| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To freely control the flow and the quantity of powder such as toner, to reduce the erroneous detection of a full state by a powder detecting means, consequently, to contribute to the improvement of user's convenience. SOLUTION: The powder container 14 nearly horizontally installed, including a powder inlet 20 and the powder detecting means 34, includes a powder conveying means 24 arranged between the powder inlet 20 and the powder detecting means 34, and a space between the powder inlet part 20 and the powder detecting part 34 is divided into a plurality of areas a1, a2, a3 and a4, and conveying parts 33A, 33B, 33C to 33P for conveying the powder from the powder conveying inlet to the outlet are arranged in respective areas a1, a2, a3 and a4. In the process of conveying the powder to respective areas, the powder finally flows into the area facing the powder detecting means 34, then, the area is filled with the powder. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT |
