Patent ID: 7974545

Claim:
A developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image bearing member with toner by applying an alternating voltage superimposed on a direct current voltage to a developer bearing member, wherein the alternating voltage to be applied has an alternating voltage waveform in which a development-side electrical potential to move toner from the developer bearing member to the electrostatic latent image bearing member and an opposite development-side electrical potential to move toner from the electrostatic latent image bearing member to the developer bearing member are applied so as to alternate with each other, and wherein the alternating voltage waveform has a repeating predetermined pattern, the predetermined pattern including a first time period during which each of the development-side electrical potential and the opposite development-side electrical potential is applied once at an initial minimum value, wherein a peak-to-peak voltage of the alternating waveform is gradually increased from the initial minimum value to a maximum value during a second time period, the second time being longer than the first time period and including the first time period, and wherein the predetermined pattern is then repeated, with the electrical potential of the waveform reducing back down to the initial minimum peak-to-peak voltage and then gradually increasing again to the maximum value.