Abstract: A developing roller includes (I) a developing sleeve that is made of nonmagnetic material, and that holds and conveys a developer; and (II) a magnetic member that is fixed inside the developing sleeve, wherein the magnetic member includes (i) a development magnetic pole that corresponds to a development area; (ii) a before-development magnetic pole that is provided at an upstream side of the developer-conveying direction with respect to the development magnetic pole, and that has a polarity different from the development magnetic pole; and (iii) an after-development magnetic pole that is provided at a downstream side of the developer-conveying direction with respect to the development magnetic pole, and that has a polarity different from the development magnetic pole, wherein q1, q2 and q3 satisfy the following formulas q1>90°; and q1+q2>q3, wherein q1, q2 and q3 are defined in the specification.

Abstract: A component for an image forming apparatus may include a seamless knit fabric which may be applied to a shaft. Both the fabric and the shaft may be electrically conductive. The fabric and the shaft may be separated by foam. The component may be employed in an image forming apparatus or in an image forming device cartridge.

Abstract: A developer-carrying member to transport a developer having a carrier to a developing area facing an image carrying member in an image forming apparatus includes a sleeve. The sleeve carries the developer. The surface of the sleeve has a maximum roughness Rmax of one-sixth or greater than a particle diameter of the carrier, and a surface index of 1.5 or greater. The surface index is expressed by the equation of “surface index=Rmax/(Ltotal?LL),” in which LL is a measurement-range length selected from a roughness profile of the surface of the sleeve, Ltotal is a total surface distance of the developer-carrying member in the measurement-range length LL, and Rmax is a maximum roughness of the sleeve surface, defined by a difference between a maximum roughness value and a minimum roughness value on a roughness profile of the surface of the sleeve.

Abstract: A developing roll which may reduce stress imparted on toner and have uniform transportability of toner. The developing roll comprises a shaft, an elastic layer provided on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft, and a cylindrical outermost layer provided directly or indirectly via a layer on an outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer, wherein an outer peripheral surface of the outermost layer is formed into a rough surface by distribution of multiple dimples in such a manner that open ends thereof do not overlap one another on the surface and a portion other than the dimples on the rough surface forms a remaining portion of a cylindrical shape.

Abstract: A toner transport roller (10) including a sealing member (3), for preventing leak of toner, which contacts a peripheral surface of a rubber roller (1) thereof slidably. The toner transport roller (10) contains 3 to 50 parts by mass of alumina for 100 parts by mass of an ionic-conductive rubber and a loss tangent-adjusting filler. The annular sealing member (3) is slidably fitted on both ends of the rubber roller (1) in an axial direction thereof. It is preferable that the specific gravity of the ionic-conductive rubber is set to not less than 1.2.

Abstract: A developing member is provided which is capable of forming a high-quality image by simultaneously solving the problem of fogging in a high temperature and high humidity environment and the problem of ghosts in a low temperature and low humidity environment. The developing member includes a mandrel and a resin layer formed on the periphery of the mandrel, and has an outermost surface layer containing a non-reactive silicone compound. The non-reactive silicone compound satisfies the following requirements: (A) a copolymer of silicone and polyoxyethylene; (B) a specific gravity (25° C.) d of 0.99?d?1.03; and (C) a solubility in water (25° C.) of less than 0.1% by mass.

Abstract: A developing member is disclosed which can lessen the occurring of banding. The developing member has a shaft member, an elastic layer provided on the shaft member, and a resin layer provided on the surface, wherein the resin layer contains a urethane resin and a non-reactive silicone compound, and the non-reactive silicone compound has a polyether moiety whose total number of carbon atoms ranges from 3 to 9.

Abstract: A developing roller comprising: a shaft comprising an aluminum alloy; and a coating layer directly formed on a periphery of the shaft, the coating layer comprising a conducting agent and a binder comprising a resin, wherein the aluminum alloy comprises 0.2 to 0.8% by mass of silicon and 0.05 to 1.5% by mass of maganese, based on the total mass of the aluminum alloy.

Abstract: A developing apparatus having a developer carrying member carrying developer including toner, a developer regulating member regulating the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member, and a lubricant provided in a contact portion between the carrying member and the regulating member with the developer being not present on the carrying member, wherein the lubricant includes a first polymer particle which is of a spherical shape having an average degree of circularity of 0.90 or greater and is of a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner, and a second polymer particle of a scalelike shape and of the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner.

Abstract: A developing device that can suppress occurrence of fogging is achieved. The developing device is provided with: a developer bearing member for bearing a developer; and a charging member for charging the developer borne by the developer bearing member. The charging member has: a first layer that is placed in contact with the developer bearing member and that contains a conductive agent; and a second layer that is positioned on a side opposite from the developer bearing member with respect to the first layer, and that contains a conductive agent at a density that is greater than the density of the conductive agent contained in the first layer.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic conductive member composed of at least a thermoplastic resin composition, the thermoplastic resin composition contains a thermoplastic resin, a conductive filler and a conductive-filler dispersing agent, and the conductive-filler dispersing agent is a polyhydric alcohol type nonionic surface-active agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a one-component development type developing apparatus including a rotatable electrostatic latent image holding member 1 on the surface of which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and using a toner 4 for rendering the electrostatic latent image visible, wherein when the shape factor SF-1 of a toner fine particle is expressed by: SF-1=(M2/A)×(?/4)×100 where A is the projected area of the fine particle and M is the absolute maximum length of the fine particle, then the shape factor SF-1 of the toner 4 is at least 100 and at most 140, and the developing apparatus includes: a toner holding member 3 that is formed from a silicone rubber elastic material and that is for holding the toner 4 and transporting it to the electrostatic latent image holding member 1; a toner layer regulating member 9 for forming the toner on the toner holding member 3 into a thin layer; and a toner supply member 5 that is formed from a silicone rubber foam and that rotates, in a position opposed to th

Abstract: An objective is to provide a developing roller in which increase of residual potential is inhibited during repetitive operation without deteriorating interlayer adhesion, and prepared is a layer immediately below the surface capable of preventing fog caused by toner scattering, accompanied with a surface layer capable of preventing stains formed from foreign matters adhered to the surface, as well as preventing image unevenness since toner electrification is even under the presence of appropriate elasticity, and also to provide a image forming method employing the developing roller. Disclosed is a developing roller possessing an elastic layer made of silicone rubber provided around a conductive shaft, and a plurality of resin layers further provided on the elastic layer, wherein an outermost surface layer among the resin layers comprises silicone copolymerization polyurethane; and a layer immediately below the surface layer comprises a polyurethane resin-silica hybrid.

Abstract: An objective is to provide a developing roller in which increase of residual potential is inhibited during repetitive operation without deteriorating adhesion to an elastic layer, scattering and leakage of toner are prevented, appropriate elasticity is exhibited and a resin layer capable of preventing uneven charging of toner and image unevenness is prepared, and also to provide a image forming method employing the developing roller. Disclosed is a developing roller possessing an elastic layer made of silicone rubber provided around a conductive shaft, and a resin layer further provided on the elastic layer, wherein the resin layer contains polyurethane resin-silica hybrid as a principal component.

Abstract: A heater includes: a hollow tube sealed hermetically and reduced in pressure, the interior of the hollow tube being divided by at least one partition wall into a plurality of regions arranged side by side in a longitudinal direction of the tube; an electron source provided in each of the divided regions, the electron source being supported inside the hollow tube in an electrically insulated state from the hollow tube; a power supply that applies a voltage between the hollow tube and the electron source with the electron source as a negative polarity side; and the electron source emitting electrons toward an inner periphery surface of the hollow tube to heat the hollow tube.

Abstract: A toner image carrying member can be rotationally driven, and a plurality of grooves are formed on an outer peripheral surfaces of the toner image carrying member, the plurality of grooves extending along a rotation direction of the toner image carrying member and arranged in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the rotation direction, and the configuration of the outer peripheral surface of the toner image carrying member in the orthogonal direction is a periodic uneven-configuration. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing the toner image carrying member and an electrophotographic apparatus having the toner image carrying member.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes: an image supporting member for forming a latent image on a surface thereof; a developer supporting member for supplying developer to the image supporting member to develop the latent image; and a developer layer regulating member abutting against the developer supporting member for forming a thin developer layer. The developer layer regulating member and the developer supporting member are configured to satisfy the following relationships: ?b??r?2×?b Rz?D where ?b is a dynamic friction coefficient between the developer layer regulating member and the developer; ?r is a dynamic friction coefficient between the developer supporting member and the developer; Rz is an average surface roughness of the developer supporting member; and D is a volume average particle diameter of the developer.

Abstract: A developing roller for use in an image-forming apparatus includes a substrate, a silicone-based elastic layer formed on the substrate, and a surface-coating layer formed at the outermost surface. The surface-coating layer has a thickness of not less than 3.5 ?m with an amount of detection of silicon-atom-containing substances on the surface of the developing roller being set to not more than 2.5, and a developing device equipped with the developing roller.

Abstract: Provided are a developing roller for non-magnetic single component development and a developing method employing the developing, by which toner can be stably conveyed in any external environment, and the stable toner conveyance and charging amount can also be acquired. Also disclosed is a developing roller possessing a spindle and provided around an outer circumference of the spindle, at least an elastic layer (innermost layer), a resistance adjusting layer (intermediate layer) formed on the elastic layer and a surface layer (outermost layer) formed on the resistance adjusting layer, wherein the intermediate layer possesses a layer containing carbon black in a resin, a content of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in the carbon black is at most 10 ppm, and a volume resistance (Rv) of all the layers provided around the outer circumference of the spindle is 1.0×107-1.0×1013 ?·cm.

Abstract: A donor member useful in ionographic or electrophotographic apparatuses and useful in hybrid scavengeless development units, having a substrate and an outer coating having a nano-size powder.

Abstract: A developing roller for use in an image-forming apparatus, the roller including: a substrate; an elastic layer formed on the substrate; a primer layer formed on the elastic layer; and a surface-coating layer formed at the outermost surface, wherein the primer layer includes a conductive substance. A developing device is equipped with the developing roller.

Abstract: A replaceable developer roller apparatus is disclosed for a printing device. The apparatus includes a cylindrical developer roller having two opposed ends, and a drive assembly selectively and operatively engageable with one of the opposed ends of the developer roller. The drive assembly includes a shaft having two opposed regions; a gear rotationally fixed to one of the opposed regions of the shaft; and a drive member rotationally fixed to the other of the opposed regions of the shaft, and selectively, axially moveable between an engagement position and a disengagement position. A spindle assembly is engageable with the other of the opposed ends of the developer roller. The spindle assembly includes a spindle assembly shaft and an alignment member rotationally fixed to the spindle assembly shaft.

Abstract: The present invention provides a development roller disposed in proximity of a photosensitive body which is charged by a charging member and on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, the development roller performing development by transferring toner to the photosensitive body. The development roller includes a toner layer formation area where a toner layer is formed on a surface of a development roller main body portion and a small diameter portion which has a diameter smaller than that of the toner layer formation area and which is located in at least a part of an area where the toner layer is not formed on the surface of the development roller main body portion.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing roller and a sealing member. The developing roller applies toner to an electrostatic latent image to develop the electrostatic latent image. The sealing member presses the developing roller to seal the developer. The apparatus includes a developing roller with a shaft and a resilient layer formed on the shaft. The developing roller rotates about the shaft. The resilient layer covers the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller and is in contact with the sealing member. The resilient layer has a diameter that becomes larger nearer longitudinal ends of the developing roller. The diameter has a maximum value and a minimum value. The difference between the maximum value and the minimum value is such that 10 ?m<??<300 ?m, where ?? is a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a contact-type developing roller contacts a photosensitive drum, a developing blade, a supply roller or the like. If the surface of the developing roller is excessively hard, there is a possibility that a pressure applied between the developing roller and the photosensitive drum or the like may increase, and may cause a filming, i.e., a phenomena in which a toner is degraded and welded to the surface of the developing roller. The filming can be prevented when a JIS-A hardness HA (degree) of a resilient layer of the developing roller and a dynamic hardness HS (mN/?m2) of a surface layer of the developing roller satisfy the following relationship: HA×HS<15.

Abstract: A developer supplying device including a developer holding unit configured to hold a developer, a developer transfer device configured to electrostatically transfer the developer from the developer holding unit, and a charging member having holes piercing therethrough from the developer holding unit, to abrasively charge the developer by contacting the developer with walls of the holes while the developer is electrostatically transferred through the holes by the developer transfer device.

Abstract: A developer carrier includes: an opposing region that opposes a latent image-carryable region on an image carrier, and a solid portion that is solid at an end portion of the developer carrier in a longitudinal direction of the developer carrier. An end of the solid portion, which is on a side of a center of the developer carrier in the longitudinal direction, is located closer to the center of the developer carrier than an edge of the opposing region.

Abstract: A developing roller is provided having an elastic layer and a surface layer superposed thereon. The surface layer is formed of a resin material containing nitrogen atoms, and contains at least two types of particles, organic-compound particles (M) and organic-compound particles (N). The particles (N) are composed of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic-compound particles. The number-average particle diameter of the particles (N) in the surface layer is smaller than the number-average particle diameter of the particles (M) in the surface layer. Where the universal hardness of the elastic layer is represented by A and the universal hardness of the developing roller is represented by B, they satisfies 0.9?B/A?1.8.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a developer bearing member, a photosensitive member, a developing-bias applying portion, a pressing-force adjusting portion, and a density adjusting portion. The photosensitive member is disposed in contact with the developer bearing member. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive member and developed by the developer supplied from the developer bearing member for forming a developer image. The developing-bias applying portion applies a developing bias to the developer bearing member. The pressing-force adjusting portion adjusts the pressing force between the developer bearing member and the photosensitive member.

Abstract: In a developing roller having a shaft member, a conductive elastic layer provided on the shaft member, and a conductive resin layer constituting a most-surface layer, the conductive resin layer contains a condensed polycyclic organic pigment as exemplified by at least one selected from the group consisting of a quinacridone pigment, a threne pigment, a perylene pigment and a perinone pigment. The developing roller can effectively keep ghosts from occurring and can achieve high image density in a low-temperature and low-humidity environment.

Abstract: To provide an method for forming an image capable of effectively suppressing a toner from deteriorating and also capable of keeping the quality of an image for a long period of time, even when the method is applied to an apparatus with as high process speed. The prevent invention provides an method for forming an image, in which a developing unit is used, which includes: a rotatable cylindrical toner bearing member having a diameter represented as Rd (mm); and a rotatable cylindrical toner-supplying member having a diameter Rs (mm), the diameters Rd and Rs satisfying the following relational expression (1): 1?Rs?Rd?10??(1) and in which the nonmagnetic one-component toner having an degree of aggregation of 5 to 30% and an electric resistivity of 1×1014 to 1×1018 ?·cm at an electric field of 1×104 V/cm is used.

Abstract: A donor member useful in ionographic or electrophotographic apparatuses and useful in hybrid scavengeless and hybrid jumping development units, the donor member having a substrate and an outer coating of a blend including metal and ceramic.

Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a hollow developing roller, a support member inserted in the hollow developing roller to support the developing roller, a flange member having a first engaging portion engaging with an outer surface of the support member and a second engaging portion engaging with an inner surface of the developing roller, and a gap-holding member disposed at one end of the developing roller, the gap-holding member having an abutment abutting against the electrophotographic photoreceptor for maintaining a gap between the developing roller and the electrophotographic photoreceptor. The abutment overlaps with the second engaging portion in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a plurality of developing devices for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member, and a rotary member holding the plurality of developing devices and rotated in a route including a developing position, the rotary member selectively positioning any one of the developing devices at the developing position. Each of the plurality of developing devices has a plurality of developer carrying members carrying a developer thereon and carrying the developer to the image bearing member.

Abstract: A developer apparatus includes a developer carrying member, for carrying a developer to a developing portion, the developer carrying member including an electroconductive base and a resistance layer provided thereon; a developer feeding member for being supplied with a voltage to supply the developer to the developer carrying member; wherein a surface moving speed of the developer carrying member Vp [mm/sec], a resistance R1 (?) of the developer carrying member when an electric current applied the developer carrying member is 0.04 Vp [?A], and a resistance R2 (?) or the developer carrying member when the electric current applied to the developer carrying member is 4 Vp [?A], satisfy: r1/R2<15.

Abstract: The invention provides a developer carrying member for carrying a developer for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member, including an elastic layer, and a surface layer provided on a surface of the developer carrying member and including a resin and particles, wherein the particles have a property of being frictionally charged in a polarity opposite to a normal charging polarity of the developer, and the particles are exposed from the surface in an area rate within a range from 15 to 60% with respect to a surface area of the developer carrying member. In this manner, an uneven heating of the toner image can be suppressed even if the recording material generates an undulation after passing a nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a plurality of developing devices for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member, a rotary member holding the plurality of developing devices and rotated in a route including a developing position, the rotary member selectively positioning any one of the developing devices at the developing position, each of the plurality of developing devices having a first developer carrying member and a second developer carrying member for carrying a developer thereon and carrying it to the image bearing member, and a holding member holding the first developer carrying member and the second developer carrying member and pivotally movably provided.

Abstract: In a developing assembly, a process cartridge and an image-forming method, a specific developer and a specific developer-carrying member are used in combination. The developer comprises toner particles containing at least a binder resin and a colorant, and conductive fine particles; the toner particles having a Circularity a of less than 0.970 as found from the following expression: Circularity a=L0/L where L0 represents the circumferential length of a circle having the same projected area as a particle image, and L represents the circumferential length of a projected image of a particle. The developer-carrying member has at least a substrate and a resin coat layer formed on the substrate; the resin coat layer containing at least a coat layer binder resin and a positively chargeable material.

Abstract: A developing assembly is disclosed having at least a developer container, a developer-carrying member and a developer layer thickness regulation member, wherein the developer is composed mainly of toner particles containing at least a binder resin and a colorant, and conductive fine particles, and the developer-carrying member has a substrate and a surface layer formed on the substrate of a non-magnetic metal, an alloy or a metallic compound. This developing assembly causes no sleeve ghost, enables electrostatic latent images to be faithfully developed, causes no fading phenomenon, and enables high-density images to be formed in every environment. Also disclosed are a process cartridge having the developing assembly and the latent-image-bearing member integrally set as one unit detachably mountable on the main body of an image-forming apparatus, and an image-forming method making use of the features of this developing assembly.

Abstract: A process for producing a charging member by grit blasting a charging member substrate, plasma spraying a single component outer coating consisting essentially of titanium dioxide powder directly to the grit blasted stainless steel substrate, and the outer coating has a resistivity of from about 10−10 to about 10−3 ohms-cm.

Abstract: A roll including a core shaft formed from metal, an elastic layer formed from resin or rubber material arranged around the core shaft and having a resistance, and a surface layer arranged around the elastic layer and having a resistance. The resistance of the surface layer is smaller than that of the elastic layer so that the entire volume resistance of the roll is less than a volume resistance of the elastic layer.

Abstract: The invention provides a developer carrying member for carrying a developer for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member, including an elastic layer, and a surface layer provided on a surface of the developer carrying member and including a resin and particles, wherein the particles have a property of being frictionally charged in a polarity opposite to a normal charging polarity of the developer, and the particles are exposed from the surface in an area rate within a range from 15 to 60% with respect to a surface area of the developer carrying member. In this manner, an uneven heating of the toner image can be suppressed even if the recording material generates an undulation after passing a nip.

Abstract: The electrophotographic image formation apparatus of the present invention adopts a developer roller, which is made of aluminum and has an aluminum oxide film of at least 5 &mgr;m in thickness formed on surface thereof. In the image formation apparatus, a gap between the developer roller and a photoreceptor drum 3 is set in a range of 150 to 300 &mgr;m. The image formation method of the present invention regulates a frequency of AC voltage in a non-development state to be higher than that in a development state, when an AC voltage is applied onto the developer roller to cause flight of toner from the developer roller to the photoreceptor, and selectively makes charged toner fly onto the electrostatic latent image for development. The present invention provides the effective development technique to prevent leakage of the applied voltage between the developer roller and the photoreceptor drum.

Abstract: A developing roll, which can reduce residual charge even under environment of low temperature and low humidity, comprises a shaft 1, an innermost layer 2, an intermediate layer 3 and an outermost layer 4 provided in this order on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft, the intermediate layer including an ionic conductive agent and carbon black and having a volume resistivity (&rgr;v) of not more than 1.0×106&OHgr;·cm and the outermost layer having a volume resistivity (&rgr;v) of 1.0×107 to 1.0×1013 &OHgr;·cm.

Abstract: To provide an method for forming an image capable of effectively suppressing a toner from deteriorating and also capable of keeping the quality of an image for a long period of time, even when the method is applied to an apparatus with as high process speed.

Abstract: A developer-carrying member having a rigid electroplating surface layer free from locally abnormal metal deposition and exhibiting a high-accuracy surface roughness is provided so as to be free from occurrence of tailing of images even in high-speed image formation. The developer-carrying member has a substrate, and laminate coating layers successively formed thereon including an intermediate layer, a joint layer and a rigid electroplating layer, and is characterized in that the joint layer inserted between the intermediate layer and the electroplating layer for improving the adhesion therebetween having a substantially non-magnetic material as represented by a volume susceptibility of at most 1 &mgr;H/m.

Abstract: A developing device for an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image carrier performing endless movement while carrying a developer in the form of a layer thereon, and a regulating member for regulating the thickness of the layer. Toner stored in the developing device is covered with an additive whose particle size is less than 2 &mgr;m. The regulating member is implemented as a doctor roller having a surface roughness Rz equal to or greater than the above particle size, but smaller than 2 &mgr;m. The doctor roller is pressed against a developing roller or developer carrier by a preselected pressure, forming a nip for development. The developing device reduces irregular development ascribable to impurities caught at a regulating position assigned to the doctor roller more than a conventional developing device using a doctor blade as a regulating member.

Abstract: A developing roller and an image forming device capable of securely obtaining high-quality images are provided. In the developing roller having at least one resin outer layer 3a formed on the outer periphery of an elastic layer 3, the resin outer layer is made of an ultraviolet-curable resin or an electron-beam-curable resin. The resin outer layer 3a contains fine particles of which mean particle diameter is 1-50 &mgr;m and a conductive agent such as an ionic conductive agent or an electronic conductive agent. Preferably used as the fine particles are silicone rubber, fluororubber, melamine resin, phenol resin, glassy carbon, urethane elastomer, and the like. The ratio of the mean particle diameter “a” of the fine particles and the thickness “b” of the resin outer layer 3a, i.e. “a/b”, is preferably in a range of 0.05 to 0.5.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member for carrying a developer to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on and image bearing member, the developer carrying member having an elastic property; scraping/supplying member, contacted into the developer carrying member, for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member and for scraping the developer off the developer carrying member, the scraping/supplying member having an elastic property, wherein the developer carrying member has a hardness which is higher than that of the scraping/supplying member, and wherein the developer carrying member and the scraping/supplying member satisfy that in a state in which the scraping/supplying member is out of contact with the developer carrying member, a radius of curvature of the scraping/supplying member is larger than a radius of curvature of the developer carrying member at a position of contact between the scraping/supplying member and the developer carrying member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a toner bearing member holding a toner on its surface for conveyance of the toner to a development region where the toner bearing member opposes an image bearing member via a predetermined gap therebetween; a regulating member pressed against the surface of the toner bearing member for regulation of the amount of toner conveyed to the development region; and a developing bias source for applying an alternating electric field between the toner bearing member and the image bearing member. The developing device features the use of the toner bearing member including a conductive substrate formed with an elastic layer, an intermediate layer and a surface layer on the surface thereof, respective volume resistances &rgr;1, &rgr;2 and &rgr;3 of which layers satisfy a condition &rgr;2≦&rgr;1≦&rgr;3, the toner bearing member having an arithmetic average surface roughness in the range of 0.8 to 2.5 &mgr;m, and the use of the toner having a volume-average particle size of 3 to 8 &mgr;m.