Powder conveying device and image forming apparatus incorporating same

A powder conveying device, comprising:

• a drop conveyance passage in which powder entering from an inflow port thereof is to drop;
• an intersecting conveyance passage communicating with a lower end of the drop conveyance passage and extending in an intersecting direction that intersects the drop conveyance passage;
• a conveying screw disposed in the intersecting conveyance passage, the conveying screw configured to rotate in a specified direction to convey the powder in the intersecting direction;
• and
• a float movably installed in the drop conveyance passage, the float configured to float in the drop conveyance passage to move by contact with the conveying screw,
• wherein the inflow port and the float are configured to interfere with each other to prevent the float from coming out of the inflow port of the drop conveyance passage,
• wherein a cross-sectional area of the drop conveyance passage gradually increases from the lower end of the drop conveyance passage to an upper end of the drop conveyance passage, and
• wherein a cross-sectional area of the float gradually increases from a lower end of the float to an upper end of the float.

A powder conveying device, comprising:

• a drop conveyance passage in which powder entering from an inflow port thereof is to drop;
• an intersecting conveyance passage communicating with a lower end of the drop conveyance passage and extending in an intersecting direction that intersects the drop conveyance passage;
• a conveying screw disposed in the intersecting conveyance passage, the conveying screw configured to rotate in a specified direction to convey the powder in the intersecting direction;
• and
• a float movably installed in the drop conveyance passage, the float configured to float in the drop conveyance passage to move by contact with the conveying screw,
• wherein the inflow port and the float are configured to interfere with each other to prevent the float from coming out of the inflow port of the drop conveyance passage,
• wherein an opening area of the inflow port is smaller than a cross-sectional area of a portion of the drop conveyance passage excluding the inflow port, the cross-sectional area being orthogonal to a direction in which the drop conveyance passage extends.