Patent ID: 9057980
Filing Date: 2015-06-16
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A toner transport structure having a transport passage that extends in an intersecting direction that intersects a vertical direction, the toner transport structure comprising: a path member that has an upper end and a lower end, an exit on a lower end side of the path member, and an entrance on an upper end side of the path member, the exit and the entrance having respective openings, the path member guiding toner downward in the vertical direction; and a transport member disposed in the transport passage connected to the exit on the lower end side of the path member, the transport member transporting along the transport passage the toner having been guided downward by the path member, wherein an area of the opening at the exit is larger than an area of the opening at the entrance, wherein the transport passage has one end and another end, and the transport member transports the toner from one end side toward another end side, and wherein the exit and the entrance have respective edge portions on the other end side of the transport passage, and the edge portion of the exit is disposed further toward the other end side than the edge portion of the entrance, wherein the exit and the entrance have respective edge portions on the one end side of the transport passage, and the edge portion of the exit is disposed further toward the one end side than the edge portion of the entrance or is disposed the one end side same as the edge portion of the entrance.