Remanufacturing method of developer accommodating unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9465321-B2
Application number	US-201514919963-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2015
Priority date	Oct 27, 2014
Publication date	Oct 11, 2016
Grant date	Oct 11, 2016

Abstract

Provided is a remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit including a frame member configured to accommodate a flexible container for accommodating developer. The remanufacturing method includes taking out the flexible container from the inside of the frame member, and refilling the developer into the flexible container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit being detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus and including a frame member, the remanufacturing method comprising:
taking out a flexible container from an inside of the frame member, wherein the flexible container is provided with an opening for discharging developer into the frame member; and
refilling developer into the frame member.

2. The remanufacturing method according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible container includes an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the developer and a fixed portion configured to be fixed to the frame member,
wherein the frame member includes a fixing member configured to fix the fixed portion of the flexible container, and
wherein the fixed portion includes a hole that is different from the opening.

3. The remanufacturing method according to claim 2 ,
wherein the fixing member is a bent-shaped projection configured to be inserted into the hole,
wherein, when the hole is hooked on the projection, the flexible container is fixed to the frame member, and
wherein, when the projection is pulled out from the hole, the flexible container becomes separable from the frame member.

4. The remanufacturing method according to claim 2 , wherein a circumference of the hole is made of an elastic material,
wherein the fixing member is a projection including a large-diameter portion with a diameter larger than a diameter of the hole and a small-diameter portion with a diameter equal to or smaller than a diameter of the hole, wherein the large-diameter portion is insertable to the hole,
wherein, when the large-diameter portion is inserted into the hole, the flexible container is fixed to the frame member, and
wherein, when the large-diameter portion is pulled out from the hole, the flexible container becomes separable from the frame member.

5. The remanufacturing method according to claim 3 , wherein, on the flexible container, a perforation is formed between the accommodating portion and the hole, and wherein the remanufacturing method further comprises separating the accommodating portion from the frame member by cutting off the fixed portion at the perforation before the taking out and the refilling.

6. The remanufacturing method according to claim 3 , further comprising separating the accommodating portion from the frame member by cutting off the fixed portion between the accommodating portion and the hole before the taking out and the refilling.

7. The remanufacturing method according to claim 2 ,
wherein the fixing member is a projection including a large-diameter portion with a diameter larger than a diameter of the hole and a small-diameter portion with a diameter equal to or smaller than a diameter of the hole, wherein the large-diameter portion is insertable into the hole,
wherein, when the large-diameter portion is inserted into the hole, the flexible container is fixed to the frame member, and
wherein the remanufacturing method further comprises separating the flexible container from the frame member by cutting off the large-diameter portion of the projection, before the taking out and the refilling.

8. The remanufacturing method according to claim 2 , wherein the developer accommodating unit includes a sealing member configured to seal the opening and to expose the opening when moved, and an unsealing member, to which the sealing member is attached, and operable to move to unseal the opening, and
wherein the remanufacturing method further comprises separating the sealing member and the unsealing member from the frame member before the taking out and the refilling.

9. The remanufacturing method according to claim 2 , wherein the developer accommodating unit includes a sealing member configured to seal the opening and to expose the opening when moved, and an unsealing member, to which the sealing member is attached, and operable to move to unseal the opening, and
wherein the remanufacturing method further comprises separating a part of the sealing member from the frame member before taking out and the refilling.

10. The remanufacturing method according to claim 9 , wherein, in the separating, the sealing member is separated from the frame member by being cut off at a portion other than an engaged portion engaged with the unsealing member.

11. The remanufacturing method according to claim 9 , wherein, in the separating, the sealing member is separated from the frame member by an engaged portion engaged with the unsealing member being disengaged.

12. The remanufacturing method according to claim 3 , wherein the hole of the flexible container and the fixing member of the frame member are disposed on a side of an opening of the frame member rather than on a side of the accommodating portion of the flexible container.

13. A remanufacturing method of a developing device including a developer bearing member configured to develop an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member, and a developer accommodating unit remanufactured by the remanufacturing method according to claim 1 .

14. A remanufacturing method of a cartridge including an image bearing member, a developer bearing member configured to develop an electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member, and a developer accommodating unit remanufactured by the remanufacturing method according to claim 1 .

15. A remanufacturing method of an image forming apparatus including an image bearing member, a developer bearing member configured to develop an electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member, and a developer accommodating unit remanufactured by the remanufacturing method according to claim 1 .

16. The remanufacturing method according to claim 1 , wherein the remanufacturing method further comprises forming a hole on the frame member.

17. A remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit, the remanufacturing method comprising:
taking out a flexible container from an inside of a frame member, the flexible container including a plurality of openings for discharging developer; and
refilling developer into the frame member.

18. A remanufacturing method of a developing device including a frame member configured to accommodate a developer bearing member, the remanufacturing method comprising:
taking out the developer bearing member from the frame member;
taking out a flexible container from an inside of the frame member; and
refilling developer into the frame member.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Kase Takashi
• Yano Kouki
• Isobe Yuta
• Ikeda Takahiro
• Usui Yusuke

Classifications

• G03G15/0894 Primary

  Reconditioning of the developer unit, i.e. reusing or recycling parts of the unit, e.g. resealing of the unit before refilling with toner · CPC title

• G03G15/0874

  non-rigid containers, e.g. foldable cartridges, bags · CPC title