Image forming unit and image forming apparatus

摘要

An image forming unit includes an image bearing body, a developer bearing body that supplies a developer to the image bearing body, a developer storage portion for storing the developer, a developer reserving portion that reserves the developer, a replenishing member that replenishes the developer from the developer reserving portion to the developer storage portion, and a guide member provided between the replenishing member and the developer bearing body. The guide member temporarily holds the developer replenished by the replenishing member and regulates falling of the developer. A conveying member conveys the developer held by the guide member in an axial direction of the developer bearing body along the guide member. A detecting portion is provided between the guide member and the developer bearing body for detecting the developer. The replenishing member replenishes the developer to the developer storage portion based on a result of detection using the detecting portion.

主权项

1. An image forming unit, comprising:
an image bearing body; a developer bearing body that supplies a developer to the image bearing body; a developer storage portion for storing the developer to be supplied to the developer bearing body; a developer reserving portion that reserves the developer to be supplied to the developer storage portion; a replenishing member that replenishes the developer from the developer reserving portion to the developer storage portion; a guide member provided between the replenishing member and the developer bearing body, the guide member being configured to temporarily hold the developer replenished by the replenishing member and regulate falling of the developer; a conveying member that conveys the developer held by the guide member in an axial direction of the developer bearing body along the guide member; a detecting portion provided between the guide member and the developer bearing body, the detecting portion being provided for detecting the developer; an agitating member that agitates the developer in the developer storage portion; and a regulating member provided so as to separate the agitating member from the detecting portion, wherein the replenishing member replenishes the developer to the developer storage portion based on a result of detection using the detecting portion, wherein the guide member has a wall surface portion, and wherein the wall surface portion is so shaped that heights at both end portions in the axial direction of the developer bearing body is lower than a height at a substantially center portion in the axial direction of the developer bearing body.