Patent ID: 7277666

Claim:
A developing apparatus comprising: a developer bearing body that applies developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing body to develop the electrostatic latent image with the developer into a visible image; a first developer-supplying member formed of a foamed material, said first developer-supplying member rotating in contact with said developer bearing body to supply the developer to said developer bearing body; at least one second developer-supplying member disposed over said first developer-supplying member, said second developer-supplying member being adjacent to an upper surface of said first developer-supplying member and having at least one rod, the at least one rod rotating about an axis extending in the developing apparatus to define a cylindrical space concentric to the axis such that the at least one rod rotates around the cylindrical space, wherein when said second developer-supplying member rotates about the axis, the at least one rod periodically approaches said first developer-supplying member to supply the developer to said first developer-supplying member; wherein when the at least one rod is closest to said first developer-supplying member, said second developer-supplying member and said first developer-supplying member are either in contact with each other or are spaced apart by a predetermined distance.