Development device and image forming apparatus including same

A development device comprising:

• a development mechanism, including multiple supply ports through which developer is supplied to the development mechanism, a discharge port through which the developer is discharged from the development mechanism, a developer carrier to carry the developer to develop a latent image, and a developer transport member extending in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the developer carrier, to transport the developer within development mechanism in the direction parallel to the axial direction of the developer carrier;
• an agitation unit connected to the development mechanism, to agitate and mix together the developer collected from the development mechanism and fresh toner;
• and
• a transport member to transport the agitated developer from the agitation unit to the multiple supply ports provided in the development mechanism through a developer transport path,
• wherein the multiple supply ports are disposed at different positions in the development mechanism in the axial direction of the developer carrier, and
• the developer transport member supplies the developer to the developer carrier while collecting the developer from the developer carrier.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a latent image carrier;
• a latent image forming unit to form a latent image on the latent image carrier;
• and
• a development device to develop the latent image with developer,
• the development device comprising:
• a development mechanism, including multiple supply ports through which the developer is supplied to the development mechanism, a discharge port through which the developer is discharged from the development mechanism, a developer carrier to carry the developer, a developer supply member extending in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the developer carrier, to supply the developer to the developer carrier while transporting the developer in the direction parallel to the axial direction of the developer carrier, and a developer collection member disposed in parallel to the developer supply member, to collect the developer from the developer carrier;
• an agitation unit connected to the development mechanism, to agitate and mix together the developer collected from the development mechanism and fresh toner;
• a transport member to transport the agitated developer from the agitation unit to the multiple supply ports provided in the development mechanism through a developer transport path,
• wherein the multiple supply ports are disposed at different positions in the development mechanism in the axial direction of the developer carrier.