Patent ID: 8005404

Claim:
A developing device comprising: a developing member having an outer surface on which a developing agent is carried; a supply member disposed below the developing member for supplying the developing agent to the outer surface, the supply member having a bottommost portion; a developing agent container disposed below the supply member and having an inner surface defining an internal space for accommodating the developing agent, the developing agent container having an upper portion formed with an elongated opening having an elongated first edge and an elongated second edge extending along the first edge; and a conveying member rotatably disposed in the internal space and in rotational contact with the inner surface for conveying the developing agent upward, the developing agent container including a first wall portion for receiving thereon the developing agent passed through the opening, the first wall portion extending from the first edge in a downstream direction with respect to a rotational direction of the conveying member toward a position close to the bottommost portion, the developing agent container also including a second wall portion extending from the second edge in an upstream direction with respect to the rotational direction, and the conveying member being in simultaneous sliding contact with both the first wall portion and the second wall portion for conveying the developing agent onto the first wall portion, wherein the first edge is a lower edge of the opening, and the second edge is an upper edge of the opening.