Patent ID: 9372443
Filing Date: 2016-06-21
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. A developing device comprising: a developing container configured to hold therein a developer containing a toner; a toner carrier having part of an outer circumferential surface thereof exposed through an opening in the developing container, whereby the toner carrier is arranged so as to face an image carrier, the toner carrier being configured to supply toner to the image carrier; and a plurality of air outlet ports formed in such part of a wall of the developing container as faces the toner carrier, along a longitudinal direction of the developing container, the plurality of air outlet ports communicating with an interior of a duct, the toner carrier having a coat layer formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof by means of a dipping method of dipping the toner carrier into a resin coating liquid with one end of the toner carrier in a longitudinal direction thereof first, the one end being a lower end of during the dipping, and then lifting the toner carrier out of the resin coating liquid with another end of the toner carrier in the longitudinal direction thereof first, the toner carrier being arranged such that the lower end of during the dipping is disposed on an upstream side with respect to an airflow direction in the duct, wherein a gap between the image carrier and the toner carrier is narrower on an upstream side with respect to the airflow direction in the duct than on a downstream side with respect to the airflow direction in the duct.