Patent ID: 7010253

Claim:
A developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image carrier, comprising: a developing container for containing a magnetic developer, the developing container being divided into a first chamber and a second chamber constituting a circulation path of the developer, the first chamber being disposed on an upper side of the second chamber; a first developing member, provided within the first chamber, for supplying the developer to the electrostatic image on the image carrier; a second developing member, provided within the second chamber, for supplying the developer to the electrostatic image on the image carrier; and a magnetic field generating means for generating a magnetic field for transferring the developer from the first developing member to the second developing member; and a restricting member for restricting entry of the developer in the developing container to a space between the first developing member and the second developing member, the restricting member being disposed in the developer container in a non-contacting manner with the first developing member and the second developing member.