Toner conveyance device and image forming apparatus
US9983512B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 10, 2017 |
| Grant date | May 29, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 10, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/0879
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A toner conveyance device includes a downward passage, a reciprocating member disposed in the downward passage, to move in a vertical direction in which the downward passage extends, a conveyance passage communicating with a lower end of the downward passage and extending in a direction crossing the vertical direction, a conveyor to rotate in the conveyance passage around an axis extending along the conveyance passage to transport the toner, and a flexible member projecting from a bottom of the reciprocating member toward the conveyance passage. The flexible member extends in the axial direction of the conveyor and moves together with the reciprocating member. When the reciprocating member is at a lowest position, a lower end of the flexible member opposes a portion of the conveyor downstream from an upper end thereof in a rotation direction thereof.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.