US 11,809,097 B2
Powder conveying device and image forming apparatus incorporating the powder conveying device
Kota Shiodera, Tokyo (JP); and Kazuhiko Watanabe, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Kota Shiodera, Tokyo (JP); and Kazuhiko Watanabe, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Feb. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/591,735.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-045701 (JP), filed on Mar. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0299909 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 21/10 (2006.01); G03G 15/095 (2006.01); G03G 15/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/0891 (2013.01) [G03G 15/095 (2013.01); G03G 21/105 (2013.01); G03G 15/1615 (2013.01); G03G 2215/0827 (2013.01); G03G 2215/1661 (2013.01); G03G 2221/1624 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A powder conveying device comprising:
an inflow portion into which powder is to flow from an outside of the powder conveying device;
a discharge portion from which the powder is to flow out to the outside of the powder conveying device;
a conveying screw including a shaft and a blade, the conveying screw being configured to convey the powder from the inflow portion to the discharge portion in a conveying direction; and
a flange on at least one of an upstream end or a downstream end of the shaft and extending perpendicular to the shaft with a set gap existing on a surface of the shaft between the flange and an end of the blade, the set gap having a surface spray coated with a material having a lower friction with the powder than another surface portion of the shaft at a position other than the set gap, wherein the surface of the set gap has the material applied in a plurality of stripes extending in a length direction of the shaft.