Patent ID: 8331832

Claim:
A developing device comprising: a first developer holding member that is disposed to face a surface of a latent image carrier that rotates, the first developer holding member rotating such that a moving direction of the first developer holding member is opposite to that of the latent image carrier at a portion where the latent image carrier and the first developer holding member face each other; a second developer holding member that is provided at a downstream side of the first developer holding member in a direction in which the latent image carrier rotates, and is disposed to face the surface of the latent image carrier, the second developer holding member rotating such that a moving direction of the second developer holding member is the same as that of the latent image carrier at a portion where the latent image carrier and the second developer holding member face each other, and a ratio of circumferential speeds of the first developer holding member and the second developer holding member being variable; a splitting member that splits developer for the first developer holding member and the second developer holding member at a position between the first developer holding member and the second developer holding member, by hitting against the developer located between a surface of the first developer holding member and a surface of the second developer holding member; a moving unit that moves the splitting member; and a control unit that controls the moving unit to move the splitting member so as to vary a split ratio of the developer.