Patent ID: 6574445
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A method for remanufacturing a process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said process cartridge includes a first unit supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a second unit, which includes a developing frame supporting a developing roller, a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be used for development by the developing roller and a developer supply opening for supplying to the developing roller the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion, said first unit and second unit being rotatably coupled with each other, said method comprising:(a) a unit separating step of separating the first unit and the second unit from each other; (b) a developing roller dismounting step of dismounting the developing roller mounted to the second unit which has been separated by said separation step; (c) an additional seal mounting step of mounting an additional seal along an original seal previously mounted to the developing frame along a longitudinal direction of the developing frame to prevent leakage of the developer through and between the developing roller and the developing frame; (d) a developer refilling step of refilling the developer into the developer accommodating portion of the second unit which has been separated by said separation step; (e) a developing roller remounting step of remounting the developing roller to the second unit which has been separated by said separation step; and (f) a unit re-coupling step of recoupling the first unit and the second unit with each other, by which the process cartridge is remanufactured without remounting a toner seal to the developer supply opening, which was unsealed by removing the original seal upon the start of use of the process cartridge.