Two component development apparatus and process cartridge

A two-component developing method for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a developer carrier configured to carry and transfer a two-component developer including a magnetic carrier;
• a first regulating member configured to regulate an amount of the two-component developer carried and transferred by the developer carrier;
• a developer container including a second regulating member positioned upstream of the first regulating member in a direction of developer conveyance of the developer carrier and configured to receive the developer removed by the first regulating member;
• a toner container formed adjacent to the developer container and configured to supply toner to the developer carrier;
• and
• a developer stirring member configured to carry and stir the developer between the first regulating member and the second regulating member,
• wherein the second regulating member includes a support member on one end side of the second regulating member in a longitudinal direction thereof to which greater amount of the developer is supplied than to another end side of the second regulating member.

A process cartridge, comprising:

• a housing;
• at least one of a latent image carrier, a charging mechanism, and a cleaning mechanism;
• and
• a developing mechanism configured to have a two-component developing apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
• a developer carrier configured to carry and transfer a two-component developer including a magnetic carrier;
• a first regulating member configured to regulate an amount of the two-component developer carried and transferred by the developer carrier;
• a developer container including a second regulating member positioned upstream of the first regulating member in a direction of developer conveyance of the developer carrier and configured to receive the developer removed by the first regulating member;
• a toner container formed adjacent to the developer container and configured to supply toner to the developer carrier;
• and
• a developer stirring member configured to carry and stir the developer between the first regulating member and the second regulating member,
• wherein the second regulating member includes a support member on one end side of the second regulating member in a longitudinal direction thereof to which greater amount of the developer is supplied than to another end side of the second regulating member.

A two-component developing apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• developer carrying means for carrying and transferring a two-component developer means including a magnetic carrier means;
• first regulating means for regulating an amount of the two-component developer means carried and transferred by the developer carrying means;
• developer container means including a second regulating means positioned upstream of the first regulating means in a direction of developer conveyance of the developer carrying means and configured to receive the developer removed by the first regulating means;
• toner container formed adjacent to the developer container means and for supplying toner to the developer carrying means;
• and
• developer stirring member for carrying and stirring the developer means between the first regulating means and the second regulating means,
• wherein the second regulating means includes a support means on one end side of the second regulating means in a longitudinal direction thereof to which greater amount of the developer means is supplied than to another end side of the second regulating means.

A process cartridge, comprising:

• housing means;
• at least one of a latent image carrier means, a charging means, and a cleaning means;
• and
• developing means for having a two-component developing means for use in an image forming means, comprising:
• developer carrier means configured to carry and transfer a two-component developer means including a magnetic carrier means;
• first regulating means configured to regulate an amount of the two-component developer means carried and transferred by the developer carrier means;
• developer container means including a second regulating means positioned upstream of the first regulating means in a direction of developer conveyance of the developer carrier means and for receiving the developer means removed by the first regulating means;
• toner container means formed adjacent to the developer container means and for supplying toner to the developer carrier means;
• and
• developer stirring means for carrying and stirring the developer means between the first regulating means and the second regulating means,
• wherein the second regulating means includes support means on one end side of the second regulating means in a longitudinal direction thereof to which greater amount of the developer means is supplied than to another end side of the second regulating means.