DEVELOPING DEVICE

摘要

A developing device includes a developing container, a rotatable member including a first screw portion and a second screw portion, a first feeding path configured to accommodate the first screw portion, a second feeding path provided in communication with the first feeding path at a position downstream of the second screw portion with respect to a develop feeding direction, and a developer discharging opening provided in the second feeding path. In a state in which the developing device is mounted to the image forming apparatus, in a cross section of the second feeding path perpendicular to a rotational axis of the rotatable member, the second feeding path includes a region where a distance between side surfaces of the second feeding path in a side above a center of a rotation shaft of the rotatable member with respect to a vertical direction increases upwardly.

主权项

1. A developing device mountable to an image forming apparatus, comprising:
a developing container configured to accommodate a developer; a rotatable member including a first screw portion configured to feed a developer in a first direction in said developing container and a second screw portion, provided coaxially with said first screw portion and downstream of said first screw portion with respect to the first direction, configured to feed the developer in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a first feeding path configured to accommodate said first screw portion of said rotatable member and configured to feed the developer; a second feeding path provided in communication with said first feeding path at a position downstream of said second screw portion with respect to the first direction, wherein a position of a bottom of said second feeding path is closer to a rotation shaft of said rotatable member than a position of a bottom of said first feeding path is, and a cross-sectional area of said second feeding path perpendicular to a rotational axis of said rotatable member is smaller than a cross-sectional area of said first feeding path perpendicular to the rotational axis of said rotatable member; and a discharging opening provided in said second feeding path and configured to permit discharge of the developer, wherein in a state in which said developing device is mounted to the image forming apparatus, in a cross section of said second feeding path perpendicular to the rotational axis of said rotatable member, said second feeding path has a shape such that said second feeding path includes a region where a distance between side surfaces of said second feeding path in a side above a center of the rotation shaft with respect to a vertical direction increases upwardly.