Abstract:
In an initial recovery stage of untransferred toner, a conveying stirring screw is rotated at a high speed by using a second driving path. When the amount of collected untransferred toner increases and the rotating torque of the conveying stirring screw reaches a setting torque value of a second torque limiter, a driving path is switched to a first driving path, so that the conveying stirring screw is rotated at a low speed. When the amount of the collected untransferred toner further increases and the rotating torque of the conveying stirring screw reaches a setting torque value of a first torque limiter, the first driving path is also disconnected to block torque transfer to the conveying stirring screw.
Abstract:
A toner transportation device according to the present disclosure includes a transportation screw that has a rotational shaft and a transportation fin formed on an outer circumferential surface of the rotational shaft and a toner transportation pipe that has a circular shape in cross section. The transportation screw is rotatably positioned in the toner transportation pipe. A support member is attached to the rotational shaft that has a bearing portion having an annular shape and rotatably fitted onto the rotational shaft and that has a plurality of leg portions radially protruding outward from an outer circumferential surface of the bearing portion. A distance between an axis of the rotational shaft and a tip of each leg portion is greater than a radius of the transportation fin and equal to or less than a radius of an inner circumferential surface of the toner transportation pipe.