Patent ID: 8433224

Claim:
A development device to develop a latent image formed on a latent image carrier with developer, the development device comprising: a developer carrier disposed facing the latent image carrier, to carry the developer by rotation to a development area facing the latent image carrier; a partition dividing an interior of the development device into a supply compartment and a collection compartment both facing the developer carrier and extending in an axial direction of the developer carrier, the supply compartment from which the developer is supplied to the developer carrier, having a downstream end portion positioned outside the development area in a developer conveyance direction in which the developer is circulated, in parallel to the axial direction of the developer carrier, the collection compartment disposed lower than the supply compartment, to which the developer is collected from the developer carrier; a developer circulation unit to circulate the developer in the development device through a first communication port formed in a bottom portion of the downstream end portion of the supply compartment and a second communication port formed in an upstream end portion of the supply compartment, the developer circulation unit including a first developer conveyance member provided in the supply compartment, to supply the developer to the developer carrier while transporting the developer through the supply compartment and a second developer conveyance member disposed in the collection compartment facing the developer carrier, to transport the developer separated from the developer carrier; a toner supply port formed in an upper portion of the downstream end portion of the supply compartment; and an airflow path limiter provided in the downstream end portion of the supply compartment and positioned closer to the development area than the toner supply port in the axial direction of the developer carrier, to restrict an airflow path above the developer in the downstream end portion of the supply compartment.