| 摘要 |
In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus of the type using a one-component developer, i.e., toner, a developing device has a toner layer forming member for forming a thin toner layer on the surface of a toner carrier implemented as a roller. The toner layer is transferred from the toner carrier to an image carrier. The toner layer forming member is made up of a regulating member and a leveling member formed integrally with each other. The regulating member is made of stainless steel, phosphor bronze or similar resilient metal or silicone, urethane or similar rubber. The leveling member is located downstream of the regulating member with respect to the direction of rotation of the toner carrier and formed with a plurality of obliquely extending grooves on the surface thereof. The surface of the toner carrier is implemented by silicone rubber, urethane rubber or similar elastic material and has rubber hardness of 40 degrees to 40 degrees as measured by an Ascar C hardness tester and ten-point mean surface roughness Rz of less than 5 mu m. |
