Patent ID: 6987940

Claim:
A developing apparatus comprising: a plurality of developing devices, wherein each of said developing devices develops an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member by a developer including a toner and a carrier; a rotary member which rotates and supports a plurality of developing devices, said rotary member selectively positioning one of said plurality of developing devices at a developing position; a plurality of discharging ports, wherein each of said discharging ports is provided in an associated one of said plurality of developing devices for discharging excess developer therethrough with a supply of the developer to said associated one of said plurality of developing devices located at said developing position; a collecting pipe provided in said rotary member for collecting therethrough excess developer discharged from said plurality of discharging ports; and a plurality of communicating tubes, wherein each of said communicating tubes links together an associated one of said plurality of discharging ports and said collecting pipe, wherein when each of said developing devices is located at the developing position, and one of said plurality of discharging ports is located above said collecting pipe and an associated one of said plurality of communicating tubes is made to slope from said associated one of said plurality of discharging ports toward said collecting pipe.