Developing device having a delivery unit to transport collected developer and image forming apparatus having the same

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an image carrier that forms an electrostatic latent image;
• a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed by the image carrier into a toner image;
• a transfer unit that transfers the toner image formed by the developing unit onto a recording material;
• and
• a fixing unit that fixes, onto the recording material, the toner image transferred onto the recording material,
• wherein the developing unit comprises:
• a developer carrier that carries a developer to be supplied to the image carrier;
• a supply unit that supplies the developer containing toner and a carrier to the developer carrier by transporting the developer while agitating the developer along a circulation path formed through rotation of each of a plurality of rotary members;
• and
• a delivery unit that receives a collected developer, which is the developer collected from the developer carrier, transports the collected developer by another rotary member different from the plurality of rotary members of the supply unit, and delivers the collected developer to the circulation path of the supply unit;
• and
• a toner replenishment portion where new toner is added to the developing device,
• wherein the other rotary member is configured to transport the collected developer along an axial direction of a rotational axis of the other rotary member, and the toner replenishment portion is configured to supply new toner to the to one side on the axial direction of the other rotary member.

A developing device, comprising:

• a developer carrier that carries a developer to be supplied to an image carrier that forms an electrostatic latent image;
• supply means for supplying the developer containing toner and a carrier to the developer carrier by transporting the developer while agitating the developer along a circulation path formed through rotation of each of a plurality of rotary members;
• and
• delivery means for receiving a collected developer, which is the developer collected from the developer carrier, transporting the collected developer by another rotary member different from the plurality of rotary members of the supply means, and delivering the collected developer to the circulation path of the supply means;
• and
• a toner replenishment portion where new toner is added to the developing device,
• wherein the other rotary member is configured to transport the collected developer along an axial direction of a rotational axis of the other rotary member, and the toner replenishment portion is configured to supply new toner to the to one side on the axial direction of the other rotary member.