Patent ID: 7840168

Claim:
A developing apparatus comprising: a developer bearing member configured to bear and carry a developer and to develop an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with the developer; and a developer amount regulating device configured to regulate an amount of developer carried by the developer bearing member, wherein the developer amount regulating device includes: a flexible developer amount regulation member including a pressing portion to be pressed by the developer bearing member so as to form a nip portion with the developer bearing member; and a holding member configured to hold the developer amount regulation member so that the pressing portion contacts with the developer bearing member, and wherein the developer amount regulating device deforms the developer amount regulation member by pressing the developer amount regulation member against the developer bearing member so that a part of the pressing portion is spaced away from the developer bearing member in such a way that there are two pressure maximum values with the spaced part of the pressing portion therebetween in pressure distribution in the nip portion in a rotation direction of the developer bearing member.