Patent ID: 8155570
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A developing device comprising: a toner carrying member which is disposed to face an image carrying member and which develops an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the image carrying member; a toner feeding member which forms a toner layer on the toner carrying member by use of a magnetic brush; a first bias application device which applies a first bias composed of DC and AC components to the toner carrying member; and a second bias application device which applies a second bias composed of DC and AC components to the toner feeding member, the second bias being settable independently of the first bias wherein a two-component developer containing at least a carrier and toner is used, and the first and second bias application devices apply the first and second biases as development biases to the toner carrying member and the toner feeding member so as to develop the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrying member, wherein during a non-development period, the first bias remains unchanged from during a development period, and of the AC components of the second bias, a peak voltage value at a same polarity as the toner is made lower than during the development period so as to collect development-residual toner on the toner carrying member onto the toner feeding member, and wherein, when a toner amount on the toner carrying member during a development period is a first toner amount and a toner amount on the toner carrying member after collection of the development-residual toner during a non-development period is a second toner amount, of the AC component of the second bias, a peak voltage value at an opposite polarity to the toner is kept within a range not exceeding a leak voltage between the toner feeding member and the toner carrying member, and the peak voltage value at the side with the same polarity as the toner is so adjusted that a ratio of the second toner amount to the first toner amount is equal to or less than a predetermined value.