US 12,111,600 B2
Powder conveying device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
Kazuhiro Shimada, Kanagawa (JP); Seiichi Kogure, Kanagawa (JP); Hideki Kimura, Kanagawa (JP); Hiroshi Kikuchi, Kanagawa (JP); Yusuke Ishizuka, Kanagawa (JP); Yutaka Takahashi, Kanagawa (JP); Takuya Akiyama, Kanagawa (JP); Yutaka Goto, Kanagawa (JP); and Yuuki Aoki, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Kazuhiro Shimada, Kanagawa (JP); Seiichi Kogure, Kanagawa (JP); Hideki Kimura, Kanagawa (JP); Hiroshi Kikuchi, Kanagawa (JP); Yusuke Ishizuka, Kanagawa (JP); Yutaka Takahashi, Kanagawa (JP); Takuya Akiyama, Kanagawa (JP); Yutaka Goto, Kanagawa (JP); and Yuuki Aoki, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on May 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/200,584.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-084982 (JP), filed on May 25, 2022; and application No. 2023-051459 (JP), filed on Mar. 28, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2023/0384730 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 21/10 (2006.01); G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 21/12 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/105 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0844 (2013.01); G03G 15/0858 (2013.01); G03G 15/0877 (2013.01); G03G 15/0886 (2013.01); G03G 15/0891 (2013.01); G03G 15/0896 (2013.01); G03G 21/10 (2013.01); G03G 21/12 (2013.01); G03G 21/1647 (2013.01); G03G 2215/0802 (2013.01); G03G 2221/0005 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A powder conveying device, comprising:
a drop conveyance passage in which powder entering from an inflow port thereof is to drop;
an intersecting conveyance passage communicating with a lower end of the drop conveyance passage and extending in an intersecting direction that intersects the drop conveyance passage;
a conveying screw disposed in the intersecting conveyance passage, the conveying screw configured to rotate in a specified direction to convey the powder in the intersecting direction; and
a float movably installed in the drop conveyance passage, the float to float in the drop conveyance passage to move by contact with the conveying screw,
wherein the inflow port and the float are configured to interfere with each other to prevent the float from coming out of the inflow port of the drop conveyance passage,
wherein an opening area of the inflow port is smaller than a projected area of the float when viewed from the inflow port.