Developing device, process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus

A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, said developing device comprising:

• a rotatable developer bearing member bearing a developer thereon;
• a developer regulating member for regulating an amount of the developer borne on said developer bearing member;
• a first rotatable developer conveying member for conveying the developer toward said developer bearing member;
• a second rotatable developer conveying member;
• and
• a developer-remaining-amount detecting member for detecting an amount of remaining developer and disposed in an area defined by tangential lines of a first circle and a second circle as loci of rotation of said first developer conveying member and said second developer conveying member as viewed from a longitudinal direction of said developer bearing member, wherein a rotating speed of said second developer conveying member is higher than a rotating speed of said first developer conveying member.

A process cartridge detachably mountable onto a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• and
• developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member,
• said developing means including:
• a rotatable developer bearing member bearing a developer thereon;
• and a developer regulating member for regulating an amount of the developer borne on said developer bearing member;
• a first rotatable developer conveying member for conveying the developer toward said developer bearing member;
• a second rotatable developer conveying member;
• and
• a developer-remaining-amount detecting member for detecting an amount of remaining developer and disposed in an area defined by tangential lines of a first circle and a second circle as loci of rotation of said first developer conveying member and said second developer conveying member as viewed from a longitudinal direction of said developer bearing member.

A process cartridge detachably mountable onto a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• and
• developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member,
• said developing means including:
• a rotatable developer bearing member bearing a developer thereon, a developer regulating member for regulating an amount of the developer borne on said developer bearing member;
• a first rotatable developer conveying member for conveying the developer toward said developer bearing member;
• a second rotatable developer conveying member;
• and a developer-remaining-amount detecting member for detecting an amount of remaining developer and disposed in an area defined by tangential lines of a first circle and a second circle as loci of rotation of said first developer conveying member and said second developer conveying member as viewed from a longitudinal direction of said developer bearing member, wherein a rotating speed of said second developer conveying member is higher than a rotating speed of said first developer conveying member.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus onto which a process cartridge is detachably mountable for forming an image on a recording medium, said electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

• (a) mounting means for detachably mounting the process cartridge, the process cartridge including:
• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• and developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, said developing means having:
• a rotatable developer bearing member bearing a developer thereon;
• a developer regulating member for regulating an amount of the developer borne on said developer bearing member;
• a first rotatable developer conveying member for conveying the developer toward said developer bearing member;
• a second rotatable developer conveying member;
• and a developer-remaining-amount detecting member for detecting an amount of remaining developer and disposed in an area defined by tangential lines of a first circle and a second circle as loci of rotation of said first developer conveying member and said second developer conveying member as viewed from a longitudinal direction of said developer bearing member;
• and
• (b) conveying means for conveying said recording medium.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus onto which a process cartridge is detachably mountable for forming an image on a recording medium, said electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

• (a) mounting means for detachably mounting a process cartridge, the process cartridge including:
• the electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• and developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, said developing means having:
• a rotatable developer bearing member bearing a developer thereon;
• a developer regulating member for regulating an amount of the developer borne on said developer bearing member;
• a first rotatable developer conveying member for conveying the developer toward said developer bearing member;
• a second rotatable developer conveying member;
• and a developer-remaining-amount detecting member for detecting an amount of remaining developer and disposed in an area defined by tangential lines of a first circle and a second circle as loci of rotation of said first developer conveying member and said second developer conveying member, wherein a rotating speed of said second developer conveying member is higher than a rotating speed of said first developer conveying member;
• and
• (b) conveying means for conveying said recording medium.