Powder conveyance device, powder container, powder supply device and power utilization device

Abstract

To provide a powder conveyance device and the like which can break the aggregation state of powder before dropping to a conveyance passage part connected to a lower end of a drop passage part and move the powder in the powder conveyance direction of the conveyance passage part.SOLUTION: A powder conveyance device comprises: a drop passage part which has a slope part that is inclined so as to narrow an internal space to which powder drops and through which the powder passes; a conveyance passage part which has a passage space that extends in the conveyance direction of the powder; a conveyance member which conveys the powder by rotating in the passage space; and an elastic sheet which is arranged in a state of covering a portion including the slope part of the drop passage part and in which the upper end side is fixed and the lower end is opposite to the conveyance member as the free end. The elastic sheet has a protrusion closer to the end on the upstream side in the powder conveyance direction of the conveyance member on the lower end. The slope part has a rising part which rises so as to raise the side end part on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the elastic sheet from the slope part. The device includes a contact body which repeats the movement of contacting the protrusion so as to lift a portion of the elastic sheet and then separating in the passage space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a powder transport device, a powder container, a powder supply device, and a powder utilizing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 describes a developer storage container that includes a developer storage section, a transport member that is rotatably arranged inside the developer storage section and transports the developer in the direction of the rotation axis, and an elastic member that is arranged inside the developer storage section along the transport direction, with an upper end side fixed and a lower end that is a free end that can swing freely and is arranged on top of the transport member along the transport direction, and a part of the lower end along the transport direction of the transport member that elastically deforms by coming into contact with multiple points on the upstream and downstream sides in the transport direction of the rotating transport member, and a developing device, an image forming unit, and an image forming device that use the developer storage container. Patent document 1 also describes that the elastic member in the developer storage container is capable of moving between a position where it is deformed upon contact with the transport member and a return position where it is not in contact with the transport member, and that the time at which it moves to the return position differs when it comes into contact with the transport member and is elastically deformed on the upstream and downstream sides along the transport direction of the transport member as the transport member rotates. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5099157 (Claim 1, paragraph 0098, Figure 1, etc.) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention provides a powder conveying device, powder container, powder supplying device and powder utilization device which can move and break down powder before it falls into a conveying passage section connected to the lower end of a falling passage section having a sloped portion that is inclined to narrow the internal space, and which can move the broken down powder in the direction in which the powder is conveyed in the conveying passage section. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This invention (1) is, a falling passage portion having an inclined surface portion inclined so as to narrow an internal space below which the powder falls and passes; a conveying passage portion connected to a lower end of the falling passage portion and having a passage space extending in a direction in which the powder is conveyed; a conveying member that rotates within a passage space of the conveying passage portion to convey the powder in one direction; an elastic sheet disposed in a state of covering a portion of the fall passage including the inclined surface portion, the elastic sheet having an upper end portion fixed while a lower end thereof faces the conveying member as a free end; Equipped with a contact body that repeatedly moves in a passage space of the conveying passage portion so as to contact a lower end of the elastic sheet so as to lift a part of the elastic sheet and then move away from the lower end of the elastic sheet, The inclined surface portion is a powder conveying device having a raised portion that is raised so as to keep the upstream side end portion of the elastic sheet in the conveying direction away from the inclined surface portion.

[0006] The present invention (2) provides the powder conveying device according to the above-mentioned invention (1), further comprising a drive transmission storage section that is provided to enter inside the internal space and stores a transmission gear that transmits rotational power to the conveying member, The elastic sheet is a powder conveying device having a cutout portion cut out so as not to come into contact with the drive transmission storage portion.

[0007] The present invention (3) is the powder transport device according to the above invention (2), wherein the contact body is provided at an upstream portion of the transport member in a transport direction.

[0008] The invention (4) is the powder transport device according to the above invention (1), wherein the elastic sheet has a first cut extending inwards from an upstream side edge in the transport direction.

[0009] The invention (5) is the powder transport device of the invention (4) above, wherein the elastic sheet has a second notch that is cut from an end of the first notch toward an upper end of the elastic sheet.

[0010] The present invention (6) is the powder transport device according to the above-mentioned invention (5), wherein the second cuts are made in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the elastic sheet.

[0011] The invention (7) is the powder transport device according to the above invention (5), wherein the second cut is located downstream of the raised portion in the transport direction.

[0012] The present invention (8) also provides a container body including a drop passage section having an inclined surface section that is inclined so as to narrow an internal space below which powder falls and passes, and a transport passage section that is connected to a lower end of the drop passage section and has a passage space that extends in a direction in which the powder is transported; The powder conveying device according to any one of the above inventions (1) to (7), which conveys the powder in the container body by dropping it from the drop passage section to the conveying passage section; A powder container comprising:

[0013] The present invention (9) also provides a powder storage section including a drop passage section having an inclined surface section that is inclined so as to narrow an internal space below which powder falls and passes, and a transport passage section that is connected to a lower end of the drop passage section and has a passage space that extends in a direction in which the powder is transported; A receiving portion that receives the powder contained in the container portion; a supply conveying section that conveys the powder contained in the container section so as to supply the powder to the receiving section; The powder conveying device according to any one of the above inventions (1) to (7), which conveys powder by dropping it from the drop passage section to the conveying passage section in the storage section; The powder supplying device is provided with:

[0014] Furthermore, the present invention (10) provides a powder consuming device including a powder container for accommodating powder, a powder consuming device to which the powder contained in the powder container is supplied and consumed, and a supply and transport unit for transporting the powder contained in the powder container to supply it to the powder consuming device, The powder container is a powder-utilizing device constituted by the powder container of the above-mentioned invention (8).

[0015] The present invention (11) also provides a powder consuming device comprising: a storage section for storing powder; a powder consuming device to which the powder stored in the storage section is supplied and consumed; and a powder supplying device for transporting the powder stored in the storage section to the powder consuming device and supplying it, The powder supplying device is a powder-utilizing device configured by the powder supplying device of the above invention (9). Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the powder conveying device of the above invention (1), it is possible to move and break down powder before it falls into a conveying passage section connected to the lower part of a falling passage section having a sloped portion that is inclined to narrow the internal space, and to move the broken down powder in the conveying direction in which the powder is conveyed in the conveying passage section.

[0017] According to the above aspect (2), it is possible to prevent the elastic sheet from interfering with the drive transmission storage section when the elastic sheet is lifted by contact with the contact body.

[0018] According to the above aspect (3), the broken down powder can be moved more easily in the transport direction than in a case where the contact body is not provided on the upstream side of the transport member in the transport direction.

[0019] According to the above aspect (4), the crumbled powder can be moved more easily in the transport direction compared to a case in which the elastic sheet does not have the first cuts.

[0020] According to the above invention (5), compared to when the elastic sheet does not have the second cut, the part of the elastic sheet that is lifted, including the part above the first cut, is more likely to elastically deform so as to bend from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction.

[0021] According to the above invention (6), compared to a case where the second cut is not cut in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the elastic sheet, a portion of the elastic sheet that is lifted by contact with the protrusion of the contact body is more likely to stably bend and elastically deform from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction, including the portion above the first cut.

[0022] According to the above invention (7), the amount of displacement of the part of the elastic sheet that is lifted by contact with the protrusion of the contact body is greater than when the second notch is not located downstream of the raised portion in the conveying direction.

[0023] According to the powder container of the above invention (8), compared to a case where the above powder conveying device is not provided, it is possible to move and break up the powder before it falls into the conveying passage section connected to the lower part of the fall passage section which has a sloped portion that is inclined so as to narrow the internal space in the container body, and to move the broken up powder in the direction in which the powder is conveyed in the conveying passage section, thereby making it possible to send out the powder from the container body with less variation due to agglomeration and to reduce the amount of powder remaining in the container body.

[0024] According to the powder supplying device of the above invention (9), compared to a case where the powder conveying device is not included, it is possible to move and break up the powder before it falls into the conveying passage section connected to the lower part of the fall passage section having a sloped portion that is inclined so as to narrow the internal space in the storage section, and to move the broken up powder in the direction in which the powder is conveyed in the conveying passage section, thereby making it possible to send out the powder from the storage section with less variation due to agglomeration and to reduce the amount of powder remaining in the storage section.

[0025] According to the powder utilization device of the above invention (10), compared to a case where the powder container is not configured as a powder container equipped with the above powder conveying device, it is possible to move and break up the powder before it falls into the conveying passage section connected to the lower part of the fall passage section having a sloped portion that is inclined to narrow the internal space in the powder container, and to move the broken up powder in the direction in which the powder is conveyed in the conveying passage section, making it possible to send out the powder from the powder container with less variation due to agglomeration and to reduce the amount of powder remaining in the powder container, and the powder in the powder container is conveyed without any stagnation toward the powder consumption device.

[0026] According to the powder utilization device of the above invention (11), compared to a case where the powder supplying device is not configured as a powder supplying device equipped with the above powder conveying device, it is possible to move and break up the powder before it falls into the conveying passage section connected to the lower part of the fall passage section which has a sloped section that is inclined so as to narrow the internal space in the storage section, and to move the broken up powder in the direction in which the powder is conveyed in the conveying passage section, thereby making it possible to send out the powder from the storage section with less variation due to agglomeration and to reduce the amount of powder remaining in the storage section, and the powder in the storage section is conveyed without any stagnation toward the powder consuming device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus of FIG. 2A with a side cover opened. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus in FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image forming device, etc., which is a part of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a detachable container is removed from the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a developer supplying device, a recovery device, and the like in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1; [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of a developer container. [Figure 7]7 is a schematic perspective view of the developer container from the cross section taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6 . FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a schematic diagram of the developer container from the cross section taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7 toward the rear side. [Figure 9] 7 is a schematic diagram of the developer container from the cross section taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 6 toward the rear side. [Figure 10] 8 is a schematic perspective view showing the developer container in FIG. 7 in a state where the elastic sheet is not yet attached. [Figure 11] 8 is a perspective view showing a conveying member in a conveying portion of the developer container in FIG. 7. [Figure 12] 8 is a perspective view showing an elastic sheet in the developer container of FIG. 7. [Figure 13] 13 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the elastic sheet in FIG. 12. [Figure 14] 8A to 8C are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of an elastic sheet in the developer container of FIG. 7 and an example of a state of elastic deformation thereof. [Figure 15] 8 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an elastic deformation state of an elastic sheet in the developer container of FIG. 7. [Figure 16] 13 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an elastically deformed state of the elastic sheet in FIG. 12. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view showing a developer container according to a first modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 18] 18 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an elastic sheet in the developer container of FIG. 17 and its elastic deformation state. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view showing a developer container according to a second modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 20] 20 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an elastic sheet in the developer container of FIG. 19 and its elastic deformation state. [Figure 21] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing, in partial cross section, a powder supplying device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 22] 22 is a schematic perspective view of the rear side of the cross section taken along line XXII-XXII of the housing part in FIG. 21. [Diagram 23] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a powder coating apparatus according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the present invention (simply referred to as an "embodiment" in this specification) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0029] Embodiment 1 1 and 2 are diagrams showing an image forming apparatus 1A which is an example of a powder utilizing apparatus 1 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 1 shows the external appearance of the image forming apparatus 1A, and Fig. 2 shows the internal state of the image forming apparatus 1A. In the following description, the direction indicated by arrow X in the drawings is the width direction at the front of image forming apparatus 1A, the direction indicated by arrow Y is the height direction at the front of image forming apparatus 1A, and the direction indicated by arrow Z is the depth direction from the front to the rear of image forming apparatus 1A, which is perpendicular to both the width and height directions.

[0030] 1, 2, etc., the image forming apparatus 1A is an apparatus that forms an image made of developer 18A (see FIG. 3) as an example of powder 18 on a recording sheet 19A as an example of a sheet-like material 19. As the developer, for example, a two-component developer containing non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier is used.

[0031] The image forming apparatus 1A according to the first embodiment is configured as a printer having a function of forming, on a recording sheet 19A, an image corresponding to image information input from an external device such as an information terminal, a personal computer, etc. The image information is, for example, information about images such as characters, figures, photographs, patterns, etc. The image forming apparatus 1A also includes a developer container 61 which is an example of a powder container 6 that contains developer 18A, an image forming apparatus 2A which is an example of a powder consumption device 2 to which the developer 18A contained in the developer container 61 is supplied and consumed, and a housing 10 in which the developer container 61 etc. are removably attached and in which the image forming apparatus 2A etc. are arranged.

[0032] The housing 10 is a structure produced by combining materials such as a support frame and exterior panels to form an external shape such as a box. The housing 10 is provided on one side with a side cover 12 that opens and closes. The housing 10 is also provided on its top with a discharge storage section 13 that stores recording sheets 19A that are discharged after an image is formed. The housing 10 is further provided, at a portion where the side cover 12 is opened, with a container mounting section 14 as a structural part for detachably mounting a developer container 61 and a first collection container 65, which will be described later.

[0033] 2, the image forming apparatus 2A includes an image creating device 20 that creates a visible image based on image information, an intermediate transfer device 30 that temporarily holds the visible image created by the image creating device 20 and then secondarily transfers it to a recording sheet 19A, a sheet supply device 40 that stores and supplies the recording sheet 19A to be supplied to the secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer device 30, and a fixing device 45 that fixes the visible image secondarily transferred by the intermediate transfer device 30 onto the recording sheet 19A. This image forming apparatus 2A is an image forming apparatus that uses the intermediate transfer device 30 and applies a so-called intermediate transfer method.

[0034] The image forming device 20 is composed of four image forming devices 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K that are each dedicated to creating toner images that become visible images of four colors, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), for example, using an electrophotographic method.

[0035] Each of the four image forming devices 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K has a drum-shaped photoconductor 21, which is an example of an image carrier that rotates in the direction indicated by arrow A and carries a latent image or a visible image, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. In addition, around the photoconductor 21 of each of the image-forming devices 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K, there are arranged devices such as a charging device 22 that charges the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 21 to a required potential, an exposure device 23 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the charged outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 21 by exposure, developing devices 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K that develop the electrostatic latent image with developer 18A (actually toner) to make a visible toner image, a primary transfer device 25 that transfers the toner image to the intermediate transfer device 30, and a first cleaning device 26 that cleans the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 21. In Fig. 2, all of the reference numerals 21 to 26 are shown only for the yellow (Y) imaging device 20Y, and only some of the reference numerals are shown for the other color imaging devices 20M, 20C, and 20K. Also, in Fig. 3, the black imaging device 20K is shown as a representative.

[0036] 2, the intermediate transfer device 30 includes an intermediate transfer belt 31, which is an example of an intermediate transfer body onto which a toner image is primarily transferred from each of the photoconductors 21 of the image forming devices 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K and held. The intermediate transfer belt 31 is an endless belt capable of holding a toner image by electrostatic force, and is supported by a plurality of support rolls 32 (e.g., two support rolls 32a and 32b) arranged inside the intermediate transfer belt 31 so as to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow B while passing through the primary transfer positions TP1 of the image forming devices 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K in sequence. In addition, the intermediate transfer device 30 is provided with devices arranged around the intermediate transfer belt 31, such as a secondary transfer device 35 that secondarily transfers the toner image that has been primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 31 onto a recording sheet 19A, and a second cleaning device 36 that cleans the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31.

[0037] When the imaging devices 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K receive an image forming operation command from an external device or the like through a control device (not shown), the charging device 22 charges each photoconductor 21 that rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow A, the exposure device 23 exposes each photoconductor 21, and the developing devices 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K develop each photoconductor 21 in sequence, thereby forming a dedicated toner image of one of four colors (Y, M, C, and K) on the outer circumferential surface of each photoconductor 21. For example, a yellow (Y) toner image is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the photoconductor 21 in the imaging device 20Y, and a magenta (M) toner image is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the photoconductor 21 in the imaging device 20M.

[0038] Furthermore, the image forming devices 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K and the intermediate transfer device 30 each perform a transfer operation by the primary transfer device 25 at each primary transfer position TP1 where the intermediate transfer belt 31 rotates in the direction indicated by arrow B and the primary transfer device 25 faces the intermediate transfer belt 31, thereby operating so that the toner images formed on each photoconductor 21 are primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 31 at a predetermined timing. After the primary transfer, the outer circumferential surface of each photoconductor 21 is cleaned by each first cleaning device 26 to remove residual toner and other unwanted matter.

[0039] Furthermore, the intermediate transfer device 30 operates such that a transfer operation is performed by the secondary transfer device 35 at a secondary transfer position TP2 of the intermediate transfer belt 31 facing the secondary transfer device 35, whereby the toner images primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 31 are secondarily transferred all at once onto one side of the recording sheet 19A supplied from the sheet supply device 40. After the secondary transfer, the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31 is cleaned by a second cleaning device 36 to remove residual toner and other unwanted matter.

[0040] The sheet supplying device 40 is a device that stores the recording sheets 19A to be supplied to the secondary transfer position TP2 and supplies the recording sheets 19A to the secondary transfer position TP2. The sheet supplying device 40 includes, for example, a container 41 that stores and stacks the recording sheets 19A and is attached to the outside of the housing 10 so as to be removable, and a delivery device 42 that delivers the recording sheets 19A stored in the container 41 one by one. When a required time comes, such as during an image forming operation, the sheet supplying device 40 operates so that the delivery device 42 starts to deliver the recording sheets 19A from the container 41 one by one.

[0041] 2, the recording sheet 19A sent out from the sheet supply device 40 is transported to a secondary transfer position TP2 of the intermediate transfer device 30 via a supply transport path Tr1 constituted by a pair of transport rolls 44a, 44b, a guide member (not shown), etc. As the recording sheet 19A, any sheet-like recording medium such as plain paper, coated paper, thick paper, envelope, etc. that can be transported within the housing 10 and on which a toner image can be transferred and fixed can be used, and there are no particular restrictions on the material, shape, etc. of the recording sheet 19A.

[0042] The fixing device 45 includes devices arranged in the internal space of a housing (not shown) in which an inlet and an outlet for the recording sheet 19A are provided, such as a heating rotor 46 having a heating means (not shown) in the form of a roll, a belt / nip, or the like, and a pressure rotor 47 having the form of a roll, or the like. At a required time, such as during an image forming operation, the fixing device 45 starts to rotate in a required direction while the heating rotor 46 is heated to the fixing temperature and the heating rotor 46 and the pressure rotor 47 are in pressure contact with each other, and operates to introduce and pass the recording sheet 19A onto which the toner image, which is fed from the secondary transfer position TP2 and has been secondarily transferred, into the nip portion where they are in pressure contact. As a result, the toner image on the recording sheet 19A is melted by a fixing process such as heating and pressure in the nip portion, and is fixed to one side of the recording sheet 19A.

[0043] After the fixing operation by the fixing device 45 is completed, the recording sheet 19A is transported via a discharge transport path Tr3, which is composed of a pair of discharge rolls 48 arranged at a position just inside the discharge outlet 15 and a guide member (not shown), as shown in FIG. 2, and is then discharged from the discharge outlet 15 and stored in the discharge storage section 13. With the above, the image forming operation on one side of the recording sheet 19A by the image forming apparatus 1A is completed.

[0044] In this image forming apparatus 1A, different types of image forming operations can be selected and performed as desired, such as an operation of forming a multi-color image composed of a combination of four color (Y, M, C, K) toner images by operating all four image forming devices 20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K, and an operation of forming a monochrome image, such as a black image, composed of a monochrome toner image by operating one of the four image forming devices 20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K.

[0045] <Developer Supply> In the image forming apparatus 1A, the developer 18A, actually the toner 18At (see FIG. 9) is consumed and reduced by the development operations performed in the developing devices 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K, so it is necessary to replenish the toner 18At in an amount roughly equivalent to the amount of the reduced amount. For this reason, the image forming apparatus 1A is equipped with a developer supplying device 7A, which is an example of the powder supplying device 7, as conceptually shown in FIG. 5.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 5, the developer supply device 7A includes developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K which are an example of a powder container 6 that contains toner 18At of developer 18A or an example of a storage section 71, developing devices 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K which are an example of a receiving section 75 that respectively receives the toner 18At of developer 18A contained in the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K, and supply path sections 27Y, 27M, 27C, and 27K which are an example of a supply transport section 77 that transports the toner 18At of developer 18A contained in the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K to the developing devices 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K, respectively.

[0047] When it becomes necessary to replenish the toner 18At, the developer supply device 7A operates to transport the toner 18At of each developer 18A contained in the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K through the supply path sections 27Y, 27M, 27C, and 27K, respectively, and supply it individually to the developing devices 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K.

[0048] Among these, the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K, which are also an example of the storage section 71, are containers in which the toner 18At of the four colors (Y, M, C, and K) of the developer 18A are individually stored. In addition, the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K each have a transport member 64, 67, which will be described later, disposed therein for transporting the toner 18At. The developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K will be described in detail later.

[0049] In addition, the developing devices 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K, which are examples of the receiving section 75, differ only in that the color of the toner 18At of the developer 18A used is one of four colors (Y, M, C, K), and otherwise have the same configuration. That is, the developing devices 24Y, 24M, 24C, 24K, as shown in FIG. 3 as a representative example, are configured such that the developing devices 24Y, 24M, 24C, 24K are provided with a container-shaped housing 24a having a developer storage chamber and a development opening, a developing roll 24b that holds the developer 18A and supplies it to the development area of ​​the photoconductor 21 facing the development opening, stirring and transporting members 24c, 24d such as screw augers that stir and transport the developer 18A contained in the developer storage chamber of the housing 24a, and an adjustment member 24e that adjusts the amount of developer 18A held on the developing roll 24b, for example the thickness of the layer of the held developer 18A.

[0050] Furthermore, the supply path portion 27Y, 27M, 27C, 27K, which is an example of the supply conveying portion 77, is a structural portion in which a conveying passage for conveying the toner 18At to be replenished is formed. As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 8, the supply path portion 27Y, 27M, 27C, 27K is provided as a cylindrical structure in which one end of the agitation conveying member 24c is extended to the side where the container mounting portion 14 is present on one side of the housing 24a of the developing device 24Y, 24M, 24C, 24K. The extended portion of the agitation conveying member 24c may have a configuration that fits the supply path portion 27, and the configuration is not particularly limited. Moreover, the extended portion of the agitation conveying member 24c is rotated in synchronization with the operation of the agitation conveying member 24c.

[0051] When the developing devices 24Y, 24M, 24C, 24K are installed at their mounting positions in the housing 10, as shown in Fig. 4, the supply path portions 27Y, 27M, 27C, 27K are in a state of protruding outward from a receiving portion (not shown) provided in the container mounting portion 14. As shown in Fig. 8, the supply path portions 27Y, 27M, 27C, 27K are provided at their protruding ends with a receiving port 27b for receiving the toner 18At to be replenished, and an opening / closing lid (not shown) for opening and closing the receiving port 27b.

[0052] The container mounting portion 14 in which the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K are mounted is provided with a drive transmission portion 28 for transmitting rotational power to the conveying members 64 and 67, described later, that are arranged inside each of the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K, as shown in FIG. A connecting drive gear (not shown) is disposed in the drive transmission unit 28. The drive gear receives and transmits rotational power from a rotation drive device (not shown) disposed in the housing 10 of the image forming apparatus 1A. The rotation drive device rotates for a required time when it receives detection information from a detection unit (not shown) that detects a state in which the image forming apparatus 1A needs to be replenished with toner 18At. As a result, a required amount of toner 18At contained in the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K is sent to the supply path portions 27Y, 27M, 27C, and 27K by the conveying members 64 and 67 that are rotationally driven for a required time.

[0053] <Developer container> Each of the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K is an example of a powder container 6, and as shown in Figures 6 to 10, is equipped with a container body 60 in which the toner 18At of the developer 18A is contained, and a developer conveying device 5A, which is an example of a powder conveying device 5 that drops and conveys the contained toner 18At within the container body 60.

[0054] The container body 60 has an external shape of, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is elongated in the vertical direction, as shown in Fig. 6. The container body 60 is provided with an internal storage space 62 having an internal space S1 in which the toner 18At of the developer 18A is stored, and a transport section 63 and a discharge section 66 that are provided to be connected to the lower side of the storage space 62, as shown in Figs. 6, 7, etc.

[0055] The storage space 62 of the container body 60 is a structural portion in which the toner 18At is stored. As shown in Figures 6 to 10, this storage space 62 has a structure in which a space is formed by four vertical surface portions 62a, 62b, 62c, 62d consisting of surfaces that are approximately perpendicular to each other and extend approximately vertically in the up-down direction, a first inclined surface portion 62e that is inclined at the bottom of vertical surface portion 62b so as to narrow the internal space S1, and a second inclined surface portion 62f that is inclined at the bottom of vertical surface portion 62a facing vertical surface portion 62b so as to narrow the internal space S1. 7 and 9, the storage space 62 has a ceiling surface portion with an opening 62t formed therein at its upper end. The opening 62t is used mainly when filling the toner 18At, and is closed by a lid 62u when not in use. When the toner 18At is replenished, the toner 18At contained in the storage space 62 falls and moves into the transport section 63 below mainly due to gravity.

[0056] The transport portion 63 of the container main body 60 is a structural portion that is connected to the lower end of the storage space portion 62 and is provided so as to extend in the direction in which the toner 18At of the developer 18A is transported. 6, 8, 9, etc., the transport section 63 has a groove-like passage space S2 that protrudes downward from both the lower end of the first inclined surface portion 62e and the lower end of the second inclined surface portion 62f and has a U-shaped cross section and extends linearly from the vertical surface portion 62c to the vertical surface portion 62d. In addition, a delivery port 63c for delivering the toner 18At to the discharge section 66 is provided at the lower end of the end of the transport section 63 on the side where the vertical surface portion 62d is located.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the conveying section 63 is provided with a conveying member 64 that rotates within the passage space S2 to convey the toner 18At in one direction, that is, a conveying direction D1. The conveying member 64 is a member such as a screw auger having a conveying protrusion 64b that protrudes in a spiral shape from the outer circumferential surface of a rotating shaft 64a. The conveying member 64 is rotated in a predetermined direction about the rotating shaft 64a, so that the toner 18At that falls from the storage space 62 to the conveying section 63 is moved in a conveying direction D1 by the conveying protrusion 64b and conveyed so as to be sent out from the delivery port 63c. The conveying direction D1 of the toner 18At by the conveying member 64 can be regarded as a direction along the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the rotating shaft 64a.

[0058] As shown in Figure 11 etc., the conveying member 64 has a disk-shaped support portion 64c at the upstream end of the rotating shaft 64a in the conveying direction D1, and a bucket-shaped send-out portion 64e at the downstream end of the rotating shaft 64a in the conveying direction D1. The sending section 64e is a structural portion having a recess 64d that scoops up and temporarily stores the toner 18At being transported and moving through the passage space S2 of the transport section 63 and sends the toner 18At to the sending outlet 63c when the transport member 64 rotates and passes through the sending outlet 63c, and an outer peripheral surface portion 64f that forms the bottom surface of the recess 64d and is made of a cylindrical outer peripheral surface having a sector-shaped cross section with the rotation axis 64a as the center line. The outer peripheral surface portion 64f functions to temporarily block the sending outlet 63c when the transport member 64 rotates and passes through the sending outlet 63c, thereby temporarily preventing the toner 18At from being sent to the sending outlet 63c or from leaking.

[0059] The discharge portion 66 of the container body 60 is a structural portion provided to discharge the toner 18At sent out from the transport portion 63 to each of the supply path portions 27Y, 27M, 27C, and 27K. The discharge section 66 has a cylindrical passage space S3 extending from the vertical surface portion 62d to the vertical surface portion 62c formed inside a cylindrical structural portion disposed substantially parallel to the outlet 63c and connected to the outlet 63c below the transport section 63. A discharge port 66c for discharging the toner 18At is provided at the bottom of the end of the discharge section 66 on the side where the vertical surface portion 62b is located.

[0060] 7 to 9, the discharge section 66 is provided with a conveying member 67 that rotates within the passage space S3 and conveys the toner 18At in a conveying direction D2 that is the opposite direction to the conveying direction D1. The conveying member 67 is an agitator or the like having a spirally extending wire portion 67b attached to a rotating shaft portion 67a disposed on one end side. The conveying member 67 is rotated in a predetermined direction about the rotating shaft portion 67a, and conveys the toner 18At sent from the sending-out port 63c of the conveying portion 63 to the discharge portion 66 by moving the toner 18At in the discharge direction D2 by the wire portion 67b so as to be discharged from the discharge port 66c.

[0061] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8 and other figures, the discharge section 66 is provided with a movable shutter 69 that opens and closes the discharge port 66c. The movable shutter 69 has a cylindrical body with an open end, and the body is installed movably within the passage space S3 of the discharge section 66. The movable shutter 69 has an opening 69c at a position in the lower part of the body that can face the discharge port 66c, and a recess 69d is provided on the outside of the end on the closed side of the body. The recess 69d is a portion against which the pressing parts 24p protruding from the side parts of the housings 24a of the developing devices 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K abut when the developer container 61 is attached to the container attachment section 14. Further, the movable shutter 69 is pushed by the spring force of the spring 693 within the passage space S3 of the discharge section 66 and is maintained in a state in which it moves in the direction indicated by the arrow D2.

[0062] When the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, 61K are not attached to the container attachment portion 14, the movable shutter 69 is kept in a state in which it moves in the direction indicated by the arrow D2 by being pushed by the spring force of the spring 693 within the space of the discharge portion 66. As a result, the discharge port 66c of the discharge portion 66 is closed by the main body of the movable shutter 69 moving to a position facing the discharge port 66c of the discharge portion 66. On the other hand, when the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K are mounted in the container mounting portion 14, the pressing portions 24p of the developing devices 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K abut against the recesses 69d and push the movable shutter 69 in the direction indicated by the arrow D1, as shown in Fig. 8. As a result, the discharge port 66c of the discharge portion 66 moves to a position where the opening 69c of the movable shutter 69 faces the discharge port 66c of the discharge portion 66, thereby opening the discharge port 66c.

[0063] 7 or 8, the conveying member 64 and the conveying member 67 are rotated by the transmission of rotational power from transmission gears 68A, 68B attached to the respective rotation shafts 64a or rotation shaft portions 67a. The transmission gear 68B meshes with the transmission gear 68A. When the developer container 61 is attached to the container attachment portion 14, the transmission gear 68B is adapted to mesh with and connect to a drive gear (not shown) of the drive transmission portion 28 provided in the container attachment portion 14 directly or via a gear train (not shown), thereby transmitting the rotational power.

[0064] <Developer transport device> As shown in Figures 7 to 9, the developer transport device 5A includes a fall passage section 51 having an inclined portion 52 that is inclined so as to narrow the internal space S1 below the internal space S1 through which the toner 18At falls and passes, a transport passage section 53 connected to the lower end of the fall passage section 51 and having a passage space S2 extending in the transport direction D1 in which the toner 18At is transported, a transport member 54 that rotates in the passage space S2 of the transport passage section 53 to transport the toner 18At in one direction, the transport direction D1, and an elastic sheet 55 arranged to cover the portion including the inclined portion 52. The developer transport device 5A also includes a discharge portion 66 and a transport member 67.

[0065] Here, the fall passage portion 51 in the developer transport device 5A becomes at least the first inclined surface portion 62e and its surrounding portion in the storage space portion 62 in the container body 60. The inclined surface portion 52 becomes the first inclined surface portion 62e in the storage space portion 62. Moreover, the transport passage portion 53 becomes the transport portion 63 in the container body 60. Furthermore, the transport member 54 becomes the transport member 64 disposed in the transport portion 63 in the container body 60. Incidentally, the internal space S1 is also a storage space in which powder is stored.

[0066] The elastic sheet 55 is a sheet-like member that has elasticity to bend and deform when subjected to an external force, but restores its original shape when the external force is removed, and has shape retention to maintain its shape when not subjected to an external force. As the elastic sheet 55 in the first embodiment, for example, a sheet made of a synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate and formed into a vertically long, substantially rectangular shape with a thickness of about 100 to 200 μm is used.

[0067] As shown in Figures 7 to 9, the elastic sheet 55 has a required portion 55g on its upper end 55a side fixed to the upper part of the vertical surface portion 62b that constitutes the drop passage portion 51, and its lower end 55b is positioned as a free end facing the conveying member 54 in the conveying passage portion 53. The portion 55g of the elastic sheet 55 on the side of the upper end 55a is, for example, the upper half of the surface facing the vertical surface portion 62b, and this portion is adhered to the upper portion of the vertical surface portion 62b via a means such as an adhesive. The lower end 55b, which is the free end of the elastic sheet 55, protrudes downward from the lower end of the inclined portion 52, which is the first inclined portion 62e, and is formed as an end portion having a shape that extends approximately in a straight line in a direction parallel to the rotation axis 64a of the conveying member 64, at a position close to the conveying protrusion 64b of the conveying member 64.

[0068] In addition, as shown in Figures 7, 12, etc., the elastic sheet 55 is bent at a portion 55h corresponding to the boundary (line) between the vertical surface portion 62b and the first inclined surface portion 62e in the storage space portion 62 so as to follow and easily come into contact with the vertical surface portion 62b and the first inclined surface portion 62e, respectively. 8, the elastic sheet 55 has a cutout 55e formed in a lower portion on the side of the vertical surface 62d in the storage space 62, the cutout 55e being cut obliquely from the vertical surface 62d toward the inside of the internal space S1. The cutout 55e is a portion that has been removed to avoid interference with the drive transmission storage section 625 of the container body 60. The drive transmission storage section 625 is a structural portion provided to extend into the storage space 62 in a portion of the container body 60 from the lower portion of the first inclined surface 62e to the ends of the transport section 63 and the discharge section 66 located below.

[0069] In the developer transport device 5A, as shown in Figures 7 to 9, a protrusion 551 is provided on the lower end 55b of the elastic sheet 55, and a contact body 59 is provided in the passage space S2 of the transport section 63, which repeats a series of movements of contacting the protrusion 551 to lift a part of the elastic sheet 55 and then releasing it. In addition, in the developer conveying device 5A, as shown in Figures 7 to 10, a raised portion 56 is provided on a part of the inclined portion 52 so as to keep the upstream side end 55c (part of) of the elastic sheet 55 in the conveying direction D1 away from the inclined portion 52. Furthermore, in the developer conveying device 5A, as shown in Figures 7, 8, etc., a first notch 57 is provided that is cut inward from the upstream side end 55c of the elastic sheet 55 in the conveying direction D1, and a second notch 58 is provided that is cut from the terminal end 57e of the first notch 57 toward the upper end 55a of the elastic sheet 55.

[0070] The protrusion 551 is a portion that protrudes from a lower end 55b of the elastic sheet 55 toward the upstream end of the conveying member 54 in the conveying direction D1 in which the toner 18At is conveyed.

[0071] This protrusion 551 is provided at a position near the upstream end of the elastic sheet 55 in the conveying direction D1, but more specifically, as shown in Figure 13, it is preferable to provide it so that it is within 1 / 4 of the total width W2 of the lower end 55b of the elastic sheet 55 along the conveying direction D1. If the protrusion 551 does not exist within this range, for example, a part of the elastic sheet 55 may become difficult to elastically deform so as to bend and warp toward the downstream side in the conveying direction D1 as described below. The part of the elastic sheet 55 includes at least the side end 55c and the bottom end 55b on the upstream side in the conveying direction D1.

[0072] Furthermore, the projection 551 has a rectangular planar shape, but the planar shape is not limited thereto. The projection 551 may have any protruding dimension as long as it can contact the contact body 59 and elastically deform so that a part of the elastic sheet 55 is lifted by the contact and bent toward the downstream side in the conveying direction D1. The projection 551 is not provided in the region (half of the region) of the lower end 55b of the elastic sheet 55 that is downstream in the conveying direction D1.

[0073] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, 11, and the like, the contact body 59 is provided at an upstream end of the conveying member 54 in the conveying direction D1. Specifically, as shown in Figure 11 etc., the contact body 59 is provided as a plate-shaped structural part that rises from the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 54a at the upstream end of the rotating shaft 54a of the conveying member 54 in the conveying direction D1 and is approximately parallel to the axial direction of the rotating shaft 54a. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, the contact body 59 in embodiment 1 is located between the support portion 64c and the transport protrusion 64b of the transport member 54, and is configured to be at the same height as the top (outer periphery) of the support portion 64c and the transport protrusion 64b.

[0074] The contact body 59 moves in a circular motion around the rotation shaft 54a as the conveying member 54 is rotated, and during the movement, it temporarily comes into contact with the protrusion 551 of the elastic sheet 55 and then passes by.

[0075] As shown in FIGS. 9, 10, etc., the raised portion 56 is provided as a structural portion that is raised in an arc shape near the upstream end of the inclined surface portion 52 in the conveying direction D1. The raised portion 56 is provided so as to be present within the upper half of the entire range of the inclined surface portion 52 in the up-down direction. 8 or 13, the raised portion 56 is provided so as to be located upstream in the transport direction D1 from the center position Pc of the protrusion 551 in the transport direction D1. If the raised portion 56 is provided so as to be located downstream in the transport direction D1 from the center position Pc of the protrusion 551, there is a risk of problems occurring, such as fluctuations in density of a developed image due to poor transport of the developer caused by bending of the elastic sheet 55.

[0076] The first cut 57 is provided as a cut extending linearly from a side end 55c of the elastic sheet 55 on the upstream side in the transport direction D1 and substantially parallel to the transport direction D1. The first cut 57 in the first embodiment is not simply a cut line, but is formed by cutting out a required width into the elastic sheet 55. When the first cut 57 is formed by cutting out the required width, it has an advantage that the deflection of the elastic sheet 55 is increased, improving the developer transport force.

[0077] The first cut 57 is provided so as to be present at approximately the center of the entire range in the up-down direction of the portion covering the slope portion 52. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. 13, the first cut 57 is provided so that its end 57e is located within a range equivalent to the width W3 of the protrusion 551 of the elastic sheet 55 along the conveying direction D1. If the first cut 57 is short such that the end 57e is in a position that does not reach the range of the elastic sheet 55 that corresponds to the width W3 of the protrusion 551, the developer transport force due to the flexure of the elastic sheet 55 will decrease, causing problems such as fluctuations in the density of the developed image. On the other hand, if the end 57e is long such that the end 57e is in a position that exceeds the range of the elastic sheet 55 that corresponds to the width W3 of the protrusion 551, the developer will become less likely to move and will tend to remain in the container, causing problems such as an increase in the loss of unused developer remaining in the container.

[0078] 8 or 13, the first cutout 57 is provided so as to be located below the lower end 56b of the raised portion 56. The position below the lower end 56b of the raised portion 56 is, for example, a position spaced apart from the lower end 56b by a distance of about 5 to 10 mm. If the first cutout 57 is not located below the lower end 56b of the raised portion 56, the developer transport force caused by the flexure of the elastic sheet 55 decreases, causing problems such as fluctuations in the density of the developed image.

[0079] The second cut 58 is cut toward the upper end 55a of the elastic sheet 55, but in a direction intersecting with the conveying direction D1 of the elastic sheet 55. In this case, the intersecting direction is preferably within a range intersecting at an angle of, for example, ±5° from the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction D1. Reference numeral 581 shown in FIG. 12 etc. denotes a through hole provided at the upper end of the second cut 58 to prevent the cut from being unnecessarily enlarged. The second cut 58 is preferably provided so that its terminal end (upper end) 58e is located at a position higher than the upper end 56a of the raised portion 56.

[0080] 8 or 13, the second cutout 58 is provided so as to be present at a position downstream of the raised portion 56 in the transport direction D1. The position downstream of the raised portion 56 in the transport direction D1 is, for example, a position spaced apart from the raised portion 56 by a distance of about 2 to 5 mm. If the second cutout 58 is not present at a position downstream of the raised portion 56 in the transport direction D1, the elastic sheet 55 will bend, reducing the developer transport force, causing problems such as fluctuations in the density of the developed image.

[0081] In this developer transport device 5A, the slope 52 is provided with the raised portion 56, and the elastic sheet 55 is provided with the first cut 57 and the second cut 58, so that the elastic sheet 55 is partially in a different state. 9, of the elastic sheet 55, among the end portion covering the slope portion 52 on the upstream side in the conveying direction D1, a portion 55i that is surrounded by the first notch 57 and the second notch 58 and that is present on the raised portion 56 is placed on the raised portion 56 and separated from the slope portion 52 and floats thereon. On the other hand, the portion of the elastic sheet 55 covering the slope portion 52, excluding the portion 55i, is placed in a state of almost contacting the slope portion 52.

[0082] <Configuration for recovery of developer, etc.> Incidentally, in the image forming apparatus 1A, as conceptually shown in FIG. 5, unwanted matter (mainly toner) removed by each first cleaning device 26 in the imaging devices 20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K is collected in first collection containers 65Y, 65M, 65C, 65K via first collection path portions 29Y, 29M, 29C, 29K, respectively, and unwanted matter (mainly toner) removed by the second cleaning device 36 in the intermediate transfer device 30 is collected in second collection container 68 via the second collection path portion 37.

[0083] The first recovery path sections 29Y, 29M, 29C, and 29K are provided, for example, as cylindrical structures on one side surface of the housings 26a of the first cleaning devices 26Y, 26M, 26C, and 26K, with the transport member 26c extending toward the container mounting section 14. The second recovery path section 37 is provided, for example, as a cylindrical structure on one side surface of the housing 36a of the second cleaning device 36, with the transport member 36c extending toward the container mounting section 14.

[0084] When the first cleaning devices 26Y, 26M, 26C, 26K and the second cleaning device 36 are installed in the housing 10, the first recovery path portions 29Y, 29M, 29C, 29K and the second recovery path portion 37 are in a state of protruding outward from a through-receiving portion (not shown) provided in the container mounting portion 14 as shown in Fig. 4, and a discharge port and an opening / closing lid (not shown) are provided on the underside of each protruding end. Also, the first recovery path portions 29Y, 29M, 29C, 29K and the second recovery path portion 37 are configured to be connected to recovery receiving portions (not shown) provided in the first recovery containers 65Y, 65M, 65C, 65K and the second recovery container 68 in the container mounting portion 14, respectively.

[0085] The first collection containers 65Y, 65M, 65C, and 65K in the first embodiment are provided integrally with the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K, respectively. The first collection containers 65Y, 65M, 65C, and 65K may be configured as independent containers separate from the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K. In this case, the first collection containers 65Y, 65M, 65C, and 65K may be configured as a single first collection container 65. When configured as a single first collection container 65, unwanted materials, mainly toner, collected by each of the first cleaning devices 26 are stored together in the single first collection container 65.

[0086] <Operation of developer transport device in developer container> Next, the operation of the developer transport device 5A provided in the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K in the developer supply device 7A will be described.

[0087] First, in the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K, when it becomes time for the developer supply device 7A to replenish the toner 18At, the conveying member 64 and the conveying member 67 of the corresponding developer container 61 that needs to be replenished are rotationally driven in a predetermined direction for the required time by the rotational power transmitted from the drive transmission part 28 in the container mounting part 14 via the transmission gears 68A and 68B.

[0088] As a result, in the corresponding developer container 61 where toner 18At should be replenished, as shown in Figure 14, the toner 18At is transported to move in the transport direction D1 by the transport force of the transport member 54, which is also the transport member 64 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow within the passage space S2 of the transport passage portion 53, which is also the transport portion 63. In addition, the toner 18At transported to the downstream end side of the transport passage portion 53 in the transport direction D1 is scooped up by the recess 64d of the discharge portion 64e of the transport member 54, and then when the recess 64d faces the discharge opening 63c of the transport passage portion 53, it is sent out so as to fall from the discharge opening 63c to the discharge portion 66.

[0089] Next, in the corresponding developer container 61, the toner 18At introduced from the conveying section 63 is conveyed so as to move in the conveying direction D2 by the conveying force of the conveying member 67 rotating in a predetermined direction within the passage space S3 of the conveying section 66. The toner 18At transported to the downstream end of the discharge section 66 in the discharge direction D2 passes through the opening 69c of the movable shutter 69 and is discharged from the discharge outlet 66c of the discharge section 66 so as to fall into the supply path section 27 connected to the corresponding developer container 61.

[0090] Finally, the toner 18At discharged into the supply path section 27 in the developer supply device 7A is transported into the housing 24a of the developing device 24 and replenished because the extended portion of the stirring and conveying member 24c in the developing device 24 corresponding to that supply path section 27 rotates in the same direction as the stirring and conveying member 24c.

[0091] In the corresponding developer container 61 to be replenished, when the transport member 54 rotates within the passage space S2 of the transport passage portion 53 during replenishment of the toner 18At, a series of movements is repeated in which the contact body 59 provided on the transport member 54 temporarily or periodically comes into contact with the protrusion 551 of the elastic sheet 55 and then passes through.

[0092] At this time, when the contact body 59 comes into contact with the protrusion 551, the elastic sheet 55 in the developer conveying device 5A of the corresponding developer container 61 is lifted from below by the contact body 59 which moves in accordance with the conveying member 54 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow, so that the upstream side end 55c in the conveying direction D1 is gradually lifted from the lower end 55b, as illustrated by the dotted line in Figure 14 or Figure 15.

[0093] 15 and 16, the elastic sheet 55 is elastically deformed such that a portion 55k on the upstream side in the conveying direction D1 is warped obliquely upward toward the downstream side in the conveying direction D1. At this time, the portion 55k of the elastic sheet 55 is elastically deformed except for a portion 55i that rests on the raised portion 56, with the first cut 57 and the second cut 58 as the boundary. The elastically deformed portion 55k of the elastic sheet is separated upward from the slope portion 52. The two-dot chain line L in Figs. 15 and 16 indicates an example of a boundary line between a part 55k of the elastic sheet that elastically deforms and the other part, that is, the part that does not elastically deform.

[0094] In addition, at this time, when the contact body 59 leaves contact with the protrusion 551 and passes by, the part 55k of the elastic sheet 55 that has been elastically deformed as described above returns to its original state because the lifting action of the contact body 59 is no longer present. In other words, the part 55k of the elastic sheet 55 at this time returns to a state in which it contacts the inclined surface portion 52. In this manner, the contact body 59 moves so as to repeatedly come into contact with and separate from the protrusion 551, whereby the elastic sheet 55 fluctuates so that the portion 55k thereof repeatedly undergoes the above-mentioned elastic deformation and then returns to its original state.

[0095] As a result, the toner 18At contained in the containing space 62 of the corresponding developer container 61 is moved when the part 55k of the elastic sheet 55 in the developer transport device 5A is elastically deformed as described above. In particular, when the toner 18At is in a state that is likely to aggregate or has already aggregated before falling into the transport passage portion 53 connected to the lower part of the fall passage portion 51 having the inclined portion 52 that is inclined so as to narrow the internal space S1 of the storage space portion 62, the toner 18At in that state is loosened and broken down by the movement of the part 55k of the elastic sheet 55 that elastically deforms as described above. Moreover, in this case, the broken toner 18At is elastically deformed in such a manner that a portion 55k of the elastic sheet 55 is warped diagonally upward toward the downstream side of the transport direction D1 as described above, and thus the broken toner 18At is moved downstream of the transport direction D1 as illustrated by the dashed double-dashed arrow R in Figures 15 and 16.

[0096] In this way, the elastic sheet 55 in the developer transport device 5A, by having a portion 55k elastically deform in the state described above, is not only able to cause the toner 18At in the fall passage portion 51 to simply break down and fall into the transport passage portion 53, but also able to move the toner 18At downstream in the transport direction D1 of the transport passage portion 53, and functions to assist the transport member 54 in transporting the toner 18At in the transport passage portion 53 in the transport direction D1.

[0097] Therefore, in the corresponding developer container 61 to which the toner 18At should be replenished, the movement of the elastic sheet 55 in the developer transport device 5A causes the toner 18At in the falling passage section 51 to fall into the transport passage section 53 at least without remaining therein due to coagulation, and is transported stably in the transport direction D1, and is ultimately sent out of the container body 60 from the transport passage section 53 through the discharge section 66.

[0098] As a result, in the developer container 61, even if the toner 18At is in a state that is likely to aggregate or has already aggregated before falling into the transport passage portion 53, the toner 18At in that state is loosened and broken down by the movement of the part 55k of the elastic sheet 55, and the broken down toner 18At is moved downstream in the transport direction D1. As a result, in developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K equipped with developer transport device 5A, as well as in developer supply device 7A using these developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K, toner 18At contained in the container body 60 is smoothly sent out of the container body 60 with little variation due to aggregation, and the amount of toner 18At that aggregates and remains in the container body 60 is also reduced.

[0099] In addition, in developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K, a first notch 57 and a second notch 58 are provided in the elastic sheet 55, so that a portion 55k of the elastic sheet 55 which elastically deforms when the contact body 59 comes into contact with the protrusion 551 elastically deforms except for a portion 55i which rests on the raised portion 56, between the first notch 57 and the second notch 58 as described above. This has the advantage that the developer transport performance due to the deflection of the elastic sheet 55 is improved.

[0100] In addition, in the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K, the raised portion 56 is present at a position upstream of the center position Pc (see FIG. 13) of the protrusion 551 of the elastic sheet 55 in the transport direction D1, so that the part 55k of the elastic sheet 55 is more likely to elastically deform in a state in which it is warped obliquely upward toward the downstream side in the transport direction D1 of the toner 18At as described above, compared to a case in which the raised portion 56 is not present at that position. This makes it easier to move the toner 18At broken down by the part 55k of the elastic sheet 55 during the elastic deformation in the transport direction D1.

[0101] Furthermore, in the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K, the end 57e of the first cut 57 in the elastic sheet 55 is present within a range corresponding to the width W3 of the protrusion 551 along the transport direction D1, so that the part 55k of the elastic sheet 55 is more likely to elastically deform so as to bend from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction D1 of the toner 18At when the contact body 59 is brought into contact with the protrusion 551 and lifted, compared to the case where the end 57e of the first cut 57 is not present at that position. This also makes it easier to move the toner 18At broken by the part 55k of the elastic sheet 55 when it is elastically deformed in the transport direction D1.

[0102] Moreover, in the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K, the elastic sheet 55 is provided with the second cut 58 cut from the end 57e of the first cut 57 toward the upper end 55a, so that the part 55k of the elastic sheet 55 lifted by contact with the protrusion 551 of the contact body 59 is more likely to bend elastically from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction D1 of the toner 18At, including the part above the first cut 57, compared to a case where the second cut 58 is not provided. This also makes it easier to move the toner 18At broken down by the part 55k of the elastic sheet 55 when it elastically deforms in the transport direction D1.

[0103] In addition, in the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K, the second cuts 58 are cut into the elastic sheet 55 in a direction intersecting the transport direction D1 of the toner 18At. Therefore, compared to a case in which the second cuts 58 are not cut in the intersecting direction, the portion 55k of the elastic sheet 55 that is lifted by contact with the protrusion 551 of the contact body 59, including the portion above the first cuts 57, is more likely to stably bend and elastically deform from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction D1 of the toner 18At.

[0104] In the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K, the first cut 57 is located below the lower end 56b of the raised portion 56, and therefore the displacement (distance of separation) of the part 55k of the elastic sheet 55 (more precisely, the part located below the lower end 56b of the raised portion 56) lifted by contact with the protrusion 551 of the contact body 59 relative to the slope portion 52 is greater than when the first cut 57 is not located below the lower end 56b. As a result, in the developer container 61Y and the like, the part 55k of the elastic sheet 55 easily breaks down the toner 18At when it elastically deforms, and the broken toner 18At is easily moved in the transport direction D1. In addition, the toner 18At is prevented from remaining in the gap between the part 55k of the elastic sheet 55 located below the lower end 56b of the raised portion 56 and the slope portion 52 when the toner 18At enters the gap.

[0105] Furthermore, in the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K, the second notch 58 is located downstream of the raised portion 56 in the transport direction D1 of the toner 18At, and therefore the amount of displacement of the portion 55k of the elastic sheet 55 that is lifted by contact with the protrusion 551 of the contact body 59 relative to the slope portion 52 when lifted is greater than when the second notch 58 is not located in that downstream position.

[0106] Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus 1A employing developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, 61K equipped with a developer transport device 5A and a developer supply device 7A using these developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, 61K, as described above, compared to a case in which each developer container 61 is not equipped with a developer transport device 5A, it becomes possible to move and break up the toner 18At in each developer container 61 before it falls into the transport passage portion 53 connected to the lower part of the fall passage portion 51 having the inclined portion 52, and to move the broken up toner 18At in the transport direction D1 of the toner 18At in the transport passage portion 53, in each developer container 61. As a result, it is possible to send out the toner 18At from each developer container 61 with less variation due to aggregation and to reduce the amount of toner 18At remaining in each developer container 61, and ultimately, the toner 18At in each developer container 61 is transported smoothly to the image forming device 2A, actually to each developing device 24 in the image forming device 2A.

[0107] <Modification of the first embodiment> FIG. 17 shows developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K according to a first modification of the first embodiment. When compared with developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K according to embodiment 1 (see Figure 7, etc.), developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K according to this variant example 1 differ in that the developer transporting device 5A according to embodiment 1 is changed to a developer transporting device 5B that employs an elastic sheet 55B that does not have a first notch 57 and a second notch 58.

[0108] Therefore, the developer transport device 5B has the same configuration as the developer transport device 5A according to the embodiment 1, except that the elastic sheet 55B does not have the first cut 57 and the second cut 58 (see FIG. 8, etc.) in the embodiment 1. In addition, in this developer transport device 5B, since the elastic sheet 55B does not have the first cut 57 and the second cut 58, a part of the side part including the side end 55c on the upstream side in the transport direction D1 of the toner 18At among the part covering the slope part 52 of the elastic sheet 55B is placed on the raised part 56 and is separated from the slope part 52 and is in a floating state.

[0109] In the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K according to variant example 1, when it is time to replenish the toner 18At in the corresponding developer container 61, the conveying member 54 rotates within the passage space S2 of the conveying passage portion 53 of the developer conveying device 5B in that corresponding developer container 61, and the contact body 59 comes into contact with the protrusion 551 of the elastic sheet 55B and then passes through, a series of movements are repeated.

[0110] At this time, the elastic sheet 55B in the developer conveying device 5B is lifted from below by the contact of the contact body 59 with the protrusion 551, so that a portion 55kb of the elastic sheet 55B on the upstream side in the conveying direction D1 elastically deforms so as to bend and warp diagonally upward toward the downstream side in the conveying direction D1, as illustrated by the dotted line in Figure 18. At this time, the side portion 55kb of the elastic sheet 55B, including the upstream side end 55c, is elastically deformed. Also, since the side portion 55kb of the elastic sheet 55B, including the upstream side end 55c in the conveying direction D1, is always kept in a state of being lifted up from the slope portion 52 by the raised portion 56, the elastic sheet 55B is more likely to bend and elastically deform toward the downstream side in the conveying direction D1 than if the raised portion 56 were not present. 18 shows an example of a boundary line between a portion 55kb of elastic sheet 55B that elastically deforms and the other portion that does not elastically deform. One end of the boundary line formed by this curve Lb reaches, for example, an upper portion 55ce of an upstream side end 55c of elastic sheet 55B that extends beyond raised portion 56. Therefore, a wider portion of portion 55kb of elastic sheet 55B at this time elastically deforms than portion 55k of elastic sheet 55 in the first embodiment.

[0111] As a result, in the corresponding developer container 61, the toner 18At contained in the storage space 62 is loosened and broken down by the movement of the elastically deformed portion 55kb of the elastic sheet 55B before it falls into the transport passage portion 53 connected to the lower part of the fall passage portion 51, and further, the broken down toner 18At is moved downstream in the transport direction D1 by the elastic deformation of the portion 55kb of the elastic sheet 55B, as illustrated by the dashed double-dashed arrow Rb in Figure 18. As a result, even if the toner 18At is in a state that is likely to aggregate or has already aggregated before dropping into the transport passage portion 53, the toner 18At in that state is loosened and broken down by the movement of a part 55kb of the elastic sheet 55B, and the broken down toner 18At is moved downstream in the transport direction D1.

[0112] Next, FIG. 19 shows developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K according to a second modification of the first embodiment. When compared with developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K according to embodiment 1 (see Figure 7, etc.), developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K according to this variant example 2 differ in that the developer transporting device 5A according to embodiment 1 has been changed to a developer transporting device 5C that does not have a raised portion 56.

[0113] Therefore, the developer transport device 5C has the same configuration as the developer transport device 5A according to the first embodiment, except that the sloped portion 52 of the container body 60 does not have the raised portion 56 (see FIG. 10, etc.) in the first embodiment. In addition, since the sloped portion 52 of the developer transport device 5C does not have the raised portion 56, the portion of the elastic sheet 55 covering the sloped portion 52 is in almost contact with the first sloped portion 62e.

[0114] In the developer containers 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K according to variant example 2, when it is time to replenish the toner 18At in the corresponding developer container 61, the conveying member 54 rotates within the passage space S2 of the conveying passage portion 53 of the developer conveying device 5C in that corresponding developer container 61, and the contact body 59 comes into contact with the protrusion 551 of the elastic sheet 55 and then passes through, a series of movements are repeated.

[0115] At this time, the elastic sheet 55 in the developer conveying device 5C is lifted from below by the contact of the contact body 59 with the protrusion 551, so that a portion 55kc of the elastic sheet 55 on the upstream side in the conveying direction D1 elastically deforms so as to bend and warp diagonally upward toward the downstream side in the conveying direction D1, as illustrated by the dotted line in Figure 20. At this time, the portion 55kc of the elastic sheet 55 is elastically deformed mainly in the above-mentioned state in the range bounded by the first cut 57 and the second cut 58. Moreover, the portion 55j of the elastic sheet 55 surrounded by the side end 55c on the upstream side in the conveying direction D1 and the first cut 57 and the second cut 58 is hardly or only slightly elastically deformed and is in a state close to or almost in contact with the inclined surface portion 52.

[0116] As a result, in the corresponding developer container 61, the toner 18At contained in the storage space 62 is loosened and broken down by the movement of the elastically deformed part 55kc of the elastic sheet 55 before it falls into the transport passage part 53 connected to the lower part of the fall passage part 51, and further, the broken down toner 18At is moved downstream in the transport direction D1 by the elastic deformation of the part 55kc of the elastic sheet 55, as illustrated by the two-dot chain arrow Rc in Figure 20. As a result, even if the toner 18At is in a state that is likely to aggregate or has already aggregated before dropping into the transport passage portion 53, the toner 18At in that state is loosened and broken down by the movement of a part 55kc of the elastic sheet 55, and the broken down toner 18At is moved downstream in the transport direction D1.

[0117] In the above-mentioned first modification, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which only the first cuts 57 are provided in the elastic sheet 55 and the second cuts 58 are not provided. When the elastic sheet 55 having only the first cut 57 is used, the sheet is more likely to bend and elastically deform toward the downstream side in the transport direction D1 than when there is no first cut 57. As a result, the broken toner 18At is more likely to be moved downstream in the transport direction D1.

[0118] Also, in the above-mentioned modified example 2, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which only the first cuts 57 are provided in the elastic sheet 55 and the second cuts 58 are not provided. When the elastic sheet 55 having only the first cut 57 is used, the sheet is more likely to bend and elastically deform toward the downstream side in the transport direction D1 than when there is no first cut 57. As a result, the broken toner 18At is also more likely to be moved downstream in the transport direction D1.

[0119] Embodiment 2 FIG. 21 shows a fixed type powder supplying device 7B, which is another example of the powder supplying device 7 according to the second embodiment. This powder supplying device 7B includes a storage section 71 for storing powder 18, a receiving section 75 for receiving the powder 18 stored in the storage section 71, and a supply conveying section 77 for transporting the powder 18 stored in the storage section 71 to the receiving section 75 and supplying it.

[0120] The storage portion 71 is a structural part that is fixedly arranged without being detached or replaced, and has a storage space portion 72 that stores the powder 18. This storage space 72 has a structure in which an internal space S5 is formed surrounded by four vertical surface portions 72a, 72b, 72c, 72d consisting of surfaces that are approximately perpendicular to each other and extend approximately vertically in the up-down direction, and an inclined surface portion 72e at the bottom of the vertical surface portion 72b that is inclined so as to narrow the internal space S1 downward. 22, etc., a ceiling surface portion with an opening 72t is formed at the upper end of the storage space 72. The opening 72t is used mainly when filling the powder 18, and is closed by a lid 72u when not in use. Examples of the powder 18 include the developer 18A (or the toner 18At) exemplified in the first embodiment, as well as powder paint 18B.

[0121] 21 and 22, storage section 71 is provided with conveying section 73 which is connected to a lower part of storage space section 72 and has a passage space S6 extending in conveying direction D1 for conveying powder 18. Conveying section 73 is provided with conveying member 74 which rotates in passage space S6 to convey powder 18 in conveying direction D1. The transport section 73 has, for example, substantially the same configuration as the transport section 63 (see FIGS. 7 to 9) of the container body 60 in the embodiment 1. Reference numeral 73c in FIG. The conveying member 74 has, for example, substantially the same configuration as the conveying member 64 in the first embodiment (see Figs. 7 to 9). In Fig. 22, reference numeral 74a denotes the rotation shaft of the conveying member 74, reference numeral 74b denotes the conveying protrusion of the conveying member 74, reference numeral 74e denotes the delivery portion of the conveying member 74, reference numeral 74f denotes the outer peripheral surface portion of the delivery portion 74e, and reference numeral 78 denotes a transmission gear attached to the rotation shaft 74a. Rotational power is transmitted to the transmission gear 78 from a rotation drive device (not shown) when necessary.

[0122] The receiving section 75 is configured as a section that uses and consumes the supplied powder 18. In this case, as the receiving section 75, for example, a developing device is applied when the powder 18 is developer 18A, and a powder paint application device is applied when the powder 18 is powder paint 18B. This receiving section 75 is not limited to being a part that uses and consumes the above-mentioned powder 18, but may also be configured, for example, as an intermediate receiving section that receives and temporarily stores the powder 18 sent and supplied from the storage section 71.

[0123] The supply and conveyance section 77 includes a conveyance pipe 79a arranged to connect the storage section 71 and the receiving section 75, a conveyance member 79b such as a screw auger that rotates and conveys the powder sent out from the receiving section 75 to the receiving section 75 within the conveyance pipe 79a, and a drive device (not shown) that rotates and drives the conveyance member 79b. The conveyance pipe 79a is provided with a receiving port 79ac that is connected to the delivery port 73c in the storage section 71, and is also provided with a discharge port (not shown) that is connected to the receiving port 77c in the receiving section 75.

[0124] The storage section 71 is also provided with a powder transport device 5 that drops the powder 18 from the storage space section 72 having the slope section 72e through which the powder 18 falls and passes, to the transport section 73 and transports the powder. As shown in Figures 21 and 22, the powder conveying device 5 comprises a fall passage section 51 having a slope section 52 that is sloped so as to narrow the internal space S5 below the internal space S5 through which the powder 18 falls and passes, a conveying passage section 53 connected to the lower part of the fall passage section 51 and having a passage space S6 extending in the conveying direction D1 in which the powder 18 is conveyed, a conveying member 54 that rotates in the passage space S6 of the conveying passage section 53 to convey the powder 18 in one direction, the conveying direction D1, and an elastic sheet 55 arranged to cover the portion of the storage space section 72 including the slope section 52.

[0125] Here, the fall passage section 51 in the powder conveying device 5 becomes at least the inclined surface section 72e and its surrounding area in the accommodation space section 72 of the accommodation section 71. The inclined surface section 52 becomes the inclined surface section 72e in the accommodation space section 72. Moreover, the conveying passage section 53 becomes the conveying section 63 in the accommodation space section 72. Furthermore, the conveying member 54 becomes the conveying member 74 arranged in the conveying section 73 in the accommodation space section 72.

[0126] In addition, as shown in Figure 21 or Figure 22, the powder conveying device 5 of embodiment 2 adopts a configuration similar to that of the developer conveying device 5A of embodiment 1 (see Figures 7 to 9, etc.). That is, in the powder conveying device 5 of embodiment 2, as shown in FIG. 22, the above-mentioned protrusion 551, first notch 57 and second notch 58 in the developer conveying device 5A are similarly provided on the elastic sheet 55, and the above-mentioned contact body 59 is similarly provided within the passage space S6 of the conveying section 73, and further the above-mentioned raised portion 56 is similarly provided on a part of the inclined portion 52.

[0127] When the time comes when it is necessary to supply the powder 18, the powder supplying device 7B operates to transport the powder 18 contained in the storage section 71 toward the supply conveying section 77 by driving the powder conveying device 5, and then transports the sent-out powder 18 to the receiving section 75 by the supply conveying section 77 and supplies it. Specifically, when it is time for the powder supplying device 7B to supply powder 18, first, in the storage section 71, the conveying member 54 of the powder conveying device 5 is rotated in a predetermined direction for the required time by the rotational power transmitted from a rotary drive device not shown via a transmission gear 78.

[0128] As a result, in the storage section 71, as shown in Figure 21, the powder 18 is transported to move in the transport direction D1 by the transport force of the transport member 54, which is also the transport member 74 rotating in the required direction within the passage space S6 of the transport passage section 53, which is also the transport section 73. Furthermore, powder 18 transported to the downstream end of transport passage section 53 in transport direction D1 is scooped up by a recess of delivery section 64e of transport member 54, and then is transported so as to drop from delivery outlet 53c when the recess faces delivery outlet 53c of transport passage section 53. The delivered powder 18 is sent to transport pipe 79a of supply transport section 77 through receiving port 79ac. In powder supplying device 7B, powder 18 sent out from storage section 71 to supply conveying section 77 is conveyed by conveying member 79b toward receiving section 75, and is sent into the interior of receiving section 75 through receiving port 77c of receiving section 75 and supplied.

[0129] In the storage section 71, when the conveying member 54 rotates within the passage space S6 of the conveying passage section 53 during the supply of the powder 18, a series of movements is repeated in which the contact body 59 provided on the conveying member 54 temporarily or periodically comes into contact with the protrusion 551 of the elastic sheet 55 and then passes through.

[0130] At this time, when the contact body 59 comes into contact with the protrusion 551, the elastic sheet 55 in the powder conveying device 5 of the storage section 71 is gradually lifted up from below by the contact body 59 which moves in accordance with the conveying member 54 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow, and the protrusion 551 of the elastic sheet 55 is elastically deformed such that a part (55k) on the upstream side in the conveying direction D1 is warped obliquely upward toward the downstream side in the conveying direction D1, almost similarly to the elastic sheet 55 in the first embodiment (see Figs. 15 and 16). At this time, when the contact body 59 leaves contact with the protrusion 551 and passes by, the part of the elastic sheet 55 that has been elastically deformed as described above returns to its original state since the lifting action of the contact body 59 is no longer exerted on it. In this manner, as the contact members 59 move so as to repeatedly come into contact with and separate from the projections 551, the elastic sheet 55 moves so that a portion of the elastic sheet 55 repeatedly undergoes the above-mentioned elastic deformation and then returns to its original state.

[0131] As a result, the powder 18 contained in the containing space 72 of the containing section 71 is moved when a part of the elastic sheet 55 in the powder conveying device 5 is elastically deformed as described above. In this powder supplying device 7B as well, when the powder 18 is in a state that is likely to agglomerate or has already agglomerated before falling into the conveying passage section 53 at the bottom of the falling passage section 51 having the inclined section 52 that is inclined so as to narrow the internal space S5 of the storage space section 72, the powder 18 in that state is loosened and broken down by the movement of a part of the elastically deformable elastic sheet 55 described above. Moreover, in this case, the crumbled powder 18 is elastically deformed in such a way that a portion of the elastic sheet 55 is warped diagonally upward toward the downstream side in the transport direction D1 as described above, and is thereby moved downstream in the transport direction D1 in much the same manner as in the case of the developer transport device 5A of embodiment 1.

[0132] In this way, by having a portion of the elastic sheet 55 in the powder conveying device 5 elastically deform in the state described above, it is possible not only to cause the powder 18 in the fall passage section 51 to simply crumble and fall into the conveying passage section 53, but also to move the powder 18 downstream in the conveying direction D1 of the conveying passage section 53, and thus function to assist the conveying member 54 in conveying the powder 18 in the conveying direction D1 in the conveying passage section 53.

[0133] Therefore, in this powder supplying device 7B, due to the movement of the elastic sheet 55 in the powder conveying device 5, the powder 18 in the falling passage section 51 of the storage section 71 falls into the conveying passage section 53 at least without remaining therein due to aggregation, and is stably conveyed in the conveying direction D1, and is then sent out from the conveying passage section 53 toward the supply conveying section 77, and finally supplied to the receiving section 75 by the supply conveying section 77.

[0134] As a result, in the storage unit 71 equipped with the powder conveying device 5 and in the powder supplying device 7B using the storage unit 71, the powder 18 stored in the storage unit 71 is smoothly sent out from the storage space 72 of the storage unit 71 with little variation due to agglomeration, and the amount of the powder 18 that agglomerates and remains in the storage space 72 is reduced. This also allows the powder 18 stored in the storage unit 71 to be stably supplied to the receiving unit 75.

[0135] <Modification of the second embodiment> The storage section 71 is not limited to a section that is disposed at the most upstream position in the path for supplying the powder 18 as described above and stores the powder 18, but may also be, for example, an intermediate storage section that is disposed between the receiving section 75 and another storage section 600 that is disposed at the most upstream position, as illustrated by the dotted line in Figure 21, and stores and temporarily holds the powder 18 stored in the other storage section 600 on the way to being supplied to the receiving section 75. In addition, each of the storage unit 71 and the receiving unit 75 is not limited to being singular, and may be configured to have a plurality of each. When there are a plurality of storage units 71 and a plurality of receiving units 75, each of the plurality of storage units 71 is equipped with a powder conveying device 5.

[0136] The powder supplying device 7B according to the second embodiment can be configured as a powder transporting device (5B) that employs substantially the same configuration as the developer transporting device 5B (see FIG. 17 and the like) according to the first modified example of the first embodiment for the powder transporting device 5. In this case, the powder transporting device (5B) employs an elastic sheet 55B that is not provided with the first notch 57 and the second notch 58 as described above.

[0137] Furthermore, the powder supplying device 7B according to the second embodiment can be configured as a powder conveying device (5C) that employs substantially the same configuration as the developer conveying device 5C (see FIG. 19 and the like) according to the above-described modified example 2 of the first embodiment, in relation to the powder conveying device 5. In this case, the powder conveying device (5C) employs a configuration in which the raised portion 56 is not provided on the slope portion 52 as described above.

[0138] Embodiment 3 FIG. 23 shows a powder coating apparatus 1B which is another example of the powder utilizing apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment.

[0139] As shown in Figure 23, the powder coating apparatus 1B includes a storage section 71 in which powder paint 18B, another example of powder 18, is stored, a powder paint application device 2B, another example of powder consumption device 2 to which the powder paint 18B stored in the storage section 71 is supplied and consumed, and a powder supply device 7B that transports and supplies the powder paint 18B stored in the storage section 71 to the powder paint application device 2B.

[0140] The storage section 71, the powder paint application device 2B, and the powder supply device 7B are disposed inside the housing 10B. Also disposed inside the housing 10B are a conveying device 85 for conveying an object 19B to be powder-coated, which is another example of the sheet-like object 19, through the powder paint application device 2B and a heating device 86 described later, and a heating device 86 for heating the powder paint 18B applied to the object 19B by the powder paint application device 2B to melt, harden, and adhere to the object 19B. A sheet is used as the object 19B, and a conductive sheet-like member made of metal, ceramic, synthetic resin, or the like is used.

[0141] The powder paint application device 2B is arranged inside a housing 81 having a storage chamber for storing powder paint 18B, and includes two stirring and transporting members 82A, 82B such as screw augers that stir and transport the powder paint 18B in the storage chamber, and an application roll 83 that holds the powder paint 18B supplied from the stirring and transporting member 82B and transports it to an application position opposite the powder paint 18B to apply it to the powder paint 18B.

[0142] The adhesion roll 83 is composed of a conductive cylindrical holding and conveying body that rotates in the required direction shown by the arrow, and a magnet member, etc., that is placed in the internal space of the holding and conveying body. In addition, the adhesion roll 83 is supplied with a voltage, etc., that electrostatically adheres the powder paint 18B to the workpiece 19B to the holding and conveying body.

[0143] The powder paint 18B is composed of a non-magnetic thermosetting coating powder 18Bt and a magnetic carrier. The magnetic carrier is accommodated in advance in a storage chamber of the housing 81. After the coating powder 18Bt is frictionally charged to a required polarity by stirring and conveying the stirring and conveying members 82A and 82B, the powder paint 18B adheres to the magnetic carrier formed in a spike-like shape on the outer circumferential surface of the holding and conveying body of the adhesion roll 83 and is held as a magnetic brush. In addition, the powder paint 18B (the applied powder 18Bt) is consumed during powder coating, and the shortage is replenished from the powder supply device 7B.

[0144] The conveying device 85 is composed of a pair of conveying rolls 85a, 85b, 85e, etc., or individual conveying rolls 85c, 85d, etc. The conveying device 85 is configured to convey the powder paint 18B by contacting it with the ground. As the conveying device 85, a belt-type conveying device can also be used. The heating device 86 is equipped with a heat source for heating the powder paint 18B on the workpiece 19B. The heat source is disposed opposite to the layer of coating powder 18Bt adhering to the surface of the workpiece 19B being transported. Examples of the heat source include known heat sources such as halogen lamps, ceramic heaters, and infrared lamps. Another example of the heat source may be a laser irradiation device that irradiates an infrared laser to heat the coating powder 18Bt.

[0145] The powder supplying device 7B transports and supplies the powder paint 18B (the coating powder 18Bt) stored in the storage section 71 to the powder paint application device 2B (the storage chamber of the housing 81), and in this example, the powder supplying device 7B (Figures 21 and 22) related to embodiment 2 is applied. For this reason, as shown in Fig. 23, powder supplying device 7B includes powder conveying device 5 in container 71. As powder conveying device 5, developer conveying device 5A according to embodiment 1 (Figs. 7 to 9, etc.) is applied, but developer conveying device 5B (Fig. 17) as modified example 1 of embodiment 1 or developer conveying device 5C (Fig. 19) as modified example 1 of embodiment 1 can also be applied.

[0146] The powder coating apparatus 1B operates as follows.

[0147] When powder coating is performed in the powder coating apparatus 1B, the workpiece 19B is introduced into the housing 10B by the conveying device 85 and conveyed so as to pass through the application position of the powder coating application device 2B. At this time, in the powder coating application device 2B, the powder coating 18B (the coating powder 18Bt) is applied in a layer form to one side of the workpiece 19B via the application roll 83. Subsequently, the object 19B to which the powder paint 18B has been applied by the powder paint application device 2B is conveyed by the conveying device 85 so as to pass through the heating device 86. In the heating device 86, the powder paint 18B (the applied powder 18Bt) is heated and thermally cured. As a result of the above, a coating film made of the powder paint 18B (coated powder 18Bt) is formed on one side of the object 19B to be coated, and the powder coating is completed. The object 19B to be coated after the powder coating is completed is carried out of the housing 10B by the carrying device 85.

[0148] In addition, in the powder coating apparatus 1B, when it is time to replenish the powder paint 18B (the coating powder 18Bt) to the powder paint application device 2B, the powder supply device 7B is activated and the powder paint 18B (the coating powder 18Bt) stored in the storage section 71 is transported by the supply and transport section 77 and supplied to the powder paint application device 2B. During this replenishment period, the powder conveying device 5 is driven in the storage section 71 of the powder supply device 7B, and the powder paint 18B (the coating powder 18Bt) stored in the storage section 71 is conveyed and sent out toward the supply conveying section 77.

[0149] In this powder supplying device 7B, similarly to the powder supplying device 7B according to the second embodiment, the movement of the elastic sheet 55 in the developer conveying device 5B, which is an example of the powder conveying device 5, causes the powder paint 18B in the drop passage section 51 of the storage section 71 to fall into the conveying passage section 53 at least without remaining due to aggregation, and to be stably conveyed in the conveying direction D1, and is then sent out from the conveying passage section 53 toward the supply conveying section 77. As a result, the powder paint 18B is finally supplied by the supply conveying section 77 to the powder paint adhering device 2B.

[0150] As a result, in the storage section 71 equipped with the powder conveying device 5 and in the powder supplying device 7B using the storage section 71, the powder paint 18B stored in the storage section 71 is smoothly sent out from the storage space 72 of the storage section 71 with little variation due to aggregation, and the amount of powder 18 that aggregates and remains in the storage space 72 is also reduced. This also allows the powder paint 18B stored in the storage section 71 to be stably supplied to the powder paint application device 2B.

[0151] <Other Modifications> In the first, third and other embodiments, an image forming apparatus 1A and a powder coating apparatus 1B are given as examples of the powder utilization apparatus 1, but in cases where the powder conveying device 5 (5A, 5B, 5C) can be effectively applied to a powder 18 other than the developer 18A or the powder paint 18B, the powder utilization apparatus 1 may be an apparatus that utilizes that other powder 18.

[0152] Although the image forming apparatus 1A in the first embodiment has four image forming apparatuses 2A, the image forming apparatus 1A may have one, three, or five or more image forming apparatuses 2A. The image forming apparatus 1A may be a direct transfer type image forming apparatus. Furthermore, in place of the fixed container 71, the powder coating apparatus 1B may employ a powder container 6 for the powder paint 18B (the coating powder 18Bt) that is detachably attached to the housing 10B for use. [Explanation of symbols]

[0153] 1...Powder utilization equipment 1A...Image forming apparatus (an example of a powder-using apparatus) 1B…Powder coating equipment (an example of equipment using powder) 2...Powder consumption equipment 2A: Image forming device (an example of a powder consuming device) 2B... Powder coating device (an example of a powder consuming device) 5...Powder conveying device 5A, 5B, 5C...Developer transport device 6...Powder container 61...Developer container (an example of a powder container) 7,7B…Powder supply device 18…Powder 18A…Developer (an example of powder) 18B…Powder paint (an example of powder) 24...Developing device (an example of a storage unit) 51...Fall passage section 52...Slope 53...Transport passage 54...Transportation member 55...Elastic sheet 55a…Top end 55b…lower end 55k…some 56...Protuberance 57…First cut 57e…Terminal 58…Second cut 59...Contact body 71…Storage section 75...Acceptance Department 77…Supply conveying section D1: Transport direction S1, S5…Internal space S2, S6…Aisle space

Claims

1. a falling passage portion having an inclined surface portion inclined so as to narrow an internal space below which the powder falls and passes; a conveying passage portion connected to a lower end of the falling passage portion and having a passage space extending in a direction in which the powder is conveyed; a conveying member that rotates within a passage space of the conveying passage portion to convey the powder in one direction; an elastic sheet disposed in a state of covering a portion of the fall passage including the inclined surface portion, the elastic sheet having an upper end portion fixed while a lower end thereof faces the conveying member as a free end; Equipped with a contact body that repeatedly moves in a passage space of the conveying passage portion so as to contact a lower end of the elastic sheet so as to lift a part of the elastic sheet and then move away from the lower end of the elastic sheet, The inclined surface portion has a raised portion that is raised so as to keep the upstream side end portion of the elastic sheet in the conveying direction away from the inclined surface portion.

2. a drive transmission storage section that is provided to enter inside the internal space and that stores a transmission gear that transmits rotational power to the conveying member; The powder transport device according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic sheet has a cutout portion that is cut out so as not to come into contact with the drive transmission storage portion.

3. The powder transport device according to claim 2 , wherein the contact body is provided at an upstream portion of the transport member in the transport direction.

4. The powder transport device according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic sheet has a first cut extending inward from an upstream side end in the transport direction.

5. The powder transport device according to claim 4 , wherein the elastic sheet has a second cut extending from an end of the first cut toward an upper end of the elastic sheet.

6. The powder transport device according to claim 5 , wherein the second cut is made in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the elastic sheet.

7. The powder transport device according to claim 5 , wherein the second cut is located downstream of the raised portion in the transport direction.

8. a container body provided with a falling passage section having an inclined surface section that is inclined so as to narrow an internal space below which the powder falls and passes, and a conveying passage section that is connected to a lower end of the falling passage section and has a passage space that extends in a direction in which the powder is conveyed; The powder conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the powder in the container body is conveyed by dropping it from the drop passage portion to the conveying passage portion; A powder container comprising:

9. a powder storage section including a falling passage section having an inclined surface section that is inclined so as to narrow an internal space below which the powder falls and passes, and a transport passage section that is connected to a lower end of the falling passage section and has a passage space that extends in a direction in which the powder is transported; A receiving portion that receives the powder contained in the container portion; a supply conveying section that conveys the powder contained in the container section so as to supply the powder to the receiving section; 8. The powder conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the powder is conveyed by dropping the powder from the drop passage to the conveying passage in the storage section; A powder supplying device comprising:

10. A powder container for containing powder; a powder consuming device to which the powder contained in the powder container is supplied and consumed; a supply conveying unit that conveys the powder contained in the powder container to supply the powder to the powder consuming device; Equipped with A powder utilizing device, wherein the powder container is configured as the powder container according to claim 8.

11. A storage section in which powder is stored; a powder consuming device to which the powder contained in the container is supplied and consumed; a powder supplying device that conveys the powder contained in the container to the powder consuming device and supplies the powder; Equipped with The powder utilizing device, wherein the powder supplying device is configured as the powder supplying device according to claim 9.

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