| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which prevents toner fusion on a developer restricting member, thereby preventing a low density of an image and a vertical streak and ensuring steady image formation over a long period of time. <P>SOLUTION: In an image forming method having a development process in which developer is transferred to an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier by a developing means, thereby rendering the electrostatic latent image visible, control is exerted so that the potential of a developer carrier and the potential of the developer restricting member are almost equal during image formation and that the potential of the developer restricting member is at least temporarily higher toward the same polarity as electrified toner particles than the potential of the developer carrier during image non-formation in which the developer carrier is rotated but image formation is not carried out. Images are formed using the developer that contains the toner particles and silica particles having the same polarity as the toner particles and a BET specific surface area of 20 to 250 m<SP>2</SP>/g, the content of the silica fine particles being 0.5 to 2 pts. mass based on 100 pts. mass of the toner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO |
