Patent ID: 8208836

Claim:
A developer holding apparatus holding developer and including a discharging opening through which the developer is discharged, the developer holding apparatus comprising: an agitator including a shaft portion and an agitating portion; a hollow body in which the agitator rotates; and a bearing member defining a bearing hole in which the shaft portion is rotatably and loosely received, the bearing hole including a larger diameter than the shaft portion so that a center of rotation of the shaft portion is movable within the bearing hole so as to allow said center to move towards an inner wall of the hollow body, and to further allow said center to move away from said inner wall, the bearing member driving said agitator to rotate, wherein the agitating portion rotates through a first angular range of rotation within which the discharging opening is disposed, and a second angular range of rotation, the discharging opening being disposed entirely outside of the second angular range, the agitating portion rotating through the second angular range so as to not contact an inner surface of the developer holding apparatus, further wherein when the developer is at or below a predetermined amount and the agitating portion is rotating within the first angular range, the agitating portion is in contact with said inner surface.