Patent ID: 7636535
Filing Date: 2009-12-22
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A developing unit comprising: an agitating and conveying portion for conveying a developer stored in a developing hopper while agitating the developer; and a developing roller for supplying the developer conveyed from the agitating and conveying portion to an electrostatic latent image bearer, characterized in that the agitating and conveying portion comprises a rotary shaft arranged approximately parallel to the developing roller and a plurality of separate plate-like agitating elements arranged with an inclination with respect to the extended direction of axis of the rotary shaft; each of an odd number of agitating elements arranged in series among the plural agitating elements is formed in a shape asymmetrical with respect to a normal line that is perpendicular to the tangent of the contour of the corresponding agitating element and passes through the rotational center of the rotary shaft; and the agitating elements adjacent to each other in the odd number of agitating elements are arranged on the rotary shaft with their phases made different.