| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stir member capable of restricting temperature rises of the ends of a stir member and ensuring efficient cooling, and to provide a developing device, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The radius of each of the ends of a stir section of the stir member 9, formed around its rotation axis, is shorter than the radius of the middle of the stir section. Both ends of the stir section are reduced in size, and both ends of the casing 10 of the developing device or process cartridge 2 are also reduced in size. Thus, a space is defined between the process cartridge 2 and each side plate of the body of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a vent that communicates with space, and an air current passage is formed so that an air current is created between the process cartridge 2 and image forming apparatus 1. Accordingly, the effect of restricting a temperature increase in the stir member 9 can be exhibited without a complex cooling means. Further, convenience can be improved without increasing the size of the image forming apparatus 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI |
