Patent ID: 6295432
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus comprising:an image bearing member for carrying an electrostatic image, said image bearing member having a surface layer having a volume resistivity of 10.sup.9 to 10.sup.13 .OMEGA.cm;contact charging means for electrically charging said image bearing member while contacting a surface of said image bearing member;developing means for developing an electrostatic image on said image bearing member with a developer comprising toner and a carrier, while contacting chains of the carrier to said image bearing member, said developing means including a developer carrying member, opposed to said image bearing member, for carrying the developer and electric field forming means for forming an alternating electric field between said image bearing member and said developer carrying member;wherein the following relationships are satisfied:5.times.10.sup.-5 <T.sub.1 <.times.10.sup.-4 (sec); and5.times.10.sup.-5 <T.sub.2 <.times.10.sup.-4 (sec);where T.sub.1 is a time duration in which the toner receives force away from said image bearing member toward said developer carrying member; andwhere T.sub.2 is a time duration in which the toner receives force away from said developer carrying member toward said image bearing member.