Abstract: A recovery method for recovering mineral resources from a hydrothermal fluid reservoir present beneath the ocean floor includes the steps of: (A) providing a hydrothermal fluid well by drilling a hole reaching a hydrothermal fluid reservoir from an ocean floor surface via a guide base on the ocean floor surface, and then installing a casing in the drilled hole via the guide base; (B) precipitating minerals on a mineral-culturing device by installing the mineral-culturing device on the base guide so as to cover a well head of the hydrothermal fluid well, and bringing hot water ejecting from the well head into contact with sea water on the mineral-culturing device; and (C) recovering minerals precipitated on the mineral-culturing device together with the mineral-culturing device.

Abstract: The invention is a recovery method for recovering mineral resources from a hydrothermal fluid reservoir present beneath the ocean floor, the recovery method including the steps of: (A) providing a hydrothermal fluid well by drilling a hole reaching a hydrothermal fluid reservoir from an ocean floor surface via a guide base on the ocean floor surface, and then installing a casing in the drilled hole via the guide base; (B) precipitating minerals on the mineral-culturing device by installing a mineral-culturing device on the base guide so as to cover a well head of the hydrothermal fluid well, and bringing hot water ejecting from the well head into contact with sea water on the mineral-culturing device; and (C) recovering minerals precipitated on the mineral-culturing device together with the mineral-culturing device.

Abstract: A shroud supporting structure is provided which includes a shroud 5 which has a rectangular shape and whose opening is oriented in the front and rear directions of an automobile, in which: to front-end parts 3 of a pair of front side-frames 2 which is disposed on both right and left sides, first height portions A, B in both side parts 5c, 5d of the shroud 5 which correspond to the front-end parts 3 are attached; and protrusion portions 5f, 5g which protrude sideward in second height portions C, D that are located above the first height portions A, B in both side parts 5c, 5d are attached to brackets 6, 7 which protrude upward from the front-end parts 3 of the front side-frames 2.

Abstract: A full-color electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention is configured such that a toner image is formed on an intermediate transfer member. The intermediate transfer member is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the softening start temperature of resin contained in a liquid toner and equal to or lower than the withstand temperature of a photoconductor member. A carrier-removing roller to which bias can be applied abuts the intermediate transfer member so as to remove a carrier while packing softened toner by the force of an electric field induced by bias. In a transfer section for transfer to a printing medium, a backup roller presses the printing medium against the intermediate transfer member, and the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the printing medium. Before being pressed against the toner image on the intermediate transfer member, the printing medium is heated.

Abstract: A shroud supporting structure is provided which includes a shroud 5 which has a rectangular shape and whose opening is oriented in the front and rear directions of an automobile, in which: to front-end parts 3 of a pair of front side-frames 2 which is disposed on both right and left sides, first height portions A, B in both side parts 5c, 5d of the shroud 5 which correspond to the front-end parts 3 are attached; and protrusion portions 5f, 5g which protrude sideward in second height portions C, D that are located above the first height portions A, B in both side parts 5c, 5d are attached to brackets 6, 7 which protrude upward from the front-end parts 3 of the front side-frames 2.

Abstract: An electrode module in the form of a flexible sheet which contacts with a toner layer and to which a bias voltage is applied is provided on a developing roller before development. The electrode module is adapted to separate the toner layer largely into a toner-rich layer and a carrier-rich layer by utilizing electrical migration occurring in the toner layer when an electric field is applied to the toner layer on the basis of the bias voltage. The electrode module is constructed in such a manner that the sheet is pulled toward a surface of the developer bearer body by a force attributable to surface tension or wetting characteristic of the liquid developer existing between the sheet and the developer carrying body, whereby the sheet comes into contact with the surface of the developer bearer body. This electrode construction increases the contact area or nip width of a bias blade provided for the developing roller and enhances its contact stability.

Abstract: A full-color electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention is configured such that a toner image is formed on an intermediate transfer member. The intermediate transfer member is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the softening start temperature of resin contained in a liquid toner and equal to or lower than the withstand temperature of a photoconductor member. A carrier-removing roller to which bias can be applied abuts the intermediate transfer member so as to remove a carrier while packing softened toner by the force of an electric field induced by bias. In a transfer section for transfer to a printing medium, a backup roller presses the printing medium against the intermediate transfer member, and the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the printing medium. Before being pressed against the toner image on the intermediate transfer member, the printing medium is heated.

Abstract: An electrode module in the form of a flexible sheet which contacts with a toner layer and to which a bias voltage is applied is provided on a developing roller before development. The electrode module is adapted to separate the toner layer largely into a toner-rich layer and a carrier-rich layer by utilizing electrical migration occurring in the toner layer when an electric field is applied to the toner layer on the basis of the bias voltage. The electrode module is constructed in such a manner that the sheet is pulled toward a surface of the developer bearer body by a force attributable to surface tension or wetting characteristic of the liquid developer existing between the sheet and the developer carrying body, whereby the sheet comes into contact with the surface of the developer bearer body. This electrode construction increases the contact area or nip width of a bias blade provided for the developing roller and enhances its contact stability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner recycling control system which stably feeds a liquid developer of an appropriate concentration to a liquid developing apparatus employing a high-viscosity liquid developer; appropriately adjusts the concentration of residual developer collected after development and after transfer; and feeds the adjusted developer to the developing apparatus. The toner recycling control system collects a post-development residual developer from a developer-bearing body and a post-transfer residual developer from an image-bearing body; performs developer concentration adjustment to yield an adjusted developer; and feeds the adjusted developer back to the developer-bearing body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner recycling control system which stably feeds a liquid developer of an appropriate concentration to a liquid developing apparatus employing a high-viscosity liquid developer; appropriately adjusts the concentration of residual developer collected after development and after transfer; and feeds the adjusted developer to the developing apparatus. The toner recycling control system collects a post-development residual developer from a developer-bearing body and a post-transfer residual developer from an image-bearing body; performs developer concentration adjustment to yield an adjusted developer; and feeds the adjusted developer back to the developer-bearing body.

Abstract: Provided are an applicator roller for conveying and applying liquid toner onto a developing roller in the form of a level, thin layer, and a conductive blade which comes into contact with a liquid toner layer on the developing roller. A predetermined amount of liquid toner passes through a gap between the conductive blade and the developer roller; and voltage is applied to the conductive blade so as to establish a state such that toner particles contained in the liquid toner are sparsely scattered in a surface region of a level, thin toner layer on the developing roller. Subsequently, the liquid toner, whose surface region is in a state such that toner particles are sparsely scattered, is brought into contact with an image bearer body for performing development.

Abstract: Provided are an applicator roller for conveying and applying liquid toner onto a developing roller in the form of a level, thin layer, and a conductive blade which comes into contact with a liquid toner layer on the developing roller. A predetermined amount of liquid toner passes through a gap between the conductive blade and the developer roller; and voltage is applied to the conductive blade so as to establish a state such that toner particles contained in the liquid toner are sparsely scattered in a surface region of a level, thin toner layer on the developing roller. Subsequently, the liquid toner, whose surface region is in a state such that toner particles are sparsely scattered, is brought into contact with an image bearer body for performing development.