Patent ID: 7486917

Claim:
An image-forming apparatus, comprising: a first developer container accommodating a first developing agent containing a first toner and a first carrier; a first developing agent-bearing member that is associated with the first developer container and carries and transports the first developing agent to a first developing region to develop an electrostatic image; first magnetic field-generating means for generating a magnetic field in the first developing region, the first magnetic field-generating means being disposed in the first developing agent-bearing member; a second developer container accommodating a second developing agent containing a second toner and a second carrier, the second toner having the same hue as that of the first toner but a density lower than that of the first toner; a second developing agent-bearing member that is associated with the second developer container and carries and transports the second developing agent to a second developing region to develop an electrostatic image; and second magnetic field-generating means for generating a magnetic field in the second developing region, the second magnetic field-generating means being disposed in the second developing agent-bearing member, wherein a magnetic binding force applied to the second carrier in the second developing region from the second magnetic field-generating means is larger than a magnetic binding force applied to the first carrier in the first developing region from the first magnetic field-generating means.