Abstract: In a method for remanufacturing a cleaning device including an photosensitive drum, a cleaning frame unit, a cleaning member configured to clean a surface of the photosensitive drum, and a blade lower sealing member integrally injection molded with the cleaning frame unit and disposed between the cleaning frame unit and the cleaning member, detaching the cleaning member from the cleaning frame unit, cleaning the sealing member, and attaching the cleaning member to the cleaning frame unit, are sequentially performed.

Abstract: A developing device frame unit supporting a regulating member regulating the layer thickness of developer on a developer carrier. The unit includes a frame having a seal forming portion, first and second, first and second end seals contactable to the carrier surface to prevent carrier-axial-direction leaking of the developer, and a blade sealer sealing between the regulating member and the frame to prevent developer leaking when the regulating member is mounted. The blade sealer is an elastomer resin material which is injection-molded with a metal mold and in the seal forming portion where the end seals are provided. The blade sealer connects the end seals with each other, and a protrusion provided by a squeezed-out portion of the resin material is provided by injecting, into a space defined by the metal mold, the seal forming portion, and the end seal seals, a resin material volume larger than a volume of the space.

Abstract: A remanufacturing method for a developing device and a process cartridge includes a dismounting step of dismounting a regulating member from a development frame member, a cleaning step of cleaning a blade sealing member, and a mounting step of mounting the regulating member to the development frame member after the cleaning step.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a rotatable member. A blade member, including a rubber portion, is contacted to the rotatable member, with a metal plate portion supported to the blade member. A frame, formed of a resin material, supports the blade member. A seal member, extending in a direction crossing an axial direction of the rotatable member so as to contact the rotatable member, is provided on the frame to be contacted to a portion of the rubber portion and the metal plate portion of the blade member. The seal member is formed on the frame by injection molding for sealing a gap between the blade member and the frame.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes: a rotatable member; a blade member contacted to the rotatable member; a frame, formed of a resin material, for supporting the blade member; and a seal member provided on the frame to be contacted to a portion of the blade member, opposite from a portion where the blade member is contacted to the rotatable member, in each of one end side and anther end side of the blade member with respect to an axial direction of the rotatable member, wherein the seal member is formed on the frame by injection molding for sealing a gap between the blade member and the frame.

Abstract: In a cartridge provided with an electrode portion for connecting a main assembly contact and process means by injecting an electroconductive resin into a frame, in order to simplify structures of the frame and the electrode portion and to improve an assembling property of the cartridge and an electrode property of the electrode portion, the cartridge electrode integrally molded by injecting the electroconductive resin into the frame includes a first contact portion, exposed toward an outside of the frame, contacted to a main assembly contact provided in the apparatus main assembly; a second contact portion provided for being electrically connected to the process means; and an injection receiving portion into which the resin is injected when the cartridge electrode is molded into the frame, and, the electroconductive resin injected from the injection receiving portion is branched to mold the first contact portion and the second contact portion so that an electroconductive path for electrically connecting the m

Abstract: A cartridge is provided with an electrode portion for connecting a main assembly contact. The cartridge electrode includes a first contact portion, exposed toward an outside of a frame of the cartridge, contacted to a main assembly contact provided in the apparatus main assembly. The cartridge electrode further includes a second contact portion provided for being electrically connected to a process means of the cartridge, and an injection receiving portion into which resin is injected when the cartridge electrode is molded into the frame. The electroconductive resin injected from the injection receiving portion is branched to mold the first contact portion and the second contact portion so that an electroconductive path for electrically connecting the main assembly contact and the process means is formed.

Abstract: A developing device frame unit supporting a regulating member regulating the layer thickness of developer on a developer carrier. The unit includes a frame having a seal forming portion, first and second, first and second end seals contactable to the carrier surface to prevent carrier-axial-direction leaking of the developer, and a blade sealer sealing between the regulating member and the frame to prevent developer leaking when the regulating member is mounted. The blade sealer is an elastomer resin material which is injection-molded with a metal mold and in the seal forming portion where the end seals are provided. The blade sealer connects the end seals with each other, and a protrusion provided by a squeezed-out portion of the resin material is provided by injecting, into a space defined by the metal mold, the seal forming portion, and the end seal seals, a resin material volume larger than a volume of the space.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; an accommodating portion, constituted by the frame, for accommodating a developer; a seal portion for preventing the developer from being leaking out from the accommodating portion, wherein the seal portion is formed by injection molding at a seal forming portion provided on the frame and is projected from the seal forming portion; and a sprue which is formed integrally with the seal portion by a resin material remaining in a path for permitting flow of the resin material melted when the seal portion is formed by the injection molding and which is projected from the frame in a position different from a position of the seal portion so as to be higher than the seal portion on the basis of the frame.

Abstract: A developing device frame unit supporting a regulating member regulating the layer thickness of developer on a developer carrier. The unit includes a frame having a seal forming portion, first and second, first and second end seals contactable to the carrier surface to prevent carrier-axial-direction leaking of the developer, and a blade sealer sealing between the regulating member and the frame to prevent developer leaking when the regulating member is mounted. The blade sealer is an elastomer resin material which is injection-molded with a metal mold and in the seal forming portion where the end seals are provided. The blade sealer connects the end seals with each other, and a protrusion provided by a squeezed-out portion of the resin material is provided by injecting, into a space defined by the metal mold, the seal forming portion, and the end seal seals, a resin material volume larger than a volume of the space.

Abstract: A cartridge is provided with an electrode portion for connecting a main assembly contact. The cartridge electrode includes a first contact portion, exposed toward an outside of a frame of the cartridge, contacted to a main assembly contact provided in the apparatus main assembly. The cartridge electrode further includes a second contact portion provided for being electrically connected to a process means of the cartridge, and an injection receiving portion into which resin is injected when the cartridge electrode is molded into the frame. The electroconductive resin injected from the injection receiving portion is branched to mold the first contact portion and the second contact portion so that an electroconductive path for electrically connecting the main assembly contact and the process means is formed.

Abstract: Provided is a sealing member for preventing leakage of a developer from a developer containing portion of a process cartridge detachable from a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to an outside of the developer containing portion. The sealing member is made of a thermoplastic elastomer that contains at least a copolymer and a plasticizer. In a molecular weight distribution of a tetrahydrofuran soluble matter of the thermoplastic elastomer measured by gel permeation chromatography, at least one peak is present in each of a region of a molecular weight of 4,000 or less and a region of a molecular weight of 30,000 to 200,000, and a percentage of a component of a molecular weight of 800 or less in a region of a molecular weight of 5,000 or less is 30% or less.

Abstract: A remanufacturing method for a developing device and a process cartridge includes a dismounting step of dismounting a regulating member from a development frame member, a cleaning step of cleaning a blade sealing member, and a mounting step of mounting the regulating member to the development frame member after the cleaning step.

Abstract: A developing device frame unit supporting a regulating member regulating the layer thickness of developer on a developer carrier. The unit includes a frame having a seal forming portion, first and second, first and second end seals contactable to the carrier surface to prevent carrier-axial-direction leaking of the developer, and a blade sealer sealing between the regulating member and the frame to prevent developer leaking when the regulating member is mounted. The blade sealer is an elastomer resin material which is injection-molded with a metal mold and in the seal forming portion where the end seals are provided. The blade sealer connects the end seals with each other, and a protrusion provided by a squeezed-out portion of the resin material is provided by injecting, into a space defined by the metal mold, the seal forming portion, and the end seal seals, a resin material volume larger than a volume of the space.

Abstract: A developing device frame unit supporting a regulating member regulating the layer thickness of developer on a developer carrier. The unit includes a frame having a seal forming portion, first and second, first and second end seals contactable to the carrier surface to prevent carrier-axial-direction leaking of the developer, and a blade sealer sealing between the regulating member and the frame to prevent developer leaking when the regulating member is mounted. The blade sealer is an elastomer resin material which is injection-molded with a metal mold and in the seal forming portion where the end seals are provided. The blade sealer connects the end seals with each other, and a protrusion provided by a squeezed-out portion of the resin material is provided by injecting, into a space defined by the metal mold, the seal forming portion, and the end seal seals, a resin material volume larger than a volume of the space.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body for forming an image on a recording medium. The apparatus main body includes: a main body guide; a restraining unit movable with respect to the main body guide; and a main body abutting portion. The cartridge includes: a frame; a guided portion protruding from the frame so as to be guided by the main body guide, and abutting on the restraining unit as the cartridge is being mounted in the apparatus main body to be restrained from moving to the downstream side in a mounting direction; and a moving member movable with respect to the frame to abut on the main body abutting portion to be moved to act on the restraining unit to move the restraining unit to an allowable position in which the guided portion is allowed to move to the downstream side.

Abstract: Provided is a sealing member for preventing leakage of a developer from a developer containing portion of a process cartridge detachable from a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to an outside of the developer containing portion. The sealing member is made of a thermoplastic elastomer that contains at least a copolymer and a plasticizer. In a molecular weight distribution of a tetrahydrofuran soluble matter of the thermoplastic elastomer measured by gel permeation chromatography, at least one peak is present in each of a region of a molecular weight of 4,000 or less and a region of a molecular weight of 30,000 to 200,000, and a percentage of a component of a molecular weight of 800 or less in a region of a molecular weight of 5,000 or less is 30% or less.

Abstract: A developing device frame unit supporting a regulating member regulating the layer thickness of developer on a developer carrier. The unit includes a frame having a seal forming portion, first and second end seals contactable to the carrier surface to prevent carrier-axial-direction leaking of the developer, and a blade sealer sealing between the regulating member and the frame to prevent developer leaking when the regulating member is mounted. The blade sealer is an elastomer resin material which is injection-molded with a metal mold and in the seal forming portion where the end seals are provided. The blade sealer connects the end seals with each other, and a protrusion provided by a squeezed-out portion of the resin material is provided by injecting, into a space defined by the metal mold, the seal forming portion, and the end seals, a resin material volume larger than a volume of the space.

Abstract: A plurality of process cartridges, each including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a process device actable on the photosensitive drum, are detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image of a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes an opening and closing member; an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium bearing member provided in the opening and closing member such that the intermediate transfer member can face the process cartridges under a condition in which the opening and closing member is closed, and the intermediate transfer member can be separated from the process cartridges under a condition in which the opening and closing member is open; and a moving guide for holding the process cartridges.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body for forming an image on a recording medium, the apparatus main body having: a main body guide; a restraining unit movable with respect to the main body guide; and a main body abutting portion, the cartridge including: a frame; a guided portion protruded from the frame so as to be guided by the main body guide, and abutting on the restraining unit on the way the cartridge is being mounted in the apparatus main body to be restrained from moving to the downstream side in a mounting direction; and a moving member movable with respect to the frame to abut on the main body abutting portion to be moved to act on the restraining unit to move the restraining unit to an allowable position in which the guided portion is allowed to move to the downstream side.