Developing device

摘要

A developing device having a toner carrier for feeding a toner through pressure contact with a latent image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image pattern has been formed. The toner carrier comprises a foam member having a foam portion and a solid surface layer portion. The foam portion and the solid surface layer portion comprise an identical material and are continuous with each other substantially without the presence of any interface therebetween. The foam member has a density gradient in the direction of the thickness. The developing device of the present invention enables a soft pressure contact development to be stably conducted, has advantageously low production and operation cost, and can form an image having a high resolution without a significant variation in the density.