Patent ID: 8107862

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an electrostatic-latent-image carrying body having a latent-image forming surface formed in parallel with a predetermined main scanning direction and configured to form an electrostatic latent image thereon by electric-potential distribution, and configured such that the latent-image forming surface can move along a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction; and a developer supply apparatus disposed to face the electrostatic-latent-image carrying body and configured to supply a developer in a charged state to the latent-image forming surface, wherein the developer supply apparatus includes: a developer containing casing which is a box-like member including a bottom plate and a top plate having an opening portion at a position facing the electrostatic-latent-image carrying body, and is configured to contain the developer therein; a developer transport body which has a developer transport surface parallel with the main scanning direction, and is disposed within the developer containing casing such that the developer transport surface faces the electrostatic-latent-image carrying body via the opening portion; a plurality of transport electrodes which is provided along the developer transport surface to face the latent-image forming surface, is configured to transport the developer in a predetermined developer transport direction on the developer transport surface upon application of traveling-wave voltages, and is arrayed along the sub-scanning direction; and an auxiliary substrate provided on an inner surface of the bottom plate and having a plurality of auxiliary electrodes which is provided along the inner surface, wherein the auxiliary substrate is configured to transport the developer contained in the developer containing casing to the developer transport body by traveling-wave electric fields; and a vibration body disposed in a space inside the developer containing casing and configured to vibrate the developer on the auxiliary substrate, wherein the developer supply apparatus is configured to be attached to and detached from a main body of the image forming apparatus; and the main body includes a vibration-body vibrating section which is provided at such a position that, when the developer supply apparatus is attached, the vibration-body vibrating section is located at a position outside the developer containing casing and corresponding to the vibration body and which is configured to vibrate the vibration body.