Patent ID: 7076194
Filing Date: 2006-07-11
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A developing device comprising: an endless belt that is stretched around a plurality of support members, a portion of a peripheral surface of the endless belt contacting a portion of a surface of an image carrying member at a contact region, and the endless belt being rotated by a driving force that is transmitted from a driving device at a driving transmission position; and a layer regulating member that is pressed against a portion of the endless belt at a pressure contact region positioned upstream, with respect to the endless belt's rotation direction, from the contact region; wherein a single component developing agent carried on a peripheral surface of the endless belt is supplied to the contact region, the agent being provided to the peripheral surface at a predetermined region; wherein the contact region is positioned upstream, with respect to the endless belt's rotation direction, from the driving transmission position; and wherein the developing device is further provided with a load device applying, to at least a portion of the endless belt between the pressure contact region and the contact region, a load acting in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the endless belt so that the endless belt is thinner at the contact region than at the predetermined region.