Patent ID: 7039341
Filing Date: 2006-05-02
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming device comprising: an electrostatic latent image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a main frame which supports the electrostatic latent image carrier; a developing unit which includes a developer carrier that supplies a developer to the electrostatic latent image carrier and a replenish chamber that replenishes the developer in the developer carrier, and which is inserted removably in the main frame; and a pressing mechanism which is provided on the main frame and which presses a bottom surface of the developing unit in a pressing direction along a straight line orthogonal to a rotational center shaft of the electrostatic latent image carrier and a rotational center shaft of the developer carrier; wherein the developing unit includes a guide member which fits into one end part of a rotational shaft of the developer carrier and guides the developing unit to move along the straight line; and the main frame includes a positioning long hole which fits into another end part of a rotational shaft of the developer carrier and guides the developing unit to move along the straight line, and wherein the developing unit includes a supply chamber for supplying the developer to the electrostatic latent image carrier and which is provided laterally to the replenish chamber and replenished with the developer from the replenish chamber, and a partition wall which partitions the supply chamber and the replenish chamber; the supply chamber includes the developer carrier and means for supplying the developer to the developer carrier; a replenish opening formed through the partition wall to regulate an amount of the developer replenished from the replenish chamber into the supply chamber; and the replenish chamber includes means for agitating and replenishing to replenish the developer from the replenish opening into the supply chamber by rotating at a prescribed rotational speed, and a plurality of means for agitating and transferring to transfer the developer toward the means for agitating and replenishing by rotating at a rotational speed slower than the rotational speed of the means for agitating and replenishing.