Patent ID: 8219008
Filing Date: 2012-07-10
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A powder supply unit comprising: a housing that accommodates powder; a plurality of rotating members that are rotatably provided in the housing; a plurality of flexible sheet-like transporting members each fixed to one of the rotating members and having a free end at a side different from the fixed portion side, the free end side being slidingly moved on an inner wall of the housing by the rotation of the rotating member, transporting the powder in the axial direction of the rotating member; and a powder supplying hole provided on the downstream side in the transporting direction of the powder in the housing, at least one of the sheet-like transporting members when not in use being in a hold state in which the free end side thereof is bent in a direction opposite to the direction of bending when in use, wherein when aligning the plurality of flexible sheet-like transporting members before the use of the powder supply unit is started, the position is fixed of the sheet-like transporting member that is in the hold state in which the free end side thereof is positioned in an escape area, and another sheet-like transporting member is rotated to carry out alignment.