Patent ID: 8489001

Claim:
A powder conveyance device to transport powder to a destination, the powder conveyance device comprising: a powder container for containing powder; a conveyance pipe, extending downward from the powder container, the conveyance pipe including a first conveyance portion that communicates with the powder container and includes a supply port through which the powder enters in the conveyance pipe, a second conveyance portion extending downward, disposed downstream from the first conveyance portion in a powder conveyance direction in which the powder is transported from the powder container to the destination, a first bent portion connecting the first conveyance portion to the second conveyance portion, bent in a direction to increase a horizontal gradient of the second conveyance portion from a horizontal gradient of the first conveyance portion, a third conveyance portion that is disposed downstream from the second conveyance portion in the powder conveyance direction and includes a discharge port through which the powder is discharged from the conveyance pipe, and a second bent portion connecting the second conveyance portion to the third conveyance portion, bent in a direction to reduce a horizontal gradient of the third conveyance portion from the horizontal gradient of the second conveyance portion; a powder conveyance member disposed inside the conveyance pipe, to transport the powder toward the destination downward; a first powder regulator movably disposed adjacent to the discharge port, inside the third conveyance portion of the conveyance pipe, to restrict an amount of powder discharged through the discharge port by varying a cross sectional area of a space present between the discharge port formed in the third conveyance portion and an outer circumferential surface of the first powder regulator facing the discharge port with a change in position of the first powder regulator; and a handle to move the first powder regulator, disposed outside the conveyance pipe, wherein the first powder regulator is connected to the handle.