Processing box

Abstract

The present invention provides a processing box, comprising a developing frame, a developing roller, a developing roller driving assembly and a separation mechanism, wherein the developing roller is rotatably supported on the developing frame, the developing roller driving assembly comprises a driving head, a transmission gear, a movable part and an elastic part, one end of the developing roller is connected to the driving gear, the driving gear and the transmission gear are meshed with each other, the movable part is movably connected to the transmission gear along the axial direction of the transmission gear, one end of the movable part is connected to the driving head, the elastic part forces the movable part to approach the driving head, the driving head is used to receive the rotational force of the imaging device, and the separation mechanism can receive the force of the imaging device to make the movable part move along the axial direction of the transmission gear to separate the movable part from the driving head. The processing box has good working stability, simple structure, low production cost and high production efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of printing consumables, and in particular to a processing box which can be detachably installed on an imaging device. Background Art

[0002] An electrophotographic imaging device generally has an image processing unit and a developing unit. The electrostatic latent image formed on the image processing unit is developed using a developer such as toner provided by the developing unit to form a visible image on a medium such as paper. Toner is a consumable item that needs to be continuously replenished in the electrophotographic imaging device. Generally, a processing box with a certain amount of toner that can be detachably mounted to the developing unit in the electrophotographic imaging device is used to provide toner to the developing unit.

[0003] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 There is a conventional process box 1 including a driving assembly, a developing roller 14, a stirring frame (not indicated), a powder feeding roller (not indicated) and a photosensitive drum 13. The driving assembly includes a first driving assembly 11 and a second driving assembly 12. The first driving assembly 11 drives the photosensitive drum 13 to rotate, and the second driving assembly 12 drives the developing roller 14, the stirring frame and the powder feeding roller to rotate. The second driving assembly 12 includes a clutch 121, a second driving head 122, a driving gear 123 and a spring 124. During the process of forming an image in the image forming device, the clutch 121 and the spring 124 connect the second driving head 122 with the driving gear 123, the first driving assembly 11 receives the driving force of the first transmission head in the image forming device, thereby driving the photosensitive drum 13 to rotate, and the second driving head 122 receives the driving force of the second transmission head in the image forming device, thereby driving the developing roller 14, the stirring frame and the powder feeding roller to rotate. When the processing box 1 is printing in the imaging device, in order to improve the printing quality, the photosensitive drum 13 needs to be cleaned in the printing interval. Since the photosensitive drum 13 and the developing roller 14 are always in contact during printing, they are separated during the cleaning process. When the processing box 1 is in the state of cleaning the photosensitive drum 13, the clutch 121 disengages the second drive head 122 from the drive gear 123, and the second transmission head in the imaging device continues to drive the second drive head 122 to rotate. Since the drive gear 123 is separated from the second drive head 122, the drive gear 123 stops rotating, and the developing roller 14, the stirring frame and the powder feeding roller all stop rotating. At this time, the first transmission head in the imaging device continues to drive the first drive assembly 11 to rotate, thereby driving the photosensitive drum 13 to rotate, and the residual powder on the photosensitive drum 13 is cleaned.

[0004] However, in the cleaning process of the existing process cartridge 1, in order to separate the photosensitive drum from the developing roller by a certain gap, the developing roller 14, the second driving assembly 12 and the developing frame rotate by a certain angle under the force of the imaging device. In order to rotate the developing roller 14, the second driving assembly 12 and the developing frame, the structure of the entire process cartridge 1 is complicated, resulting in high difficulty in assembling the process cartridge 1, high production cost and low production efficiency. Summary of the invention

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the main purpose of the present invention is to provide a processing box with low production cost, high production efficiency and good working stability.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned main purpose, the present invention provides a processing box, which can be detachably installed on the imaging device, and the processing box includes a developing frame, a developing roller, a developing roller driving assembly and a separation mechanism. The developing roller is rotatably supported on the developing frame, and the developing roller driving assembly includes a driving head, a transmission gear, a movable part and an elastic part. One end of the developing roller is connected to the driving gear, and the driving gear and the transmission gear are meshed with each other. The movable part can be connected to the transmission gear movably along the axial direction of the transmission gear, and one end of the movable part can be connected to the driving head. The elastic part forces the movable part to approach the driving head. The driving head is used to receive the rotational force of the imaging device. The separation mechanism can receive the force of the imaging device to make the movable part move along the axial direction of the transmission gear to separate the movable part and the driving head.

[0007] As can be seen from the above scheme, the developing roller driving assembly includes a driving head, a transmission gear, a movable part and an elastic part. One end of the developing roller is connected to the driving gear, the driving gear and the transmission gear are meshed with each other, the movable part can be connected to the transmission gear movably along the axial direction of the transmission gear, one end of the movable part can be connected to the driving head, the elastic part forces the movable part to approach the driving head, the driving head is used to receive the rotational force of the imaging device, and the separation mechanism can receive the force of the imaging device to make the movable part move along the axial direction of the transmission gear to separate the movable part from the driving head. Therefore, when the imaging device cleans the photosensitive drum, the separation mechanism receives the force of the imaging device to make the movable part move along the axial direction of the transmission gear to separate the movable part from the driving head, the developing roller stops rotating, so that the developing roller does not supply powder to the photosensitive drum, and the imaging device cleans the rotating photosensitive drum, and the working stability is good. Moreover, the structure of the processing box is simple, which can effectively reduce the production cost and improve the production efficiency. At the same time, when the processing box is placed in the imaging device or taken out from the imaging device, the resistance is small, and the installation or removal operation is more convenient and labor-saving.

[0008] A further solution is that the separation mechanism includes a separation control member and a pushing member, the separation control member includes a guiding part and a force-bearing part, the force-bearing part can receive the force of the imaging device, and the pushing member is provided with a guided part. As the force-bearing part receives the force of the imaging device, the guiding part cooperates with the guided part to drive the movable part to move along the axial direction of the transmission gear so that the movable part and the driving head are separated.

[0009] A further solution is that the processing box also includes a retaining end cover installed on the side of the developing frame, the retaining end cover is provided with a limiting hole, and the pushing member is also provided with a protrusion, which cooperates with the limiting hole.

[0010] A further solution is that the retaining end cover is further provided with a limiting groove, the limiting groove rotates and extends around the axis of the transmission gear, and the separation control member also includes a limited portion, and the limited portion is located in the limiting groove.

[0011] A further solution is that the drive head is rotatably held on the holding end cover.

[0012] A further solution is that the main body of the separation control component is a ring structure, the outer circumferential surface of the ring structure is protruded along the radial direction of the ring structure to form a guide portion, and the outer circumferential wall of the ring structure extends outward to form a force-bearing portion, and the protrusion on the end surface of the ring structure close to the retaining end cover forms a limited portion, and the driving head is provided with a cone extending along the axial direction of the transmission gear, one end of the cone can be connected to one end of the movable part, and the ring structure is sleeved on the cone with a clearance fit.

[0013] A further solution is that the main body of the pushing member is a circular ring structure, and a protrusion on the end face of the circular ring structure close to the separation control member forms a guided portion, and the guided portion protrudes toward the retaining end cover to form a protrusion, and the main body of the movable member is a circular boss structure, and the small-diameter boss of the circular boss structure can be connected to one end of the circular table, and the circular ring structure is loosely fitted on the small-diameter boss.

[0014] A further solution is that the surfaces of the guiding part and the guided part that are in contact with each other are both inclined surfaces.

[0015] A further solution is that the transmission gear is provided with a accommodating cavity which is open at one axial end thereof, a convex arm is provided in the accommodating cavity, the movable part is located in the accommodating cavity, the large diameter disk of the circular boss structure is provided with a through hole, the convex arm passes through the through hole, the elastic part is a spring, and the spring is pressed between the bottom of the accommodating cavity and the large diameter disk.

[0016] A further solution is that the end surface of the small-diameter boss is provided with a first ratchet tooth, and the end surface of the truncated cone is provided with a second ratchet tooth, and the first ratchet tooth can mesh with the second ratchet tooth. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a structural diagram of an existing process box.

[0018] Figure 2 It is a partial exploded view of an existing process cartridge.

[0019] Figure 3 It is a structural diagram of an embodiment of a processing box of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 It is a first partial structural diagram of a processing box embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 It is a second partial structural diagram of the processing box embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 6 1 is a structural diagram of the end cover of the processing box embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 7 It is an exploded view of the cooperation between the developing roller driving assembly and the separation mechanism in the processing box embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 8 It is a structural diagram of the cooperation between the developing roller driving assembly and the separation mechanism in the processing box embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Fig. 9 It is a partial exploded view of the developer roller drive assembly in the process cartridge embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Fig.10 1 is a structural diagram of the separation mechanism in the processing box embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] The present invention is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] See also Figure 3 The process cartridge 2 is detachably mounted in the imaging device, and the process cartridge 2 includes a drum frame 21, a developing frame 24, a photosensitive drum 22, a developing roller 25, a photosensitive drum driving assembly 23, a developing roller driving assembly, a separation mechanism, and a holding end cover 26. The photosensitive drum 22 is rotatably supported on the drum frame 21, and the developing roller 25 is rotatably supported on the developing frame 24. The photosensitive drum driving assembly 23 and the developing roller driving assembly are located on the same side of the process cartridge 2, and the photosensitive drum driving assembly 23 is used to receive the first rotational force of the imaging device and drive the photosensitive drum 22 to rotate.

[0029] See also Figures 4 to 9 The developing roller driving assembly includes a driving head 27, a transmission gear 29, a movable member 32 and an elastic member 33. One end of the developing roller 25 is connected to the driving gear 28, and the driving gear 28 and the transmission gear 29 are meshed with each other. The movable member 32 is connected to the transmission gear 29 movably along the axial direction of the transmission gear 29, and one end of the movable member 32 is connected to the driving head 27. The elastic member 33 forces the movable member 32 to approach the driving head 27, and the driving head 27 is used to receive the second rotational force of the imaging device.

[0030] Specifically, the transmission gear 29 is provided with a receiving cavity 291 which is open at one end of the axial direction thereof, and the receiving cavity 291 is provided with four protruding arms 292 extending along the axial direction of the transmission gear 29, and the four protruding arms 292 are evenly arranged around the axis of the transmission gear 29. Meanwhile, a cylindrical body 293 is provided protrudingly at the bottom of the receiving cavity 291. The movable member 32 is located in the receiving cavity 291, and the body of the movable member 32 is a circular boss structure, which has a small-diameter boss 322 and a large-diameter disc 321 connected to each other, and the end surface of the small-diameter boss 322 is provided with a first ratchet 323 which surrounds the axis of the small-diameter boss 322, and the large-diameter disc 321 is provided with four through holes 324, and the four through holes 324 are evenly arranged around the axis of the large-diameter disc 321, and the four protruding arms 292 are respectively provided through the four through holes 324 with clearance fit. A circular ring 325 is extended axially along the transmission gear 29 on the side of the large diameter disk 321 away from the driving head 27. The elastic member 33 is a spring. The two ends of the spring 33 are respectively mounted on the cylindrical body 293 and the circular ring 325, and the spring 33 is pressed between the bottom of the accommodating cavity 291 and the large diameter disk 321.

[0031] The driving head 27 sequentially extends the driving force receiving portion 271, the truncated cone 273 and the guide rod 272 connected to each other along the axial direction of the transmission gear 29. The guide rod 272 can move along the axial direction of the transmission gear 29 and penetrate the movable member 32 and be inserted into the hole of the cylindrical body 293. The end surface of the truncated cone 273 is provided with a second ratchet 274 that surrounds the axis of the truncated cone 273. The first ratchet 323 can be meshed and connected with the second ratchet 274.

[0032] See also Figure 6 The driving force receiving portion 271 of the driving head 27 can be rotatably retained on the retaining hole 263 of the retaining end cover 26. The retaining end cover 26 is installed on the side of the developing frame 24. The retaining end cover 26 is provided with three limiting holes 261 and a limiting groove 262, and the limiting groove 262 rotates and extends around the axis of the transmission gear 29.

[0033] See also Figures 4 to 10 The separation mechanism is located between the driving force receiving portion 271 and the large diameter disc 321. The separation mechanism can receive the force of the imaging device to move the movable member 32 relative to the driving head 27 between the contact position and the separation position. In the contact position, the movable member 32 is connected to the driving head 27 to drive the developing roller 25 to rotate, and the photosensitive drum 22 is in contact with the developing roller 25. In the separation position, the movable member 32 is separated from the driving head 27, and the developing roller 25 stops rotating, while the photosensitive drum 22 is still in contact with the developing roller 25. That is, the separation mechanism can separate the movable member 32 from the driving head 27 by receiving the force of the imaging device to move the movable member 32 along the axial direction of the transfer gear 29.

[0034] Specifically, the separation mechanism includes a separation control member 30 and a pushing member 31. The main body of the pushing member 31 is a circular ring structure, which is loosely fitted on the small-diameter boss 322 of the movable member 32. The end surface of the circular ring structure close to the separation control member 30 is raised to form three guided portions 311. The three guided portions 311 all protrude toward the retaining end cover 26 to form a protrusion 312. The three protrusions 312 are respectively inserted into the three limiting holes 261 of the retaining end cover 26. The rotation of the pushing member 31 is limited by the cooperation between the protrusion 312 and the limiting hole 261. The main body of the separation control member 30 is a ring structure 302, which is sleeved on the truncated table 273 of the driving head 27 with clearance fit. The outer peripheral surface of the ring structure 302 is protruded along the radial direction of the ring structure 302 to form three guide parts 303. In the circumferential direction of the transmission gear 29, the three guide parts 303 and the three guided parts 311 are arranged and matched in an interlaced manner, and the surfaces of the guide parts 303 and the guided parts 311 that are in conflict with each other are inclined surfaces 306 and 313. The outer peripheral wall of the ring structure 302 extends outward to form a force-bearing part 301, which can receive the force of the imaging device. The end surface of the ring structure 302 close to the holding end cover 26 is protruded to form a limited part 304, which is movably located in the limiting groove 262 of the holding end cover 26. Through the cooperation between the limited part 304 and the limiting groove 262, the rotation angle of the separation control member 30 is limited, thereby improving the working stability.

[0035] When the processing box 2 is installed in the imaging device, in the normal printing state of the imaging device, the developing roller 25 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 22, and the movable member 32 is in contact with the driving head 27, that is, the force-bearing portion 301 of the separation control member 30 does not receive the force of the imaging device, and the movable member 32 and the driving head 27 are connected and matched, and the driving head 27 receives the second rotational force of the imaging device to drive the transmission gear 29 to rotate, so that the driving gear 28 drives the developing roller 25 to rotate, and at the same time, the photosensitive drum driving assembly 23 receives the first rotational force of the imaging device to drive the photosensitive drum 22 to rotate. During the printing process of the processing box 2, the photosensitive drum 22 and the developing roller 25 are both in a rotating state, and the developing roller 25 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 22, so that the toner is stably transferred from the developing roller 25 to the photosensitive drum 22, and then a series of laser printing such as exposure, development, and transfer is realized on the printing paper.

[0036] When the imaging device needs to clean the photosensitive drum 22, the cleaning unit of the imaging device applies a force to the force-bearing portion 301 of the separation control member 30 of the processing box 2. As the force-bearing portion 301 receives the force of the imaging device, the movable member 32 is driven to move from the contact position to the separation position, that is, as the force-bearing portion 301 of the separation control member 30 receives the force of the imaging device, the force-bearing portion 301 synchronously drives the guide portion 303 of the separation control member 30 to rotate. Since the surfaces of the guide portion 303 of the separation control member 30 and the guided portion 311 of the push member 31 that are in conflict with each other are both inclined surfaces 306 and 313, the push member 31 is moved away from the drive head 27 as the guide portion 303 rotates, and the movable member 32 is forced to move away from the drive head 27, so that the movable member 32 and the drive head 27 are separated. At this time, the spring 33 is in a compressed state, and the drive head 27 still receives the second rotational force of the imaging device and continues to rotate, but the drive head 27 is in an idling state. Due to the separation between the movable part 32 and the driving head 27, the transfer gear 29 stops rotating, and the driving gear 28 and the developing roller 25 also stop rotating. The developing roller 25 does not supply powder to the photosensitive drum 22, and the photosensitive drum driving assembly 23 drives the photosensitive drum 22 to rotate to clean its surface.

[0037] After the cleaning of the photosensitive drum 22 is completed, the separation control member 30 and the push member 31 of the processing box 2 are reset, and at the same time, the spring 33 forces the movable member 32 to approach the drive head 27 under the action of its restoring force, so that the movable member 32 and the drive head 27 are connected and matched, and the developing roller 25 is continued to be driven to rotate, so as to supply powder to the photosensitive drum 22, and then the imaging device continues to print, effectively ensuring the transfer of carbon powder between the developing roller 25 and the photosensitive drum 22, so that the processing box 2 can discharge powder more evenly and the printing quality is stable. In addition, the structure of the processing box 2 is simple, which can effectively reduce production costs and improve production efficiency. At the same time, when the processing box 2 is placed in the imaging device or taken out from the imaging device, the resistance is small, and the installation or removal operation is more convenient and labor-saving.

[0038] The above embodiments are only preferred examples of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of implementation of the present invention. Therefore, any equivalent changes or modifications made according to the structure, characteristics and principles of the patent application scope of the present invention should be included in the scope of the patent application of the present invention.

Claims

1. A process cartridge, the process cartridge being detachably mounted to an imaging device, the process cartridge comprising a developing frame and a developing roller, the developing roller being rotatably supported on the developing frame, characterized in that: The process cartridge further comprises a developing roller driving assembly and a separation mechanism, wherein the developing roller driving assembly comprises a driving head, a transmission gear, a movable member and an elastic member, one end of the developing roller is connected to a driving gear, and the driving gear and the transmission gear are meshed with each other; The movable member is connected to the transmission gear movably along the axial direction of the transmission gear, one end of the movable member is connected to the driving head, the elastic member forces the movable member to approach the driving head, and the driving head is used to receive the rotational force of the imaging device; The separation mechanism can receive the force of the imaging device to make the movable member move along the axial direction of the transmission gear to separate the movable member from the driving head; The separation mechanism comprises a separation control member and a pushing member, wherein the separation control member comprises a guiding portion and a force receiving portion, and the force receiving portion can receive the force of the imaging device; The pushing member is provided with a guided portion; As the force receiving portion receives the force of the imaging device, the guiding portion cooperates with the guided portion to drive the movable member to move along the axial direction of the transmission gear so that the movable member and the driving head are separated.

2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The processing box also includes a retaining end cover installed on the side of the developing frame, the retaining end cover is provided with a limiting hole, and the pushing member is also provided with a protrusion, and the protrusion cooperates with the limiting hole.

3. The process cartridge according to claim 2, wherein: The retaining end cover is further provided with a limiting groove, and the limiting groove extends and rotates around the axis of the transmission gear. The separation control member also includes a limited portion, and the limited portion is located in the limiting groove.

4. The process cartridge according to claim 2, wherein: The drive head is rotatably retained on the retaining end cap.

5. The process cartridge according to claim 3, wherein: The body of the separation control member is a ring structure, the outer peripheral surface of the ring structure protrudes along the radial direction of the ring structure to form the guide portion, and the outer peripheral wall of the ring structure extends outward to form the force-bearing portion, and the end surface of the ring structure close to the retaining end cover protrudes to form the limited portion; The driving head is provided with a truncated cone extending along the axial direction of the transmission gear, one end of the truncated cone can be connected to one end of the movable member, and the ring structure is sleeved on the truncated cone with clearance fit.

6. The process cartridge according to claim 5, wherein: The body of the pushing member is a circular ring structure, and a protrusion on the end surface of the circular ring structure close to the separation control member forms the guided portion, and the guided portion protrudes toward the retaining end cover to form the protrusion; The main body of the movable part is a circular boss structure, the small-diameter boss of the circular boss structure can be connected to one end of the circular table, and the circular ring structure is sleeved on the small-diameter boss with clearance fit.

7. The process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein: The surfaces of the guiding portion and the guided portion that are in contact with each other are both inclined surfaces.

8. The process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein: The transmission gear is provided with a receiving cavity which is open at one axial end thereof, and a protruding arm is provided in the receiving cavity; The movable part is located in the accommodating cavity, the large diameter disc of the circular boss structure is provided with a through hole, and the convex arm is arranged to pass through the through hole; The elastic member is a spring, and the spring is pressed between the bottom of the accommodating cavity and the large-diameter disc.

9. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that: The end surface of the small-diameter boss is provided with a first ratchet tooth, and the end surface of the truncated cone is provided with a second ratchet tooth, and the first ratchet tooth can mesh with the second ratchet tooth.

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