Abstract: A valve body has an inflow passage for a working fluid, an outflow passage for the working fluid, and a pressure relief passage, which connects the inflow passage and the outflow passage by bypassing a normally close valve seat. A pressure relief valve is located in the pressure relief passage. The pressure relief valve closes the pressure relief passage, if a pressure of the working fluid in the outflow passage is lower than, is equal to, and is higher by a pressure difference less than a predetermined relief pressure than a pressure of the working fluid in the inflow passage. The pressure relief valve opens the pressure relief passage, if the pressure of the working fluid in the outflow passage is higher by a pressure difference equal to or higher than the relief pressure than a pressure of the working fluid in the inflow passage.

Abstract: An upstream integrated value is an integrated value of a difference obtained by subtracting an upstream gas temperature at a starting point in time of integration from the upstream gas temperature after starting of the internal combustion engine. A downstream integrated value is an integrated value of a difference obtained by subtracting a downstream gas temperature at the starting point in time of the integration from the downstream gas temperature after the starting of the internal combustion engine. An anomaly diagnosing process obtains an anomaly determination result indicating that the exhaust purification device is in a removed state when a deviation between the upstream integrated value and the downstream integrated value is smaller than a reference level. The determination threshold is higher than a dew point.

Abstract: A recording material conveyance device that can suppress a decrease in productivity when detecting characteristics of the recording material is provided. A recording material conveyance device includes: a first conveyor that constitutes a conveyance route for a recording material; a second conveyor and a third conveyor that branch off from the first conveyor and constitute the conveyance route for the recording material on a downstream side of a recording material conveyance direction of the first conveyor; a first detector that detects recording material characteristics of the recording material disposed in the first conveyor; a second detector that detects the recording material characteristics disposed in the second conveyor; and a controller that stops detection by the second detector and discharges the recording material that is being detected by the second detector when the first detector detects an abnormality in a detection result of the recording material characteristics.

Abstract: An electromagnetic valve is configured with an electromagnetic section, a flow path section, and a sealing member between them. This separate arrangement improves a degree of freedom for arranging inflow and/or outflow passage. This separate arrangement also enables to reduce a size of the electromagnetic section. A plunger comes in contact with a central portion of a spherical portion of a valve member. A normally open compression spring comes in contact with a peripheral portion of the valve member. The valve member can be reliably seated on the normally close valve seat even if the plunger is slightly tilted.

Abstract: A valve body has an inflow passage for a working fluid, an outflow passage for the working fluid, and a pressure relief passage, which connects the inflow passage and the outflow passage by bypassing a normally close valve seat. A pressure relief valve is located in the pressure relief passage. The pressure relief valve closes the pressure relief passage, if a pressure of the working fluid in the outflow passage is lower than, is equal to, and is higher by a pressure difference less than a predetermined relief pressure than a pressure of the working fluid in the inflow passage. The pressure relief valve opens the pressure relief passage, if the pressure of the working fluid in the outflow passage is higher by a pressure difference equal to or higher than the relief pressure than a pressure of the working fluid in the inflow passage.

Abstract: An electromagnetic valve is configured with an electromagnetic section, a flow path section, and a sealing member between them. This separate arrangement improves a degree of freedom for arranging inflow and/or outflow passage. This separate arrangement also enables to reduce a size of the electromagnetic section. A plunger comes in contact with a central portion of a spherical portion of a valve member. A normally open compression spring comes in contact with a peripheral portion of the valve member. The valve member can be reliably seated on the normally close valve seat even if the plunger is slightly tilted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sensor that acquires first and second data groups of paper characteristics by measuring a recording medium; a processor that determines a parameter for controlling at least one of image formation and conveyance of a recording medium on a conveyance path based on the first and second data groups acquired by the sensor; an image former that forms an image on a recording medium conveyed on the conveyance path based on the parameter. The processor compares the first and second paper characteristic data groups, the first paper characteristic data group has been measured at a first time period and the second paper characteristic data group has been measured at a second time period nearer to a present time than the first time period, and the processor controls the image formation based on a the comparison result.

Abstract: Provided is a recording medium detection device which prevents a recording medium from jamming. The device comprises: a first roller and a second roller which nip and transport a recording medium; a roller shaft which rotatably supports the second roller; a shaft support; and a displacement detector. The shaft support supports the roller shaft movably in the thickness direction of the recording medium. The displacement detector detects displacement of the second roller in the thickness direction. The shaft support further supports the second roller movably in the transportation direction of the recording medium through the roller shaft.

Abstract: Provided is a recording medium detection device which prevents the decline in productivity. The recording medium detection device comprises a first detecting section and a second detecting section. The first detecting section performs a first adjustment process and makes a detection of a recording medium being transported. The second detecting section is located more downstream than the first detecting section in the transportation direction of the recording medium, performs a second adjustment process which takes a longer time than the first adjustment process, and makes a detection of the recording medium being transported.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a high-voltage power supply board utilized for electrophotographic image formation, wherein a converter that generates high voltage is arranged on the high-voltage power supply board, and a drive coil and a high-voltage generation coil in the converter are insulated from each other, a first hardware processor that generates a control signal to control the drive coil is provided, the first hardware processor generates the control signal suitably adjusted in accordance with each of various alternating waveforms, and high voltage having various alternating waveforms is output from one output terminal of the converter of the high-voltage power supply board.

Abstract: A heating device includes rollers, a heating belt, a heater and a hardware processor. The heating belt is in partial contact with an image generation face of a recording medium and extends over the rollers and circulating in cooperation with the rollers. The heater heats the heating belt. The hardware processor modifies an area of contact between the recording medium and the heating belt. At least two rollers are disposed along a traveling direction of the heating belt and are urged to the recording medium with intermediation of the heating belt. The hardware processor modifies the area of the contact by modifying a distance between a first roller and a second roller among the at least two rollers, the first and second rollers being respectively disposed most upstream and most downstream in the travelling direction of the heating belt.

Abstract: A heating device includes rollers, a heating belt, a heater and a hardware processor. The heating belt is in partial contact with an image generation face of a recording medium and extends over the rollers and circulating in cooperation with the rollers. The heater heats the heating belt. The hardware processor modifies an area of contact between the recording medium and the heating belt. At least two rollers are disposed along a traveling direction of the heating belt and are urged to the recording medium with intermediation of the heating belt. The hardware processor modifies the area of the contact by modifying a distance between a first roller and a second roller among the at least two rollers, the first and second rollers being respectively disposed most upstream and most downstream in the travelling direction of the heating belt.

Abstract: An electromagnetic valve includes a valve compartment inside an end tubular portion of a housing, a valve element provided in the valve compartment and movable to open or close a valve port, a guide member slidably supporting the valve element, a shaft contacting an end of the valve element to move the valve element, and a pressure release passage through which an inner compartment of the valve element communicates with the valve port in a closed state of the valve element.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus configured to fix a coloring material attached to a recording medium by heating the recording medium by using a fixing member includes: a heater configured to heat the fixing member; an AC power source configured to apply AC voltage to the heater; a temperature detection unit configure to detect a temperature of the heater; and a power control unit configured to control drive power supplied to the heater from the AC power source by calculating an application pattern of AC voltage to be applied to the heater based on an output of the temperature detection unit, and by appropriately selecting a half wave of AC waveform from the AC power source based on the application pattern, wherein the power control unit supplies power equivalent to a waveform with a predetermined phase angle on a non-selected half wave from the AC power source to the heater.

Abstract: An electromagnetic valve includes a valve compartment inside an end tubular portion of a housing, a valve element provided in the valve compartment and movable to open or close a valve port, a guide member slidably supporting the valve element, a shaft contacting an end of the valve element to move the valve element, and a pressure release passage through which an inner compartment of the valve element communicates with the valve port in a closed state of the valve element.

Abstract: An electromagnetic valve includes a valve compartment inside an end tubular portion of a housing, a valve element provided in the valve compartment and movable to open or close a valve port, a guide member slidably supporting the valve element, a shaft contacting an end of the valve element to move the valve element, and a pressure release passage extending through a part of the end of the valve element which does not contact the shaft. An inner compartment of the valve element communicates with the valve port through the pressure release passage in a closed state of the valve element.

Abstract: An electromagnetic valve includes a valve compartment inside an end tubular portion of a housing, a valve element provided in the valve compartment and movable to open or close an inlet passage, a support member slidably supporting the valve element, a shaft contacting an end of the valve element to move the valve element, and a pressure release passage extending through a part of the end of the valve element which does not contact the shaft. An inner compartment of the valve element communicates with a drainage passage through the pressure release passage in an open state of the valve element where the inlet passage is open to allow a working fluid flows from an upstream passage to a downstream passage through the inlet passage.

Abstract: An electromagnetic valve includes a valve compartment inside an end tubular portion of a housing, a valve element provided in the valve compartment and movable to open or close an inlet passage, a support member slidably supporting the valve element, a shaft contacting an end of the valve element to move the valve element, and a pressure release passage extending through a part of the end of the valve element which does not contact the shaft. An inner compartment of the valve element communicates with a drainage passage through the pressure release passage in an open state of the valve element where the inlet passage is open to allow a working fluid flows from an upstream passage to a downstream passage through the inlet passage.

Abstract: An electromagnetic valve includes a valve compartment inside an end tubular portion of a housing, a valve element provided in the valve compartment and movable to open or close a valve port, a guide member slidably supporting the valve element, a shaft contacting an end of the valve element to move the valve element, and a pressure release passage extending through a part of the end of the valve element which does not contact the shaft. An inner compartment of the valve element communicates with the valve port through the pressure release passage in a closed state of the valve element.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus configured to fix a coloring material attached to a recording medium by heating the recording medium by using a fixing member includes: a heater configured to heat the fixing member; an AC power source configured to apply AC voltage to the heater; a temperature detection unit configure to detect a temperature of the heater; and a power control unit configured to control drive power supplied to the heater from the AC power source by calculating an application pattern of AC voltage to be applied to the heater based on an output of the temperature detection unit, and by appropriately selecting a half wave of AC waveform from the AC power source based on the application pattern, wherein the power control unit supplies power equivalent to a waveform with a predetermined phase angle on a non-selected half wave from the AC power source to the heater.