Patent ID: 7155150

Claim:
In a method of developing a latent image formed on a surface of an image carrier with toner grains, which constitute a developer together with magnetic carrier grains for supporting said toner grains, by depositing said developer on a developer carrier, which faces said image carrier and accommodates magnetic field forming means therein, causing said developer carrier to convey said developer to a developing zone formed between said image carrier and said developer carrier, and forming, in said developing zone, a magnet brush consisting of said magnetic carrier grains, which hold said toner grains thereon and gather in a form of brush chains, and free toner grains to be released from said carrier grains, said brush chains of said magnetic carrier grains flow in said developing zone while forming said magnet brush, and, assuming that a potential of said image carrier is V PC and that a DC component of a potential of said developer carrier is V DC , said free toner grains, parted from said magnetic carrier grains flowing, fly at a mean flight velocity of 1 m/s or below when V PC −V DC =400 V holds.