A discharging method used in an image forming apparatus includes discharging, with an exposure device, an exposure range of the latent image bearer, and discharging, with a discharger, an area of the latent image bearer outside the exposure range and inside a developing range in a main scanning direction. The exposure range is inside the developing range in the main scanning direction. The discharging with the exposure device and the discharging with the discharger are performed when a rotation of the latent image bearer is stopped after a toner image is transferred from the latent image bearer.

A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressurizing member, a charging portion, and a control portion. The fixing member rotates while being heated. The pressurizing member forms a nip portion between itself and a surface of the fixing member in such a way as to hold a sheet therebetween and conveys the sheet by rotating together with the fixing member, wherein an image of toner has been formed on the sheet. The charging portion electrically charges the surface of the fixing member to a polarity that is same as a charging polarity of the toner by supplying a charging current to a pair of electrodes that is disposed to face the surface of the fixing member. The control portion increases the charging current as time passes during a control time period that corresponds to a time period for which the sheet passes through the nip portion.

A process for producing an electrophotographic electroconductive member having an electroconductive support and an electroconductive layer in the order mentioned. The electroconductive layer has a matrix including a crosslinked product of a first rubber, and a domain including a crosslinked product of a second rubber and an electroconductive particle, the process including the steps of: providing a rubber mixture for forming the domain, including carbon black and the second rubber by kneading the carbon black and the second rubber; providing a rubber mixture for forming the matrix, including the first rubber; kneading the rubber mixture for forming the domain and the rubber mixture for forming the matrix to prepare a rubber composition having a matrix-domain structure; forming a layer of the rubber composition on a surface of the electroconductive support; and curing the layer of the rubber composition on the surface of the electroconductive support to form the electroconductive layer.

An electroconductive member for electrophotography has an electroconductive support and an electroconductive layer in the order mentioned. The electroconductive layer has a matrix including a crosslinked product of a first rubber, and a domain including a crosslinked product of a second rubber and an electroconductive particle. The impedance of the outer surface of the electroconductive member is 1.0×10.sup.3 to 1.0×10.sup.8Ω). 80% by number or more of domains observed at each of a total of nine 15-μm square observation regions, which are disposed at any three points in a thickness region from the outer surface to a specific depth on each of cross sections in the thickness direction at three points: the center of the electroconductive layer in the longitudinal direction and points at a specific distance from the both edges of the electroconductive layer toward the center, satisfy specific requirements.

An electroconductive member for electrophotography has an electroconductive support and an electroconductive layer in the order mentioned. The electroconductive layer has a matrix including a crosslinked product of a first rubber, and a domain including a crosslinked product of a second rubber and an electroconductive particle. The impedance of an outer surface of the electroconductive member is 1.0×10.sup.3 to 1.0×10.sup.8Ω. 80% by number or more of domains observed at each of a total of nine 15-μm square observation regions, which are disposed at any three points in a thickness region from the outer surface to a specific depth on each of cross sections in a thickness direction at three points: the center of the electroconductive layer in the longitudinal direction and points at a specific distance from both edges of the electroconductive layer toward the center, satisfy specific requirements.

A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressurizing member, a charging portion, and a control portion. The fixing member rotates while being heated. The pressurizing member forms a nip portion between itself and a surface of the fixing member in such a way as to hold a sheet therebetween and conveys the sheet by rotating together with the fixing member, wherein an image of toner has been formed on the sheet. The charging portion electrically charges the surface of the fixing member to a polarity that is same as a charging polarity of the toner by supplying a charging current to a pair of electrodes that is disposed to face the surface of the fixing member. The control portion increases the charging current as time passes during a control time period that corresponds to a time period for which the sheet passes through the nip portion.

Provided is a process cartridge in which lateral running is suppressed while satisfactory potential fluctuation is maintained. The process cartridge includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support, a lowermost layer, and a photosensitive layer; and a charging member including a support and a conductive layer. In a case where a maximum frequency at which a phase of an impedance reaches 45°, when the impedance is measured by applying an AC voltage to the lowermost layer while changing the AC voltage, is represented by f.sub.OPC (Hz), and in a case where a maximum frequency at which a phase of an impedance reaches 45°, when the impedance is measured by applying an AC voltage to the charging member while changing the AC voltage, is represented by f.sub.C (Hz), the f.sub.OPC and the f.sub.C each have a value within a certain range.

Provided is a process cartridge in which lateral running is suppressed while satisfactory potential fluctuation is maintained. The process cartridge includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support, a lowermost layer, and a photosensitive layer; and a charging member including a support and a conductive layer. In a case where a maximum frequency at which a phase of an impedance reaches 45, when the impedance is measured by applying an AC voltage to the lowermost layer while changing the AC voltage, is represented by f.sub.OPC (Hz), and in a case where a maximum frequency at which a phase of an impedance reaches 45, when the impedance is measured by applying an AC voltage to the charging member while changing the AC voltage, is represented by f.sub.C (Hz), the f.sub.OPC and the f.sub.C each have a value within a certain range.

An electroconductive member for electrophotography has an electroconductive support and an electroconductive layer in the order mentioned. The electroconductive layer has a matrix including a crosslinked product of a first rubber, and a domain including a crosslinked product of a second rubber and an electroconductive particle. The impedance of the outer surface of the electroconductive member is 1.010.sup.3 to 1.010.sup.8 . 80% by number or more of domains observed at each of a total of nine 15-m square observation regions, which are disposed at any three points in a thickness region from the outer surface to a specific depth on each of cross sections in the thickness direction at three points: the center of the electroconductive layer in the longitudinal direction and points at a specific distance from the both edges of the electroconductive layer toward the center, satisfy specific requirements.

An image forming apparatus executes charging, exposure, toner-supply suspension, and electric-field generation while a photosensitive member rotates at least a full turn. In the charging, a charger charges a portion of a circumferential surface of the photosensitive member. In the exposure, an exposure device exposes the portion, which has been charged in the charging, of the circumferential surface. In the toner-supply suspension, before the portion, which has been exposed in the exposure, of the circumferential surface passes a position at which developer from a developing unit is configured to initially adhere to the circumferential surface, a developing unit stops supplying developer to the photosensitive member. In the electric-field generation, an electric field is generated in a portion of the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive member corresponding to the portion, which has been exposed by the exposure device, of the circumferential surface.