A developing box

Abstract

A developing box that can be detachably installed in an imaging device can be detachably installed in an image forming device including a side wall and a door cover provided with metal contacts, the developing box comprising: a shell, the inside of which can accommodate a developer; a storage unit, the storage unit comprising a plurality of terminals including a grounding terminal; an electrical connection member, one end of which is electrically connected to the grounding terminal and the other end of which can be electrically connected to the side wall of the image forming device; the grounding terminal is not electrically connected to the metal contact on the door cover but is electrically connected to the side wall; and a control mechanism is also included, the control mechanism controls at least a part of the electrical connection member to move from a first position to a second position relative to the side wall. The grounding terminal in the developing box of the present invention can stably form an electrical connection with the image forming device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a developing box with a storage unit. Background Art

[0002] An electrophotographic imaging device is an imaging device that forms a visible image on a recording medium through the principle of electrophotographic imaging, including electrophotographic copiers, electrophotographic printers, and LED printers.

[0003] Specifically, the electrophotographic imaging device forms a desired image according to the following process. First, the surface of the photoconductive medium is charged to a predetermined potential, and then a laser beam is projected onto the charged surface of the photoconductive medium to form an electrostatic latent image; the developer cartridge supplies the developer to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive medium; then, the visible developer image developed on the photoconductive medium is transferred to the printing medium directly or through an intermediate transfer medium, and finally fixed to the printing medium through a fixing process.

[0004] During the imaging process of the electronic imaging device, the life of the developing cartridge is limited, so when the developer in the developing cartridge is exhausted, it is often necessary to replace it to ensure the imaging quality. To this end, the user must know the information of the developing cartridge in order to accurately grasp the status of the developing cartridge. Usually, a storage unit is provided in the developing cartridge to store relevant information such as the remaining developer amount of the developing cartridge.

[0005] In the prior art, Chinese patent CN201621062066.4 discloses a developer box with a storage unit, and the storage unit has multiple terminals including conductive terminals, data terminals, and contact terminals. The ground terminal among the multiple terminals is in elastic contact with the side wall of the printer through an intermediate conductive member, so that the ground terminal in the storage unit is electrically connected to the printer earlier than other terminals, so that the developer box can be electrically connected and exchange information with the printer. However, due to the elastic contact with the side wall of the printer, the intermediate conductive member may not be able to restore its elastic deformation during the long-term installation of the developer box in the printer, resulting in that when the developer box is installed in the printer again, the intermediate conductive member cannot be in close contact with the side wall of the printer, so that the ground terminal connected to the intermediate conductive member cannot be connected to the side wall of the printer to achieve the grounding function, and the storage unit is damaged and cannot achieve normal information exchange with the printer. Summary of the invention

[0006] In order to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art, the present invention is implemented by adopting the following technical solution: a developing box is detachably installed in an image forming device including a side wall and a door cover provided with metal contacts, and the developing box comprises:

[0007] A shell, which can accommodate developer; a storage unit, which includes multiple terminals including a grounding terminal; an electrical connection member, one end of which is electrically connected to the grounding terminal and the other end of which can be electrically connected to the side wall of the image forming device; the grounding terminal is not electrically connected to the metal contact on the door cover but is electrically connected to the side wall; and also includes a control mechanism, which controls at least a portion of the electrical connection member to move from a first position to a second position relative to the side wall.

[0008] Furthermore, when the electrical connection member is in the first position, the ground terminal is not electrically connected to the side wall; when the electrical connection member is in the second position, the ground terminal is electrically connected to the side wall.

[0009] Furthermore, the electrical connection component includes a conductive steel sheet, an elastic component and a lifting knife; one end of the conductive steel sheet is connected to the ground terminal, and the other end of the conductive steel sheet is connected to one end of the elastic component; the other end of the elastic component is connected to the lifting knife.

[0010] Furthermore, the warping knife includes a serrated portion, and the serrated portion can contact the side wall.

[0011] Furthermore, the elastic member can enable the lifter to move from a second position electrically connected to the side wall to a first position not electrically connected to the side wall.

[0012] Furthermore, the control mechanism may be constructed as a control rod, and the control rod may receive the force of the door cover to force the lifter to move from the first position to the second position.

[0013] Furthermore, the housing is also provided with a guide groove which can guide the control rod to move relative to the housing.

[0014] Furthermore, the control mechanism is constructed as a connecting rod mechanism.

[0015] Furthermore, the developing box further includes a accommodating member capable of accommodating at least a portion of the conductive member, and the link mechanism can force the accommodating member to move.

[0016] Furthermore, the electrical connection component also includes a lifting knife, and the accommodating component is configured to accommodate the lifting knife.

[0017] According to the developing box of the present invention, when the developing box is installed on the imaging device, the door cover of the imaging device will apply force to the control rod, so that the electrical connection component connected to the control rod moves relative to the side wall of the imaging device; the conductive component can move from a first position not in contact with the side wall of the image forming device to a second position in contact with the image forming device relative to the side wall, and because the door cover presses the control rod, the control rod always applies force to the electrical connection component, so that the electrical connection component and the side wall always keep a close fit, and the conductive component is made of rigid material, so that the electrical connection component will not be irreversibly deformed due to long-term contact with the side wall in the prior art, resulting in poor contact; and after the door cover is opened, the force applied to the control rod disappears, and the electrical connection component and the control rod are acted on by the elastic restoring force of the elastic component, so that the electrical contact component can move from the second position to the first position, the electrical contact component does not contact the side wall, the developing box does not contact the side wall, and the developing box can be smoothly taken out of the image forming device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a developing cartridge of the present invention when it is installed in an image forming device and the door cover is not closed;

[0019] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the developing cartridge of the present invention installed in the image forming device after the door cover is closed;

[0020] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram when the shielding cover is not installed in the state;

[0021] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram when the shielding cover is not installed in the state;

[0022] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a control lever of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of a warping knife of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the connection between the storage unit of the present invention and the conductive steel sheet;

[0025] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of an elastic member of the present invention;

[0026] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a shielding cover of the present invention;

[0027] Fig.10 is a partial schematic diagram of a developer cartridge housing of the present invention;

[0028] Fig.11 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention when a developing cartridge is installed in an image forming device and a door cover is not closed;

[0029] Fig.12 is a schematic diagram of a developing cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention installed in an image forming device after a door cover is closed;

[0030] Fig.13 It is a schematic diagram of the accommodating member of the developing cartridge according to the second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and technical effect of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical scheme of the developer box of the present invention will be described clearly and completely in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The described embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

[0032] Embodiment 1

[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, the developing box of the present invention includes a shell 2, which can accommodate developer; the storage unit 1 includes a data terminal 1a, a power terminal 1c and a ground terminal 1b, and the storage unit 1 can store relevant information of the developing box and can establish an electrical connection with the printer through the terminals to achieve information exchange with the printer. In this embodiment, the storage unit 1 is arranged at the rear end of the shell 2, but optionally, the storage unit 1 can also be arranged at other parts of the developing box, such as the front end, upper end or lower end of the developing box, and any other part that can accommodate the storage unit 1. The developing box of the present invention also includes an electrical connection member, one end of the electrical connection member is electrically connected to the ground terminal 1b of the storage unit, and the other end is electrically connected to the side wall 5 of the image forming device. The electrical connection device of the present invention can move relative to the side wall 5 of the image forming device; the developing box of the present invention also includes a control rod 9 that can control the movement of the electrical connection member.

[0034] The electrical connection member in this embodiment is made of conductive material, including a conductive steel sheet 7, an elastic member 8 and a lifting knife 6. The lifting knife in this embodiment is constructed as follows Figure 6 The roughly plate-shaped component shown in the figure has a serration 6a formed at one end. The warping knife 6 can be made of conductive materials such as conductive resin or metal, and is configured as a rigid component. It will not be elastically deformed due to force. The warping knife 6 can also be configured in other shapes, such as square or diamond shapes. The elastic member 8 is preferably configured as a conductive tension spring, and its first end 8a can be electrically connected to the conductive steel sheet 7 and can be fixed to the housing 2 at the same time, and the other end 8b is conductively connected to the warping knife 6. Of course, the elastic member can also be configured as other elastically deformable components. The conductive steel sheet 7 can also be configured in other shapes or made of other materials. For example, the conductive steel sheet can be configured as a conductive wire.

[0035] The control mechanism of this embodiment is configured as a control rod 9. The control rod 9 can be made of a conductive material or a non-conductive material, but is preferably made of a resin material. The shape of the control rod 9 can be changed according to the shape and space of the developing box. In this embodiment, the control rod 9 is configured as follows: Figure 5 The rod with an arc-shaped portion shown includes a pressed portion 9a, which can protrude from the rear end of the developer box housing 2; a mounting portion 9c, which is constructed in a roughly arc shape and can be mounted in the arc-shaped guide groove 2a of the housing; a conductive member accommodating portion 9b, which is constructed in a roughly groove shape and is provided with a cylindrical protrusion 9d, which can be inserted into the mounting hole 6d of the warping knife 6, so that the warping knife 6 is located in the conductive member accommodating portion 9b and the warping knife 6 is positioned by the protrusion 9d. Of course, a plurality of positioning members can also be provided on the warping knife 6 to better position it on the control rod, so that the warping knife 6 can move together with the control rod 9.

[0036] The developer box in this embodiment is also provided with a shielding cover 20; the shielding cover 20 can be installed on one side of the housing to cover the electrical connection member and at least a part of the control rod 9 so that it is not interfered with by external mechanisms. The shielding cover 20 is provided with a hole 20c, and when the shielding cover 20 is installed on the housing, the screw column 1c on the housing is inserted into the hole 20c to position the shielding cover 20 to the housing. The shielding cover 20 is also provided with a limiting protrusion 20a, and the shape of the limiting protrusion 20a is configured to match the arc portion of the control rod, which is used to limit the movement of the control rod 9 relative to the shielding cover 20. The developer box housing is provided with a guide groove 2a for accommodating the arc portion 9c of the control rod and guiding the control rod to move relative to the housing.

[0037] The developing box of this embodiment can be installed in the image forming device. The image forming device of this embodiment includes left and right side walls 5. The side walls 5 have a grounding function and can be connected to the grounding device of the printer to prevent the side walls from leaking electricity and causing safety accidents. The developing box in this embodiment can be installed in the image forming device along the left and right side walls 5. When the developing box is installed in a predetermined position in the image forming device, the door cover (not shown) of the image forming device is closed. The door cover is provided with a plurality of metal contacts, which can establish electrical connection with other terminals of the storage unit except the grounding terminal, so that the image forming device is electrically connected with the developing box storage unit.

[0038] The following will be combined with the attached Figure 1-4 The detailed working principle of this embodiment is described in detail.

[0039] When the developer box of this embodiment is installed to the predetermined position of the image forming device, but the door cover of the image forming device is not closed, the electrical connection component of the grounding terminal 1b on the storage unit of the developer box is not in contact with the side wall 5, but is separated from the side wall 5 by a distance n1. Specifically, the lifter 6 is separated from the side wall 5 by a distance n1 in the left-right direction; the control rod 9 extends out of the rear wall of the shell by a first distance h1; when the user closes the door cover of the image forming device, the door cover first contacts the control rod 9 and applies a force F perpendicular to the rear wall of the shell to it; after receiving the force F, the control rod 9 moves along the guide groove 1a of the shell, and the lifter 6 connected thereto moves with the control rod 9. The lifter 6 will extend outward relative to the shell during the movement. Specifically, the lifter moves forward relative to the shell in the front-to-back direction, and at the same time moves close to the side wall 5 in the left-to-right direction. In summary, the lifter 6 slides to the right rear relative to the side wall 5, thereby being electrically connected to the lifter 6. The grounding terminal 1b of the storage unit is grounded first and is energized before other terminals such as the data terminal of the storage unit; and when the door cover is completely closed, the lifter keeps in close contact with the side wall 5 of the image forming device, so that the grounding terminal 1b of the storage unit is electrically connected to the side wall 5 and maintains a stable electrical connection. In this embodiment, the grounding terminal 1b is electrically connected to the image forming device earlier than other terminals of the storage unit; and in the process of the developing box performing the printing task, the door cover always applies force F to the control rod 9, forcing the lifter 6 to be in close contact with the side wall 5 of the image forming device, and because the lifter is a rigid component, it will not be elastically deformed due to the force, so that the grounding terminal 1b and the side wall 5 can always achieve a good grounding function during the printing process; and the failure of normal grounding will not occur in the prior art because the conductive device is in long-term contact with the side wall and causes irreversible elastic deformation, resulting in failure to be in close contact with the side wall. Moreover, when the image forming device needs to remove the developing cartridge due to a paper jam or other reasons, the user opens the door cover, and the force F is no longer applied to the control rod 9. The control rod 9 and the lifting knife 6 are forced to move out of the control rod 9 and the lifting knife 6 under the elastic restoring force of the elastic member 8. Figure 2 The second position shown reverts to Figure 1 In the first position shown, the lifter 6 moves toward the housing, and a gap is formed between the lifter 6 and the side wall, so that the ground terminal 1b is electrically disconnected from the side wall 5.

[0040] Embodiment 2

[0041] To simplify the description, the same structures as those in the first embodiment are not described in detail. In the present embodiment, the control mechanism is constructed as a connecting rod mechanism, and the connecting rod mechanism in the present embodiment includes a first connecting rod 10, a second connecting rod 11, a third connecting rod 12, and a containing member 13 connected to the third connecting rod 12. One end of the second connecting rod 11 is connected to the first connecting rod 10, and the other end is connected to the third connecting rod 13. In the present embodiment, the first connecting rod 10 can receive the force F from the door cover of the image imaging device and move toward the front end of the shell, so that the second connecting rod 11 connected to the first connecting rod 10 moves toward the front right side. The movement of the second connecting rod 11 drives the rear front end of the third connecting rod 12 to move, so that the containing member 13 connected to the third connecting rod 12 moves with the third connecting rod 12. The containing member 13 can accommodate a lifting knife 14, and the lifting knife 14 can move with the containing member 13. When the first connecting rod 10 receives the force F from the door cover, the lifting knife 14 moves toward the rear right side, so that Fig.11 The first position shown is moved to Fig.12 In the second position, the elastic member 15 is compressed. In the first position, the blade 14 is separated from the side wall 5 by a certain gap and has no electrical connection, so that the grounding terminal 1b has no electrical connection with the side wall, and the storage unit is not grounded; when in the second position, the blade 14 contacts the side wall 5 to form an electrical connection, so that the grounding terminal is electrically connected to the side wall 5, and the storage unit realizes the grounding function. When the door cover is opened, the force F applied to the first connecting rod 10 disappears, and the blade 14, the accommodating member 13 and the connecting rod mechanism move from the second position to the first position under the elastic restoring force of the elastic member 15.

[0042] According to the present invention, when the developing box is installed on the image forming device, the door cover of the image forming device will apply force to the control mechanism, so that the electrical connection member connected to the control mechanism moves relative to the side wall of the imaging device; the conductive member can move from a first position not in contact with the side wall of the image forming device to a second position in contact with the image forming device relative to the side wall, and because the door cover presses the control mechanism, the control mechanism always applies force to the conductive member, so that the conductive member and the side wall always keep a close fit, and the conductive member is made of rigid material, so that the poor contact caused by irreversible deformation due to long-term contact between the conductive member and the side wall in the prior art will not occur; and after the door cover is opened, the force applied to the control mechanism disappears, and the conductive member and the control mechanism are acted on by the elastic restoring force of the elastic member, so that the conductive member can move from the second position to the first position, the conductive member does not contact the side wall, the developing box does not contact the side wall, and the developing box can be smoothly taken out of the image forming device.

[0043] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit the same. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments may still be modified, or some of the technical features may be replaced by equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A developing box, detachably mounted in an image forming device including a side wall and a door cover provided with metal contacts, the developing box comprising: A shell body, the developer can be accommodated therein; A storage unit, the storage unit comprising a plurality of terminals including a ground terminal; an electrical connection member, one end of which is electrically connected to the ground terminal and the other end of which can be electrically connected to the side wall of the image forming device; The ground terminal is not electrically connected to the metal contact on the door cover but is electrically connected to the side wall; It is characterized in that; it also includes a control mechanism, which controls at least a part of the electrical connection component to move from a first position to a second position relative to the side wall; when the electrical connection component is in the first position, the grounding terminal is not electrically connected to the side wall; when the electrical connection component is in the second position, the grounding terminal is electrically connected to the side wall; the electrical connection component includes a conductive steel sheet, an elastic component and a lifting knife; one end of the conductive steel sheet is connected to the grounding terminal, and the other end of the conductive steel sheet is connected to one end of the elastic component; the other end of the elastic component is connected to the lifting knife.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The warping knife includes a serration portion, and the serration portion can contact the side wall.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The elastic member can move the lifter from a second position electrically connected to the side wall to a first position not electrically connected to the side wall.

4. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The control mechanism may be configured as a control rod, and the control rod may receive a force from the door cover to force the lifter to move from the first position to the second position.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 4, wherein: The housing is also provided with a guide groove which can guide the control rod to move relative to the housing.

6. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The control mechanism is configured as a linkage mechanism.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 6, wherein: The developing box further includes a receiving member capable of receiving at least a portion of the electrical connection member, and the link mechanism can force the receiving member to move.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 7, wherein: The accommodating member is configured to accommodate the warping knife.

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