Patent ID: 9285709
Filing Date: 2016-03-15
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. A developing device comprising: a container storing developer; a stirring member stirring the developer stored in the container while making rotation; a developing roller supplying the developer to a photoconductor; a toner concentration detection section having a detection surface exposed inside of the container and detecting concentration of a toner in the container; a stirring plate extending in a direction along a rotary shaft of the stirring member and a radial direction orthogonal to the direction along the rotary shaft, being attached to the rotary shaft of the stirring member in a manner such as to be rotatable together with the rotary shaft, and having a tip part located in the radial direction at a predefined distance from the detection surface; and an elastic member having elasticity, being attached to the stirring plate in a manner such as to surround a one-side surface, an another-side surface, and the tip part in a rotation direction of the stirring plate, having a sufficient length in the radial direction enough to abut the detection surface, and making sliding-contact with the detection surface while rotating together with the stirring plate, wherein the elastic member is formed of a sheet-type elastic body, the elastic member is attached to the stirring plate by winding the elastic body around the one-side surface, the another-side surface, and the tip part, and a space having a predefined length in the radial direction is formed between the tip part and an inner surface of the elastic member opposing the tip part.