Patent ID: 7693463

Claim:
A developing device having a bearing member capable of bearing a developer material for developing an electrostatic latent image using the developer material, comprising: a bearing member capable of bearing a developer material thereon; a storing chamber capable of storing the developer material; a waiting chamber disposed below the storing chamber, the waiting chamber receiving the bearing member and being capable of being fully or substantially fully filled with the developer material; a buffer chamber positioned between the storing chamber and the waiting chamber, the buffer chamber being capable of storing the developer material fed from the storing chamber and to be fed into the waiting chamber; a first connecting path extending horizontally and connecting an upper portions of the storing and buffer chambers; two second connecting paths each connecting a lower portion of the buffer chamber and the waiting chamber; a feed member capable of feeding the developer material from the storing chamber through the first connecting path into the buffer chamber; a first conveying member disposed within the buffer chamber, the first conveying member being capable of conveying the developer material within the buffer chamber in a first direction from one of the two connecting paths to the other of the two connecting paths; and a second conveying member disposed within the waiting chamber, the second conveying member being capable of conveying the developer material within the waiting chamber in a second direction from the other of the two connecting paths to the one of the two connecting paths; wherein the first connecting path is provided on an upstream side with respect to the first conveying direction.