Frame, cartridge, image forming apparatus, and method for manufacturing frame

A method for manufacturing a frame of a cartridge that is detachably attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus,

• the frame including a first supporting member that rotatably supports a rotating member, and a second supporting member that supports the first supporting member,
• the second supporting member including an opening that partially exposes the first supporting member, a first engaged portion, and a second engaged portion,
• the first supporting member being disposed to be adjacent to the second supporting member in a direction crossing an axial direction of the rotating member and supported by the second supporting member, the first supporting member including a first engaging portion that engages with the first engaged portion and a second engaging portion that engages with the second engaged portion in a plane crossing the axial direction of the rotating member,
• the first engaging portion being configured to apply force to the first engaged portion in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first engaged portion moves when the opening opens, and
• the second engaging portion being configured to apply force to the second engaged portion in a direction opposite to a direction in which the second engaged portion moves when the opening opens,
• the method comprising:
• bringing a mold into contact with the second supporting member and injecting a molten resin into a space formed between the second supporting member and the mold to form the first supporting member.

A frame of a cartridge that is detachably attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus, the frame comprising:

• a first supporting member having a bearing portion that rotatably supports a rotating member;
• and
• a second supporting member that supports the first supporting member, wherein
• in a cross-section orthogonal to an axial direction of the rotating member, the second supporting member has an opening that partially exposes a contour of the first supporting member, and is provided with the first engaged portion on one side thereof and the second engaged portion on the other side thereof in relation to a straight line that connects the center of rotation of the rotating member and a midpoint of the opening, and
• in the cross-section orthogonal to the axial direction of the rotating member, the first supporting member includes a first engaging portion that engages with the first engaged portion and a second engaging portion that engages with the second engaged portion, the first and second engaging portions being convex portions that protrude from the bearing portion.

A method for manufacturing a frame of a cartridge that is detachably attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus,

• the frame including a first supporting member having a bearing portion that rotatably supports a rotating member, and a second supporting member that supports the first supporting member,
• the method comprising:
• a first step of preparing the second supporting member that is provided with a first engaged portion on one side thereof and a second engaged portion on the other side thereof in relation to a straight line that connects the center of rotation of the rotating member and a midpoint of an opening;
• a second step of bringing a mold into contact with the second supporting member and injecting a molten resin into a space formed between the second supporting member and the mold to form the first supporting member, wherein
• in the second step,
• the first supporting member is formed so that a portion of a contour of the first supporting member in a cross-section orthogonal to an axial direction of the rotating member is exposed from the opening of the second supporting member, and
• a first engaging portion that protrudes from the bearing portion and engages with the first engaged portion is formed of a resin injected into a space formed between the first engaged portion and the mold, and a second engaging portion that protrudes from the bearing portion and engages with the second engaged portion is formed of a resin injected into a space formed between the second engaged portion and the mold.