Remanufacturing method for process cartridge

A remanufacturing method for a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the process cartridge includes a drum holding frame supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having at one end a driving force receiving portion for receiving a driving force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a developing means frame supporting a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developer accommodating frame having a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be used to develop the electrostatic latent image by the developing roller, a first end cover fixed to one longitudinal end of the drum holding frame and to one longitudinal end of the developer accommodating frame at one longitudinal end of the developing means frame, and a second end cover fixed to the other longitudinal end of the drum holding frame and to one longitudinal end of the developer accommodating frame at the other longitudinal end of the developing means frame, the second end cover including a grip for facilitating mounting and demounting of the process cartridge relative to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said method comprising:

• (a) a first end cover removing step of cutting a fixing portion between the first end cover and the drum holding frame and cutting a fixing portion between the first end cover and the developer accommodating frame, and removing the first end cover at the other longitudinal ends of the drum holding frame, the developing means frame, and the developer accommodating frame;
• (b) a second end cover removing step of cutting a fixing portion between the second end cover and the drum holding frame and cutting a fixing portion between the second end cover and the developer accommodating frame, and removing the second end cover at the other longitudinal ends of the drum holding frame, the developing means frame and the developer accommodating frame;
• (c) a drum holding frame separating step of pulling, after the end covers are removed, a pin provided in the one longitudinal end of the drum holding frame out of the drum holding frame, and removing a spring mounted between the one longitudinal end of the drum holding frame and the one longitudinal end of the developing means frame, and then separating the drum holding frame and the developing means frame;
• (d) a drum bearing removing step of removing, at the one end, a drum bearing supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum at the one end;
• (e) a drum shaft removing step of removing, at the other end, a drum shaft supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum at the other end;
• (f) a drum removing step of removing the one end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the drum holding frame, thus removing the photosensitive drum from the drum holding frame;
• (g) a drum mounting step of inserting one end of a new electrophotographic photosensitive drum having at one end a driving force receiving portion for receiving a driving force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, such that the driving force receiving portion is exposed outside the drum holding frame, and inserting the drum shaft at the other end from outside of the drum holding frame, thus mounting a new electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the drum holding frame;
• (h) a developing frame coupling step of inserting, after the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is mounted to the drum holding frame, the pin through or into the one longitudinal end of drum holding frame and the one longitudinal end of the developing means frame, and mounting the spring between the one longitudinal end of the drum holding frame and the one longitudinal end of the developing means frame, thus coupling the drum holding frame and the developing means frame;
• (i) a developer refilling step of refilling a developer into the developer accommodating portion;
• (j) a first end cover mounting step of fixedly mounting a first end cover to the one longitudinal end of the drum holding frame and to the one longitudinal end of the developer accommodating frame at the one longitudinal end of the developing means frame;
• and
• (k) a second end cover mounting step of fixedly mounting a second end cover to the other longitudinal end of the drum holding frame and to the other longitudinal end of the developer accommodating frame at the one longitudinal end of the developing means frame,
• wherein in said first end cover mounting step, when the first end cover is mounted to the one longitudinal end of the drum holding frame and to the one longitudinal end of the developer accommodating frame, and in said second cover mounting step, when the second end cover is mounted to the other longitudinal end of the drum holding frame and to the other longitudinal end of the developer accommodating frame, a member for correcting longitudinal position is fixed.