US 5,966,566 AGranted

Recycle method for process cartridge and image forming apparatus

AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorsKazuyoshi Odagawa, Hiroo Kobayashi, Isao Ikemoto, Masahiko Yashiro, Toshiyuki Karakama, Atsushi Numagami, Tsutomu Nishiuwatoko, Minoru Sato

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Abstract

The present invention provides a method for recycling a process cartridge removably mountable to an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of: (a) dividing a process cartridge into a first frame including an image bearing member, and a second frame including a developing means and a developer containing means for containing developer used by the developing means and having an opening through which the developer is supplied to the developing means; (b) thereafter, removing the developing means from the second frame; (c) thereafter, replenishing developer to the developer containing means through the opening; (d) thereafter, removably attaching a seal for closing the opening to the opening; and (e) thereafter, locking the first and second frames to each other, thereby assembling the process cartridge.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A method for recycling a process cartridge removably mountable onto a main body of an image forming apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) dividing a process cartridge, to expose an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing sleeve disposed so as to be opposed along their respective longitudinal directions, into a first frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a second frame supporting the developing sleeve for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, and a developer containing portion for containing developer to be used by the developing sleeve and having a toner supply opening, formed along the longitudinal direction of the developing sleeve supported on the second frame, through which the developer contained in the containing portion is supplied to the developing sleeve for developing the latent image;
(b) thereafter, removing the developing sleeve from the second frame to expose the toner supply opening along a longitudinal direction thereof;
(c) thereafter, re-filling the developer containing portion with developer through the toner supply opening;
(d) thereafter, removably attaching a seal to the toner supply opening for sealing the toner supply opening;
and
(e) thereafter, attaching the developing sleeve to the second frame along the longitudinal direction of the toner supply opening;
and
(f) thereafter, coupling the first frame and the second frame to each other so that the photosensitive drum and the developing sleeve are opposed along their respective longitudinal directions, thereby assembling the process cartridge.

5 more elements

A method for recycling a process cartridge removably mountable onto a main body of an image forming apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) dividing a process cartridge, to expose an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing sleeve disposed so as to be opposed along their respective longitudinal directions, into a first frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a second frame;
the second frame including a developing frame supporting the developing sleeve for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, and a toner frame having a developer containing portion for containing developer to be used by the developing sleeve and having a toner supply opening, through which the developer contained in the containing portion is supplied to the developing sleeve for developing the latent image, which is formed in a longitudinal direction of the developing sleeve supported on the second frame;
(b) thereafter, removing the developing sleeve from the second frame to expose the toner supply opening along a longitudinal direction thereof;
(c) thereafter, re-filling the developer containing portion with developer through the toner supply opening;
(d) thereafter, removably attaching a seal to the toner supply opening for sealing the toner supply opening by inserting the seal between the developing frame and the toner frame, without detaching the developing frame from the toner frame, using an insertion member, whereby the seal is removably fixed in place by an adhesive;
(e) thereafter, attaching the developing sleeve to the second frame along the longitudinal direction of the toner supply opening;
and
(f) thereafter, coupling the first frame and the second frame to each other so that the photosensitive drum and the developing sleeve are opposed along their respective longitudinal directions, thereby assembling the process cartridge.

5 more elements

A method for recycling a process cartridge removably mountable onto a main body of an image forming apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) dividing a process cartridge, to expose an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing sleeve disposed so as to be opposed along their respective longitudinal directions, into a first frame and a second frame, wherein the photosensitive drum, a cleaning blade for cleaning a peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum, and a charge roller for charging the photosensitive drum are assembled to the first frame, and wherein the developing sleeve, which has a magnet arranged therein, and a developing blade for regulating a thickness of a developer layer adhered to a peripheral surface of the developing sleeve are assembled to the second frame in such a manner that one end of the magnet is supported by a first support member and one end of the developing sleeve is rotatably supported by the first support member via a first support piece, and a second support member is coupled to the second frame in such a manner that the other end of the magnet is supported by the second support member and the other end of the developing sleeve is rotatably supported by the second support member via a second support piece;
the second frame including a developing frame supporting the developing sleeve for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, and a toner frame having a developer containing portion for containing developer to be used by the developing sleeve and having a toner supply opening, through which the developer contained in the containing portion is supplied to the developing sleeve for developing the latent image, which is formed in a longitudinal direction of the developing sleeve supported on the second frame;
(b) thereafter, removing the developing sleeve from the second frame to expose the toner supply opening along a longitudinal direction thereof;
(c) thereafter, re-filling the developer containing portion with developer through the toner supply opening;
(d) thereafter, removably attaching a seal having a peel member on a surface thereof to the toner supply opening for sealing the toner supply opening by inserting the seal and the peel member in a gap between the developing frame and the toner frame using a rigid, thin plate, whereby the seal is removably fixed in place by an adhesive without detaching the developing frame from the toner frame;
(e) thereafter, attaching the developing sleeve to the second frame along the longitudinal direction of the toner supply opening;
and
(f) thereafter, coupling the first frame and the second frame to each other so that the photosensitive drum and the developing sleeve are opposed along their respective longitudinal directions, thereby assembling the process cartridge,
wherein, when the first frame and the second frame are coupled to each other, a connecting member having a base substrate on which a regulating member for regulating a rotary shaft around which the first frame and the second frame are rotated, and a compression spring disposed between the photosensitive drum and the developing sleeve, generate an urging force therebetween.

6 more elements

A method for re-filling a developer into a process cartridge removably mountable onto a main body of an image forming apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) disassembling a process cartridge, to expose an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing sleeve disposed so as to be opposed along their respective longitudinal directions, by dividing the process cartridge into a first frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a second frame;
the second frame including a developing frame supporting the developing sleeve for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, and a toner frame having a developer containing portion for containing developer to be used by the developing sleeve and having a toner supply opening, through which the developer contained in the containing portion is supplied to the developing sleeve for developing the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, which is formed in a longitudinal direction of the developing sleeve supported on the second frame;
(b) thereafter, removing the developing sleeve from the second frame to expose the toner supply opening along a longitudinal direction thereof;
(c) thereafter, re-filling the developer containing portion with developer through the toner supply opening;
(d) thereafter, removably attaching a seal to the toner supply opening for sealing the toner supply opening by inserting the seal between the developing frame and the toner frame connected to each other by an ultrasonic welding, without detaching the developing frame from the toner frame, using an insertion member, whereby the seal is removably fixed in place by a adhesive;
(e) thereafter, attaching the developing sleeve to the second frame along the longitudinal direction of the toner supply opening;
and
(f) thereafter, coupling the first frame and the second frame to each other rockably so that the photosensitive drum and the developing sleeve are opposed along their respective longitudinal directions, thereby reassembling the process cartridge.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.