Patent ID: 7395017

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image-bearing body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developer-bearing body disposed to oppose said image-bearing body, said developer-bearing body supplying developer to the electrostatic latent image to form a visible image formed of the developer; a layer-forming member that is in contact with said developer-bearing body and forms a thin layer of the developer on said developer-bearing body; a transfer unit that transfers the visible image onto a recording medium; and a fixing unit that fixes the visible image into a permanent image; wherein said developer-bearing body rotates at a circumferential speed of 150-250 mm/sec; wherein said layer-forming member applies a line pressure in the range of 34-68 gf/cm to said developer-bearing body; wherein the developer has a glass transition temperature in the range of 45-77° C., a softening temperature in the range of 58-98° C., a flow-beginning temperature in the range of 78-138° C., and a melting point in the range of 105-189° C., wherein the melting point is higher than the flow-beginning temperature, and the flow-beginning temperature is higher than the softening temperature.