Abstract: A motor control apparatus configured to control a motor, includes: a drive circuit of the motor including a semiconductor device and being installed on a different substrate from a substrate of the motor; a load switching unit configured to set a load of the motor in a first state as a first load, and set a load of the motor in a second state as a second load that is smaller than the first load; and a control unit configured to control the drive circuit and the load switching unit, wherein the control unit is configured to control the drive circuit to start rotation of the motor when the load switching unit is in the second state.

Abstract: The motor control apparatus includes: a setting unit configured to set a limit value of coil current flowing through a coil of a motor; a current supply unit configured to supply the motor with the coil current in a range not exceeding the limit value set by the setting unit; a detection unit configured to detect a current value of the coil current; and a comparison unit configured to compare an average value of the current value detected by the detection unit over a predetermined time period with a first threshold value. When the average value has exceeded the first threshold value, the setting unit updates the limit value in a decreasing manner.

Abstract: The motor control apparatus includes: a setting unit configured to set a limit value of coil current flowing through a coil of a motor; a current supply unit configured to supply the motor with the coil current in a range not exceeding the limit value set by the setting unit; a detection unit configured to detect a current value of the coil current; and a comparison unit configured to compare an average value of the current value detected by the detection unit over a predetermined time period with a first threshold value. When the average value has exceeded the first threshold value, the setting unit updates the limit value in a decreasing manner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a developing roller, first and second motors, a drive-train having a drive switching unit, and a development switching unit. The drive-train transmits a driving force of the first motor to the developing roller. The second motor drives the drive switching unit and the development switching. The drive switching unit switches between a driving force transmission state and a driving force non-transmission state. The development switching unit switches between a developing roller-photosensitive member contact state and a developing roller-photosensitive member separated state, and operates with an operation of the drive switching unit. When the drive switching unit transitions from the non-transmission to the transmission state and a detected magnitude of a current flowing through the first motor has changed, the second motor is stopped before the developing roller is brought into contact with the photosensitive member while driving the first motor.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes: a current supply unit configured to supply coil current to a plurality of coils of a motor by controlling, based on a first command value of excitation current and a second command value of torque current, voltage to be applied to the plurality of coils; a first setting unit configured to set the first command value; a second setting unit configured to set the second command value; and a control unit configured to use first control in starting of rotation of a rotor of the motor, and switch control to second control after rotation speed of the rotor becomes greater than predetermined speed. The first setting unit is further configured to set a value greater than 0 as the first command value before the control unit switches control from the first control to the second control.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that has a heater, and a required power calculation unit that determines a power Pfsr that is assumed to be required by the heater. Based on a difference between a required power that is determined by the required power calculation unit and a suppliable power, the image forming apparatus selects whether to start printing in a normal mode or to start printing in a power saving mode in which the power that is supplied to the heater is reduced in comparison to the normal mode. The power saving mode includes a plurality of modes, and when a CPU selects the power saving mode, the CPU selects one or a combination of modes from among the plurality of power saving modes based on the aforementioned difference.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes: a motor; a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a drive force of the motor to a load of the motor; and a control unit configured to, in case of stopping the motor being rotated at a first speed, decelerate the motor at least at a first deceleration in a first period, in which a rotation speed of the motor is decelerated from the first speed to a second speed lower than the first speed, and decelerate the motor at least at a second deceleration in a second period, in which the motor is decelerated from the second speed until stop, wherein the second deceleration is less than the first deceleration.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes: a motor configured to drive a load; and a control unit configured to control the motor. The control unit is configured to, when activating the motor, determine whether a predetermined condition for determining that fluctuation in magnitude of the load occurs is satisfied, activate the motor in a first mode when the predetermined condition is satisfied, and activate the motor in a second mode when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, and the first mode is a mode in which an increase in rotation speed of the motor is gentler than an increase in rotation speed of the motor in the second mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance unit to convey a sheet toward an image forming position, a torque detection unit to detect a load torque applied to a motor driving the conveyance unit, and a control unit to perform a speed control for changing a rotational speed of the motor such that an interval at which a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet pass through the image forming position approaches a target interval while the conveyance unit is conveying the succeeding sheet. The control unit executes an interval change processing for changing the target interval in the speed control based on a magnitude of a detected load torque when the conveyance unit is driven by the motor, the control unit controls power input to the motor by transmitting a command signal to a driving circuit of the motor, and the torque detection unit detects the command signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a developing roller, first and second motors, a drive-train having a drive switching unit, and a development switching unit. The drive-train transmits a driving force of the first motor to the developing roller. The second motor drives the drive switching unit and the development switching. The drive switching unit switches between a driving force transmission state and a driving force non-transmission state. The development switching unit switches between a developing roller-photosensitive member contact state and a developing roller-photosensitive member separated state, and operates with an operation of the drive switching unit. When the drive switching unit transitions from the non-transmission to the transmission state and a detected magnitude of a current flowing through the first motor has changed, the second motor is stopped before the developing roller is brought into contact with the photosensitive member while driving the first motor.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus configured to control a motor, includes: a drive circuit of the motor including a semiconductor device and being installed on a different substrate from a substrate of the motor; a load switching unit configured to set a load of the motor in a first state as a first load, and set a load of the motor in a second state as a second load that is smaller than the first load; and a control unit configured to control the drive circuit and the load switching unit, wherein the control unit is configured to control the drive circuit to start rotation of the motor when the load switching unit is in the second state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one or more rotary members, a motor configured to drive the at least one or more rotary members, a detection unit configured to detect a current value flowing in the motor, and a display unit configured to display information on a state of the at least one or more rotary members. The current value is detected by the detection unit while the at least one or more rotary members are being driven by the motor. When the current value is a first value, information indicating that the at least one or more rotary members are in an abnormal state is not displayed on the display unit. When the current value is a second value larger than the first value, information indicating that the at least one or more rotary members are in the abnormal state is displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes: a current supply unit configured to supply a coil current to a plurality of coils of a motor by controlling a voltage to be applied to the plurality of coils, based on a first command value of an excitation current and a second command value of a torque current; and a control unit configured to control the first command value based on a rotation speed of a rotor of the motor, wherein the control unit is further configured to control, when the rotation speed of the rotor is lower than a first threshold value, the first command value to cause the excitation current to be larger than zero, and control the second command value to supply the torque current in accordance with a load of the rotor.

Abstract: A workpiece installation method includes obtaining a reference image that shows a reference workpiece whose posture has been adjusted, setting workpiece reference lines on a boundary of a first image area occupied by the reference workpiece in the reference image, obtaining a measurement image that shows a workpiece, generating, using a processor, a measurement combined image in which workpiece reference lines are superimposed on the measurement image and which shows the workpiece reference lines pass through positions respectively identical to workpiece reference line positions, and adjusting a posture of the workpiece such that a boundary of a second image area occupied by the workpiece in the measurement combined image is shown to be substantially parallel to or substantially coincident with the workpiece reference lines.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a motor; a transfer mechanism configured to transfer driving force of the motor to a load; and a control unit configured to control the motor to rotate a rotor of the motor in a first direction to rotate the load. The transfer mechanism has backlash, and the control unit is further configured to, when control to rotate the rotor in the first direction fails, determine whether or not control to rotate the rotor in the first direction failed due to the motor being faulty, by executing control to rotate the rotor a predetermined amount in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing roller, a motor, a motor control portion configured to control the motor, a drive switching unit configured to switch between transmission and non-transmission of the rotational driving force of the motor relative to the developing roller, a current detection portion configured to detect a current value of a current to the motor, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire information relating to a rotation amount of the developing roller. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire the information relating to the rotation amount of the developing roller on the basis of a transmission timing at which the rotational driving force is allowed to be transmitted to the developing roller by the drive switching unit and a non-transmission timing at which the rotational driving force is prevented from being transmitting to the developing roller by the drive switching unit.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes: a current supply unit configured to supply coil current to a plurality of coils of a motor by controlling, based on a first command value of excitation current and a second command value of torque current, voltage to be applied to the plurality of coils; a first setting unit configured to set the first command value; a second setting unit configured to set the second command value; and a control unit configured to use first control in starting of rotation of a rotor of the motor, and switch control to second control after rotation speed of the rotor becomes greater than predetermined speed. The first setting unit is further configured to set a value greater than 0 as the first command value before the control unit switches control from the first control to the second control.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner storing portion, a stirring member that stirs the toner by rotating inside the toner storing portion, a driving unit for rotating the stirring member in a first rotation direction and in an opposite second rotation direction. A control portion controls the motor such that a rotation direction of the stirring member is changed from the first rotation direction to the second rotation direction, and a detection unit that detects a rotation state of the motor, wherein the control portion determines whether to end the rotating operation or not based on the rotation state detected by the detection unit, and wherein the rotation state includes a rotation speed or a rotation amount of the motor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one or more rotary members, a motor configured to drive the at least one or more rotary members, a detection unit configured to detect a current value flowing in the motor, and a display unit configured to display information on a state of the at least one or more rotary members. The current value is detected by the detection unit while the at least one or more rotary members are being driven by the motor. When the current value is a first value, information indicating that the at least one or more rotary members are in an abnormal state is not displayed on the display unit. When the current value is a second value larger than the first value, information indicating that the at least one or more rotary members are in the abnormal state is displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: A controller includes a determination circuit, a setting circuit, and a control circuit. The determination circuit is configured to determine whether a chatter vibration is occurring while a spindle is rotating and a workpiece is being cut. The setting circuit is configured to set an upper limit and a lower limit on a change amount of a rotational speed of the spindle. The control circuit is configured to determine the change amount randomly from a range between the upper limit and the lower limit and configured to rotate the spindle at a second rotational speed obtained by changing a first rotational speed by the change amount that has been determined if the chatter vibration is determined as occurring while the control circuit controls the rotational speed of the spindle at the first rotational speed.