Patent ID: 8135301
Filing Date: 2012-03-13
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A developing device comprising: a developer transporting member that is arranged so that a circumferential surface of the developer transporting member is opposed to an image carrier for carrying an electrostatic image on a surface thereof, the developer transporting member being rotated in a circumferential direction while carrying a developer on the circumferential surface thereof to transport the developer to a developing region in which the surface of the image carrier and the circumferential surface of the developer transporting member are opposed to each other, and having a groove extending in the circumferential direction on the circumferential surface of the developer transporting member outside in an axial direction of a developer carrying region for carrying the developer; and a suction port being arranged at least at one of an upstream side region and a downstream side region of the developer transporting member, wherein the upstream side region is located adjacent to and upstream of the developing region in the rotating direction of the developer transporting member, and the downstream side region is located adjacent to and downstream of the developing region in the rotating direction of the developer transporting member, wherein the developer transporting member includes a first developer transporting member and a second developer transporting member that are arranged adjacent to each other, and a circumferential surface of each developer transporting member is opposed to the image carrier in each developing region, the image carrier is rotated in a circumferential direction of a circumferential surface thereof, the first developer transporting member is arranged on an upstream side in a rotation direction of the image carrier with respect to the second developer transporting member, and the suction port is arranged upstream of the developing region of the first developer transporting member in the rotation direction of the image carrier and another suction port is arranged downstream of the developing region of the second developer transporting member in the rotation direction of the image carrier.