Patent ID: 8989635
Filing Date: 2015-03-24
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An intermediate hopper comprising: a toner reception tub for containing a toner; a partition for dividing an internal space of the toner reception tub; a first toner conveyance path and a second toner conveyance path separated by the partition; a first toner conveyance screw being provided in the first toner conveyance path and comprising a first rotation axis and a first helical blade fixed to the first rotation axis; a second toner conveyance screw being provided in the second toner conveyance path and comprising a second rotation axis and a second helical blade fixed to the second rotation axis; a toner receiving port provided on an upstream side of the first toner conveyance path for receiving the toner into the toner reception tub; a toner communicating path for communicating a downstream end of the first toner conveyance path and an upstream end of the second toner conveyance path, and guiding the toner in the first toner conveyance path to the second toner conveyance path; and a toner discharge port provided on a downstream side of the second toner conveyance path for discharging the toner out of the toner reception tub, wherein the partition comprises a plurality of intermediate slits for guiding the toner contained in the first toner conveyance path to the second toner conveyance path; the first toner conveyance screw rotates in a direction in which an outer edge of the first toner conveyance screw moves toward the second toner conveyance path at a lowermost point, and the second toner conveyance screw rotates in a direction in which an outer edge of the second toner conveyance screw moves away from the first toner conveyance path at a lowermost point, and at least one of the intermediate slits has a first sidewall that extends substantially vertically and a second sidewall that extends at an angle with respect to the first sidewall such that the slit width increases toward an upper part in the vertical direction.