Developing device, developer therefor, and image forming method and apparatus, and process cartridge using the developing device

A nonmagnetic one component developer comprising:

• a binder resin;
• a wax;
• a colorant;
• and
• an external additive,
• wherein the developer has a volume average particle diameter of from 6 μm to 10 μm, and a fluidity such that when a rotating cone-shaped rotor is entered into a layer of the developer having a space ratio of about 58%, the torque produced by the developer is from 1.0 mNm to 2.5 mNm.

An image forming method comprising:

• supplying a nonmagnetic one component developer to a developer bearing member with a developer supplying member, wherein the developer supplying member is contacted with the developer bearing member at a first nip;
• forming a layer of the nonmagnetic one component developer on a developer bearing member with a developer layer forming member, wherein the developer layer forming member is contacted with the developer bearing member at a second nip;
• and
• developing an electrostatic image on an image bearing member with the developer layer formed on the developer bearing member to form a toner image on the image bearing member,
• wherein the following relationship is satisfied:
• 0.8 mm<|a−b|<2.0 mm,
• wherein |a−b| represents a distance between a front edge of the second nip and a rear edge of the first nip relative to a rotation direction of the developer bearing member.