Patent ID: 7894762

Claim:
A powder transporting apparatus comprising: a drop path through which a powder drops; a transporting path that is connected to the drop path, and through which a powder flowing thereinto from the drop path is transported; a transporting member that includes a spiral portion disposed within the transporting path, the spiral portion rotating to transport the powder residing within the transporting path; and an aggregation preventing member including: a contact portion that is in contact with the transporting member, and that moves vertically in conjunction with the rotation of the spiral portion; and a scrub-off portion that is disposed between an inner wall surface of the transporting path and the transporting member, and that moves along the inner wall surface in conjunction with the movement of the contact portion, at least part of the aggregation preventing member being disposed at a connecting portion between the drop path and the transporting path, wherein the aggregation preventing member moves vertically with having a fixed portion, and the fixed portion, the scrub-off portion and the contact portion are arranged in sequence in a transporting direction of the powder residing with the transporting path.