Patent ID: 8185021

Claim:
A developing device comprising: a developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier with a developer containing toner and carrier; a developer agitating unit that agitates the developer; a developer conveying unit that connects the developing unit and the developer agitating unit, and conveys the developer from the developing unit to the developer agitating unit; a developer supplying member to supply the developer dropped from the developer agitating unit to the developing unit by a flow or air; a holder provided between the developer agitating unit and the developer supplying member, inside which a rotating member is provided that rotates a shaft member on which a plurality of blades are provided, the rotating member, while rotating, receives the developer among the blades so as to be dropped; and a member having a path extending in the vertical direction from the holder, and a path extending in the horizontal direction to the developer supplying member, wherein the developer drops down through the path extending in the vertical direction into the path extending in the horizontal direction, and the developer is supplied through the path extending in the horizontal direction by said flow of air.