REMANUFACTURING METHOD FOR A PROCESS CARTRIDGE HAVING A TONER SEAL THAT IS UNSEALED UPON THE START OF USE OF THE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING THE STEPS OF SEPARATING FIRST AND SECOND UNITS OF THE CARTRIDGE AND RECOUPLING THE UNITS WITHOUT REMOUNTING THE TONER SEAL
US6577829B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 1, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jun 10, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 1, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2221/1648
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A remanufacturing method is provided for a process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotgraphic image forming apparatus. The method includes a unit separating step of separating first and second units of the cartridge from each other, a developing roller dismounting step of dismounting a developing roller mounted to the second unit, which has been separated by the separation step, a sealing step of sealing with a sealant a connecting portion between a developer frame and a developing frame of the second unit at one longitudinal end of the frames, a developer refilling step of refilling developer into a developer accommodating portion of the second unit that has been separated by the separation step, a developing roller remounting step of remounting the developing roller to the second unit that has been separated by the separation step, and a unit re-coupling step of recoupling the first unit and the second unit with each other, by which the process cartridge is remanufactured without remounting a toner seal to the developer supply opening, which was unsealed by removing the toner seal upon the start of use of the process cartridge.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.