Patent ID: 6879793
Filing Date: 2005-04-12
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A method of image forming comprising the steps of: charging an image bearing member by applying a voltage on a charging member; forming an electrostatic latent image while writing image information as the electrostatic latent image on the charged image bearing member; developing the electrostatic latent image by a magnetic toner carried on a toner carrying member to thereby form a toner image; and transferring the toner image onto a recording medium, the step of charging being carried out such that the charging member and the image bearing member move in opposite directions to each other so as to a contact portion where the charging member and the image bearing member are brought into contact with each other, the step of developing including cleaning for recovering the toner remaining on the image bearing member without being transferred onto the recording medium in the step of transferring, as cleaning simultaneous with development, wherein: the toner carrying member is provided with a layer thickness regulating member so as to contact therewith; the image bearing member and the toner carrying member are arranged with a gap of 100 μm to 250 μm therebetween; the magnetic toner includes toner particles containing at least a binder resin and a magnetic substance, and the conductive fine particles; a maximum electric field intensity (V/μm) of an alternating electric field formed on the toner carrying member at the time of developing, a frequency (Hz) of an alternating current component of the alternating electric field, and a peripheral speed (mm/sec) of the toner carrying member satisfy a relationship represented by the following equation (1); and the frequency (Hz) of the alternating current component of the alternating electric field formed on the toner carrying member, the peripheral speed (mm/sec) of the toner carrying member, and a floodability index of Carr and a fluidity index of Carr for the magnetic toner satisfy a relationship represented by the following equation (2):