Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member and first and second chambers. A feeding member provided in the second chamber includes a normal feeding portion, a reverse feeding portion, and a discharging portion. An opposing portion in the second chamber opposes a peripheral surface of the reverse feeding portion and is formed so that a first region of an upper half of the reverse feeding portion is broader in clearance with the second chamber than a second region, and includes a projected portion for forming a predetermined clearance with the reverse feeding portion by being projected from a side surface of the second chamber in a horizontal direction. The projected portion is disposed higher than a rotation center of the reverse feeding portion and lower than a top of the reverse feeding portion and is more remote from the first chamber than a rotation center of the feeding member.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing container for containing a developer comprising toner and carrier and first and second rotatable feeding members configured to feed the developer. The first feeding member includes a rotatable shaft, a first helical blade portion provided around the rotatable shaft and configured to feed the developer, and a second helical blade portion provided around the rotatable shaft at a position downstream of the first helical blade portion. The second helical blade portion has a helix which is opposed to that of the first helical blade portion. In addition, a disk portion is provided on the rotatable shaft at a position between the first helical blade portion and the second helical blade portion.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer carrying member; a first chamber; a second chamber; a feeding member; a discharging portion; and a regulating portion, provided above a rotation center of the feeding member so as to oppose a reverse feeding portion of the feeding member with respect to a rotational axis direction of the feeding member, for regulating a gap between an inner wall of the second chamber and the reverse feeding portion so as to be narrowed. The regulating portion is provided at least in a position opposite from the first chamber with respect to the rotation center of the feeding member as seen in the rotational axis direction of the feeding member.

Abstract: A developing apparatus including a first chamber; a second chamber forming a circulation path for the developer; a rotatable shaft in the first chamber; a first blade provided on the rotation shaft to feed the developer in a predetermined direction in the first chamber; a second blade provided on the rotation shaft to feed the developer fed by the first blade in a direction opposite the predetermined direction; a discharging portion provided downstream of the second blade to discharge the developer in the first chamber; and a regulating member having a regulating surface continuously extending in a rotational moving direction of the rotation shaft, the regulating member being provided on the rotation shaft in a region between the first blade and the second blade, a region connecting with a downstream end of the first blade, or a connecting with a downstream end of the second blade.

Abstract: A developing apparatus, including: a developer carrying member; a containing portion configured to contain developer; a discharge outlet through which a surplus of the developer is discharged; a first conveying portion configured to convey the developer; a second conveying portion provided downstream of the first conveying portion in a conveying direction of the first conveying portion and having a spiral blade portion configured to convey the developer in a conveying direction opposite to the conveying direction of the first conveying portion; a disk portion provided upstream of the second conveying portion in the conveying direction of the second conveying portion, the disk portion being formed to project radially-outwardly from a whole circumference of a rotary shaft, wherein an upstream end of the spiral blade portion of the second conveying portion in the conveying direction of the second conveying portion and the disk portion are arranged with an interval therebetween.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion with a plurality of image bearing members and a plurality of developing devices, a plurality of cartridges, a maintenance door allowing access to the image forming portion for a maintenance operation, a plurality of first doors, remainder detecting means for detecting information relating to amounts of the developers in the cartridges, locking means for locking the first doors, a controller, a moving mechanism, and a second door capable of opening and closing to cover the first doors. The first doors open and close respective openings for insertion of the cartridges into the main assembly independently from each other, without access via the maintenance door. The controller controls the locking means to release a locking of a first door corresponding to a cartridge which requires exchange, on the basis of a detection result of the remainder detecting means.

Abstract: A toner cartridge inserting and removing door is provided at a removal port of each of a plurality of toner cartridges. Normally, the toner cartridge inserting and removing door is locked and cannot be opened. For a case where the remaining amount of a toner in the toner cartridge is decreased and a change is needed, a display unit for notifying thereof is provided, thereby selectively opening the toner cartridge inserting and removing door corresponding to a toner cartridge for which a change is necessary.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of cartridges for supplying developers, the cartridges being detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus; a plurality of first doors, provided correspondingly to cartridges, respectively, for opening and closing inserting openings for permitting insertion of the cartridges into the main assembly, independently from each other; a remaining amount detecting device for detecting information relating to an amount of the developer contained in the cartridges; a locking device for locking the first doors; a controller for controlling the locking device, on the basis of a result of detection of the remaining amount detecting device, to unlock only the first door corresponding to the cartridge to be exchanged; a moving mechanism for moving the first door from a position closing to an opening position with the unlocking of the locking device; and a second door movable between a closing position for preventing access to the first doors and an opening position

Abstract: A toner cartridge inserting and removing door is provided at a removal port of each of a plurality of toner cartridges. Normally, the toner cartridge inserting and removing door is locked and cannot be opened. For a case where the remaining amount of a toner in the toner cartridge is decreased and a change is needed, a display unit for notifying thereof is provided, thereby selectively opening the toner cartridge inserting and removing door corresponding to a toner cartridge for which a change is necessary.