Abstract: A developer regulating member abutting against a developer carrying member carrying a mono-component developer to regulate the layer thickness of the developer on the developer carrying member has a supported portion supported by a support member, and an abutting portion abutting against the developer carrying member, the surface roughness parameters of this abutting portion satisfying the following expressions (1) to (5): 0.30?Sm?0.170??(1) Rpk?2.0??(2) Rp?5.0??(3) 0.10?Rvk×(100?Mr2)/100?1.30??(4) Rpk<Rvk,??(5) where Sm is a mean spacing [mm] of profile irregularities prescribed by JIS-B0601-1994, Rp is a maximum profile peak height [?m] prescribed by ISO4287-1997, Rpk is an initial wear height [?m] prescribed by DIN4776, Rvk is an oil retaining depth [?m] prescribed by DIN4776, and Mr2 is a profile bearing length ratio 2 [%] prescribed by DIN4776.

Abstract: A developer regulating member abutting against a developer carrying member carrying a mono-component developer to regulate the layer thickness of the developer on the developer carrying member has a supported portion supported by a support member, and an abutting portion abutting against the developer carrying member, the surface roughness parameters of this abutting portion satisfying the following expressions (1) to (5): 0.30?Sm?0.170??(1) Rpk?2.0??(2) Rp?5.0??(3) 0.10?Rvk×(100?Mr2)/100?1.30??(4) Rpk<Rvk??(5), where Sm is a mean spacing [mm] of profile irregularities prescribed by JIS-B0601-1994, Rp is a maximum profile peak height [?m] prescribed by ISO4287-1997, Rpk is an initial wear height [?m] prescribed by DIN4776, Rvk is an oil retaining depth [?m] prescribed by DIN4776, and Mr2 is a profile bearing length ratio 2 [%] prescribed by DIN4776.

Abstract: A memory medium is provided to a cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus. Into the memory medium, as information for performing charge control, information on the amount of usage of an image-bearing member and information on a charging alternating voltage (a threshold value for selection control of a charging peak-to-peak voltage Vpp) are written. The image forming apparatus includes a charging-bias power-supply circuit, on its body side, including AC oscillation output circuit capable of outputting two or more species of alternating peak-to-peak voltages and an AC detector for detecting an alternating current passing through the image-bearing member. Charge control is performed on the basis of a detected value detected by the AC detector and memory information for the cartridge, whereby good charge control space saving, and cost reduction of the power-supply circuit are compatibly realized.

Abstract: A memory medium is provided to a cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus. Into the memory medium, as information for performing charge control, information on the amount of usage of an image-bearing member and information on a charging alternating voltage (a threshold value for selection control of a charging peak-to-peak voltage Vpp) are written. The image forming apparatus includes a charging-bias power-supply circuit, on its body side, including AC oscillation output circuit capable of outputting two or more species of alternating peak-to-peak voltages and an AC detector for detecting an alternating current passing through the image-bearing member. Charge control is performed on the basis of a detected value detected by the AC detector and memory information for the cartridge, whereby good charge control space saving, and cost reduction of the power-supply circuit are compatibly realized.

Abstract: A memory medium is provided to a cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus. Into the memory medium, as information for performing charge control, information on the amount of usage of an image-bearing member and information on a charging alternating voltage (a threshold value for selection control of a charging peak-to-peak voltage Vpp) are written. The image forming apparatus includes a charging-bias power-supply circuit, on its body side, including AC oscillation output circuit capable of outputting two or more species of alternating peak-to-peak voltages and an AC detector for detecting an alternating current passing through the image-bearing member. Charge control is performed on the basis of a detected value detected by the AC detector and memory information for the cartridge, whereby good charge control space saving, and cost reduction of the power-supply circuit are compatibly realized.

Abstract: A charging system includes a rotatable member to be charged, and a rotatable charging member provided with electroconductive particles thereon and forming a nip part with the member to be charged and disposed in the nip part to charge the member to be charged. When the diameter of the member to be charged is defined as LD (mm) and the diameter of the charging member is defined as LC (mm), LD?25 and LD×LC?350. As a result,, in the charging system, and a process cartridge and an image-forming apparatus including such a charging system, an image-bearing member can be made small in diameter.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a charging member, contactably provided to a member to be charged, for charging the member to be charged; a voltage application device for applying alternating voltages having different peak-to-peak voltages to the charging member; and a determination device for determining a peak-to-peak voltage to be applied to the charging member with respect to a second area of the member to be charged, on the basis of a peak-to-peak voltage corresponding to a minimum current which is not less than a predetermined current of alternating currents through the member to be charged when the alternating voltages having the different peak-to-peak voltages are applied to the charging member with respect to a first area of the member to be charged.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes developer carrying member for carrying a developer; wherein the developer carrying member is supplied with a developing voltage comprising a superimposed DC voltage component and AC voltage component to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member; switching means for switching an image density of a developed image on the image bearing member; wherein when the image density of the developed image is made higher than a predetermined image density in accordance with an output of the switching means, the frequency of the AC voltage component is made higher than a predetermined frequency.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member; and a charging member forming a nip with the image bearing member to charge the image bearing member. Conductive particles are provided in the nip and a time factor &agr; represented by a following equation satisfies a condition &agr;>15: &agr;=2&pgr;·k·Nc·(W/Vc)/(&rgr;·Cd·Z) Z=−0.5·1n(&pgr;·k·Nc)−1n({square root over (&bgr;)}·D/2) (&bgr;=1.

Abstract: A charging system is provided with a rotatable member to be charged, and a rotatable charging member provided with electroconductive particles thereon and forming a nip part with the member to be charged and disposed in the nip part to charge the member to be charged, wherein when the diameter of the member to be charged is defined as LD (mm) and the diameter of the charging member is defined as LC (mm), LD≦25 and LD×LC≧350 are satisfied. Thereby, in the charging system, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus, an image bearing member can be made small in diameter.

Abstract: When a user changes a density adjusting value (developing contrast), and even when variations in the usage state of process characteristics (of the photosensitive body and the developing device) of the cartridge change, the amount of recording agent consumed can be suppressed to be low, and a sharp line image can be recorded. An image forming apparatus of this invention includes an edge detecting portion for detecting an edge of image data, an image data correcting portion for correcting image data inside the edge so as to decrease its density, a laser driving circuit for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive body, and a correction value determining table for acquiring an instruction value for giving an instruction to correct a density contrast, wherein a correction condition for image data changes in accordance with an instruction value.

Abstract: A memory medium is provided to a cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus. Into the memory medium, as information for performing charge control, information on an amount of usage of an image-bearing member and information on a charging alternating voltage (a threshold value for selection control of charging peak-to-peak voltage Vpp) are written. The image forming apparatus includes a charging bias power supply circuit, on its body side, including AC oscillation output means capable of outputting two or more species of alternating peak-to-peak voltages and AC detection means for detecting an alternating current through the image-bearing member. Charge control is performed on the basis of a detected value detected by the AC detection means and memory information for the cartridge, whereby good charge control and space saving and cost reduction of the power supply circuit are compatibly realized.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image bearing member, and a charging member for forming a nip with the image bearing member thereby charging the image bearing member, wherein conductive particles are provided in the nip, wherein a time factor a represented by a following equation satisfies a condition &agr;>15:

Abstract: When a user changes a density adjusting value (developing contrast), and even variations and usage state of the process characteristics (photosensitive body and developing) of the cartridge change, the amount of recording agent consumed can be suppressed low, and a sharp line image can be recorded. An image forming apparatus of this invention includes an edge detecting portion for detecting an edge of image data, an image data correcting portion for correcting image data inside the edge so as to decrease its density, a laser driving circuit for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive body, and a correction value determining table for acquiring an instruction value for giving an instruction to correct a density contrast, wherein a correction condition for image data changes in accordance with an instruction value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which includes an image bearing body and a light beam scanner for exposing the image bearing body, which is charged, based on an image signal and forming an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing body. A rise time or a fall time of a light beam emitted from the light beam scanner is controlled when a pixel density of the electrostatic latent image is switched.

Abstract: When a user changes a density adjusting value (developing contrast), and even when variations in the usage state of process characteristics (of the photosensitive body and the developing device) of the cartridge change, the amount of recording agent consumed can be suppressed to be low, and a sharp line image can be recorded. An image forming apparatus of this invention includes an edge detecting portion for detecting an edge of image data, an image data correcting portion for correcting image data inside the edge so as to decrease its density, a laser driving circuit for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive body, and a correction value determining table for acquiring an instruction value for giving an instruction to correct a density contrast, wherein a correction condition for image data changes in accordance with an instruction value.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes developer carrying member for carrying a developer; wherein the developer carrying member is supplied with a developing voltage comprising a superimposed DC voltage component and AC voltage component to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member; switching means for switching an image density of a developed image on the image bearing member; wherein when the image density of the developed image is made higher than a predetermined image density in accordance with an output of the switching means, the frequency of the AC voltage component is made higher than a predetermined frequency.

Abstract: A photosensitive member which can prevent occurrence of a streak image due to wear of a surface of the photosensitive member while preventing occurrence of image-flow is provided, and an average particle diameter of a scraped particle obtained from a surface of the photosensitive member by the rubbing of a cleaning member is 9.0 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: When a user changes a density adjusting value (developing contrast), and even variations and usage state of the process characteristics (photosensitive body and developing) of the cartridge change, the amount of recording agent consumed can be suppressed low, and a sharp line image can be recorded. An image forming apparatus of this invention includes an edge detecting portion for detecting an edge of image data, an image data correcting portion for correcting image data inside the edge so as to decrease its density, a laser driving circuit for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive body, and a correction value determining table for acquiring an instruction value for giving an instruction to correct a density contrast, wherein a correction condition for image data changes in accordance with an instruction value.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer containing portion containing a developer having a weight average particle diameter of not more than 7 &mgr;m, a developer bearing member for bearing a developer, and an agitating member that agitates the developer contained in the developer containing portion. The agitating member is intermittently driven with respect to rotation of a developing sleeve. The agitating member is driven to rotate for one page every time the image forming apparatus performs a predetermined number of printing operations. A rod member having a crank-like shape may be used as the agitating member and both of the end portions serve as the center of rotation. By controlling the drive of the agitating member, it is possible to effectively adjust the supply of toner to the developing sleeve and prevent the density lowering phenomena caused due to inflow of a large amount of the new toner presented at the rear of the developing container.