Image forming apparatus having voltage application to regulating member and developer carrier

An image forming apparatus, comprising

• a developing apparatus including:
• a container for storing a developer;
• a developer carrier in which a surface that carries the developer is configured so that a plurality of dielectric portions are interspersed on a surface formed of a conductor portion;
• and
• a regulating member that regulates a layer thickness of the developer that is carried on the developer carrier,
• the image forming apparatus forming an image on a recording material by developing, using the developing apparatus, an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member to yield a developer image, and transferring the developer image from the image bearing member to the recording material,
• the image forming apparatus further comprising:
• a voltage applying unit for applying voltages to the developer carrier and the regulating member,
• wherein the voltage applying unit has a period, during non-image formation, over which voltages are applied to the developer carrier and the regulating member, with an absolute value of potential difference between the applied voltages being greater than the potential difference when a voltage is applied during image formation to at least one of the developer carrier and the regulating member, such that a force generated to attract the developer toward the developer carrier during non-image formation is weaker than that generated during image formation.