Abstract: An image forming apparatus that discharges droplets, while moving a recording head relative to a recording medium in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, to form an image, includes: a carriage; a first recording head that has a first discharge face having a hole, is disposed on the carriage, and discharges a first droplet containing resin through the hole; a second recording head that has a second discharge face having a hole, is disposed on the carriage, and discharges, through the hole, a second droplet containing resin less than the resin contained in the first droplet; a first cleaning device that wipes the first discharge face to clean the first recording head; and a second cleaning device that is different from the first cleaning device and that wipes the second discharge face to clean the second recording head.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a plurality of cleaning members that come into contact with an ejection surface of a droplet ejector that ejects droplets to clean the ejection surface, in which the plurality of cleaning members are in a wet state.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a plurality of cleaning members that come into contact with an ejection surface of a droplet ejector that ejects droplets to clean the ejection surface, in which the plurality of cleaning members are in a wet state.

Abstract: An inkjet-type image forming apparatus, includes: an intermediate transfer body that has an outmost surface layer and transfers a photo-curable ink to a recording medium; a light irradiator that performs a tentative-curing treatment by photo-curing the photo-curable ink after the ink is landed on the intermediate transfer body and before the landed ink is transferred to the recording medium; a temperature controller that causes the outmost surface layer to be melted, expanded, or contracted; and a transferor that transfers the photo-curable ink landed on the intermediate transfer body to the recording medium.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink jetter; a transfer unit that has an intermediate transfer body and transfers ink on its transfer surface to a recording medium to record an image; a thickening device that thickens the ink landed on the transfer surface before transfer to the recording medium; a cleaner that removes residual ink remaining on the transfer surface; and a hardware processor. The cleaner has a first ink remover that removes the thickened residual ink in first ink removing operation in which an adhesive member brought into contact with the thickened ink is separated from the transfer surface. If the transfer surface has a region occupied by the thickened ink of a predetermined reference area or more, the hardware processor causes the first ink remover to perform the first ink removing operation.

Abstract: A supplying apparatus and a supplying method of granular material in which granular material is supplied to a measuring container provided on a lower side so as to reach a target measurement value which is determined in advance. The supplying apparatus includes a storage container storing granular material, a valve body provided in the storage container so as to be opened when granular material is supplied, and a control section controlling open and close operations of the valve body. The control section keeps the valve body at an open position until a detection value of a detecting section of the measuring container becomes a predetermined value smaller than the target measurement value when the target measurement value exceeds a threshold value which is determined in advance. The control section opens the valve body in a pulsed way until the detection value of the detecting section becomes the target measurement value when the target measurement value is under the threshold value.

Abstract: A supplying apparatus of granular material including a storage container storing granular material and a supplying portion having a columnar valve body sliding along an opening direction of a guide hole provided for the storage container. The supplying portion supplies granular material to a supply destination; the valve body includes a material supplying passage penetrating the valve body so as to provide an inlet and an outlet on a side circumferential face and includes a closing portion closing the guide hole when the valve body is at a closed position, the closing portion being provided in the guide hole; and the material supplying passage slants in such a manner that the inlet opens in the storage container and the outlet opens outside the storage container when the valve body is at a supply position supplying granular material.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink jetter; a transfer unit that has an intermediate transfer body and transfers ink on its transfer surface to a recording medium to record an image; a thickening device that thickens the ink landed on the transfer surface before transfer to the recording medium; a cleaner that removes residual ink remaining on the transfer surface; and a hardware processor. The cleaner has a first ink remover that removes the thickened residual ink in first ink removing operation in which an adhesive member brought into contact with the thickened ink is separated from the transfer surface. If the transfer surface has a region occupied by the thickened ink of a predetermined reference area or more, the hardware processor causes the first ink remover to perform the first ink removing operation.

Abstract: An inkjet-type image forming apparatus, includes: an intermediate transfer body that has an outmost surface layer and transfers a photo-curable ink to a recording medium; a light irradiator that performs a tentative-curing treatment by photo-curing the photo-curable ink after the ink is landed on the intermediate transfer body and before the landed ink is transferred to the recording medium; a temperature controller that causes the outmost surface layer to be melted, expanded, or contracted; and a transferor that transfers the photo-curable ink landed on the intermediate transfer body to the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a drop applier that applies a drop to a surface of a coating layer formed on a surface of a recording medium; a viscosity improver that improves viscosity of the drop on the surface of the coating layer; and a roller that rolls the drop improved in viscosity, wherein the drop at a time of rolling has lower viscosity than the coating layer.

Abstract: A supplying apparatus and a supplying method of granular material in which granular material is supplied to a measuring container provided on a lower side so as to reach a target measurement value which is determined in advance. The supplying apparatus includes a storage container storing granular material, a valve body provided in the storage container so as to be opened when granular material is supplied, and a control section controlling open and close operations of the valve body. The control section keeps the valve body at an open position until a detection value of a detecting section of the measuring container becomes a predetermined value smaller than the target measurement value when the target measurement value exceeds a threshold value which is determined in advance. The control section opens the valve body in a pulsed way until the detection value of the detecting section becomes the target measurement value when the target measurement value is under the threshold value.

Abstract: A supplying apparatus of granular material including a storage container storing granular material and a supplying portion having a columnar valve body sliding along an opening direction of a guide hole provided for the storage container. The supplying portion supplies granular material to a supply destination; the valve body includes a material supplying passage penetrating the valve body so as to provide an inlet and an outlet on a side circumferential face and includes a closing portion closing the guide hole when the valve body is at a closed position, the closing portion being provided in the guide hole; and the material supplying passage slants in such a manner that the inlet opens in the storage container and the outlet opens outside the storage container when the valve body is at a supply position supplying granular material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a toner-image fixer that fixes an unfixed toner image on a sheet by conveying the sheet while heating and pressing the sheet at a fixing nip; a pressing force changer that changes a pressing force against the sheet at the fixing nip; and a hardware processor that controls the toner-image fixer and the pressing force changer, in which when a conveying speed of the sheet is changed by controlling the toner-image fixer, the hardware processor causes the conveying speed to change in a state in which the pressing force is decreased by controlling the pressing force changer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a toner-image fixer that fixes an unfixed toner image on a sheet by conveying the sheet while heating and pressing the sheet at a fixing nip; a pressing force changer that changes a pressing force against the sheet at the fixing nip; and a hardware processor that controls the toner-image fixer and the pressing force changer, in which when a conveying speed of the sheet is changed by controlling the toner-image fixer, the hardware processor causes the conveying speed to change in a state in which the pressing force is decreased by controlling the pressing force changer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing member; a heating section; and a control section, the control section being configured to control the heating section such that, the heating section heats the fixing member with a first heating amount during a period from a first timing until a second timing, and the heating section heats the fixing member with a second heating amount smaller than the first heating amount and greater than 0 during a period from the second timing until a third timing.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying granular material, comprising a storing unit for storing granular material, a feeding unit for feeding granular material stored in the storing unit to a supply destination, a driving unit coupled to the feeding unit for driving the feeding unit, and a supporting unit forming a space for receiving the feeding unit, supporting the storing unit, the feeding unit and the driving unit, and being fixed to an object to be installed. The driving unit is supported by the supporting unit so as to be freely displaced between a coupling position where the driving unit is coupled to the feeding unit and a retracting position where coupling of the driving unit with the feeding unit is released and the feeding unit is removable from the supporting unit.

Abstract: When a change amount of any one of a demanded torque, a demanded efficiency, and a demanded air-fuel ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold value, an internal combustion engine control apparatus provided by this invention makes a temporary adjustment to a value of any one of a demanded torque, a demanded efficiency and instructed efficiency, and a demanded air-fuel ratio in accordance with a type of demanded engine performance that is currently being given priority among various performances demanded of the internal combustion engine. In the present control apparatus, an actuator for air amount control is operated in accordance with a target air amount calculated based on a demanded torque and a demanded efficiency, an actuator for ignition timing control is operated in accordance with an instructed efficiency, and an actuator for fuel injection amount control is operated in accordance with a demanded air-fuel ratio.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine control device the present invention provides is a control device that can realize both of request torque and a request A/F for each of cylinder groups with high precision, even when the request A/F differs at each of the cylinder groups. The present control device sets a reference A/F within a range from the leanest A/F to the richest A/F out of the request A/Fs to the respective cylinder groups. The present control device calculates a target air quantity for realizing the request torque under the reference A/F, based on data that defines a relation between engine output torque and an air quantity in relation to an A/F. The present control device controls a throttle opening in accordance with the target air quantity, and controls fuel injection amounts of the respective cylinders in accordance with the request A/F s to the respective cylinder groups.

Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine provided by the present invention is a control device which can satisfy both a requirement relating to exhaust gas performance of the internal combustion engine and a requirement relating to operation performance by properly regulating a change speed of a required air-fuel ratio, in the internal combustion engine which uses torque and an air-fuel ratio as control variables. The control device receives the requirement relating to the exhaust gas performance of the internal combustion engine, and calculates an air-fuel ratio which satisfies the requirement as a required air-fuel ratio. When a predetermined reduction condition is not satisfied, an original required air-fuel ratio is directly determined as a final required air-fuel ratio.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying granular material, comprising a storing unit for storing granular material, a feeding unit for feeding granular material stored in the storing unit to a supply destination, a driving unit coupled to the feeding unit for driving the feeding unit, and a supporting unit forming a space for receiving the feeding unit, supporting the storing unit, the feeding unit and the driving unit, and being fixed to an object to be installed. The driving unit is supported by the supporting unit so as to be freely displaced between a coupling position where the driving unit is coupled to the feeding unit and a retracting position where coupling of the driving unit with the feeding unit is released and the feeding unit is removable from the supporting unit.