Patent ID: 8977168
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A developer unit for an image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording sheet, comprising: a developer device including a developing roller which is configured to carry a developer agent on a surface thereof and to develop an image on a photosensitive member, and a developer agent supply roller configured to supply the developer agent to the developing roller; a developer agent container configured to contain the developer agent to be supplied to the developer device; a wall for partitioning the developer device from the developer agent container, the wall having a feeding opening through which the developer agent from the developer agent container is to be supplied to the developer device and a collecting opening through which the developer agent in the developer device is to be retrieved in the developer agent container; a conveyer arranged along the developer agent supply roller and configured to rotate about a rotation axis to convey the developer agent supplied through the feeding opening toward the collecting opening, wherein rotation centers of the developing roller, the developer agent supply roller, and the conveyer are aligned on a line, which is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the conveyer, and wherein the developer agent container is configured to be detachably attached to the developer device; and wherein the developer unit comprises a shutter configured to cover and expose the feeding opening and the collecting opening, the shutter being arranged in a position to intersect with the line.