Process cartridge and refilling method therefor

A toner refilling method for a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, developing means for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner to be used for development by said developing means, cleaning means for removing the toner remaining on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a removed toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner removed from said electrophotographic photosensitive member by said cleaning means, wherein an inside of said toner accommodating portion is divided into four chambers by three separation members, said method comprising the steps of:

• (1) a first digging step of digging a hole in said removed toner accommodating portion, wherein the hole is dug at one or both of longitudinal end portions of said removed toner accommodating portion;
• (2) a toner discharging step for discharging the toner accommodated in the removed toner accommodating portion through the hole dug in said removed toner accommodating portion by said first digging step;
• (3) a first sealing step of sealing the hole of said removed toner accommodating portion, after the discharging of the toner, wherein the hole is sealed by seal, which is in turn bonded on a cartridge frame by a bonding material;
• (4) a second digging step of digging a hole bridging over each of two longitudinal end ones of said three separation members;
• (5) a toner refilling step of refilling toner into a first chamber and a second chamber formed by said separation members, through the hole dug in said toner accommodating portion by said second digging step;
• and
• (6) a second sealing step of sealing the hole dug by said second digging step, after the toner is refilled, wherein the hole is sealed by a seal, which is in turn bonded on cartridge frame by a bonding material;
• wherein said toner accommodating portion has a toner supply opening for supplying the toner to said developing roller;
• and
• (7) resealing said toner supply opening prior to said toner refiling step.

A toner refilling method for a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, developing means for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner to be used for development by said developing means, cleaning means for removing the toner remaining on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a removed toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner removed from said electrophotographic photosensitive member by said cleaning means, wherein an inside of said toner accommodating portion is divided into four chambers by three separation members, said method comprising the steps of:

• (1) a first digging step of digging a hole in said removed toner accommodating portion, wherein the hole is dug at one or both of longitudinal end portions of said removed toner accommodating portion;
• (2) a toner discharging step for discharging the toner accommodated in the removed toner accommodating portion through the hole dug in said removed toner accommodating portion by said first digging step;
• (3) a first sealing step of sealing the hole of said removed toner accommodating portion, after the discharging of the toner, wherein the hole is sealed by seal, which is in turn bonded on a cartridge frame by a bonding material;
• (4) a second digging step of digging a hole bridging over each of two longitudinal end ones of said three separation members;
• (5) a toner refilling step of refilling toner into a first chamber and a second chamber formed by said separation members, through the hole dug in said toner accommodating portion by said second digging step, wherein said three separation members are arranged in a longitudinal direction, and said second digging step including digging a first hole bridging across one end separation member and digging a second hole bridging across the other end separation member;
• and
• (6) a second sealing step of sealing the hole dug by said second digging step, after the toner is refilled, wherein the hole is sealed by a seal, which is in turn bonded on a cartridge frame by a bonding material;
• wherein said toner accommodating portion has a toner supply opening for supplying the toner to said developing roller;
• and
• (7) resealing said toner supply opening prior to said toner refilling step, wherein in said resealing step, a resealing seal is inserted through an opening for pulling a seal sealing said toner supply opening before start of use of said process cartridge, and said resealing seal is bonded to said cartridge frame by an bonding material to seal said toner supply opening.

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a developing means for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner to be used for development by said developing means, wherein the inside of said toner accommodating portion is divided into four chambers by three separation members,
• wherein a hole is dug bridging over each of two longitudinal end ones of the three separation members, and toner is refilled through the hole, and then the hole is sealed;
• cleaning means for removing toner remaining on said electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• and
• a removed toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner removed from said electrophotographic photosensitive member by said cleaning means, wherein a hole is dug in said removed toner accommodating portion, and the toner is discharged through the hole thereof, and then the hole thereof is sealed.

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner to be used for development by said developing roller, wherein the inside of said toner accommodating portion is divided into four chambers by three separation members, wherein a hole is dug bridging over each of two longitudinal end ones of the three separation members, and toner is refilled through the hole, and then the hole is sealed;
• a toner supply opening, provided in said toner accommodating portion, for supplying the toner to said developing roller, wherein said toner supply opening is resealed;
• a cleaning blade for removing residual developer from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• and
• a removed toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner removed from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum by said cleaning means, wherein a hole is dug in said removed toner accommodating portion to one or both of longitudinal ends of said removed toner accommodating portion, and the toner is discharged through the hole thereof, and then the hole thereof is sealed by bonding material.

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner to be used for development by said developing roller, wherein an inside of said toner accommodating portion is divided into four chambers by three separation members,
• wherein a hole is dug bridging over each of two longitudinal end ones of said three separation members, and toner is refilled through the hole, and then the hole is sealed by a seal bonded on said cartridge frame, and wherein said three separation members are arranged in a longitudinal direction, and a first hole is dug bridging across one end partition member and a second hole is dug bridging across the other end separation member;
• a toner supply opening, provided in said toner accommodating portion, for supplying the toner to said developing roller, wherein said toner supply opening is resealed, wherein in said resealing step, a resealing seal is inserted through an opening for pulling a seal sealing said toner supply opening before start of use of said process cartridge, and said resealing seal is bonded to said cartridge frame by a bonding material to seal said toner supply opening;
• a cleaning blade for removing residual developer from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• and
• a removed toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner removed from said electrophotographic photosensitive member by said cleaning means, wherein a hole is dug in said removed toner accommodating portion at one or both of longitudinal ends of said removed toner accommodating portion, and the toner is discharged through the hole thereof, and then the hole thereof is sealed by bonding material.