Patent ID: 7567764

Claim:
A developing device comprising: a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image on a photo conductor; a developing roller driving unit for rotating the developing roller in a forward direction and in a backward direction respectively while development is performed and not performed; a thickness regulating member, which is pressed against a surface of the developing roller, for regulating a thickness of developer adhered to the surface of the developing roller; and a suppression unit for suppressing a pressing force of the thickness regulating member when the developing roller is rotated in the backward direction, wherein the thickness regulating member comprises a first thickness regulating plate and a second thickness regulating plate separated from the first thickness regulating plate in an order upstream of a development position, where the electrostatic latent image is developed, in the forward direction and a pressing force of the first thickness regulating plate is larger than a pressing force of the second thickness regulating plate.