JP2002023594A - Regenerating method of process cartridge and regenerating process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reuse a vessel holder connected by in-line molding and die slide injection by decomposing the same. SOLUTION: A connecting member 191 is cut on the recessed part 180 which is a receiving part of a die in the secondary molding of in-line molding and die slide injection and is charged into the recessed part 180. If the positioning is necessary, a member 190 with a specified width is inserted into the recessed part 180 and is connected together.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of remanufacturing a process cartridge detachable from a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, and the like, and a remanufactured process cartridge.

Here, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming method. And, as an example of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
For example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, and the like), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like are included.

[0003] A process cartridge is a unit in which a charging unit or a cleaning unit, a developing unit, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. It is. In addition, at least one of the charging unit and the cleaning unit, the developing unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed as a cartridge so as to be detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Further, the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is made detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a latent image is formed by selectively exposing an electrophotographic photosensitive member uniformly charged by a charger to form a latent image. (Hereinafter referred to as “toner”), and an image is recorded by transferring an image formed by the toner onto a recording medium. In such an apparatus, maintenance of each member is performed by a specialized service person.

Therefore, the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the charger, the developing device, the cleaning unit, and the like are integrated into a cartridge to form a cartridge, and the user can load the cartridge into the apparatus main body to supply toner. Components that have reached the end of their service life, such as electrophotographic photoreceptors, have become replaceable and maintenance has been facilitated.

Such a process cartridge has a means for detecting the amount of toner remaining in the cartridge. When the toner runs out, the display means displays the absence of toner to prompt the user to replace the process cartridge. ,
The image forming operation is stopped.

Further, since the amount of toner stored in the recent process cartridge has been increased, the life of the process cartridge is not only detected by the toner remaining amount detecting means, but also by the life of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the life of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Means for detecting the life of moving parts, for example, life detecting means for detecting the number of rotations of the photosensitive drum, counting the number of printed sheets, and counting the number of printed dots are also used.

In the process cartridge, a toner frame constituting a developer accommodating container containing a toner, a developing frame containing a developing process, a cleaning frame containing a used toner by cleaning a photoreceptor, and the like. There are many parts mainly made of plastic, such as side holders that regulate the positions of gears and process means.For example, when joining the developing frame and the developer container, ultrasonic welding, In particular, in recent years, they have been combined by secondary molding such as die slide injection and in-line molding. Further, small screws or the like are often used for coupling to the container such as the side holder and the frame, but in recent years, the coupling is performed by the above-described in-line molding or the like, and the cost may be reduced by reducing the number of parts. .

[0009]

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reproduce a process cartridge having plastic parts such as a frame, a container, and a side holder connected by in-line molding or die slide injection. And a remanufactured process cartridge.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems When disassembling the connection between plastic molded parts connected by in-line molding or die slide injection, it is necessary to: It is used for receiving the mold at the time of in-line molding or molding of the joint part of die slide injection.
Cut at the recess. 2. When reconnecting the cut portions, a material capable of sealing the adhesive or the toner is injected and fixed into the concave portion which is the cut portion.

As described above, the amount of cutting during disassembly is small,
At the time of reconnection, the protrusion of the connection member can be easily prevented, and a process cartridge with strong connection can be reproduced.

The first invention according to the present application is a method for reproducing a process cartridge detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, wherein the process cartridge is formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image thus developed using a developer, a developer frame obtained by plastic injection molding and a developing frame for holding the developing means are abutted with each other in a mold. And a frame joined by injecting the molten resin material into the joint portion, and having the molten resin material in an abutting portion disposed near the joint of the developing frame or the developer frame during reproduction. A process cartridge reproducing method, comprising cutting a frame portion facing a concave portion, which is a receiving portion of a mold at the time of injection, and injecting a coupling member into the concave portion for coupling when rejoining. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of remanufacturing a process cartridge detachable from an image forming apparatus main body. The process cartridge is formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image using a developer, a developer frame obtained by plastic injection molding or a developing frame holding the developing means, and the developer frame or the developing frame. Located outside in a direction parallel to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
A gear and a side holder that covers the process parts are abutted with each other in a mold, and a molten resin material is injected into the abutted portion and the frame is joined. When injecting the molten resin material into the abutting portion disposed near the joint between the agent frame and the side holder, cut the frame body facing the concave portion which is a receiving portion of the mold when re-joining. A method for remanufacturing a process cartridge, wherein a coupling member is injected into a concave portion and coupled.

A third invention according to the present application is the method for reproducing a process cartridge according to the first or second invention, wherein the connecting member is an adhesive.

A fourth invention according to the present application is the process cartridge reproduction method according to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein a positioning member is interposed in the recess. .

A fifth invention according to the present application is the process cartridge reproduction method according to the fourth invention, wherein the width of the positioning member is equal to the width of the concave portion before cutting.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remanufactured process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. A developing means for developing the developing means using a developer, and a developer frame obtained by plastic injection molding and a developing frame holding the developing means are abutted to each other in a mold, and a molten resin material is applied to the abutting portion. A frame when the molten resin material is injected into the developing frame or the abutting portion disposed near the bonding portion of the developer frame during reproduction. And a frame body cut by cutting a frame portion facing the concave portion serving as a receiver and injecting a coupling member into the concave portion at the time of rejoining. .

A seventh invention according to the present application is the remanufactured process cartridge according to the sixth invention, wherein the concave portion of the frame body has disappeared due to injection of a coupling member.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Except for the frame engaging portion, the process cartridge has the same configuration before and after re-production,
In the description before and after reproduction, the same screen is used.

[Embodiment 1] [Overall configuration] As shown in FIG. 3, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (laser beam printer) A transmits information light based on image information from an optical system 1 to a drum-shaped electronic device. A latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 7 by irradiating the photosensitive drum 7 as a photographic photosensitive member, and the latent image is developed with a developer (hereinafter, referred to as “toner”) to form a toner image. In synchronization with the formation of the toner image, the pickup roller 3b and the pressing member 3c pressed against the pickup roller 3b are separated and fed one by one from the paper feed cassette 3a accommodating the recording medium 2. Conveying means 3 composed of 3e
The toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member formed into a cartridge as the process cartridge B is transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage to a transfer roller 4 as a transfer unit, and the recording medium 2 is conveyed. The sheet is conveyed to the fixing unit 5 by the belt 3f. This fixing means 5
Is composed of a fixing roller 5d, which is a cylindrical sheet having a driving roller 5a and a heater 5b built therein and rotatably supported by a support 5c, and applying heat and pressure to the recording medium 2 passing therethrough to transfer toner. Fix the image. The recording medium 2 is conveyed by a pair of discharge rollers 3g and 3h, and is discharged to a discharge section 6 through a reverse conveyance path. The image forming apparatus A can be manually fed by a manual tray 3i and a roller 3j.

(Process Cartridge) On the other hand, the process cartridge B is provided with an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one process means. Here, as the process means, for example, a charging means for charging an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a cleaning means for cleaning toner remaining on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member Etc. As shown in FIG. 4, the process cartridge B of this embodiment
The photosensitive drum 7, which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer, is rotated, and a voltage is applied to a charging roller 8, which is a charging unit, to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 7, and the charged photosensitive drum 7 is charged. A latent image is formed by exposing a light image from the optical system 1 to an exposure light through an exposure opening 9, and the latent image is developed by developing means 10.

The developing means 10 includes a toner storage section 10a.
The toner in the toner storage section 10a is formed into a developer storage container by a rotatable toner feeding member 10b2, which is a toner feeding means. The toner frame 12a has an opening 12i and a developing frame 12b has an opening 12e. The toner is agitated by a toner agitating member 10b1 to rotate a developing roller 10d which is a developing rotator including a fixed magnet 10c, and develops a toner layer provided with a triboelectric charge by a developing blade 10e. Roller 1
The toner image is formed on the surface of Od, and the toner is transferred to the photosensitive drum 7 in accordance with the latent image, thereby forming a toner image and visualizing the toner image.

After applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image to the transfer roller 4 to transfer the toner image to the recording medium 2, the cleaning blade 11a scrapes off the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7, and simultaneously removes The residual toner on the photosensitive drum 7 is removed by the cleaning means 11 which is scooped and collected in the removed toner storage section 11c.

Each member such as the photosensitive drum 7 constitutes a toner accommodating portion 10a, and a toner frame 12a for rotatably driving a toner feeding member 10b2, a toner stirring member 10b1, and a developing roller 10d. , A developing unit D in which a developing member such as a developing blade 10e is incorporated and a lid member 12c are integrated to form a removed toner accommodating portion 11c, and a photosensitive drum 7, a cleaning blade 11a, a squeeze sheet 11b and a cleaning frame 13 having the charging roller 8 are housed in a cartridge frame formed by combining the cleaning frame 13
It is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting means provided on the apparatus main body 14.

When the opening / closing member 15 is opened about the shaft 15a, a space for the cartridge mounting portion appears, and a cartridge mounting guide member (not shown) is disposed on the left and right inner walls of the cartridge mounting means. A guide (see FIG. 5) of the process cartridge B composed of the rib 18b is fitted and guided by the mounting guide, and the process cartridge B is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 14.

(Assembling Structure of Process Cartridge) Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, this process cartridge B will be described. (1) Toner feed member 10b2 on toner frame 12a
And the toner supply opening 12i is closed with the toner seal 1
Seal with 6. Here, the toner seal 16 is formed by a sheet film 12k on the entire periphery of the toner supply opening 12i.
(See FIG. 8). And the toner supply opening 1
The toner seal 16, which is twice or more the length of the toner seal 2i, has its folded portion turned back 180 degrees at one end in the longitudinal direction, overlaps the seal portion sealing the opening 12i, and has its tip out of the process cartridge B. . (2) As shown in FIG. 11, the toner container 10a is opened by using the toner filling machine 17 from the toner filling port 12d at one end in the longitudinal direction of the toner frame 12a.
The inside is filled with toner, and the toner filling port 12d is sealed with a cap (not shown). (3) The toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b are resin-bonded as described later. (4) The developing blade 10e is fixed to the developing frame 12b. (5) Attach the developing roller 12a to the developing frame 12a. (6) The side cover 50 is fixed to the developing frame 12b or the toner frame 12a with small screws. The side cover 50 (see FIG. 7) covers a gear mounted coaxially with the toner feeding member 12b2, which is a process means for feeding toner, and a gear connected thereto. (7) The compression coil spring 32 is fitted to the dowel (not shown) at the root of the arm 19 of the developing frame 12.

The toner frame 12a and the developing frame 1
When the flanges 152a of the toner frame 12a and the flanges 152b of the developing frame 12b are pressed in alignment with each other as shown in FIG.
The folded portion 6 is pressed by an elastic sealing material 47 (see FIG. 9) such as a felt or a sponge, which is stuck on substantially the same plane as the plane 12a of the developing frame 12b. Therefore, even if the toner seal 16 is opened at the start of use, the toner does not leak out of the seal draw-out portion. Further, the opposing surfaces of the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b on the side opposite to the side where the toner seal 16 is pulled out are sealed with an elastic sealing material 48. The elastic sealing material 48 is attached to the developing frame 12b. The elastic sealing material 48 is compressed on the opposing surfaces of the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b. These elastic members 47 and 48, a toner frame 12a and a developing frame 12 which will be described later.
The space between the opposing surfaces of the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b is housed with the toner seal 16 and is sealed from the outside by the resin coupling portion b.

Further, the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b
Are joined, the round hole 12r and the long hole 12q (long in the longitudinal direction) of the toner frame 12a and the round dowel 12w1 and the square dowel 12w2 of the developing frame 12b are fitted respectively. As a result, the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b
Does not occur.

Thus, the developing unit D shown in FIG. 7 is completed.

II. (1) Attach the cleaning blade 11a to the cleaning frame 13. (2) Attach the charging roller 8 to the cleaning frame 13. (3) The photosensitive drum 7 is attached to the cleaning frame 13.

Thus, the cleaning unit E shown in FIG. 6 is completed.

III. (1) Insert the arm 19 of the developing unit D into the recess 21 of the cleaning unit E.
Here, one end of the arm 19 is formed integrally with the developing frame 12b, and the other end is formed integrally with the side cover 50. The recesses 21 at both ends in the longitudinal direction are formed in the side cover 13. (2) Hole 20 at tip of arm 19 of developing unit D and hole 13 of cleaning frame 13
e, the parallel pins 22 are inserted from the outside into the holes 13e, 2
0.

At this time, the compression coil spring 32 held at the root of the arm 19 is mounted on the inclined surface 2 of the cleaning frame 13.
As the arm portion 19 is pushed into the concave portion 21 while being in contact with 1a, it is compressed. As a result, the space rollers 10i provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 10d abut on the photosensitive drum 7 outside the image forming area. Here space roller 1
0i is larger in diameter than the developing roller 10d, and a gap of about 300 μm is formed between the photosensitive drum 7 and the developing roller 10d.

Thus, the process cartridge B is completed.

(Joined portion of developer container and developing frame) The process cartridge B is a remanufactured process cartridge, and the developing frame 12b and the toner frame 12 before remanufacturing.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a cross section of the connection portion a.

The toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b, which are molded products obtained by plastic injection molding, are abutted in a mold (not shown), and a molten resin material for bonding is injected into the abutting portion 154 to inline. Joined by molding.

The developing frame 12b and the toner frame 12a have flange portions 152a and 152b.

A rib 16 is provided along the edge of the flange portion 152a of the toner frame 12a in the die-cutting direction, and is a rib 16 which comes into contact with the flange portion 152b of the developing frame 12b.
0b.

A rib 16 is provided along the edge of the flange portion 152b of the developing frame 12b along the edge, and is a rib 16 which comes into contact with the flange 152a of the toner frame 12a.
0a.

The ribs 160a and 160b are
a, the ribs 160a, 160b
The interval becomes the abutment part 154.

The developing frame 12b has a recess 18 for receiving a mold 171a when the molten resin is injected into the abutting portion 154.
0 is arranged. Further, a backup rib 161a for receiving a pressure on the left side in the drawing at the time of injecting the molten resin has a C-face at its tip and is provided on the inner wall 12a1 of the toner frame 12a. The inner wall 12a1 is a wall surface of the toner storage unit 10a. Also, the inner wall 12a1 is
b.

(Disassembly of Developing Frame and Toner Frame Joint) Next, the disassembling method will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. FIG. Developing frame 1 having a joint as described above
2b and the toner frame 12a are decomposed by the following procedure. 1. First, the parallel pin 22 connecting the cleaning unit E and the developing unit D is pulled out, and the developing unit D constituting the developing process means and the cleaning blade 1 are removed.
1a, a charging roller 8, and a cleaning unit E having a photosensitive drum 7 are divided. 2. From the developing unit D, the side holder 50 is disassembled (when fixed with small screws), and the developer roller 10
d, remove the developing blade 10e and the like. 3. The remaining toner in the developing frame 12b and the toner frame 12a is sucked to clean both frames. 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the developing frame 12b and the toner frame 1
The concave portion 180 of the joint portion 2a, that is, the bottom meat portion 12b1 facing the concave portion 180 provided with the receiving surface 171a as a receiving portion at the time of molding in which the in-line molding die enters during in-line molding is compressed with water pressure and sawed. And cut with a cutter or the like at the Y cutting line. The flange portion has a certain thickness by injecting resin by in-line molding, and when cutting with a saw or the like, the cutting depth is long, but the concave portion 180 having the receiving surface 171a into which the mold enters is formed by a basic container. And it can be cut more easily. This cutting forms a cutting portion Sr. 5. Developing frame 12b and toner frame 1 disassembled in the previous process
Remove the internal parts from 2a.

(Reproduction of Process Cartridge) The developing frame 12b, the toner frame 12a and the internal components, or the components in the cleaning unit E, which have been disassembled as described above, are further disassembled for each component so that they can be cleaned. Here, the internal components are a developing roller 10d, a developing blade 10e, a toner stirring member 10b1, a toner feeding member 10b2, and the like.

The cleaned developing frame 12b and the toner frame 1
2a incorporates the internal components and is reconnected.
The joining method will be described below.

The developing frame 12b and the toner frame 12a disassembled by the above disassembly method are aligned with each other, and the adhesive which is the coupling member 191 is injected into the concave portion 180 of the receiving portion of the mold at the time of in-line molding. . Adhesive is concave 18
Adjust the amount so that it does not protrude from zero. In particular, when the process cartridge B is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus when the adhesive protrudes from the concave portion 180 on the lower side near the paper conveyance, there is a possibility that the paper conveyance unit may interfere, so care must be taken.
When the adhesive is applied so that the concave portion 180 disappears, it can be identified that the process cartridge is a reproduced cartridge.

When it is difficult to determine the contact position due to the cutting, the width m of the concave portion 180 is measured in advance, and the position can be regulated by fitting a positioning member 190 having the same width as the width. By providing the positioning member 190, it is possible to prevent the adhesive from entering the toner storage portion 10a. Further, the relationship between the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b is accurately determined regardless of the variation in the cutting width of the cutting portion Sr.

The coupling at the concave portion 180 also has the effect of increasing the fixing strength as compared with the coupling between the flat surfaces. Further, necessary internal parts are incorporated in the joined frame, and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the toner t is refilled in the toner frame 12a,
Thereafter, it is reproduced in a manner reverse to the above-mentioned decomposition step.

In the above, when the toner seal 16 is applied, the toner seal 16 is applied prior to the connection of the frames 12a and 12b. Note that the developing roller 10d, the developing blade 10e and the developing frame 12b may be sealed without using the toner seal 16.

(Disassembly and Reproduction of Side Holder) In the above disassembly process, for the sake of simplicity, the case where the side holder 50 is fixed to the developing frame 12b with a small screw has been described. , Edge of side holder and developing frame 1
FIG. 10 shows an example in which the side edges of the toner frame 2b or the toner frame 12a are joined by in-line molding. The symbol of this side holder is 51. The cross section S is the developing frame 12b.
1 is the side holder 51, and the upper side is the developing frame or the toner frame 52 because of the mold configuration of the container. Since the connection between the side holder 51 and the developing frame or the toner frame 52 does not need to be sealed as in the above-described connection between the developing frame and the toner frame,
The entire periphery of the edge is not connected, and may be partially or locally connected.

In the disassembling step, similarly to the above-described disassembly of the developing frame 12b and the toner frame 12a, the concave portion of the receiving portion of the mold at the time of in-line molding is cut so that it is joined to the portion during reassembly. It is easy to inject the adhesive, which is a member, so as not to protrude from the recess.

In the above description, the concave portion 1 is formed in the developing frame 12b.
Although the 80 and the backup rib 161a are provided, a concave portion and a backup rib may be provided in the toner frame 12a, and the configurations of the flange portions of the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b may be reversed. Further, a resin injection path provided in the developing frame 12b or the toner frame 12a, which is a molded product connected to the resin injection path of the mold, may be provided in any of them (the description is omitted).

[Other Embodiments] In the above-described embodiment, the coupling cross section of the first embodiment or the coupling cross section of the side holder, the developing frame, and the toner frame has been described by one type. , The bonding cross section by die slide injection is various, and even with other cross sectional shapes,
The same effect can be obtained by cutting, disassembling, and recombining the concave portion of the receiving portion of the mold.

Although the adhesive has been described as an example of the coupling member,
Other coupling members may be used.

The process cartridge B described above is for forming a single-color image. However, the process cartridge is not limited to forming a single-color image. The present invention can also be suitably applied to a cartridge that forms a color image, a three-color image, or a full-color image.

As for the developing method, it is possible to use various developing methods such as a known two-component magnetic brush developing method, a cascade developing method, a touch-down developing method and a crown developing method.

The electrophotographic photoreceptor is not limited to the above-mentioned photoreceptor drum, and includes, for example, the following. First, a photoconductor is used as the photoconductor, and amorphous silicon is used as the photoconductor. , Amorphous selenium, zinc oxide, titanium oxide and organic photoconductor (OP
C) and the like. The shape on which the photoconductor is mounted includes, for example, a rotating body such as a drum or a belt, and a sheet. In general, a drum-shaped or belt-shaped one is used. For example, in the case of a drum-type photoconductor, a photoconductor is deposited or coated on a cylinder of aluminum alloy or the like. It is.

As for the structure of the charging means, a so-called contact charging method is used in the above-described embodiment, but as another structure, a metal shield such as aluminum is provided around three sides of a conventionally used tungsten wire. It is a matter of course that a configuration may be used in which positive or negative ions generated by applying a high voltage to the tungsten wire are moved to the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the surface of the drum is uniformly charged.

The charging means may be of a blade type (charging blade), a pad type, a block type, a rod type, a wire type, a brush type, etc. other than the roller type.

As a method for cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum, a cleaning means may be constituted by using a fur brush, a magnetic brush or the like in addition to the cleaning blade.

As a material for forming the toner frame 12a and the developing frame 12b, plastic such as polystyrene,
ABS resin (acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene copolymer), modified PPE resin (polyphenylene ether), modified PPO resin (polyphenylene oxide),
Polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene and the like.

The process cartridge described above is
For example, it has an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing means, and at least one of the processing means. Therefore, as an aspect of the process cartridge, in addition to the above-described embodiment, for example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing unit, and a charging unit are integrally formed as a cartridge so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body. An electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing means are integrally formed into a cartridge and can be attached to and detached from an apparatus main body. There is an electrophotographic photosensitive member, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit which are integrally formed into a cartridge, which can be detachably attached to the apparatus main body.

[0062]

When disassembling the connection between plastic molded parts joined by in-line molding or die slide injection, It is used for receiving the mold at the time of in-line molding or molding of the joint part of die slide injection.
Cut at the recess. 2. When reconnecting the cut portions, a material capable of sealing the adhesive or the toner is injected and fixed into the concave portion which is the cut portion.

As described above, the cutting amount at the time of decomposition is small,
At the time of reconnection, the protrusion of the connection member can be easily prevented, and a process cartridge with strong connection can be reproduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

 Each of the drawings shows an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a frame connecting portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of (a) a frame connecting portion cut and (b) a reconnecting portion according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the image forming apparatus equipped with the process cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a configuration of a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the process cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cleaning unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a developing unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the disassembled toner frame according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the developing frame body according to the embodiment of the present invention after being disassembled.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a side holder and a frame according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view showing toner refilling according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

A: Image forming apparatus (laser beam printer) B: Process cartridge D: Developing unit m: Concave width Sr: Cutting part Y: Cutting line S: Cutting line 1: Optical system 2: Recording medium 3: Conveying means 3a: Feeding Cassette 3b ... Pickup roller 3c ... Press-contact member 3d ... Transport roller pair 3e
... Registration roller pair 3f ... Conveyer belt 3g, 3h ...
Discharge roller 3i Manual feed tray 3j Roller 4 Transfer roller 5 Fixing means 5a Driving roller 5b Heater 5c
... Support 5d Fixing rotating body 6 Discharge unit 7 Photoconductor drum 8 Charging roller 9 Exposure opening 10 Development unit 10a Toner storage unit 10b1 Toner stirring member 10b2 Toner sending member 10c Fixed magnet 10d ... Developing roller 10e ... Developing blade
10f ... antenna wire 10i ... space roller 11 ... cleaning means 11a ... cleaning blade 11b ... squeeze sheet 11c ... removed toner storage section 12a ... toner frame 12b ... development frame 12b1 ... flesh 12c ... lid member 12d ... toner filling port 12e ... Opening 12i Opening 12k Plane 12r Round hole 12q Slot 12
u: Flat surface 12w1: Round dowel 12w2 ... Square dowel 13 ... Cleaning frame 13e ... Hole 14 ... Device body 15 ... Opening member 15a ... Shaft 16 ... Toner seal 17 ... Toner filling machine 18a ... Boss 18b ... Rib 19 ... Arm 20 … Hole 21… Depression 21 a… Inclined surface 22… Parallel pin 32… Compression coil spring 47… Elastic sealing material 48… Elastic sealing material 50… Side holder (screw connection) 51… Side holder (resin connection) 52… Toner frame or Developing frame body 152a, 152b ... Flange section 154 ... Abutment section 160a ... Rib 160b ... Rib 161a ... Backup rib 171a ... Mold receiving surface 180 ... Depression 190 ... Positioning member 191 ... Coupling member

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A method of remanufacturing a process cartridge detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a developer for transferring an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to a developer. A developing means for developing using the above, a developer frame obtained by plastic injection molding and a developing frame holding the developing means are abutted with each other in a mold, and a molten resin material is injected into the abutted portion. And a frame which is joined when the molten resin material is injected into the developing frame or the abutting portion arranged near the joint of the developer frame during reproduction. A method for remanufacturing a process cartridge, comprising cutting a frame portion facing a certain concave portion and injecting a coupling member into the concave portion for coupling when rejoining. 2. A method for remanufacturing a process cartridge detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Developing means for developing using a developer frame, a developer frame obtained by plastic injection molding or a developing frame holding the developing means, and the developer frame or the electrophotographic photosensitive drum of the developing frame. The gear and the side holder that covers the process parts, which are located outside in the direction, abut against each other in the mold, and the molten resin material is injected into the abutment part and the frame body is joined. Occasionally, when the molten resin material is injected into the developing frame or the abutting portion disposed in the vicinity of the joint between the developer frame and the side holder, the frame body facing the concave portion which is a receiving portion of the mold is cut. And when rejoining A method for remanufacturing a process cartridge, wherein a coupling member is injected into the concave portion and coupled. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the coupling member is an adhesive. 4. The process cartridge reproductive method according to claim 1, wherein a positioning member is interposed in said concave portion. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the width of the positioning member is equal to the width of the concave portion before cutting. 6. A remanufactured process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, wherein an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are developed using a developer. Developing means, a developer frame obtained by plastic injection molding and a developing frame holding the developing means are abutted with each other in a mold,
A frame joined by injecting the molten resin material into the abutting portion, wherein the molten resin material is injected into the abutting portion disposed near the joint of the developing frame or the developer frame during reproduction. And a frame joined by injecting a coupling member into the concave portion and joining the cut portion at the time of rejoining. Process cartridge produced. 7. The remanufactured process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the concave portion of the frame body has disappeared due to injection of a coupling member.