Abstract: A developer regulating member capable of stably regulating the thickness of a developer even when used for a long time, while preventing the increase in the production cost, a developing device having the developer regulating member, an image forming apparatus having the developing device, a process cartridge, and a method of producing the developer regulating member. The average crystal particle diameter D [?m] of a plate-like member provided in a layer-thinning blade which functions as the developer regulating member and which abuts against a developing roller functioning as a developer carrier, and the curvature radius R [?m] of a bent portion satisfy the relationship of D?60.53×R×10?3?12.61.

Abstract: An image developing method is disclosed that is able to efficiently remove degraded toner on a developing agent carrier, prevent formation of abnormal images, ensure good image quality over time, and increase the service life of the device. The developing method includes a step of calculating an amount of consumption of the developing agent during image formation and an amount of consumption of the developing agent in a compulsory toner consumption mode under different calculation conditions between the image formation and the compulsory toner consumption mode. In the compulsory toner consumption mode, a developing bias different from a developing bias used during image formation is applied for a predetermined time period to discharge residual developing agent on a developing agent carrier to a latent image carrier.

Abstract: A disclosed developing device includes a developing roller; a supply roller that is in contact with the developing roller and configured to supply toner to the developing roller; a current measuring unit configured to measure an electric current that flows from the developing roller to the supply roller when the toner is supplied from the supply roller to the developing roller; and an error determining unit configured to detect a development error of the developing roller based on the electric current measured by the current measuring unit.

Abstract: A developing apparatus is disclosed that includes a developer carrier for carrying a developer used for developing a latent image, a developer supplying chamber having a developer supplying member for supplying the developer to the developer carrier by rotation, a developer storing chamber positioned above the developer supplying chamber for storing the developer and supplying the developer to the developer supplying chamber, and a partitioning member positioned between the developer supplying chamber and the developer storing chamber. The partitioning member has an opening through which the developer is supplied from the developer storing chamber to the developer supplying chamber. The developing apparatus includes a conveying member positioned above the partitioning member for conveying the developer in a substantially horizontal direction.

Abstract: An image developing method is disclosed that is able to efficiently remove degraded toner on a developing agent carrier, prevent formation of abnormal images, ensure good image quality over time, and increase the service life of the device. The developing method includes a step of calculating an amount of consumption of the developing agent during image formation and an amount of consumption of the developing agent in a compulsory toner consumption mode under different calculation conditions between the image formation and the compulsory toner consumption mode. In the compulsory toner consumption mode, a developing bias different from a developing bias used during image formation is applied for a predetermined time period to discharge residual developing agent on a developing agent carrier to a latent image carrier.

Abstract: A disclosed developing device includes a developing roller; a supply roller that is in contact with the developing roller and configured to supply toner to the developing roller; a current measuring unit configured to measure an electric current that flows from the developing roller to the supply roller when the toner is supplied from the supply roller to the developing roller; and an error determining unit configured to detect a development error of the developing roller based on the electric current measured by the current measuring unit.

Abstract: A developing apparatus is disclosed that includes a developer carrier for carrying a developer used for developing a latent image, a developer supplying chamber having a developer supplying member for supplying the developer to the developer carrier by rotation, a developer storing chamber positioned above the developer supplying chamber for storing the developer and supplying the developer to the developer supplying chamber, and a partitioning member positioned between the developer supplying chamber and the developer storing chamber. The partitioning member has an opening through which the developer is supplied from the developer storing chamber to the developer supplying chamber. The developing apparatus includes a conveying member positioned above the partitioning member for conveying the developer in a substantially horizontal direction.

Abstract: A developer regulating member capable of stably regulating the thickness of a developer even when used for a long time, while preventing the increase in the production cost, a developing device having the developer regulating member, an image forming apparatus having the developing device, a process cartridge, and a method of producing the developer regulating member. The average crystal particle diameter D [?m] of a plate-like member provided in a layer-thinning blade which functions as the developer regulating member and which abuts against a developing roller functioning as a developer carrier, and the curvature radius R [?m] of a bent portion satisfy the relationship of D?60.53×R×10?3?12.61.

Abstract: An image forming and recording apparatus, having a fixing apparatus for fixing unfixed toner image on a recording medium, wherein the fixing apparatus includes a fixing roller integrating a heater therein, an endless belt wound around the fixing roller, and three pressure members for pressing the endless belt onto the fixing roller. A pressure member located nearest to a side of entry of paper among the three pressure members is made up with a non-rotary type pressure member, and other two pressure members are made up with either one of a rotary type pressure member and the non-rotary type pressure member.

Abstract: An image forming and recording apparatus, having a fixing apparatus for fixing unfixed toner image on a recording medium, wherein said fixing apparatus comprises: a fixing roller integrating a heater therein; an endless belt wound around said fixing roller; and three (3) pressure members for pressing said endless belt onto said fixing roller, wherein second one from a side of entry of paper is made at maximum in pressure loading, among said three (3) pressure members, thereby achieving stable fixing of oil-less toner at high speed.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic apparatus includes a photosensitive member, an exposing device for forming an image on the photosensitive member, developing devices for different colors, and a transfer member. The developing devices include a toner storing chamber, a toner carrying member for forming a toner layer, a regulating member for regulating an amount of toner attached to the toner carrying member, a toner supply chamber having a supply member therein, a toner recovery chamber having an rotating member therein, and a separating member for separating the toner supply chamber from the toner recovery chamber so that the toner supply chamber is disposable above the toner recovery chamber.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic apparatus includes a photosensitive member, an exposing device for forming an image on the photosensitive member, developing devices for different colors, and a transfer member. The developing devices include a toner storing chamber, a toner carrying member for forming a toner layer, a regulating member for regulating an amount of toner attached to the toner carrying member, a toner supply chamber having a supply member therein, a toner recovery chamber having an rotating member therein, and a separating member for separating the toner supply chamber from the toner recovery chamber so that the toner supply chamber is disposable above the toner recovery chamber.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic apparatus having a photosensitive member, an exposing device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member, four developing devices which attach toner on the photosensitive member and form a toner image and a transfer member for transferring the toner image onto a printing medium. The four developing devices include respectively a developing device for a yellow image, a magenta image, cyan image, and a black image. Each developing device includes a toner storing chamber for storing toner of a nonmagnetic one-component developer, a toner carrying member for forming a toner layer of the toner, a regulating member for regulating an amount of toner attached to the toner carrying member, a toner recovery chamber having an agitating member for agitating recovered toner, and a separating member for separating a toner supply chamber for the toner carrying member from the toner recovery chamber.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic apparatus having a photosensitive member, an exposing device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member, four developing devices which attach toner on the photosensitive member and form a toner image and a transfer member for transferring the toner image onto a printing medium. The four developing devices include respectively a developing device for a yellow image, a magenta image, cyan image, and a black image. Each developing device includes a toner storing chamber for storing toner of a nonmagnetic one-component developer, a toner carrying member for forming a toner layer of the toner, a regulating member for regulating an amount of toner attached to the toner carrying member, a toner recovery chamber having an agitating member for agitating recovered toner, and a separating member for separating a toner supply chamber for the toner carrying member from the toner recovery chamber.

Abstract: A developing device for an electrophotographic apparatus. The developing device includes a toner storing chamber for storing toner of a developer, a toner carrying member for forming a toner layer of the toner, and a regulating member for regulating an amount of toner attached to the toner carrying member, the insulating member being disposed to below the toner carrying member. A toner supply chamber is provided for supplying toner to the toner carrying member and a toner recovery chamber is provided for recovering a surplus of toner regulated by the regulating member. A separating member is provided for separating the toner supply chamber and the toner recovery chamber.

Abstract: A developing device capable of high quality image recording by separating a toner supply chamber for supplying toner to a developing roll and a toner recovery chamber for recovering regulated toner by a regulating blade from each other by a sheet-shaped member thereby stabilizing the toner supply to the developing roll and the toner recovery.

Abstract: A toner bearing body unit is constituted as one assembled unit including a toner bearing body for holding toners supplied from a toner supply roller of a housing main body at an outer peripheral surface thereof, a toner layer thickness regulating member for electrically charging the toners by applying pressure toward the outer peripheral surface of the toner bearing body and for forming a toner thin layer on the toner bearing body, and a holding member for holding the toner bearing body and the toner layer thickness regulating member. The toner bearing body unit is constituted to be directly attachable to and detachable from an outer side of the housing main body of a developing apparatus. Accordingly, an uniform toner thin layer having a predetermined thickness can be formed stably on the toner bearing body during a long period of use, and the developing apparatus reconstructed so that replacement of the components thereof can be carried out easily.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes toner powder in the form of fine colored powder, a toner carrier, and a frictional controlling member for contacting under a pressure with the toner carrier under pressure to frictionally charge the toner powder and form a thin toner layer on the toner carrier. The toner carrier on which the thin toner layer is formed is rotated so as to transport the thin toner layer to an opposing location on a toner image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed to convert the electrostatic latent image into a visible image. The developing apparatus includes a toner supply roller disposed in rotating contact with the toner carrier at a side of the toner carrier, the frictional controlling member being provided at a position in contact with the toner carrier downstream of the toner supply roller; and a rotatable toner scraping member is provided in a neighboring relationship below the toner supply roller and the frictional controlling member.