Patent ID: 7480474

Claim:
A charging apparatus for electrically charging a member to be charged while magnetic particles are in contact with the member to be charged, said apparatus comprising: a first magnetic particle carrying member configured and positioned to carry the magnetic particles; a second magnetic particle carrying member configured and positioned to carry the magnetic particles, said second magnetic particle carrying member being disposed downstream of said first magnetic particle carrying member with respect to a feeding direction of the magnetic particles at a portion where said first magnetic particle carrying member and the member to be charged are opposed to each other, a frame supporting both of said first magnetic particle carrying member and said second magnetic particle carrying member; wherein the magnetic particles are commonly used by said first magnetic particle carrying member and said second magnetic particle carrying member; and a regulating portion configured and positioned to regulate the amount of the magnetic particles carried on said first magnetic particle carrying member, at a position upstream of the portion where said first magnetic particle carrying member and the member to be charged are opposed to each other, with respect to the feeding direction of the magnetic particles; wherein said first magnetic particle carrying member is supported so as to be regulated in the movement thereof, and wherein said second magnetic particle carrying member is capable of laterally shifting to change the distance between said first magnetic particle carrying member and said second magnetic particle carrying member.