Patent ID: 7536141

Claim:
A developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier, said developing device comprising: a developer carrier positioned to face said image carrier and configured to allow a developer to deposit thereon, said developer carrier including a stationary magnet member configured to form on a surface of said developer carrier a scoop-up pole configured to scoop the developer stored in said developing device onto said developer carrier, wherein a release pole adjoins said scoop-up pole and is configured to release a portion of said developer that has moved away from a position where said developer carrier and said image carrier face each other from said developer carrier between said release pole and said scoop-up pole, wherein said scoop-up pole and said release pole are of a same polarity as each other, and wherein said scoop-up pole is configured such that a position where a flux density of said scoop-up pole in a direction normal to the surface of said developer carrier is maximum is located closer to said release pole than a position on said surface corresponding to a center of a range in which said flux density is halved.