| 主权项 |
1. A developing device comprising:
a developer container including a plurality of developer conveyance paths arranged substantially parallel to one another, and communication sections which are located at opposite ends of the developer conveyance paths and through which a developer is transferred; a developer bearing member rotatably supported by the developer container and configured to bear the developer on a surface thereof; and a plurality of stirring conveyance members disposed corresponding to the plurality of developer conveyance paths, wherein each of the stirring conveyance members is located within the corresponding developer conveyance path and conveys the developer in a longitudinal direction of the developer conveyance path while stirring the developer, each of the stirring conveyance members includes:
rotational shafts in a pair that are rotatably supported by the developer container;a helical blade extending in a hollow helical shape from one of the pair of rotational shafts to the other; anda plurality of ribs each penetrating surfaces of the helical blade that are facing toward one another, at least one of the stirring conveyance members includes a conveyance fin configured to convey the developer toward one of the communication sections, the conveyance fin protrudes from a portion of the at least one of the stirring conveyance members, the portion being located at a downstream end of the developer conveyance path in terms of a developer conveyance direction in the developer conveyance path and opposite to the one of the communication sections, the conveyance fin is inclined at a specified angle to a direction of the rotational shafts of the at least one of the stirring conveyance members so that the developer being conveyed is turned by the conveyance fin in a direction at an acute angle to the developer conveyance direction in the developer conveyance path, the at least one of the stirring conveyance members further includes, in addition to the conveyance fin, a conveyance paddle that conveys the developer toward the one of the communication sections, the conveyance paddle is disposed parallel to the direction of the rotational shafts and protrudes from a portion of the at least one of the stirring conveyance members, the portion being located at the downstream end of the developer conveyance path in terms of the developer conveyance direction in the developer conveyance path and opposite to the one of the communication sections, the conveyance fin is plate-shaped and protrudes perpendicularly from one surface of the conveyance paddle without forming a helix, and the conveyance fin has a larger outer diameter than the helical blade. |
