Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus

Abstract

The application provides a processing box and an electrophotographic imaging device. The processing box comprises a developing box and a drum box, and a laser port is formed between the developing box and the drum box. The developing box comprises a developing frame, and the developing frame comprises a bottom box and an upper cover. In the width direction of the processing box, a first through hole is arranged on the side of the bottom box away from the developing chamber. The upper cover has a first recessed part, and the side of the first recessed part close to the laser port is provided with a gap. A second through hole matched with the first through hole is arranged in the first recessed part, and the second through hole penetrates the upper cover. In the width direction, the first edge between the projection of the gap and the projection of the laser port has the maximum overlap, and the second edge between the projection of the first through hole and the projection of the laser port has the maximum overlap. The length of the first edge is greater than or equal to the length of the imaging part of the photosensitive drum, and the length of the second edge is greater than the width of the laser irradiation part of the electrophotographic imaging device. The electrophotographic imaging device comprises the processing box, and the processing box has simple structure and low production cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electrophotographic imaging technology, and more specifically, to a processing box and an electrophotographic imaging device equipped with the processing box. Background Technology

[0002] Electrophotographic imaging equipment (such as laser printers) is a device that uses the principle of electrophotography to form an image on an image forming medium (such as paper) through at least the processes of charging, exposure, development, transfer, fixing, and cleaning. The material device for printing consumables used in electrophotographic imaging equipment is generally called a processing cartridge.

[0003] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, a conventional processing cartridge 9 is illustrated, comprising a developing cartridge 91 and a drum cartridge 92 connected to each other. The developing cartridge 91 includes a developing frame 911, a developing roller 912, a powder feeding roller 913, a stirring frame 914, a powder exiting blade, and a drive wheel assembly. The developing frame 911 has a main powder chamber 9111, a secondary powder chamber 9112, and a developing chamber 9113. The main powder chamber 9111 connects the secondary powder chamber 9112 and the developing chamber 9113. The developing roller 912, the powder feeding roller 913, and the powder exiting blade are all disposed within the developing chamber 9113. The outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 912 is adjacent to the outer peripheral surface of the powder feeding roller 913, and the cutting edge of the powder exiting blade is adjacent to the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 912. The stirring frame 914 is disposed within the main powder chamber 9111. The drum cartridge 92 includes a drum frame 921 and a photosensitive drum 922, a charging roller 923, and a cleaning brush 924 mounted on the drum frame 921. A waste toner compartment is formed between the drum frame 921, the photosensitive drum 922, the charging roller 923, and the cleaning brush 924. The photosensitive drum 922 is adjacent to the outer peripheral surfaces of the charging roller 923 and the developing roller 912. A laser port 93 is formed between the developing cartridge 91 and the drum cartridge 92, and an opening is provided between the main toner compartment 9111 and the auxiliary toner compartment 9112. In the width direction of the processing cartridge 9, the projected areas of the opening, the laser port 93, and the photosensitive drum 922 partially overlap, allowing the light emitted by the laser irradiation unit of the electrophotographic imaging device to be projected onto the photosensitive drum 922.

[0004] However, the processing cartridge 9 has the following disadvantages: the structure of the developing frame 911 is complicated due to the additional sub-powder container 9112, and a large number of parts need to be manufactured. Specifically, the developing frame 911 includes a main cartridge 9114, a partition plate 9115, a sub-cartridge 9116 and a cover plate 9117. The main cartridge 9114 has the main powder container 9111 and the developing container 9113, and the partition plate 9115 covers the opening of the main powder container 9111. In the length direction of the processing cartridge 9, the partition plate 9115 is provided with a through hole 91151 at both ends. The sub-cartridge 9116 is connected with the partition plate 9115 and the main cartridge 9114 respectively. The sub-cartridge 9116 has the sub-powder container 9112, and is provided with two docking interfaces 91161. One docking interface 91161 is docked with one through hole 91151, so that the toner in the sub-powder container 9112 can flow into the main powder container 9111 through the docking interface 91161 and the through hole 91151 to supplement the toner in the main powder container 9111. In the height direction of the processing cartridge 9, the sub-cartridge 9116 is located above the main cartridge 9114, and the laser port 93 is located between the sub-cartridge 9116 and the partition plate 9115. The cover plate 9117 covers the opening of the sub-powder container 9112. It can be seen that when the developing frame 911 is produced, four sets of molds are needed to form the main cartridge 9114, the partition plate 9115, the sub-cartridge 9116 and the cover plate 9117 respectively, so that the number of molds required is large, and the production cost is high. In addition, the main cartridge 9114, the partition plate 9115, the sub-cartridge 9116 and the cover plate 9117 need to be welded together by welding process to form the developing frame 911, which further increases the production cost of the processing cartridge 9. SUMMARY

[0005] To solve the above problems, the main purpose of the present application is to provide a processing cartridge with simple structure and low production cost.

[0006] Another purpose of the present application is to provide an electrophotographic imaging device provided with the processing cartridge.

[0007] To achieve the main object of the present application, the present application provides a process cartridge, comprising a developing cartridge and a drum cartridge, the developing cartridge comprising a developing frame and a developing roller, the developing frame having a powder tank and a developing tank, the developing roller being installed in the developing tank, the drum cartridge comprising a drum frame and a photosensitive drum, the drum cartridge being arranged above an opening of the developing tank, the photosensitive drum being adjacent to the developing roller, a laser port being formed between the developing cartridge and the drum cartridge, wherein the developing frame comprises a bottom cartridge and an upper cover which is combined with a part of the bottom cartridge, the upper cover and the bottom cartridge forming the powder tank and the developing tank, a first through hole being arranged on a side of the bottom cartridge away from the developing tank in a width direction of the process cartridge, the first through hole penetrating the bottom cartridge in the width direction and a height direction of the process cartridge respectively, the upper cover having a first recessed part recessed from a top surface of the upper cover towards the bottom cartridge, a side of the first recessed part close to the laser port forming a gap, a second through hole being arranged in the first recessed part and matching the first through hole, the second through hole penetrating the upper cover in the width direction and the height direction respectively, projections of the laser port, the photosensitive drum, the gap, the first through hole and the second through hole at least partially overlapping in the width direction, a first side between the projection of the gap and the projection of the laser port having a maximum overlap, a second side between the projection of the first through hole and the projection of the laser port having a maximum overlap, a length of the first side being greater than or equal to a length of an imaging part of the photosensitive drum, a length of the second side being greater than a width of a laser irradiation part of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0008] As can be seen from the above, by designing the first through hole, the second through hole, the first recessed part and the gap of the developing frame, the storage space of the powder tank is ensured, the structure of the developing frame and the number of molds for producing the developing frame are effectively simplified, and the production cost is effectively reduced. In addition, the optimized developing frame of the present application only needs two parts of the bottom cartridge and the upper cover, so the production process of the developing frame is also simplified, and the production cost is further reduced. Furthermore, by designing the structure and position of the laser port, the gap and the first through hole, it is ensured that the laser emitted by the laser irradiation part of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus can completely irradiate on the photosensitive drum, so that a complete latent electrostatic image can be formed on the photosensitive drum, and the imaging quality is ensured.

[0009] Further, the powder tank comprises a main powder tank area and a secondary powder tank area, the main powder tank area being communicated with the developing tank and the secondary powder tank area; the bottom surface of the first recessed part, an extension surface of the bottom surface and the bottom cartridge form the main powder tank area, the extension surface, the peripheral wall of the first recessed part, the top surface of the upper cover, the end surface of the upper cover and the bottom cartridge form the secondary powder tank area.

[0010] As can be seen from the above, the above design can make the powder tank have a larger storage space, thereby prolonging the service life of the process cartridge, reducing the frequency of supplementing carbon powder to the powder tank, and improving the user experience.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, in the height direction, the projection of the first recessed part is substantially a first trapezoid, and the lower base of the first trapezoid is arranged close to the laser port.

[0012] From the above, the design can better guarantee that the powder bin has a larger storage space, and when the light emitted by the laser irradiation part of the electrophotographic imaging device is a concentric light beam or a similar concentric light beam, the light emitted by the laser irradiation part will not be blocked by the peripheral wall of the first recess, thereby ensuring the integrity of the imaging.

[0013] Further, the first side wall of the bottom box is provided with a powder adding port, the powder adding port penetrates the first side wall along the length direction of the processing box; in the length direction, the projection of the powder adding port partially overlaps with the projection of the second side wall where the waist of the first trapezoid is located.

[0014] From the above, the design of the powder adding port makes it possible to add carbon powder to the powder bin through the powder adding port when the remaining amount of carbon powder in the powder bin is insufficient, thereby prolonging the service life of the processing box and reducing the use cost of the user; and through the position design of the powder adding port, the carbon powder added to the powder bin can be filled to the corners of the powder bin as much as possible through the peripheral wall of the first recess, thereby making the addition of carbon powder more convenient and the added amount larger.

[0015] Another preferred scheme is that the bottom wall of the bottom box has a receiving part and a guide part at the powder bin, the receiving part has an arc part, the receiving part is located in the main powder bin area, the guide part extends to the receiving part and is connected with the receiving part in the height direction and the width direction, and the guide part is located in the auxiliary powder bin area.

[0016] From the above, the receiving part is used to accumulate as much carbon powder as possible in the main powder bin area, so that the stirring frame in the main powder bin area can send the carbon powder to the developing bin, and the arc part of the receiving part is arranged to ensure that as much carbon powder as possible is sent to the developing bin to improve the utilization rate of the carbon powder in the powder bin, and to avoid the receiving part hindering the rotation of the stirring frame; the arrangement of the guide part makes the carbon powder in the auxiliary powder bin flow to the main powder bin as much as possible to supplement the carbon powder in the main powder bin.

[0017] Further, the bottom wall of the bottom box is recessed inward from the outer side of the bottom wall to form a second recess in the powder bin, and the first through hole is formed at the bottom of the second recess; the peripheral wall of the second recess forms a first joint part at the first through hole, and the peripheral wall of the first recess forms a second joint part at the second through hole, and the first joint part and the second joint part are connected.

[0018] From the above, the design can improve the firmness of the connection between the bottom box and the upper cover, and better seal the gap between the bottom box and the upper cover to prevent carbon powder from leaking from the gap between the bottom box and the upper cover.

[0019] Still further, the bottom box and the upper cover form a handle through the first through hole and the second through hole, and the handle has a cavity in the middle, and the cavity forms part of the auxiliary powder bin area.

[0020] From the above, the handle is arranged to make the disassembly and assembly of the process cartridge or the developing cartridge more convenient, and the handle is arranged in a hollow manner, so that the toner capacity of the auxiliary toner storage area is increased, and the service life of the process cartridge is prolonged.

[0021] Further, the second recess has a second trapezoidal cross section, a third side wall on which the upper base of the first trapezoid is located and a fourth side wall on which the upper base of the second trapezoid is located form a part of the handle, the lower base of the second trapezoid is arranged close to the developing storage, and the fourth side wall has an "A" shape.

[0022] From the above, the toner in the cavity of the handle can flow to the main toner storage area through the fourth side wall and the guide part, so that the toner is prevented from remaining in the handle.

[0023] Further, the length of the first side is between 180 mm and 259 mm, the length of the second side is between 120 mm and 250 mm, and the length of the first side is greater than the length of the second side.

[0024] From the above, the design avoids the interference of the first through hole and the first recess with the light emitted by the laser irradiation part, so that the light emitted by the laser irradiation part can irradiate the photosensitive drum, thereby ensuring the quality and integrity of the image.

[0025] In order to achieve another object of the present application, the present application provides an electrophotographic imaging device, comprising a housing, a process cartridge mounting cavity and a laser irradiation part are arranged in the housing, wherein the process cartridge is mounted in the process cartridge mounting cavity, and the light emitted by the laser irradiation part irradiates into the laser port through the first through hole, the second through hole, the first recess and the gap.

[0026] From the above, the electrophotographic imaging device provided with the process cartridge can reduce the production cost and ensure the imaging quality. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 is a structural view of the existing process cartridge.

[0028] Figure 2 is a sectional view of the existing process cartridge.

[0029] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the existing process cartridge.

[0030] Figure 4 is a structural view of the process cartridge embodiment of the present application.

[0031] Figure 5 is a sectional view of the process cartridge embodiment of the present application.

[0032] Figure 6is a structural diagram of the developing frame of the processing box embodiment of the present application in the first perspective view.

[0033] Figure 7 is a first sectional view of the developing frame of the processing box embodiment of the present application.

[0034] Figure 8 is a second sectional view of the developing frame of the processing box embodiment of the present application.

[0035] Figure 9 is a structural diagram of the bottom box of the processing box embodiment of the present application in the first perspective view.

[0036] Figure 10 is a structural diagram of the bottom box of the processing box embodiment of the present application in the second perspective view.

[0037] Figure 11 is a structural diagram of the bottom box of the processing box embodiment of the present application in the third perspective view.

[0038] Figure 12 is a structural diagram of the upper cover of the processing box embodiment of the present application in the third perspective view

[0039] Figure 13 is a structural diagram of the developing frame of the processing box embodiment of the present application in the second perspective view.

[0040] The present application is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Processing box embodiment

[0042] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 The processing box 100 includes a developing box 1, a drum box 2, a first end cover and a second end cover. The developing box 1 includes a developing frame 11, a developing roller 12, a powder feeding roller 13, a stirring frame 14 and a powder outlet knife. The drum box 2 includes a drum frame 21, a photosensitive drum 22, a charging roller 23 and a cleaning brush 24. The first end of the developing frame 11 is connected with the first end of the drum frame 21 through the first end cover, and the second end of the developing frame 11 is connected with the second end of the drum frame 21 through the second end cover. In addition, the laser port 3 is formed between the developing box 1 and the drum box 2.

[0043] In conjunction with Figures 6 to 8The developing frame 11 has a powder bin 111 and a developing bin 112, the developing roller 12 and the powder feeding roller 13 are rotatably installed in the developing bin 112 around their own rotation axes respectively, the powder feeding roller 13 is located at the joint of the powder bin 111 and the developing bin 112, and the powder feeding roller 13 is located between the joint and the developing roller 12 and is adjacent to the developing roller 12. The developing frame 11 includes a bottom box 113 and an upper cover 114, the upper cover 114 covers part of the bottom box 113, so that the powder bin 111 and the developing bin 112 are formed between the bottom box 113 and the upper cover 114.

[0044] In combination Figures 9 to 13 In the width direction X of the process cartridge 100, the side of the bottom box 113 away from the developing bin 112 is provided with a first through hole 1131, the first through hole 1131 penetrates the bottom box 113 in the width direction X, and the first through hole 1131 also penetrates the bottom box 113 in the height direction Z of the process cartridge 100.

[0045] The upper cover 114 has a first recessed part 1141, the first recessed part 1141 is recessed from the top surface of the upper cover 114 to the bottom box 113, and the side of the first recessed part 1141 close to the laser port 3 is formed with a notch 1142, so that the notch 1142 communicates the laser port 3 and the first recessed part 1141. The first recessed part 1141 is provided with a second through hole 1143, the second through hole 1143 matches the first through hole 1131, so that the second through hole 1143 can substantially overlap the first through hole 1131. The second through hole 1143 penetrates the upper cover 114 in the width direction X, and the second through hole 1143 penetrates the upper cover 114 in the height direction Z, so that the second through hole 1143 can communicate the first recessed part 1141 and the first through hole 1131.

[0046] In the width direction X, the projection of the laser port 3, the projection of the photosensitive drum 22, the projection of the notch 1142, the projection of the first through hole 1131 and the projection of the second through hole 1143 at least partially overlap, so that the laser emitted by the laser irradiation part of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus can pass through the first through hole 1131, the second through hole 1143, the first recessed part 1141, the notch 1142 and the laser port 3 at one time and then irradiate on the photosensitive drum 22 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 22; wherein the first side with the maximum overlap between the projection of the notch 1142 and the projection of the laser port 3, and the second side with the maximum overlap between the projection of the first through hole 1131 and the projection of the laser port 3. The length L1 of the first side is greater than or equal to the length of the imaging part of the photosensitive drum 22, and the length L2 of the second side is greater than the width of the laser irradiation part of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0047] In the embodiment, the length L1 of the first side is preferably between 180 mm and 259 mm, the length L2 of the second side is preferably between 120 mm and 250 mm, and the length L1 of the first side is greater than the length L2 of the second side. This design avoids interference of the light emitted by the laser irradiation part by the first through hole 1131 and the first recess 1141, so that the light emitted by the laser irradiation part can irradiate the photosensitive drum 22, thereby ensuring the quality and integrity of the image.

[0048] Through the design of the first through hole 1131, the second through hole 1143, the first recess 1141, and the notch 1142 of the developing frame 11, the structure of the developing frame 11 and the number of molds for producing the developing frame 11 are effectively simplified while ensuring the storage space of the powder bin 111, thereby effectively reducing the production cost. Through the optimization design of the developing frame 11, the developing frame 11 only needs two parts, the bottom box 113 and the upper cover 114, thereby simplifying the production process of the developing frame 11 and further reducing the production cost. In addition, through the structure and position design of the laser port 3, the notch 1142, and the first through hole 1131, the laser emitted by the laser irradiation part of the electrophotographic imaging device can completely irradiate the photosensitive drum 22, so that a complete latent electrostatic image can be formed on the photosensitive drum 22, thereby ensuring the imaging quality.

[0049] In the embodiment, the powder bin 111 includes a main powder bin area 1111 and a secondary powder bin area 1112, and the main powder bin area 1111 and the secondary powder bin area 1112 are communicated. The bottom surface of the first recess 1141, the extension surface of the bottom surface, and the bottom box 113 form the main powder bin area 1111, and the stirring frame 14 is rotatably installed in the main powder bin area 1111 around the rotation axis thereof, so as to send the toner in the main powder bin area 1111 to the developing bin 112, and then the toner is moved by the toner feeding roller 13 in the developing bin 112 to the developing roller 12, and finally the toner on the developing roller 12 is transferred to the photosensitive drum 22. The extension surface of the bottom surface of the first recess 1141, the peripheral wall of the first recess 1141, the top surface of the upper cover 114, the end surface of the upper cover 114, and the bottom box 113 form the secondary powder bin area 1112. Through the above design, the powder bin 111 can have a larger storage space, so as to prolong the service life of the process cartridge 100, reduce the frequency of supplementing toner to the powder bin 111, and improve the user experience.

[0050] As Figure 6 and Figure 12As shown, in the height direction Z, the projection of the first recessed part 1141 is substantially a first trapezoid, the lower base of the first trapezoid is arranged close to the laser port 3, and the surface corresponding to the lower base of the first trapezoid is the position of the gap 1142. This design ensures that the powder tank 111 has a large storage space, and also ensures that when the light emitted by the laser irradiation part of the electrophotographic imaging device is a concentric light beam or a similar concentric light beam, the light emitted by the laser irradiation part will not be blocked by the peripheral wall of the first recessed part 1141, thereby ensuring the integrity of the imaging; in addition, it also enables the toner in the auxiliary powder tank area 1112 to move along the planes where the two sides of the first trapezoid are located to the main powder tank area 1111, avoiding the accumulation of toner in the auxiliary powder tank area 1112, which causes the main powder tank area 1111 to be unable to replenish toner in time. Preferably, the peripheral wall of the first recessed part 1141 has a draft angle, so that the demolding of the upper cover 114 in production is more convenient, the structure of the mold is simplified, and the movement of the toner in the auxiliary powder tank area 1112 to the main powder tank area 1111 is more favorable.

[0051] The bottom wall 1133 of the bottom box 113 has a receiving part 11331 and a guide part 11332 at the powder tank 111, the receiving part 11331 has an arc-shaped part, and the receiving part 11331 is located in the main powder tank area 1111; the receiving part 11331 is used to enable the toner to accumulate in the main powder tank area 1111 as much as possible, so that the stirring frame 14 in the main powder tank area 1111 can deliver the toner to the developing tank 112, and the arrangement of the arc-shaped part on the receiving part 11331 can ensure that as much toner as possible is delivered to the developing tank 112, thereby improving the utilization rate of the toner in the powder tank 111, and also avoiding the receiving part 11331 from hindering the rotation of the stirring frame 14. The guide part 11332 is located in the auxiliary powder tank area 1112, the guide part 11332 extends obliquely to the height direction Z and the width direction X, and the guide part 11332 is in abutment with the receiving part 11331; the guide part 11332 can guide the toner in the auxiliary powder tank area 1112, so that the toner in the auxiliary powder tank area 1112 flows into the main powder tank area 1111 as much as possible, thereby supplementing the toner to the main powder tank area 1111.

[0052] Preferably, the bottom wall 1133 of the bottom box 113 is recessed inwardly from the outer side of the bottom wall 1133 to the powder tank 111 to form a second recessed portion 1134, and the second through hole 1143 is formed at the bottom of the second recessed portion 1134. Further, the peripheral wall of the second recessed portion 1134 forms a first joint portion 1135 at the first through hole 1131, and the peripheral wall of the first recessed portion 1141 forms a second joint portion 1144 at the second through hole 1143, and the first joint portion 1135 is connected with the second joint portion 1144 in a matched manner; wherein the first joint portion 1135 and the second joint portion 1144 are designed to facilitate the upper cover 114 to be provided with a soldering line at the first recessed portion 1141 and to facilitate the bottom box 113 to be provided with a soldering groove at the second recessed portion 1134, thereby improving the firmness of the connection between the bottom box 113 and the upper cover 114, and avoiding the cooperation gap between the first through hole 1131 and the second through hole 1143 to be sealed better, preventing the carbon powder from leaking from the cooperation gap between the first through hole 1131 and the second through hole 1143.

[0053] Further, the bottom box 113 and the upper cover 114 are formed with the handle 115 through the first through hole 1131 and the second through hole 1143, the handle 115 has a cavity 1151, and the cavity 1151 is part of the auxiliary powder tank area 1112. The handle 115 is provided to make the processing cartridge 100 or the developing cartridge 1 more simple, convenient and easy to operate when disassembled, and the cavity 1151 provided in the handle 115 can increase the carbon powder capacity of the auxiliary powder tank area 1112 to prolong the service life of the processing cartridge 100. Wherein, the cross section of the second recessed portion 1134 is preferably substantially a second trapezoid, the lower base of the second trapezoid is arranged close to the main powder tank area 1111, and by designing the cross section of the second recessed portion 1134, the carbon powder in the auxiliary powder tank area 1112 can flow to the main powder tank area 1111 along the side walls where the two waists of the second trapezoid are located, thereby better preventing the carbon powder from accumulating in the auxiliary powder tank area 1112. The third side wall 1145 where the upper base of the first trapezoid is located and the fourth side wall 1136 where the upper base of the second trapezoid is located form part of the handle 115, and the fourth side wall 1136 is preferably in the shape of “∧”, and by this design, the carbon powder in the cavity 1151 of the handle 115 can flow to the main powder tank area 1111 through the fourth side wall 1136 and the guide portion 11332, thereby avoiding the carbon powder remaining in the handle 115. In addition, the peripheral wall of the second recessed portion 1134 preferably has a draft angle, which makes the demolding of the bottom box 113 more convenient in production, simplifies the structure of the mold and is more conducive to the movement of the carbon powder in the auxiliary powder tank area 1112 to the main powder tank area 1111.

[0054] Furthermore, the first side wall of the bottom box 113 is provided with a powder adding port 1132, the powder adding port 1132 penetrates the first side wall along the length direction Y of the processing box 100; in the length direction Y, the projection of the powder adding port 1132 partially overlaps with the projection of the second side wall where the waist of the first trapezoid is located. The design of the powder adding port 1132 makes it possible to add carbon powder into the powder tank 111 through the powder adding port 1132 when the residual amount of carbon powder in the powder tank 111 is insufficient, so as to prolong the service life of the processing box 100 and reduce the use cost of the user; and through the position design of the powder adding port 1132, the carbon powder added into the powder tank 111 can be filled into each corner of the powder tank 111 as much as possible through the peripheral wall of the first recessed part 1141, so as to make the addition of carbon powder more convenient and the addable amount larger.

[0055] The drum box 2 is located above the opening of the developing tank 112, the photosensitive drum 22 and the charging roller 23 are rotatably arranged on the drum frame 21 around the rotation axes thereof respectively, the cleaning brush 24 is installed on the drum frame 21, the charging roller 23 is adjacent to the photosensitive drum 22 and the cleaning brush 24 respectively, and the photosensitive drum 22 is also adjacent to the developing roller 12. Among them, the photosensitive drum 22, the charging roller 23, the cleaning brush 24 and the drum frame 21 form the waste powder tank 111.

[0056] As can be seen from the above, through the structural design of the processing box, the structure of the developing frame is simplified, the mold required for production of the developing frame is reduced, and the welding connection process between each part of the developing frame is reduced, so as to effectively reduce the production cost.

[0057] Electrophotographic image forming apparatus embodiment

[0058] The electrophotographic image forming apparatus embodiment includes a housing and a processing box, the processing box is the processing box described in the above processing box embodiment. The housing is provided with a processing box mounting cavity and a laser irradiation part, the processing box is mounted in the processing box mounting cavity, and the light emitted by the laser irradiation part is irradiated into the laser port through the first through hole, the second through hole, the first recessed part and the gap. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus provided with the above processing box can reduce the production cost and ensure the imaging quality.

[0059] Finally, it should be emphasized that the above description is only the preferred embodiment of the present application and is not used to limit the present application. For those skilled in the art, the present application can have various changes and modifications, 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 developing cartridge including a developing frame having a toner hopper and a developing hopper, and a developing roller installed in the developing hopper; a drum cartridge including a drum frame and a photosensitive drum, the drum cartridge being disposed above an opening of the developing hopper, the photosensitive drum being contiguous with the developing roller, a laser port being formed between the developing cartridge and the drum cartridge; characterized in that the developing frame includes a bottom cartridge and an upper cover covering a part of the bottom cartridge, the upper cover and the bottom cartridge forming the toner hopper and the developing hopper, a first through hole being provided on a side of the bottom cartridge away from the developing hopper in a width direction of the process cartridge, the first through hole penetrating the bottom cartridge in the width direction and a height direction of the process cartridge, respectively, the upper cover having a first recessed portion recessed from a top surface of the upper cover toward the bottom cartridge, a side of the first recessed portion near the laser port forming a gap, a second through hole being provided in the first recessed portion and matching the first through hole, the second through hole penetrating the upper cover in the width direction and the height direction, respectively, a peripheral wall of the first recessed portion having a draft angle; in the width direction, projections of the laser port, the photosensitive drum, the gap, the first through hole, and the second through hole at least partially overlap, a first side between the projection of the gap and the projection of the laser port having a maximum overlap, a second side between the projection of the first through hole and the projection of the laser port having a maximum overlap, a length of the first side being greater than or equal to a length of an image forming portion of the photosensitive drum, a length of the second side being greater than a width of a laser irradiation portion of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. 2.The process cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the toner hopper includes a main toner hopper area and a sub toner hopper area, the main toner hopper area being in communication with the developing hopper and the sub toner hopper area; a bottom surface of the first recessed portion, an extension of the bottom surface, and the bottom cartridge form the main toner hopper area, the extension, the peripheral wall of the first recessed portion, a top surface of the upper cover, an end surface of the upper cover, and the bottom cartridge form the sub toner hopper area. 3.The process cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that in the height direction, a projection of the first recessed portion is substantially a first trapezoid, a lower base of the first trapezoid being disposed near the laser port. 4.The process cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that a first side wall of the bottom cartridge is provided with a toner filling port, the toner filling port penetrating the first side wall in a length direction of the process cartridge; in the length direction, a projection of the toner filling port partially overlaps with a projection of a second side wall where a leg of the first trapezoid is located. 5.The process cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that a bottom wall of the bottom cartridge has a receiving portion and a guide portion at the toner hopper, the receiving portion having an arc-shaped portion, the receiving portion being located in the main toner hopper area, the guide portion extending from the receiving portion and abutting the receiving portion obliquely to the height direction and the width direction, the guide portion being located in the sub toner hopper area.

6. The process cartridge of claim 5 wherein: the bottom wall of the bottom housing is recessed inwardly from an outer side thereof to form a second recess in the powder reservoir, the first through hole being formed at a bottom of the second recess; a peripheral wall of the second recess forms a first engaging portion at the first through hole, and a peripheral wall of the first recess forms a second engaging portion at the second through hole, the first and second engaging portions being engaged with each other.

7. The process cartridge of claim 6 wherein: the bottom housing and the upper cover form a handle through the first and second through holes, the handle having a cavity in a middle portion thereof, the cavity forming a portion of the sub-powder reservoir area.

8. The process cartridge of claim 7 wherein: a cross section of the second recess is substantially a second trapezoid, a third side wall on which an upper base of the first trapezoid is located and a fourth side wall on which an upper base of the second trapezoid is located form a portion of the handle; the lower base of the second trapezoid is disposed proximate to the development cartridge, and the fourth side wall is in a shape of "A".

9. The process cartridge of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein: a length of the first side is between 180 mm and 259 mm; a length of the second side is between 120 mm and 250 mm; the length of the first side is greater than the length of the second side.

10. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising a housing in which a process cartridge mounting cavity and a laser irradiation portion are provided, characterized by, a process cartridge installation cavity is installed with the process cartridge of any one of claims 1 to 9, and light emitted from the laser irradiation portion is irradiated into the laser port through the first through hole, the second through hole, the first recess, and the gap.

Images