Abstract:
A remanufacturing method for remanufacturing a process cartridge includes (i) a pin removing step of removing a pin which connects the transfer member unit and the drum unit at each of one and the other longitudinal ends of the process cartridge; (ii) a drum unit removing step of removing the drum unit from the transfer member unit; (iii) a one-end cover removing step of removing an end cover from one longitudinal end of the transfer member unit; (iv) a screw unit removing step of removing a screw unit, wherein the screw unit integrally includes a screw disposed in a removed developer accommodating portion, provided in the transfer member unit, for accommodating a developer removed from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a gear for transmitting a rotational driving force to the screw, and an inlet opening for feeding a developer from the drum unit into the removed developer accommodating portion, and wherein when the screw unit is removed from the transfer member unit frame, the screw disposed in the removed developer accommodating portion is pulled out through the opening of the screw unit provided in the removed developer accommodating portion; (v) a developer removing step of removing the developer accommodated in the removed developer accommodating portion through the opening of the screw unit; (vi) a screw unit mounting step of inserting a screw into the removed developer accommodating portion through the opening of the screw unit, and and mounting the screw unit to a transfer member unit frame; (vii) a one-end cover mounting step of mounting the one-end cover to the transfer member unit; and (viii) a coupling step of coupling the transfer member unit and the drum unit by pins.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a method for remanufacturing a process cartridge. Here, a process cartridge means a cartridge in which a charging means, a cleaning means, and an electrophotographic photoconductive member are integrally disposed, and which is removably mountable in the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.  
           [0002]    An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes electrophotographic copying machines, electrophotographic printers (LED printers, laser beam printers, etc.), electrophotographic facsimileing machines, electrophotographic wordprocessors, etc.  
           [0003]    In the field of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which employs an electrophotographic image formation process, a cartridge system, that is, a system in which a single or plurality of processing means which act on an electrophotographic photoconductive member are integrally disposed in a cartridge removably mountable in the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, has been employed. A cartridge system allows a user to maintain an image forming apparatus without relying on a service person, drastically improving an image forming apparatus in terms of operational efficiency. Thus, a process cartridge system has been widely used in the field of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.  
           [0004]    A process cartridge such as the above described one uses developer to form an image on recording medium. In other words, an image formation process consumes developer. Thus, as the amount of the developer in a process cartridge is reduced by consumption to an amount too small for forming images satisfactory to a user who purchased the process cartridge, the process cartridge loses its commercial value.  
           [0005]    Thus, there have been known various methods for remanufacturing a process cartridge. One of such methods is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application 7-140866.  
           [0006]    The process cartridge manufacturing disclosed in this patent includes a process for suctioning out the toner in the toner bin of a process cartridge, through the opening for allowing the toner removed from a photoconductive drum by a cleaning blade, to enter the toner bin.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    There has been desired a simple method for remanufacturing a process cartridge, which has lost its commercial value due to the consumption of the developer therein, into a commercially viable process cartridge.  
           [0008]    The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple method for remanufacturing a process cartridge.  
           [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for remanufacturing a process cartridge, the amount of the developer in which has been reduced by consumption to a level at, or below, which it is impossible to form images satisfactory to a user, into a commercially viable process cartridge.  
           [0010]    These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus, at a plane parallel to the lateral walls of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the left end portion of the process cartridge, at a plane parallel to the lateral walls of the image forming apparatus.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the process cartridge, as seen from the left side.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the process cartridge, as seen from the right side.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a plan view of the left side of the process cartridge, for showing the structure of the drum shutter of the process cartridge.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the removed developer storage box of the process cartridge.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a plan view of the left side of the process cartridge, from which the left side cover has been removed.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the process cartridge, for showing how to remove pins.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the process cartridge, for showing how to remove the photoconductive member unit from the process cartridge (cartridge frame).  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the process cartridge, for showing how to remove the shutter from the process cartridge (cartridge frame).  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is also a perspective view of the process cartridge, for showing how to remove the shutter from the process cartridge (cartridge frame).  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the process cartridge, for showing how to remove the charge roller unit from the process cartridge (cartridge frame).  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the process cartridge, for showing how to remove the side covers from the process cartridge (cartridge frame).  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the process cartridge, for showing how to remove the photoconductive drum from the process cartridge (cartridge frame).  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the process cartridge, for showing how to remove the cleaning blade and developer catching sheet from the process cartridge (cartridge frame).  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the process cartridge, for showing how to remove the cleaning (sweeping) blade from the process cartridge (cartridge frame).  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the process cartridge, for showing how to remove the removed developer in the process cartridge (cartridge frame).  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the process cartridge, for showing how to remove the side cover from the transfer member unit.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the process cartridge, for showing how to remove the bladed wheel unit from the transfer member unit.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the process cartridge, for showing how to remove the removed developer which is in the transfer member unit. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]    (Embodiment 1)  
         [0032]    Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings. In the following descriptions of the embodiments, the “front side” of the image forming apparatus means the upstream side of the apparatus in terms of the direction in which recording medium is conveyed from the transfer process to the fixation process (right-hand side in FIG. 1). The “left or right side” of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, or those of the process cartridge, means the left or right side thereof as seen from the front side of the apparatus. The “lengthwise direction” means the direction parallel to the surface of the recording medium and intersectional (virtually perpendicular) to the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed. The referential numbers in the following descriptions are for referring to drawings, and are not intended to limit in structure the items to which they are assigned.  
         [0033]    First, referring to FIG. 1, the general structure of the color image forming apparatus in this embodiment, and the image forming operation thereof, will be described. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an image forming apparatus in accordance with the present invention, which in this embodiment is an electrophotographic full-color laser beam printer employing four developers different in color, for showing the general structure thereof.  
         [0034]    As shown in FIG. 1, the color image forming apparatus A in this embodiment comprises: an electrophotographic photoconductive drum  1 ; an exposing means  3  which projects an optical image in accordance with image formation information, onto the photoconductive member  1 ; and a developing apparatus  4  having a plurality of developing devices which are for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member  1 , and are different in the color in which they develop the electrostatic latent image. It also comprises an intermediary transferring apparatus having: a transfer belt  5   a  onto which the developer images different in color are temporarily transferred; and a transfer roller, as the secondary transferring means, for transferring the developer images on the transfer belt  5   a,  onto a recording medium P, for example, a piece of recording paper, OHP sheet, fabric, etc. Further, it comprises: a fixing apparatus  8  having a pressure roller and a heat roller; a conveying means for conveying the recording medium P to the transferring apparatus  5  and fixing apparatus  8 , in the listed order, and then, discharging it from the image forming apparatus; etc.  
         [0035]    Next, the details of the image formation process of the color image forming apparatus A will be described.  
         [0036]    The photoconductive member  1  is rotated in the direction (counterclockwise direction) indicated by an arrow mark in FIG. 1, in synchronism with the rotation of the transfer belt  5   a.  As the photoconductive member  1  is rotated, the peripheral surface of the photoconductive member  1  is uniformly charged by a charging apparatus  2 . Then, the uniformly charged portion of the peripheral surface of the photoconductive drum  1  is exposed to a beam of light projected, while being modulated with the image formation information regarding, for example, yellow component of an intended image, from the exposing means  3 . As a result, an electrostatic latent image in accordance with the image formation information regarding the yellow component is formed on the photoconductive member  1 .  
         [0037]    The exposing means  3  is a means for exposing the photoconductive member  1  to an optical image of an intended image by projecting onto the photoconductive member  1  a beam of light while modulating the beam of light with the image formation information read in through an external apparatus or the like. It comprises a laser diode, a polygon mirror, a scanner motor, a focusing lens, and a reflection mirror. As image formation signals are given to the exposing means  3  from an external device or the like, its laser diode emits light in response to the image formation signals, and the light is projected in the form of a beam of light onto the polygon mirror, which is being rotated at a high speed by the scanner motor. Then, the beam of light is reflected by the polygon mirror, is projected through the focusing lens, and is projected onto the reflection mirror, so that the peripheral surface of the photoconductive member  1  is scanned by the beam of light. As a result, the numerous points of the uniformly charged peripheral surface of the photoconductive member  1  are selectively exposed, forming thereby an electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the photoconductive member  1 .  
         [0038]    In synchronism with the formation of an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member  1 , the developing apparatus  4  is driven to orbitally move one of the developing devices, for example, the yellow component developing device  4 Y, into the development position. In the development position, voltage is applied to the development roller  4   a  to adhere the yellow developer to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member  1 , in order to develop the latent image.  
         [0039]    Next, such voltage that is opposite in polarity to the developer is applied to the pressing roller (primary transfer roller)  5   j,  which keeps the transfer belt  50   a  pressed on the photoconductive member  1 . As a result, the image on the photoconductive member  1  formed of the yellow developer, is transferred (primary transfer) onto the transfer belt  5   a.    
         [0040]    As the primary transfer of the image formed of the yellow developer is completed as described above, another developing device, for example, the magenta component developing device ( 4 M), of the developing apparatus  4  is orbitally moved into the development position, and is locked into the position, where it opposes the photoconductive member  1 . The above described process for forming an electrostatic latent image, process for forming a developer image, and process for transferring (primary transfer) a developer image, are sequentially repeated for magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk) color components. As a result, four developer images different in color are layered on the transfer belt  5   a.    
         [0041]    Meanwhile, the secondary transfer roller  11  is kept in a position in which it does not contact the transfer belt  5   a,  and so is the cleaning charge roller  5   f  as a cleaning unit.  
         [0042]    After the formation of the four developer images different in color on the transfer belt  5   a,  the secondary transfer roller  11  is pressed on the transfer belt  5   a  as shown in FIG. 1. In addition, in synchronism with this pressing of the secondary transfer roller  11 , a recording medium P kept on standby in a predetermined position in the adjacencies of a pair of registration rollers  7 , as a conveying means, is sent into the nip between the transfer belt  5   a  and secondary transfer roller  11 .  
         [0043]    To the transfer roller  11 , such bias voltage that is opposite in polarity to the developers is being applied. Therefore, the developer images on the transfer belt  5   a  are transferred (secondary transfer) all at once onto the surface of the recording medium P as the recording medium P is sent into the nip.  
         [0044]    Next, the recording medium P on which the developer images have been transferred as described above is conveyed to the fixing means  8  by a conveyer belt unit  12 . In the fixing means  8 , the plurality of developer images are fixed by the pressure roller and heat roller of the fixing means  8 . Then, the recording medium P is conveyed by a pair of discharge rollers  13  along a discharge guide  15 . Thereafter, the recording medium P is discharged into a delivery tray  10  on top of the color image forming apparatus A. Incidentally, designated by a referential number  18  is a conveyance roller.  
         [0045]    Meanwhile, the cleaning charge roller  5   f  is pressed upon the transfer belt  5   a  after the transfer, and a predetermined bias voltage is applied to the cleaning charge roller  5   f,  removing thereby the residual charge from the transfer residual developer, that is, the developer which remained on the transfer belt  5   a  after the transfer. The transfer residual developer from which electrical charge has been removed is transferred back onto the photoconductive member  1  from the transfer belt  5   a,  in the nip between the photoconductive member  1  and transfer belt  5   a;  the surface of the transfer belt  5   a  is cleaned. The transfer residual developer having been transferred back onto the photoconductive member  1  is removed and recovered by the cleaning blade  6  for the photoconductive member  1 . The recovered residual developer is conveyed as removed developer through a conveyance path specified therefor, and is collected into removed developer storage portion  216 .  
         [0046]    The developing apparatus  4  removably holds four development cartridges ( 4 Bk,  4 M,  4 Y, and  4 C) storing four developers, one for one, different in color, that is, black (Bk), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and cyan (C) developers. The development cartridges are removably fixed in predetermined positions, one for one, in the development rotary  70  of the developing apparatus  4 . The development rotary  70  is rotated about its center shaft, and is provided with a pair of rotary flanges (unshown), in the form of a disc, which are solidly fixed to the two ends of the center shaft, one for one. With this solid fixation of the pair of flanges, the development cartridges do not disengage from the development rotary  70  even if the development rotary  70  rotates. In order to take a given development cartridge out of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, the development cartridge is to be pulled by its handle (unshown); the operation for mounting or dismounting a development cartridge can be carried out by a user.  
         [0047]    The development cartridges ( 4 Bk,  4 M,  4 Y, and  4 C) have a developer storage portion and a development portion. The developer storage portion is filled with developer of a specific color. As a stirring means rotates, the developer is conveyed to the development portion. In the development portion, as a developer supply roller rotates, the developer from the developer storage portion is supplied to the surface of the development roller. In addition, the developer is formed into a thin layer by the development blade, while being electrically charged by the friction between the developer and the combination of the development blade and development roller. Then, as development bias is applied to the development roller while the development roller is rotated, the thin layer of the developer on the development roller develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum. Next, referring to FIGS.  2 - 7 , a single-piece process cartridge formed by unitizing the photoconductive member unit and intermediary transfer member unit will be described.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the left side of the process cartridge  20  as seen from the front side of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge  20  as seen from the left side. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cartridge  20  as seen from the right side, and FIG. 5 is a side view of the cartridge  20 , for showing the structure of the drum shutter. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the removed developer storage box  216 , at a plane parallel to the bottom of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 7 is a left side view of the cartridge  20 , the left side cover of which has been removed. Referring to FIG. 2, the cartridge  20  comprises a drum unit  21  and a transfer member unit  22 . The drum unit  21  has the photoconductive drum, and a photoconductive member frame  129  for rotationally supporting the photoconductive member  1 . The transfer member unit  22  has the transfer belt  5   a  and removed developer storage portion  216 . The drum unit  21  is above the transfer member unit  22 , in terms of the direction in which the cartridge  20  is projected in FIG. 6. The left and right side covers  260  and  261  (FIGS. 3 and 4) are solidly fixed to the lengthwise ends of the transfer member unit  22 , one for one. The covers  260  and  261  extend far enough to cover the lengthwise ends of the photoconductive member unit  21  as well, holding thereby the photoconductive member unit  21  from the lengthwise ends thereof.  
         [0049]    In the drum unit  21 , the photoconductive drum  1  is rotationally attached to the photoconductive member frame  129  (cartridge frame  20   a ) with the interposition of the left bearing  102  (FIG. 3) and right bearing  106  (FIG. 4). A predetermined amount of force for rotationally driving the photoconductive drum  1  is transmitted to the photoconductive drum  1  from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus through a coupling  124  (FIG. 4) attached to the right lengthwise end of the photoconductive member  1 .  
         [0050]    Referring to FIG. 2, the photoconductive member  1  is in contact with the charge roller  2 , which is kept pressed upon the photoconductive member  1  by a pair of compression springs  126 , with the interposition of a pair of bearings  125  located at the lengthwise ends of the charge roller  2  one for one. With the provision of this structural arrangement, the charge roller  2  is rotated by the rotation of the photoconductive member  1 . At least one of the pair of bearings  125  is formed of an electrically conductive material, so that a predetermined charge bias voltage can be applied to the charge roller  2  through the bearing  125  to uniformly charge the peripheral surface of the photoconductive member  1 . Incidentally, the charge roller  2 , bearings  125 , and springs  126  are integral parts of the charge roller unit  140 .  
         [0051]    The drum unit  21  is provided with a drum shutter  119 , which is opened or closed by the operation for mounting the cartridge  20  into the image forming apparatus main assembly  100 , or removing it therefrom, respectively. The shutter  119  is for protecting the drum  1 .  
         [0052]    The shutter  119  is rotatably attached to the side covers  260  and  261 , with the interposition of an auxiliary arm  121 , one end of which is rotatably attached to the arm attachment portion  121   a  of the cover  260 , and the other end is rotatably attached to the arm attachment portion  121   b  of the shutter  119 . Further, the drum unit  21  is provided with an arm  120 , which is under the pressure generated by the resiliency of a spring  123  in the closing direction of the shutter  119 . The arm  120  is rotatably attached to the shutter shaft  124  of the cover  260 . One end of the arm  120  is provided with a claw  120   a,  with which the arm  120  is attached to the arm attachment portion  120 b of the shutter  119 . Designated by a referential number  122  is a retainer ring, which prevents the arm  120  from disengaging from the shaft  124  (FIGS. 3 and 10).  
         [0053]    The cartridge frame  20   a  (photoconductive member frame  129 ) holds the cleaning blade  6 , which is attached to a predetermined portion of the cartridge frame  20   a.  The transfer residual developer, that is, the developer remaining on the transfer belt  5   a  after the image transfer from the transfer belt  5   a,  is recovered onto the photoconductive member  1 , and then, is scraped away, along with the development residual developer, that is, the developer remaining on the photoconductive member  1  after the image transfer from the photoconductive member  1 , by the blade  6 . After being scraped away from the photoconductive member  1  by the blade  6 , the removed developer is stored in the removed developer storage portion  216  of the transfer member unit  22 . The means for conveying the removed developer to the removed developer storage portion  216  will be described later.  
         [0054]    Next, the intermediary transferring apparatus  5 , which constitutes the transfer member unit  22 , will be described. The transfer belt  5   a  of the transferring apparatus  5  is stretched around the driving roller  240  and following roller  241 , which are supported by the frame  245  of the transfer member unit  22 . The driving roller  240  is rotatably attached to the transfer member unit  22  by its lengthwise ends, with the interposition of the left bearing  201  (FIG. 3) and right bearing  202  (FIG. 4). A predetermined amount of force for rotationally driving the driving roller  240  is transmitted to the driving roller  240  through the coupling  242  (FIG. 4) attached to the right lengthwise end of the driving roller  240 . A pair of bearings  243  which are supporting the following roller by its lengthwise ends, are provided with a pair of compression springs  244 , one for one, which provide the transfer belt  5   a  with a predetermined amount of tension.  
         [0055]    The transferring apparatus  5  is provided with a primary transfer roller  5   j,  which is positioned in a manner to sandwich the transfer belt  5   a  between itself and photoconductive member  1 , being supported by a pair of bearings  246 , by its lengthwise ends. The primary transfer roller  5   j  is kept pressed against the photoconductive member  1  by the resiliency of a pair of compression springs  247 , with the transfer belt  5   a  sandwiched between the primary transfer roller  5   j  and photoconductive member  1 . With the provision of this structural arrangement, the primary transfer roller  5   j  is rotated by the rotation of the photoconductive member  1 . At least one of the pair of bearings  246  is made of an electrically conductive material, making it possible to apply a predetermined transfer bias voltage to the primary transfer roller  5   j  in order to transfer (primary transfer) the developer on the photoconductive member  1  onto the transfer belt  5   a.    
         [0056]    The transferring apparatus  5  is also provided with a cleaning charge roller portion  223 , which is positioned in a manner to oppose the driving roller  240 , with the interposition of the transfer belt  5   a . The residual electrical charge of the residual developer on the transfer belt  5   a  is removed by the cleaning charge roller portion  223 ; it is removed by applying a predetermined bias to the cleaning charge roller  5   f  of the cleaning charge roller portion  223 . The cleaning charge roller  5   f  is supported by a pair of bearings  211 , by its lengthwise ends. Further, the cleaning charge roller  5   f  is kept pressed against the driving roller  240 , with the transfer belt  5   a  sandwiched between the two rollers  5   f  and  240 , by a pair of compression springs  212 . With the provision of this structural arrangement, the cleaning charge roller  5   f  is rotated by the rotation of the transfer belt  5   a  (driving roller  240 ). At least one of the pair of bearings  211  is made of an electrically conductive material. To the cleaning charge roller  5   f,  a predetermined bias voltage is applied so that the residual electrical charge of the developer on the transfer belt  5   a  is removed. Then, the residual developer on the transfer belt  5   a  is electrostatically transferred back onto the photoconductive member  1 , in the primary transfer nip, and is removed from the photoconductive member  1  by the cleaning blade  6 . Then, the removed residual developer is stored in the removed developer storage portion  216 , as described before.  
         [0057]    Next, the residual developer conveying means, that is, the means for conveying the removed residual developer will be described.  
         [0058]    The transfer member unit  22  has the removed developer storage portion  216 , which is located on the opposite side of the transfer belt  5   a  with respect to the photoconductive member unit  21 . The removed developer storage portion  216  comprises a part of the intermediary transfer member frame  245  and a certain number of partitioning plates  250  welded thereto. It is the final storage for the residual developer from the photoconductive member  1 .  
         [0059]    As the residual developer is scraped away from the photoconductive member  1  by the blade  6 , it is prevented by a developer catching sheet  124  from falling onto the transfer belt  5   a,  and accumulates on the developer catching sheet  124 . Then, as a developer conveying sweeping blade  151  is rotated, the removed developer having accumulated on the developer catching sheet  124  is swept into the deeper section of the photoconductive member frame  129 , that is, swept out in the direction to be moved away from the photoconductive member  1 . Then, it is conveyed further leftward, as seen from the front side of the apparatus (frontward in FIG. 2), by the rotation of a first screw  128  located more inward of the photoconductive member frame  129  than the developer conveying sweeping blade  151 . The sweeping blade  151  is rotatably supported by the frame  20   a  with the interposition of a pair of sweeping blade bearings  151   a  (FIG. 16). The frame  20   a  is provided with a hole  152 , which is at the left lengthwise end of the first screw  128 , and through which the removed developer falls after being conveyed leftward by the first screw  128 . Then, the removed developer is sent to the receiving hole  253   a  of a cover  253  for a bladed wheel  255 , which leads to the removed developer storage portion  216 . The frame  20   a  is provided with a sealing member  254 , which is attached to the bottom edge of the hole  152 , preventing thereby the developer from leaking from the joint between the holes  152  and  253   a.  The box  216  is a part of the unit  22 . Referring to FIG. 5, the cover  253  for the bladed wheel  255  is attached to the left side of the transfer member frame (cartridge frame  20   a )  245 , with a sealing member  256  sandwiched between them. Disposed on the inward side of the cover  253  is the bladed wheel  255 , which is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, as seen from the left side, conveying thereby the removed developer toward the box  216 . The cover  253  overlaps with the left side of the storage portion  216 . The portion of the cover  253 , which overlaps with the storage portion  216 , is provided with a hole, which leads to the interior of the bladed wheel cover  253 . Further, the frame  20   a  is provided with a second screw  258 , which extends through this hole of the overlapping portion, in the lengthwise direction of the frame  20   a.  Thus, as the screw  258  is rotated, the removed developer having been conveyed thereto by the bladed wheel  255  is conveyed from the left side of the storage portion  216  to the deeper end of the right side thereof. The storage portion  216  has a plurality of small chambers created by partitioning the storage portion  216  with the plurality of vertical partitioning walls. As the removed developer is conveyed into the storage portion  216 , the small chambers of the storage portion  216  are sequentially filled, starting from the leftmost chamber. The rightmost chamber is provided with a detection portion  269  for detecting that the box  216  is full of the developer. The detection portion  269  comprises a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion. It compares the amount of the light the light receiving portion receives when there is no removed developer, with the amount of the light receiving portion receives when the light from the light emitting portion is blocked by the removed developer, in order to determine whether or not the storage portion  216  is full. Further, the detection portion  269  is provided with a wiping member  270  for wiping the light emitting surface  269   a  and light receiving surface  269   b.  The wiping member  270  comprises: a rotational axle  270   b  located at the mid point between the light emitting surface  269   a  and light receiving surface  269   b;  and a piece of flexible sheet  270   a  attached to the rotational axle  270   b.  Thus, as the rotational axle  270   b  is rotated, the piece of flexible sheet  270   a  wipes away the residual developer on the light emitting surface  269   a  and light receiving surface  296   b.    
         [0060]    Next, referring to FIG. 7, the structural arrangement for transmitting driving force to the residual developer conveying means will be described.  
         [0061]    As described above, a predetermined amount of force for rotationally driving the photoconductive member  1  and driving roller  240  are transmitted thereto from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus through couplings  124  and  242  located at the right lengthwise end of the process cartridge  20 . The driving roller  240  is provided with a gear  262  which is attached to the left lengthwise end of the driving roller  240 . The force from the apparatus main assembly is further transmitted to a gear  271  attached to the lengthwise end of the rotational shaft  270   b  of the aforementioned wiping member  270  from the gear  262  through two gears  267  and  268 . The gear  271 , and the gear  268 , that is, the gears immediately preceding the gear  262  in terms of the driving force transmission direction, are step gears. Thus, the speeds at which the driving portion related to the residual developer conveyance, that is, the portions on the downstream side in terms of the driving force transmission direction, are rotationally driven, are slower than the speed at which the driving roller  240  is driven. Further, the driving force is transmitted from the gear  271  through the gear  266  to a gear  264  attached to the second screw  258 , and a gear connected to the bladed wheel  255 . Then, the driving force is transmitted from the bladed wheel gear  263  to a gear  265  located next to the photoconductive member unit  21 . The above listed gears, that is, the gears from the gear  262  to the gear  265 , are disposed on the left side of the intermediary transfer unit  22 . In comparison, the photoconductive member unit  21  is provided with a gear  130 , which is attached to the left lateral wall of the photoconductive member unit  21 , being located next to the intermediary transfer unit  22 . The gear  130  is attached to the first screw  128 , and receives the driving force from the gear  265 . From the gear  130 , the driving force is transmitted through another gear to a gear  131  attached to the aforementioned developer conveying sweeping blade  151 . The gears  130  and  131  are attached to the bladed wheel unit  259 , as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. To the unit  259 , one end of the second screw  258  is attached.  
         [0062]    As described above, the process cartridge  20  is structured so that all the gears involved in the residual developer conveyance are disposed at the left end of the process cartridge  20  to transmit the driving force to the residual developer conveying means.  
         [0063]    Next, the method for remanufacturing the process cartridge  20  will be described (FIGS.  8 - 20 ).  
         [0064]    First, the method for removing the photoconductive member  1  from the process cartridge  20  (frame  20   a ) will be described.  
         [0065]    (1) Method for Removing Drum  1  (Attachment Process is Reversal to Removal Process)  
         [0066]    1. Remove the left and right pins  150  and  151  by pinching them with a nipper or the like (FIGS. 3 and 8).  
         [0067]    2. Separate the drum unit  21  from the transfer member unit  22 ; pull the rear portion of the drum unit  21  frontward from the transfer member unit  22  (FIG. 9).  
         [0068]    3. Remove the retainer ring  122  from the shutter shaft  124 , and remove the claw  120   a  of the arm  120  from the arm attachment portion  120   b  of the shutter  119  to remove the arm  120  from the shutter  119  and cover  260 . Then, remove the spring  128  on the inward side of the cover (FIG. 10).  
         [0069]    4. Remove the auxiliary arm  121  from the auxiliary arm attachment portions  121   a  of the covers  260  and  261  by widening the distance between the opposing ends of the auxiliary arm  121  by pushing the opposing ends with hands, and remove the combination of the shutter  119  and auxiliary arm  121  from the covers  260  and  261  (FIG. 11). Incidentally, the auxiliary arm attachment portion  121   a  of the cover  261  is not shown.  
         [0070]    5. Remove the two small screws M 2  in the front, and remove the charge roller unit  140  from the frame  20   a  (FIG. 12).  
         [0071]    6. Remove the three small screws M 4  from the lateral walls of the frame  20   a,  and then, remove the left and right drum shaft supporting members  102 , and drum bearing supporting member (photoconductive member frame  129 )  106  (FIG. 13).  
         [0072]    7. Remove the photoconductive member  1  from the photoconductive member unit  21 ; first, the right side of the drum  1  is to be pulled out frontward, and then, the entirety of the drum  1  is to be pulled out frontward (FIG. 14).  
         [0073]    Next, the method for removing the removed developer will be described.  
         [0074]    (2) Removal of Removed Developer  
         [0075]    (1) Extraction of Removed Developer from Photoconductive Member Unit  22   
         [0076]    * Continuation of the above described Steps 1-7 (steps after removal of drum  1 )  
         [0077]    8. Remove the two small screws M 5  from the front wall of the frame  20   a,  and remove the cleaning blade  6  from the frame  20   a.  Further, remove the two small screws M 6  from the front wall of the frame  20   a , and remove the developer catching sheet holding metallic plate  127  from the frame  20   a  (FIG. 15).  
         [0078]    9. Remove the sweeping blade bearing  151   a  from the left wall of the frame  20   a,  and remove the sweeping blade  151  from the frame  20   a  from the front side of the frame  20   a  (FIG. 16).  
         [0079]    10. Remove the removed developer having accumulated in the unit  22 , with the use of a cleaner S or the like, from the front side of the unit  22  (FIG. 17).  
         [0080]    To describe in more detail, the developer is to be removed with the use of the cleaner S, for example, a vacuum cleaner, through the opening  20   b  exposed by the removal of the various components through the above described steps.  
         [0081]    (2) Extraction of Removed Developer from Intermediary Transfer Member Unit  22   
         [0082]    * Continuation of Operations  1  and  2 , on the intermediary transfer member unit side, after the separation of the transfer member unit  21  from the drum unit  20 .  
         [0083]    11. Remove the four small screws M 7  from the right wall of the frame  20   a,  and remove the right side cover  260  and transfer member frame  245  from the frame  20   a  (FIG. 18).  
         [0084]    12. Remove two small screws M 8  from the right wall of the frame  20   a,  and pull out the screw unit  259  (in the rightward in FIG. 19). During this process, the developer leaks through the gap resulting from the removal the screw unit  259 , and the leaked developer is to be removed with the use of the cleaner S or the like. The screw unit  259  is to be pulled out far enough for the screw  258  to completely come out of the transfer member unit  22  (FIG. 19).  
         [0085]    13. Remove the developer from the removed developer storage box  216  through the hole  216   a  of the right wall of the frame  20   a,  with the use of the cleaner S or the like, while holding the transfer member unit  22  upside down, or holding it with the right wall facing downward (FIG. 20).  
         [0086]    Incidentally, the cleaner S is schematically shown in the drawing, and the suctioning portion connected to the nozzle S 1  is not shown.  
         [0087]    The steps for attaching the components removed through the above described steps are steps opposite to the steps through which the components were removed. The components are attached with the small screws M 1 -M 8 .  
         [0088]    Next, the method for remanufacturing the process cartridge  20  comprising the transfer member unit  22  having the above described transfer belt  5   a , and the drum unit  21  having the electrophotographic photoconductive drum  1 , will be described.  
         [0089]    The process cartridge remanufacturing method comprises:  
         [0090]    (i) Pin removing step for removing a pair of pins  150  and  151 , which are attached to the lengthwise ends of the process cartridge  20 , one for one, to keep the transfer member unit  22  and drum unit  21  joined;  
         [0091]    (ii) Drum removing step for removing the drum unit  21  from the transfer member unit  22 ;  
         [0092]    (iii) End cover removing step for removing the end cover  260  attached to one of the lengthwise ends of the transfer member unit  22 ;  
         [0093]    (iv) Screw unit removing step for removing the screw unit  259  having: the screw  258  anchored to the removed developer storage portion  216  which is for storing the developer removed from the electrophotographic photoconductive drum  1 ; the gear  264  for transmitting the driving force to the screw  258 ; and entrance hole  259   a  through which the removed developer from the drum unit  21  is stored into the removed developer storage portion  216 . Incidentally, in this step, the screw  258  disposed within the removed developer storage portion  216  is to be pulled out through the screw hole  216   a  of the removed developer storage portion  216 , when removing the screw unit  259  from the transfer member unit frame  22   a;    
         [0094]    (v) Developer removing step for removing the developer in the removed developer storage portion  216 , through the screw hole  216   a;    
         [0095]    (vi) Screw unit attaching step for inserting the screw  258  into the removed developer storage portion  216  through the screw hole  216   a,  and attaching the screw unit  259  to the transfer member unit frame  22   a;    
         [0096]    (vii) End cover attaching step for attaching the end cover  260  to one of the lengthwise ends of the transfer member unit  22 ; and  
         [0097]    (viii) Joining step for joining the transfer member unit  22  with the drum unit  21 , with the pins  150  and  151 .  
         [0098]    The process cartridge remanufacturing method further comprises:  
         [0099]    pressure applying member removing step for removing from the cartridge frame  20   a  the combination of the arm  120  and spring  123 , as a pressure applying member, which is attached to one of the lengthwise ends of the process cartridge  20  to keep the drum shutter  119  pressured in the closing direction;  
         [0100]    charge roller unit removing step for removing the charge roller unit  140 , which is supporting the charge roller  2 , from the cartridge frame  20   a;    
         [0101]    drum shaft supporting member removing step for removing the drum shaft supporting member  102  integral with the drum shaft  102   a  which is attached to one of the lengthwise ends of the process cartridge  20  and is supporting one of the lengthwise ends of the electrophotographic photoconductive member  1 ;  
         [0102]    drum bearing supporting member removing step for removing the drum bearing supporting member  106  attached to the other lengthwise end of the process cartridge  20  and integral with the drum bearing  106   a  which is supporting the drum shaft  1   a  (FIG. 4) attached to the other end of the electrophotographic photoconductive member  1 ;  
         [0103]    drum removing step for removing the electrophotographic photoconductive member  1  from the cartridge frame  20   a;    
         [0104]    drum inserting step for inserting a brand-new electrophotographic photoconductive member  1  into the cartridge frame  20   a;    
         [0105]    drum shaft supporting member attaching step for attaching the drum shaft supporting member  102  integral with the drum shaft  102   a  for supporting one of the lengthwise ends of the inserted brand-new electrophotographic photoconductive member  1 , to the corresponding lengthwise end of the cartridge frame  20   a,  in order to support the lengthwise end of the electrophotographic photoconductive member  1  by the corresponding lengthwise end of the cartridge frame  20   a;    
         [0106]    drum bearing supporting member attaching step for attaching the drum bearing supporting member  106  integral with the drum bearing  106   a  for supporting the drum shaft  1   a  (FIG. 4), with which the other lengthwise end of the brand-new electrophotographic photoconductive member  1  having just been inserted into the cartridge frame  20   a  is provided, to the other lengthwise end of the cartridge frame  20   a  in order to support the other lengthwise end of the electrophotographic photoconductive member  1  by the other end of the cartridge frame  20   a;    
         [0107]    charging unit attaching step for attaching the charge roller unit  140 , which is supporting the charge roller  2 , to the cartridge frame  20   a;  and  
         [0108]    pressuring means attaching step for attaching to one of the lengthwise ends of the cartridge frame  20 , the combination of the arm  120  and spring  123 , as a pressuring means, for keeping pressured in the closing direction, the drum shutter attached to one of the lengthwise ends of the process cartridge  20 .  
         [0109]    The process cartridge remanufacturing method further comprises:  
         [0110]    shutter arm removing step for removing, prior to the drum shaft supporting member removing step and drum bearing supporting member removing step, the auxiliary arm  121 , which is supporting the drum shutter  119 , and the two ends of which are attached to the lengthwise ends of the cartridge frame  20   a,  one for one, by disengaging the two ends of the auxiliary arm  121  from the cartridge frame  20   a;  and  
         [0111]    shutter arm attaching step for attaching, after the charge unit attaching step, the two ends of the auxiliary arm  121  to the lengthwise ends of the cartridge frame  20   a,  one for one.  
         [0112]    Further, the process cartridge remanufacturing method comprises:  
         [0113]    cleaning blade removing step for removing the cleaning blade  6  from the cartridge frame  20   a,  after the removal of the electrophotographic photoconductive member  1  from the cartridge frame  20   a,  and before the attachment of the brand-new electrophotographic photoconductive member  1 ; and  
         [0114]    developer removing step for removing the developer, which has been removed from the electrophotographic photoconductive member  1  by the cleaning blade  6 , through the hole of the storage portion exposed by the removal of the cleaning blade  6 .  
         [0115]    The process cartridge remanufacturing method also comprises:  
         [0116]    guiding member removing step for removing, between the cleaning blade removing step and developer removing step, the flexible guiding member for guiding the developer, which has been removed from the electrophotographic photoconductive member  1  by the cleaning blade  6 , to the hole  20   b  of the storage portion  20   c.    
         [0117]    In the above described process cartridge remanufacturing method, the developer adhering to the screw  258  is to be suctioned away by the suctioning device S, when the screw  258  disposed within the removed developer storage portion  216  is pulled out through the screw hole  216   a  of the removed developer storage portion  216 .  
         [0118]    According to the above described process cartridge remanufacturing method, the gears  263 - 266 , the portion having the entrance hole  259   a,  and the screw  258 , can be removed together, in the screw unit removing step, improving thereby the process cartridge remanufacture efficiency. Further, the aforementioned gears  263 - 266 , the portion with the entrance hole  259   a,  and the screw  258 , can be attached together, in the screw unit attaching step, also improving the process cartridge remanufacture efficiency. In other words, the above described process cartridge remanufacturing method simplifies the process cartridge remanufacture.  
         [0119]    Additionally, the present invention is inclusive of all of the cases described below.  
         [0120]    (1) The case in which a cartridge is remanufactured using only the components from a single used process cartridge.  
         [0121]    (2) The case in which a cartridge remanufactured using only the components from a single used process cartridge like in Case (1), except that the components which cannot be reused, for example, damaged components or those the service lives of which have expired, are replaced with brand-new components or the reusable components from the other used process cartridges.  
         [0122]    (3) The case in which various components removed from a plurality of used cartridges are sorted into groups of the same components, and cartridges are remanufactured by selecting the necessary components from the sorted components.  
         [0123]    (4) The case in which various components removed from a plurality of used cartridges are sorted into groups of the same components as in Case (3), and cartridges are remanufactured by selecting the necessary components from the sorted components, except that the components which cannot be reused, for example, damaged components or those the service lives of which have expired, are replaced with brand-new components or the reusable components from the other used process cartridges.  
         [0124]    The aforementioned components means the components, members, portions, etc., which constitute certain portions of a process cartridge. They also means the smallest units into which a process cartridge can be disassembled.  
         [0125]    According to the above described embodiments of the present invention, a process cartridge can be simply remanufactured by removing screws or the like. Therefore, the cartridge frame or the like are not damaged during the cartridge remanufacture.  
         [0126]    Also according to the above described embodiments, the developer in the drum unit  21  can be removed through the hole  20  of the photoconductive drum frame  129  (cartridge frame), simplifying thereby process cartridge manufacture.  
         [0127]    Also according to the above described embodiments, the developer in the transfer member unit  22  can be removed through the screw hole  216   a  through which the force for rotationally driving the screw  258  is transmitted to the screw  258 . In other words, the screw hole  216   a  can also be used for developer removal, simplifying thereby process cartridge manufacture.  
         [0128]    As described above, the present invention simplifies process cartridge remanufacture.  
         [0129]    While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth, and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.