Patent ID: 7910273

Claim:
An image forming method comprising steps of; forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrying member, developing the electrostatic latent image by a non-magnetic single-component developing system, in which a non-magnetic single-component developer is conveyed by a developer carrying member, and the developer carrying member is contacted with a developer layer regulation member for regulating an amount of the developer at the surface of the developer carrying member, wherein a binder resin of the developer comprises a vinyl polymer having an acid value of from 5 to 30 (mgKOH/g) and a ratio of hydroxyl group value/acid value is from 0.3 to 0.8, and the vinyl polymer is derived from a monomer having an acid group and a monomer having a hydroxyl group as polymerizable monomers to constitute the vinyl polymer.