Toner conveying device, and developing device and image forming apparatus therewith

A toner conveying device comprising:

• a vertical conveying portion having, formed in an upper end part thereof, an inlet port coupled to a body-side conveying passage in an image forming apparatus, the vertical conveying portion conveying toner, or developer containing the toner, carried in via the inlet port, by letting the toner or developer fall vertically;
• a horizontal conveying portion coupled to a lower end part of the vertical conveying portion, the horizontal conveying portion conveying the toner or developer horizontally;
• a conveying member having:
• a rotation shaft disposed along a conveying direction of the toner or developer in the horizontal conveying portion;
• and
• a conveying projection provided on an outer circumferential surface of the rotation shaft,
• the conveying member rotating the rotation shaft to convey, with the conveying projection, the toner or developer in the horizontal conveying portion along a direction of the rotation shaft;
• and
• a loosening member disposed in the vertical conveying portion so as to be vertically movable therein,
• the toner conveying device being removably mounted in the image forming apparatus,
• wherein
• the loosening member includes:
• a wound spring portion formed by curling a metal wire material into a spiral shape;
• and
• a weight fixed to a lower end part of the wound spring portion,
• the wound spring portion has, formed therein, a press-in portion in a hollow cylindrical shape in which turns of the metal wire material are put in close contact together, and
• the weight has:
• an inserted portion in a cylindrical shape with an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the press-in portion in a state with no external force acting thereon, the inserted portion being press-fitted in the press-in portion;
• and
• a projecting portion rising from an outer circumferential edge of an upper end part of the inserted portion so as to taper off upward.