Patent ID: 8538300

Claim:
A developing device for developing an electrostatic image on a photoreceptor using toner, the developing device comprising: a mixing chamber including a first developer transport member that transports developer, which includes the toner, laterally in a first direction; a feed chamber including a second developer transport member that transports the developer in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a housing that encloses the mixing chamber and the feed chamber; and a developing roller provided in the feed chamber and configured to receive the developer transported by the second developer transport member and to develop the electrostatic image, wherein the housing includes: a first communication passage configured to direct the developer transported by the first developer transport member to an upstream part of the second developer transport member with respect to the second direction; and a second communication passage configured to direct the developer transported by the second developer transport member to an upstream part of the first developer transport member with respect to the first direction, and the second communication passage is configured to progressively reduce the amount of developer that is directed through the second communication passage to the upstream part of the first developer transport member as an inclination angle of the housing increases corresponding to the second communication passage being lower than the first communication passage.