Patent ID: 8369736

Claim:
A developing device comprising: a developer holding member being disposed so as to face an image carrier having a surface on which a latent image is formed and rotating while holding developer on the surface thereof; a developing housing that has a holding member mount unit in which the developer holding member is mounted, and accommodates developer therein; a developer container that is connected to the developing housing through an inlet port and contains developer that flows into the developing housing; a partition member that is disposed in the developer container and partitions an inner space of the developer container; and a loosening member having a loosening portion that is disposed in the developer container so as to extend upwardly along one side surface, cross over an upper end of the partition member, folds back downwardly and extends along the other side surface of the partition member for partitioning the inner space of the developer container, and a drawing portion that is connected to the loosening portion and extends from a loosening drawing port formed in the developer container to the outside of the developer container, wherein, when the drawing portion is drawn out, the loosening portion moves to loosen the developer in the developer container.