Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an exposure device to expose the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier, a conductive member, and a developing device having a rotatable developing roller and a rotatable toner supply roller. Polarity of direct-current components of biases applied during an image forming operation to the conductive member, the developing roller, and the toner supply roller are the same as a polarity of normally charged toner. An absolute value of the bias applied to the developing roller during the image forming operation is smaller than an absolute value of the bias applied to the toner supply roller during the image forming operation. The absolute value of the bias applied to the toner supply roller during the image forming operation is smaller than an absolute value of the bias applied to the conductive member during the image forming operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to one embodiment includes an image carrier that moves in a first direction, a developing device, a detector, and a determination unit. The developing device uses a developer on the surface of the image carrier to forma strip-shaped image inclined with respect to the width direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the image carrier. The detector detects the density difference occurring in the strip-shaped image formed on the surface of the image carrier while moving in the width direction. The determination unit determines based on a detection result by the detector whether or not there is an abnormality.

Abstract: A developing device includes an accommodating casing, a rotatable developer carrying member, a regulating portion, a magnetic flux generating portion including a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole which have the same polarity, and a cover portion provided downstream of the developing region and upstream of a maximum magnetic flux density position of the second magnetic pole with respect to a rotational direction of the developer carrying member. The cover portion is disposed between the casing and the developer carrying member. As measured in the rotational axis direction, a dimension of the cover portion at an upstream end with respect to the rotational direction is smaller than a dimension of the cover portion in at least a region positioned downstream of the upstream end with respect to the rotational direction.

Abstract: A toner circulation and a toner reservoir are formed in the vicinity of a developing roller. A member to form a toner reservoir is movable and is stopped during at least an image-forming period.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller and a developing magnetic pole. The developing roller is disposed to face an image carrier across a predetermined gap. The developing magnetic pole is provided in the developing roller so as to be displaced between first and second magnetic pole positions. When the developing magnetic pole is at the first magnetic pole position, a magnetic field is generated at a first position in the gap. When the developing magnetic pole is at the second magnetic pole position, a magnetic field is generated at a second position in the gap. When a circumferential speed ratio of the developing roller to the image carrier is increased, the developing magnetic pole is displaced toward the second magnetic pole position, and when the circumferential speed ratio is decreased, the developing magnetic pole is displaced toward the first magnetic pole position.

Abstract: A cleaning member includes a base member comprised of a first material that has a peak temperature of tan ? less than approximately zero degrees Celsius and a contact portion comprised of a second material that has a higher hardness than the first material and a tear strength of approximately 49 kilonewtons per meter or higher, the contact portion contacting an image carrier and cleaning the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a first voltage application section for applying a first bias to a magnetic roller, a second voltage application section for applying a second bias to a developing roller, and a controller for controlling the voltages of the first and second voltage application sections and the driving/rotating of the magnetic roller and the developing roller. When no image formation is taking place, the controller can execute a toner collection mode in which, with the first and second biases set at the same potential and the second bias set lower than the voltage applied to an image carrying member, the magnetic roller is rotated in the direction reverse to that in which it is rotated during image formation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller that controls rotational driving of a magnetic roller and rotational driving of a developing roller. The controller is capable of performing a toner collecting mode when no image formation is performed. In the toner collecting mode, the magnetic roller and the developing roller are intermittently rotated in a direction reverse to a direction in which the magnetic roller and the developing roller are rotated during image formation, then the magnetic roller is made to rotate in a forward direction, and then, the magnetic roller is rotated in a backward direction.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing member including a magnetism-generating member having plural magnetic poles polarized in a circumferential-direction thereof, and a rotating member that is rotated about the magnetism-generating member; a developer-pumping pole provided in the magnetism-generating member, and that pumps up the developer, which is supplied from a developer accommodating portion, to the rotating member surface; a developer-peeling-off pole provided in the magnetism-generating member below a rotation axis of the rotating member in a vertical direction on an upstream side of the developer-pumping pole in a rotational-direction of the rotating member, that peels off the developer from the rotating member surface; and a magnetic body provided in at least a portion between a facing position facing the developer-peeling-off pole in a circumferential-direction of the rotating member and an intermediate position between the developer-peeling-off pole and the developer-pumping pole in the circu

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a separating unit for performing a stripping operation of forcibly returning toner particles carried on a toner bearing member to a developer bearing member, a sheet size discriminator for discriminating whether a sheet is a standard sized sheet or a long sheet, a determiner for determining whether or not there is any blank area of a predetermined length or longer in the sub scanning direction, where no toner image is to be substantially transferred, for each long sheet, and a controller for controlling the stripping operation. The controller causes the separating unit to perform the stripping operation at a developing timing of an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the blank area to be formed on the image bearing member when the sheet is a long sheet and when the blank area of the predetermined length or longer is present.

Abstract: A developing device to develop with two-component developer an electrostatic latent image includes a developer bearer to carry thereon developer supplied to the latent image bearer, a first conveyance channel disposed adjacent to the developer bearer, a second conveyance channel disposed adjacent to the first conveyance channel and farther from the developer bearer than the first conveyance channel, a first conveying member disposed in the first conveyance channel to agitate and transport developer supplied to the developer bearer, a second conveying member including a spiral blade winding around a shaft to transport developer in the second conveyance channel in a predetermined developer conveyance direction, and a collected-developer guide to guide a part of developer that leaves the developer bearer to the second conveyance channel beyond the first conveyance channel.

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 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 developing device in the embodiment includes: a developer carrier that carries a two-component developer, moves the surface, and supplies the toner to a latent image on a surface of a latent image carrier; a first conveying member that conveys the developer in a first conveying path; a second conveying member that conveys the developer in a second conveying path; and a developer passing unit that conveys upward the developer which has reached at a conveying-direction posterior end of the second conveying path and passes the developer to the first conveying path. The developer passing unit includes a plurality of pushing members that push up the developer. The developer can pass through from upper surfaces of the pushing members to lower surfaces of the pushing members.

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 for an image forming apparatus includes a partition member for partitioning an internal space of the developing device into a first carrying and second carrying paths, and a sliding member provided adjacent a developing roller and having an inclined planar surface. Residual developer collected from a surface of the developing roller slides along the inclined planar surface of the sliding member toward the first carrying path P, and the developer hits an inclined carrying surface of the partition member. A first portion of the developer slides along the carrying surface of the partition member and falls into the second carrying path. An opening in the carrying surface of the partition member allows a second portion of the developer to pass through the partition member and into the first carrying path.

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: An image forming apparatus includes a controller that controls rotational driving of a magnetic roller and rotational driving of a developing roller. The controller is capable of performing a toner collecting mode when no image formation is performed. In the toner collecting mode, the magnetic roller and the developing roller are intermittently rotated in a direction reverse to a direction in which the magnetic roller and the developing roller are rotated during image formation, then the magnetic roller is made to rotate in a forward direction, and then, the magnetic roller is rotated in a backward direction.

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: A developing device includes a developing roller, a magnetic roller, a capacitor, a transformer, and a control signal generating unit. The developing roller carries toner. The magnetic roller performs supply of toner to the developing roller and removal of toner from the developing roller. The transformer includes a primary side to which a capacitor is connected and a secondary side from which an AC voltage is output and applied to the developing roller. The control signal generating unit inputs a control signal to the capacitor and adjusts a DC bias value of the control signal so that a DC component of the control signal is the same before and after the change of the duty ratio of the control signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a first voltage application section for applying a first bias to a magnetic roller, a second voltage application section for applying a second bias to a developing roller, and a controller for controlling the voltages of the first and second voltage application sections and the driving/rotating of the magnetic roller and the developing roller. When no image formation is taking place, the controller can execute a toner collection mode in which, with the first and second biases set at the same potential and the second bias set lower than the voltage applied to an image carrying member, the magnetic roller is rotated in the direction reverse to that in which it is rotated during image formation.

Abstract: A developing unit includes: a cylindrical magnetic member having plural magnetic poles in a circumferential direction, the magnetic poles including a first pole attracting developer and a second pole not attracting developer; a developer holding member having the cylindrical magnetic member therein and conveying developer magnetically attracted by the cylindrical magnetic member on a surface thereof in a direction toward a predetermined area where developer is not attracted by a magnetic field caused by the second pole; a peeling member provided in the predetermined area and peeling off the developer attracted at an end portion of the developer holding member in an axial direction; and a second magnetic member provided on at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side of the peeling member, disposed in a position with a gap from the surface of the developer holding member and opposed to the predetermined area.

Abstract: A method of making a slotted scavenger wherein a rigid sheet is used as a starting material. A slot is formed through the sheet having horizontally angled sidewalls such that an opening of the slot on a first major surface of the sheet is smaller than an opening of the slot in a second major surface of the sheet. Modifications of the method include using a rotating cutting tool for cutting through the sheet to form slots.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing roller incorporating a fixed magnet body having a plurality of magnetic poles in a circumferential direction; a regulating member for regulating an amount of toner on the developing roller by means of a magnetic field formed by the regulating member and the fixed magnet body; and a magnetic-field generating member for scraping off, on an upstream of the regulating member in a rotational direction of the developing roller, toner which is not used for development on the developing roller. A relation Bm/Br>1 is satisfied, where Br represents a magnetic flux density of a distal end portion of the regulating member facing a surface of the developing roller and Bm represents a magnetic flux density of a distal end portion of the magnetic-field generating member facing the surface of the developing roller.

Abstract: A method for removing carrier buildup in a slotted scavenger electrode in a printer comprising magnetically attracting the carrier toward the slot, blocking the slot with a movable flap for preventing toner dust from traveling through the slot, opening the movable flap for allowing the carrier to travel through the slot and return to the developer station, then reclosing the movable flap.

Abstract: A developer regulating member regulates a thickness of a layer of a developer on a surface of a developer bearing body. The developer has a degree of circularity in a range from 0.94 to 0.97. The developer regulating member includes a resilient plate member composed of a metal material and having a bent portion. An outer surface of the bent portion contacts the surface of the developer bearing body so that a ridge line of the outer surface of the bent portion crosses a moving direction of the surface of the developer bearing body. A curvature radius R (?m) of the outer surface of the bent portion and a mean crystal grain diameter D (?m) of the metal material satisfy the relationship: 60×10?3×R?11?D?93.75×10?3×R?6.875.

Abstract: A development device includes a development casing, a developer bearer, a first developer conveyance member to supply developer to the developer bearer, a second developer conveyance member to transport developer axially, and a partition dividing an interior of the development casing into a supply channel and a collecting channel via which developer received from a downstream end portion of the supply channel is forwarded to an upstream end portion of the supply channel. The supply channel includes a conveyance area and a buffer area disposed adjacent to the conveyance area in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction to temporarily retain developer and midway in the developer conveyance direction inside the supply channel, and an upstream end face defining an upstream end of the buffer area is inclined relative to the axial direction to draw away from the conveyance area downstream in the developer conveyance direction.

Abstract: A printer having a developer station for holding a supply of developer which includes magnetized carrier particles, a magnetized development roller, and an imaging roller proximate the development roller which collects carrier particles during operation of the printer. A scavenger proximate the imaging roller and the development roller removes the carrier particles from the imaging roller during operation of the printer which are then urged through a slot in the scavenger by the magnetized development roller.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container for accommodating a two-component developer; a developer bearing member for bearing and conveying the developer, a fixed magnet including a release pole for releasing the developer from the developer bearing member, being fixed to the inside of the developer bearing member; and a backflow prevention member that is a sheet-shaped member disposed along the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member so as to be upstream in the direction of rotation of the developer bearing member as viewed from the release pole, the backflow prevention member being disposed so that a proximal end portion thereof is fixed to an inside surface of the developing container, and a distal end portion thereof is in contact with or adjacent to the developer bearing member and facing downstream in the direction of rotation of the developer bearing member.

Abstract: A method for selectively removing magnetically attractable toner particles from an image-forming device and an image-forming device for performing the same are provided. The image-forming device includes a cleaning magnet system, configured to provide an activatable second magnetic field. The method includes a step of switching the image-forming device into a cleaning mode, the cleaning mode including the steps of stopping the toner supply to the image-recording medium, rotating the rotatable sleeve in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, such that the magnetically attractable toner particles are transported out of the developing zone towards the cleaning magnet system, and activating the second magnetic field so as to remove the transported magnetically attractable toner particles from the rotating rotatable sleeve of the developing element.

Abstract: There is provided a separation member for separating a first conveying path formed by a first conveying member from a second conveying path formed by a second conveying member. There is also provided an opposed member facing a magnetic pole H4 at an upstream side of two magnetic poles H4 and H6 that forms a developer-releasing magnetic pole H5.

Abstract: Background development in a multi-color electrophotographic printer is reduced. A print job including a plurality of separations is received. Each separation has an image area and a non-image area. A printer is provided, including a development member for supplying toner to a photoreceptor for each separation. A developing and a non-developing zone are determined for each separation, corresponding to the image area and non-image area, respectively. Developer is automatically supplied to the development members, and automatically removed developer from the respective non-developing zone of each development member.

Abstract: A blade for an electro-photographic device includes an elastic rubber member constituted by an edge portion and a base portion which are in contact with each other and are constituted by different materials, wherein the edge portion includes an edge subject to frictional wear in use and is made of ester polyurethane, and the base portion is adapted to be bonded to a support and is made of ether polyurethane. The blade undergoes minimal permanent deformation and offers excellent mechanical strength, wear resistance and compliance to the use environment.

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 includes a developer carrier that holds a developer on a surface thereof, rotates around a rotation axis, and supplies the developer to an image carrier at a facing portion at which the developer carrier faces the image carrier; a transport member that transports the developer in a transport direction along the rotation axis while supplying the developer to the surface of the developer carrier; and a guide member that includes a guide portion that guides, toward downstream in the transport direction, the developer that has passed the facing portion without being supplied to the image carrier, the guide member making an amount of the developer that reaches the transport member on an upstream side of the guide portion in the transport direction be smaller than an amount of the developer that reaches the transport member in on a downstream side of the guide portion.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing housing having a developer accommodating chamber; a developer bearing member which is supported rotatably inside a developing housing, and which holds on a circumferential surface thereof a two-component developer composed of a magnetic carrier and toner; a toner bearing member which is supported rotatably with respect to the developer bearing member inside the developing housing, and to which the toner in the developer held on the developer bearing member adheres electrostatically; and a toner recovery tray which has an opening in an upper end thereof, and which is installed removably in the developing housing below the developer bearing member and the toner bearing member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning blade for an electrophotographic device, which, even when spherical (perfectly spherical or irregularly shaped), polymerized toner with a small particle diameter is used, can achieve sufficient abrasion resistance and sufficient cleaning ability (particularly cleaning ability under low-temperature and low-humidity conditions). The cleaning blade for an electrophotographic device includes an elastic rubber member; and a supporting member. The elastic rubber member has a double layer structure including an edge layer and a base layer. The edge layer is made of a material with a JIS-A hardness of 65° to 72° at 23° C. and a rebound resilience of 10 to 35%. The base layer is made of a material with a JIS-A hardness of 70° to 80° at 23° C. and a rebound resilience of 40 to 70%, the JIS-A hardness value being larger than the value of hardness of the edge layer.

Abstract: A printer includes a development member for providing toner to a photoreceptor. A developer remover is located between a developer supply and the photoreceptor in the direction of rotation of the development member, and selectively contacts the development member to remove developer therefrom. A controller receives a print job, determines a non-developing zone of the development member corresponding to the non-image area of the job, and determines a developing zone of the development member corresponding to the image area of the job. The developer remover removes developer when it is in the non-developing zone, but not when it is in the developing zone.

Abstract: A method for removing carrier buildup in a slotted scavenger electrode in a printer comprising magnetically attracting the carrier toward the slot, blocking the slot with a movable flap for preventing toner dust from traveling through the slot, opening the movable flap for allowing the carrier to travel through the slot and return to the developer station, then reclosing the movable flap.

Abstract: A printer comprising a developer station for holding a supply of carrier particles, a rotating member which accumulates carrier particles during its rotation, a scavenger for removing the accumulated particles from the rotating member during the rotation. The scavenger includes a slot through which the carrier particles travel to return to the developer station and a movable flap covering an opening of the slot for accumulating the carrier particles at the flap until the flap is opened. A source of magnetic field urges the carrier particles through the slot. The carrier particles accumulate at the flap until reaching a volume sufficient to force open the movable flap and fall into the developer station.

Abstract: A developing device in the embodiment includes: a developer carrier that carries a two-component developer, moves the surface, and supplies the toner to a latent image on a surface of a latent image carrier; a first conveying member that conveys the developer in a first conveying path; a second conveying member that conveys the developer in a second conveying path; and a developer passing unit that conveys upward the developer which has reached at a conveying-direction posterior end of the second conveying path and passes the developer to the first conveying path. The developer passing unit includes a plurality of pushing members that push up the developer. The developer can pass through from upper surfaces of the pushing members to lower surfaces of the pushing members.

Abstract: A developing device, includes: a housing that stores toner inside; a toner carrier roller that is shaped approximately like a cylinder, is mounted to the housing rotatably about a rotational axis, rotates while carrying the toner on a surface thereof to convey the toner to outside of the housing, and is provided, on the surface thereof, with a plurality of convex sections which are regularly arranged and a concave section which surrounds the convex sections, the convex sections including top surfaces that coincide with a part of a curved surface of single cylinder and have electrical conductivity; and a seal member that is arranged in abutting contact with the surface of the toner carrier roller moving from the outside the housing toward the inside the housing at a position downstream of the opposed position in a rotation direction of the toner carrier roller to prevent toner leakage from the housing, a contact surface of the seal member being made of a material located at a position to charge the toner with

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing member including a magnetism-generating member having plural magnetic poles polarized in a circumferential-direction thereof, and a rotating member that is rotated about the magnetism-generating member; a developer-pumping pole provided in the magnetism-generating member, and that pumps up the developer, which is supplied from a developer accommodating portion, to the rotating member surface; a developer-peeling-off pole provided in the magnetism-generating member below a rotation axis of the rotating member in a vertical direction on an upstream side of the developer-pumping pole in a rotational-direction of the rotating member, that peels off the developer from the rotating member surface; and a magnetic body provided in at least a portion between a facing position facing the developer-peeling-off pole in a circumferential-direction of the rotating member and an intermediate position between the developer-peeling-off pole and the developer-pumping pole in the circu

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 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: A printer includes a development member for providing toner to a photoreceptor. A developer remover is located between a developer supply and the photoreceptor in the direction of rotation of the development member, and selectively contacts the development member to remove developer therefrom. A controller receives a print job, determines a non-developing zone of the development member corresponding to the non-image area of the job, and determines a developing zone of the development member corresponding to the image area of the job. The developer remover removes developer when it is in the non-developing zone, but not when it is in the developing zone.

Abstract: One embodiment of a development apparatus includes a developer carrier that transports a two-component developer and a scraper that detaches the two-component developer transported by the developer carrier from a surface of the developer carrier. Also, a front end of the scraper is formed so as not to have an edge that is less than 90 degrees. Further, the development apparatus includes a scraper pedestal having rigidity, and the scraper is fixed on the scraper pedestal.

Abstract: A developing unit includes: a cylindrical magnetic member having plural magnetic poles in a circumferential direction, the magnetic poles including a first pole attracting developer and a second pole not attracting developer; a developer holding member having the cylindrical magnetic member therein and conveying developer magnetically attracted by the cylindrical magnetic member on a surface thereof in a direction toward a predetermined area where developer is not attracted by a magnetic field caused by the second pole; a peeling member provided in the predetermined area and peeling off the developer attracted at an end portion of the developer holding member in an axial direction; and a second magnetic member provided on at least one of upstream and downstream in the direction from the peeling member, disposed in a position with a gap from the surface of the developer holding member and opposed to the predetermined area.

Abstract: An amount-of-developer regulating apparatus configured to restrict the amount of developer carried on a developer bearing member. The amount-of-developer regulating apparatus includes a flexible developer amount regulation member having a contact portion configured to contact with a developer bearing member, and first and second holding portions configured to hold the developer amount regulation member and to contact with the developer amount regulation member at further upstream and further downstream in a direction where the developer bearing member is rotationally moved than the contact portion. With a pressure distribution of the contact portion as to the developer bearing member, there are a plurality of local maximum values in the direction where the developer bearing member is rotationally moved. Thus, the apparatus can be reduced in size, and also image concentration unevenness after long-term use can be prevented.