Remanufacturing method for a process cartridge and process cartridge having a drum, a drum frame, a developing frame, a developer frame, side covers, an image transfer opening, and a drum supporting shaft

A remanufacturing method for a process cartridge, wherein the process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and said process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having, at one longitudinal end, a drive receiving portion configured and positioned to receive a driving force from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus;

• a drum frame rotatably supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developing frame configured and positioned to support a developing roller configured and positioned to develop a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developer frame accommodating a developer to be used for a developing operation of the developing roller;
• a first side cover fixed to one longitudinal end of the drum frame and to one longitudinal end of the developer frame;
• and a second side cover fixed to the other longitudinal end of the drum frame and to the other longitudinal end of the developer frame;
• an image transfer opening formed along a longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for permitting transfer of a visualized image provided by the developing roller onto a recording material;
• a drum supporting shaft having a flange portion fixed to the drum frame at the other longitudinal end of the drum frame, a first shaft portion inserted into the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a second shaft portion extending oppositely from the first shaft portion with the flange portion therebetween and extending through an opening of the second side cover, said method comprising:
• (a) a first hole forming step of forming a first hole in the second side cover around the second shaft portion of the drum supporting shaft;
• (b) a drum shaft removing step of removing the drum supporting shaft from the drum frame through the first hole formed by said first hole forming step;
• (c) a photosensitive drum removing step of removing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum from said drum frame through the image transfer opening;
• (d) a photosensitive drum insertion step of inserting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum into the drum frame through the image transfer opening;
• (e) a drum shaft mounting step of mounting the drum supporting shaft on the drum frame;
• and
• (f) a refilling step of filling developer into the developer frame.