Patent ID: 7593672

Claim:
A developer supplying apparatus, comprising: a path disposed between a developer cartridge and a developing cartridge, said path defining a free fall passage of developer from said developer cartridge to said developing cartridge; and a developer lump prevention unit configured to reduce lumping of said developer in said path, said developer lump prevention unit comprising: a developer lump removal member disposed to be movable in said path, a movement of said developer lump removal member within said path causing removal of lumps of said developer formed in said path; and a driving mechanism configured to drive said developer lump removal member into said movement, said driving mechanism comprising: a driving source configured to generate a motional force; and a motional force delivery mechanism to transfer said motional force from said driving source to said developer lump removal member, wherein said motional force delivery mechanism is configured to convert a rotational movement received from said driving source into a reciprocating linear movement.