JP2006030977A - Cartridge-recycling method and recycled cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cartridge-recycling method which is environmental, easy to be modified, and able to be recycled, and to provide a recycled cartridge which is strong in the positioning accuracy rigidity for parts. <P>SOLUTION: This is a recycling method for a cartridge which is detachable from an electrophotography image forming apparatus, and at least a part of which is formed by a styrene resin composite. In addition, the method has (1) a process of separating a cartridge into at least two parts, and (2) a process of jointing at least one separated part and the other separated part and/or the parts other than the separated part by using a terpene-based solvent. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a process cartridge. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is an apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming system. Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer), a facsimile machine, and a word processor. A process cartridge is an electrophotographic image forming process means (hereinafter referred to as “process means”), such as a charging means, a developing means, a cleaning means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, which can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. It is integrated with the cartridge.

Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum) and process means acting on the photosensitive drum are integrated into a process cartridge. The “process cartridge system” is used in which the printer is detachably mounted on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Examples of the process cartridge include a cartridge in which a photosensitive drum and at least one of a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit are integrated, and a cartridge including at least a developing unit is particularly mentioned.

  According to the process cartridge system, the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user himself / herself without depending on the service person, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. Therefore, the process cartridge system is widely used in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses.

  An example of a general process cartridge will be described with reference to FIGS. The process cartridge shown in FIG. 23 has three frames: a photosensitive drum 107, a charging roller (not shown), and a cleaning frame 113 that integrally supports a cleaning blade (not shown); a developing roller (not shown). ) And a developing blade (not shown) integrally supporting a developing blade (not shown); and a developer storage frame (hereinafter referred to as a toner frame) 111 containing toner. Yes. The process cartridge further includes side covers 190 and 191 that cover a drive gear train (not shown) or the like on the side surfaces of the developing frame and / or the toner frame. Reference numeral 136 denotes a drum flange, and reference numeral 138 denotes a drum bearing.

  As fixing means for the frame and parts, in addition to screwing (joining at X in FIGS. 23 and 24, region d) and heat caulking, resin joining (fixing by injection of molten resin), hot melt, ultrasonic welding, Generally used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Such a process cartridge forms an image on a recording medium using a developer. Therefore, the developer is consumed as the image is formed. Then, when the developer is consumed until the image forming apparatus cannot form an image having a quality that satisfies the user, the use value as the process cartridge is lost.

  There has also been a proposal relating to a reproduction technology (recycling technology) for commercializing a process cartridge whose developer has been consumed and whose use value has been lost (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

However, the conventional techniques have the following problems. In order to commercialize the process cartridge again, it is necessary to replace worn or damaged parts and frames. In order to replace the parts and the frame, it is necessary to separate the parts and the frame from the fixing means and the coupling means. If fixing or joining with screws, it is possible to easily remove and re-fix and re-join parts and frames. However, easy removal, re-fixation, and re-bonding cannot be performed at locations using fixing means such as resin bonding and welding. Therefore, when replacing parts and frames at such locations, replace the parts and frames by destroying the joints or their surroundings, and then re-fix and re-apply with adhesive, hot melt, etc. Recombination methods such as joining have been used. However, the fixing means requiring such a recombination method has not been sufficient from the viewpoint of material recycling and environment. For example, a bonding method using a material such as an adhesive and hot melt that is different from the material used in the frame (styrenic resin composition such as HIPS) is a recycled material (recycled material) In many cases, deterioration of quality such as deterioration of mechanical properties and flame retardancy of parts is caused. Moreover, it cannot be said that the joining method in which hot melt or the like has a thickness on the base material for adhesion is sufficient in terms of positioning accuracy between parts and joining strength.

  By the way, it is known that a terpene-based compound is a main component of an essential oil mainly obtained by steam distillation of a plant, and can be generally used as a fragrance.

  On the other hand, terpene compounds are also known for other uses. For example, d-limonene, which is a monoterpene, has a molecular structure that is very similar to that of styrene and has a property of dissolving polystyrene even at room temperature, and is therefore used as a shrinking agent for foamed styrene (see, for example, Reference 3).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-20744 JP 2002-328579 A JP-A-5-263065

  The purpose of the present invention is to be recyclable for recycling and friendly to the environment. Also, it can be easily repaired, that is, after defective parts are found after assembly, and the parts fixed by resin bonding, welding, etc. are separated and disassembled for repair. Another object is to propose a cartridge recycling method that can be reassembled later.

  An object of the present invention is to propose a cartridge recycling method capable of providing a cartridge with high component positioning accuracy and high rigidity.

The present invention
A method for reclaiming a cartridge that is detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, at least a part of which is formed of a styrene resin composition,
(1) separating the cartridge into at least two;
(2) Cartridge regeneration comprising the step of joining at least one of the separated parts and other separately separated parts and / or separately prepared parts other than the separated parts using a terpene solvent. Is the method. The parts other than the separated part are parts used for constituting the cartridge, such as an alternative part when the separated part cannot be reused.

  In the recycling method of the present invention, it is preferable that the step of separating the cartridge is a step of separating at a portion including the styrenic resin composition.

Further, in the present invention, at least one of the styrene resin compositions in the separated portion is configured to include 100 parts by weight of a rubber-modified styrene resin, 4 to 13 parts by weight of a flame retardant, and 0 to 5 parts by weight of a flame retardant. It is preferable.

  In the present invention, the terpene solvent is preferably d-limonene. In this case, it is preferable that the styrene resin composition in the part to be separated is a mixture of a styrene resin and a rubber-like polymer, and the rubber-like polymer is particles having an average particle diameter of 0.5 to 3.0 μm. More preferably. It is particularly preferred that the rubbery polymer is a polymer selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, polyisoprene, butadiene-isoprene copolymer, natural rubber and ethylene-propylene copolymer. .

  Moreover, it is preferable that this invention utilizes a capillary phenomenon for supply of the terpene-type solvent to a junction part.

  In the present invention, at least one of a part and a part to be joined to each other is connected to an inlet for injecting a terpene solvent, and a recess, a slit, or a slit that forms a flow path for supplying the terpene solvent to the joint It is preferable that a chamfered portion is provided.

Flow channel preferably has a cross-sectional area is 0.01~4.0mm ^2.
It is preferable that the regeneration method of the present invention includes a step of cleaning the joint surface before applying the terpene solvent.

  The present invention also provides a reproduction cartridge using at least one of the above reproduction methods.

  As described above, the invention according to the present application is a method for regenerating a cartridge that is friendly to the environment, can be easily reworked and can be regenerated, and can provide a regenerated cartridge with high positioning accuracy and high rigidity. .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the image carrier such as an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive drum”) and the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge are orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

[Description of process cartridge and main unit]
1 is a perspective view of a process cartridge according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a main cross-sectional view of the process cartridge according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a main cross-sectional view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an image forming apparatus) according to the present invention. Is illustrated. One example of the process cartridge of the present invention shown in these drawings includes an image carrier and process means acting on the image carrier. Examples of the process means include a charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, a developing device for forming a toner image on the image carrier, and a cleaning means for removing the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge B includes a photosensitive drum 7, a charging roller 8 serving as a charging unit, a cleaning blade 10a serving as a cleaning unit, and a cleaning frame 13 storing them, which are disposed around the photosensitive drum 7. The cleaning unit C including the developing unit, the developing device including the developing roller 9c and the developing blade 9d, the developing frame 12 that stores the developing device, and the developer storage frame that stores the toner (hereinafter referred to as “toner frame”). 11 and a developing unit D that includes 11.

  In addition, the developing frame body 12 and the toner frame body 11, or side surfaces of either one of the frame bodies are configured to include side covers 90 and 91 covering a drive gear train (not shown) and the like (see FIG. 1). ).

  The process cartridge B is mounted on an image forming apparatus main body A as shown in FIG. 3 and used for image formation. The recording medium 2 is sent out by a pickup roller 3b from a paper feed cassette 3a mounted at the lower part of the apparatus, conveyed by a conveying roller 3c, and waited by a registration roller 3e. The photosensitive drum 7 is selectively exposed from the exposure device 1 in synchronism with the movement of the recording medium to form a latent image. Thereafter, the toner contained in the toner frame 11 is thinly supported on the surface of the developing roller 9c by the developing blade 9d, and a developing bias is applied to the developing roller 9c to supply the toner to the photosensitive drum 7 in accordance with the latent image. Then, a toner image is formed. In synchronization with the formation of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 7, the recording medium 2 is sent from the registration roller 3 e to a facing portion where the transfer roller 4 and the photosensitive drum 7 are facing each other. By applying a bias voltage to the transfer roller 4, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred onto the transported recording medium 2. After the transfer, the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 7 is removed by the cleaning unit 10. Specifically, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 10a, and is scraped off by a squeeze sheet (not shown), and the scraped toner is collected in the waste toner reservoir 10b. The recording medium 2 onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 5, where the image is fixed, and is discharged to a discharge tray 6 at the top of the device by discharge rollers 3g, 3h, and 3i.

[Drum drive transmission mechanism]
Next, the configuration of the coupling means that is a driving force transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force from the image forming apparatus main body A to the process cartridge B will be described.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a coupling portion for attaching the photosensitive drum 7 to the process cartridge B. In the figure, a state in which the photosensitive drum 7 is attached to the process cartridge B at one end in the longitudinal direction via a drum side coupling and a cartridge side coupling is shown.
The drum-side coupling is obtained by providing a coupling convex shaft 37 (columnar shape) on a drum flange 36 attached to one end of the photosensitive drum 7, and a convex portion 37 a on the tip surface of the convex shaft 37. Is formed. In the present embodiment, the drum flange 36, the coupling convex shaft 37, and the convex portion 37a are integrally formed. The end surface of the convex portion 37 a is parallel to the end surface of the convex shaft 37. In FIG. 5, the convex portion 37 a is engaged with a concave portion 39 a provided in a component closer to the driving force source such as a motor, and plays a role of transmitting the driving force to the photosensitive drum 7. The convex shaft 37 is fitted into an inner peripheral portion 38b1 of a protruding portion 38a of a cartridge side coupling 38 described later, and functions as a drum rotation shaft. On the drum flange 36, a helical gear 37b that meshes with a developing roller gear (not shown) coaxially fixed to the developing roller 9c inside the process cartridge B serves as a driving force transmission component having a function of transmitting a driving force. As such, they are integrally provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cartridge-side coupling 38 includes a large-diameter tubular projecting portion 38a, a projecting portion 38b concentric with the projecting portion 38b2 and a disc portion 38c connecting the projecting portions. It is constructed integrally. The direction of the central axis of both protrusions and the disk portion coincides with the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum. As described above, the inner peripheral portion 38b1 of the protruding portion 38a is fitted to the convex shaft 37 of the drum side coupling and functions as a bearing thereof. As described above, the cartridge side coupling 38 functions as a bearing of the photosensitive drum, and hence is also referred to as “drum bearing 38”.

[Bonding of cleaning frame and drum bearing]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the mounting relationship between the drum bearing 38 and the cleaning frame 13 in detail. With reference to this figure, the attachment of the drum bearing 38 to the cleaning frame 13 and the attachment of the unitized photosensitive drum unit E to the cleaning frame 13 will be specifically described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the side wall 13d of the cleaning frame 13 is provided with a mounting hole 13h into which the outer peripheral portion 38b2 of the small-diameter protruding portion 38b of the drum bearing 38 is inserted. The attachment hole portion has a missing circle portion 13h1 having an opposing interval smaller than the diameter of the attachment hole. This interval is larger than the diameter of the coupling convex shaft 37. The positioning pin 13h2 provided integrally with the side surface 13d of the cleaning frame 13 is closely fitted in a hole 38e1 provided in the flange portion 38e of the drum bearing 38. The longitudinal positions of the drum bearing 38 and the cleaning frame 13 are determined by the abutting surface (reference) 80.
With the above structure, the unitized photosensitive drum 7 can be attached to the cleaning frame 13 from the cross direction in the axial direction, that is, the longitudinal direction, and the drum bearing 38 is attached to the cleaning frame 13 from the longitudinal direction. The positional relationship between the drum bearing 38 and the cleaning frame 13 is determined.

  In order to attach the unitized photosensitive drum 7 to the cleaning frame 13, as shown in FIG. 4, the photosensitive drum 7 is moved in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction, and the drum gear 37b is moved to the cleaning frame 13. Then, the coupling convex shaft 37 is inserted into the bearing mounting hole 13h through the cut-out circular portion 13h1. In this state, the drum bearing 38 is moved in the axial direction so that the coupling convex shaft 37 is fitted in the bearing portion 38b, and further moved in the axial direction so that the bearing portion 38b is fitted in the bearing mounting hole 13h of the cleaning frame 13. And screw.

  After fixing the unitized photosensitive drum 7 to the cleaning frame 13 by screwing, a terpene solvent injection port 38f formed on the drum bearing 38 is connected to the joint between the cleaning frame 13 and the drum bearing 38. A terpene solvent q (details will be described later) is supplied. The terpene solvent q can be supplied using a syringe Y such as a dropper. The supplied solvent passes through the concave portion (slit) 38g provided on the back surface of the drum bearing, which communicates with the inlet and forms a flow path for supplying the terpene solvent to the bonding surface, and reaches the bonding portion. (See FIGS. 6, 7 and 9).

The supply of the terpene solvent to the joint is preferably performed by capillary action, and the recess 38g of the first flow path from the terpene solvent inlet 38f to the vicinity of the joint has a width of 0.1 to 2 mm and a depth of 0. The flow path formed by the recesses preferably has a cross-sectional area of 4 mm ² or less. In a flow path having a cross-sectional area larger than 4 mm ² , capillary action is unlikely to occur, and supply of the terpene solvent to the joint surface tends to be difficult.

  The terpene solvent supplied to the vicinity of the joint through the recess 38g of the first flow path further causes the second flow path Z or the minute unevenness M as shown by Z and M in FIGS. Then, it spreads from the flow path to the entire bonding surface and is supplied to the entire bonding surface (see arrows indicating the flow in FIGS. 7 and 9).

When the terpene solvent that has passed through the first flow path is spread over the entire joining surface by the second flow path, if the gap between the joined parts is large as shown by Z in FIG. Supply to e is difficult. On the contrary, even when the surfaces to be joined are strongly pressed and the contact strength is strong, the capillary phenomenon hardly occurs and the supply of the terpene solvent becomes difficult. Therefore, it is preferable that the parts to be joined are close to each other or are in light contact with each other, and at least one of the joining surfaces is provided with minute irregularities as indicated by M in FIG. It is also a preferable form to provide a space so that the terpene solvent spreads. Such irregularities are, for example, wrinkles and the depth is preferably 20 to 40 μm in average (Rz). Depth is 40μm
If it exceeds 1, the joints of the embossed part will be insufficiently joined to the mating parts, so that the joint strength tends to decrease as a whole.

  In addition, when joining using a terpene solvent, it takes some time until the two parts are finally joined (for example, when d-limonene is used as a solvent, several minutes to several tens of minutes). Min), by screwing as necessary, or by providing a resin joint N (bonded by injecting molten resin between two parts) as shown in FIG. It is possible to suppress dissociation of both parts at the joint before the two parts are completely joined by the terpene solvent.

[Combination of toner frame and side cover]
Next, fixing by resin bonding between the toner frame 11 and the side covers 90 and 91 covering the drive gear train (not shown) and the drum protective member (drum shutter member) 18 will be described. .
As shown in FIGS. 20, 21, and 22, the toner frame body 11 and the side cover 90 are provided with resin joint portions 90 e and 11 h for coupling and fixing each other, and the resin joint portion 90 e shown in FIG. 20.
The molten resin 99 is poured into the gap 98 of 11h as shown in FIG. The molten resin 99 is preferably made of the same material as the toner frame 11 and the side cover 90. For example, HIPS (high impact polystyrene).

[Method for disassembling and recycling process cartridges]
Hereinafter, a method for disassembling and recycling the process cartridge B according to the present invention will be described. First, the process cartridge B is separated into a cleaning unit C and a developing unit D.
(refer graph1)

Example 1
<Disassembly and regeneration method of cleaning frame and drum bearing (see FIG. 16)>
After holding the process cartridge B, remove the screw X that fixes the drum bearing 38 to the cleaning frame 13, and attach a simple tool such as a screwdriver F to the gap 61 near the joint e where it is joined with a terpene solvent. The joint is destroyed by moving it as shown by the arrow in FIG. 16 using the principle of insertion and leverage.

Then, the cleaning frame 13 and the drum bearing 38 are separated, and any or all of the members supported by each are disassembled and inspected for reuse, replacement, repair, or all of them. Then, the terpene solvent is applied again to the separation surface of the joint part e that has been joined with the terpene solvent, and then joined again.

  Examples of the terpene solvent used for the rejoining (welding) include d-limonene, l-limonene, dl-limonene, d-α-pinene, d-β-pinene, α-terpinene, β-terpinene, and γ. -Terpinene, terpinolene, 2-carene, d-3-carene, l-3-carene, ferrandlene. Among these, d-limonene, l-limonene or dl-limonene is preferably used, and d-limonene is particularly preferably used.

At that time, the capillary phenomenon may be used as in the case of assembling a new process cartridge B. Since d-limonene has a viscosity of 0.98 cp at 25 ° C., which is almost equivalent to water, it can be supplied by capillary action that penetrates the minute space as described above. However, once the surface is used for bonding, d-limonene cannot be supplied using the capillary phenomenon again due to the roughening of the inlet, slit, and bonding surface. Therefore, another injection port, a slit, and a joint surface are provided in advance assuming one recycling as shown in FIGS. In FIGS. 12 and 13, limonene bonding is first performed using the capillary phenomenon by the inlet 38h and the slit 38i provided inside, and the parts are separated by the above-described method when disassembling and regenerating. Later, rejoining is performed by capillary action using the inlet 38j and the slit 38k provided on the outside.

Another disassembly / combination scheme will be described with reference to FIGS. The cleaning frame body 13 and the drum bearing 38 are separated by cutting, for example, the position of the breaking line P of the cleaning frame body 13 with a tool such as an ultrasonic cutter (not shown) in the vicinity of the joint e. For recombination, a new drum bearing (third part) 150 is used without using a separate drum bearing 38. Also in this case, it is preferable to supply a solvent such as d-limonene by utilizing the capillary phenomenon caused by the inlet 150a provided in the new drum bearing 150 and the slit 150b.
In Example 1, d-limonene is used as the terpene solvent, and HIPS (polystyrene rubber having an average particle diameter of 0.8 μm is mixed with 8% by mass of styrene polymer as the cleaning frame body and the drum bearing). Used).
In HIPS, 9 parts by mass of bromine-based flame retardant ethylenebispentabromobenzene and 2.5 parts by mass of antimony trioxide as the second flame retardant are used as the first flame retardant with respect to 100 parts by mass of the styrene resin. Added.
The cleaning frame and drum bearing described above had flame retardancy of UL-94 V2 rank.

<Method for Disassembling and Regenerating Toner Frame and Side Cover (Example 2)>
After holding the process cartridge, as shown in FIG. 22, a simple tool such as a screwdriver F is inserted into the gap 51 in the vicinity of the resin joint between the toner frame 11 and the side cover 90, and the lever principle is used. The joint is destroyed by moving it as shown by the middle arrow.

  Thereafter, the toner frame 11 and the side cover 90 are separated (see FIG. 17), and any or all of the members supported by each are disassembled and inspected for reuse, replacement, repair, replenishment. After performing any or all of the above, d-limonene 88 is applied to the separation surface 81 (see FIG. 18), and then the separation surfaces are rejoined. (See Figure 19)

18 and 22, resin bonding is used to fix the toner frame 11 and the side cover 90, but the same disassembly and regeneration method is performed even in the case of other fixing means (for example, ultrasonic welding, heat caulking, etc.). Can do.
Thereafter, the cleaning unit C and the developing unit D can be recombined and used as a recycling cartridge.

  As mentioned above, the production method of the recycled cartridge has been described. Even in the case of a new cartridge, d-limonene is used for separation and recombination of joints in defective parts such as scratches, replacement of parts due to defective assembly, reassembly and adjustment in the factory production process. A terpene solvent such as the beginning may be used.

  In the present invention, the terpene solvent (for example, d-limonene) is used for rejoining (welding) between two parts of the cartridge because the terpene solvent dissolves the styrene resin composition. This is because the frame / part to be joined needs to be a styrene resin composition.

The frame body / part to be joined in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a styrene resin composition that is dissolved by a terpene solvent, but as a styrene resin composition that can be suitably used as a material for a cartridge, And HIPS (high impact polystyrene) which is a rubber-modified styrene material. This material is a mixture of a rubber-like polymer or a rubber-like copolymer in order to improve impact resistance to PS (polystyrene) that is inexpensive and has good fluidity.

  In the present invention, it is preferable to use a mixture of a rubbery polymer or a rubbery copolymer having an average particle size of 0.5 to 3.0 μm as HIPS (high impact polystyrene). This is because when the average particle size of the rubber-like polymer or copolymer to be mixed is small, appearance defects (for example, scratches) at the time of molding tend to occur when molding the cartridge part, and conversely, the average particle size This is because if the diameter is large, the weldability of the toner seal member (not shown) tends to decrease. The rubbery polymer or rubbery copolymer is selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, polyisoprene, butadiene-isoprene copolymer, natural rubber, and ethylene-propylene copolymer. Is preferably used.

Moreover, the flame | frame material of the flame | frame of UL-94 V2 rank is calculated | required by the said frame material as safety | security with respect to a fire. Therefore, in the styrene-based resin composition, a brominated flame retardant (for example, ethylene bispentabromobenzene, tetrabromobisphenol A derivative and polyhalogenated aliphatic ether derivative, etc.) or phosphate ester as a first flame retardant. A flame retardant (for example, resorcinol bis (diphenyl phosphate), bisphenol A bis (diphenyl phosphate), etc.) is added. Furthermore, the addition amount of the first flame retardant can be reduced by adding the second flame retardant, and the physical properties of the styrenic resin composition serving as the base polymer can be prevented from being lowered.
As a specific example of the second flame retardant, antimony trioxide is used as the brominated flame retardant because it is most effective. The phosphoric acid ester flame retardant is not flame retardant but is improved by flame retardant by PPE (polyphenylene ether) resin.
In Example 2, d-limonene was used as the terpene solvent, and HIPS (polybutadiene rubber having an average particle diameter of 0.8 μm was added to the styrene polymer and 8% by mass as the toner frame and the side cover. Mixed) was used.
In HIPS, 7 parts by mass of resorcinol bis (diphenyl phosphate) as a first flame retardant is added to 100 parts by mass of styrene resin, and 10 parts of PPE (polyphenylene ether) resin is added. Part by mass was added.
The toner frame and the side cover had flame retardancy of UL-94 V2 rank.

  The reproduction cartridge is composed of the styrene resin composition described above.

It is a perspective view of the process cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a principal section schematic diagram of a process cartridge in an embodiment of the invention. 1 is a main cross-sectional schematic view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the partial structure outline of the process cartridge in embodiment of this invention. It is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of the process cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a component enlarged view of the process cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a component enlarged view of the process cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of the process cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of the process cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of the process cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of the process cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a component enlarged view of the process cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of the process cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of the process cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of the process cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view in the state where a simple disassembly jig (driver) was set in the process cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the isolation | separation process of the main longitudinal cross-section of the resin junction part of the process cartridge in embodiment of this invention, and its decomposition | disassembly reproduction | regeneration process. It is a figure which shows the solvent provision process of the main longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of the resin junction part of the process cartridge in embodiment of this invention, and its decomposition | disassembly reproduction | regeneration process. It is a figure which shows the joining process of the main longitudinal cross-section schematic of the resin junction part of the process cartridge in embodiment of this invention, and its reproduction | regeneration process. It is a main longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram before inject | pouring resin of the resin junction part of the process cartridge in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state which inject | poured resin in the main longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of the resin junction part of the process cartridge in embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view in the state where a simple disassembly jig (driver) was set in the process cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the conventional process cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows the partial structure outline of the conventional process cartridge.

Explanation of symbols

A ... Image forming apparatus B ... Process cartridge C ... Cleaning unit D ... Developing frame unit E ... Photosensitive drum unit
M ... minute unevenness
N ... Resin joint
P ...... fracture location
X ... screw
Z: Clearance d: Bearing surface e: Limonene joint (welded part)
q ... Limonene 1 ... Exposure device 2 ... Recording medium 3a ... Paper feed cassette 3b ... Pick-up roller 3c ... Transport roller 3e ... Registration roller 3g, 3h, 3i... Discharge roller 4... Transfer roller 5... Fixing device 6... Discharge tray 7. ... Charging roller 9c ... Developing roller 9d ... Developing blade 10 ... Cleaning means 10a ... Cleaning blade 10b ... Waste toner reservoir 11 ... Toner frame 11h ... · Resin joint 12 ··· Development frame 13 ······ Cleaning frame 13d ··· Side wall 13h ··· Bearing mounting hole 13h1 ····· notched circle portion 13h2 ..Drum protection part 36 .... Drum flange 37 .... Coupling convex shaft 37a ... Convex portion 37b ... Drum gear 38 ... Drum bearing 38a ... Large diameter protrusion 38b ... Small diameter protrusion Part 38b1 .. Inner peripheral part 38b2 .. Outer peripheral part 38c .. Disk part 38e .. Flange part 38e1 .. Hole 38f .. Injection part 38g .. Slit (recessed part)
51... Clearance between cleaning frame and drum bearing 61... Clearance between side cover and toner frame 80... Abutting surface (reference)
81... Fracture surface 88... Limonene 90, 91... Side cover 90 e ... Resin joint portion 98 ... Gaps 99 ... Melted resin (injected resin)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 107 ... Photosensitive drum 111 ... Toner frame 113 ... Cleaning frame 190, 191 ... Side cover

Claims (16)

A method for reclaiming a cartridge that is detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, at least a part of which is formed of a styrene resin composition,
(1) separating the cartridge into at least two parts;
(2) A method for reclaiming a cartridge, comprising a step of joining at least one of separated parts to another separated part and / or a part other than the separated part using a terpene solvent.   2. The method for regenerating a cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the step of separating the cartridge is a step of separating at a portion including the styrenic resin composition.   The method for reclaiming a cartridge according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the styrene resin compositions comprises a rubber-modified styrene resin and a flame retardant.   The cartridge regeneration method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the terpene solvent is d-limonene.   The method for reclaiming a cartridge according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the styrene resin compositions is a mixture of a styrene resin and a rubbery polymer.   6. The cartridge regeneration method according to claim 5, wherein the rubber-like polymer is a rubber-like homopolymer.   7. The method for regenerating a cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the rubbery homopolymer is a polymer selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polyisoprene, and natural rubber.   6. The cartridge regeneration method according to claim 5, wherein the rubber-like polymer is a rubber-like copolymer.   9. The cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the rubber-like copolymer is a polymer selected from the group consisting of a styrene-butadiene copolymer, a butadiene-isoprene copolymer, and an ethylene-propylene copolymer. How to play.   6. The cartridge regeneration method according to claim 5, wherein the rubber-like polymer is particles having an average particle diameter of 0.5 to 3.0 [mu] m.   The method for regenerating a cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the step of bonding using the terpene solvent supplies the terpene solvent to the bonding portion by utilizing capillary action.   The method for regenerating a cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the step of bonding using the terpene solvent supplies the terpene solvent by directly applying or dripping the terpene solvent to the bonding portion.   At least one of the parts and parts to be joined to each other is provided with a recess, slit, or chamfered part that communicates with an injection port for injecting the terpene solvent and forms a flow path for supplying the terpene solvent to the joining part. The method for regenerating a cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: 14. The cartridge recycling method according to claim 13, wherein the flow path has a cross-sectional area of 0.01 to 4.0 mm ² .   The method for reclaiming a cartridge according to claim 1, comprising a step of cleaning the joint surface before applying the terpene solvent.   A reproduction cartridge using the reproduction method according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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