Abstract:
A method presently disclosed provides a housing configured to accommodate a roller, configured to accommodate a toner, and configured to accommodate at least one magnetic seal member, wherein the at least one magnetic member is configured to minimize leakage of the toner between the roller and the housing and couples at least one non-magnetic seal member with the housing, wherein the at least one non-magnetic seal member is configured to minimize leakage of the toner between the housing and the roller.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/785,443, filed on Mar. 14, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of toner cartridges. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Toner cartridges for laser printers are well known in the art. Generally, a cartridge will include sufficient toner for a large number of prints, such as 10,000 or 25,000, packaged in a housing which also contains those printing components that require periodic replacement, such as a photosensitive drum, magnetic and charging rollers, a regulating blade and a cleaning blade. The printing components and housing typically have a usable life, if properly cleaned and maintained, that greatly exceeds the number of prints for which toner is provided. Hence, toner cartridges are often remanufactured with a new supply of toner. 
         [0004]    Remanufactured toner cartridges are both cost effective for consumers and environmentally sound. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of printing equipment often provide “recycling” programs that allow consumers to return empty toner cartridges; the returned cartridges are shredded to recover some of the raw materials. Remanufacturing, in contrast, directly reuses most of the components of the cartridges, thereby greatly reducing the amount of material ending up in landfills, and having a substantially smaller carbon footprint than recycling. 
         [0005]    In a typical laser printer, a revolving photosensitive drum or belt having a surface capable of holding a localized static charge is charged to a uniform voltage; a modulated laser is then scanned across the surface to remove the charge from those areas which are intended to be blank in the final image. A layer of toner, in the form of a fine powder, is then applied to the belt or drum by a regulating blade; the toner adheres to those areas of the belt or drum that were discharged by the laser. The drum or belt then deposits the toner on a print medium (such as paper), and residual toner is wiped off the drum or belt by a cleaning blade. 
         [0006]    A challenge faced by toner cartridge remanufacturers is variability among components available for use in remanufactured cartridges. Components may be of varying ages, minor engineering changes may have been made between production runs of a cartridge, or it may be necessary to use a combination of refurbished parts and new replacement parts. 
         [0007]    The toner used in a remanufactured cartridge can also vary from that used by the OEM. While the remanufacturer will typically specify a toner that essentially matches the important performance characteristics of the OEM toner, and therefore provides a print quality close to the OEM toner, toner formulations are complex, involving many production steps and constituents. Some aspects of the OEM toner may be covered by patents, or different toner additives may be used due to availability or cost. 
         [0008]    The OEM has the ability to fine tune the printing system, including the components in the cartridge, the toner, and the operation of the printer itself, including various initialization and cleaning operations. The OEM may, for example, formulate the materials of the photosensitive drum, the cleaning blade, and PCR such that the printing system functions reliably for the number of prints provided by the original supply of toner, but not necessarily for the extended life of a refilled cartridge. The OEM may also utilize coatings or treatments on the components which are substantially degraded due to wear by the end of the original life of the cartridge. 
         [0009]    The wear on components and differences in toner formulations may result in prints produced over time with a remanufactured cartridge exhibiting print defects. 
         [0010]    To keep the cost of remanufactured cartridges low, it is important that any modifications to the cartridge be done in a manner that requires as few steps as possible and that don&#39;t require significant changes to the cartridge itself. 
         [0011]    There is thus a need for a toner cartridges which do not exhibit print defects, and/or for methods allowing simple retrofitting of cartridges. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a disassembled perspective view of a cartridge frame body. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view showing state of some of the parts before they are assembled. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 3  depict a perspective view of a magnetic seal. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view showing a developing bearing frame body and a developing frame body before they are assembled. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 5  is a perspective view showing a developing roller and a magnetic seal. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6A  depicts a sectional view of the developing roller and the magnetic seal taken along an XVII-XVII line in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 6B  depicts is a macrograph of the part of  6 B in  FIG. 6A . 
           [0019]      FIGS. 7A-F  depict exemplary replacement seals according to the present application. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    In the following description, like reference numbers are used to identify like elements. Furthermore, the drawings are intended to illustrate major features of exemplary embodiments in a diagrammatic manner. The drawings are not intended to depict every feature of every implementation nor relative dimensions of the depicted elements, and are not drawn to scale. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to clearly describe various specific embodiments disclosed herein. One skilled in the art, however, will understand that the presently claimed invention may be practiced without all of the specific details discussed below. In other instances, well known features have not been described so as not to obscure the invention. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, a perspective view showing the frame configuration of the cartridge  15  before it is assembled is shown in  FIG. 1 . The cartridge  15  is chiefly composed of three frame bodies: a cleaning frame body  13  in which the photosensitive body drum  11 , the charging roller  12  and the cleaning blade  14  are integrally incorporated; a developing frame body  17  in which the developing roller  18  and the developing blade (not shown) are integrally supported; and the toner containing frame body  16  containing toner therein. Moreover, side covers  19  and  20  for supporting the three frame bodies  13 ,  17  and  16  integrally fix them on both the side faces of them to constitute the cartridge  15 . 
         [0023]    The cleaning frame body  13  fixes the cleaning blade  14  with machine screws or the like thereto, and supports the charging roller  12  rotatably at the core metal portions on both end portions of the charging roller  12  with bearing members (not shown) being put between the cleaning frame body  13  and the charging roller  12 . Moreover, the cleaning frame body  13  rotatably supports the photosensitive body drum  11  at flange portions  11   a  and  11   b  on both end portions of the photosensitive body drum  11  with bearing members  22  and  23  being put between the cleaning frame body  13  and the photosensitive body drum  11 . The toner containing frame body  16  contains toner (not shown) in its inside together with toner carrying members. 
         [0024]    The developing roller  18  including a magnet roller  18   a,  the developing blade  26  and a magnetic seal  50  (both shown in  FIG. 2 ) are disposed in the developing frame body  17 . One side end of the magnet roller  18   a  is supported by a projecting portion  17   e  being a developing roller bearing of the developing frame body  17  and the other side end thereof is supported by the developing frame body  17 , and the magnet roller  18   a  keeps a gap with the developing roller  18 . The developing roller  18  is configured to perform the electric power supply thereto through an electric contact point disposed in the inside of the developing roller  18 . Moreover, a spacer roller  53  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) for keeping the interval from the photosensitive body drum  11  constant is provided on the developing roller  18 . 
         [0025]    The developing frame body  17  is supported by the cleaning frame body  13  swingably around a suspension hole  17   d  formed on one side face side of the developing roller  18  such that the center of the developing roller  18  goes toward the center of the photosensitive body drum  11 . 
         [0026]    Moreover, the cartridge  15  is configured to pressurize the projecting portion  17   e,  which is fixed on a central axis line of the developing roller  18  in the lengthwise direction thereof on the other side face side of the developing frame body  17 , toward the center of the photosensitive body drum  11 . The projecting portion  17   e  is configured to be inserted into a groove  19   e  (an elongated hole in the shape of a straight line substantially parallel in the center direction of the photosensitive body drum  11  in the present embodiment) formed on the side cover  19  in the state movable to the center direction of the photosensitive body drum  11 . Moreover, an elastic member (not shown) is disposed in the inside of the groove  19   e  such that the elastic body pressurizes the projecting portion  17   e  to bias the developing roller  18  along the photosensitive body drum  11 . On the other hand, the groove  19   e  also has the role of a locating hole for regulating the moving direction of the developing roller  18 . 
         [0027]    When a driving force works on the cartridge  15 , not shown gears, which are respectively provided on the photosensitive body drum  11  and the developing roller  18 , are designed to receive a force respectively in the direction of interlocking with each other around the suspension hole  17   d  lest the forces should work in the direction to separate the photosensitive body drum  11  and the developing roller  18  from each other. Moreover, the elastic member provided in the groove  19   e  also pressurizes the developing roller  18  toward the photosensitive body drum  11  always. 
         [0028]    The side cover  19  on one side has a size covering a principal section of the cartridge  15 . The side cover  19  is disposed on one end of the cartridge  15  in the lengthwise direction. The side cover  19  integrally supports the cleaning frame body  13  and the toner containing frame body  16  by fixing them thereto respectively. A hole portion  19   a  in the side cover  19  is located on the same axis as that of the center of the photosensitive body drum  11 . At this time, if the location of the side cover  19  is performed by the use of the bearing member  22 , the location can be determined highly precisely. Moreover, a locating portion  19   b  formed at a position distant from the photosensitive body drum  11  as far as possible locates the position of side cover  19  in the rotational direction thereof together with a locating portion  13   b  formed on a side face of the cleaning frame body  13 , and the side cover  19  and the cleaning frame body  13  are fixed to each other with several machine screws. Furthermore, the toner containing frame body  16  forms locating portions  16   a  and  16   b  on its one end face. The toner containing frame body  16  is located to the side cover  19  by means of the locating portions  16   a  and  16   b  and locating portions  19   c  and  19   d  disposed on the side cover  19 . The toner containing frame body  16  is fixed to the side cover  19  with several machine screws. The side cover  20  on the other side is similarly configured. 
         [0029]    Moreover, opening portions  16   c  and  17   a  are respectively formed in the toner containing frame bode  16  and the developing frame body  17  for the supply of toner from the toner containing frame body  16  to the developing roller  18 . The opening portions  17   a  and  16   c  in the developing frame body  17  and the toner containing frame body  16  are connected through a seal member  21 . Moreover, the toner containing frame body  16  is located by the side covers  19  and  20 , the developing frame body  17  is located by the cleaning frame body  13 . There is consequently the possibility that distortion is produced in either of the developing frame body  17  and the toner containing frame body  16  owing to dimension errors between them. Accordingly, the seal member  21  is made from a flexible material. In such a configuration, if toner increases in the cartridge  15 , the load owing to the increased toner is imposed on the side covers  19  and  20 , and no loads are imposed on the developing roller  18 . Consequently, no surplus loads are imposed on the photosensitive body drum  11 , and stable images can be obtained. Moreover, because the three frame bodies  13 ,  17  and  16  are connected to the side covers  19  and  20  on their side faces, the locations of the respective frame bodies  13 ,  17  and  16  can be determined by means of only the side covers  19  and  20 . Consequently, the frame bodies  13 ,  17  and  16  can precisely be connected to each other. 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, a perspective view showing a state of some of the parts of the developing frame body  17  before they are assembled is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the developing blade  26  is composed of a sheet metal  26   a  and a polyurethane rubber  26   b  fixed on the sheet metal  26   a  by hot melt adhering or with a pressure sensitive adhesive double coated tape or the like. By the contact of the polyurethane rubber  26   b  with a generating line of the developing roller  18 , the quantity of the toner on the peripheral surface of the developing roller  18  is regulated. Incidentally, a silicon rubber may be employed as the developing blade  26 . Female screws  17   g  are provided on anti-climbing planes  17   f  formed in the developing frame body  17  as blade fitting portions, and dowels (not shown) for location are formed at positions near to the centers of the anti-climbing planes  17   f  a little. Accordingly, fitting holes  26   d  formed in the sheet metal  26   a  are fitted to the dowels (not shown) each other. After that, machine screws  57  are screwed into the female screws  17   g  through tapped holes  26   c  to fix the sheet metal  26   a  to the anti-climbing planes  17   f.  Thus, the position of the leading edge of the polyurethane rubber  26   b  is determined, and then the touching pressure of the polyurethane rubber  26   b  to the developing roller  18  is determined. Consequently, the distance from the leading edge of the polyurethane rubber  26   b  to the touching position is determined, and the development condition is determined. Moreover, one end of the sheet metal  26   a  of the developing blade  26  is bent by the angle of about  90  degrees to form a bent portion  26   e  for the heightening of the rigidity of the sheet metal  26   a  in order that the polyurethane rubber  26   b  is touched to the developing roller  18  uniformly in the lengthwise direction of the developing roller  18 . 
         [0032]    Incidentally, an elastic seal member  51 , which is made from an urethane-foam or the like is formed in a shape of substantially a letter U, is stuck to the developing frame body  17  along its elastic seal seat surface  17   h  (see  FIG. 2 ) at the upper part of the opening portion  17   a  in the lengthwise direction and its seat surfaces  17   j  in the widthwise direction for the prevention of the leakage of toner to the outside. A first straight line portion  51   c  of the elastic seal member  51  is stuck to the seat surface  17   h  of the developing frame body  17 , and second straight line portions  51   a  of the seal member  51  are stuck to the seat surfaces  17   j.  The elastic seal member  51  is put between the developing frame body  17  and the developing blade  26  to be pinched out by them, and thereby the leakage of toner is prevented. Lug portions  51   b  are formed on the elastic seal member  51  at both end portions thereof to project from the end portions in the lengthwise direction of the seal member  51  by several millimeters. The lug portions  51   b  perform the role of locating the magnetic seal  50 , which will be described later. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the magnetic seals  50  are attached to grooves  17   k  formed on the surfaces adjoining (at the insides of arc surfaces  171  in the lengthwise direction of the developing roller  18 ) to the arc surfaces  171  and flat surfaces continuing upward from the arc surfaces  171  along the peripheral direction of the developing roller  18  at both end portions of the opening portion  17   a  in the lengthwise direction of the developing roller  18 . The magnetic seals  50  will be described later in detail. 
         [0034]    The developing roller  18  is a cylindrical member made of a metal material of aluminum, stainless steel or the like. A surface treatment such as carbon coating, abrasive blasting or the like is performed to the surface of the developing roller  18  for the heightening of the electrification characteristic of developer. Only the carbon coating is performed in the present embodiment. 
         [0035]    Sleeve flanges (only one end portion of them is shown in  FIG. 2 )  18   s , which are stepped cylindrical members made of a metal material of aluminum, stainless steel or the like, are force-fitted into both end portions of the developing roller  18 . Each of the sleeve flanges  18   s  is coaxial with the developing roller  18 , and is composed of a first cylindrical portion  18   b  and a second cylindrical portion  18   c,  the outer diameters of which are smaller in the order. The first cylindrical portion  18   b  is provided with a spacer roller  53  being a ring-shaped distance regulating member for regulating the opposed distance between the developing roller  18  and the photosensitive body drum  11 . The space roller  53  is made from an insulating material such as polycetal or the like. A developing bearing frame body  55  (its especially enlarged perspective view seen from the reverse side is shown in  FIG. 4 ) for supporting the developing roller  18  rotatably and locating it to the developing frame body  17  is disposed around the second cylindrical portion  18   c . Moreover, two flat surfaces  18   d  are for at the tip portion of the second cylindrical portion  18   c,  and a developing roller gear  54  made from a synthetic resin is fitted to the cylindrical portion  18   c  having the flat surfaces  18   d.  The developing roller gear  54  is driven by a helical drum gear (not shown) provided at an edge portion of the photosensitive body drum  11  to rotate the developing roller  18 . The helical teeth of the drum gear are twisted such that the thrust thereof in the axial direction thereof works in the lengthwise direction of the developing roller  18 . Moreover, a magnet roller (designated by a reference numeral  18   a  in  FIG. 1 ) for making toner adhere to the peripheral surface of the developing roller  18  is built in the developing roller  18 . Because the sleeve flange on the other end portion of the developing roller  18  has a similar configuration, the descriptions thereof is here omitted. The developing bearing frame body  55  is made from a resin material producing a good slidable property, and is shaped to be a flat plate. At approximately the center of the flat plate portion, a cylindrical bearing portion  55   a  is formed. The bearing portion  55   a  fits to the second cylindrical portion  18   c  of the sleeve flange  18   s,  and thereby the developing roller  18  slides therein while rotating. Moreover, a dowel  55   c  including a first step portion  55   d,  and a second step portion  55   e  at its end portion, both being for locating the developing bearing frame body  55  against the developing frame body  17 , is formed on the surface  55   g  of the flat plate portion of the developing bearing frame body  55  substantially parallel to the bearing portion  55   a.  The dowel  55   c  performs the role of locating the developing bearing frame body  55  against the developing frame body  17 . The first step portion  55   d  and the second step portion  55   e,  both being coaxial with the dowel  55   c  at the end portion of the dowel  55   c,  is used for the location of the magnetic seal  50 , which will be described later. Moreover, on the same surface  55   g,  tapped holes  55   b  for the fixation of the developing bearing frame body  55  to the developing frame body  17  with machine screws  56  or the like, and a dowel  55   f  for the location of the developing bearing frame body  55  to the developing frame body  17  are formed. The dowel  55   c  of the developing bearing frame body  55  is fitted into a location hole  17   c  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) formed in the developing frame body  17 , and the dowel  55   f  is fitted into a fitting elongated hole  17   o  formed in the developing frame body  17 , and further the surface  55   g  of the developing bearing frame body  55  is touched to a surface  17   p  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) of the developing frame body  17 . Then, the machine screws  56  are screwed into female screws  17   q  and  17   r  (both shown in  FIG. 4 ) formed on the developing frame body  17  through the two tapped holes  55   b,  and the developing bearing frame body  55  is fixed to the developing frame body  17 , Thereby, the positions of the developing blade  26  and the developing roller  18 , both being fixed to the developing frame body  17 , are surely determined, and stable images can be outputted. 
         [0036]    Because the developing roller  18  slides in the bearing portion  55   a.  of the developing bearing frame body  55  mentioned above, the material of the developing bearing frame body  55  is preferably a comparatively high priced material—having a good sliding property (for example, a bearing material based on poly phenylene sulfide (PPS) or polyamide (PA)). 
         [0037]    The magnetic seal  50  (shown in an especially enlarged figure in  FIG. 3 ) is an injection-molded article. A magnet  50   a  being a component of the magnetic seal  50  includes Nd—Fe—B magnetic power with a nylon binder. A magnetic plate  50   b  being another component of the magnetic seal  50  is made from iron. The magnet  50   a  and the magnetic plate  50   b  are molded by the insert molding such that the magnetic plate  50   b  is embedded in the magnet  50   a  except for the remaining inner periphery and the outside side face of the magnet  50 . However, the joining by an adhesive, the joining by a pressure sensitive adhesive double coated tape, or the attraction joining only by a magnetic three can similarly bring about the advantages that will be described later. Moreover, the gap between the developing roller  18  and the magnetic seal  50  is, for example, about 0.1 mm to 0.7 mm, and the magnetic flux density on the surface of the developing roller  18  owing to the magnetic force of the magnetic seal  50  in this case is, for example, about 1,000 Gs to 2,000 Gs. Then, as shown in  FIG. 5 , in the state such that two magnetic seals  50  are fixed to the developing frame body  17 , the magnets  50   a  of the two magnetic seals  50  are located to be opposed to each other. 
         [0038]    By the disposition of the two magnetic seals  50  in the way described above, the lines of magnetic forces  75  (shown in  FIG. 6B ) of each of the magnetic seals  50  are formed between the magnet  50   a  and the magnetic plate  50   b  to enter into the magnetic plate  50   b  having a higher permeability as shown in  FIG. 6B , which is a macrograph of the part of  6 B in  FIG. 6A . Consequently, no lines of magnetic forces expand to the outside of the width of the magnetic seal  50 . 
         [0039]    Consequently, no toner diffusing along the lines of magnetic forces  75  (shown in  FIG. 6B ) on the surface of the magnetic seal  50  exists on the outside of the magnetic plate  50   b  on the side of the magnetic plate  50   b  (or the outside of the opening portion  17   a ). The phenomenon such that toner is touched to the spacer roller  53  being a distance regulating member owing to the rotations of the developing roller  18  does not happen. 
         [0040]    Consequently, the spacer roller  53  can be approached to the side face of the magnetic seal  50 , and thereby naturally the cartridge  15  can be miniaturized. 
         [0041]    Moreover, because the toner on the magnetic seal  50  does not diffuse to the outside of the opening portion  17   a  of the developing frame body  17  from the magnetic plate  50   b,  the toner can securely be held within a range where the magnetic force on the surface of the magnetic seal  50  is strong. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , both the magnet  50   a  and the magnetic plate  50   b  have a half arc portion  50   e  (or the half arc portion of the magnetic seal  50 ), the inner periphery side of which forms a gap g 1  with the developing roller  18 , and an end face portion  50   e , which offsets to the side of the developing frame body  17  halfway on the half arc portion  50   e  to extend upward in a straight line from the upper part of he half arc portion  50   e.  The cross section of the magnet  50   a  is nearly a square, and the cross section of the magnet  50   a  combined with the magnetic plate  50   b  is a square. An arc-shaped bending portion  50   h  projects towards the outside in the radial direction from the outer periphery  50   f  of the magnet  50   a,  and the location hole  50   d  is exists at the center of the arc of the bending portion  50   h.  As shown in  FIG. 3 , the upper end of the magnetic plate  50   b  is fitted into the end face portion  50   e,  and the magnet  50   a  and the magnetic plate  50   b  form the same plane on the outside side face of the magnetic seal  50  in the lengthwise direction. As shown in  FIG. 2 , a groove  17   k  ( 17   k   1 ,  17   k   2  and  17   k   3 ) for the attachment of the magnetic seal  50  is formed from the anti-climbing plane  17   f,  to which the developing blade  26  is attached, to an adjoining position to the arc surface  171  along an end portion of the developing roller  18 . The groove  17   k  is composed of an arc groove  17   k   1  along the arc of the arc surface  171  (see  FIG. 2 ), a straight line groove  17   k   2  along the anti-climbing plane  17   f  in a vertical direction, and a location groove  17   k   3 , in which the bending portion  50   h  (the inner periphery of which forms the location hole  50   d ) of the magnetic seal  50  is just fitted. These grooves  17   k   1 ,  17   k   2  and  17   k   3  are continuously formed. The location groove  17   k   3  is recessed from the base of the arc groove  17   k   1 . The width of the groove  17   k  and the width of the magnetic seal  50  are formed to be the same. And, the magnetic seal  50  is fitted into the groove  17   k.  Thereby, the position of the magnetic seal  50  to the developing roller  18  in the lengthwise direction of the developing roller  18  is determined. Moreover, the depth of each portion of the groove  17   k  for the attachment of the magnetic seal  50  thereto is deeper than the thickness of each corresponding portion of the magnetic seal  50  by, for example, about 0.1 mm to 0.7 mm when the magnetic seal  50  is fitted into a predetermined position (the fitting will be described later). That is, the surface of the outer periphery  50   f  of the magnetic seal  50  keeps a gap (not shown) from the groove  17   k  of the developing frame body  17 . For the prevention of the leakage of toner through the gap, a magnetic pole is disposed on the surface of the outer periphery  50   f  of the magnetic seal  50  as a magnetic pole is disposed on the surface opposed to the developing roller  18 , and the leakage of toner to the outside can be prevented by the magnetic force caused by the magnetic pole. Moreover, the magnetic seal  50  may be configured such that the magnetic plate  50   b  is extended to the surface of the outer periphery  50   f  to prevent the leakage of the magnetic force to the outside likewise on the developing roller  18  side for heightening the effect of the magnetic force. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the magnetic seals  50  are brought into the grooves  17   k  of the developing frame body  17  for the attachment of the magnetic seals  50  as indicated by an arrow D. Then, the half arc portions  50   e  of the magnetic seals  50  are fitted into the arc grooves  17   k   1 , and the end face portions  50   c  are fitted into the straight line grooves  17   k   2 . After that, the magnetic seals  50  are pushed into the arc grooves  17   k   1  and the straight line grooves  17   k   2  until the inner peripheral surfaces of the half arc portions  50   e  are at substantially the same heights as those of the arc surfaces  171 . Next, the first straight line portion  51   c  of the elastic seal member  51  is stuck to the elastic seat surface  17   h  being the end face of a rib of the developing frame body  17  in the lengthwise direction, and the second straight line portions  51   a  are stuck to the seat surfaces  17   j  of the developing frame body  17 . And further, the lug portions  51   b  are stuck to the end face portions  50   c  of the magnetic seal  50 . At this time, because the heights of the elastic seal seat surface  17   h  and the magnetic seal  50  are different from each other, the elastic seal member  51  is not easy to stick. For making it easy to stick the elastic seal member  51 , a tapered plane  50   g  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) is formed. Moreover, the lug portions  51   b  and the second straight line portions  51   a  may be formed to be separate bodies in view of material allotting. As for the incorporation of the developing blade  26 , as described above, the fitting holes  26   d  formed in the sheet metal  26   a  are fitted to the dowels (not shown) each other. After that, the machine screws  57  are screwed into the female screws  17   g  through the tapped holes  26   c  formed in the sheet metal  26   a  to fix the sheet metal  26   a  to the anti-climbing planes  17   f.  Next, the unit of the developing roller  18  is temporarily put in the developing frame body  17  to be coaxial with the half arc portions  50   e  of the magnetic seals  50 . At this time, the developing roller  18  does not directly contact with the magnetic seals  50  owing to the repulsive force of the polyurethane rubber  26   b  of the developing blade  26 , and consequently the surface of the developing roller  18  is not injured by the magnetic seals  50 . 
         [0044]    Furthermore, the developing bearing frame bodies  55  are assembled from both side face sides of the developing frame body  17  (though  FIG. 2  shows one end side of the developing frame body  17 , the other end side thereof is in the same configuration). That is, as described above by reference to  FIG. 4 , the dowels  55   f  are fitted into the fitting elongated holes  17   o  (shown in  FIG. 4 ), and further the surfaces  55   g  of the developing bearing frame bodies  55  are touched to the surfaces  17   p  of the developing frame body  17 . Then, the machine screws  56  are screwed into the female screws  17   q  and  17   r  formed on the surfaces  17   p  through the tapped holes  55   b  formed in the developing bearing frame bodies  55 , and the developing bearing frame bodies  55  are fixed to the developing frame body  17 . Thereby, the magnetic seals  50  are located around the first step portions  55   d  in the states of being able to tilt. The magnetic seals  50  receive moments around the first step portions  55   d  by forces biased by the repulsive force of the elastic seal member  51  lying between the magnetic seals  50  and the developing blade  26 , and the lower end faces of the magnetic seals  50  are touched to the lower end faces  17   k   4  of the grooves  17   k  of the developing frame body  17 . 
         [0045]    In an effort to minimize leakage of toner between the magnetic seal(s)  50  and the developing roller  18 , in some embodiments according to the present disclosure, one or both of the magnetic seal(s)  50  may be replaced with a flexible material  190 , as shown in  FIG. 7A . In some embodiments, the flexible material  190  comprises adhesive layer (not shown) covered by a protective layer  201  as shown in  FIG. 7D . In some embodiments, the protective layer  201  is removed and the flexible material  190  (shown in  FIG. 7D ) is coupled with the grooves  17   k.  In another embodiment, the magnetic seal(s)  50  is installed above the flexible material  190 . In another embodiment, the magnetic seal(s)  50  is installed in the grooves  17   k  and the flexible material  190  is coupled with the magnetic seal(s)  50 . In another embodiment, the magnetic seal(s)  50  is installed in the grooves  17   k  and the flexible material  190  is installed adjacent with the magnetic seal(s)  50 . 
         [0046]    In some embodiments according to the present applications, one or both of the magnetic seal(s)  50  may be replaced with material  191  that is substantially shaped like the magnetic seal  50 , as shown in  FIG. 7B . In some embodiments, the material  191  comprises adhesive layer (not shown) covered by a protective layer  202  as shown in  FIG. 7E . In some embodiments, the protective layer  202  is removed and the material  191  (shown in  FIG. 7E ) is coupled with the grooves  17   k.  In another embodiment, the magnetic seal(s)  50  is installed above the material  191 . In another embodiment, the magnetic seal(s)  50  is installed in the grooves  17   k  and the material  191  is coupled with the magnetic seal(s)  50 . In another embodiment, the magnetic seal(s)  50  is installed in the grooves  17   k  and the material  191  is installed adjacent with the magnetic seal(s)  50 . In another embodiment according to the present applications, one or both of the magnetic seal(s)  50  may be replaced with material  195  that may comprise at least two materials  192  and  193  that are coupled together as shown in  FIG. 7C . In some embodiments, the material  195  comprises adhesive layer (not shown) covered by a protective layer  203  as shown in  FIG. 7F . In some embodiments, the protective layer  203  is removed and the material  195  (shown in  FIG. 7F ) is coupled with the grooves  17   k.  In another embodiment, the magnetic seal(s)  50  is installed above the material  195 . In another embodiment, the magnetic seal(s)  50  is installed in the grooves  17   k  and the material  195  is coupled with the magnetic seal(s)  50 . In another embodiment, the magnetic seal(s)  50  is installed in the grooves  17   k  and the material  195  is installed adjacent with the magnetic seal(s)  50 . 
         [0047]    Replacing the one or more magnetic seals  50  with the materials  190  or  191  or  195  provides tighter fit between the materials  190 ,  191 ,  195  and the developing roller  18 . Combining the one or more magnetic seals  50  with the materials  190  or  191  or  195  also provides tighter fit between the magnetic seals  50  and the materials  190 ,  191 ,  195  and the developing roller  18 . 
         [0048]    In one embodiment according to the present application, the materials  190 ,  191  may be used to replace the magnetic seal(s)  50  during remanufacturing of the cartridge  15 . In one embodiment, the material  192  may be Teflon felt and the material  193  may be foam. 
         [0049]    The materials  190  and/or  191  may comprise plastic, polymeric material, woolen felt or PTFE pile, a foamed material such as polyurethane foam or sponge rubber, or Teflon felt disposed above a foamed material. 
         [0050]    While several illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternative embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 
         [0051]    As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The term “plurality” includes two or more referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains. 
         [0052]    The foregoing detailed description of exemplary and preferred embodiments is presented for purposes of illustration and disclosure in accordance with the requirements of the law. It is not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise form(s) described, but only to enable others skilled in the art to understand how the invention may be suited for a particular use or implementation. The possibility of modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. No limitation is intended by the description of exemplary embodiments which may have included tolerances, feature dimensions, specific operating conditions, engineering specifications, or the like, and which may vary between implementations or with changes to the state of the art, and no limitation should be implied therefrom. Applicant has made this disclosure with respect to the current state of the art, but also contemplates advancements and that adaptations in the future may take into consideration of those advancements, namely in accordance with the then current state of the art. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims as written and equivalents as applicable. Reference to a claim element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated. Moreover, no element, component, nor method or process step in this disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for . . . ” and no method or process step herein is to be construed under those provisions unless the step, or steps, are expressly recited using the phrase “step(s) for . . . ”