Recycling method, and image forming apparatus manufactured using recycling method

Abstract

A recycling method in an apparatus having a part includes a part removal step of removing a part from the apparatus, and a mounting step of mounting to the apparatus a part having a specification different from that of the removed part.

1 . A recycling method in an apparatus having a part, comprising: 
 a part removal step of removing a part from said apparatus;    a mounting step of mounting to said apparatus a part having a specification different from that of the removed part.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the part having the different specification is mounted to a position at which the removed part has been mounted.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the part having the different specification is mounted to a position different from a position at which the removed part is mounted.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the part has an engaging portion for engagement with said apparatus, and said apparatus has a hole portion for engagement with the engaging portion.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein said apparatus has a number of hole portions which is larger than a number which is necessary to mount the part.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the part having the different specification is mounted to a position different from a position at which the removed part is mounted.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus after the part having the different specification has a specification which is different from a specification of said apparatus before the part having the different specification is mounted.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the engaging portion is provided at opposite ends of the part.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the engaging portions are opposite end portions of a shaft member penetrating the part.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is an image forming apparatus, and the part is a unit of a plurality of units having different functions for image formation.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is an image forming apparatus, and the part is a plate-like member constituting a part of a frame of said image forming apparatus.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the specification of the part of which is the plate-like is a shape thereof.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the frame has a side plate member on which the plate-like member is fixed, and a cross-sectional configuration of the side plate member has at least one bent portion.  
   
   
       14 . An image forming apparatus recycled by a method comprising: 
 a part removing step of removing a part from said image forming apparatus;    a mounting step of mounting to said apparatus a part having a specification different from that of the removed part.    
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the part having the different specification is mounted to a position at which the removed part has been mounted.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the part having the different specification is mounted to a position different from a position at which the removed part is mounted.  
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the part has an engaging portion for engagement with said apparatus, and said apparatus has a hole portion for engagement with the engaging portion.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein said apparatus has a number of hole portions which is larger than a number which is necessary to mount the part.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the part having the different specification is mounted to a position different from a position at which the removed part is mounted.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said apparatus after the part having the different specification has a specification which is different from a specification of said apparatus before the part having the different specification is mounted.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the engaging portion is provided at opposite ends of the part.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the engaging portions are opposite end portions of a shaft member penetrating the part.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said apparatus is an image forming apparatus, and the part is a unit of a plurality of units having different functions for image information.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said apparatus is an image forming apparatus, and the part is a plate-like member constituting a part of a frame of said image forming apparatus.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the specification of the part of which is the plate-like is a shape thereof.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the frame has a side plate member on which the plate-like member is fixed, and a cross-sectional configuration of the side plate member has at least one bent portion.  
   
   
       27 . An apparatus of a first type which is recyclable into an apparatus of a second type, said apparatus of the first type comprising: 
 an image forming unit having a function of image formation; and    a supporting member for supporting said image forming unit, said supporting member including a plurality of supporting portions for supporting said image forming unit and a supporting portion, different from said plurality of supporting portions, for supporting an image forming unit of the apparatus of the second type.