DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing device and an image forming method that realize a smaller size, a lower price, and a longer life of a developing unit member such as a developer carrier 2, and can prevent a development ghost and an afterimage and also prevent image defects such as a white stripe and density unevenness due to excessive destaticization. SOLUTION: The developing device 8 for nonmagnetic single-component toner is equipped with a destaticizing member 5 which abuts against the developer carrier 2 in an area from a part downstream from a development area 30 to a charging member 6 in the surface moving direction of the developer carrier 2 of the developing device 8, and this destaticizing member 5 removes electric charges of toner on the developer carrier 2 after development. At this time, a destaticization current flowing into the destaticizing member 5 is controlled to -1.5 to -5.0 μA (in case of negatively charged toner). Consequently, there is neither discharge nor an excessive current between the developer carrier 2 and destaticizing member 5 and electric charges of toner on the developer carrier 2 after the development are properly destaticized. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI