Abstract: A developing device that can reliably supply toner from a toner supply roller to a developing roller and that does not generate scraping irregularities in the toner thin layer on the developing roller, and a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus having the same. The developing device has: a toner supply chamber; a developing roller provided in the toner supply chamber; a toner supply roller provided in the toner supply chamber for supplying toner to the developing roller; and a layer regulation member for forming the toner on the developing roller into a thin layer, and develops electrostatic latent images on an image carrier by applying bias voltage to the developing roller. An intermediate contact member is interposed between the developing roller and the toner supply roller.

Abstract: An image forming method, including forming an electrostatic latent image on a latent image bearer; forming a thin layer of a toner on a developing roller with a thin-layer forming member; and feeding the toner with the developing roller to the electrostatic latent image to develop the electrostatic latent image, wherein the toner is a pulverized toner, including a binder resin; a wax; and an inorganic particulate material, and wherein the following relationships (1) to (3) are satisfied: 300?v?100??(1) 10?R?5??(2) R2/12?A?150/v??(3) wherein v represents a peripheral speed of the developing roller; R represents a diameter of the developing roller; and A represents an exposure of the wax on the surface of the toner.

Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier by supplying a one-component developer to the image carrier. Good images can be obtained over long periods of time, without printing history becoming apparent on account of residual developer. The developing device has a developer carrier that is rotatable and disposed facing an image carrier; and a conductive developer supply and recovery member rotatably arranged so as to abut the developer carrier. The rotation direction of the conductive developer supply and recovery member is opposite to the rotation direction of the developer carrier at a position where the developer carrier and the conductive developer supply and recovery member abut each other. A contact pressure P between the developer carrier and the conductive developer supply and recovery member is set so as to satisfy the relationship 0 (kPa)<P<5.0 (kPa).

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 device that prevents the formation of agglomerated masses of developing agent in the bottom of the developing agent housing chamber near the developing roller and the supply roller, and that maintains the fluidity of the developing agent in the bottom of the developing agent housing chamber, while minimizing any increase in size of the developing device.

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: A developing device is provided with which the increase in torque of a supply roller, unevenness of image density, and wear to the supply roller caused by the formation of an aggregated block of toner in the gap between the supply roller and the opposing side wall of a supply developer holding chamber can be suppressed.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing member configured to bear a developer on a surface thereof, a developer supplying member configured to supply the developer to the developer bearing member, a regulating member configured to regulate the developer supplied on the surface of the developer bearing member to form into a thin layer, and being located at a position lower than a nip of the developer bearing member and the developer supplying member, and a partition wall configured to divide the developing device into two chambers, and arranged with at least one developer path having a bottom portion thereof located lower than a contact point of the developer bearing member and the regulating member.