Patent ID: 7254357

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof; a developer carrying member configured to carry a developer on a surface thereof to the image bearing member; a developer regulating member configured to regulate an amount of the developer carried by the developer carrying member, the developer regulating member comprising: a center region having a first outer diameter of a first longitudinal cross-sectional region which increases toward an axial center portion of the developer regulating member according to a predetermined calculated amount of deflection of the developer regulating member; and side regions located at axial end portions, sandwiched the center region therebetween and have a second outer diameter of a second longitudinal cross-sectional region greater than a third outer diameter of a third longitudinal cross-sectional region obtained according to the predetermined calculated amount of deflection of the developer regulating member; and sealing members configured to prevent the developer from leaking from axial end portions of the developer carrying member, the sealing members having respective inner edges which sandwich boundaries between the center region and each of the side regions.