Developing process using two-component type magnetic developer

Claim 1

A developing process comprising supplying an amount of a two-component type magnetic developer comprising a magnetic carrier and a toner to a developing zone by a rotary developing sleeve and developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a support arranged to confront the developing sleeve in the developing zone, the carrier and the toner each have a true density, the carrier and the toner each comprise a percentage by weight concentration of the developer, the rotary developing sleeve has a position which is closest to the support and the sleeve contains therein a main pole of developing magnetic poles, and the main pole exhibits a flux density in magnetic force distribution of the main pole, wherein the main pole of developing magnetic poles in the developing sleeve is arranged upstream of the position, where the support becomes closest to the developing sleeve, in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve, said closest position between the support and the developing sleeve is included in a region where the flux density in the magnetic force distribution of the main pole decreases toward the downstream side in the rotation direction of the sleeve, an alternating current voltage is applied between the developing sleeve and the support to form an alternating electric field between the highest voltage and the lowest voltage of the electrostatic latent image, and the development is carried out while supplying the developer so that the occupancy ratio R of the developer in the developing zone, defined by the following formula: R=M×(T/D×1/ρt+C/D×1/ρc)H wherein M represents the amount (g/cm 2 ) of the developer delivered per unit area of the sleeve, H represents the distance (cm) between the support and the developing sleeve at the position where both are closest to each other, T/D represents the concentration (% by weight) of the toner in the developer, C/D represents the concentration (% by weight) of the carrier in the developer, ρt represents the true density (g/cm 3 ) of the toner, and ρc represents the true density (g/cm 3 ) of the carrier, satisfies the requirement of 30<R<75, and wherein the electrostatic latent image support has a drum-like shape, and the main pole deviates by 2° to 30° toward the upstream side of the rotation direction of the developing sleeve from a line connecting the center of the drum to the center of the developing sleeve.