1) is suctioned by way of condensed water, and is bonded to a counter substrate (P2).

Abstract: A method of purifying the raw brine used in the elecrolysis of the aqueous NaCl or KCl solution by removing the Mg and Ca ions from said brine, which comprises contacting said brine with a member selected from the group consisting of(a) the chelate-forming water-insoluble resins capable of forming an intramolecular complex with the Mg and Ca ions, said resins being selected from the class consisting of the styrene-butadiene copolymer resins containing the group >N--CH.sub.2 COOH, the epichlorohydrin polymer resins containing the group >N--CH.sub.2 COOH, the N-phenyl glycine-glycidyl methacrylate copolymer resins containing the group >N--CH.sub.2 COCH and the styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer resins containing the group >N--CH.sub.2 COOH; and(b) the water-insoluble adsorbent solids adsorptively supporting a chelate-forming compound selected from the group consisting of the aminoacetic acids containing at least one >N--CH.sub.

Abstract: A method of purifying the raw brine used in the electrolysis of the aqueous NaCl or KCl solution by removing the Mg and Ca ions from said brine, which comprises contacting said brine with a member selected from the group consisting ofA. the chelate-forming water-insoluble resins capable of forming an intramolecular complex with the Mg and Ca ions said resins being selected from the class consisting of the styrene-butadiene copolymer resins containing the group .ltoreq.N--CH.sub.2 COOH, the epichlorohydrin polymer resins containing the group >N--CH.sub.2 COOH, the N-phenyl glycine-glycidyl methacrylate copolymer resins containing the group >N--CH.sub.2 COOH and the styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer resins containing the group >N--CH.sub.2 COOH; andB. the water-insoluble adsorbent solids adsorptively supporting a chelate-forming compound selected from the group consisting of the aminoacetic acids containing at least one >N--CH.sub.