Patent ID: 8463163

Claim:
A developing device comprising: a developer carrier configured to form a developer image on an image carrier by developing an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier; a developer supplier configured to supply a developer to an outer circumferential surface of the developer carrier while being in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the developer carrier; a developer layer regulating member configured to form a layer of the developer on the outer circumferential surface of the developer carrier; an agitating member configured to agitate the developer in a vicinity of the developer carrier or the developer supplier; and a case having a support portion configured to rotatably support the developer carrier, the developer supplier, and the agitating member, wherein a rotational center of the agitating member is provided above a contact between the developer carrier and the developer supplier, and wherein a rotation path of a tip of the agitating member upon a rotation of the agitating member is a noncircular path having a long axis that extends toward the contact between the developer carrier and the developer supplier, the noncircular path having a short axis that extends in a direction substantially parallel to a direction along which the developer carrier and the developer supplier are arranged.