Developing device and process cartridge with it

A developing device, comprising:

• a container for containing developer therein;
• a developer bearing rotating member disposed at an opening of said container and being adapted to move in a moving direction while bearing a layer of the developer thereon;
• an elastic regulating member disposed along a longitudinal direction of said developer bearing rotating member and abutted against said developer bearing rotating member for regulating a thickness of the layer of the developer;
• an end portion seal member provided at least at a position in a circumferential direction of said developer bearing rotating member that corresponds to a regulating portion of said elastic regulating member, said end portion seal member being provided outside of said elastic regulating member in the longitudinal direction of said developer bearing rotating member such that a gap exists between said end portion seal member and said elastic regulating member, whereby no pressure is produced between said elastic regulating member and said end portion seal member as a result of the gap;
• and
• a flexible sheet member provided downstream in the moving direction from said elastic regulating member at a position corresponding to the gap in the longitudinal direction of said developer bearing rotating member so as to return any developer present in the gap to said container to prevent the developer from leaking from said container.