Patent ID: 7418225

Claim:
A developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, said developing apparatus comprising: a developing roller configured and positioned to develop the electrostatic latent image by use of developer; a magnetic member provided in said developing roller; a developing blade comprising a supporting member and a layer thickness regulating member, the supporting member supporting the layer thickness regulating member, the layer thickness regulating member being provided along a longitudinal direction of said developing roller configured and positioned to regulate the layer thickness of the developer adhering to a surface of said developing roller; a seal member provided outside said layer thickness regulating member in said longitudinal direction in opposed relationship with the surface of said developing roller; and an end portion regulating member comprising a scraping portion and a regulating portion, the scraping portion scraping off the developer from said developing roller, said scraping portion being provided at a location at which in said longitudinal direction, at least a portion thereof overlaps said seal member, and being in contact with said developing roller, the regulating portion regulating the layer thickness of the developer when the layer thickness of the developer passing though an interstice formed between said layer thickness regulating member and said seal member in said longitudinal direction is equal to or greater than a predetermined layer thickness, and permitting passage of said developer when the layer thickness of said developer is less than the predetermined layer thickness, said regulating portion having a gap with respect to the surface of said developing roller, wherein said end portion regulating member comprises a fixed portion fixed to a main body of said developing apparatus, said scraping portion is coupled to said fixed portion, and said regulating portion is coupled to said scraping portion, and wherein a gap is formed between said regulating portion and said fixed portion so that said regulating portion and said fixed portion come do not come into contact with one another, and a gap is formed between said regulating portion and said developing blade so that said regulating portion and said developing blade do not come into contact with one another.