| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a powder conveying device which effectively utilizes the space of the inside of the disposed device that has a part curved with a small curvature radius and a part bent at a right angle or acute angle, conveys powder along a conveying path having a horizontal conveying component and a vertical conveying component set in order to increase the degree of freedom in layout, and whose structure is simplified and, thereby, which is manufactured at a low cost, and to provide an image forming apparatus using the powder conveying device. <P>SOLUTION: The powder conveying device comprises: a conduit member 32 having the horizontal conveying component and the vertical conveying component and formed along the conveying path; a conveying member 34 that has an outer shape almost similar to the shape of a hollow passage of a passage hole provided to the conduit member 32 for making powder flow through it, and that is inserted in the passage with play; and a drive means 36 by which the conveying member 34 inserted in the passage hole of the conduit member 32 with the play is driven so as to draw a closed loop within a vertical plane along the powder conveying direction of the conduit member 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT |
