Method of manufacturing developer container, method of manufacturing process cartridge, developer container and process cartridge

A developer container, comprising:

• a developer container main body that contains developer therein;
• an opening for discharging the developer from said developer container main body;
• and
• a sealing member that seals said opening,
• wherein said sealing member includes a tear portion which is torn up when said opening is unsealed, and
• wherein said sealing member is welded onto said developer container main body by supplying an electric current to an electrode in a state where said sealing member is sandwiched between said electrode and said developer container main body to cover said opening with said sealing member.

A method of manufacturing a process cartridge which is detachably mountable on an image forming apparatus main body, said process cartridge including a developer containing chamber that has an opening which is sealed with a sealing member and contains developer therein, and a developing chamber that develops a latent image on an image bearing member with the developer, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming a tear portion in said sealing member which is torn up when unsealing said opening;
• sandwiching said sealing member between an electrode and said developer containing chamber to cover said opening with said sealing member;
• and
• welding said sealing member onto said developer containing chamber by supplying an electric current to said electrode.

A process cartridge which is detachably mountable on an image forming apparatus main body, said process cartridge comprising:

• a developing chamber that develops a latent image on an image bearing member with developer;
• a developer containing chamber for containing the developer therein and having an opening through which the developer is supplied to said developing chamber;
• and
• a sealing member that seals said opening,
• wherein said sealing member has a tear portion which is torn up when unsealing said opening, and
• wherein said sealing member is welded onto said developer containing chamber by supplying an electric current to said electrode in a state where said sealing member is sandwiched between said electrode and said developer containing chamber to cover said opening with said sealing member.

A method of manufacturing a developer container having an opening which is sealed with a sealing member, said method comprising the steps of:

• sandwiching said sealing member between an electrode and said developer container to cover said opening with said sealing member;
• and
• welding said sealing member onto said developer container by supplying an electric current to said electrode,
• wherein a welding portion of said sealing member by said electrode includes a surrounding portion that surrounds said opening, and a reinforcing portion that reinforces said surrounding portion.

A developer container comprising:

• a developer container main body that contain a developer therein;
• an opening for discharging the developer from said developer container main body;
• and
• a sealing member that seals said opening,
• wherein said sealing member is welded onto said developer container main body by supplying an electric current to an electrode in a state where said sealing member is sandwiched between said electrode and said developer container main body to cover said opening with said sealing member, and
• wherein a welding portion of said sealing member by said electrode includes a surrounding portion that surrounds said opening, and a reinforcing portion that reinforces said surrounding portion.

A method of manufacturing a process cartridge which is detachably mountable on an image forming apparatus main body, said process cartridge including a developer containing chamber that has an opening which is sealed with a sealing member and contains developer therein, and a developing chamber that develops a latent image on an image bearing member with the developer, said method comprising the steps of;

• sandwiching said sealing member between an electrode and said developer containing chamber to cover said opening with said sealing member;
• and
• welding said sealing member onto said developer containing chamber by supplying an electric current to said electrode,
• wherein a welding portion, of said sealing member by said electrode includes a surrounding portion that surrounds said opening, and a reinforcing portion that reinforces said surrounding portion.

A process cartridge which is detachably mountable on an image forming apparatus main body, said process cartridge comprising;

• a developing chamber that develops a latent image on an image bearing member with developer;
• a developer containing chamber for containing the developer therein and having an opening through which the developer is supplied to said developing chamber;
• and
• a sealing member that seals said opening,
• wherein said sealing member is welded onto said developer containing chamber by supplying an electric current to an electrode in a state in which said sealing member is sandwiched between said electrode and said developer containing chamber to cover said opening with said sealing member, and
• wherein a welding portion of said sealing member by said electrode includes a surrounding portion that surrounds said opening, and a reinforcing portion that reinforces said surrounding portion.