Patent ID: 7783232

Claim:
A developing device having stirring members for stirring a developer-tank-contained developer containing toner and carrier while conveying the developer along conveying passages inside a developer tank and a developer holder disposed adjacent to said stirring members to supply the stirred developer-tank-contained developer to an electrostatic latent image holder, comprising: a developer replenishing tank for replenishing a replenishment developer containing toner and carrier to said developer tank, and a discharging mechanism for discharging an excessive amount of the developer-tank-contained developer outside said developer tank from a discharge opening section when the amount of the developer-tank-contained developer to be conveyed using said stirring members inside said developer tank exceeds a predetermined full filling amount, wherein the initial filling amount of the developer-tank-contained developer to be filled initially into said developer tank is set so as to be less than said full filling amount.