Patent ID: 8086143
Filing Date: 2011-12-27
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image thereon; a developing device, which is configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with a developer including a toner and a carrier to form a toner image on the image bearing member and which includes: a developer supplement supplying device configured to supply a developer supplement including the toner and the carrier to the developing device to mix the developer supplement with the mixed developer; and a developer discharging device configured to discharge an excess of the developer from the developing device to replace at least a part of the carrier in the developer with the carrier in the developer supplement, wherein the carrier includes a particulate core material and a cover layer located on the surface of the particulate core material, and wherein the cover layer includes a binder resin and a first particulate material, wherein the cover layer satisfies the following relationship: wherein D 1 represents a volume average particle diameter of the first particulate material in units of micrometer, and h represents an average thickness of a resinous portion of the cover layer in units of micrometer.