Patent ID: 7835676

Claim:
A developing apparatus for visualizing an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image bearing member by using a developer including toner and carrier particles, comprising: the developer including toner and carrier particles, the toner and carrier particles being designed to be electrically charged into opposite, first and second polarities, respectively, by frictional contacts with each other; a first transport member, a second transport member positioned to oppose to the first transport member across a first region and to the electrostatic latent image bearing member across a second region, a first electric field forming unit capable of forming a first electric field between the first and second transport members to move the toner particles from the first transport member to the second transport member; and a second electric field forming unit capable of forming a second electric field between the second transport member and the electrostatic latent image bearing member to move the toner particles from the second transport member to the electrostatic latent image bearing member and thereby to visualize an electrostatic latent image on the image into a visible image; wherein the developer further includes charging particles which are releasably retained on surfaces of the toner particles and, once released from the toner particles and then held on surfaces of the carrier particles, function to provide an electric charge of the first polarity to the toner particles by the contact therewith.