Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer drum that rotates in conjunction with a fixing roller, a transfer belt that transfers an image onto a medium while rotating along with the transfer drum in a state where the medium is nipped between the transfer belt and the transfer drum, a pressing member that is disposed in a space enclosed by the transfer belt, and a switching unit that moves the pressing member and switches between a pressed state in which the transfer belt is pressed against the transfer drum and a separated state in which the transfer belt is separated from the transfer drum.

Abstract: An electronic throttle valve control system prevents rapid rotation of a throttle valve when the control system has a failure. A throttle valve controls the amount of intake air to an internal combustion engine, an electric motor drives the throttle valve, and a control section controls the electric motor. The throttle valve has an urging mechanism for urging the throttle valve in the closing direction. The control section shifts the electric motor to a regenerative mode when the control system has a failure to control the speed at which the throttle valve is rotated in the closing direction by the urging force of the urging mechanism. The throttle valve is therefore rotated slowly in the closing direction by the urging force of the urging mechanism and then held in a predetermined opening position.

Abstract: An electronic throttle valve control system prevents rapid rotation of a throttle valve reliably when the control system has a failure. A throttle valve controls the amount of intake air to an internal combustion engine, an electric motor drives the throttle valve, and a rotational speed reduction mechanism reduces the rotation of the electric motor to control the rotation of the throttle valve. An urging mechanism urges the throttle valve in the closing direction. An attenuation mechanism attenuates the speed at which the throttle valve is rotated in the closing direction by the urging mechanism when the control system has a failure. The attenuation mechanism is the electric motor in a regenerative mode or an air damper.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide an electronic throttle valve control system which can prevent rapid rotation of a throttle valve reliably when the control system has a failure. [Solution] A throttle valve 10 for controlling the amount of intake air to an internal combustion engine, an electric motor 20 for driving the throttle valve 10, and a rotational speed reduction mechanism 30 for reducing the rotation of the electric motor 20 to control the rotation of the throttle valve 10 are provided. The rotational speed reduction mechanism 30 has an urging mechanism 31 for urging the throttle valve 10 in the closing direction. The rotational speed reduction mechanism 30 is connected to an attenuation mechanism 38(20) for attenuating the speed at which the throttle valve 10 is rotated in the closing direction by the urging force of the urging mechanism 31 when the control system has a failure. The attenuation mechanism 38 is constituted of the electric motor 20 in a regenerative mode or an air damper.

Abstract: An abnormality monitoring device monitors a PWM driving signal output from a driving section of an associated motor control system to judge whether the driving section is operating abnormally. By monitoring the output of the driving section, the monitoring device can detect an abnormality of the driving section before the motor can respond to the abnormal drive signal to a significant degree (e.g., to a degree readily discernable to a rider of a motorcycle on which the motor control system is employed in combination with an electronic throttle system).

Abstract: [Problem] To provide an electronic throttle valve control system which can prevent rapid rotation of a throttle valve when the control system has a failure. [Solution] There are provided a throttle valve 10 for controlling the amount of intake air to an internal combustion engine, an electric motor 20 for driving the throttle valve 10, and a control section 21 for controlling the electric motor 20. The throttle valve has an urging mechanism 31 for urging the throttle valve 10 in the closing direction. The control section 21 shifts the electric motor 20 to a regenerative mode when the control system has a failure to control the speed at which the throttle valve 10 is rotated in the closing direction by the urging force of the urging mechanism 30. The throttle valve 10 is therefore rotated slowly in the closing direction by the urging force of the urging mechanism 30 and then held in a predetermined opening position 10b.

Abstract: An engine speed control apparatus includes a throttle valve for adjusting the amount of an intake air sucked into an engine, a drive unit for driving the throttle valve, and a control unit for generating a PWM signal for driving the drive unit. The control unit includes a real speed detecting unit for detecting a real engine speed, a target speed setting unit for setting a target engine speed, a target speed change amount calculating unit for calculating a target engine speed change amount with the use of the real engine speed and the target engine speed, and a PWM pulse generating unit which calculates, according to the target engine speed change amount, a PWM control parameter for determining a PWM duty, and generates a PWM signal based on the calculated PWM control parameter, so as to supply the generated PWM signal to the drive unit.

Abstract: An abnormality monitoring device monitors a PWM driving signal output from a driving section of an associated motor control system to judge whether the driving section is operating abnormally. By monitoring the output of the driving section, the monitoring device can detect an abnormality of the driving section before the motor can respond to the abnormal drive signal to a significant degree (e.g., to a degree readily discernable to a rider of a motorcycle on which the motor control system is employed in combination with an electronic throttle system).

Abstract: An electronic engine control unit for a motorcycle or other two-wheeled vehicle gradually decreases engine torque at the time of a failure so as to eliminate an uneasy feeling that an operator might experience if the engine torque were to be reduced abruptly. When a failure is detected, a throttle valve is closed gradually by initially closing the valve quickly and then slowly closing the valve so as to obtain a smooth decrease in engine torque. In addition, the ignition timing is changed gradually toward retardation to gradually decrease engine torque. Alternatively, the ignition pulses to the cylinders are thinned out gradually to cause a gradual decrease in engine torque. As a further alternative in the case of a multi-cylinder engine, the ignition pulses are stopped on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis to cause a gradual decrease in engine torque.

Abstract: An engine speed control apparatus includes a throttle valve for adjusting the amount of an intake air sucked into an engine, a drive unit for driving the throttle valve, and a control unit for generating a PWM signal for driving the drive unit. The control unit includes a real speed detecting unit for detecting a real engine speed, a target speed setting unit for setting a target engine speed, a target speed change amount calculating unit for calculating a target engine speed change amount with the use of the real engine speed and the target engine speed, and a PWM pulse generating unit which calculates, according to the target engine speed change amount, a PWM control parameter for determining a PWM duty, and generates a PWM signal based on the calculated PWM control parameter, so as to supply the generated PWM signal to the drive unit.

Abstract: Efficiency of evolution in optimization method is improved using evolutionary computing to obtain individuals of higher suitability by repeating the steps of: forming one generation with a group of individuals, and performing calculation using individuals of at least said generation to create a group of individuals of the next generation. The method is characterized in that a search area for next generation individuals is provided in a selection space and a group of next generation individuals is created within the search area.

Abstract: Optimization control of a control system by improving evolution efficiency while retaining the advantages of genetic optimization is described. An optimizer for evolving control parameters affecting the characteristics of a control system uses actual user fitness evaluations of various control parameters or control parameters arranged as chromosomes. Parameters or chromosomes for a next generation are pre-processed using an evaluation model that estimates the fitness of new chromosomes before the chromosomes are presented to the user. Chromosomes that have a low estimated fitness value are modified or deleted, thereby reducing the number of low-quality chromosomes evaluated by the user.

Abstract: An electronic engine control unit for a motorcycle or other two-wheeled vehicle gradually decreases engine torque at the time of a failure so as to eliminate an uneasy feeling that an operator might experience if the engine torque were to be reduced abruptly. When a failure is detected, a throttle valve is closed gradually by initially closing the valve quickly and then slowly closing the valve so as to obtain a smooth decrease in engine torque. In addition, the ignition timing is changed gradually toward retardation to gradually decrease engine torque. Alternatively, the ignition pulses to the cylinders are thinned out gradually to cause a gradual decrease in engine torque. As a further alternative in the case of a multi-cylinder engine, the ignition pulses are stopped on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis to cause a gradual decrease in engine torque.

Abstract: Efficiency of evolution in optimization method is improved using evolutionary computing to obtain individuals of higher suitability by repeating the steps of: forming one generation with a group of individuals, and performing calculation using individuals of at least said generation to create a group of individuals of the next generation. The method is characterized in that a search area for next generation individuals is provided in a selection space and a group of next generation individuals is created within the search area.