Electrophotographic developing apparatus which utilizes single-component developing material

An electrophotographic developing apparatus which comprises:

• a latent image carrier;
• a developing member disposed in face-to-face relation with the latent image carrier for carrying and transporting a single-component developing material containing no carrier;
• a charge transfer member disposed in face-to-face relation with the developing member for carrying and transferring the developing material;
• a charged layer regulating member disposed around the charge transfer member and cooperable with the charge transfer member to regulate an amount of the developing material on the charge transfer member;
• a developing hopper for accommodating the developing material to be supplied to the charge transfer member;
• and
• wherein the charge transfer member and the developing member are operable to rotate such that there exists a difference in speed between a surface of the charge transfer member and a surface of the developing member at a nipping region between the charge transfer member and the developing member.

An electrophotographic developing apparatus which comprises:

• a latent image carrier;
• a developing member disposed in face-to-face relation with the latent image carrier for carrying and transporting a single-component developing material containing no carrier;
• a charge transfer member disposed in face-to-face relation with the developing member for carrying and transferring the developing material;
• a charged layer regulating member disposed around the charge transfer member and cooperable with the charge transfer member to regulate an amount of the developing material on the charge transfer member;
• a developing hopper for accommodating the developing material to be supplied to the charge transfer member;
• and
• wherein at least a surface of the developing member is a resinous material having an elasticity, and wherein the developing material on the developing member is held in face-to-face relation with the latent image carrier while contacting the latent image carrier or the latent image carrier and the developing member are held in face-to-face relation while contacting with each other.

An electrophotographic developing apparatus which comprises:

• a latent image carrier;
• a developing member disposed in face-to-face relation with the latent image carrier for carrying and transporting a single-component developing material containing no carrier;
• a charge transfer member disposed in face-to-face relation with the developing member for carrying and transferring the developing material;
• a charged layer regulating member disposed around the charge transfer member and cooperable with the charge transfer member to regulate an amount of the developing material on the charge transfer member;
• a developing hopper for accommodating the developing material to be supplied to the charge transfer member;
• and
• wherein at least a surface of the charge transfer member is metal.

An electrophotographic developing apparatus which comprises:

• a latent image carrier;
• a developing member disposed in face-to-face relation with the latent image carrier for carrying and transporting a single-component developing material containing no carrier;
• a charge transfer member disposed in face-to-face relation with the developing member for carrying and transferring the developing material;
• a charged layer regulating member disposed around the charge transfer member and cooperable with the charge transfer member to regulate an amount of the developing material on the charge transfer member;
• a developing hopper for accommodating the developing material to be supplied to the charge transfer member;
• and
• wherein the latent image carrier confronts the developing member with a gap formed between the latent image carrier and the developing material on the developing member;
• and
• wherein the latent image carrier and the developing member are operable to rotate such that a ratio in peripheral velocity between the latent image carrier and the developing member at a nipping region therebetween is within the range of 0.8:1 to 1:0.8.