Powder transport device and powder using apparatus
A powder transport device includes a transport unit, a spiral first transport member, and a first driving unit. The transport unit has a transport path. The first transport member is rotatably disposed in the transport path and rotates forward to transport powder. The first driving unit drives the first transport member to rotate. The first driving unit rotates the first transport member in reverse when both (i) a non-operation time during which the first transport member is not rotated and (ii) detection information on a temperature satisfy a condition.
1. A powder using apparatus comprising:
a powder transport device comprising a transport unit having a transport path, a spiral first transport member that is rotatably disposed in the transport path and rotates forward to transport powder, and a first driving unit that drives the first transport member to rotate;
an accommodating unit that accommodates powder and that includes a second transport member that rotates forward to transport the powder, and a second driving unit that drives the second transport member to rotate, wherein the second driving unit rotates the second transport member in reverse in conjunction with the first driving unit rotating the first transport member in reverse; and
an operating unit that operates so as to use the powder in the accommodating unit,
wherein the transport unit transports the powder in the accommodating unit to the operating unit, and
the first driving unit rotates the first transport member in reverse when both (i) and (ii) satisfy a condition, (i) being a non-operation time during which the first transport member is not rotated and (ii) being detection information on a temperature.
2. The powder using apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first driving unit rotates the first transport member in reverse before the first transport member starts to transport the powder.
3. The powder using apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first transport member starts to rotate forward after rotating in reverse.
4. The powder using apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a number of times the first driving unit rotates the first transport member in reverse varies.
5. The powder using apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the condition includes a plurality of conditions at different levels, and
the number of times the first driving unit rotates the first transport member in reverse varies according to the levels of the conditions.
6. The powder using apparatus to claim 1 , wherein
the detection information includes detection information on a humidity.
7. The powder using apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first driving unit rotates the first transport member of the powder transport device in reverse before the operating unit starts to operate so as to use the powder.
8. The powder using apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein
the condition is changed according to a frequency of use of the powder using apparatus in order to change the number of times the first driving unit rotates the first transport member in reverse.
9. The powder using apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first driving unit and the second driving unit are one driving unit.
10. The powder using apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein
the condition is changed according to a frequency of use of the powder using apparatus in order to change the number of times the first driving unit rotates the first transport member in reverse.
11. The powder using apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the accommodating unit includes a powder container that is detachably mounted and has the second transport member and information on a date of manufacture, and
when detection information on the number of days that have passed from the date of manufacture of the powder container satisfies a condition, the second driving unit rotates the second transport member in reverse after the powder container is mounted.
12. The powder using apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the accommodating unit includes a plurality of accommodating units, and
the transport unit includes a plurality of transport units that are separate from the plurality of accommodating units.
13. The powder using apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the condition is changed according to a frequency of use of the powder using apparatus in order to change the number of times the first driving unit rotates the first transport member in reverse.