摘要 |
An image forming method for operating a moving image-bearing member bearing an electrostatic latent image and a plurality of developing units disposed near the image-bearing member and being selectively operable is described. The color image forming method develops the electrostatic latent image by using a magnetic developer brush formed on the surface of a developer support and conveyance means, and includes the steps of: providing a rotating cylinder for supporting and conveying the magnetic developer, the cylinder including a permanent magnet with a plurality of magnetic poles on the cylinder surface; supplying a magnetic developer containing non-magnetic color toner for color image formation; attracting and conveying a layer of magnetic developer having a smaller thickness than the gap between the image-bearing member and the developer support and conveyance cylinder on the cylinder surface; and applying in the developing region an alternate electric field with an AC bias superimposed on a DC bias between the image-bearing member and the magnetic developer for the developing of an electrostatic latent image on the image-bearing member. The method also includes a surface magnetic flux density ranging from 50 to 1200 G, and a value of h, defined as pi DxVp/(MxVm), of 2 or less wherein Vp (mm/s) is the moving speed of the image-bearer, and D (mm), M, and Vm (mm/s) are the outer diameter, the number of magnetic poles, and the peripheral speed of the permanent magnet, respectively.
|