Developer carrier having grooves on surface thereof, developing device including the developer carrier, and image forming apparatus including the developing device

A developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier, comprising:

• a developer carrier comprising:
• a developer carrying surface configured to carry a developer thereon to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier, said developer carrying surface including a plurality of grooves to carry the developer,
• wherein dispersion D (%) in depth of the plurality of grooves which is calculated according to a following equation is at most approximately 30%:
• D(%)={(A−B)/2}/C
• where A is a maximum depth of the plurality of grooves, B is a minimum depth of the plurality of grooves, and C is an average depth of the plurality of grooves.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an image carrier configured to carry an image;
• a latent image forming device configured to form an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the image carrier;
• and
• a developing device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on the image carrier, the developing device comprising:
• a developer carrier comprising:
• a developer carrying surface configured to carry a developer thereon to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier, said developer carrying surface including a plurality of grooves to carry the developer,
• wherein dispersion D (%) in depth bf the plurality of grooves which is calculated according to a following equation is at most approximately 30%:
• D(%)={(A−B)/2}/C
• where A is a maximum depth of the plurality of grooves, B is a minimum depth of the plurality of grooves, and C is an average depth of the plurality of grooves.

A process cartridge for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an image carrier configured to carry an image;
• a developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on the image carrier, the developing device comprising:
• a developer carrier comprising:
• a developer carrying surface configured to carry a developer thereon to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier, said developer carrying surface including a plurality of grooves to carry the developer,
• wherein dispersion D (%) in depth of the plurality of grooves which is calculated according to a following equation is at most approximately 30%:
• D(%)={(A−B)/2}/C
• where A is a maximum depth of the plurality of grooves, B is a minimum depth of the plurality of grooves, and C is an average depth of the plurality of grooves.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• image carrying means for carrying an image;
• forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the image carrying means;
• and
• developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on the image carrying means, the developing means comprising:
• developer carrying means for carrying the developer on a developer carrying surface, the developer carrying surface including a plurality of grooves to carry the developer,
• wherein dispersion D (%) in depth of the plurality of grooves which is calculated according to a following equation is at most approximately 30%:
• D(%)={(A−B)/2}/C
• where A is a maximum depth of the plurality of grooves, B is a minimum depth of the plurality of grooves, and C is an average depth of the plurality of grooves.