A process cartridge

Abstract

The application provides a processing box, which comprises a box body, a developing roller, a photosensitive drum and a guide piece. The developing roller is installed on the box body, and a developing roller gear is arranged on the developing roller. The photosensitive drum is installed on the box body, and a transmission piece and a photosensitive drum gear are arranged on the photosensitive drum. The photosensitive drum gear is engaged with the developing roller gear. The guide piece is installed on the shaft core of the developing roller or the box body. In the axial direction of the photosensitive drum, the guide piece is located on the side, away from the photosensitive drum, of the transmission piece. The guide piece has a protrusion. The protrusion has a first position and a second position. When the protrusion is located at the first position, the protrusion can be connected with the peripheral gear of the driving head in the electrophotographic imaging equipment. The protrusion can be driven from the first position to the second position by the peripheral gear. When the protrusion is located at the second position, the protrusion is disconnected with the peripheral gear. The processing box can reduce the influence of the driving force of the driving head in the electrophotographic imaging equipment and prolong the service life of the driving head.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of electrophotographic imaging, in particular to a process cartridge. BACKGROUND

[0002] An electrophotographic imaging device (such as a laser printer) is a device that forms an image on an image forming medium (such as paper) by at least the processes of charging, exposure, development, transfer, fixing, and cleaning using the principle of electrophotography. The material device of the printing consumables used on the electrophotographic imaging device is generally referred to as a process cartridge.

[0003] However, since there are various ways for the existing electrophotographic imaging device to the process cartridge, in order to improve the universality of the process cartridge, the patent application for invention with publication number CN110347029A discloses a process cartridge, which is provided with a secondary gear at the end of the developing roller. However, it is found in actual use that when the driving force receiving head of the photosensitive drum in the process cartridge is coupled with the driving head with a gear in the electrophotographic imaging device, since the length of the driving head is relatively long, the driving head is prone to swing during the coupling of the free end of the driving head and the driving force receiving head, which makes the coupling of the driving force receiving head and the driving head difficult.

[0004] To this end, the patent application for invention with publication number CN115268241A discloses a process cartridge, which is provided with an idle guide gear coaxially arranged on the outside of the developing roller gear assembly close to the end cover. The guide gear is used to mesh with the peripheral gear of the transmission head in the electrophotographic imaging device to guide and position the transmission head, so that during the installation of the process cartridge, the second coupling part of the transmission head can be stably and accurately engaged with the coupling protrusion at the end of the photosensitive drum, preventing the transmission head of the electrophotographic imaging device and the coupling protrusion of the process cartridge from being unable to be coupled or the transmission head from slipping due to inaccurate positioning. However, the process cartridge has the following disadvantages: during the printing operation of the electrophotographic imaging device, the guide gear always maintains the meshing transmission with the peripheral gear of the transmission head, which more or less affects the transmission of the driving force, and secondly, it also accelerates the wear of the peripheral gear of the transmission head, shortening the service life of the transmission head. SUMMARY

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the main purpose of the present application is to provide a process cartridge which can reduce the influence on the driving force of the driving head in the electrophotographic imaging device and prolong the service life of the driving head.

[0006] In order to achieve the main purpose of the application, the application provides a processing cartridge, comprising a cartridge body, a developing roller and a photosensitive drum, the developing roller is rotatably installed on the cartridge body, the developing roller is provided with a developing roller gear, the photosensitive drum is rotatably installed on the cartridge body, the photosensitive drum is provided with a transmission member and a photosensitive drum gear, the photosensitive drum gear is engaged with the developing roller gear, wherein the processing cartridge further comprises a guide member, the guide member is installed on the shaft core of the developing roller or the guide member is installed on the cartridge body, in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum, the guide member is located on the side away from the photosensitive drum of the transmission member, the guide member has a protrusion; the protrusion has a first position and a second position, when the protrusion is located at the first position, the protrusion can be connected with the peripheral gear of the driving head in the electrophotographic image forming equipment, the protrusion can be driven from the first position to the second position by the peripheral gear, when the protrusion is located at the second position, the protrusion is disconnected with the peripheral gear.

[0007] As can be seen from the above, when the processing cartridge is installed in the electrophotographic image forming equipment, the guide member positions, guides and supports the driving head in the electrophotographic image forming equipment through the protrusion matched with the peripheral gear of the driving head, so that the driving head can be smoothly and accurately engaged with the first coupling part of the transmission member on the photosensitive drum and / or the developing roller gear on the developing roller, and the driving head can stably and reliably drive the photosensitive drum and / or the developing roller to rotate, thereby ensuring the stability and reliability of the processing cartridge and the electrophotographic image forming equipment. In addition, the design of the processing cartridge can also avoid excessive wear of the peripheral gear of the driving head by the guide member, thereby prolonging the service life of the processing cartridge and the driving head.

[0008] A preferred scheme is that the guide member further has a first annular part and a first limiting part, the first annular part is rotatably sleeved on the shaft core, and the first limiting part is connected between the first annular part and the protrusion; the cartridge body is provided with a second limiting part, the second limiting part is located at the downstream end of the first limiting part along the first direction of rotation of the protrusion from the first position to the second position; when the protrusion is located at the first position, the second limiting part is adjacent to the first limiting part.

[0009] As can be seen from the above, the second limiting part can prevent the guide member from passing through the first position, so that when the processing cartridge is installed in the electrophotographic image forming equipment, the protrusion can be accurately engaged with the peripheral gear of the driving head to accurately position and guide the driving head.

[0010] A further scheme is that the processing cartridge further comprises a first reset elastic member, the first reset elastic member is connected between the guide member and the shaft core, or the first reset elastic member is connected between the guide member and the cartridge body; the first reset elastic member forces the protrusion to rotate in the first direction.

[0011] As can be seen from the above, the above design enables the first reset elastic member to force the protrusion to rotate to the first position when the processing cartridge is taken out of the electrophotographic image forming equipment, thereby eliminating the need for manually resetting the guide member.

[0012] Further, the guide member further has an elastic part, the elastic part is connected with the cartridge body, and the elastic part forces the protrusion to rotate in the first direction.

[0013] As can be seen, the above design enables the elastic part to force the protrusion to rotate to the first position when the processing cartridge is taken out of the electrophotographic image forming device, thereby eliminating the need for manually resetting the guide member.

[0014] Another preferred design is that the cartridge body is provided with a connecting column; the guide member further has a second annular part and an abutting part, the second annular part is rotatably sleeved on the connecting column, and the protrusion and the abutting part are distributed around the second annular part; the processing cartridge further includes a second reset elastic part, the second reset elastic part is connected between the abutting part and the cartridge body, and the second reset elastic part forces the protrusion to rotate to the first position.

[0015] As can be seen, the above design enables the second reset elastic part to force the protrusion to rotate to the first position when the processing cartridge is taken out of the electrophotographic image forming device, thereby eliminating the need for manually resetting the guide member.

[0016] Further, the cartridge body is further provided with an elastic limiting part, the elastic limiting part extends towards the second annular part, the elastic limiting part is elastically deformed in the axial direction, the extending end of the elastic limiting part has a first guide wedge surface and a first limiting surface; the second annular part is provided with a third limiting part, the third limiting part has a second guide wedge surface and a second limiting surface; in the first direction in which the protrusion rotates from the second position to the first position, the first limiting surface is located at the upstream end of the first guide wedge surface, the third limiting part is located at the upstream end of the abutting part, and the second guide wedge surface is located at the upstream end of the second limiting surface; when the protrusion is located at the first position, the first guide wedge surface is adjacent to the second guide wedge surface; when the protrusion is located at the second position, the first limiting surface is adjacent to the second limiting surface.

[0017] As can be seen, the above design can effectively avoid the protrusion from abutting against the peripheral gear of the driving head under the action of the second reset elastic part during the operation of the electrophotographic image forming device, thereby avoiding the mutual friction and mutual abrasion between the peripheral gear of the driving head and the protrusion.

[0018] Further, when the protrusion is located at the first position, a first straight line is formed between the protrusion and the rotation axis of the protrusion; when the protrusion is located at the second position, a second straight line is formed between the protrusion and the rotation axis of the protrusion; and the included angle between the first straight line and the second straight line is greater than or equal to 40°.

[0019] As can be seen, the above design enables the protrusion to completely disengage from the meshing with the peripheral gear of the driving head when the protrusion is in the second position, thereby avoiding the mutual friction between the protrusion and the peripheral gear of the driving head.

[0020] Further, the protrusion is a helical tooth or a straight tooth.

[0021] From the above, the protrusion can be set according to the type of the circumferential gear of the drive head in the electrophotographic image forming device, so that the process cartridge can be used in different types of electrophotographic image forming devices.

[0022] Further, the cartridge body includes a developing frame, a drum frame and a first end cover, the developing roller is installed on the developing frame, the photosensitive drum is installed on the drum frame, the first end cover is installed on the first end wall of the developing frame and connected with the drum frame, the developing roller gear is located between the first end wall and the first end cover, the transmission member and the photosensitive drum gear are located at the same end of the photosensitive drum, the first end cover is provided with an opening on the side close to the photosensitive drum, and the protrusion can extend out of the first end cover from the opening; in the axial direction, the first distance between the first end surface of the protrusion close to the developing roller gear and the outer end surface of the first end cover is smaller than the second distance between the second end surface of the developing roller gear close to the protrusion and the outer end surface, and the third distance between the third end surface of the transmission member close to the outer end surface and the outer end surface is greater than or equal to the second distance.

[0023] From the above, the above design ensures that the guide member can reliably guide and position the drive head, while avoiding mutual interference between the guide member and the developing roller gear, the transmission member and other components, thereby ensuring the reliability of the process cartridge.

[0024] Further, when the protrusion is in the first position, at least a part of the protrusion is located in the annular region surrounded by the addendum circle of the circumferential gear and the dedendum circle of the circumferential gear, and a part of the protrusion extends into the two adjacent teeth of the circumferential gear matched with itself; the first position is located in the circumferential direction of the photosensitive drum, the third straight line is formed between the center line of the shaft core and the center line of the photosensitive drum, the fourth straight line is formed between the first position and the center line of the photosensitive drum, and the included angle between the fourth straight line and the third straight line is between 0° and 15°.

[0025] From the above, the above design enables the protrusion to accurately and reliably cooperate with the circumferential gear of the drive head to accurately guide and position the drive head; in addition, the first position of the protrusion is arranged along the circumferential direction of the photosensitive drum, so that the guide member has a relatively flexible position setting condition, and thus the guide member can be flexibly adjusted according to the shape and structure of different cartridge bodies, so that the guide member can be applied to cartridge bodies of different shapes and structures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 is a structural diagram of a first embodiment of the process cartridge of the present application.

[0027] Figure 2 is a structural diagram of the first embodiment of the process cartridge of the present application after omitting part of the components.

[0028] Figure 3is a partial structure diagram of the first embodiment of the processing cartridge of the present application after omitting partial components.

[0029] Figure 4 is a partial structure diagram of the first embodiment of the processing cartridge of the present application after omitting partial components.

[0030] Figure 5 is a partial structure diagram of the first embodiment of the processing cartridge of the present application.

[0031] Figure 6 is a structure diagram of the first embodiment of the processing cartridge of the present application after omitting partial components.

[0032] Figure 7 is a partial structure diagram of the second embodiment of the processing cartridge of the present application after omitting partial components.

[0033] Figure 8 is a structure diagram of the third embodiment of the processing cartridge of the present application after omitting partial components.

[0034] Figure 9 is a structure diagram of the fourth embodiment of the processing cartridge of the present application.

[0035] Figure 10 is a structure diagram of the fourth embodiment of the processing cartridge of the present application after omitting partial components.

[0036] Figure 11 is a structure diagram of the guide of the fourth embodiment of the processing cartridge of the present application.

[0037] Figure 12 is a structure diagram of the first end cover of the fourth embodiment of the processing cartridge of the present application.

[0038] Figure 13 is a partial structure diagram of the fourth embodiment of the processing cartridge of the present application after omitting partial components.

[0039] Figure 14 is a relative position diagram of the first position and the second position of the protrusion of the guide of the fourth embodiment of the processing cartridge of the present application.

[0040] Figure 15 is a partial structure diagram of the fourth embodiment of the processing cartridge of the present application.

[0041] Figure 16 is a structure diagram of the fifth embodiment of the processing cartridge of the present application after omitting partial components when the protrusion is at the first position.

[0042] Figure 17 is a structure diagram of the fifth embodiment of the processing cartridge of the present application after omitting partial components when the protrusion is at the second position.

[0043] The present application is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] First embodiment of processing cartridge

[0045] Reference Figure 1 The processing cartridge 100 comprises a cartridge body 1, a developing roller 2, a photosensitive drum 3 and a guide 4. The cartridge body 1 preferably comprises a developing frame 11, a drum frame 12, a first end cover 13 and a second end cover 14. The developing roller 2 is rotatably mounted on two end walls of the developing frame 11 of the cartridge body 1 about a first rotation axis of the developing roller 2, and the developing roller 2 is provided with a developing roller gear 21. The photosensitive drum 3 is rotatably mounted on two end walls of the drum frame 12 of the cartridge body 1 about a second rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 3, and a first end of the photosensitive drum 3 is provided with a transmission member 31 and a photosensitive drum gear 311. In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum gear 311 is formed on the transmission member 31, and the end of the transmission member 31 further has a first coupling portion 312. Of course, in other embodiments, the transmission member 31 and the photosensitive drum gear 311 can be independently provided, and the transmission member 31 and the photosensitive drum gear 311 can be separately arranged at two ends of the photosensitive drum 3.

[0046] The drum frame 12 is connected with the developing frame 11, so that the developing roller 2 can abut against the photosensitive drum 3, and the developing roller gear 21 can mesh with the photosensitive drum gear 311. The first coupling portion 312 on the transmission member 31 is used for docking with a second coupling portion 1012 (see Figure 5 ) of a driving head 101 in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, so that the driving head 101 can drive the photosensitive drum 3 to rotate about the second rotation axis through the transmission member 31. Preferably, the first coupling portion 312 and the second coupling portion 1012 are substantially in the shape of a triangular prism. The first end cover 13 is mounted on the first end wall of the developing frame 11, and the first end cover 13 covers the developing roller gear 21, that is, the developing roller gear 21 is located between the first end wall of the developing frame 11 and the first end cover 13 and is located in the first end cover 13. An opening is provided on the first end cover 13, so that a part of the developing roller gear 21 can be exposed outside the first end cover 13. The second end cover 14 is mounted on the second end wall of the developing frame 11.

[0047] The guide 4 is used for guiding, positioning and supporting the driving head 101, so that after the processing cartridge 100 is installed into the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the second coupling portion 1012 of the driving head 101 can accurately dock with the first coupling portion 312 of the transmission member 31 on the photosensitive drum 3 and / or the peripheral gear 1011 of the driving head 101 can accurately dock with the developing roller gear 21 on the developing roller 2, and the driving head 101 can be supported to some extent, so that the driving head 101 can stably and reliably drive the photosensitive drum 3 and / or the developing roller 2 to rotate, and the stability and reliability of the processing cartridge 100 and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus can be ensured.

[0048] In combination Figure 2 andFigure 3 In the present embodiment, the guide member 4 is mounted on the shaft core of the developing roller 2, and in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 3, the guide member 4 is located on the side of the transmission member 31 away from the photosensitive drum 3; specifically, the guide member 4 is located in the first end cover 13, and the guide member 4 is located between the developing roller gear 21 and the outer end surface of the first end cover 13. The guide member 4 has a protrusion 41, the protrusion 41 is exposed outside the first end cover 13 through an opening, so that the first protrusion can be engaged with the peripheral gear 1011 of the driving head 101 to guide, position and support the driving head 101 during the process of mounting the process cartridge 100 into the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The protrusion 41 has a first position (as shown in Figure 3 ) and a second position (as shown in Figure 5 ), when the process cartridge 100 is mounted into the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and the protrusion 41 is located at the first position, the protrusion 41 is in engagement with the peripheral gear 1011 of the driving head 101. When the process cartridge 100 is mounted into the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus drives the process cartridge 100 for the first time, the protrusion 41 can be driven by the peripheral gear 1011 of the driving head 101 from the first position to the second position, when the protrusion 41 is located at the second position, the protrusion 41 is disengaged from the engagement with the peripheral gear 1011. Preferably, the protrusion 41 is a helical tooth or a straight tooth, so that the protrusion 41 can be adapted according to the type of the peripheral gear 1011 of the driving head 101 in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, so that the process cartridge 100 can be used for different types of electrophotographic image forming apparatuses. In combination with Figure 4 and Figure 5 , specifically, in the present embodiment:

[0049] The peripheral gear 1011 of the driving head 101 is a helical gear, and the protrusion 41 is a helical tooth. The guide member 4 further comprises a first annular portion 42 and a first limiting portion 43, the guide member 4 is sleeved on the shaft core 22 of the developing roller 2 through the first annular portion 42, and the guide member 4 can rotate relative to the shaft core 22 around the first rotation axis, wherein the first rotation axis is arranged in line with the center line of the shaft core 22. The first limiting portion 43 is connected between the first annular portion 42 and the protrusion 41, preferably, the first limiting portion 43 is arranged in a substantially partial annular shape, and the diameter of the first limiting portion 43 is greater than the diameter of the first annular portion 42, so that in the radial direction of the first annular portion 42, the first limiting portion 43 is located between the first annular portion 42 and the protrusion 41. In addition, a clamping structure is formed between the first limiting portion 43 and the first annular portion 42, and the first annular portion 42, the first limiting portion 43 and the protrusion 41 are preferably integrally formed.

[0050] The second limiting part 131 is arranged on the cartridge body 1, preferably, the second limiting part 131 is arranged on the inner side of the first end cover 13, and the first limiting part 43 is preferably in a cylindrical shape, in the first direction R of rotating the protrusion 41 from the second position to the first position, the second limiting part 131 is located at the downstream end of the first limiting part 43, so that when the protrusion 41 is located at the first position, the second limiting part 131 is located in the detent structure and abuts the first limiting part 43, thereby preventing the guide 4 from passing the first position, so that when the process cartridge 100 is installed in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the protrusion 41 can be accurately engaged with the peripheral gear 1011 of the drive head 101 to accurately position and guide the drive head 101.

[0051] Here, the existing structure of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is first described, which includes a main machine, the main machine is provided with a cartridge compartment, a door cover is arranged on the compartment opening of the cartridge compartment, and the drive head 101 is arranged on the side wall in the cartridge compartment. The door cover is connected with the drive head 101, so that when the door cover is closed, the drive head 101 moves to the position where the process cartridge 100 is placed in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 3, and when the door cover is opened, the drive head 101 is retracted to the side wall of the cartridge compartment in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 3. Wherein, the peripheral gear 1011 is arranged on the periphery of the drive head 101, and the second coupling part 1012 is arranged on the end of the drive head 101, and in this embodiment, the first coupling part 312 is a coupling protrusion, and the second coupling part 1012 is a coupling recess.

[0052] Before the process cartridge 100 is installed in the cartridge compartment of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the protrusion 41 of the guide 4 is moved to the first position. Then, the process cartridge 100 is installed in the cartridge compartment, and when the door cover is closed, the drive head 101 moves to the transmission member 31 of the photosensitive drum 3 in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 3, and when the drive head 101 moves to the guide 4, the protrusion 41 of the guide 4 is engaged with the peripheral gear 1011 of the drive head 101 to guide, position and support the drive head 101, so that the drive head 101 makes the second coupling part 1012 of itself accurately dock with the first coupling part 312 on the transmission member 31 of the photosensitive drum 3 through the protrusion 41 and / or makes the peripheral gear 1011 of the drive head 101 accurately engage with the developing roller gear 21 on the developing roller 2, so as to ensure that the drive head 101 stably and reliably drives the photosensitive drum 3 and / or the developing roller 2 to rotate.

[0053] When the process cartridge 100 is installed into the cartridge housing of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is first operated, as the driving head 101 rotates, the protrusion 41 of the guide member 4 is driven by the peripheral gear 1011 of the driving head 101 from the first position to the second position, so that the protrusion 41 is disengaged from the engagement with the peripheral gear 1011 and the protrusion 41 is kept in the second position, thereby preventing the protrusion 41 from aggravating the abrasion of the peripheral gear 1011 in the subsequent process, and also preventing the partial driving force of the driving head 101 from being lost on the protrusion 41. After the process cartridge 100 is taken out from the cartridge housing of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and before the process cartridge 100 is reinstalled into the cartridge housing, the protrusion 41 of the guide member 4 is restored to the first position, so as to ensure that when the process cartridge 100 is reinstalled into the cartridge housing, the protrusion 41 of the guide member 4 can still guide, position and support the driving head 101; wherein the restoration of the protrusion 41 of the guide member 4 to the first position is preferably achieved by manually operating the guide member 4, or by driving the guide member 4 by a related mechanism (such as a certain mechanism in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus).

[0054] In addition, in combination with Figure 6 In the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 3, the first distance H1 between the first end surface of the protrusion 41 close to the developing roller gear 21 and the outer end surface of the first end cover 13 is smaller than the second distance H2 between the second end surface of the developing roller gear 21 close to the protrusion 41 and the outer end surface, and the third distance H3 between the third end surface of the transmission member 41 close to the outer end surface and the outer end surface is greater than or equal to the second distance H2.

[0055] Furthermore, when the protrusion 41 is in the first rotational position, a first straight line is formed between the protrusion 41 and the center line of the shaft core of the developing roller 2; when the protrusion 41 is in the second position, a second straight line is formed between the protrusion 41 and the center line of the shaft core of the developing roller 2. The included angle between the first straight line and the second straight line is preferably greater than or equal to 40°, so that when the protrusion 41 is in the second position, the protrusion 41 can be completely disengaged from the engagement with the peripheral gear 1011 of the driving head 101, thereby avoiding the mutual friction between the protrusion 41 and the peripheral gear 1011 of the driving head 101.

[0056] In addition, when the protrusion 41 is in the first position, at least a portion of the protrusion 41 is located in an annular region formed by a tip circle of the peripheral gear 1011 and a root circle of the peripheral gear, and a portion of the protrusion 41 extends into between two adjacent teeth of the peripheral gear 1011 that cooperates with the protrusion 41; wherein the first position is located in a circumferential direction of the photosensitive drum 3, a third straight line is formed between a center line of the shaft core of the developing roller 2 and a center line of the photosensitive drum 3, and a fourth straight line is formed between the first position and the center line of the photosensitive drum 3, and an included angle between the fourth straight line and the third straight line is between 0° and 15°. This design enables the protrusion 41 to accurately and reliably cooperate with the peripheral gear 1011 of the driving head 101 to accurately guide and position the driving head 101. In addition, the first position of the protrusion 41 is arranged along the circumferential direction of the photosensitive drum 3, so that the guide member 4 has a relatively flexible position setting condition, and thus the guide member 4 can be flexibly adjusted according to different shapes and structures of the cartridge 1, so that the guide member 4 can be applied to cartridges 1 with different shapes and structures.

[0057] Preferably, the first annular portion 42 is in interference fit with the shaft core of the developing roller 2, and a maximum static friction between the first annular portion 42 and the shaft core of the developing roller 2 is preferably between 0.1 Newton and 30 Newton, so as to prevent the guide member 4 from rotating randomly, and thus to ensure that the protrusion 41 of the guide member 4 can accurately cooperate with the peripheral gear 1011 of the driving head 101 in the first position to guide and position the driving head 101. More preferably, the maximum static friction between the first annular portion 42 and the shaft core of the developing roller 2 is preferably between 0.5 Newton and 10 Newton.

[0058] As can be seen from the above, through the design of the cartridge, the cartridge can reduce the influence of the driving force of the driving head in the electrophotographic imaging device and prolong the service life of the driving head.

[0059] Second embodiment of the cartridge

[0060] Reference Figure 7The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment of the process cartridge is that in the present embodiment, the process cartridge further comprises a first reset elastic member 51 connected between the guide member 52 and the shaft core 531 of the developing roller 53, the first reset elastic member 51 is capable of forcing the protrusion 521 of the guide member 52 to rotate to the first position when the process cartridge is taken out of the electrophotographic image forming device, so that the guide member 52 does not need to be manually reset. Preferably, the first reset elastic member 51 is a first torsion spring, the first torsion spring is sleeved on the shaft core 531 of the developing roller 53, the shaft core 531 is provided with a notch 5311, a first end of the first torsion spring 51 is clamped in the notch 5311, the first annular portion 522 of the guide member 52 is provided with a first clamping portion 5221, and a second end of the first torsion spring is clamped in the first clamping portion 5221. Of course, in other embodiments, the first reset elastic member 51 can also be connected between the cartridge body (such as the first end cover or the developing frame) and the guide member 52.

[0061] Third embodiment of the process cartridge

[0062] Reference Figure 8 The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment of the process cartridge is that in the present embodiment, the guide member 61 further has an elastic portion 611 connected with the cartridge body, and the elastic portion 611 is used to force the protrusion 612 of the guide member 61 to rotate in the first direction.

[0063] Preferably, the first end cover 62 of the cartridge body is provided with a second clamping portion 621, the second clamping portion 621 is located at the upstream end of the elastic portion 611 along the first direction in which the protrusion 612 of the guide member 61 rotates from the second position to the first position, and when the protrusion 612 of the guide member 61 is in the first position, the elastic portion 611 of the guide member 61 abuts against the second clamping portion 621, so that when the driving head of the electrophotographic image forming device drives the protrusion 612 of the guide member 61 to rotate from the first position to the second position, the elastic portion 611 is elastically deformed under the action of the second clamping portion 621 and generates a force capable of forcing the protrusion 612 to rotate from the second position to the first position, so that when the process cartridge is taken out of the electrophotographic image forming device, the elastic portion 611 forces the protrusion 612 to rotate to the first position by the elastic potential energy of the elastic portion 611, so that the guide member 61 does not need to be manually reset. Of course, in other embodiments, the second clamping portion 621 can also be provided on the developing frame of the cartridge body; or the second clamping portion 621 is replaced by a clamping groove capable of clamping the elastic cloth 611, etc. In addition, the elastic portion 611 is preferably integrally formed with the first annular portion 613.

[0064] Fourth embodiment of the process cartridge

[0065] The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment of the process cartridge is the structure of the guide member, the connection object of the guide member, etc. Specifically, the difference is described in combination with Figures 9 to 14 In the present embodiment,

[0066] The guide member 71 is mounted on the cartridge body, and preferably, a connecting column 721 is provided on the first end cover 72 of the cartridge body, wherein the connecting column 721 is coaxially arranged with the shaft core of the developing roller, or the connecting column 721 is parallel to the shaft core of the developing roller. The guide member 71 has a protrusion 711, a second annular portion 712, and an abutting portion 713, the second annular portion 712 is rotatably sleeved on the connecting column 721 about a first rotation axis, and the protrusion 711 is exposed outside the first end cover 72 through an opening of the first end cover 72. The protrusion 711 and the abutting portion 713 are distributed around the second annular portion 712, and the abutting portion 713 is located inside the first end cover 72 and within the first end cover 72.

[0067] The process cartridge further comprises a second reset elastic member connected between the abutting portion 713 and the cartridge body, and the second reset elastic member is used to force the protrusion 711 to rotate to the first position. Preferably, the second reset elastic member is connected between the first end cover 72 of the cartridge body and the abutting portion 713, a limiting column 722 is provided on the first end cover 72, and the second reset elastic member preferably adopts a second torsion spring 73, the second torsion spring 73 is sleeved on the limiting column 722, the first end of the second torsion spring 73 is connected with the first end cover 72, and the second end of the second torsion spring 73 is connected with the abutting portion 713 of the guide member 71, so that when the process cartridge is taken out of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the second reset elastic member can force the protrusion 711 to rotate to the first position, thereby eliminating the need for manually resetting the guide member 71.

[0068] Further, the first end cover 72 of the cartridge body is further provided with an elastic limiting portion 723, the elastic limiting portion 723 extends towards the second annular portion 712, and the elastic limiting portion 723 is elastically deformable in the axial direction. In addition, the protruding end of the elastic limiting portion 723 has a first guide wedge surface 7231 and a first limiting surface 7232. The second annular portion 712 of the guide member 71 is provided with a third limiting portion 714, the third limiting portion 714 has a second guide wedge surface 7141 and a second limiting surface 7142. In the first direction of the protrusion 711 rotating from the second position to the first position, the first limiting surface 7232 is located at the upstream end of the first guide wedge surface 7231, the third limiting portion 714 is located at the upstream end of the abutting portion 713, and the second guide wedge surface 7141 is located at the upstream end of the second limiting surface 7142. And when the protrusion 711 is located at the first position, the first guide wedge surface 7231 is adjacent to the second guide wedge surface 7141; when the protrusion 711 is located at the second position, the first limiting surface 7232 is adjacent to the second limiting surface 7142.

[0069] The arrangement makes the third limiting portion 714 force the elastic limiting portion 723 to move to the inside of the first end cover 72 in the axial direction of the developing roller when the driving head drives the protrusion 711 to rotate from the first position to the second position, and then the third limiting portion 714 goes beyond the end of the elastic limiting portion 723 and compresses the second torsion spring 73 to store energy. After the protrusion 711 is driven to the second position, the elastic limiting portion 723 moves to the outside of the first end cover 72 in the axial direction of the developing roller to return to the initial position, and the abutting portion 713 of the guide member 71 is forced to rotate to the first position under the elastic potential energy of the second torsion spring 73. When the guide member 71 rotates to the first position, the second limiting surface 7142 of the third limiting portion 714 of the guide member 71 abuts against the first limiting surface 7232 of the elastic limiting portion 723 to limit the protrusion 711 in the second position, and then the elastic limiting portion 723 limits the protrusion 711 from rotating to the first position, thereby preventing the protrusion 711 from abutting against the gear on the peripheral portion of the driving head to prevent the mutual abrasion between the protrusion 711 and the gear, and prolong the service life of the guide member 71 and the driving head.

[0070] When the process cartridge is taken out of the electrophotographic image forming device, the elastic limiting portion 723 is forced to move to the inside of the first end cover 72 in the axial direction of the developing roller by the existing structure (such as the inside surface of the cartridge housing) of the cartridge housing of the electrophotographic image forming device, and then the second limiting surface 7142 of the third limiting portion 714 of the guide member 71 is disengaged from the contact with the first limiting surface 7232 of the elastic limiting portion 723, so that the guide member 71 makes the third limiting portion 714 go beyond the elastic limiting portion 723 under the elastic potential energy of the second torsion spring 73, and finally rotates the protrusion 711 of the guide member 71 to the first position to complete the automatic reset of the protrusion 711. Preferably, the elastic limiting portion 723 is provided with an abutting protrusion 7233 extending to the outside of the first end cover 72 in the axial direction of the developing roller, so that the existing structure in the cartridge housing can better force the elastic limiting portion 723 to move to the inside of the first end cover 72 in the axial direction of the developing roller during the process cartridge is taken out of the cartridge housing, and then ensure that the third limiting portion 714 can go beyond the elastic limiting portion 723. Of course, in other embodiments, the elastic limiting portion 723 can also be arranged on the developing frame or other components to achieve the same function.

[0071] In addition, when the protrusion 711 is in the first position, a first straight line L1 is formed between the protrusion 711 and the rotation axis thereof; when the protrusion 711 is in the second position (such as the position shown in FIG. 6), a second straight line L2 is formed between the protrusion 711 and the rotation axis thereof. Figure 13When the protrusion 711 is in the second position (as shown by the middle short dashed line part), the protrusion 711 forms a second straight line L2 between the rotation center of the protrusion 711 itself. The included angle a between the first straight line L1 and the second straight line L2 is preferably greater than or equal to 40°, so that when the protrusion 711 is in the second position, the protrusion 711 can be completely separated from the engagement with the circumferential gear of the driving head, thereby avoiding the mutual friction between the protrusion 711 and the circumferential gear of the driving head.

[0072] Furthermore, in combination with Figure 15 , when the protrusion 711 is in the first position, at least a part of the protrusion 711 is located in the annular region S formed by the addendum circle of the circumferential gear of the driving head and the dedendum circle of the circumferential gear, and a part of the protrusion 711 extends into the adjacent two teeth of the circumferential gear matched with the protrusion 711; wherein the first position is located in the circumferential direction of the photosensitive drum, the center line of the shaft core of the developing roller and the center line of the photosensitive drum form a third straight line L3, the first position I and the center line of the photosensitive drum 3 form a fourth straight line L4, and the included angle b between the fourth straight line L4 and the third straight line L3 is between 0° and 15°. This design enables the protrusion 711 to accurately and reliably match with the circumferential gear of the driving head, so as to accurately guide and position the driving head; in addition, the first position of the protrusion 711 is arranged along the circumferential direction of the photosensitive drum, so that the guide piece 71 has relatively flexible position setting conditions, thereby enabling the guide piece 71 to be flexibly adjusted according to the shapes and structures of different cartridges, so that the guide piece 71 can be applied to cartridges with different shapes and structures.

[0073] Preferably, the second annular part 712 is in interference fit with the connecting column 721, and the maximum static friction between the second annular part 712 and the connecting column 721 is preferably between 0.1 Newton and 30 Newton, so as to prevent the guide piece 71 from rotating at will, thereby ensuring that the protrusion 711 of the guide piece 71 can accurately match with the circumferential gear of the driving head in the first position, so as to guide and position the driving head. More preferably, the maximum static friction between the second annular part 712 and the connecting column 721 is preferably between 0.5 Newton and 10 Newton.

[0074] Fifth embodiment of the processing cartridge

[0075] The difference between the present embodiment and the fourth embodiment of the processing cartridge is the structure of the guide piece, the connection object of the guide piece, the structure of the reset mechanism, etc. Specifically, in combination with Figure 16 and Figure 17 In the present embodiment:

[0076] The guide 82 is preferably mounted on the first end cover 81 of the cartridge body, and the first end cover 81 is provided with a second connecting column 811 coaxial with the shaft core of the developing roller or parallel to the axis of the developing roller. The guide 82 has a third annular portion 821 rotatably sleeved on the second connecting column 811 and in interference fit with the second connecting column 811, and a protrusion 823 exposed outside the first end cover 81 through an opening of the first end cover 81. The protrusion 823 and a receiving portion 822 are distributed around the third annular portion 821, and the receiving portion 822 is located inside the first end cover 81. In the embodiment, the protrusion 823 preferably adopts a bevel gear; of course, in other embodiments, the protrusion 823 can also be a straight gear.

[0077] The processing cartridge further comprises a reset mechanism 863, which comprises a lever 831 slidably mounted on the cartridge body and a third reset elastic member 832 connected between the cartridge body and the lever 831. The third reset elastic member 832 can force the lever 831 to act on the receiving portion 822 to control the protrusion 823 to rotate in a first direction, which is the direction of the protrusion 823 rotating from the second position to the first position. The lever 831 has an actuating portion 8311, and the first end cover 81 of the cartridge body is provided with a fourth limiting portion 812. In the first direction, the fourth limiting portion 812 is located downstream of the downstream end of the receiving portion 822; the first end of the lever 831 extends from the inside of the first end cover 81 to the outside of the first end cover 81, the actuating portion 8311 is formed at the second end of the lever 831, the actuating portion 8311 can abut against the receiving portion 822, and the lever 831 is slidably connected with the first end cover 81, so that the actuating portion 8311 can act on the guide 82 through the receiving portion 822 to control the protrusion 823 of the guide 82 to rotate to the first position; the actuating portion 8311 has a third position and a fourth position.

[0078] The third reset elastic member 832 preferably adopts a compression spring, which is arranged outside the first end cover 81 in the embodiment, sleeved on the lever 831, and connected between the first end of the lever 831 and the first end cover 81. The third reset elastic member 832 is used to force the actuating portion 8311 of the lever 831 to move from the third position to the fourth position, so that the actuating portion 8311 act on the receiving portion 822 of the guide 82 to move to the fourth limiting portion 812, and in turn drive the protrusion 823 of the guide 82 to rotate to the first position. When the third reset elastic member 832 drives the actuating portion 8311 to move to the third position, the receiving portion 822 is located between the actuating portion 8311 and the fourth limiting portion 812. At this time, the fourth limiting portion 812 plays a role in preventing the protrusion 823 from moving excessively to avoid the protrusion 823 from moving beyond the first position and failing to accurately guide and position the driving head.

[0079] When the protrusion 823 of the guide member 82 is driven by the circumferential gear of the driving head to rotate to the second position, the abutment portion 822 of the guide member 82 forces the abutting portion 8311 to move to the fourth position, and the third reset elastic member 832 is energized. When the protrusion 823 is driven to the second position, the abutment portion 822 forces the abutting portion 8311 to remain at the fourth position, and the third reset elastic member 832 is in the energized state, so that when the process cartridge is taken out of the electrophotographic image forming device, the third reset elastic member 832 can force the abutting portion 8311 of the abutting lever 831 to move to the third position, so as to drive the protrusion 823 of the guide member 82 to the first position, thereby achieving automatic reset of the guide member 82.

[0080] In addition, the second connecting column 811 and the third annular portion 821 are in interference fit, and the maximum static friction between the second connecting column 811 and the third annular portion 821 is between 0.1 Newton and 30 Newton, so as to prevent the guide member 82 from rotating at will, thereby ensuring that the protrusion 823 of the guide member 82 can be accurately connected with the circumferential gear of the driving head at the first position, and preventing the guide member 82 from falling off the second connecting column 811. Preferably, the maximum static friction between the second connecting column 811 and the third annular portion 821 is between 0.5 Newton and 10 Newton.

[0081] When the process cartridge is installed in the cartridge compartment of the electrophotographic image forming device and the electrophotographic image forming device is first operated, as the driving head rotates, the protrusion 823 of the guide member 82 is driven by the circumferential gear of the driving head from the first position to the second position, and the guide member 82 drives the abutting portion 8311 of the abutting lever 831 to the fourth position through the abutment portion 822 and the abutting portion 8311, and the third reset elastic member 832 is in the energized state. After the process cartridge is taken out of the cartridge compartment of the electrophotographic image forming device, the abutting portion 8311 of the abutting lever 831 abuts the abutment portion 822 of the guide member 82 under the elastic potential energy of the third reset elastic member 832, so that the protrusion 823 of the guide member 82 rotates to the first position, thereby achieving automatic reset of the guide member 82, so that when the process cartridge is installed in the cartridge compartment again, the protrusion 823 of the guide member 82 can guide, position and support the driving head.

[0082] It should be noted that in other embodiments, the guide member 82 can be slidably installed on the cartridge body (such as the first end cover or the developing frame), so that the protrusion 823 of the guide member 82 can move between the first position and the second position by sliding. When the guide member 82 is slidably installed on the cartridge body, the cartridge body is also provided with a reset mechanism for forcing the protrusion 823 of the guide member 82 to slide from the second position to the first position.

[0083] Finally, it should be noted that the above description is only the preferred embodiment of the present application, and is not intended to limit the present application. For those skilled in the art, the present application can have various changes and modifications, and any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A process cartridge, comprising: a cartridge body; a developing roller rotatably mounted on the cartridge body, the developing roller having a developing roller gear provided thereon; a photosensitive drum rotatably mounted on the cartridge body, the photosensitive drum having a transmission member and a photosensitive drum gear provided thereon, the photosensitive drum gear being engaged with the developing roller gear; characterized in that: the process cartridge further comprises a guide member, the guide member being mounted on a shaft core of the developing roller or the guide member being mounted on the cartridge body, the guide member being located on a side of the transmission member away from the photosensitive drum in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, the guide member having a protrusion; the protrusion has a first position and a second position, the protrusion being connectable with a peripheral gear of a drive head in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus when the protrusion is located at the first position, the protrusion being drivable from the first position to the second position by the peripheral gear, the protrusion being disengaged from the peripheral gear when the protrusion is located at the second position; the guide member further has a first annular portion rotatably sleeved on the shaft core and a first limiting portion connected between the first annular portion and the protrusion, the cartridge body has a second limiting portion located at a downstream end of the first limiting portion in a first direction of rotation of the protrusion from the first position to the second position, the second limiting portion being adjacent to the first limiting portion when the protrusion is located at the first position, or the cartridge body has a connecting column, the guide member further has a second annular portion rotatably sleeved on the connecting column and an abutting portion, the protrusion and the abutting portion being distributed around the second annular portion, the process cartridge further comprises a second reset elastic member connected between the abutting portion and the cartridge body, the second reset elastic member forcing the protrusion to rotate toward the first position.

2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: when the guide member has the first annular portion and the first limiting portion, the process cartridge further comprises a first reset elastic member connected between the guide member and the shaft core or connected between the guide member and the cartridge body; the first reset elastic member forces the protrusion to rotate in the first direction.

3. The process cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: when the guide member has the first annular portion and the first limiting portion, the guide member further has an elastic portion connected with the cartridge body, the elastic portion forcing the protrusion to rotate in the first direction.

4. The process cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: when the guide member has the second annular portion and the abutting portion, the cartridge body further has an elastic limiting portion extending toward the second annular portion, the elastic limiting portion being elastically deformable in the axial direction, an extended end of the elastic limiting portion having a first guide wedge surface and a first limiting surface. The third limiting part has a second guide wedge surface and a second limiting surface; In a first direction in which the protrusion rotates from the second position to the first position, the first limiting surface is located at an upstream end of the first guide wedge surface, the third limiting part is located at an upstream end of the abutting part, and the second guide wedge surface is located at an upstream end of the second limiting surface; When the protrusion is located at the first position, the first guide wedge surface is adjacent to the second guide wedge surface; When the protrusion is located at the second position, the first limiting surface is adjacent to the second limiting surface.

5. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: When the protrusion is located at the first position, a first straight line is formed between the protrusion and an axis of rotation of the protrusion; When the protrusion is located at the second position, a second straight line is formed between the protrusion and the axis of rotation of the protrusion; An included angle between the first straight line and the second straight line is greater than or equal to 40°.

6. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The protrusion is a helical tooth or a straight tooth.

7. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The cartridge body includes a developing frame, a drum frame, and a first end cover, the developing roller is installed on the developing frame, the photosensitive drum is installed on the drum frame, the first end cover is installed on a first end wall of the developing frame and connected with the drum frame, the developing roller gear is located between the first end wall and the first end cover, the transmission member and the photosensitive drum gear are located at the same end of the photosensitive drum, an opening is provided on a side of the first end cover close to the photosensitive drum, and the protrusion can extend out of the first end cover from the opening; In the axial direction, a first distance between a first end surface of the protrusion close to the developing roller gear and an outer end surface of the first end cover is smaller than a second distance between a second end surface of the developing roller gear close to the protrusion and the outer end surface, and a third distance between a third end surface of the transmission member close to the outer end surface and the outer end surface is greater than or equal to the second distance.

8. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: When the protrusion is located at the first position, at least a portion of the protrusion is located in an annular region surrounded by a tip circle of the peripheral gear and a root circle of the peripheral gear, and a portion of the protrusion extends into between two adjacent teeth of the peripheral gear that cooperates with the protrusion; The first position is located in a circumferential direction of the photosensitive drum, a third straight line is formed between a center line of the shaft core and a center line of the photosensitive drum, a fourth straight line is formed between the first position and the center line of the photosensitive drum, and an included angle between the fourth straight line and the third straight line is between 0° and 15°.

Images