Patent ID: 7024137

Claim:
A developing device installed in an image forming apparatus, comprising: a frame; a developing roller supported by said frame and adapted to develop a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developing blade adapted to regulate the thickness of a toner layer on said developing roller and provided so as to be in contact with said developing roller; a helical gear provided at one end of said developing roller in an axial direction thereof and adapted to transmit a driving force to said developing roller; and urging means, which is provided at one end of said frame in the axial direction thereof, for urging said developing roller in the same direction as the direction of movement of said developing roller produced by a thrust force generated by said helical gear when the driving force is transmitted to said developing roller, wherein said urging means urges said developing roller into a regulating portion provided at the other end of said frame in the axial direction thereof so as to maintain the position of said developing roller in the axial direction thereof, wherein said developing roller has a core portion, with said urging means abutting said core portion, and wherein said urging means includes a spring and a sliding member provided at one end of said spring and configured and positioned to slide on said core portion.