The pressure between a developing roller and a photosensitive drum is set
to 0.24 MPa. Because the pressure is smaller than 0.31 MPa, if the
potential difference .DELTA.V between the non-image forming part on the
photosensitive drum and the electrically-charged polymer toner on the
surface of the developing roller is at the preset proper voltage (300
volts), pressure fogging will be prevented. Because the pressure is 0.24
MPa or less, even if the potential difference varies within the range of
200 volts to 400 volts that occurs in practice, pressure fogging will be
prevented. By resetting the pressure to 0.22 MPa, even if the potential
difference .DELTA.V varies in a wider voltage range of 100 to 400 volts,
pressure fogging will be prevented. In this way, by setting the pressure
between the developing roller and the photosensitive drum appropriately,
pressure fogging can be prevented even when using the opposite-direction
developing method and polymer toner.