US 11,774,879 B2 · Toner conveying apparatus having a light transmission portion

Abstract

A toner conveying apparatus includes a frame body, a conveyance member, a light transmission portion, a light emission portion, a light reception portion, and a rubbing member. The frame body forms a conveyance passage surrounded by a wall portion and is provided with a reception inlet for receiving toner from outside. The conveyance member is provided in the conveyance passage and rotates around a first rotation axis to convey the toner. The light transmission portion that is provided in the wall portion and has translucency. The light emission portion emits light toward an inside of the conveyance passage through the light transmission portion. The light reception portion receives the light emitted from the light emission portion through the light transmission portion. The rubbing member rubs on the light transmission portion by being rotated around a second rotation axis extending in a direction crossing the first rotation axis.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A toner conveying apparatus used in an image forming apparatus including a light emission portion and a light reception portion, the toner conveying apparatus comprising:

a frame body configured to form a conveyance passage surrounded by a wall portion;
a conveyance member that is provided in the conveyance passage and that is configured to rotate around a first rotation axis to convey toner;
a light transmission portion (i) which is provided in the wall portion, (ii) which has translucency, (iii) through which the light emission portion is configured to emit light toward an inside of the conveyance passage, and (iv) through which the light reception portion is configured to receive the light emitted from the light emission portion and passing through the inside of the conveyance passage;
and
a rubbing member configured to rub on a light passing surface of the light transmission portion by being rotated around a second rotation axis extending in a direction crossing the first rotation axis, the light passing surface facing in a direction of the second rotation axis, the rubbing member being configured to be rotated by a rotation of the conveyance member.

2 more elements

A toner conveying apparatus comprising:

a frame body configured to form a conveyance passage surrounded by a wall portion;
a conveyance member that is provided in the conveyance passage and that is configured to rotate around a first rotation axis to convey the toner;
a light transmission portion which is provided in the wall portion and has translucency, the light transmission portion including a first light transmission window and a second light transmission window having a light entrance surface and a light exit surface, respectively;
and
a rubbing member configured to rub on the light entrance surface of the first light transmission window and the light exit surface of the second light transmission window by being rotated around a second rotation axis extending in a direction crossing the first rotation axis,
wherein the light entrance surface of the first light transmission window and the light exit surface of the second light transmission window face in a direction of the second rotation axis,
wherein the first light transmission window and the second light transmission window are aligned in a direction along the second rotation axis, and
wherein the first light transmission window is opposite to the second light transmission window with respect to the first rotation axis in the direction along the second rotation axis.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Toner conveying apparatus having a light transmission portion

Life of this patent

Toner conveying apparatus having a light transmission portion

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23