Abstract: An ECU includes: an engine control unit that controls devices provided for an engine on the basis of a target engine rotational speed; and an engine model that calculates the target engine rotational speed such that the target engine rotational speed varies in accordance with a target engine torque and an actual engine rotational speed in a steady state, and that calculates the target engine rotational speed such that the target engine rotational speed varies in accordance with the target engine torque independently of the actual engine rotational speed in a transient state in which the engine is unstable as compared with the steady state. When the engine is controlled by the thus configured ECU, the control accuracy is improved.

Abstract: A shift output torque control unit executes a shift output torque control to control an engine torque so as to reduce a driving force difference, which is a variation width of a driving force due to downshift of an automatic transmission. Thus, in comparison with the case in which the shift output torque control is not executed, it is possible to smooth a variation in driving force associated with the downshift. As a result, occupants' comfort and controllability to driving operation may be improved.

Abstract: One end of a sheet guiding member on a transfer nip side is located on a straight line connecting an exit of a registration nip formed between a pair of registration rollers and an entrance of the transfer nip or on an opposite side of an intermediate transfer belt across the straight line and on one side of a triangle formed by connecting rotation centers of the transfer member, the transfer roller, and the transfer guide roller or inside the triangle.

Abstract: First target torque of an engine is set based on a driver's operation, a vehicle behavior, and a request for shifting gears of an automatic transmission. The engine is controlled such that the difference between the first target torque and the actual output torque of the engine is reduced. Detection torque is calculated from an operation state of the engine. In consideration of dead time in control of the engine, calculation torque is calculated from the first target torque. In addition, first lookahead torque with the dead time in the engine being removed is calculated by feedback-correcting the first target torque according to an error e between the detection torque and the calculation torque.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for transporting a recording medium on which an image is formed includes a guide plate. The guide plate guides the recording medium to a predetermined position in the image forming apparatus and includes a flexible sheet member and a rigid holding member. The rigid holding member holds the flexible sheet member such that the flexible sheet member projects from a front end of the rigid holding member. The projecting portion of the flexible sheet member includes at least three flexible sub-portions having a different bend-stiffness per unit area from each other, and the bend-stiffness per unit area is reduced toward a downstream side in a sheet guide direction.

Abstract: Static demand engine torque set in a static torque setter is converted into dynamic demand engine torque in a converter using an engine model C (s) represented by a first-order lag function. A time constant T of engine model C (s) is calculated by a time constant calculator. The time constant calculator calculates time constant T in accordance with the static demand engine torque set in the static torque setter and dynamic demand engine torque set in a dynamic torque setter. The dynamic demand engine torque set in the dynamic torque setter is added to the dynamic demand engine torque converted from the static demand engine torque in the converter.

Abstract: Static demand engine torque is converted into dynamic demand engine torque. The dynamic demand engine torque converted from the static demand engine torque is accommodated in relation to the dynamic demand engine torque set in another system. Static demand drive force is converted into dynamic demand drive force. The dynamic demand drive force converted from the static demand drive force is accommodated in relation to the dynamic demand drive force set in another system.

Abstract: An ECU includes: an engine control unit that controls devices provided for an engine on the basis of a target engine rotational speed; and an engine model that calculates the target engine rotational speed such that the target engine rotational speed varies in accordance with a target engine torque and an actual engine rotational speed in a steady state, and that calculates the target engine rotational speed such that the target engine rotational speed varies in accordance with the target engine torque independently of the actual engine rotational speed in a transient state in which the engine is unstable as compared with the steady state. When the engine is controlled by the thus configured ECU, the control accuracy is improved.

Abstract: A shift output torque control unit executes a shift output torque control to control an engine torque so as to reduce a driving force difference, which is a variation width of a driving force due to downshift of an automatic transmission. Thus, in comparison with the case in which the shift output torque control is not executed, it is possible to smooth a variation in driving force associated with the downshift. As a result, occupants' comfort and controllability to driving operation may be improved.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for transporting a recording medium on which an image is formed includes a guide plate. The guide plate guides the recording medium to a predetermined position in the image forming apparatus and includes a flexible sheet member and a rigid holding member. The rigid holding member holds the flexible sheet member such that the flexible sheet member projects from a front end of the rigid holding member. The projecting portion of the flexible sheet member includes at least three flexible sub-portions having a different bend-stiffness per unit area from each other, and the bend-stiffness per unit area is reduced toward a downstream side in a sheet guide direction.

Abstract: Static demand engine torque set in a static torque setter is converted into dynamic demand engine torque in a converter using an engine model C (s) represented by a first-order lag function. A time constant T of engine model C (s) is calculated by a time constant calculator. The time constant calculator calculates time constant T in accordance with the static demand engine torque set in the static torque setter and dynamic demand engine torque set in a dynamic torque setter. The dynamic demand engine torque set in the dynamic torque setter is added to the dynamic demand engine torque converted from the static demand engine torque in the converter.

Abstract: First target torque of an engine is set based on a driver's operation, a vehicle behavior, and a request for shifting gears of an automatic transmission. The engine is controlled such that the difference between the first target torque and the actual output torque of the engine is reduced. Detection torque is calculated from an operation state of the engine. In consideration of dead time in control of the engine, calculation torque is calculated from the first target torque. In addition, first lookahead torque with the dead time in the engine being removed is calculated by feedback-correcting the first target torque according to an error e between the detection torque and the calculation torque.

Abstract: One end of a sheet guiding member on a transfer nip side is located on a straight line connecting an exit of a registration nip formed between a pair of registration rollers and an entrance of the transfer nip or on an opposite side of an intermediate transfer belt across the straight line and on one side of a triangle formed by connecting rotation centers of the transfer member, the transfer roller, and the transfer guide roller or inside the triangle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device having a pressure roller. The surface of the pressure roller is coated with a PFA resin and has an average surface roughness Ra of 0.05 to 0.13 ?m. A thermister is provided to detect the surface temperature of the pressure roller. The thermister includes a metal plate, a resister element attached to the metal plate, and a pair of fluorocarbon-resin films sandwiching the metal plate and the resister element. The fluorocarbon-resin film has a thickness of 15 ?m to 80 ?m.

Abstract: An image forming and recording apparatus, having a fixing apparatus for fixing unfixed toner image on a recording medium, wherein the fixing apparatus includes a fixing roller integrating a heater therein, an endless belt wound around the fixing roller, and three pressure members for pressing the endless belt onto the fixing roller. A pressure member located nearest to a side of entry of paper among the three pressure members is made up with a non-rotary type pressure member, and other two pressure members are made up with either one of a rotary type pressure member and the non-rotary type pressure member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device having a pressure roller. The surface of the pressure roller is coated with a PFA resin and has an average surface roughness Ra of 0.05 to 0.13 ?m. A thermister is provided to detect the surface temperature of the pressure roller. The thermister includes a metal plate, a resister element attached to the metal plate, and a pair of fluorocarbon-resin films sandwiching the metal plate and the resister element. The fluorocarbon-resin film has a thickness of 15 ?m to 80 ?m.

Abstract: A picture image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor belt driven by a drive device, a plurality of developing devices for forming toner picture images on the photoreceptor belt, an intermediate transfer device, to a surface of which toner picture images on the photoreceptor belt are overlappingly transferred plural times when a picture image is to be formed on a single page, and a transfer roller for pushing a sheet against the intermediate transfer device in order to transfer toner picture images to the sheet. The intermediate transfer device is an intermediate transfer belt contacted by the photoreceptor belt to be driven thereby. A photoreceptor-side roller enables contact of the intermediate transfer belt and the photoreceptor belt, and the intermediate transfer belt is trained around the photoreceptor-side roller and a transfer-side roller for pushing the sheet against the transfer roller. A diameter d2 of the transfer-side roller is smaller than a diameter d1 of the photoreceptor-side roller.

Abstract: An image forming and recording apparatus, having a fixing apparatus for fixing unfixed toner image on a recording medium, wherein said fixing apparatus comprises: a fixing roller integrating a heater therein; an endless belt wound around said fixing roller; and three (3) pressure members for pressing said endless belt onto said fixing roller, wherein second one from a side of entry of paper is made at maximum in pressure loading, among said three (3) pressure members, thereby achieving stable fixing of oil-less toner at high speed.

Abstract: An image forming device and method utilizing an electrostatic latent image recording medium, developing units reserving different colors for developing images on the recording medium, a dryer for drying the developed images, and an adhesion reinforcer for enhancing adhesion of toner particles including electrostatically pressing dried toner particles against a front surface of the electrostatic latent image recording medium.

Abstract: A picture image forming apparatus comprising a photoreceptor belt driven by a drive device, a plurality of developing devices for forming toner picture images on the photoreceptor belt, an intermediate transfer device, to a surface of which toner picture images on the photoreceptor belt are overlappingly transferred plural times when a picture image is to be formed on a single page, and a transfer roller for pushing a sheet against the intermediate transfer device in order to transfer toner picture images to the sheet, and wherein the intermediate transfer device is an intermediate transfer belt contacted by the photoreceptor belt to be driven thereby, and the intermediate transfer belt is trained around a photoreceptor-side roller and a transfer-side roller for pushing the sheet against the transfer roller, and wherein a diameter d2 of the transfer-side roller is smaller than a diameter d1 of the photoreceptor-side roller.