| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing wear of a stirrer for stirring a developer. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes a developing roller 20 for carrying a developer and a stirring unit 30 for stirring the developer. The stirring unit 30 includes a developer tank 331; a tubular member 311 that makes a hollow part be communicated with the outside of the developer tank 331 and is fixed inside the developer tank 331; a stirring magnet 313 that is rotatably inserted into the tubular member 311, and is formed, in such a manner that its different magnetic poles are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction; and a stirring blade 312 that is disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the tubular member 311, and has a spiral sloping surface to the axial direction of a support shaft 314 that supports the stirring magnet 313. With the rotation of the stirring magnet 313, the developer is caused to rotate by the magnetic force of the stirring magnet 313 in the direction that the stirring magnet 313 rotates on the outer circumferential surface of the tubular member 311, and the developer is transported in the longitudinal direction of the tubular member 311 by the slope of the stirring blade 312. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT |
