EP1188544A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Part connecting member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 2001-09-11
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2021-09-11
Abstract
Abstract In a part connecting member made from synthetic resin, at least two molded pieces (51,52) obtained by the injection molding of plastic are provisionally connected by being adjacently arranged or abut against each other. The provisionally connected body is set in a die different from the dies used for the formation of each molded piece. Then, in a state such that each molded piece and the die are positioned, the molded pieces are joined by the injection of a molten resin material for joining into a gap (154a) formed between the opposed surfaces of the molded pieces that are adjacently arranged or abut against each other. An injection channel (200) of the molten resin up to the gap is formed by using one of the molded pieces forming the gap of the opposed surfaces that are adjacently arranged or abut against each other.
Inventors
- 👤 Akira Suzuki
- 👤 Kenshiro Abe
- 👤 Tadayuki Tsuda
- 👤 Koichi Hiratsuka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:28
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/18; G03G21/1803; G03G21/181; B; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/0053; B29C45/006; B29C45/0062; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/40; B29C65/42; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/12; B29C66/124; B29C66/13; B29C66/131; B29C66/1312; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/54; B29C66/543; B29C66/80; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8322; B29C65/425; B29C66/5432; B29C66/70; B29C66/71; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1669; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183; G03G2221/1853; G03G2221/1876
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A part connecting member made from a synthetic
resin, said member being to be used in a construction
in that at least two molded pieces obtained by
injection molding of plastic are provisionally
connected by being adjacently arranged or abutted
against each other, the provisionally connected molded
pieces are set in dies which are different from a die
used for formation of each of said molded pieces, and a
molten resin is injected into a gap formed between
opposed surfaces of said molded pieces that are
adjacently arranged or abutted against each other to
connect said molded pieces in a state that each of said
molded pieces and said dies are in position, wherein an
injection channel for the molten resin up to said gap
is formed in one of said molded pieces forming said gap
of the opposed surfaces that are adjacently arranged or
abutted against each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A part connecting member made from a synthetic
resin, said member being to be used in a construction
in that at least two kinds of frames including a first
frame and a second frame, both being molded pieces, are
provisionally connected so as to be adjacently arranged
or abutted against each other by a third frame and a
fourth frame, both being molded pieces, at side faces
of said first and second frames on one end side and the
other end side, the provisionally connected frames are
set in dies which are different from a die used for
formation of each of said molded pieces, and a molten
resin is injected into a gap formed between opposed
surfaces of said molded pieces that are adjacently
arranged or abutted against each other to connect said
molded pieces in a state that each of said molded
pieces and said dies are in position, wherein an
injection channel for the molten resin up to said gap
is formed in said third frame and said fourth frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
A part connecting member according to Claim 1
or 2, wherein said injection channel is formed in the
one of said molded pieces, and said injection channel
communicates said gap with an outside of the one of
said molded pieces, the outside being situated in a
direction that is perpendicular to a flowing direction
of the molten resin in said gap and is an assembling
direction at a time of provisional connection of said
molded pieces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
A part connecting member according to any one
of Claims 1-3, wherein an inner diameter of an inlet of
said injection channel formed in the one of said molded
pieces is within a range of 1.5 mm to 3.00 mm, said
inlet being situated on an outer side when said part
connecting member is formed, and an inner diameter at a
portion of said injection channel where the molten
resin flows into said gap is within a range of 0.8 mm
to 2.5 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A part connecting member according to any one
of Claims 1-4, wherein said injection channel formed in
the one of said molded pieces has an inlet on a side
being an outside when a process cartridge is formed and
an inner diameter being smaller than that of said inlet,
said inner diameter being at a portion where the molten
resin flows into said gap, and said injection channel
is tapered within a range of one degree to six degrees.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
144 words
A part connecting member made from a synthetic
resin, said member being to be used in a construction
in that at least two molded pieces obtained by
injection molding of plastic are provisionally
connected by being adjacently arranged or abutted
against each other, the provisionally connected molded
pieces are set in dies which are different from a die
used for formation of each of said molded pieces, and a
molten resin is injected into a gap formed between
opposed surfaces of said molded pieces that are
adjacently arranged or abutted against each other to
connect said molded pieces in a state that each of said
molded pieces and said dies are in position, wherein a
portion of the opposed surfaces to be connected with
the molten resin when the molten resin is flown into
said gap is not an entire circumference of said gap.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
182 words
A part connecting member made from a synthetic
resin, said member being to be used in a construction
in that at least two kinds of frames including a first
frame and a second frame, both being molded pieces, are
provisionally connected so as to be adjacently arranged
or abutted against each other by a third frame and a
fourth frame, both being molded pieces, at side faces
of said first and second frames on one end side and the
other end side, the provisionally connected frames are
set in dies which are different from a die used for
formation of each of said molded pieces, and a molten
resin is injected into a gap formed between opposed
surfaces of said molded pieces that are adjacently
arranged or abutted against each other to connect said
molded pieces in a state that each of said molded
pieces and said dies are in position, wherein a portion
of the opposed surfaces to be connected with the molten
resin when the molten resin is flown into said gap is
not an entire circumference of said gap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A part connecting member according to Claim 6
or 7, further comprising a rib disposed in said gap and
extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to
a resin flowing direction to block a flowing path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A part connecting member according to any one
of Claims 1-8, wherein the molten resin is polystyrene
without flame-retardant additives.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A part connecting member according to any one
of Claims 1-9, wherein said gap for forming a
connecting portion is formed at a predetermined
position within an projected area of each part forming
said part connecting member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
190 words
A process cartridge detachably mountable to a
main body of an image forming apparatus, said process
cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means for acting on said
electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a frame made by joining a plurality of molded
pieces for supporting said electrophotographic
photosensitive drum or said process means, wherein said frame has a construction in that at
least two molded pieces obtained by injection molding
of plastic are provisionally connected by being
adjacently arranged or abutted against each other, the
provisionally connected molded pieces are set in dies
which are different from a die used for formation of
each of said molded pieces, and a molten resin is
injected into a gap formed between opposed surfaces of
said molded pieces that are adjacently arranged or
abutted against each other to connect said molded
pieces in a state that each of said molded pieces and
said dies are in position, and wherein an injection
channel for the molten resin up to said gap is formed
in one of said molded pieces forming said gap of the
opposed surfaces that are adjacently arranged or
abutted against each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
215 words
A process cartridge detachably mountable to a
main body of an image forming apparatus, said process
cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means for acting on said
electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a frame member made by joining a plurality of
molded pieces for supporting said electrophotographic
photosensitive drum or said process means, wherein said frame member has a construction in
that at least two kinds of frames including a first
frame and a second frame, both being molded pieces, are
provisionally connected so as to be adjacently arranged
or abutted against each other by a third frame and a
fourth frame, both being molded pieces, at side faces
of said first and second frames on one end side and the
other end side, the provisionally connected frames are
set in dies which are different from a die used for
formation of each of said molded pieces, and a molten
resin is injected into a gap formed between opposed
surfaces of said molded pieces that are adjacently
arranged or abutted against each other to connect said
molded pieces in a state that each of said molded
pieces and said dies are in position, wherein an
injection channel for the molten resin up to said gap
is formed in said third frame and said fourth frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
A process cartridge according to Claim 11 or
12, wherein said injection channel is formed in the one
of said molded pieces, and said injection channel
communicates said gap with an outside of the one of
said molded pieces, the outside being situated in a
direction that is perpendicular to a flowing direction
of the molten resin in said gap and is an assembling
direction at a time of provisional connection of said
molded pieces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
A process cartridge according to any one of
Claims 11-13, wherein an inner diameter of an inlet of
said injection channel formed in the one of said molded
pieces is within a range of 1.5 mm to 3.00 mm, said
inlet being situated on an outer side when said part
connecting member is formed, and an inner diameter at a
portion of said injection channel where the molten
resin flows into said gap is within a range of 0.8 mm
to 2.5 mm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
78 words
A process cartridge according to any one of
Claims 11-14, wherein said injection channel formed in
the one of said molded pieces has an inlet on a side
being an outside when said process cartridge is formed
and an inner diameter being smaller than that of said
inlet, said inner diameter being at a portion where the
molten resin flows into said gap, and said injection
channel is tapered within a range of one degree to six
degrees.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
187 words
A process cartridge detachably mountable to a
main body of an image forming apparatus, said process
cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means for acting on said
electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a frame member made by joining a plurality of
molded pieces for supporting said electrophotographic
photosensitive drum or said process means, wherein said frame member has a construction in
that at least two molded pieces obtained by injection
molding of plastic are provisionally connected by being
adjacently arranged or abutted against each other, the
provisionally connected molded pieces are set in dies
which are different from a die used for formation of
each of said molded pieces, and a molten resin is
injected into a gap formed between opposed surfaces of
said molded pieces that are adjacently arranged or
abutted against each other to connect said molded
pieces in a state that each of said molded pieces and
said dies are in position, and wherein a portion of the
opposed surfaces to be connected with the molten resin
when the molten resin is flown into said gap is not an
entire circumference of said gap.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
225 words
A process cartridge detachably mountable to a
main body of an image forming apparatus, said process
cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means for acting on said
electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a frame member made by joining a plurality of
molded pieces for supporting said electrophotographic
photosensitive drum or said process means, wherein said frame member has a construction in
that at least two kinds of frames including a first
frame and a second frame, both being molded pieces, are
provisionally connected so as to be adjacently arranged
or abutted against each other by a third frame and a
fourth frame, both being molded pieces, at side faces
of said first and second frames on one end side and the
other end side, the provisionally connected frames are
set in dies which are different from a die used for
formation of each of said molded pieces, and a molten
resin is injected into a gap formed between opposed
surfaces of said molded pieces that are adjacently
arranged or abutted against each other to connect said
molded pieces in a state that each of said molded
pieces and said dies are in position, and wherein a
portion of the opposed surfaces to be connected with
the molten resin when the molten resin is flown into
said gap is not an entire circumference of said gap.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process cartridge according to Claim 16 or
17, further comprising a rib disposed in said gap and
extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to
a resin flowing direction to block a flowing path.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process cartridge according to any one of
Claims 11-18, wherein the molten resin is polystyrene
without flame-retardant additives.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process cartridge according to any one of
Claims 11-19, wherein said gap for forming a connecting
portion is formed at a predetermined position within an
projected area of each part forming said part
connecting member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
220 words
An electrophotographic image forming
apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably
mountable for forming an image on a recording medium,
said electrophotographic image forming apparatus
comprising: (a) mounting means for mounting said process
cartridge, said process cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means for acting on said
electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a frame made by joining a plurality of molded
pieces for supporting said electrophotographic
photosensitive drum or said process means, wherein said frame has a construction in that at
least two molded pieces obtained by injection molding
of plastic are provisionally connected by being
adjacently arranged or abutted against each other, the
provisionally connected molded pieces are set in dies
which are different from a die used for formation of
each of said molded pieces, and a molten resin is
injected into a gap formed between opposed surfaces of
said molded pieces that are adjacently arranged or
abutted against each other to connect said molded
pieces in a state that each of said molded pieces and
said dies are in position, and wherein an injection
channel for the molten resin up to said gap is formed
in one of said molded pieces forming said gap of the
opposed surfaces that are adjacently arranged or
abutted against each other; and (b) transporting means for transporting the
recording medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
246 words
An electrophotographic image forming
apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably
mountable for forming an image on a recording medium,
said electrophotographic image forming apparatus
comprising: (a) mounting means for mounting said process
cartridge, said process cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means for acting on said
electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a frame member made by joining a plurality of
molded pieces for supporting said electrophotographic
photosensitive drum or said process means, wherein said frame member has a construction in
that at least two kinds of frames including a first
frame and a second frame, both being molded pieces, are
provisionally connected so as to be adjacently arranged
or abutted against each other by a third frame and a
fourth frame, both being molded pieces, at side faces
of said first and second frames on one end side and the
other end side, the provisionally connected frames are
set in dies which are different from a die used for
formation of each of said molded pieces, and a molten
resin is injected into a gap formed between opposed
surfaces of said molded pieces that are adjacently
arranged or abutted against each other to connect said
molded pieces in a state that each of said molded
pieces and said dies are in position, and wherein an
injection channel for the molten resin up to said gap
is formed in said third frame and said fourth frame;
and (b) transporting means for transporting the
recording medium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
77 words
An electrophotographic image forming
apparatus according to Claim 21 or 22, wherein said
injection channel is formed in the one of said molded
pieces, and said injection channel communicates said
gap with an outside of the one of said molded pieces,
the outside being situated in a direction that is
perpendicular to a flowing direction of the molten
resin in said gap and is an assembling direction at a
time of provisional connection of said molded pieces.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
85 words
An electrophotographic image forming
apparatus according to any one of Claims 21-23, wherein
an inner diameter of an inlet of said injection channel
formed in the one of said molded pieces is within a
range of 1.5 mm to 3.00 mm, said inlet being situated
on an outer side when said part connecting member is
formed, and an inner diameter at a portion of said
injection channel where the molten resin flows into
said gap is within a range of 0.8 mm to 2.5 mm.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
80 words
An electrophotographic image forming
apparatus according to any one of Claims 21-24, wherein
said injection channel formed in the one of said molded
pieces has an inlet on a side being an outside when
said process cartridge is formed and an inner diameter
being smaller than that of said inlet, said inner
diameter being at a portion where the molten resin
flows into said gap, and said injection channel is
tapered within a range of one degree to six degrees.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
217 words
An electrophotographic image forming
apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably
mountable for forming an image on a recording medium,
said electrophotographic image forming apparatus
comprising: (a) mounting means for mounting said process
cartridge, said process cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means for acting on said
electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a frame member made by joining a plurality of
molded pieces for supporting said electrophotographic
photosensitive drum or said process means, wherein said frame member has a construction in
that at least two molded pieces obtained by injection
molding of plastic are provisionally connected by being
adjacently arranged or abutted against each other, the
provisionally connected molded pieces are set in dies
which are different from a die used for formation of
each of said molded pieces, and a molten resin is
injected into a gap formed between opposed surfaces of
said molded pieces that are adjacently arranged or
abutted against each other to connect said molded
pieces in a state that each of said molded pieces and
said dies are in position, and wherein a portion of the
opposed surfaces to be connected with the molten resin
when the molten resin is flown into said gap is not an
entire circumference of said gap; and (b) transporting means for transporting the
recording medium.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
255 words
An electrophotographic image forming
apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably
mountable for forming an image on a recording medium,
said electrophotographic image forming apparatus
comprising: (a) mounting means for mounting said process
cartridge, said process cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means for acting on said
electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a frame member made by joining a plurality of
molded pieces for supporting said electrophotographic
photosensitive drum or said process means, wherein said frame member has a construction in
that at least two kinds of frames including a first
frame and a second frame, both being molded pieces, are
provisionally connected so as to be adjacently arranged
or abutted against each other by a third frame and a
fourth frame, both being molded pieces, at side faces
of said first and second frames on one end side and the
other end side, the provisionally connected frames are
set in dies which are different from a die used for
formation of each of said molded pieces, and a molten
resin is injected into a gap formed between opposed
surfaces of said molded pieces that are adjacently
arranged or abutted against each other to connect said
molded pieces in a state that each of said molded
pieces and said dies are in position, and wherein a
portion of the opposed surfaces to be connected with
the molten resin when the molten resin is flown into
said gap is not an entire circumference of said gap;
and (b) transporting means for transporting the
recording medium.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrophotographic image forming
apparatus according to Claim 26 or 27, further
comprising a rib disposed in said gap and extending in
a direction substantially perpendicular to a resin
flowing direction to block a flowing path.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electrophotographic image forming
apparatus according to any one of Claims 21-28, wherein
the molten resin is polystyrene without flame-retardant
additives.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electrophotographic image forming
apparatus according to any one of Claims 21-29, wherein
said gap for forming a connecting portion is formed at
a predetermined position within an projected area of
each part forming said part connecting member.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of joining first and second plastics
components at an interface surface, comprising the steps
of: a) forming a first jointing surface on the first
component; b) forming a second jointing surface on the second
component; wherein when the jointing surfaces of the respective
components are placed together, they define between them
a closed chamber; c) forming at least one of the components with a
passage open at one end to the exterior of the component
and open at its other end to a part of the jointing
surface defining the chamber; d) placing the two components together so that
their jointing surfaces define a chamber; e) injecting settable material through the passage
to fill the chamber; and f) allowing the settable material to solidfy and
join the first and second components together.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 31, wherein the first
and second components are components of a process
cartridge.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 31 or claim 32, wherein
the first and second components are moulded from plastics
material, and the settable material is a plastics
material.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to any of claims 31 to 33,
wherein in step d) the components are held in place by
a supporting structure.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
20 words
A method according to any of claims 31 to 34,
wherein the passage is substantially perpendicular to the
jointing surface.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
A part for a process cartridge, formed by joining
two components by a method according to any of claims 31
to 35.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
10 words
A process cartridge containing a part according to
claim 36.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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