Abstract: A charging member is disposed in contact with an electrophotographic photosensitive member and charges the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member electrostatically upon application of a voltage. The charging member has a conductive support, a base layer and a surface layer which are formed on the conductive support. The surface layer contains fluorine resin particles as a filler and a fluorine resin as a binder resin.

Abstract: This specification discloses an agitating member for agitating a developer comprising a metal shaft, a plate member joined to the metal shaft, and a sheet member joined to the plate member, the sheet member being free to curve. The specification also discloses a developing apparatus comprising a developer bearing member bearing a developer thereon, a developer container containing the developer therein, and the above-described agitating member provided in the developer container for agitating the developer and supplying it to the developer bearing member. The specification further discloses a process cartridge detachably attachable to the main body of an image forming apparatus, comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member and the above-described developing apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having at least: an image carrying member for carrying an electrostatic latent image, the image carrying member having a photosensitive layer on a conductive substrate; a developer for developing the electrostatic latent image carrying member on the image carrying member; a developer carrying member for carrying the developer and conveying it to a development area; a control member making contact with the developer carrying member for controlling the coating amount of the developer; and a cleaning member for cleaning the surface of the photosensitive layer of the image carrying member by making contact with the surface of the image carrying member with a contact pressure of 0.15N (15 gf) to 0.89N (90 gf). The photosensitive layer contains at least one kind of polycarbonate resin (I) having a viscosity average molecular weight of 1.5×104 or less and at least one kind of polycarbonate resin (II) having a viscosity average molecular weight of more than 1.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developer carrying member for carrying thereon a developer to transport the developer to a developing zone, and a regulation member provided in touch with the surface of the developer carrying member to regulate coat weight of the developer carried thereon. The image bearing member includes a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer formed thereon, and the photosensitive layer contains at least one polycarbonate resin (I) having a viscosity-average molecular weight not more than 1.5×104 and at least one polycarbonate resin (II) having a viscosity-average molecular weight more than 1.5×104, the polycarbonate resin (I) being contained in a proportion of from 30% by weight to 95% by weight based on the total weight of the polycarbonate resins (I) and (II). On the developer carrying member, the developer is in a coat weight not more than 1.5 mg/cm2 at the developing zone after its regulation by the regulation member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic image; a developer carrying member for carrying a developer and for forming a developing zone with the image bearing member, wherein the developer is externally added with additive having a charging polarity opposite from that of the developer; a voltage applying device for applying a developing voltage to the developer carrying member; voltage a control device for controlling the developing voltage so as to change force for directing the additive toward a non-image portion of the image bearing member in accordance with a number of image forming operations.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably attachable on an image forming apparatus a photosensitive member as an image bearing member and a cleaning blade member polycarbonate resin having a viscosity average molecular weight of 1.5.times.10.sup.4 or less is blended with the surface layer of the image bearing member, and the peak value of tan .delta. of the dynamic viscoelastic characteristic of the cleaning blade member appears at 12.degree. C. or less.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes magnetic members, which are provided at ends of a developing agent bearing member with gaps therebetween and adapted to form magnetic seals between the magnetic members and the developing agent bearing member, are charged so that leakage between the magnetic seals and magnetic members, such as the developing agent bearing member, disposed in the vicinity of the magnetic seals is prevented.