Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a surface treatment device and a paddle with improved strength and uniform plating thickness by uniformly stirring surface treatment solution near an object to be plated. Also, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a surface treatment method capable of stirring for a long period of time, by uniformizing plating thickness, and by improving a strength of a paddle.

Abstract: A learning model creation device includes, a verifying unit that verifies a learning model for predicting, from a predetermined manufacturing condition including at least one condition, a predetermined material property of a material manufactured under the manufacturing condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a medium transport path; a first image transport path that is disposed so as to oppose the medium transport path and along which an image to be formed on the medium is transported; an image forming part that forms the image and is disposed adjacent to the first image transport path; and a second image transport path that is disposed so as to oppose the medium transport path, that is located at a distance from the image forming part, and along which an image to be formed on the medium is transported, the second image transport path, the first image transport path, and the medium transport path, together surrounding the image forming part.

Abstract: A controller included in an apparatus: (i) identifies a first situation included in a condition for imposing a regulation on operation of the apparatus; (ii) identifies a second situation included in a condition for lifting the regulation imposed on the operation; (iii) if the first situation is not a predetermined first situation where the operation is regulated, controls the apparatus in a first mode in which a predetermined operation of the apparatus is permitted; (iv) if the first situation is the predetermined first situation, controls the apparatus in a second mode in which the predetermined operation is restricted; (v) if the second situation is a situation, which is a situation where it is desirable that the apparatus be controlled in the first mode, rather than the second mode, controls the apparatus in the first mode even if the first situation is the predetermined first situation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport belt, a first intermediate transfer belt, and a second intermediate transfer belt. The transport belt is disposed along a transport path extending in a vertical direction. The transport belt is configured to transport a recording medium while coming into contact with one surface of the recording medium. The first intermediate transfer belt is configured to sandwich the recording medium together with the transport belt. An image is transferred from the first intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium. The second intermediate transfer belt is disposed above the first intermediate transfer belt. The second intermediate transfer belt is configured to sandwich, together with the transport belt, the recording medium which is in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched between the first intermediate transfer belt and the transport belt. An image being transferred from the second intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium.

Abstract: The number of opportunities where external charging of a vehicle parked in a residential parking space or a charging station in a predetermined period is available is counted as the number of opportunities, and the number of times of the external charging performed in the opportunities in the same predetermined period is counted as the number of times of charging. The number of times of charging is then divided by the number of opportunities to calculate and store a charging frequency. Since the charging frequency is a ratio of the number of times that the external charging was performed to the number of opportunities where the external charging is available in the predetermined period, the ratio is used as an index that can offer more accurate determination regarding an external charging utilization status. As a result, various processing to promote external charging are executed more properly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport belt, a first intermediate transfer belt, and a second intermediate transfer belt. The transport belt is disposed along a transport path extending in a vertical direction. The transport belt is configured to transport a recording medium while coming into contact with one surface of the recording medium. The first intermediate transfer belt is configured to sandwich the recording medium together with the transport belt. An image is transferred from the first intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium. The second intermediate transfer belt is disposed above the first intermediate transfer belt. The second intermediate transfer belt is configured to sandwich, together with the transport belt, the recording medium which is in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched between the first intermediate transfer belt and the transport belt. An image being transferred from the second intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transport path that transports an image forming medium in a top-bottom direction; a first image forming unit including a first intermediate transfer belt, which is disposed so as to face the transport path, to which toner images formed in multiple first toner-image forming units are transferred, and from which the toner images are transferred to the medium transported along the transport path; a second image forming unit including a second intermediate transfer belt, which is disposed upstream of the first image forming unit in a medium transport direction so as to face the transport path, to which toner images formed in multiple second toner-image forming units are transferred, and from which the toner images are transferred to the medium transported along the transport path; and a ventilation path formed between the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit, which are spaced apart.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first forming unit that forms a superimposed toner image, in which yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images are superimposed on one another, on a first intermediate transfer unit; a second forming unit that is located downstream of the first forming unit in a recording-medium transport direction and that forms a black toner image on a second intermediate transfer unit; a first transfer part that transfers the superimposed toner image formed on the first intermediate transfer unit by the first forming unit to a recording medium; and a second transfer part that is located downstream of the first transfer part in the recording-medium transport direction and that transfers, in a superimposed manner, the black toner image formed on the second intermediate transfer unit by the second forming unit to the superimposed toner image on the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transport path that transports an image forming medium in a top-bottom direction; a first image forming unit including a first intermediate transfer belt, which is disposed so as to face the transport path, to which toner images formed in multiple first toner-image forming units are transferred, and from which the toner images are transferred to the medium transported along the transport path; a second image forming unit including a second intermediate transfer belt, which is disposed upstream of the first image forming unit in a medium transport direction so as to face the transport path, to which toner images formed in multiple second toner-image forming units are transferred, and from which the toner images are transferred to the medium transported along the transport path; and a ventilation path formed between the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit, which are spaced apart.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first forming unit that forms a superimposed toner image, in which yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images are superimposed on one another, on a first intermediate transfer unit; a second forming unit that is located downstream of the first forming unit in a recording-medium transport direction and that forms a black toner image on a second intermediate transfer unit; a first transfer part that transfers the superimposed toner image formed on the first intermediate transfer unit by the first forming unit to a recording medium; and a second transfer part that is located downstream of the first transfer part in the recording-medium transport direction and that transfers, in a superimposed manner, the black toner image formed on the second intermediate transfer unit by the second forming unit to the superimposed toner image on the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport belt, a first intermediate transfer belt, and a second intermediate transfer belt. The transport belt is disposed along a transport path extending in a vertical direction. The transport belt is configured to transport a recording medium while coming into contact with one surface of the recording medium. The first intermediate transfer belt is configured to sandwich the recording medium together with the transport belt. An image is transferred from the first intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium. The second intermediate transfer belt is disposed above the first intermediate transfer belt. The second intermediate transfer belt is configured to sandwich, together with the transport belt, the recording medium which is in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched between the first intermediate transfer belt and the transport belt. An image being transferred from the second intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium.

Abstract: A control device executes abnormality detection processing for detecting an abnormality of a current sensor. The abnormality detection processing includes first processing which is executed in a case where, during reception of electric power from a power supply, a state of charge of a power storage device is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount and electric power is supplied to an electrically heated catalyst device. The first processing includes processing for detecting an abnormality of the current sensor by estimating a current supplied to the electrically heated catalyst device using a detection value of a charging current sensor and comparing the estimated value with a detection value of the current sensor.

Abstract: The number of opportunities where external charging of a vehicle parked in a residential parking space or a charging station in a predetermined period is available is counted as the number of opportunities, and the number of times of the external charging performed in the opportunities in the same predetermined period is counted as the number of times of charging. The number of times of charging is then divided by the number of opportunities to calculate and store a charging frequency. Since the charging frequency is a ratio of the number of times that the external charging was performed to the number of opportunities where the external charging is available in the predetermined period, the ratio is used as an index that can offer more accurate determination regarding an external charging utilization status. As a result, various processing to promote external charging are executed more properly.

Abstract: A utilization index IDX is calculated based on one or more parameters (the number of times of charging/the number of trips, total battery charger connection time/total vehicle stop time, total EV traveling distance/total HV traveling distance, total EV traveling time/total HV traveling time, total EV traveling distance/total traveling distance, total EV traveling time/total traveling time, total charge amount/total fuel supply quantity) obtained based on a ratio of an EV traveling utilization level to an HV traveling utilization level or a total traveling utilization level, and the utilization index IDX is stored. Since the utilization index IDX is calculated such that as each parameter is larger, utilization of charging of a battery by a battery charger is performed more sufficiently. Accordingly, the utilization index IDX can be used as an index that offers more accurate determination regarding a utilization status of the battery charging.

Abstract: The number of opportunities where external charging of a vehicle parked in a residential parking space or a charging station in a predetermined period is available is counted as the number of opportunities, and the number of times of the external charging performed in the opportunities in the same predetermined period is counted as the number of times of charging. The number of times of charging is then divided by the number of opportunities to calculate and store a charging frequency. Since the charging frequency is a ratio of the number of times that the external charging was performed to the number of opportunities where the external charging is available in the predetermined period, the ratio is used as an index that can offer more accurate determination regarding an external charging utilization status. As a result, various processing to promote external charging are executed more properly.

Abstract: In an electrically heated catalyst which is arranged in an exhaust passage, electric leakage is suppressed as much as possible. The electrically heated catalyst comprising: a heat generation element; an electrode; a case; an electrode chamber; and an electrically insulating holding member that is inserted between the outer peripheral surface of the heat generation element and the case, and has an abutment joint portion formed by a pair of end faces which connect from an upstream side end portion to a downstream side end portion of the holding member, and which are arranged in opposition to each other, and an opening portion which is constructed so as to form a predetermined space connected with the electrode chamber in the surrounding of the electrode. The abutment joint portion is arranged in a position which excludes the opening portion, and in which it is not exposed to the electrode chamber.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a fuel tank, a motor, a battery, a charger, and a notification mechanism. The battery is configured to supply electric power to the motor. The charger is configured to carry out external charging that charges the battery by use of electric power from an external power source. The notification mechanism is configured to notify, to an outside of the vehicle, information on a use index indicative of a degree of use of external charging in a predetermined time period.

Abstract: When a use index indicative of a degree of use of external charging is less than a threshold, an electronic control unit determines that the degree of use of external charging is low, and executes a charging guide control to promote the use of external charging at the time of parking at a battery charging point, such as at home or in a battery charging station, where the external charging is performable. Hereby, it is possible to promote a driver to use external charging at the time of parking at the battery charging point. As a result, the use of external charging can be promoted.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a fuel tank, a motor, a battery, a charger, and a notification mechanism. The battery is configured to supply electric power to the motor. The charger is configured to carry out external charging that charges the battery by use of electric power from an external power source. The notification mechanism is configured to notify, to an outside of the vehicle, information on a use index indicative of a degree of use of external charging in a predetermined time period.