Patent ID: 9411265
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. A developer conveying mechanism comprising: a first lateral conveyance path forming portion forming a first lateral conveyance path for conveying developer in a first lateral direction, a lower opening being formed on the first lateral conveyance path forming portion as an outlet from which the developer falls down; a longitudinal passage forming portion forming a longitudinal passage of the developer that has fallen down from the lower opening; and a second lateral conveyance path forming portion forming a second lateral conveyance path for conveying the developer in a second lateral direction, wherein the first lateral conveyance path forming portion includes, inside thereof, a first conveyance member that is configured to convey the developer in the first lateral direction, the second lateral conveyance path forming portion includes, inside thereof, a second conveyance member that is configured to convey, in the second lateral direction, the developer that has passed through the longitudinal passage, the lower opening of the first lateral conveyance path forming portion is formed such that in a partial range on an upstream side in the first lateral direction, a width of the lower opening in the partial range gradually expands from the upstream side to a downstream side in the first lateral direction, and the lower opening of the first lateral conveyance path forming portion is further formed such that in a remaining range outside of the partial range, a width of the lower opening in the remaining range is constant.