Patent ID: 6576387
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image-forming apparatus comprising:an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a conductive substrate, and at least a photoconductive layer and a surface layer on the conductive substrate; a charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member electrostatically; a latent-image-forming means for performing imagewise exposure to form an electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developing means for moving a toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, to render the electrostatic latent image visible to form a toner image; and a transfer means for transferring the toner image to a transfer medium; wherein; the photoconductive layer of said electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a non-single-crystal material composed chiefly of silicon; the surface layer of said electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a non-single-crystal carbon film containing at least hydrogen, and has a dynamic hardness in the range of from 4.90Ã—109 to 1.76 Ã—1010 Pa (500 to 1,800 kgf /mm2 ) ; said charging means has a charging member kept in contact with said electrophotographic photosensitive member, forming a contact zone therewith, and is a charging means for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive member electrostatically upon application of a voltage; and said toner is a magnetic toner having toner particles containing at least a binder resin and a magnetic material, and an inorganic fine powder, and having an average circularity of from 0.950 to 1.000; said toner having a saturation magnetization of from 10 to 50 Am2/kg (emu/g) under application of a magnetic field of 79.6 kA/m (1,000 oersteds).