Developing device and process cartridge used in image forming apparatus

A process cartridge that is detachably mountable on an image forming apparatus, and integrally supporting at least an image carrier and a developing device,

• the developing device comprising:
• a developer carrier that is rotatable;
• a developer supply member that is rotatable and in contact with the developer carrier at a nip;
• a developer storing section above the developer supply member;
• a regulating member, pressing against the developer carrier, for homogenizing toner on the developer carrier;
• a filling member for filling a space above the regulating member, to prevent toner located above the toner-homogenizing regulating member from intruding into the nip, the filling member arranged such that at least a portion of the developer supply member is directly below, in a vertical direction, a top of the developing device, and at least a portion of the developer carrier is directly below the filling member;
• and
• a bottom having a shape that allows the developer supply member to rotate.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an image carrier for forming a latent image;
• a charging device for uniformly charging the surface of the image carrier;
• an exposure device for exposing the surface of the charged image carrier, and writing a latent image thereon, on the basis of image data;
• a developing device for supplying toner to the latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier, to develop a visible image;
• a transfer device for transferring the visible image on the surface of the image carrier to a transfer material, directly or after transfer to an intermediate transfer body;
• and
• a fixing device for fixing the toner image on the transfer material,
• the developing device comprising:
• a developer carrier that is rotatable;
• a developer supply member that is rotatable and in contact with the developer carrier at a nip;
• a developer storing section above the developer supply member;
• a regulating member, pressing against the developer carrier, for homogenizing toner on the developer carrier;
• a filling member for filling a space above the regulating member, to prevent toner located above the toner-homogenizing regulating member from intruding into the nip, the filling member arranged such that at least a portion of the developer supply member is directly below, in a vertical direction, a top of the developing device, and at least a portion of the developer carrier is directly below the filling member;
• and
• a bottom having a shape that allows the developer supply member to rotate.