Developer supplying apparatus
A supplying apparatus includes a supply container including an accommodating portion configured to accommodate a developer, a discharge opening configured to discharge the developer out of the accommodating portion, and an expansion-and-contraction portion having a variable inside volume. The developer is supplied from the supply container through the discharge opening using an inside pressure variation of the supply container caused by expansion and contraction of the expansion-and-contraction portion. In addition, a receiving portion receives the developer supplied from the supply container and forms a feeding path along which the developer is fed, and a decomposing member is non-rotatably fixed at a position opposing, in a vertical direction, the discharge opening in the receiving portion and collides with free falling developer through the discharge opening to decompose the developer.
1. A supplying apparatus comprising:
a supply container detachably mountable to a main assembly of an apparatus and configured to supply a developer, said supply container including an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the developer, a discharge opening configured to discharge the developer out of said accommodating portion, and an expansion-and-contraction portion having a variable inside volume, wherein the developer is supplied from said supply container through said discharge opening using an inside pressure variation of said supply container caused by expansion and contraction of said expansion-and-contraction portion;
a receiving portion configured to receive the developer supplied from said supply container and to form a feeding path along which the developer is fed; and
a decomposing member non-rotatably fixed at a position opposing, in a vertical direction, said discharge opening in said receiving portion and configured to collide with falling developer through said discharge opening to decompose the developer.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said decomposing member is provided with an inclined surface inclined relative to a horizontal surface at a position right below said discharge opening, and an inclination angle of said inclined surface relative to the horizontal surface is larger than an angle of rest of the developer to be supplied.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said decomposing member is provided with a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, and a ridge between said first and second inclined surfaces is disposed right below said discharge opening.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said decomposing member has surfaces forming a polygonal pyramid or a conical surface.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a projection area of said discharge opening in a perpendicular direction overlaps entirely with said decomposing member.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between said discharge opening and said decomposing member is not less than 20 mm.