Abstract: A charging member for charging a member to be charged includes a foamed layer; a supporting member for supporting the foamed layer, and for being supplied with a voltage; a resistance layer closer to the member to be charged than the foamed layer; wherein the foamed layer has a specific gravity not less than 0.1 (g/cm.sup.3) and not more than 0.6 (g/cm.sup.3), and wherein an average outer diameter of pores in a cross-section of said foamed layer is not less than 50 microns and not more than 1 mm.

Abstract: A charging device, for use with an image forming apparatus with a detachable process cartridge, includes a movable member to be charged, and a charging member adjacent to the movable member. An oscillating voltage is applied to the charging member. The charging member includes a charging surface at the same side as the movable member. A tangent line extends from a point on the charging member, the point being the most downstream point in a moving direction of the movable member at a closest portion between the charging member and the image bearing member, toward the downstream side in the moving direction of the movable member. The charging device may include a first charging region and a second charging region provided at a downstream side from the first charging region, wherein a peak-to-peak voltage of unevenness in charging of a potential of the first charging region is greater than a peak-to-peak voltage of unevenness in charging of a potential of the second charging region.