CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charging member that prevents the occurrence of defects in an electrophotographic image due to the contamination of the surface of the charging member, and prevents the occurrence of unevenness in an electrophotographic image due to C set, and to provide an electrophotographic apparatus and a process cartridge that stably provide an electrophotographic image high in definition. SOLUTION: 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 recess on its surface. Protrusions resulting from the resin particles are formed on the surface of the surface layer. The protrusions each has a recess resulting from the recess of the resin particle, and the surface of the resin particle is covered with the binder. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT