Patent ID: 6721520
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A remanufacturing method for a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:(a) a frame separating step of separating a process cartridge into a lower frame member having an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said photosensitive drum and a cleaning blade for removing a developer remaining on said photosensitive drum, and an upper frame having a charging roller for electrically charging said photosensitive drum and a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be used for developing the electrostatic latent image; (b) a photosensitive drum dismounting step of dismounting said photosensitive drum from said lower frame member by removing from said lower frame member a supporting member provided at one and the other longitudinal ends of the photosensitive drum; (c) a developing roller dismounting step of dismounting said developing roller from said lower frame member; (d) a magnetic seal sticking step of sticking magnetic seals on said lower frame member along a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction of said developing roller such that they are opposed to parts of a peripheral surface of said developing roller, and are disposed at one and the other longitudinal ends of said developing roller, respectively, when said developing roller is mounted to said lower frame member, wherein there is provided a gap between an outer surface of a stuck magnetic seal and a part of a peripheral surface of said developing roller; (e) an elastic member sticking step of sticking a blade elastic member at each of one and the other longitudinal ends of a developing blade on its backside which is opposite from a side opposed to said developing roller, said developing blade being effective to regulate an amount of the developer deposited on the peripheral surface of said developing roller; (f) a developing roller mounting step of mounting said developing roller onto said lower frame member; (g) a photosensitive drum mounting step of mounting said photosensitive drum to said lower frame member by inserting said photosensitive drum into said lower frame member and mounting said supporting member to an outside of said lower frame member at said one and other longitudinal ends; (h) a developer filling step of refilling the developer into said developer accommodating portion in said upper frame; and (i) a frame coupling process of connecting the upper frame into which the developer has been refilled with the lower frame member having said blade elastic member on the backside of said developing blade, said magnetic seal, said developing roller and said photosensitive drum which have been remounted.