An image forming apparatus including a developer regulating member and
sealing members. The developer regulating member regulates an amount of
the developer carried by a developer carrying member, and has a center
region having a first outer diameter of a first longitudinal
cross-sectional region which increases toward an axial center portion of
the developer regulating member according to a predetermined calculated
amount of deflection of the developer regulating member, side regions
located at axial end portions and having a second outer diameter of a
second longitudinal cross-sectional region greater than a third outer
diameter of a third longitudinal cross-sectional region obtained
according to deflection of the developer regulating member. The sealing
members have respective inner edges which sandwich boundaries of the
center region and each of the side regions.