Charging member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus

Abstract

A charging member is provided which can inhibit defective images due to poor charging and adhering substances from occurring even after being repeatedly used for a long time, and can inhibit deformation and defective images due to the C set, caused by a change in rotational speed accompanying such deformation even after being left standing in a stopping state for a long time. The charging member includes a conductive support and a surface layer. The surface layer includes a binder and resin particles dispersed in the binder, each resin particle having a depressed portion on its surface. Protrusions resulting from the resin particles are formed on the surface of the surface layer. The protrusions each have a depressed portion resulting from the depressed portion of the resin particle, and the surface of the resin particle is covered with the binder.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.