Patent ID: 7295788

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an object to be charged whose surface moves; a charging device for charging the object to be charged using an electrical discharge generated by applying a voltage comprising an alternating current component to a charging member provided in contact with or in proximity to the object to be charged; a latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the object charged by the charging device; and a developing device for causing a two-component developer to come into contact with an image portion of the electrostatic latent image formed by the latent image forming device and affixing toner thereto; wherein a protective substance is present on the surface of the object to be charged in a discharge region for charging the object to be charged, and a saturation magnetization of the carrier of the two-component developer with respect to an applied magnetic field of 1000 oersted is from more than 50 to 80 emu/g.