Abstract: A process cartridge comprises a photosensitive drum and a developing roller. A coupling member is provided adjacent to one axial end of the developing roller. The coupling member includes a driven portion, and an intermediary portion configured and positioned to engage with the driven portion. The intermediary portion is also configured to be movable relative to the driven portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the driven portion. The coupling member further includes a driving portion configured and positioned to receive a driving force for rotating the developing roller. The driving portion is also configured to engage with the intermediary portion, and to be movable relative to the intermediary portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the intermediary portion.

Abstract: A developing device capable of stably collecting untransferred toner collected from the photoconductor drum to the developing roller to the feed roller and suppressing occurrence of development ghosts, and an image forming apparatus including the same are provided. A developing device has a developing roller facing a photoconductor drum, a feed roller, and a restriction blade. The feed roller forms a feed nip part with the developing roller by contacting with the circumferential surface of the developing roller, and collects toner from the developing roller while feeding the toner to the developing roller. The Asker-C hardness of the developing roller is in the range of 50 to 80, both inclusive, the width of the feed nip part is in the range of 0.2 to 1.5 mm, both inclusive, and a compressive load to be applied to the feed roller is in the range of 0.2 to 1.5N, both inclusive.

Abstract: A print agent application assembly includes a print agent transfer roller to receive print agent and transfer a portion of the print agent to a photoconductive surface. The assembly may also include a print agent regulator roller to regulate a film thickness of print agent on the print agent transfer roller. The assembly may also include a mechanism to generate an oscillating force to be applied to print agent on the print agent transfer roller. A method and a print apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A development device includes a development housing, a development roller, a supply roller and a layer thickness regulating member. The development housing stores a nonmagnetic one-component toner. The development roller is formed by a cylindrical elastic body. The supply roller includes a metal shaft member and a cylindrical foamed elastic body, and supplies the toner to the development roller and collects the toner from the development roller. The supply roller has an electric resistance within a range of 1×102? or more and 1×104? or less. The supply roller comes into contact with the circumferential face of the development roller in a state where a compression load within a range of 0.2 N or more and 1.5 N or less is applied to the shaft member of the supply roller in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the shaft member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a rotatable developer carrying member, a rotatable toner supplying member, and a toner accommodating unit. A developing unit including the developer carrying member and the toner accommodating unit are capable of being independently exchanged. The image forming apparatus further includes a current detector and a controller configured to execute a process for notifying information on a lifetime of the developing unit, on the basis of a detection result of the current detector at predetermined timing after use of a fresh toner accommodating unit is started.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which when toner remaining on a development roller in an area from a developer nip to a regulating blade disposed upstream of a rotation direction of the development roller during a stoppage of the image forming apparatus passes through the developer nip, a bias is applied so that the toner is drawn to the development roller, and a relative speed difference between the photosensitive drum and the development roller is created so as to be larger than the that during an image forming operation.

Abstract: The developer carrying member, includes: an electroconductive substrate; and a surface layer containing a resin, on the substrate, in which a thickness of the surface layer is 1.0 ?m or more and 100.0 ?m or less, a Martens hardness at an indentation depth of 0.1 ?m that is measured by infiltrating a Vickers indenter in a thickness direction of the surface layer from an outer surface of the surface layer is 50.0 N/mm2 or more and 100.0 N/mm2 or less, an Asker C hardness that is measured from the outer surface of the surface layer is 75° or more and 90° or less, and a value of a work function of the outer surface of the surface layer is 5.6 eV or more and 6.0 eV or less.

Abstract: A developing apparatus, includes: a developer bearing member that is rotatable; an moving member configured to move the magnetic developer carried on the developer bearing member before the magnetic developer is restricted by a restricting member, the moving member being rotatable and brought into contact with a surface of the developer bearing member; and a control portion, wherein, at a contact position between the developer bearing member and the moving member, assuming that a moving speed vector of a surface of the developer bearing member is taken as R and a moving speed vector of a surface of the moving member is taken as r, the control portion controls rotational operation of the developer bearing member and the moving member such that a direction of a vector R?r during image formation and a direction of a vector R?r during non-image formation be opposite to each other.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing, a developing roller, a first agitator, a supply roller, and a second agitator. The casing is configured to accommodate toner. The developing roller is rotatable about a developing roller rotation axis extending in a first direction. The first agitator is configured to agitate the toner. The first agitator is rotatable about a first agitator rotation axis extending in the first direction. The supply roller is positioned between the first agitator and the developing roller. The supply roller is rotatable about a supply roller rotation axis extending in the first direction. The second agitator is positioned between the supply roller and the first agitator. The second agitator is rotatable about a second agitator rotation axis extending in the first direction. A rotation locus of the second agitator is positioned outside of a rotation locus of the first agitator.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a developer carrier including a dielectric portion and a conductive portion on a surface thereof, a regulation member, and an image carrier disposed so as to come into contact with the developer carrier. The developer carrier and the image carrier are rotationally driven such that a surface of the developer carrier and a surface of the image carrier move at linear velocities different from each other at a contact portion, and the developer remaining on the image carrier after the developer image is transferred from the image carrier, is collected by the developer carrier at the contact portion.

Abstract: There are provided a developing roller having no risks of the image density of formed images rapidly decreasing and the occurrence of an uneven density since a toner transportation amount does not decrease greatly even if image formation is repeated, and a method of producing the same. In a developing roller, a plurality of recesses are disposed on an outer circumferential surface of a roller main body so that a ratio PA/PC of a pitch PA in an axial direction on the outer circumferential surface to a pitch PC in a circumferential direction is set to a range exceeding 1.1. The production method includes a process of forming the recesses on the outer circumferential surface by laser processing.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a developer supplying roller, provided in contact with the developing roller; a driving force receiving portion provided at a shaft end of the supplying roller; a first driving force transmitting portion; a second driving force transmitting portion; flexible sheets provided adjacent to an engaging portion between the first portion and the second portion to intermittently contact the second portion with rotation of the second portion, wherein a rotational direction of the roller is opposite to that of the roller, and a peripheral speed of the roller is larger than that of the roller.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a housing; a developing roller rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction; a first helical gear and a second helical gear positioned at an outer surface of the housing; and an engaging member movable together with the second helical gear. The second helical gear meshes with the first helical gear and is rotatable in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction. The second helical gear is movable in the axial direction between a first position and a second position closer to the outer surface than the first position. The second helical gear rotates in the first rotational direction to move toward the first position. The second helical gear rotates in the second rotational direction to move toward the second position whereby the engaging member engages a part of the outer surface to terminate rotation of the second helical gear.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus fixes a toner image on a transfer material at a fixing portion by applying an AC voltage from an AC power source to a fixing unit and includes a conductive pre-transfer guide on a position at which the transfer material nipped by a transfer portion and the fixing portion is in contact therewith. A capacitor and a Zener diode which is connected to the capacitor in parallel and maintains the pre-transfer guide at a predetermined voltage in a state in which a toner image is transferred to the transfer material nipped by the fixing portion and the transfer portion are arranged between the pre-transfer guide and the ground.

Abstract: A developer container includes a developer bearing member for bearing developer, a conveying member which conveys the developer, and a frame. In the frame, a partition partitions a developer storage chamber and a developing chamber and includes a first opening which connects the developer storage chamber with the developing chamber, and a second opening which connects an interior of the developing chamber and an exterior of the frame. A sealing member suppresses leakage of the developer from between the frame and the developer bearing member, and a filter allows passage of air through the second opening and restricts passage of the developer through the second opening. The conveying member is deformable such that the developer is conveyed from the developer storage chamber to the developing chamber via the first opening by deformation of the conveying member being released.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image bearing member, a charging member, an exposing member, a developer carrying member, a storage member to store a first lifetime threshold for the first image forming mode, a second lifetime threshold for the second image forming mode and a value related to a driving amount of the image bearing member. The image forming apparatus further includes a controller to (i) perform a first determination regarding the lifetime corresponding to the first mode based on the value related to the driving amount and the first lifetime threshold and (ii) perform a second determination regarding the lifetime corresponding to the second mode based on the value related to the driving amount and the second lifetime threshold, and a notifying unit to perform a notification based on a result of the first or second determination to the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming unit of an image forming apparatus includes a developing device and a toner replenishing unit that replenishes the developing device with toner. The toner replenishing unit includes an upper toner container, a lower toner container, a toner conveyance unit, and a replenishment control unit. The upper toner container and the lower toner container are disposed in a staggered manner in an apparatus body. When the upper toner container becomes empty, the replenishment control unit controls the toner replenishing unit so as to replenish the developing device with the toner from the lower toner container.

Abstract: A binary ink developer (BID) assembly for a liquid electrophotography (LEP) printing device can include a developer roller having an electrically insulating exterior coating that receives ink from an ink supply and transfers the received ink to a photoconductive imaging cylinder in accordance with an electrostatic image on the imaging cylinder. A charge-specified boundary condition can exist at the boundary between the exterior coating and the ink. Electrically conductive ink may not be transferred to the imaging cylinder at background portions of the electrostatic image.

Abstract: A developing device for use with an image forming apparatus includes a developer carrying member carrying a developer for developing a latent image, a supplying member for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member and forming a nip in contact with the developer carrying member, and an accommodating portion, provided below the supplying member in a state the developing device is mounted on the image forming apparatus for use, for accommodating the developer to be supplied from the supplying member to the developer carrying member. In addition, a feeding member, provided in the accommodating portion, feeds the developer accommodated in the accommodating portion to the supplying member, and a rotatable member, provided above the feeding member and located at a downstream side of the nip with respect to a rotational direction of the supplying member, moves the developer toward the nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a development part, a temperature detection part that detects an apparatus inner temperature, and a control part that corrects a potential difference (?V) between the development voltage and the supply voltage based on a temperature difference (?T). The potential difference is an absolute value determined by follow: ?V=|(the development voltage)?(the supply voltage).| the temperature difference is determined by follow: ?T=(the apparatus inner temperature)?(a glass transition starting temperature). The glass transition starting temperature is determined in consideration of a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curve of the toner.

Abstract: A sliding member has a free end that extends toward the downstream side of the direction of rotation of a developer bearing member, and a tip portion on the free end side of the sliding member slides against the developer bearing member. The developer bearing member has a region where, when a developer is placed on a vertical direction upper side of the developer bearing member which is in a stationary state, the developer can remain without dropping. A position against which the tip portion of the sliding member slides, the region, and a position against which a regulating member slides are located on the developer bearing member in this order toward the downstream side of the direction of rotation of the developer bearing member.

Abstract: A developing device including a containing unit configured to be arranged below a supply member and contain a developer and a developer bearing member configured to bear the developer and develop an electrostatic latent image, further includes a supply member which is configured to supply the developer to the developer bearing member, to be arranged to form a nip portion between the supply member and the developer bearing member, and to rotate in a direction in which its surface moves from an upper end to a lower end of the nip portion, and a conveyance member which is configured to convey the developer contained in the containing unit onto the supply member.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main-assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main-assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position.

Abstract: A developing device and image forming apparatus are provided. The developing device includes a chassis; a developer carrying member; a thickness regulating member; a supply member; and a conveying member. In a state in which the developing device is attached to a main body an opening of the chassis faces upward; the thickness regulating member pressure-contacts the developer carrying member from below the developer carrying member; the conveying member is disposed below the developer carrying member; the supply member overlaps a portion of the conveying member in a horizontal direction; and a portion of the conveying member is disposed within a vertical projection plane between a pressure-contact position of the thickness regulating member to the developer carrying member, and a contact position of the supply member to the developer carrying member. The image forming apparatus includes a main body; a plurality of photosensitive members; and a plurality of developing devices.

Abstract: Provided is an electroconductive member for electrophotography which is suppressed in adhesion of a contaminant to a surface thereof. The electroconductive member for electrophotography includes, in this order, an electroconductive support, an electroconductive elastic layer, and a surface layer. The surface layer contains a binder resin and electroconductive fine particles having a number average particle diameter of 5.0 nm or more and 50.0 nm or less. At least part of the electroconductive fine particles are exposed from the surface layer. The surface layer has, on a surface thereof, protruded portions derived from exposed portions of the electroconductive fine particles. The surface layer has a volume resistivity of 1.0×1010 ?cm or more and 1.0×1016 ?cm or less and a universal hardness at a depth of 1 ?m from the surface thereof of 1.0 N/mm2 or more and 7.0 N/mm2 or less.

Abstract: A developing device includes an applying portion for applying a bias at a first voltage value and a first frequency, to a toner bearing member during a development period in which toner particles are supplied to an image bearing member. A controller executes a removal control to remove attached matter adhering to a bearing surface of the toner bearing member during a non-development period. Upon executing the removal control, the controller first causes residual toner particles to separate from the bearing surface. Subsequently, the controller controls the applying portion to cause a second bias at a second voltage value higher than the first voltage value or at a second frequency higher than the first frequency to be applied to the toner bearing member while bringing a developer layer on a developer bearing member into contact with the bearing surface.

Abstract: In a development device in which a developer containing unit underlies a development chamber, a supplying member in the development chamber forms a nip portion with a developer carrier and the developer carrier and the supplying member rotate in the direction in which their respective surfaces move from an upper end to a lower end of the nip portion.

Abstract: A toner adder roll according to one example embodiment includes an electrically conductive shaft defining an axis of rotation of the toner adder roll. A foam member is cylindrically disposed about the shaft and forms an outer circumferential surface of the toner adder roll. The foam member is composed of a polymeric open-cell foam material. An abrasive agent is dispersed on the outer circumferential surface of the toner adder roll.

Abstract: A development device includes: a developer carrier configured to develop an electrostatic latent image with a developer while rotating, the electrostatic latent image being carried on a surface of a rotating electrostatic latent image carrier; and first and second developer supply members configured to, while rotating, supply the developer carrier with the developer contained in a developer container. The first developer supply member and the second developer supply member are disposed at positions opposed to the developer carrier, and in contact with the developer carrier. The first developer supply member is disposed downstream of the second developer supply member in a rotational direction of the developer carrier. A first contact amount at which the first developer supply member is in contact with the developer carrier is set smaller than a second contact amount at which the second developer supply member is in contact with the developer carrier.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a toner storage portion containing toner and a toner supply member, and a development portion disposed above the toner storage portion. A partition wall divides the toner storage portion from the development portion. The partition wall includes a supply opening that defines a toner supply path from the toner storage portion to the development portion, and a discharge opening that defines a toner discharge path from the development portion to the toner storage portion.

Abstract: A developing device includes a transporting unit that rotates while facing an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, the transporting unit transporting developer toward the image carrier; a feeding unit that contacts the transporting unit to feed the developer to the transporting unit; a transport path that connects a containing chamber that contains the developer to a feeding chamber that houses the feeding unit; a supplying unit that retains the developer to be supplied in the transport path and supplies the developer to the feeding unit in a supply region that is separated from a contact region in which the feeding unit contacts the transporting unit; and an attaching unit that is disposed downstream of the contact region and upstream of the supply region in a rotation direction of the feeding unit and that attaches the developer to the feeding unit at a location below the contact region.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer container that contains developer; a rotatable electrostatic latent image carrier that forms an electrostatic latent image thereon, being arranged below the developer container; a rotatable developer carrier that provides the developer to the electrostatic latent image carrier so that the electrostatic latent image is developed with the developer to form a developer image; and rotatable first and second developer supply members that supply the developer to the developer carrier. Wherein the first developer supply member and the second developer supply member are arranged next to each other and facing the developer carrier, and an outer diameter (D12) of a central portion of the first developer supply member in a rotation axis direction is smaller than outer diameters (D11, D13) of two end portions of the first developer supply member.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing chamber provided with a developing agent-holding body; a first developing agent-accommodating chamber for accommodating a developing agent and arranged below the developing chamber; a first rotating member disposed in the first developing agent-accommodating chamber, elastically deformable and configured to rotate to slidably contact with an inner surface of the first developing agent-accommodating chamber; a second developing agent-accommodating chamber arranged adjacent to the developing chamber and an upper portion of the first developing agent-accommodating chamber, and to which the developing agent in the first developing agent-accommodating chamber is supplied by the first rotating member; and a second rotating member disposed in the second developing agent-accommodating chamber, elastically deformable and configured to rotate to slidably contact with an inner surface of the second developing agent-accommodating chamber and to transport the developing agent in

Abstract: A developer supply device configured to supply developer is provided. The developer supply device includes a rotatable developer carrying body configured to carry the developer, a casing configured to rotatably support the developer carrying body, and a restricting member configured to contact the developer carrying body to remove a part of the developer. The casing has a collecting side developer storage room configured to store the developer removed by the restricting member and a supplying side developer storage room configured to store the developer to be supplied to the brush layer. A supplying side developer storage level, which is a storage level of the developer in the supplying side developer storage room, is higher than a collecting side developer storage level, which is a storage level of the developer in the collecting side developer storage room.

Abstract: A developer container for an image forming apparatus includes a housing configured to store developer, a developer conveying member disposed inside the housing and configured to rotate to convey the developer stored in the housing. The developer conveying member includes a rotary shaft, a rotary base member and a sheet-like main body. The main body has a base end portion fixed to the rotary base member and a free end portion configured to be pressed into contact with an inner wall of the housing. The rotary base member includes an urging member configured to urge the main body from an upstream side toward a downstream side in a direction of rotation thereof.

Abstract: A developing device is provided. The developing device includes a developer carrier, a regulator, a first developer storing chamber, a plurality of conveyers disposed within the first developer storing chamber, a second developer storing chamber in communication with the first developer storing chamber, and a supply member disposed within the second developer storing chamber. The developer carrier carries developer on its surface and supplies developer to a latent image carrier carrying a latent image. The regulator regulates the thickness of developer on the surface of the developer carrier. The first developer storing chamber stores developer separated from the developer carrier by the regulator and is to be supplied with fresh developer. Each of the plurality of conveyers coveys developer in a different conveyance direction. The second developer storing chamber is to be supplied with developer from the first developer storing chamber. The supply member supplies developer to the developer carrier.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a toner storage portion for containing toner and a development portion for containing the toner supplied from the toner storage portion. The development portion includes a developing roller for supplying the toner to a photosensitive body, a supply roller and an auxiliary supply roller. The supply roller and the auxiliary supply roller rotate while facing each other to supply the toner to the developing roller. In the developing unit, an inequality that |D?(R1+R2)|?1.0 mm is satisfied, where a distance between the centers of the auxiliary supply roller and the supply roller in a region where the auxiliary supply roller and the supply roller face each other is D, a radius of the supply roller is R1, and a radius of the auxiliary supply roller is R2.

Abstract: A developing device includes a housing, a developing roller, a supply roller, a first regulating member, a second regulating member, a communication portion, and a conveying member. The second regulating member contacts with the supply roller. The housing has a first part and a second part. The first part is downstream of the second regulating member in a rotating direction of the supply roller, and a second part is upstream of the second regulating member in the rotating direction. The communication portion provides communication between the first part and the second part. The conveying member is in the first part and configured to convey the developing agent in the first part to the communication portion.

Abstract: A developer carrying device includes a first developer containing part configured to contain developer, a first rotational member arranged in the first developer containing part, a second developer containing part arranged side by side with the first developer containing part, a second rotational member arranged in the second developer containing part, an opening part formed between the first developer containing part and the second developer containing part, and a restriction part arranged between the first rotational member and the second rotational member.

Abstract: A developer supplying member is provided for supplying developer to a developer supporting member. The developer supplying member includes a foamed member having a discrete foam cell structure and being formed of a silicone rubber as a main component thereof. The foamed member constitutes a surface of the developer supplying member. The foamed member includes a foam cell wall dividing foam cells thereof and being exposed on the surface of the developer supplying member. The foam cell wall has a ten-point average surface roughness between 45.2 ?m and 65.3 ?m.

Abstract: A developing device of an image forming apparatus to convey a developing agent, the developing device including a housing having a developing agent accommodating compartment disposed therein, a first rotation member and a second rotation member that are disposed inside the developing agent accommodating compartment, a plurality of developing agent convey members that rotate around the first rotation member and the second rotation member being arranged along a shaft direction of the first rotation member, and at least one torque limiter coupled to between the first rotation member and at least one of the plurality of developing agent convey members, the at least one torque limiter to allow at least one of the plurality of developing agent convey members to perform a relative rotation with respect to the first rotation member when a load is applied to the plurality of developing agent convey members is varied.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a toner storage portion containing toner and including a toner supply member, a development portion disposed above the toner storage portion and containing the toner supplied from the toner storage portion by the toner supply member, and including a developing roller and a supply roller to supply the toner to the developing roller, and a partition wall to divide the toner storage portion and the development portion, and including an opening portion disposed under the lowest portion of the supply roller and forming a path of the toner supplied from the toner storage portion to the development portion.

Abstract: A developing device for use with an image forming apparatus, includes a developing roller for carrying a developer and for forming a developer image on an image bearing member; a supplying roller for supplying the developer to the developing roller, wherein the supplying roller has a foam layer at its surface and forms a nip between itself and the developing roller; an accommodating portion, provided below the supplying roller, for accommodating the developer; and a feeding member for feeding the developer from the accommodating portion to a location above the nip by being rotated in a direction opposite to a rotational direction of the supplying roller. The supplying roller is rotated in a direction which is from a lower end of the nip to an upper end of the nip. The supplying roller is provided so that its top is higher than a top of the developing roller.

Abstract: A developing device including a developer bearing member containing a magnetic field generator having multiple magnetic poles and a developer containing chamber is provided. The developer containing chamber contains a two-component developer comprising magnetic carrier particles having a saturated magnetization of 58 to 70 emu/g in a magnetic field of 1KOe and toner particles, and has a divider to define an upper supply chamber and a lower collection chamber. The supply chamber includes a supply conveyer to supply the two-component developer to the developer bearing member at an upstream side from the developing area. The collection chamber includes a collection conveyer to collect the two-component developer from the developer bearing member at a downstream side from the developing area. The multiple magnetic poles includes three developer bearing poles capable of bearing the developer on its surface.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer container that contains developer; a rotatable electrostatic latent image carrier that forms an electrostatic latent image thereon, being arranged below the developer container; a rotatable developer carrier that provides the developer to the electrostatic latent image carrier so that the electrostatic latent image is developed with the developer to form a developer image; and rotatable first and second developer supply members that supply the developer to the developer carrier. Wherein the first developer supply member and the second developer supply member are arranged next to each other and facing the developer carrier, and an outer diameter (D12) of a central portion of the first developer supply member in a rotation axis direction is smaller than outer diameters (D11, D13) of two end portions of the first developer supply member.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a housing, a developing roller, a supply roller, and a thickness regulating member. The housing is configured to accommodate developer that includes developer particles having a mean volume diameter. The developing roller is rotatably supported in the housing and has a peripheral surface configured to carry the developer. The supply roller is rotatably supported in the housing, contacts the developing roller, and configured to supply the toner to the developing roller. The thickness regulating member includes a contact member contacting the peripheral surface. The contact member is configured to regulate a thickness of the developer on the peripheral surface such that an average of the thickness of the developer on the peripheral surface becomes smaller than or equal to the mean volume diameter.

Abstract: A developing apparatus for developing operation on an image bearing member, includes a rotatable developer carrying member for carrying a developer; a rubbing member for rubbing the developer carrying member with the developer therebetween to cause the developer to be carried on the developer carrying member; wherein the rubbing member includes a free end portion extending toward a downstream with respect to a rotational moving direction of the developer carrying member, the free end portion rubs the developer carrying member, and wherein the rubbing member is provided with a reinforcing portion for reinforcing the free end portion.

Abstract: A developing device usable with an image forming apparatus includes a developer carrying member for carrying a developer; a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a guiding member having an inclined surface contacting the developer carrying member, the inclined surface being effective to guide a developer to a contact portion where the inclined surface contacts the developer carrying member to cause the developer to be carried on the developer carrying member; and a regulating member for regulating an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member, wherein an inclination angle of the inclined surface is in a range not less than an angle of rest and less than 90 degrees.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer carrier configured to develop an electrostatic latent image by causing a developer to adhere to an electrostatic latent image carrier, a first supply member disposed in non-contact with the developer carrier and configured to supply a developer to the developer carrier, a second supply member disposed in contact with the first supply member below the first supply member and configured to supply the developer to the first supply member, and a developer holder configured to hold the developer for replenishing the second supply member. The first supply member and the second supply member rotate so that the surfaces thereof move in the same direction at their opposed parts.