Patent ID: 6973281
Filing Date: 2005-12-06
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A developing apparatus comprising: a developing container for containing a developer including toner and a carrier, said developing container being partitioned into a first chamber and a second chamber constituting a circulation path of the developer; a first developing rotatable member, provided in said first chamber and rotatable in a first rotational direction, for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with the developer in said first chamber; a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole, having the same magnetic polarity, for forming a repelling magnetic field, said first magnetic pole and said second magnetic pole being provided in said first developing rotatable member and being disposed adjacent to each other in the order named with respect to the first rotational direction of said first developing rotatable member; a regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of the developer on said first developing rotatable member, wherein said regulating member is disposed at a position substantially opposed to said second magnetic pole; and a second developing rotatable member, disposed in said second chamber and rotatable in the same first rotational direction as said first developing rotatable member, for developing the electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member with the developer magnetically received from said first developing rotatable member, wherein said first chamber and said second chamber are substantially vertically arranged, and wherein said first chamber is substantially above said second chamber.