Patent ID: 8131187

Claim:
A development device to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier, the development device comprising: a developer carrier on which developer is carried, disposed facing the image carrier; a first developer transport path including a first transporter to transport the developer in a longitudinal direction of the development device; a second developer transport path disposed beneath the first developer transport path, including a second transporter to transport the developer in the longitudinal direction; a closably openable developer discharge port provided in the second developer transport path, through which the developer is removed from the development device; a detector to detect whether or not the developer carrier carries the developer; a driving unit to drive each of the first transporter and the second transporter in both a normal direction and a reverse direction; and a controller, the controller starting rotation of the developer carrier as well as the first transporter and the second transporter in normal directions thereof and opening the developer discharge port to remove the developer from the development device simultaneously, and starting rotation of the first transporter and the second transporter in reverse when a predetermined time period has elapsed after determining that no developer is carried on the developer carrier based on a detection result generated by the detector.