Developer supplying member

The disclosure relates to a developer supplying member such as a developing sleeve for use in the developing device of a copying apparatus. The developer supplying member of the invention is coated with an overcoat layer comprising an amorphous carbon film formed by plasma polymerization with a glow discharge method and containing fluorine. Further, the overcoat layer comprises an organic polymerized film formed by causing glow discharge using at least one compound selected from the group consisting of fluorine incorporating methacrylate, fluorine incorporating acrylate and fluoroalkylsilane.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a developer supplying member, and more 
particularly to a developer supplying member such as a developing sleeve 
for use in the developing device of a copying apparatus. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In general, electrophotographic copying methods employ developing processes 
of which the Carlson process is representative. Electrostatic latent 
images are formed by charging a photoconductive photosensitive member and 
exposing it to light. Thereafter, a bicomponent developer comprising a 
toner and a carrier, or a monocomponent developer comprising toner alone, 
is retained on the surface of a rotatable developer supplying member and 
comes into contact with the aforesaid electrostatic latent image, thereby 
developing said latent image as a toner image. One of the well-known 
disadvantages inherent to these conventional developing methods is the 
problem of image fog. Fog appears due to electrostatic toner adhesion 
induced by a residual charge which is incurred during the developing 
process when the previous charge is not completely removed from the 
exposed porion of the photosensitive member. Developing then results in a 
generally soiled copy image. The application of a developing bias voltage 
is commonly used to eliminate this disadvantage. 
The developing bias voltage method involves the application, with each 
development cycle, of a d.c. voltage or a d.c. voltage superposed on an 
a.c. voltage to an electrode provided on the developer supplying member, 
said voltage being of the same polarity as the residual potential of the 
exposed portion of the photosensitive member. At the same time, either hhe 
photosensitive member which acts as the opposed electrode or an 
electrically conductive substrate which is the single component most 
essential to the structure of the photosensitive member is grounded, 
thereby forming an electric field therebetween. The repulsion between the 
charge polarity of the exposed portion of the photosensitive member and 
the polarity of the applied bias voltage is used to prevent adhesion of 
the toner to the aforesaid exposed portions. Although the above described 
method relates to regular developing processes wherein the developing 
action occurs via an electrostatic image formed on the photosensitive 
member and an oppositely charged toner, a bias voltage may also be applied 
by the same method in cases of reverse developing which use a latent image 
and similarly charged toner, despite differences in polarity or potential. 
This developing bias application method effectively prevents the 
appearance of copy image fog, but conversely gives rise to new problems. 
For example, when an electrical leak occurs between the electrode on the 
developer supplying member side and the electrode on the photosensitive 
member side, fog may occur due to a reduction in the developing bias 
potential. Many factors can cause this type of electrical leak, for 
example, in bicomponent developing, magnetic particles normally used as 
developer carriers may penetrate the layers of the photosensitive member 
and reach the electrically conductive substrate. Layer penetration of this 
type may occur when the photosensitive member has a low hardness, and is a 
particular problem for organic photosensitive members due to their low 
hardness, although they have seen remarkable recent developments. 
Furthermore, since pinhole-like defects are sometimes present in the 
photosensitive layer of photosensitive members, this problem may occur in 
bicomponent developing when the magnetic particles normally used as 
carriers and the electrically conductive substrate of the photosensitive 
member make contact, or in monocomponent developing, when the electrode on 
the developer supplying member and the electrically conductive substrate 
of the photosensitive member make contact. The reduction of so-called bias 
potential based on this type of developing in actual copying machines 
leads to long narrow bands of fog on the copy image and a marked reduction 
in copy image quality despite some developing in the defective section 
which is induced by the leak itself because not only the portion where the 
leak occurs but rather the entire portion where the developer and 
photosensitive member make contact is affected. 
On the other hand, in monocomponent developing, the toner must be charged 
prior to developing with a specified polarity in accordance with the 
polarity of the electrostatic latent image and the type cf developing, 
either standard or reverse. For example, methods using gapped 
triboelectrically charging blades, methods of toner charging via a corona 
charger, and methods of imparting a charge to the toner by having the 
toner make contact with a metal plate which has a bias voltage applied 
thereto are all considered in toner and triboelectrically charging order. 
However, the triboelectrically charging blade method is either unsuitable 
for high speed developing because of inadequate toner charging, cr a 
plurality of triboelectrically charging blades must be provided so as to 
adequately charge the toner. The methods employing a corona charger cause 
dispersal of the toner due to the action of the electric field generated 
during corona charging, and do not adequately charge to the interior of 
the toner layer. Furthermore, methods whereby a charge is imparted by a 
metal plate do not present the aforesaid disadvantages to any great 
degree. When a difference in potential is formed between the developer 
supplying member and the metal plate by the conductivity of said member so 
as to charge the toner as it passes therebetween, the electrode of the 
developer supplying member is overly effective during developing, thereby 
causing an inadequate edge effect. In developing which uses a single 
compcnent toner, an extremely large electrode effect arises in the 
vicinity just below the toner layer where the electrostatic latent image 
and the surface of the developer supplying member are in proximity because 
the thickness of the toner layer on the developer supplying member is at 
most 50 .mu.m. Accordingly, gradients are poor, as is the reproducibility 
of low density original documents. 
In order to eliminate these disadvantages, a high resistance layer or a 
layer with a high degree of hardness is provided as a covering on the 
developer supplying member. That is, the photcsensitive member and 
develooer supplying member have a low-resistance layer disposed 
therebetween so as to prevent the aforesaid reduction of bias pctential, 
inadequate charging or excessive electrode effect. 
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,873 discloses a developing method for 
electrophotographic copying processes wherein the surface of an endless 
member is provided with a high-resistance layer via an aluminum anodizing 
process, or a silicon resin, urea resin, melamine resin, polyvinyl butyral 
resin and the like as a surface protective layer. Further, Unexamined 
Japanese Patent Publication Sho No. 55-46768 discloses an electrostatic 
latent image developing apparatus with a developer supplying member 
provided with a surface layer of silicon rubber, neoprene rubber, nitrile 
rubber and the like, of about 5 mm in thickness and which provides a 
volumetric specific resistivity of 10.sup.8 ohm-cm to 10.sup.15 ohm-cm. 
Technology for providing surface covering layers for developer supplying 
members in order to eliminate the aforesaid deterioration of copy image 
quality induced by reduction of bias potential, inadequate charging or 
excessive electrode effect, require that said cover layer be of suitably 
high resistance. Further, the cover layer must employ a material with low 
fusability vis-a-vis the developer and a high degree of hardness so as to 
avoid damage contact with other members or frequent developer soiling 
during actual use in a copying machine. The cover layer must be without 
resistance irregularities over the entire region of said layer, and must 
have a homogeneous, uniform thickness to maintain a so-called developer 
gap of specific measurement between said cover layer and the 
photosensitive member. A developer supplying member having with such a 
cover layer must also provide adequate developer transportability. 
However, conventional examples cannot necessarily be said to adequately 
meet these performance requirements, therefore cover layer materials of 
higher performance characteristics are needed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A main object of the present invention is to provide a developer supplying 
member which prevents copy image fog induced by a developing bias 
potential reduction, and which can provide superior copy images. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a developer supplying member 
which can prevent inadequate developer charging and excessive electrode 
effect between the photosensitive member and the developer supplying 
member 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a developer supplying 
member which does not reduce copy image quality and has excellent 
resistance. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a developer supplying 
member having a surface cover layer of high resistance, superior hardness, 
and low fusability vis-a-vis the developer. 
An even further object of the invention is to provide a developer supplying 
member which has superior developer transportability. 
These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by 
providing a developer supplying member provided with a surface cover layer 
comprising an amorphous carbon film incorporating fluorine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The present invention employs hydrocarbon compounds in manufacturing an 
amorphous carbon film containing fluorine. 
These hydrocarbons need not always be in a gaseous phase at room 
temperature and atmospheric pressure but can be in a liquid or solid phase 
insofar as they can be vaporized on melting, evaporation or sublimation, 
for example, by heating or in a vacuum. Examples of useful hydrocarbons 
are.saturated hydrocarbons, unsaturated hydrocarbons, alicyclic 
hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons and the like. Such hydrocarbons are 
usable in combination. 
A wide variety of hydrocarbons are usable. Examples of useful s turated 
hydrocarbons are normal paraffins, such as methane, ethane, propane, 
butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, nonane, decane, undecane, 
dodecane, tridecane, tetradecane, pentdecane, hexadecane, heptadecane, 
octadecane, nonadecane, eicosane, heneicosane, heptacosane, octacosane, 
tricosane, tetracosane, pentacosane, hexacosane, heptacosane, octacosane, 
nonacosane, triacontane, dotriacontane, pentatriacontane, etc.; 
isoparaffins such as isobutane, isopentane, neopentane, isohexane, 
neohexane, 2,3-dimethylbutane, 2-methylhexane, 3-ethylpentane, 
2,2-dimethylpentane, 2,4-dimethylpentane, 3,3-dimethylpentane, tributane, 
2-methylheptane, 3-methylheptane, 2,2-dimethylhexane, 
2,2,5-dimethylhexane, 2,2,3-trimethylpentane, 2,2,4-trimethylpentane, 
2,3,3-trimethylpentane, 2,3,4-trimethylpentane, isononane and the like. 
Examples of useful unsaturated hydrocarbons are olefins, such as ethylene, 
propylene, isobutylene, 1-butene, 2-butene, 1-pentene, 2-pentene, 
2-methyl-1-butene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 2- methyl-2-butene, 1-hexene, 
tetramethylethylene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene and the like; 
diolifins such as allene, methylallene, butadiene, pentadiene, hexadiene, 
cyclopentadiene, and the like; triolifins. such as ocimene, alloocimene, 
myrcene, hexatriene, and the like; and acetylene, methylacetylene, 
1-butyne, 2-butyne, 1-pentyne, 1-hexyne, 1-heptyne, 1-octyne, 1-nonyne, 
1-decyne, and the like. 
Examples of useful alicyclic hydrocarbons are cycloparaffins such as 
cyclopropane, cyclobutane, cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, 
cyclooctane, cyclononane, cyclodecane, cycloundecane, cyclododecane, 
cyclotridecane, cyclotetradecane, cyclopentadecane, cyclohexadecane, and 
the like; cycloolifins such as cyclopropene, cyclobutene, cyclopentene, 
cyclohexene, cycloheptene, cyclooctene, cyclononene, cyclodecene and the 
like; terpenes such as limonene, terpinolene, phellandrene, sylvestrene, 
thujene, carene, pinene, bornylene, camphene, fenchene, cyclofenchene, 
tricyclene, bisabolene, zingiberene, curcumene, humulene, cadinene 
sesquibenihene, selinene, caryophyllene, santalene, cedrene, camphorene, 
phyllocladene, podocarpene, mirene and the like; steriods, etc. 
Examples of useful aromatic hydrocarbons are benzene, toluene, xylene, 
hemimellitene, pseudocumene, mesitylene, prehnitene, isodurene, durene, 
pentamethylbenzene, hexamethylbenzene, ethybbenzene, propylbenzene, 
cumene, styrene, biphenyl, terphenyl, diphenylmethane, triphenylmethane, 
dibenzyl, stilbene, indene, naphthalene, tetralin, anthracene, 
phenanthrene, and the like. 
Fluorine compounds may be used in addition to the hydrocarbon compounds for 
the express purpose of adding fluorine atoms to the amorphous carbon film 
incorporating fluorine of the invention. 
These fluorine compunds need not always be in a gaseous phase at room 
temperature and atmospheric pressure but can be in a liquid or solid phase 
insofar as they can be vaporized on melting, evaporation or sublimation, 
for example, by heating or in a vacuum. Useful fluorine compounds are, for 
example, inorganic compounds such as fluorine, hydrogen fluoride, chlorine 
fluoride, bromine fluoride, iodine fluoride, sulphur fluoride, oxygen 
fluoride, arsenic fluoride, boron fluoride, ammonium hydrogen fluoride, 
potassium hydrogen fluoride, sulfuryl fluoride, selenium fluoride, thionyl 
fluoride, thiophosphoryl fluoride, nitrogen fluoride, tellurium fluoride, 
niobium fluoride, nitryl fluoride, nitrosyl fluoride, cyanogen fluoride, 
phosphoryl fluoride, or organic compounds such as methyl fluoride, ethyl 
fluoride, propyl fluoride, butyl fluoride, amyl fluoride, hexyl fluoride, 
heptyl fluoride, octyl fluoride, nonyl fluoride, decyl fluoride, ethylene 
fluoride, butylene fluoride, butadiene fluoride, acetyl fluoride, 
vinylidene fluoride, fluorobenzene, fluorostyrene, fluoroform, oxalyl 
fluoride, carbonyl fluoride, ethylidene fluoride, allyl fluoride, chromyl 
fluoride, cyanogen fluoride, methacrylates containing fluoride, acrylates 
containing fluoride, fluoroalkylsilane and the like. 
These hydrocarbon compounds and fluorine-containing compounds need not 
always be in a gaseous phase at room temperature and atmospheric pressure 
but can be in a liquid or solid phase insofar as they can be vaporized on 
melting, evaporation or sublimation, for example, by heating or in a 
vacuum. Accordingly, a normal plasma CVD method can be employed in a glow 
discharge decomposition process in a vacuum to produce the 
fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film of the present invention. That 
is, the fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film of the present invention 
is produced by a so-called plasma CVD reaction wherein compounds are 
selected from among the aforesaid compounds so that the material gas will 
comprise at least carbon and fluorine atoms, the material gas is subjected 
to discharge decomposition in a vacuum, and the active neutral 
constituents or charged constituents contained in the resulting plasma 
atmosphere are led onto a substrate by diffusion or an electric or 
magnetic force and accumulated into a solid phase on the substrate through 
a recombination reaction. 
The fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film of the present invention may 
also be a plasma-polymerized film formed by subjecting a compound gas 
containing at least methacrylate containing fluorine or acrylate 
containing fluorine or fluoroalkylsilane to a plasma-polymerization 
reaction following glow discharge decomposition in a vacuum. 
Examples of useful methacrylates with fluorine and acrylates with fluorine 
atoms are, for example, 2,2,2-trifluoroethylmethacrylate [CH.sub.2 
.dbd.C(CH.sub.3)COOCH.sub.2 CF.sub.3 ], 
2,2,3,3,-tetrafluoropropylmethacrylate [CH.sub.2 
.dbd.C(CH.sub.3)COOCH.sub.2 (CF.sub.2).sub.2 H], 
1H,1H,5H-octafluoropentyl-methacrylate [CH.sub.2 
.dbd.C(CH.sub.3)COOCH.sub.2 (CF.sub.2).sub.4 H], 
1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecafluorodecyl-methacrylate [CH.sub.2 
.dbd.C(CH.sub.3)COO(CH.sub.2).sub.2 (CF.sub.2).sub.8 F], 
2,2,2-trifluoroethyl-acrylate [CH.sub.2 .dbd.CHCOOCH.sub.2 CF.sub.3 ], 
2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropylacrylate [CH.sub.2 .dbd.CHCOOCH.sub.2 
(CF.sub.2).sub.2 H], 1H,1H,5H-octafluoropentylacrylate [CH.sub.2 
.dbd.CHCOOCH.sub.2 (CF.sub.2).sub.4 H, 
1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecafluorodecylacrylate [CH.sub.2 
.dbd.CHCOO(CH.sub.2).sub.2 (CF.sub.2).sub.8 F] and the like. 
Examples of useful fluoroalkylsilanes are CF.sub.3 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 
Si(OCH.sub.3).sub.3, CF.sub.3 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 SiCl.sub.3, CF.sub.3 
(CF.sub.2).sub.5 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 SiCl.sub.3, CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.5 
CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 Si(OCH.sub.3).sub.3, CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.7 CH.sub.2 
CH.sub.2 SiCl.sub.3, CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.7 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 
Si(OCH.sub.3).sub.3, CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.7 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 
SiCH.sub.3 Cl.sub.2, CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.7 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 
Si(CH.sub.3)(OCH.sub.3).sub.3. 
These organic compounds may be in either liquid or solid phase at room 
temperature and atmospheric pressure, but are readily melted and vaporized 
via heating or pressure reduction. Accordingly, the plasma polymerization 
reaction of the present invention may be readily accomplished via a 
conventional plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. The following 
is an example of a plasma CVD reaction which produces a polymer. When at 
least a methacrylate containing fluorine and/or an acrylate containing 
fluorine and/or fluoroalkylsilane are in vapor phase and subjected to a 
glow-discharge decomposition process at reduced pressure, the activated 
neutral constituents or charged constituents in the generated plasma 
atmosphere are diffused on the substrate and subjected to induction by 
electric or magnetic force, thereby inducing a recombination reaction of 
said constituents which are then deposited on the substrate as a solid. 
All of the aforesaid material gases may be mixed with carrier gases such 
as, for example, hydrogen, herium, argon, or xenon and the like, in the 
plasma CVD reaction so as to maintain discharge stability, stable film 
formability and stable material gas supply. 
The material gases can be mixed with, for example, gases containing atoms 
from elements in Group III of the Periodic Table of the Elements, gases 
containing atoms from elements in Group V, atoms of alkaline metals or 
halogen atoms to regulate the electrical properties of the 
fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film thus produced. 
The cover layer of the present invention may have a thickness 500 .mu.m. 
When the film thickness is less than 1 .mu.m the required resistance 
values cannot necessarily be assured, and wear resistance is also 
undesirably reduced. A film thickness exceeding 2 mm is undesirable from a 
production standpoint. A deposition speed of 0.01 to 50 .mu.m/min is 
preferred for this fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film. A deposition 
speed lower than 0.01 .mu.m/min is undesirable from a production 
standpoint, whereas a deposition speed exceeding 50 .mu.m/min reduces film 
formability, creates a rough film, and reduces film coverability vis-a-vis 
the substrate surface. The thickness of the cover layer is readily 
controllable by regulating the film formation time. Although the amount 
of.control may vary depending on the model of the plasma CVD apparatus 
used, the deposition speed of the fluorine-containing amorphous carbon 
film can be increased, for example, by increasing the flow rate of the 
material gases, increasing the applied voltage, reducing the frequency of 
the applied voltage, reducing the substrate temperature or any combination 
of these methods. 
The quantity of fluorine atoms incorporated in the fluorine-containing 
amorphous carbon film of the present invention is 0.1 to 35 atomic %, more 
preferably 2 to 30 atomic %, and ideally 10 to 25 atomic %. When the 
quantity of fluorine atoms is less than 0.1 atomic %, the member may 
become soiled by developer or be easily damaged through contact with other 
components, which is undesirable from the standpoint of durability, 
whereas a fluorine content exceeding 35 atomic % is undesirable due to 
reduced charging. 
Furthermore, the configuration of the developer supplying member of the 
present invention is not specifically limited in either its method of 
manufacture or implementation. For example, said member may be cylindrical 
or belt-shaped. In order to improve developer transportability of the 
fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film of the present invention, it may 
be formed so as to have a surface relief pattern of either lines or 
points. The linear or punctate surface relief pattern provided on the 
fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film of the invention can be formed 
by a latent image formation process whereby linear or punctate latent 
images are formed by exposing said film to an electron beam, or a 
developing process whereby a latent image is subjected to plasma etching. 
Thelinear and punctate latent image configurations are not specifically 
limited insofar as they fulfill the aforesaid requirements for developer 
transportability. The linear configuration may entail, for example, 
straight, lattice, single spiral, multi-spiral or like shapes, whereas the 
punctate configuration may comprise, for example, points of circular, 
oval, rectangular or like shapes. 
The fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film of the present invention has 
so-called negative etching characteristics wherein concavities are formed 
via plasma etching of that portion of the film which has been previously 
exposed to an electron beam drawing, but these etching characteristics may 
be altered to positive characteristics by thereafter exposing said layer 
to carbon tetrafluoride plasma. The carbon tetrafluoride plasma exposure 
processing time must be adjusted in accordance with the plasma conditions 
and the thickness of the fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film, but a 
period of about 1 to about 30 min is generally suitable. Further, exposure 
to carbon tetrafluoride may be conducted using the plasma CVD apparatus 
used to produce the fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film without 
further alteration of said apparatus. 
The effect of this negative-to-positive reversal induced on the 
fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film by exposure to carbon 
tetrafluoride plasma is believed to cause the introduction into the flu 
rine-containing amorphous carbon film of carbon or fluorine atoms fom the 
carbon tetrafluoride plasma or cause the adhesion of atoms from the 
stainless steel components in the vacuum device upon the surface of the 
fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film due to sputtering induced by the 
carbon tetrafluoride plasma. 
The methods for forming linear or punctate relief patterns on the 
fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film of the invention include 
electron beam drawing in the latent image formation process using, for 
example, vector scanning or raster scanning or like method. The electron 
beam may be a point-shaped electron beam, fixed shape beam or variable 
shape electron beam. The developing process of the invention may employ 
dry etching by plasma. 
As stated above, in the present invention, random linear or punctate latent 
image relief patterns can be formed upon the fluorine-containing amorphous 
carbon film without using a wet etching process. 
The depth of the linear and punctate surface relief patterns thus produced 
may differ depending on the type of developing device used for the 
developer supplying member of the invention, but the thickness of the 
concave portion of the amorphous carbon layer is in general 0 to 95% 
vis-a-vis the thickness of the convex portion. A 0% concavity-to-convexity 
relationship forms a single mode of the invention wherein the 
fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film will have been completely 
removed. The maximum diameter of linear o punctate surface relief patterns 
may differ according to the type of developing device used for the 
developer supplying member of the present invention, but a diameter in the 
range of about 5 .mu.m to 2 mm is preferred. 
An explanation of the present invention follows hereinafter with reference 
to the drawings. Although the developer supplying member of the present 
invention is described in the present examples as having a cylindrical 
shape, the developer supplying member of the invention can similarly be 
obtained with different shapes. 
FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of the developer supplying member of the 
present invention. Items labeled in the drawing are the developer 
supplying member 1, bias application electrode 2, and fluorine containing 
amorphous carbon film 3 which forms the cover layer. 
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the cover layer of the invention 
provided with linear or punctate surface relief patterns thereon. 
FIGS. 3a and 3b and 4a and 4b are lateral views of the developer supplying 
member of the invention showing examples of various cover layers provided 
with linear and punctate surface relief patterns. 
FIG. 5 shows a single embodiment of a bicomponent developing apparatus 
employing the developer supplying member of the invention. Items labeled 
in the drawing are the developing apparatus 1, developer supplying member 
12, developer 13 and bias application electrode 14. 
The toner in the developer 13 is triboelectrically charged by mixing with a 
carrier and is transported to the developer supplying member 12 via the 
magnetic force provided by a magnet installed within said member, the 
toner is then transported to the developing region on the surface of the 
photosensitive member opposite said developer supplying member 12 by means 
of the rotation of said developer supplying member 12. 
FIG. 6 shows a single embodiment of a monocomponent developing apparatus 
employing the developer supplying member of the invention. Items labeled 
in the drawing are the developing apparatus 21, developer supplying member 
22, developer 23, bias application electrode 24 and regulating member 25. 
Developer 23 is transported via the rotation of the developer supplying 
member 22, and is triboelectrically charged as it passes through the gap 
provided between the regulating member 25 and the developer supplying 
member 22 via the pressure contact imparted by said regulating member 25. 
At the same time, a thin toner layer is formed on the developer supplying 
member 22 which is then transported to the developing region on the 
surface of the photosensitive member disposed opposite. 
FIG. 7 shows the plasma CVD apparatus used to form the fluorine-containing 
amorphous carbon film of the present invention. This apparatus can also be 
used for the dry etching process. 
The first to sixth tanks 701 to 706 have enclosed therein starting material 
compounds, bombardment gas, etching gas and carrier gas which are in gas 
phase at room temperature, and are connected respectively to the first to 
sixth regulator valves 707 to 712 and first to sixth flow controllers 713 
to 718. First to third containers 719 to 721 contain starting material 
compounds which are liquid or solid at room temperature, which can be 
preheated by first to third heaters 722 to 724 for vaporizing the 
compounds, and are connected to the seventh to ninth regulator valves 725 
to 727 and the seventh to ninth flow controllers 728 to 730, respectively. 
The gases to be used as selected from among these gases are mixed in a 
mixer 731 and fed to a reactor 733 via a main pipe 732. The 
interconnecting piping can be heated by a pipe heater 734 which is 
suitably disposed so that the material compound, in a liquid or solid 
phase at room temperature and vaporized by preheating, will not condense 
during transport. A grounded electrode 735 and a power electrode 736 are 
so arranged that they oppose each other within the reactor 733. Each of 
these electrodes can be heated by an electrode heater 737. The power 
application electrode 736 is connected to a high-frequency power source 
739 via a high-frequency power matching device 738, to a low-frequency 
power source 741 via a low-frequency power matching device 740, and to a 
direct current power source 743 via a low-pass filter 742. Power of one of 
the different frequencies is applicable to the electrode 736 by way of a 
connection selecting switch 744. The internal pressure of the reactor 733 
is is adjustable by a pressure control valve 745. The reactor 733 is 
evacuated by a diffusion pump 747 and an oil rotary pump 748 via an 
exhaust system selecting valve 746, or by a cooling-removing device 749, a 
mechanical booster pump 750 and an oil rotary pump 748 via the exhaust 
system selecting valve 746. The exhaust gas is further made harmless by a 
suitable removal device 753 and then released to the atmosphere. The 
evacuation piping system can also be heated by a suitably disposed pipe 
heater 734 so that the material compound which is liquid or solid at room 
temperature and vaporized by preheating will not condense during 
transport. 
For the same reason, the reactor 733 can also be heated by a reactor heater 
751. An electrically conductive hollow cylindrical member is used as 
substrate 752 and has an electrode heater 737 provided therein. A 
similarly hollow cylindrically-shaped power application electrode 736 is 
disposed around the substrate 752, said electrode 736 having.another 
electrode heater 737 provided externally. Substrate 752 is rotatable via a 
drive motor 754 mounted outside. 
A suitable substrate transporting device and gate valve may by employed on 
the apparatus for preparing the cover layer of the developer supplying 
member of the present invention so as to allow the plasma CVD process to 
be conducted in succession without breaking the vacuum in the reactor. 
This arrangement would also prevent contamination of the substrate and 
apparatus when the substrate is removed from the reactor, and is desirable 
so as to stabilize conditions under which the developer supplying member 
of the present invention is manufactured. 
The aforesaid plasma CVD apparatus can also be connected to a preparation 
facility or the like via a gate valve for access to the electron beam 
exposure device used for latent image formation and dressing and 
desorption of the substrate. Further, this arrangement allows the 
formation of linear or punctate surface relief patterns on the substrate 
completely without the need for vitiating the vacuum. 
In the plasma CVD apparatus used to produce the fluorine-containing 
amorphous carbon film of the present invention and shown in FIG. 7, the 
reactor is first evacuated by the diffusion pump to a vacuum of about 
10.sup.-4 to about 10.sup.-6 torr, whereby the adsorbed gas within the 
reactor is removed. The reactor is also checked for the degree of vacuum. 
At the same time, the electrodes and the substrate are heated.to a 
predetermined temperature by the electrode heater. Subsequently, suitably 
selected material gases from the first to sixth tanks and first to third 
containers are fed into the reactor at a specified flow rate using the 
first to ninth flow controllers, and the interior of the reactor is 
maintained in a predetermined vacuum by the pressure control valve. After 
the combined flow of gases has become stabilized, the low-frequency power 
source, for example, is selected by the connection selecting switch to 
apply a low-frequency power to the power application electrode. This 
initiates a discharge across the two electrodes, forming a solid film on 
the substrate with time. The thickness of the film is controllable by 
varying the reaction time, such that the discharge is discontinued upon 
the thickness reaching the desired value. Consequently, a developer 
supplying member of the invention is obtained. Thereafter, the first to 
ninth control valves are closed and the reactor is thoroughly exhausted. 
The thus obtained film may be provided with linear or punctate surface 
relief patterns in the manner described hereinafter. That is, the obtained 
film may be subjected to the following electron beam drawing process to 
produce a film having negative etching characteristics. When positive 
etching characteristics are required in the electron beam drawing process, 
the member can be subjected to a second film formation process similar to 
the first operation, wherein carbon tetrafluoride gas from one of the 
first to sixth tanks is introduced to the reactor and discharged. One of 
the characteristics of the film of the present invention is that either 
negative or positive etching characteristics can be selectably obtained by 
a few operations. 
Subsequently, the substrate with the film of the present invention formed 
thereon is transported to the electron beam exposure apparatus and the 
desired linear or punctate relief patterns are drawing by a conventional 
method, thereby forming a latent image. 
Next, the substrate with the latent image formed thereon is transported 
once again to the plasma CVD apparatus of the invention, whereupon said 
latent image is developed by an operation similar to that of the film 
formation process, i.e., etching gas from one of the first to sixth tanks 
is introduced into the reactor and discharged. 
Thus, a developer supplying member of the present invention covered by a 
film provided with linear and punctate relief patterns can be obtained by 
the aforesaid sequence of the developer supplying member formation 
process, completely without the use of a wet process. 
The present invention is described in the following examples. 
EXAMPLE 1 
The developer supplying member shown in FIG. 1 was produced using the 
plasma CVD apparatus used for the fluorine-containing amorphous carbon 
film formation. 
The plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7 was used. First the interior of 
the reactor 733 was evacuated to a high vacuum of approximately 10.sup.-6 
torr, and the seventh regulator valve 725 was thereafter opened to 
introduce styrene gas from the first container 719 and heated to a 
temperature of 65.degree. C. by first the heater 722 into the seventh flow 
controller 728. At the same time, the first and second regulator valves 
707 and 708 were opened to introduced hydrogen gas from the first tank 701 
and carbon tetrafluoride gas from the second tank 702 into the first and 
second flow controllers 713 and 714 respectively. The dials on the flow 
controllers were adjusted to supply the styrene gas at a flow rate of 16.8 
sccm, the hydrogen gas at 100 sccm, and the carbon tetrafluoride gas at 50 
sccm, to the reactor 733 through the main pipe 732 via the intermediate 
mixer 731. Following stabilization of each gas flow, the internal pressure 
of the reactor 733 was adjusted to 0.2 torr by the pressure control valve 
745. On the other hand, hhe substrate 752 was used, said substrate being 
an aluminum cylindrical substrate measuring 22 mm in diameter and 330 mm 
in length. The temperature of substrate 752 was preheated to 70.degree. C. 
prior to the introduction of the gases. With the gas flow rates and the 
pressure in stabilized states, 145-watt power with a frequency of 50 kHz 
was applied to the power application electrode 736 from the low-frequency 
power source 741 pre-connected thereto by the selecting switch 744 to 
conduct plasma polymerization for approximately 30 min, forming a 
plasma-polymerized film 100 82 m in thickness on the substrate 752. After 
completion of the film formation, the power supply was discontinued, the 
regulator valves were closed, and the reactor 733 was thoroughly 
exhausted. 
When the thus obtained fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film was 
subjected to elementary analysis, the quantity of hydrogen atoms found 
therein was 39 atomic % and the quantity of fluorine atoms totalled 10.3 
atomic % based on the total constituent atoms of the structure. Further, 
the film possessed a hardness greater than 7H based on measurements for 
pencil lead hardness as provided in Japanese Industrial Standards 
JIS-K-5400, said hardness rating being greatly superior to that of polymer 
films obtained from conventional organic compound reactions. 
In order to evaluate the characteristics of the developer supplying member 
obtained in Example 1, said developer supplying member was installed in 
the bicomponent developing apparatus shown in FIG. 5 and used in an EP470Z 
copying machine (Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.). Actual copies were evaluated 
in regard to the socalled bias potential drop in a normal Carlson process. 
An organic photosensitive member was intentionally provided with pin holes 
in the photosensitive layer so as to expose the substrate in that region, 
and a standard developing method was used. 
First, the surface of the photosensitive member was charged to -700 V by a 
normal corona discharge,.then exposed to light to of the photosensitive 
member was developed as a -150 V bias potential was applied thereto via 
the developing apparatus with the developer supplying member obtained in 
Example 1 installed therein, and thereafter a toner image was transferred 
to copy paper and fused thereon. The photosensitive member was discharged 
and cleaned, and then the process was repeated 1,000 times. 
Throughout the evaluation, the toner image was not formed on the copy paper 
pursuant to the aforesaid potential setting, nor did a band of fog appear 
due to the bias potential reduction. However, when an identical evaluation 
was made of a developer supplying member not provided with a 
plasma-polymerized film, a band of fog was produced. It is understood from 
the above results that the developer supplying member of Example 1 
effectively prevents the so-called bias potential reduction. 
Subsequently, the bias potential was changed to -450 V and reverse 
developing was repeated 1,000 times and then evaluated. Throughout the 
evaluation, a so-called solid image was formed on the copy paper pursuant 
to the aforesaid potential setting, and so-called whiteout bands 
corresponding to the fog in standard developing did not appear. However, 
when an identical evaluation was made of a developer supplying member not 
provided with a plasma-polymerized film, a whiteout band was produced. It 
is understood from the above results that the developer supplying member 
of Example 1 effectively prevents the so-called bias potential reduction. 
The characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were further 
evaluated by installing the member obtaineded Example 1 in a monocomponent 
developing apparatus as shown in FIG. 6, and conducting toner charging 
tests. 
First, a specified toner was introduced into the aforesaid monocomponent 
developing apparatus, and the developer supplying member obtained in the 
example was rotated for 5 s at 100 rpm. When the charge possessed by the 
toner adhering to the developer supplying member was measured after the 
member stopped rotating, it was found to be 18 .mu.C/g. However, when an 
identical evaluation was made of a developer supplying member not provided 
with a plasma-polymerized film, a charge of only 7 .mu.C/g was measured. 
From the above results it is understood that the developer supplying 
member of Example 1 can suitably charge toner used in monocomponent 
developing. 
In order to evaluate the characteristics of the developer member was 
installed in the bicomponent developing apparatus shown in FIG. 5 and used 
in an EP470Z copying machine (Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.). Durability tests 
were then performed normally. When the surface of the developer supplying 
member was inspected after making 30,000 A4-size copies, there was no 
indication of separation of the plasma-polymerized film, nor were toner 
adhesion or damage observed. However, when an identical evaluation was 
made of a developer supplying member not provided with a 
plasma-polymerized film, so-called toner film-like adhesion and reduced 
copy image density due to reduced toner transportability were observed. 
From the above results it is understood that the developer supplying 
member of Example 1 possesses excellent durability. 
EXAMPLE 2 
The developer supplying member shown in FIG. 1 was produced using the 
plasma CVD apparatus used for forming the fluorine-containing amorphous 
carbon film. 
The plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7 was used. First the interior of 
the reactor 733 was evacuated to a high vacuum of approximately 10.sup.-6 
torr, and the first, second and third regulator valves 707, 708 and 709 
were thereafter opened to introduce hydrogen gas from the first tank 701, 
butadiene gas from the second tank 702, and carbon tetrafluoride gas from 
the third tank 703 into the first second and third flow controllers 713, 
714 and 715 respectively. The dials on the flow controllers were adjusted 
to supply the hydrogen gas at a flow rate of 300 sccm, the butadiene gas 
at 60 sccm, and the carbon tetrafluoride gas at 120 sccm, to the reactor 
733 through the main pipe 732 via the intermediate mixer 731. Following 
stabilization of each gas flow, the internal pressure of the reactor 733 
was adjusted to 1.0 torr by the pressure control valve 745. On the other 
hand, the substrate 752 was used, said substrate being a cylindrical 
aluminum substrate measuring 22 mm in diameter and 330 mm in length. The 
substrate 752 was preheated to a temperature of 200.degree. C. prior to 
the introduction of the gases. With the gas flow rates and the pressure n 
stabilized states, 160-watt power with a frequency of 200 kHz was applied 
to the power application electrode 736 from the low-frequency power source 
741 preconnected thereto by the selecting switch 744 to conduct plasma 
polymerization for approximately 1 hr, thereby forming a 
plasma-polymerized film 500 .mu.m in thickness on the substrate 752. After 
completion of the film formation, the power supply was discontinued, the 
regulator valves were closed, and the reactor was thoroughly exhausted. 
When the thus obtained plasma-polymerized film was subjected to elementary 
analysis, the quantity of hydrogen atoms found therein was 42 atomic % and 
the quantity of fluorine atoms totalled 2.5 atomic % based on the total 
constituent atoms of the structure. Further, the film possessed a hardness 
greater than 7H based on measurements for pencil lead hardness as provided 
in Japanese Industrial Standards JIS-K-5400, said hardness rating being 
greatly superior to that of polymer films obtained from convnntional 
organic compound reactions. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 1, a degree of 
reduced hardness was observed, but presented no problem from a practical 
standpoint. Other findings were virtually identical with those described 
in Example 1. It is understood from the above results that the developer 
supplying member of Example 2 possesses excellent so-called bias potential 
reduction, toner chargeability and durability. 
EXAMPLE 3 
A developer supplying member provided with a linear relief pattern was 
produced using the plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 4. A straight-line 
relief pattern was used. First, a plasma polymerization reaction was 
conducted for approximately 60 min in substantially the same manner as 
described in Example 1, with the exception that the obtained 
fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film was 200 .mu.m in thickness. 
Subsequently, the cylindrical substrate with the aforesaid film formed 
thereon was transported to an electron beam deposition apparatus (JEOL 
Ltd., model JEBE-4B No. 41006) via a gate valve, and scanned in the 
longitudinal direction with the electron beam focused at a depth of 100 
.mu.m. The cylindrical substrate was rotated 300 .mu.m circumferentially 
after each scan. The reactor was maintained at a vacuum of 
2.6.times.10.sup.-5 torr at this time, and the electron beam exposure rate 
was 1 mC/cm.sup.2. Next, the substrate was again transported through the 
gate valve to the plasma CVD apparatus used to form the 
fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film,. and in an operation identical 
to the previous film formation process, oxygen gas from the sixth tank 706 
was introduced into the reactor 733 as an etching gas, 50-watt power with 
a frequency of 13.56 MHz was applied to the power application electrode 
736 from the highfrequency power source 739, and the film was developed by 
plasma etching for approximately 10 min. When the surface of the obtained 
developer supplying member was measured for surface roughness using a 
surface roughness tester (Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd., model 550A Saafukomu), 
the convex portions were found to have a film thickness of 100 .mu.m, the 
line width of the concave portions was about 100 .mu.m, and the line width 
of the convex portions was about 200 .mu.m; the difference in thickness 
between the concave and convex portions was about 18 .mu.m. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 1, virtually 
identical results were obtained. It is understood from these results that 
the developer supplying member of the present example possesses excellent 
so-called bias potential reduction, toner chargeability and durability. 
Further, because a solid image density of 1.1 to 1.4 was obtained 
throughout the aforesaid tests, the developer supplying member provided 
with a linear relief pattern is understood to have superior developer 
transportability. 
EXAMPLE 4 
A developer supplying member provided with a linear relief pattern was 
produced using the plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 4. A spiral-shaped 
relief pattern was used. First, a plasma polymerization reaction was 
conducted for approximately 2 hrs in substantially the same manner as 
described in Example 2, with the exception that the obtained 
fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film was approximately 1 mm in 
thickness. Subsequently, the cylindrical substrate with the aforesaid film 
formed thereon was transported to an electron beam deposition apparatus 
(JEOL Ltd., model JEBE-4B No. 41006) via a gate valve, and rotated as it 
was scanned in the longitudinal direction so as to scan a distance of 500 
.mu.m with each rotation of the substrate with the electron beam focused 
at a depth of 200 .mu.m, thereby forming a latent image. The reactor was 
maintained at a vacuum of 2.6.times.10.sup.-5 torr at this time, and the 
electron beam exposure rate was 1 mC/cm.sup.2. Next, the substrate was 
again transported through the gate valve to the plasma CVD apparatus used 
to form the fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film as shown in FIG. 7, 
and in an operation identical to the previous film formation process, 
oxygen gas from the sixth tank 706 was introduced into the reactor 733 as 
an etching gas, 200-watt power with a frequency of 13.56 MHz was applied 
to the power application electrode 736 from the high-frequency power 
source 739, and the film was developed by plasma etching for approximately 
20 min. When the surface of the obtained developer supplying member was 
measured for surface roughness using a surface roughness tester (Tokyo 
Seimitsu Co., Ltd., model 550A Saafukomu), the line width of the concave 
portions was about 200 .mu.m, and the line width of the convex portions 
was about 300 .mu.m; the difference in thickness between the concave and 
convex portions was about 100 .mu.m. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 3, some reduction in 
chargeability to 14 .mu.C/g was noted in monocomponent developing device 
tests, although other results were virtually identical with those obtained 
in Example 3. It is understood from these results that the developer 
supplying member of Example 4 possesses excellent so-called bias potential 
reduction, toner chargeability, durability and developer transportability. 
EXAMPLE 5 
A developer supplying member provided with a punctate surface relief 
pattern was prepared using the plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. A 
circular relief pattern was used. 
A fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film was produced in the same manner 
as described in Example 3. However, in Example 5, during electron beam 
scanning the scan was stopped each 300 .mu.m in the longitudinal direction 
whereupon the film was exposed to an electron beam. 
When the surface of the obtained developer supplying member was measured in 
the same manner as described in Example 3, results were identical; the 
convex portions were found to have a film thickness of 100 .mu.m, the 
maximum diameter of the concave portions was about 100 .mu.m, and the 
difference in film thickness between the concave and convex portions was 
about 18 .mu.m. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 1, the results were 
virtually identical with those obtained for Example 1. It is understood 
from these results that the developer supplying member of Example 5 
possesses excellent bias potential reduction, toner chargeability and 
durability. 
Further, because a solid image density of 1.1 to 1.4 was obtained 
throughout the aforesaid tests, the developer supplying member provided 
with a punctate relief pattern is understood to have superior developer 
transportability. 
EXAMPLE 6 
A developer supplying member provided with a punctate surface relief 
pattern was prepared using the plasma CVD apparatus shcwn in FIG. 7. A 
circular relief pattern was used. 
First, a fluorine-containing amorphous carbon film was prepared in 
substantially the same manner as described in Example 2, with the 
exception that plasma polymerization was performed for about 2 hus and the 
thickness of the obtained film was approximately 1 mm. 
Next, the fourth regulator valve 710 is opened to introduce carbon 
tetrafluoride gas from the fourth tank 704 into the fourth flow controller 
716. The dials on the flow oontrollers were adjusted to supply the carbon 
tetrafluoride gas as a flow rate of 30 scom to the reactor 733 through the 
main pipe 732. Following stabilization of the gas flow, the internal 
pressure of the reactor 733 was adjusted to 1.0 torr by the pressure 
control valve 745. The substrate 752 was maintained at a temperature of 
130.degree. C. With the gas flow rate and the pressure in stabilized 
state, 150-watt power witha frequency of 13.56 MHz was applied to the 
power application electrode 736 from the high-frequency power source 739 
pre-connected thereto by the selecting switch 744 to conduct plasma 
polymerization for approximately 10 min so as to effect a 
negative-to-positive reversal. After completion of the film formation, the 
power supply was discontinued, the regulator valves were closed, and the 
reactor was thoroughly exhausted. 
Next, a punctate surface relief pattern comprising circular patterns was 
formed on the convex portion by the same method as was used to form the 
linear surface relief pattern in Example 4. A point of departure with 
Example 4, however, was that the substrate rotation in the circumferential 
direction was stopped every 500 .mu.m as the substrate was scanned, then 
at each stop position the substrate was exposed to the electron beam. 
When the surface of the obtained developer supplying member wwas measured, 
the film thickness on the convex portion was about 500 .mu.m, the maximum 
diameter of the concave portion was about 200 .mu.m, and the difference in 
film thickness between the concave and convex portions was about 100 
.mu.m. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 3, some charging 
reduction was observed at 14 .mu.C/g in the monocomponent developing 
device test, although other results were virtually identical with those 
obtained in Example 3. It is understood from the above results that the 
developer supplying member of Example 6 possesses excellent bias potential 
reduction, toner charging, durability and developer transportability. 
EXAMPLE 7 
A developer supplying member shown in FIG. 1 was prepared using the plasma 
CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. 
The plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7 was used. First the interior of 
the reactor 733 was evacuated to a high vacuum of approximately 10.sup.-6 
torr, and the seventh regulator valve 725 was thereafter opened and 
1H,1H,5H-octafluoropentyl methacrylate CH.sub.2 
.dbd.C(CH.sub.3)COOCH.sub.2 (CF.sub.2).sub.4 H gas from the first 
container 719 heated to a temperature of 75.degree. C. by first the heater 
722 was introduced into the seventh flow controller 728. The dial on the 
flow controllers was adjusted to supply the 1H,1H,5H-octafluoropentyl 
methacrylate CH.sub.2 .dbd.C(CH.sub.3)COOCH.sub.2 (CF.sub.2).sub.4 H gas 
at a flow rate 16.8 sccm to the reactor 733 through the main pipe 732. 
Following stabilization of each gas flow, the internal pressure of the 
reactor 733 was adjusted to 0.25 torr by the pressure control valve 745. 
On the other hand, the substrate 752 was used, said substrate being a 
cylindrical aluminum substrate measuring 22 mm in diameter and 330 mm in 
length. The substrate 752 was preheated to a temperature of 160.degree. C. 
prior to the introduction of the gas. With the gas flow rate and the 
pressure in stabilized states, 105-watt power with a frequency of 50 kHz 
was applied to the power application electrode 736 from the low-frequency 
power source 741 pre-connected thereto by the selecting switch 744 to 
conduct plasma polymerization for approximately 30 min, forming a 
plasma-polymerized film 100 .mu.m in thickness on the substrate 752. After 
completion of the film formation, the power supply was discontinued, the 
regulator valves were closed, and the reactor 733 was thoroughly 
exhausted. 
When the thus obtained plasma-polymerized film was subjected to elementary 
analysis, the quantity of hydrogen atoms found therein was 31 atomic %, 
the quantity of fluorine atoms totalled 24 atomic % and the quantity of 
oxygen atoms was 5 atomic % based on the total constituent atoms of the 
structure. The infrared absorption spectrum of the plasma-polymerized film 
shown in FIG. 8 confirms the presence of the 1H,1H,5H-octafluoropentyl 
methacrylate CH.sub.2 .dbd.C(CH.sub.3)COOCH.sub.2 (CF.sub.2).sub.4 H 
structure. 
Further, the film possessed a hardness greater than 7H based on 
measurements for pencil lead hardness as provided in Japanese Industrial 
Standards JIS-K-5400, said hardness rating being vastly superior to that 
of polymer films obtained from conventional organic compound reactions. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 1, results of 
charging tests in monocomponent developing devices were 17 .mu.C/g. Other 
findings were virtually identical with those described in Example 1. It is 
understood from the above results that the developer supplying member of 
Example 7 possesses excellent bias potential reduction, toner 
chargeability and durability. 
EXAMPLE 8 
The developer supplying member shown in FIG. 1 was produced using the 
plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. 
The plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7 was used. First the interior of 
the reactor 733 was evacuated to a high vacuum of approximately 10.sup.-6 
torr, and the seventh regulator valve 725 was thereafter opened to 
introduce 1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecafluorodecyl methacrylate CH.sub.2 
.dbd.C(CH.sub.3)COO(CH.sub.2).sub.2 (CF.sub.2).sub.8 F gas from the first 
container 719 and heated to a temperature of 85.degree. C. by first the 
heater 722 into the seventh flow controller 28. At the same time, the 
first regulator valve 707 was opened to introduced hydrogen gas from the 
first tank 701 into the first flow controller 713. The dials on the flow 
controllers were adjusted to supply the 1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecafluorodecyl 
methacrylate CH.sub.2 .dbd.C(CH.sub.3)COO(CH.sub.2).sub.2 (CF.sub.2).sub.8 
F gas at a flow rate of 12.3 sccm and the hydrogen gas at 30 sccm to the 
reactor 733 through the main pipe 732. Following stabilization of each gas 
flow, the internal pressure of the reactor 733 was adjusted to 0.20 torr 
by the pressure control valve 745. On the other hand, the substrate 752 
was used, said substrate being an aluminum cylindrical substrate measuring 
22 mm in diameter and 330 mm in length. The substrate 752 was preheated to 
a temperature of 130.degree. C. prior to the introduction of the gases. 
With the gas flow rates and the pressure in stabilized states, 215-watt 
power with a frequency of 200 kHz was applied to the power application 
electrode 736 from the low-frequency power source 741 pre-connected 
thereto by the selecting switch 744 to conduct plasma polymerization for 
approximately 1 hr, forming a plasma-polymerized film 500 .mu.m in 
thickness on the substrate 752. After completion of the film formation, 
the power supply was discontinued, the regulator valves were closed, and 
the reactor 733 was thoroughly exhausted. 
When the thus obtained plasma-polymerized film was subjected to elementary 
analysis, the quantity of hydrogen atoms found therein was 28 atomic %, 
the quantity of fluorine atoms totalled 28 atomic %, and the quantity of 
oxygen atoms was 4 atomic % based on the total constituent atoms of the 
structure. Further, the film possessed a hardness greater than 7H based on 
measurements for pencil lead hardness as provided in Japanese Industrial 
Standards JIS-K-5400, said hardness rating being vastly superior to that 
of polymer films obtained from conventional organic compound reactions. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 1, some reduction in 
chargeability to 14 .mu.C/g was noted monocomponent developing device 
tests, although other results were virtually identical with those obtained 
in Example 1. It is understood from these results that the developer 
supplying member of Example 8 possesses excellent bias potential 
reduction, toner chargeability and durability. 
EXAMPLE 9 
The developer supplying member shown in FIG. 1 was produced using the 
plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. 
The plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7 was used. First the interior of 
the reactor 733 was evacuated to a high vacuum of approximately 10.sup.-6 
torr, and the seventh regulator valve 725 was thereafter opened to 
introduce 2,2,2-trifluoroethylacrylate CH.sub.2 .dbd.CHCOOCH.sub.2 
CF.sub.3 gas from the first container 719 and heated to a temperature of 
75.degree. C. by first the heater 722 into the seventh flow controller 
728. The dials on the flow controllers were adjusted to supply the 
2,2,2-trifluoroethylacrylate CH.sub.2 .dbd.CHCOOCH.sub.2 CF.sub.3 gas at a 
flow rate of 46.3 sccm to the reactor 733 through the main pipe 732. 
Following stabilization of the gas flow, the internal pressure of the 
reactor 733 was adjusted to 0.2 torr by the pressure control valve 745. On 
the other hand, the substrate 752 was used, said substrate being an 
aluminum cylindrical substrate measuring 22 mm in diameter and 330 mm in 
length. The substrate 752 was preheated to a temperature of 100.degree. C. 
prior to the introduction of the gas. With the gas flow rate and the 
pressure in stabilized states, 130-watt power with a frequency of 100 kHz 
was applied to the power application electrode 736 from low-frequency 
power source 741 pre-connected thereto by the selecting switch 744 to 
conduct plasma polymerization for approximately 40 min, forming a 
plasma-polymerized film 300 .mu.m in thickness on the substrate 752. After 
completion of the film formation, the power supply was discontinued, the 
regulator valves were closed, and the reactor 733 was thoroughly 
exhausted. 
When the thus obtained plasma-polymerized film was subjected to elementary 
analysis, the quantity of hydrogen atoms found therein was 31 atomic %, 
the quantity of fluorine atoms totalled 24 atomic %, and the quantity of 
oxygen atoms was 5 atomic % based on the total constituent atoms of the 
structure. Further, the film possessed a hardness greater than 7H based on 
measurements for pencil lead hardness as provided in Japanese Industrial 
Standards JIS-K-5400, said hardness rating being vastly superior to that 
of polymer films obtained from conventional organic compound reactions. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 1, the results were 
virtually identical. It is understood from these results that the 
developer supplying member of Example 9 possesses excellent bias potential 
reduction, toner chargeability and durability. 
EXAMPLE 10 
A developer supplying member provided with a linear relief surface pattern 
was produced using the plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. A 
straight-line linear relief pattern was used. 
First, a plasma-polymerized organic film was manufactured in substantially 
the same manner as described in Example 7, with the exception that the 
plasma polymerization reaction was conducted for approximately 60 min and 
the obtained film had a thickness of about 200 .mu.m. 
Next, a liner relief pattern was formed on the aforesaid film using the 
same method as described in Example 3. When the surface of the obtained 
developer supplying member was measured, the results were identical to 
those obtained in Example 3. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 1, a chargeability of 
17 .mu.C/g was noted in monocomponent developing device tests, whereas 
other results were virtually identical with those obtained in Example 1. 
It is understood from these results that the developer supplying member of 
Example 10 possesses excellent bias potential reduction, toner 
chargeability and durability. 
Further, because a solid image density of 1.1 to 1.4 was obtained 
throughout the aforesaid tests, the developer supplying member provided 
with a linear relief pattern is understood to have superior developer 
transportability. 
EXMAPLE 11 
A developer supplying member provided with a linear relief surface pattern 
was produced using the plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. A spiral 
linear relief pattern was used. 
First, a plasma-polymerized organic film was manufactured in substantially 
the same manner as described in Example 2, with the exception that the 
plasma polymerization reaction was conducted for approximately 2 hrs and 
the obtained film had a thickness of about 1 mm. The linear relief pattern 
was formed on the plasmapolymerized organic film in the same manner as 
described in Example 2. 
Next, the linear relief pattern was formed on the aforesaid film by 
substantially the same method described in Example 4, with the exception 
that the electron beam exposure rate was 2 mC/g and the plasma etching 
time was 200 min. When the surface of the obtained developer supplying 
member was measured for surface roughness using a surface roughness tester 
(Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd., model 550A Saafukomu), film thickness of the 
convex portion was about 500 .mu.m, the line width of the concave portion 
was about 200 .mu.m, and the line width of the convex portions was about 
300 .mu.m; the difference in thickness between the concave and convex 
portions was about 100 .mu.m. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same mannef as described in Example 3, some reduction in 
chargeability to 14 .mu.C/g was noted in monocomponent developing device 
tests, although other results were virtually identical with those obtained 
in Example 3. It is understood from these results that the developer 
supplying member of Example 11 possesses excellent bias potential 
reduction, toner chargeability, durability and developer transportability. 
EXAMPLE 12 
A developer supplying member provided with a linear relief pattern was 
prepared using the plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. A spiral linear 
relief pattern was used. 
First, a plasma-polymerized organic film was prepared in substantially the 
same manner as described in Example 9, with the exception that the plasma 
polymerization time was about 80 min and the film thickness was 600 .mu.m. 
Subsequently, the cylindrical substrate with the aforesaid film formed 
thereon was transported to an electron beam deposition apparatus (JEOL 
Ltd., model JEBE-4B No. 41006) via a gate valve, and rotated as it was 
scanned in the longitudinal direction so as to scan a distance of 2 mm 
with each rotation of the substrate with the electron beam focused at a 
depth of 1 mm thereby forming a latent image. The reactor was maintained 
at a vacuum of 2.6.times.10.sup.-5 torr at this time, and the electron 
beam exposure rate was 2 mC/cm.sup.2. Next, the substrate was again 
transported through the gate valve to the plasma CVD apparatus used to 
form the plasma-polymerized organic film as shown in FIG. 7, and in an 
operation identical to the previous film formation process, oxygen gas 
from the sixth tank 706 was introduced into the reactor 733 as an etching 
gas, 250-watt power with a frequency of 13.56 MHz was applied to the power 
application electrode 736 from the high-frequency power source 739, and 
the film was developed by plasma etching for approximately 60 min. When 
the surface of the obtained developer supplying member was measured for 
surface roughness using a surface roughness tester (Tokyo Seimitsu Co., 
Ltd., model 550A Saafukomu), the film thickness of the convex portion was 
about 300 .mu.m, the line width of the concave portions was about 1 mm, 
and the line width of the convex portions was about 1 mm; the difference 
in thickness between the concave and convex portions was about 200 .mu.m. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 3, the results were 
virtually identical. It is understood from these results that the 
developer supplying member of Example 12 possesses excellent bias 
potential reduction, toner chargeability, durability and developer 
transportability. 
EXAMPLE 13 
A developer supplying member provided with a punctate surface relief 
pattern was prepared using the plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. A 
circular punctate relief pattern was provided on the concave portions. 
First, a plasma-polymerized organic film identical to that produced in 
Example 7 prepared in substantially the manner as described in Example 7, 
with the exception that plasma polymerization was conducted for about 60 
min and the film thickness was about 200 .mu.m. 
Next, a punctate relief pattern was formed on the aforesaid film using 
substantially the same method as described in Example 3, with the points 
of departure being that the electron beam was focused so as to have a 
diameter of 100 .mu.m, the cylindrical substrate was exposed to the 
spot-shaped electron beam every 200 .mu.m in the longitudinal direction, 
and the substrate was rotated 200 .mu.m in the circumferential direction 
at the completion of each scan, thereby forming a latent image pattern 
thereon. 
When the surface of the obtained developer supplying member was measured, 
the film thickness on the convex portion was about 100 .mu.m, the maximum 
diameter of the concave portion was about 100 .mu.m, and the difference in 
film thickness between the concave and convex portions was about 18 .mu.m. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 1, results virtually 
identical to those of Example 7 were obtained. It is understood from the 
above results that the developer supplying member of Example 13 possesses 
excellent bias potential reduction, toner charging and durability. 
Further, because a solid image density of 1.1 to 1.4 was obtained 
throughout the aforesaid tests, the developer supplying member provided 
with a punctate relief pattern is understood to have superior developer 
transportability. 
EXAMPLE 14 
A developer supplying member provided with a punctate surface relief 
pattern was prepared using the plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. A 
circular punctate relief pattern was provided on the convex portions 
First, a plasma-polymerized organic film identical to that produced in 
Example 8 was prepared in substantially the same manner as described in 
Example 7, with the exception that plasma polymerization was conducted for 
about 2 hrs and the film thickness was about 1 mm. 
Then, the aforesaid film was exposed to carbon tetrafluoride plasma in the 
same manner as described in Example 6 to change the etching 
characteristics from negative to positive 
Next, a punctate relief pattern was formed on the aforesaid film using 
substantially the same method as described in Example 6, with the 
exception that the electron beam exposure rate was 2 mC/g. 
When the surface of the obtained developer supplying member was measured, 
the film thickness on the convex portion was about 500 .mu.m, the maximum 
diameter of the concave portion was about 200 .mu.m, and the difference in 
film thickness between the concave and convex portions was about 100 
.mu.m. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 3, some reduction in 
chargeability to 14 .mu.C/g was observed in monocomponent developing 
device tests, however other results were virtually identical to those of 
Example 3. It is understood from the above results that the developer 
supplying member of Example 14 possesses excellent bias potential 
reduction, toner charging, durability and developer transportability. 
EXAMPLE 15 
A developer supplying member provided with a punctate surface relief 
pattern was prepared using the plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. A 
circular punctate relief pattern was provided on the concave portions. 
First, a plasma-polymerized organic film identical to that produced in 
Example 9 was prepared in substantially the same manner, with the 
exception that plasma polymerization was conducted for about 80 min and 
the film thickness was about 600 .mu.m. 
Then, the aforesaid film was provided with a punctate surface relief 
pattern in the substantially the same manner as described in Example 12, 
with the points of departure being that during latent image formation the 
substrate was stopped every 1.5 mm as it rotated in the circumferential 
direction and said substrate was subjected to electron beam exposure while 
stopped at those points. 
When the surface of the obtained developer supplying member was measured 
using a surface roughness tester (Tokyo Seimitsu, model 550A Saafukomu), 
the film thickness on the convex portion was abou 300 .mu.m, the maximum 
diameter of the concave portion was about 1 mm, and the difference in film 
thickness between the concave and convex portions was about 200 .mu.m. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 1, virtually 
identical results were obtained. It is understood from the above results 
that the developer supplying member of Example 15 possesses excellent bias 
potential reduction, toner charging and durability. 
Further, because a solid image density of 1.1 to 1.4 was obtained 
throughout the aforesaid tests, the developer supplying member provided 
with a punctate relief pattern is understood to have superior developer 
transportability. 
EXAMPLE 16 
The developer supplying member shown in FIG. 1 was produced using the 
plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. 
The plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7 was used. First the interior of 
the reactor 733 was evacuated to a high vacuum of approximately 10.sup.-6 
torr, and the seventh regulator valve 725 was thereafter opened to 
introduce CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.5 CH.sub.2 Si(OCH.sub.3).sub.3 gas from 
the first container 719 and heated to a temperature of 80.degree. C. by 
first the heater 722 into the seventh flow controller 728. The dial on the 
flow controller was adjusted to supply the CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.5 
CH.sub.2 Si(OCH.sub.3).sub.3 gas at a flow rate of 18 sccm to the reactor 
733 through the main pipe 732. Following stabilization of the gas flow, 
the internal pressure of the reactor 733 was adjusted to 0.2 torr by the 
pressure control valve 745. On the other hand, the substrate 752 was used, 
said substrate being a cylindrical aluminum substrate measuring 22 mm in 
diameter and 330 mm in length. The substrate 752 was preheated to a 
temperature of 90.degree. C. prior to the introduction of the gas. With 
the gas flow rate and the pressure in stabilized states, 105-watt power 
with a frequency of 30 kHz was applied to the power application elctrode 
736 from the low-frequency pcwer source 741 pre-connected thereto by the 
selecting switch 744 to conduct plasma polymerization for apprcximately 30 
min, fcrming a plasma-polymerized film 100 .mu.m in thickness on the 
substrate 752. After completion of the film formation, the power supply 
was discontinued, the regulator valves were closed, and the reactor 733 
was thoroughly exhausted. 
When the thus obtained plasma-polymerized film was subjected to elementary 
analysis, the quantity of hydrogen atoms found therein was 27 atomic %, 
the quantity of fluorine atoms totalled 25 atomic % , the quantity of 
oxygen atoms was 2.5 atomic and the quantity of silicon atom was 2.4 
atomic % based on the total constituent atoms of the strcture. Further, 
the film possessed a hardness greater than 7H based on measurements for 
pencil lead hardness as provided in Japanese Industrial Standards 
JIS-K-5400, said hardness rating being vastly superior to that of polymer 
films obtained from conventional organic compound reactions. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 1, virtually 
identical results were obtained. It is understood from the above results 
that the developer supplying member of Example 16 possesses excellent bias 
potential reduction, toner charging and durability. 
EXAMPLE 17 
The developer supplying member shown in FIG. 1 was produced using the 
plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. 
The apparatus shown in FIG. 7 for forming the cover layer of the developer 
supplying member was used. First the interior of the reactor 733 was 
evacuated to a high vacuum of approximately 10.sup.-6 torr, and the 
seventh regulator valve 725 was thereafter opened to introduce CF.sub.3 
(CF.sub.2).sub.7 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 Si(OCH.sub.3).sub.3 gas from the first 
container 719 and heated to a temperature of 105.degree. C. by first the 
heater 722 into the seventh flow controller 728. At the same time, the 
first regulator valve 707 was opened to introduced hydrogen gas from the 
first tank 701 into the first flow controller 713. The dials on the flow 
controllers were adjusted 31 sccm and the hydrogen gas at 30 sccm to the 
reactor 733 through the main pipe 732. Following stabilization of each gas 
flow, the internal pressure of the reactor 733 was adjusted to 0.22 torr 
by the pressure control valve 745. On the other hand, the substrate 752 
was used, said substrate being a cylindrical aluminum substrate measuring 
22 mm in diameter and 330 mm in length. The substrate 752 was preheated to 
a temperature of 100.degree. C. prior to the introduction of the gases. 
With the gas flow rates and the pressure in stabilized states, 215-watt 
power with a frequency of 200 kHz was applied to the power application 
electrode 736 from the low-frequency power source 741 preconnected thereto 
by the selecting switch 744 to conduct plasma polymerization for 
approximately 1 hr, forming a plasmapolymerized film 500 .mu.m in 
thickness on the substrate 752. After completion of the film formation, 
the power supply was discontinued, the regulator valves were closed, and 
the reactor 733 was thoroughly exhausted. 
When the thus obtained plasma-polymerized film was subjected to elementary 
analysis, the quantity of hydrogen atoms found therein was 22 atomic %, 
the quantity of fluorine atoms totalled 30 atomic %, the quantity of 
oxygen atoms was 1.9 atomic %, and the quantity of silicon atoms was 2 
atomic % based on the total constituent atoms of the structure. Further, 
the film possessed a ardness greater than 7H based on measurements for 
pencil lead hardness as provided in Japanese Industrial Standards 
JIS-K-5400, said hardness rating being vastly superior to that of polymer 
films obtained from conventional organic compound reactions. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 1, some reduction in 
chargeability to 14 .mu.C/g was noted in monocomponent developing device 
tests, although other results were virtually identical with those obtained 
in Example 1. It is understood from these results that the developer 
supplying member of Example 17 possesses excellent bias potential 
reduction, toner chargeability and durability. 
EXAMPLE 18 
The developer supplying member shown in FIG. 1 was produced using the 
plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. 
The apparatus shown in FIG. 7 was used. First the interior of the reactor 
733 was evacuated to a high vacuum of approximately 10.sup.-6 torr, and 
the seventh regulator valve 725 was thereafter opened to introduce 
CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.7 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 SiCH.sub.3 Cl.sub.2 gas from 
the first container 719 and heated to a temperature of 100.degree. C. by 
first the heater 722 into the seventh flow controller 728. The dial on the 
flow controller was adjusted to supply the CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.7 
CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 SiCH.sub.3 Cl.sub.2 gas at a flow rate of 38 sccm to the 
reactor 733 through the main pipe 732. Following stabilization of the gas 
flow, the internal pressure of the reactor 733 was adjusted to 0.2 torr by 
the pressure control valve 745. On the other hand, the substrate 752 was 
used,.said substrate being a cylindrical aluminum substrate measuring 22 
mm in diameter and 330 mm in length. The substrate 752 was preheated to a 
temperature of 100.degree. C. prior to the introduction of the gas. With 
the gas flow rate and the pressure in stabilized states, 110-watt power 
with a frequency of 70 kHz was applied to the power application electrode 
736 from the low-frequency power source 741 pre-connected thereto by the 
selecting switch 744 to conduct plasma polymerization for approximately 40 
min, forming a plasma-polymerized film 300 .mu.m in thickness on the 
substrate 752. After completion of the film formation, the power supply 
was discontinued, the regulator valves were closed, and the reactor 733 
was thoroughly exhausted. 
When the thus obtained plasma-polymerized film was subjected to elementary 
analysis, the quantity of hydrogen atoms found therein was 28 atomic %, 
the quantity of fluorine atoms totalled 35 atomic %, and the quantity of 
oxygen atoms was 2.3 atomic %, the quantity of silicon atoms was 2.1 
atomic %, and the quantity of chlorine atoms was 3.9 atomic % based on the 
total constituent atoms of the structure. Further, the film possessed a 
hardness greater than 7H based on measurements for pencil lead hardness as 
provided in Japanese Industrial Standards JIS-K-5400, said hardness rating 
being vastly superior to that of polymer films obtained from conventional 
organic compound reactions. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 1, a reduction in 
chargeability to 12 .mu.C/g was observed in the monocomponent developing 
device tests, but this reduction was not a problem from a practical 
standpoint. Other results were virtually identical to those obtained in 
Example 1. It is understood from the above results that the developer 
supplying member of Example 18 possesses excellent bias potential 
reduction, toner charging and durability. 
EXAMPLE 19 
A developer supplying member provided with a linear relief surface pattern 
was produced using the plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. A 
straight-line linear relief pattern was used. 
First, a plasma-polymerized organic film was manufactured in the same 
manner as described in Example 16. 
Next, a linear relief pattern was formed on the aforesaid film using 
substantially the same method as described in Example 3, except that the 
plasma etching time was about 60 min and the film thickness was 200 .mu.m. 
When the surface of the obtained developer supplying member was measured, 
the results were identical to those obtained in Example 3. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 1, the results were 
virtually identical. It is understood from these results that the 
developer supplying member of Example 19 possesses excellent bias 
potential reduction, toner chargeability and durability. 
Further, because a solid image density of 1.1 to 1.4 was obtained 
throughout the aforesaid tests, the developer supplying member provided 
with a linear relief pattern is understood to have superior developer 
transportability. 
EXAMPLE 20 
A developer supplying member provided with a linear surface relief pattern 
was prepared using the plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. A 
spiral-shaped linear relief pattern was used. 
First, a plasma-polymerized film was formed in substantially the same 
manner as described in Example 17, with the exception that plasma 
polymerization was conducted for about 2 hrs and the thickness of the 
obtained film was about 1 mm. 
Next, the aforesaid film was provided with a linear relief pattern in 
substantially the same manner as described in Example 4, except that the 
electron beam exposure rate was 2 mC/g and the plasma etching time was 200 
min. 
When the surface of the obtained developer supplying member was measured 
using a surface roughness tester (Tokyo Seimitsu, model 550A Saafukomu), 
the film thickness on the convex portion was about 500 .mu.m, the line 
width of the concave portion was about 200 .mu.m, the line width of the 
convex portion was about 300 .mu.m, and the difference in film thickness 
between the concave and convex portions was about 100 .mu.m. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 3, some reduction in 
chargeability to 14 .mu.C/g was observed in the monocomponent developing 
device tests, but this reduction was not a problem from a practical 
standpoint. Other results were virtually identical to those obtained in 
Example 3. It is understood from the above results that the developer 
supplying member of Example 20 possesses excellent bias potential 
reduction, toner charging, durability and developer transportability. 
EXAMPLE 21 
A developer supplying member provided with a linear surface relief pattern 
was prepared using the plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. A 
spiral-shaped linear relief pattern was used. 
First, a plasma-polymerized film was formed in substantially the same 
manner as described in Example 18, with the exception that plasma 
polymerization was conducted for about 80 min and the thickness of the 
obtained film was about 600 .mu.m. 
Next, the aforesaid film was provided with a linear relief pattern in the 
same manner as described in Example 12. 
When the surface of the obtained developer supplying member was measured, 
the results were identical to those obtained in Example 12. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 3, a reduction in 
chargeability to 12 .mu.C/g was observed in the monocomponent developing 
device tests, but this reduction was not a problem from a practical 
standpoint. Other results were virtually identical to those obtained in 
Example 3. It is understood from the above results that the developer 
supplying member of Example 21 possesses excellent bias potential 
reduction, toner charging, durability and developer transportability. 
EXAMPLE 22 
A developer supplying member provided with a punctate surface relief 
pattern was prepared using the plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. A 
circular punctate relief pattern was provided on the concave portions. 
First, a plasma-polymerized organic film identical to that produced in 
Example 16 was prepared in substantially the same manner, with the 
exception that plasma polymerization was conducted for about 60 min and 
the film thickness was about 200 .mu.m. 
Then, the aforesaid film was provided with a punctate surface relief 
pattern in the substantially the same manner as described latent image 
formation the substrate was stopped every 300 .mu.m as it was scanned in 
the circumferential direction and said substrate was subjected to electron 
beam exposure while stopped at those points; plasma etching was conducted 
for 60 min. 
When the surface of the obtained developer supplying member was measured, 
the results were identical with those obtained in Example 13. 
When the characteristics of the ottained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 1, virtually 
identical results were obtained. It is understood from the above results 
that the developer supplying member of Example 22 possesses excellent bias 
potential reduction, toner charging and durability. 
Further, because a solid image density of 1.1 to 1.4 was obtained 
throughout the aforesaid tests, the developer supplying member provided 
with a punctate relief pattern is understood to have superior developer 
transportability. 
EXAMPLE 23 
A developer supplying member provided with a punctate surface relief 
pattern was prepared using the plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. A 
circular punctate relief pattern was provided on the convex portions. 
First, a plasma-polymerized organic film was prepared in substantially the 
same manner as in Example 17, with the exception that plasma 
polymerization was conducted for about 2 hrs and the film thickness was 
about 1 mm. 
Then, the aforesaid film was exposed to carbon tetrafluoride plasma in the 
same manner as described in Example 6 to change the etching 
characteristics from negative to positive. 
Next, a punctate relief pattern was formed on the aforesaid film using 
substantially the same method as described in Example 4, with the points 
of departure being that during latent image formation the substrate was 
stopped every 500 .mu.m as it was rotated in the circumferential direction 
and said substrate was subjected to electron beam exposure while stopped 
at those points; the electron beam exposure rate was 2 mC/g and plasma 
etching was conducted for 200 min. 
When the surface of the obtained developer supplying member was measured 
using a surface roughness tester (Tokyo Seimitsu, model 550A Saafukomu), 
the film thickness on the concave portion was about 500 .mu.m, the maximum 
diameter of the convex portion was about 200 .mu.m, and the difference in 
film thickness between the concave and convex portions was about 100 
.mu.m. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 3, some reduction in 
chargeability to 14 .mu.C/g was observed in the monocomponent developing 
device tests, but this reduction was not a problem from a practical 
standpoint. Other results were virtually identical to those obtained in 
Example 3. It is understood from the above results that the developer 
supplying member of Example 23 possesses excellent bias potential 
reduction, toner charging, durability and developer transportability. 
EXAMPLE 24 
A developer supplying member provided with a punctate surface relief 
pattern was prepared using the plasma CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7. A 
circular punctate relief pattern was provided on the concave portions. 
First, a plasma-polymerized organic film was prepared in substantially the 
same manner as in Example 18, with the exception that plasma 
polymerization was conducted for about 80 min and the film thickness was 
about 600 .mu.m. 
Next, a punctate relief pattern was formed on the aforesaid film using 
substantially the same method as described in Example 4, with the points 
of departure being that during latent image formation the substrate was 
stopped every 2 mm as it was rotated in the circumferential direction and 
said substrate was subjected to electron beam exposure while stopped at 
those points. 
When the surface of the obtained developer supplying member was measured 
using a surface roughness tester (Tokyo Seimitsu, model 550A Saafukomu), 
the film thickness on the convex portion was about 300 .mu.m, the maximum 
diameter of the concave portion was about 1 mm, and the difference in film 
thickness between the concave and convex portions was about 200 .mu.m. 
When the characteristics of the obtained developer supplying member were 
evaluated in the same manner as described in Example 3, a reduction in 
chargeability to 14 .mu.C/g was observed in the monocomponent developing 
device tests, but this reduction was not a problem from a practical 
standpoint. Other results were virtually identical to those obtained in 
Example 3. It is understood from the above results that the developer 
supplying member of Example 20 possesses excellent bias potential 
reduction, toner charging, durability and developer transportability.