Patent ID: 8139985
Filing Date: 2012-03-20
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A developing apparatus comprising: a developer carrier that rotates while carrying a two-component developer on a surface thereof, the two-component developer including a magnetic carrier and a toner, and the developer carrier performing development in a location opposing a latent image carrier by supplying the toner to a latent image on a surface of the latent image carrier, a developing unit including a developer supply unit that supplies the two-component developer to the developer carrier; and a stirring unit including an agitator that stirs the two-component developer, the stirring unit being configured to send and receive the two-component developer to and from the developing unit, respectively, wherein, when a development operation in which the toner is supplied to the latent image on the surface of the latent image carrier from the developer carrier is complete, substantially all of the two-component developer transferred from the developer carrier to the developing unit is transferred to a developer storage unit outside the developing unit, such that substantially no developer remains in the developing unit prior to performing a subsequent development operation.