Patent ID: 8175488

Claim:
An image forming apparatus for developing a latent image on an image bearing member, comprising: the image bearing member configured to bear the latent image on the surface thereof; a plurality of developing devices, each developing device configured to form an image from a different color of developer than other developing devices; a plurality of agitation devices configured to agitate developer, each agitation device including a screw configured to rotate around a vertical axis and a rotor configured to rotate around a horizontal axis, each agitation device providing toner to a corresponding developing device; a plurality of airflow generators, each airflow generator configured to generate airflow to transport a corresponding color of developer to a corresponding developing station, each airflow generator configured to supply airflow to an output of the rotor of a corresponding agitation device to transport developer from the output of the rotor to the corresponding developing device; a single dehumidifier to dehumidify the air drawn only from outside the image forming apparatus; and an air intake device configured to connect outside the image forming apparatus with each airflow generator to draw air only from outside the image forming apparatus to supply the air to each airflow generator, the air intake device including continuous passages from the single dehumidifier to each of the plurality of airflow generators such that no air from inside the image forming apparatus is supplied to any of the plurality of airflow generators.