Process cartridge remanufacturing method

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 frame supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having at one end a driving force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive 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 frame supporting a developing roller configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• a developer frame having a developer accommodating portion configured to accommodate a developer to be used to develop the electrostatic latent image by the developing roller;
• a first end cover fixed to one longitudinal ends of the drum frame, the developing frame and the developer frame;
• and a second end cover fixed to the other longitudinal ends of the drum frame, the developing frame and the developer frame and, the second end cover including a grip configured and positioned to facilitate mounting and demounting of the process cartridge relative to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the method comprising:
• (a) an end cover removing step of cutting a fixing portion between the second end cover and the drum frame and cutting a fixing portion between the second end cover and the developer frame, and removing the second end cover at the other longitudinal end of the drum frame, the other longitudinal end of the developing frame and the other longitudinal end of the developer frame;
• (b) a drum shaft removing step of removing at the other end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a drum shaft rotatably supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum at the other end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
• (c) a roller separating step of applying forces to the drum frame, the developing frame and the developer frame in directions crossing with a longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum so as to separate the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the developing roller from each other;
• (d) a drum removing step of moving the electrophotographic photosensitive drum outwardly from the process cartridge at the other end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, while maintaining the forces applied to the drum frame, the developing frame and the developer frame, so that the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is inclined, and then removing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the drum frame;
• (e) a drum mounting step of inserting into the drum frame one end of a new electrophotographic photosensitive drum having at one end a driving force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive 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 frame, and inserting the drum shaft at the other longitudinal end of the drum frame from outside of the drum frame, thus mounting a new electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the drum frame;
• (f) a developer refilling step of opening a filling port provided in the developer accommodating portion, refilling the developer and then closing the filling port;
• and
• (g) an end cover mounting step of fixedly mounting the second end cover to the other longitudinal end of the drum frame, the other longitudinal end of the developing frame and the other longitudinal end of the developer frame.