Abstract: A developing unit employing a two-component developing agent is shown. The developing unit includes a first regulating member, a second regulating member, and a third regulating member forming first, second, and third regulating gaps respectively with a developing roller. The third regulating member forms a recovery path for recovering excessive developing agent that may not pass through the first and second regulating gaps to an agitating region between the third and second regulating members. A distance between a vertical line passing through an upstream side end portion of the second regulating member based on a rotating direction of the developing roller and a center of the developing roller is greater than a radius of the developing roller, and a downstream end of the third regulating member is located between a regulating pole and a catch pole.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier which carries a developer containing a toner and a carrier, and a developing chamber which feeds the developer to the developer carrier. In addition, a conveying member conveys the developer of the developing chamber, and a regulating member regulates an amount of the developer coated on the developer carrier. A guide portion guides the developer to the developer carrier and forms a buffer portion that temporarily contains the developer fed from the developing chamber between the regulating member and the guide portion. The guide portion has a facing surface opposing the developer carrier along a front surface of the developer carrier and a guiding surface which guides the developer from an upper edge of the guide portion to a downstream side of the facing surface in a rotational direction of the developer carrier.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer carrying member; a magnet; a developing chamber; a blade member; and a guiding portion. A distance from a developer feeding start position of the guiding portion to said blade member is 2 mm or more along a developer carrying member rotational direction. When a magnetic force at a surface of the developer carrying member with respect to a direction normal to the developer carrying member is Fr, the magnetic poles are provided so that a ratio of an integrated value FrNear obtained by integrating the magnetic force Fr from the blade member to a position of 2 mm upstream of the blade member with respect to the rotational direction to an integrated value FrAll obtained by integrating the magnetic force from the blade member to the developer feeding start position with respect to the rotational direction is 60% or more.

Abstract: A developing device includes a first developer carrier that carries developer on a peripheral surface thereof; a second developer carrier that carries the developer on a peripheral surface thereof; a supplying section that supplies the developer to the peripheral surface of the first developer carrier; a layer thickness regulating member that regulates a layer thickness of the developer supplied to the peripheral surface of the first developer carrier by the supplying section; a first transfer magnetic pole disposed in an interior of the first developer carrier; a second transfer magnetic pole disposed in an interior of the second developer carrier; a first downstream magnetic pole disposed in the interior of the first developer carrier; and a second downstream magnetic pole disposed in the interior of the second developer carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developer container, a moving mechanism that moves a toner of a developer to the image carrier, a stirring and transporting member that transports the developer in the developer container to the moving mechanism, a layer thickness regulating member that regulates the layer thickness of the developer held by a developer holder of the moving mechanism, and a movement regulating unit that regulates movement of the developer. An end of the movement regulating unit at a stirring and transporting member side is located at the stirring and transporting member side with respect to a tangent line tangent to the outer circumference of the stirring and transporting member and passing through a position where the density of magnetic flux of an attraction magnetic pole of a magnet member of the moving mechanism on the surface of the developing holder is the highest.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a developing apparatus which can provide images having superior image density and less fogging. The present invention relates to a developing apparatus wherein a magnetic toner-carrying member has a work function value at the surface within a specific range, a toner regulating member which regulates toner carried on the magnetic toner-carrying member is formed by a specific material at a portion contacting the magnetic toner, and has a ratio [W/B] of the amount W of silica fine powder to the theoretical specific surface area B of the magnetic toner satisfying a specific relation.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer supporting member having an elastic layer and a surface layer covering the elastic layer for supporting developer; and a developer layer regulating member arranged to abut against the surface layer for regulating a layer thickness of the developer on the surface layer. The surface layer contains at least carbon black. The developer supporting member is configured so that the following equation (1) is satisfied when the surface layer has a dynamic friction coefficient ? between 0.4 and 0.9 (0.4???0.9) and a ten-point average roughness Rz (?m) between 2 ?m and 6 ?m (2?Rz?6): 2?C?0.5×Rz+3??(1) where C is a content of the carbon black (weight parts relative to the surface layer of 100).

Abstract: A developing device for forming a toner image on an image support member with a developer composed of toner and carriers, the developing device having: a main body in which a first space for a developer is made; a developer support member, which is located in the first space, for supporting the developer and for supplying toner of the developer to the image support member; and a toner tank in which a second space for toner is made, the second space leading to the first space via at least one boundary area; wherein the at least one boundary area between the first space and the second space is closed by the toner or the developer.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a housing; a developing roller; a seal member, and a layer thickness regulating member that contacts a circumferential surface of the developing roller via developer and regulates a thickness of a developer layer on the circumferential surface of the developing roller. The seal member has a sliding contact portion made of fiber having elasticity and sliding-contacting the circumferential surface of the developing roller. The layer thickness regulating member has one end portion that is supported by the housing and the other end portion to which a bent portion is formed to face the seal member, and the bent portion is configured to enter the sliding contact portion.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing member, a layer restricting member, a facing magnet and a nonmagnetic member. The developer bearing member has a sleeve for bearing magnetic toner and a fixed magnet included inside the sleeve. The layer restricting member faces one magnetic pole of the fixed magnet, is arranged at a distance from the sleeve and made of a magnetic material. The facing magnet is arranged upstream of the layer restricting member in a rotation direction of the sleeve and at a distance from the sleeve, includes a first facing surface facing a position overlapping with a position with a maximum magnetic force of the one magnetic pole and has a magnetic pole having the same polarity as the one magnetic pole on the first facing surface. The nonmagnetic member is connected at an upstream side of the facing magnet in the rotation direction.

Abstract: A developer layer thickness regulating device includes a blade member for regulating a thickness of a layer of a developer on a surface of a developing roller rotatably supported by a developing container for accommodating the developer and includes a supporting member for supporting the blade member. The supporting member is capable of being fastened to a part of the developing container by a fastening member, and a position of the supporting member relative to a part of the developer container is adjustable with respect to a widthwise direction of the blade member, when the supporting member is fastened to the developing container by the fastening member, so as to fasten the blade member at a predetermined position relative to the developing container. The supporting member has a projection-recess portion which is capable of biting into the part of the developing container when the supporting member is fastened by the fastening member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a case for housing a developer, a magnetic roller, an agitating member, a layer thickness restricting member, an auxiliary developer storing portion and a plate-like flexible member. The magnetic roller includes a rotary shaft and magnetically carries the developer on a circumferential surface. The agitating member includes a shaft center and a screw forming portion arranged around the shaft center and agitates and conveys the developer while rotating. The layer thickness restricting member restricts the layer thickness of the developer to a predetermined thickness. The auxiliary developer storing portion faces the circumferential surface of the magnetic roller at a side upstream of the layer thickness restricting member in a rotating direction of the magnetic roller. The plate-like flexible member extends toward the circumferential surface of the magnetic roller and forms a wall surface on an upstream side of the auxiliary developer storing portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a developer carrying member facing the image carrying member in a horizontal direction and configured to carry a developer containing magnetic particles and to rotate in a circumferential direction thereof, a transport pole provided inside the developer carrying member and above a center of rotation of the developer carrying member and allowing the developer carrying member to transport the developer, and a developer regulating member facing the developer carrying member at a position between the transport pole and the image carrying member in a direction of rotation of the developer carrying member and configured to regulate a thickness of the developer on the developer carrying member. The developer accumulates at a position where an amount of bending in the developer carrying member in a vertical direction becomes larger than or equal to that in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A development device includes a sheet member, a support member, and a vibration applying device. The sheet member is disposed between a developer carrier and a blade to receive a developer falling from the developer carrier toward the blade. The developer carrier is disposed to face to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and configured to supply the developer to the image carrier in a facing area to the image carrier. The blade is configured to regulate an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrier. The support member holds the sheet member. The vibration applying device applies vibration to the sheet member. The sheet member is stretchable and flexible and is stretched over the support member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing member for bearing a developer so as to develop an electrostatic image, a restricting member for restricting the amount of developer born on the developer bearing member, a detector for detecting information on the amount of developer existing between the developer bearing member and the restricting member, and a controller which can change a value of a voltage to be applied to the restricting member during image formation based on a result detected by the detector.

Abstract: A developing device having: a developing sleeve in which a magnetic member is inserted, transporting two-component developer to a developing area facing an image carrier; and a restriction member for restricting the amount of developer to be no greater than 250 g/m2. The average of absolute values of magnetic flux density within a restriction area falls within a range of 40 mT to 70 mT under a condition that no developer exists within the restriction area. The restriction area extends along the outer circumferential surface between a closest point on the outer circumferential surface, which is closest to the restriction member, and a point 2 mm upstream from the closest point in a rotational direction of the developing sleeve, and has a height that is half a minimum distance between the closest point and the restriction member.

Abstract: The developing device includes: a developing container that stores a developer including a non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier; a toner bearing member that bears the toner and conveys the toner to a developing portion; and a separating portion wherein a surface of the toner bearing member includes a plurality of recess structures in which a smallest opening width R is equal to or larger than rt10 and equal to or smaller than rc10, and a depth D is equal to or larger than rt10/2, where rt10 is a particle diameter in which an accumulated number distribution in a toner granularity distribution is 10%, and rc10 is a particle diameter in which an accumulated number distribution in a carrier granularity distribution is 10%; and a percentage of the recess structures per unit area in a toner bearing region of the toner bearing member is equal to or larger than 55%.

Abstract: A film member in a development device can vibrate with respect to an internal wall in the development device. An idler gear in the development device includes a projection and is reciprocally movable between a first position and a second position. The first position is a position where the projection is apart from an end edge of the film member in response to a rotation of a toner supply roller when image formation is performed. The second position is a position where the projection overlaps with the end edge of the film member in response to a reverse rotation of the toner supply roller when image formation is not performed. The projection causes the film member to vibrate by intermittently coming into contact with the end edge of the film member along with a rotation of the idler gear at the second position.

Abstract: A cleaning mechanism includes a rubbing roller, a bearing, a toner amount restricting plate, and a bracket. The rubbing roller is abrasively contacted with the surface of a photosensitive drum. The bearing rotatably supports the rubbing roller. The toner amount restricting plate restricts the amount of toner adhered to the surface of the rubbing roller. The bracket holds the toner amount restricting plate in a state that the toner amount restricting plate is contacted with the rubbing roller. The bracket has a bearing holding portion which holds the bearing, and a toner amount restricting plate mounting portion to which the toner amount restricting plate is fixedly mounted. The bearing holding portion and the toner amount restricting plate mounting portion continue to each other via a first bent portion.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller, toner supplying roller, regulation blade, and casing. The developing roller faces an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed, and supplies toner to the image carrier. The toner supplying roller faces the developing roller, and supplies the toner to the developing roller. The regulation blade faces the toner supplying roller at predetermined distance. The casing houses the developing roller, toner supplying roller, and regulation blade. The casing includes a toner catching support member facing the developing roller or the toner supplying roller between the regulation blade and the image carrier. The developing device further includes a toner catching member, which is arranged along a longitudinal direction of the toner catching support member and catches toner that drops from the developing roller, and a vibration generating portion, which vibrates the toner catching member.

Abstract: A developing device 2 includes a control member 116 for controlling an amount of a developer supplied to an image bearing member 3 by causing a developer captured on a surface of a developing sleeve 119 to be uniform in layer thickness. The control member 116 is arranged to face, via the developing sleeve 119, one (120b) of a plurality of magnetic poles provided inside the developing sleeve 119. Further, the control member 116 is arranged to be in parallel with a developing roller 114 in an axial direction of a magnet fixing shaft 126. The control member 116 is such a non-magnetic member that the nearest part of the non-magnetic member from the developing roller 114 has been caused to be ferromagnetic and has been magnetic-field oriented.

Abstract: A developing device includes a first developing member rotating such that a moving direction of a portion opposing the image carrier is opposite a moving direction of the image carrier. A second developing member is provided on a downstream side of the first developing member in a rotating direction of the image carrier rotating such that a moving direction of a portion opposing the image carrier is the same as the moving direction of the image carries. A distributing member is supported movably relative to a proximal portion where the first developing member is closest to the second developing member so as to distribute developer to the first and second developing members by contact with the developer, and a biasing member biases the distributing member upstream in the rotating direction of the first developing member.

Abstract: A developing apparatus contains a developer for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier. The developing apparatus includes a developer carrier disposed opposite to the image carrier; a developer regulating member regulating an amount of the developer carried by the developer carrier; and a developer circulating unit transporting the developer in a circulating path. The developer circulating unit includes a rotatable first transport member supplying the developer to the developer carrier while transporting the developer in a horizontal direction, a shielding member preventing the developer separated from the developer carrier from flowing back toward the first transport member, and a rotatable second transport member collecting the developer separated from the developer carrier while transporting the developer in the horizontal direction. A distance between the second transport member and the developer carrier is greater than a distance between the first transport member and the developer carrier.

Abstract: A developing device that is provided in an image forming device that forms an image includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developer carrier that is configured to form a developer image on a surface of the image carrier by attaching developer on the electrostatic latent image; and a contact member that is configured to contact the developer carrier. The contact member contacts the developer carrier and exerts a contact pressure per unit area thereon, the contact pressure per unit area being based on charging characteristics of the developer being used.

Abstract: A development device using a developing agent including a toner and a carrier, in which the development device includes a development roller that attaches the developing agent to a circumference surface of the development roller and transfers the developing agent to a development region in which the development roller faces a photo receptor; and a regulation portion to regulate an amount of the developing agent transferred to the development region, where the regulation portion includes first, second, and third regulation portions sequentially disposed in the stated order in an opposite direction to a rotational direction of the development roller, where the first, second, and third regulation portions are respectively spaced apart from the circumference surface of the development roller by first, second, and third intervals, the second interval is greater than the third interval, and the third interval is narrowed in the rotational direction of the development roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a subjected-to-development member; a first developer-transporting unit; a regulator that regulates the thickness of a developer; a second developer-transporting unit; a density detecting unit that detects center density and edge density of a developed image formed on the subjected-to-development member by the first developer-transporting unit and the second developer-transporting unit; a reference-image forming controller that forms a reference developed image on the subjected-to-development member by forming an electrostatic latent image having a uniform image density at a center position and an edge position; and a speed controller that increases rotation speed of the second developer-transporting unit as compared to the case of forming the reference developed image if the center density of the reference developed image detected by the density detecting unit is lower than the edge density.

Abstract: A developing device includes first and second developer carriers facing each other in a facing region, a regulating member that regulates a layer thickness of developer, and a separation member. The first and second developer carriers respectively include first and second magnetic members that are respectively magnetized with first and second facing magnetic poles having opposite polarities. The separation member separates the developer so that the developer is supplied toward the first and second developer carriers. The separation member is disposed such that distances between the separation member and the first and second developer carriers are the smallest in a region in which a magnitude of a combined magnetic field of the first and second magnetic poles locally decreases as compared with a case where at least one of the first and second developer carriers is independently disposed due to interaction between the first and second facing magnetic poles.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer bearer to carry the developer to a development range, a magnetic field generator disposed inside the developer bearer for generating magnetic force, a developer regulator for adjusting an amount of the developer, a developer supply compartment disposed adjacent to the developer bearer, separated by a side wall from a portion where the developer bearer is provided, a developer agitator provided in the supply compartment, and a blocker disposed above the side wall of the supply compartment across a supply gap through which the developer moves from the supply compartment. The magnetic field generator has an attraction magnetic pole and a regulation magnetic pole. The blocker prevents the developer blocked by the developer regulator from moving along a magnetic force line of the regulation magnetic force toward the circumferential surface of the developer bearer.

Abstract: The present invention provide a mold for forming a developer blade and a developer blade manufactured with such a mold which are able to give images of good quality even in the low-temperature low-humidity condition and to improve a mold releasability. A mold 10 for forming a developer blade has a plate accommodation space 14 in which the metal plate is accommodated and a belt-like cavity 15 for forming the elastic member adjacent to the plate accommodation space. At least a part 20a of a cavity surface 20 defining the cavity 15 in the cross section taken along the cavity width direction is finished to have a surface roughness Ry of not more than 10 ?m.

Abstract: A developing device of the present disclosure includes a developing roller, a toner feeding roller, a regulating blade, a blade holding member, a toner receiving member, and a casing. The regulating blade regulates a thickness of toner carried on the toner feeding roller. An air flow path is formed inside the blade holding member. The toner receiving member, the regulating blade, and the blade holding member each include a slit hole that leads to the air flow path.

Abstract: A developing device of the present disclosure includes a developing roller, a toner feeding roller, a thickness regulating member, and a casing. The toner feeding roller feeds toner to the developing roller. The thickness regulating member is disposed opposite to the toner feeding roller at a predetermined distance from the toner feeding roller, and the thickness regulating member regulates a thickness of the toner carried on the toner feeding roller. The casing holds therein the developing roller, the toner feeding roller, and the thickness regulating member. The thickness regulating member is formed in a roller shape and rotatable.

Abstract: A developing device and an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing occurrence of development hysteresis and moving a developer on a chute without being retained is provided. The developing device provides a chute that guides a two-component developer regulated by a regulating member in the direction separating from a developing roller. The chute is composed of a rectangular thin plate made of non-magnetic austenitic stainless alloy, and a tip part that is one end part in a short side direction thereof is provided so as to face a surface of the developing roller. The tip part is transformed to a processed induced martensitic phase to be made ferromagnetic, and subjected to magnetic field orientation in an area facing the surface of the developing roller so as to form a repulsive magnetic field.

Abstract: A developing device 2 includes a developer collecting guide member 128 for carrying a residual developer on the surface of a developing roller 114 in a direction from the developing roller 114 to a carrying member 112, the developer collecting guide member 128 including (i) a first inclined plane 128b that guides the residual developer to a position in a carrying path P which position is between a first side wall 117 and a rotary shaft of the carrying member 112 and (ii) a second inclined plane 128c which has a smaller angle of inclination than the first inclined plane 128b and guides the residual developer to the carrying path P, the second inclined plane 128c having an end section present downstream in a developer guiding direction, the end section reaching a position between the side wall 111a and the rotary shaft, and tapering in area to the end section.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer holding body including: a hollow development rotary body which is opposed to an image holding body capable of holding a toner image and has a smooth surface whose surface roughness is lower than or equal to 5 ?m in terms of maximum height; and a magnet member which is fixedly housed in the development rotary body and in which a plurality of magnetic poles are arranged alongside its periphery, the developer holding body operating in such a manner that developer containing toner and carrier is held on the development rotary body by magnetic force produced by the magnetic poles of the magnet member as the development rotary body is rotated; a layer regulating rotary body as defined herein; and a development driving device as defined herein.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer carrying body which supplies developer to a predetermined image carrying body; a layer thickness regulating member which is made of a magnetic material, which has a layer thickness regulating face opposing the developer carrying body so as to form a predetermined gap between the layer thickness regulating face and the developer carrying body and regulating the layer thickness of the developer on the developer carrying body, and which forms a magnetic path between the layer thickness regulating face and the developer carrying body; an installation member on which the layer thickness regulating member is installed; and an elastic sheet member arranged in the gap in a state of contact with a surface of the developer carrying body.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing sleeve, a magnet roller mounted in the developing sleeve, a first conveying screw feeding a developer to the developing sleeve, and a regulating blade regulating a layer thickness of the developer. The developing device further includes a guide member that backs up the developer from the first conveying screw at an upstream side of the regulating blade based on a rotational direction of the developing sleeve and that forms a buffer portion temporarily containing the developer between the regulating blade and the guide member. The guide member is installed so that a direction of a resultant force of a magnetic force and a gravitational force acting on a carrier particle becomes a direction away from a surface of the guide member on a facing surface of the guide member which is opposite to the regulating blade.

Abstract: A developing device to supply toner in a developer, including a development member that attaches the developer to an outer circumferential surface of the development member and supplies the toner to the image bearing member, a first regulation member including a first regulating portion that forms a first doctor gap between the outer circumferential surface of the development member and the first regulating portion, and a second regulation member disposed on an upstream side of the first regulation member in a rotational direction of the development member and includes a second regulating portion that forms a second doctor gap between the outer circumferential surface of the development member and the second regulating portion, the second doctor gaps at a central portion and both end portions in a longitudinal direction of the development member being different from each other.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image carrier carrying an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof; a developer supply member supplying developer; a developer carrier carrying the developer supplied by the developer supply member on a surface thereof; and a developer layer forming member that includes a curvature part having a predetermined curvature radius, abutting the curvature part on the surface of the developer carrier to form a developer layer on the surface. The developer carrier attaches the developer layer to the electrostatic latent image to form a developer image on the surface of the image carrier, and a pressing parameter is within a range of 9.3×10?7 g·m2/s2 or more and 2.3×10?6 g·m2/s2 or less when the pressing parameter is determined by multiplying a linear pressure of the curvature part against the surface of the developer carrier, a square root of the curvature radius, and pi (?).

Abstract: A development device includes a developer bearer to carry the developer to a development range, a magnetic field generator disposed inside the developer bearer for generating magnetic force, a developer regulator for adjusting an amount of the developer, a developer supply compartment disposed adjacent to the developer bearer, separated by a side wall from a portion where the developer bearer is provided, a developer agitator provided in the supply compartment, and a blocker disposed above the side wall of the supply compartment across a supply gap through which the developer moves from the supply compartment. The magnetic field generator has an attraction magnetic pole and a regulation magnetic pole. The blocker prevents the developer blocked by the developer regulator from moving along a magnetic force line of the regulation magnetic force toward the circumferential surface of the developer bearer.

Abstract: A developing system includes a first developer carrier to carry and supply two-component developer including toner and carrier to a latent image formed on an image bearer. A first magnetic field generator having plural first magnetic poles is rotatably installed in the first developer carrier and causes the two-component developer to put forth ears and conveys the two-component developer on the developer carrier. A cross-sectional center of the first magnetic field generator is deviated from that of the first developer carrier toward the image bearer by a prescribed length. A developer peel-off device including a second magnetic field generator is provided in the vicinity of the surface of the first developer carrier to peel off the developer not supplied to the image bearer and remaining on the surface of the first developer carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a developer carrying member facing the image carrying member in a horizontal direction and configured to carry a developer containing magnetic particles and to rotate in a circumferential direction thereof, a transport pole provided inside the developer carrying member and above a center of rotation of the developer carrying member and allowing the developer carrying member to transport the developer, and a developer regulating member facing the developer carrying member at a position between the transport pole and the image carrying member in a direction of rotation of the developer carrying member and configured to regulate a thickness of the developer on the developer carrying member. The developer accumulates at a position where an amount of bending in the developer carrying member in a vertical direction becomes larger than or equal to that in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing member, a layer restricting member, a facing magnet and a nonmagnetic member. The developer bearing member has a sleeve for bearing magnetic toner and a fixed magnet included inside the sleeve. The layer restricting member faces one magnetic pole of the fixed magnet, is arranged at a distance from the sleeve and made of a magnetic material. The facing magnet is arranged upstream of the layer restricting member in a rotation direction of the sleeve and at a distance from the sleeve, includes a first facing surface facing a position overlapping with a position with a maximum magnetic force of the one magnetic pole and has a magnetic pole having the same polarity as the one magnetic pole on the first facing surface. The nonmagnetic member is connected at an upstream side of the facing magnet in the rotation direction.

Abstract: A developing device includes a first developer carrier that carries developer on a peripheral surface thereof; a second developer carrier that carries the developer on a peripheral surface thereof; a supplying section that supplies the developer to the peripheral surface of the first developer carrier; a layer thickness regulating member that regulates a layer thickness of the developer supplied to the peripheral surface of the first developer carrier by the supplying section; a first transfer magnetic pole disposed in an interior of the first developer carrier; a second transfer magnetic pole disposed in an interior of the second developer carrier; a first downstream magnetic pole disposed in the interior of the first developer carrier; and a second downstream magnetic pole disposed in the interior of the second developer carrier.

Abstract: In the case where V-groove portions in a surface of a developing sleeve are located in the closest position between the developing sleeve and a regulating blade, an angle ? formed by a slope surface of the regulating blade with a downstream surface of a V-groove in a rotation direction of the developing sleeve is set to less than 90°.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer-carrying member and a developer control member, a supply member, and a rotating member that are disposed opposite the developer-carrying member. The developer-carrying member accommodates a magnetic source that generates a magnetic force for carrying a developer containing magnetic particles on an outer surface thereof. The developer control member controls the thickness of a layer of the developer carried on the outer surface of the developer-carrying member. The supply member rotates to transport the developer in a rotation axis direction thereof and to supply the developer to the developer-carrying member. The rotating member is disposed at a position where the rotating member is submerged in the developer between the developer control member and the supply member and rotates to supply the developer from between the developer control member and the supply member to the supply member.

Abstract: A developer carrying member is provided which can maintain a high image quality over a long period of time even where a highly triboelectrically chargeable developer is used. The developer carrying member has a substrate and a surface layer. The surface layer is a cured product of a resin composition containing a binder resin, conductive particles, a quaternary phosphonium salt and an azo metal complex compound, the binder resin has in the molecular structure at least one structure selected from the group consisting of an —NH2 group, an ?NH group and an —NH— linkage, and the azo metal complex compound is a compound represented by the formula (1) as defined in the specification.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing roller; a toner supplying roller; a regulation blade; a casing; a film member; a bias member; and a protrusion. The casing includes an inner wall portion which opposes the developing roller between the blade roller and the image carrier. The film member is flexible, disposed to oppose an upper surface of the inner wall portion over a predetermined gap and vibratile in a direction to approach or leave the inner wall portion. The bias member is connected to at least one end in a longitudinal direction of the film member and gives tension to the film member. The protrusion is disposed on a gear composing a group of drive gears of the developing roller or the toner supplying roller and intermittently contacts an end edge of the film member thanks to rotation of the gear to vibrate the film member.

Abstract: A metering skive for a dry electrophotographic (EP) printer is mounted on a retractable skive mount. The skive mount is spring-loaded to a mounting block, and a stop pin sets the distance between the skive mount and the mounting block. A movable spacer with a plurality of laterally-separated regions of respective, different thicknesses is mounted between the head of the stop pin and the mounting block. A retractor can be operated to pull the skive mount towards the mounting block so the spacer can be moved to select a desired spacing between the mounting block and the skive mount, and thus a desired gap between the metering skive and the toning member in the printer.

Abstract: A developing device includes a first developer transporting member, a first magnet member, a second developer transporting member, a second magnet member, and a passage regulating member. Among magnetic poles of the first magnet member and magnetic poles of the second magnet member, the magnetic poles having different magnetic properties that are disposed closest to each other and that oppose each other are disposed in an area that is opposite an area at whose side a latent image carrying member exists with a virtual straight line being a boundary thereof, the virtual straight connecting a center position of the first magnet member corresponding to a center of rotation of the first developer transporting member and a center position of the second magnet member corresponding to a center of rotation of the second developer transporting member with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer bearing member configured to bear a developer to develop a latent image, a developer regulating member configured to regulate an amount of the developer carried on the bearing member, a voltage application unit that can apply a plurality of direct current voltages of different values between the bearing member and the regulating member, and a current detection unit that can detect a plurality of direct currents of different values flowing in the regulating member when the voltage application unit applies the plurality of direct current voltages, wherein the image forming apparatus sets a direct current voltage value Vb applied by the voltage application unit when developing the latent image, so that the following expression is satisfied: |Vb|>|Vbmin|, where Vbmin indicates a direct current voltage value when the direct current detected by the current detection unit is a minimum value.