Remanufacturing method of developer accommodating unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9678458-B2
Application number	US-201615240842-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2016
Priority date	Oct 27, 2014
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

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 developing device being detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus and including a frame member and a developer bearing member configured to develop an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member, the remanufacturing method comprising:
taking out at least part of 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 is provided with a plurality of the openings for discharging developer into the frame member.

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

4. The remanufacturing method according to claim 3 , wherein the frame member includes a projection configured to be insertable into the hole, and
wherein the remanufacturing method further comprises separating the fixed portion from the projection.

5. The remanufacturing method according to claim 4 , wherein a circumference of the hole is made of an elastic material, and
wherein the projection includes a large size portion with a size larger than a size of the hole and a small size portion with a size equal to or smaller than a size of the hole, the large-size portion being insertable to the hole.

6. The remanufacturing method according to claim 3 , further comprising:
cutting off at least part of a projection of the frame member, the projection configured to being insertable into the hole, and
separating the flexible container from the frame member.

7. The remanufacturing method according to claim 6 , wherein the remanufacturing method further comprises cutting off a large size portion of the projection with a size larger than a size of the hole.

8. The remanufacturing method according to claim 3 , wherein the frame member includes a projection configured to be insertable into the hole, and
wherein the remanufacturing method further comprises cutting off at least part of the flexible container.

9. The remanufacturing method according to claim 8 , wherein the remanufacturing method further comprises cutting off the fixed portion between the accommodating portion and the hole.

10. The remanufacturing method according to claim 3 , wherein the developing device 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 unsealing member is located inside the frame member.

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

12. A remanufacturing method of a cartridge including an image bearing member and a developing device remanufactured by the remanufacturing method according to claim 1 , the remanufacturing method of the cartridge comprising:
combining the image bearing member with the developing device.

13. A remanufacturing method of an image forming apparatus including an image bearing member and a developing device remanufactured by the remanufacturing method according to claim 1 , the remanufacturing method of the cartridge comprising:
combining the image bearing member with the developing device.

14. A remanufacturing method of a developing device being detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus and including a frame member and a developer bearing member configured to develop an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member, the remanufacturing method comprising:
taking out at least part of 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, so that refilled developer is accumulated inside the frame member while the refilled developer is filled from outside of the frame member to inside of the frame member.

15. The remanufacturing method according to claim 14 , wherein the flexible container is provided with a plurality of the openings for discharging developer into the frame member.

16. The remanufacturing method according to claim 14 , wherein the flexible container includes an accommodating portion configured to accommodate developer and a fixed portion configured to be fixed to the frame member, and
wherein the fixed portion includes a hole different from the opening.

17. The remanufacturing method according to claim 16 , wherein the frame member includes a projection configured to be insertable into the hole, and
wherein the remanufacturing method further comprises separating the fixed portion from the projection.

18. The remanufacturing method according to claim 17 , wherein a circumference of the hole is made of an elastic material, and
wherein the projection includes a large size portion with a size larger than a size of the hole and a small size portion with a size equal to or smaller than a size of the hole, the large-size portion being insertable to the hole.

19. The remanufacturing method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
cutting off at least part of a projection of the frame member, the projection configured to being insertable into the hole, and P 1 separating the flexible container from the frame member.

20. The remanufacturing method according to claim 19 , wherein the remanufacturing method further comprises cutting off a large size portion of the projection with a size larger than a size of the hole.

21. The remanufacturing method according to claim 16 , wherein the frame member includes a projection configured to be insertable into the hole, and
wherein the remanufacturing method further comprises cutting off at least part of the flexible container.

22. The remanufacturing method according to claim 21 , wherein the remanufacturing method further comprises cutting off the fixed portion between the accommodating portion and the hole.

23. The remanufacturing method according to claim 16 , wherein the developing device 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 unsealing member is located inside the frame member.

24. The remanufacturing method according to claim 16 , wherein the hole of the flexible container is disposed on a side of an opening of the frame member rather than on a side of the accommodating portion of the flexible container.

25. A remanufacturing method of a cartridge including an image bearing member and a developing device remanufactured by the remanufacturing method according to claim 14 , the remanufacturing method of the cartridge comprising:
combining the image bearing member with the developing device.

26. A remanufacturing method of a developing device being detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus and including a frame mem

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