Patent ID: 8045898

Claim:
A powder conveyance unit, comprising: a path forming member configured to form a powder conveyance path including an inner wall to convey powder therethrough, the path forming member connecting a first powder container and a second powder container to pass the powder from the first powder container to the second powder container through the powder conveyance path; a substantially planar plate-like powder remover configured to remove powder adhering to the inner wall of the powder conveyance path; and a moving mechanism configured to move the plate-like powder remover, the moving mechanism moves the plate-like powder remover between completion of one conveyance of toner from the first powder container to the powder conveyance path and start of a subsequent conveyance of toner from the first powder container to the powder conveyance path, the plate-like powder remover disposed in the powder conveyance path with both lateral edges thereof in a width direction perpendicular to a powder conveyance direction in the powder conveyance path contacting or nearly contacting the inner wall of the powder conveyance path, opposed flat surfaces of the plate-like powder remover moving reciprocally between opposed surfaces of the inner wall of the powder conveyance path to remove powder adhering to the surfaces of the inner wall of the powder conveyance path.