A process cartridge

Abstract

The present application relates to a processing cartridge, comprising a housing, a rotating member rotatably mounted in the housing, and a driving device for driving the rotating member to rotate. The driving device comprises a driving shaft for receiving driving force from an image forming device, the driving shaft comprising a power receiving portion and a central shaft, the power receiving portion being power-couplable with a driving head; a driving gear, the driving shaft being capable of driving the driving gear to rotate; and a clutch device for power-coupling or decoupling the driving shaft and the driving gear. The clutch device comprises a lever for moving the driving shaft along an axial direction of the rotating member from a first position to a second position, the driving shaft being closer to the driving head in the second position than in the first position. The processing cartridge further comprises a posture holding member for ensuring that a side opening of the power receiving portion faces a mounting direction when the driving shaft is in the first position, so as to avoid collision between the power receiving portion and the driving head when the processing cartridge is mounted or dismounted. The processing cartridge of the present application can ensure that the power receiving portion does not interfere with the driving head in the image forming device when the processing cartridge is mounted or dismounted, by virtue of the posture holding member, even when the axial movement stroke of the driving shaft is limited due to limited internal space of the image forming device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a process cartridge which can be detachably installed in an image forming apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0002] A process cartridge is an essential printing consumable in a laser image forming apparatus. The process cartridge usually includes a developing unit and a photosensitive unit. The developing unit includes a developing roller and a new powder container for accommodating new toner. The photosensitive unit includes a photosensitive drum and a waste powder container for accommodating waste toner. When the process cartridge is in operation, the toner on the developing roller is transferred to the photosensitive drum under the action of voltage, and the toner transferred to the photosensitive drum is transferred to a paper sheet under the action of voltage.

[0003] A driving device is provided on the process cartridge. The driving device includes gears installed at the ends of the developing roller and the photosensitive drum, and a driving shaft. When the process cartridge is in operation, the image forming apparatus outputs power to the driving shaft to drive the developing roller and the photosensitive drum in the process cartridge to rotate.

[0004] Chinese patent document CN102141766A discloses a process cartridge. The process cartridge includes a power receiving port and a control mechanism for controlling the extension and retraction of the power receiving port. The extension and retraction of the power receiving port is controlled by the control mechanism so as to be coupled with or separated from a driving head in the image forming apparatus. However, for a specific model of the image forming apparatus, due to the structure and space inside the image forming apparatus, the stroke of the extension and retraction of the power receiving port controlled by the control mechanism is limited. When the process cartridge is installed or removed, the power receiving port still collides with or interferes with the driving head in the image forming apparatus, which is inconvenient for installing or removing the process cartridge. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application aims to provide a process cartridge. The process cartridge can make the power receiving port in a predetermined posture, so as to ensure that the power receiving port does not interfere with the driving head in the image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is installed or removed.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present application provides a processing cartridge comprising a housing, a rotating member rotatably mounted in the housing, and a driving device for driving the rotating member to rotate. The driving device comprises a driving shaft for receiving driving force from a driving head of an image forming device, the driving shaft comprising a power receiving portion and a central shaft, the power receiving portion being capable of being coupled with the driving head, the driving shaft being capable of driving a driving gear to rotate, and a clutch device for coupling or decoupling the driving shaft with the driving gear. The clutch device comprises a lever for moving the driving shaft along an axial direction of the rotating member from a first position to a second position, the driving shaft being closer to the driving head in the second position than in the first position. The processing cartridge further comprises a posture maintaining member for ensuring that a side opening of the power receiving portion faces a mounting direction when the driving shaft is in the first position, so as to avoid collision between the power receiving portion and the driving head during mounting or dismounting of the processing cartridge. The processing cartridge is capable of being detachably mounted in the image forming device in the mounting direction, the image forming device being provided with the driving head.

[0007] The processing cartridge of the present application can ensure that the power receiving portion does not interfere with the driving head of the image forming device during mounting or dismounting of the processing cartridge, even when the driving shaft has a limited axial movement stroke due to limited internal space of the image forming device.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the central shaft of the driving shaft has a first protrusion extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the central shaft, and the posture maintaining member has a raised portion formed by symmetrically arranged inclined surfaces, the inclined surfaces being arranged such that, when the driving shaft is decoupled from the driving gear, the first protrusion contacts the inclined surfaces and slides along the inclined surfaces to rotate the driving shaft until the side opening of the power receiving portion faces the mounting direction. The raised portion formed by the inclined surfaces facilitates rotation of the driving shaft, thereby ensuring that the side opening of the power receiving portion faces the mounting direction.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the posture maintaining member has an elongated through hole for the first protrusion to pass through, and the raised portion has two portions symmetrically arranged on both sides of the elongated through hole. The two raised portions facilitate rotation of the driving shaft.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the lever comprises a first portion extending along the axial direction of the rotating member, the first portion being capable of contacting a side wall of the image forming device, a second portion extending along the mounting direction, the second portion being capable of cooperating with the driving shaft, and a rotating rod extending along a longitudinal direction, the first portion and the second portion being located at two ends of the rotating rod. The axial direction of the rotating member, the mounting direction and the longitudinal direction form an orthogonal coordinate system. Compared with the push rod in the prior art, the lever of the processing cartridge of the present application saves more space.

[0011] In one embodiment, the first portion has a recess, and at least a portion of the drive shaft is located in the recess to facilitate axial movement of the drive shaft along the rotatable member by the lever.

[0012] In one embodiment, the central shaft further comprises a second protrusion, and the drive gear is provided with a clamping portion cooperating with the second protrusion, the clamping portion being arranged such that, when the drive shaft rotates in a forward direction, the second protrusion cooperates with the clamping portion to drive the drive gear to rotate; and when the drive shaft rotates in a reverse direction, the second protrusion slides along the clamping portion without driving the drive gear to rotate.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the clamping portion is a step having an inclined surface. The clamping portion is arranged such that the drive shaft rotates idly in the reverse direction without driving the drive gear to rotate.

[0014] In one embodiment, the clutching device comprises a spring, which is sleeved on the central shaft of the drive shaft to force the drive shaft to move axially along the rotatable member from the second position to the first position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a processing cartridge according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0016] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the processing cartridge of FIG. 1 with a cover removed. Figure 1

[0017] Figure 3 Figure 1

[0018] Figure 4 Figure 3

[0019] Figure 5 Figure 3

[0020] Figure 6 Figure 3

[0021] Figure 7 Figure 3 EMBODIMENT

[0022] The structure of the processing cartridge of the present application and other aspects will be further described in detail below with specific embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] As​​​​​​​​​​​Figures 1-2 As shown, according to one embodiment, the processing box of the present invention includes a housing 1, an end cap 2 mounted on the end of the housing, a rotating component (not shown), and a driving device 3. The rotating component is rotatably mounted inside the housing 1. The rotating component is, for example, a developing roller or a photosensitive drum, etc. The driving device 3 is located at the end of the housing 1, between the side wall of the housing 1 and the end cap 2. The driving device 3 is used to drive the rotating component and other parts to rotate.

[0024] like Figure 3 As shown, the drive device 3 includes a drive shaft 31, a drive gear 32, and a clutch device 33. The drive shaft 31 receives driving force from the imaging device and drives the drive gear 32 to rotate. In this embodiment, the drive gear 32 is a photosensitive drum gear mounted at the end of the photosensitive drum. The clutch device 33 is used to power couple or power separate the drive shaft 31 and the photosensitive drum gear 32 along the axial direction X of the photosensitive drum. In a preferred embodiment, a bearing plate 11 is provided at the end of the housing 1.

[0025] The processing box of this invention can be detachably installed into the imaging device along the installation direction Y.

[0026] like Figure 4 As shown, in a specific embodiment, the drive shaft 31 includes a power receiving port 311 and a central shaft 312. The power receiving port 311 is coupled to a drive head (not shown) on the imaging device to receive driving force from the imaging device. The power receiving port 311 is located at the end of the central shaft 312 and is integrally formed with the central shaft 312. The power receiving port 311 has two jaws 311a and a side opening 311b. The two jaws 311a are symmetrically arranged along the central shaft 312 to form the side opening 311b. When installing or removing the processing cartridge, at least a portion of the drive head of the image forming device can pass through the side opening 311b of the power receiving port 311, thus preventing the power receiving port 311 from colliding or interfering with the drive head on the imaging device when the extension and retraction stroke of the drive shaft 31 is limited.

[0027] like Figure 3 As shown, the clutch device 33 includes a lever 331 and a spring 332. The lever 331 is used to move the drive shaft 31 along the axial direction X of the photosensitive drum from a first position to a second position. In the second position, the drive shaft 31 is closer to the drive head of the imaging device than in the first position. The first position is the position of the drive shaft 31 when the processing cartridge leaves the factory, and the second position is the position of the drive shaft 31 when the processing cartridge and the drive head of the imaging device are electrically coupled. The spring 332 is a compression spring used to move the drive shaft 31 along the axial direction X of the photosensitive drum from the second position to the first position.

[0028] like Figure 5As shown, in a specific embodiment, the dial lever 331 includes a first portion 331a, a second portion 331b and a rotating lever 331c. The first portion 331a extends along the axial direction Y of the photosensitive drum and can contact the side wall of the image forming device or a structure extending from the side wall to drive the rotating lever 331c to rotate. The second portion 331b extends along the mounting direction Y and can contact or cooperate with the driving shaft 31. In a specific embodiment, the second portion 331b has an arc-shaped recess 331f and the power receiving portion 311 has an inclined outer side surface. The dial lever 331 is rotatably mounted on the bearing plate 11 at the end of the housing 1, at least a portion of the outer side surface of the power receiving portion 311 is located in the arc-shaped recess 331f, and the second portion 331b can drive the power receiving portion 311 to move when the second portion 331b moves, thereby pushing the driving shaft 31 to move. The rotating lever 331c extends along the longitudinal direction Z, and the first portion 331a and the second portion 331b are located at both ends of the rotating lever 331c. The axial direction X of the photosensitive drum, the mounting direction Y and the longitudinal direction Z substantially constitute a rectangular coordinate system.

[0029] The spring 332 is mounted at the end of the driving shaft 31 away from the power receiving portion 311. In a specific embodiment, in order to fix the spring 332, a baffle plate 335 is provided in the clutch device 33, and the baffle plate 335 is mounted on the side of the photosensitive drum gear 32 for the one end of the spring 332 to abut against. The other end of the spring 332 is limited at the end of the central shaft 312.

[0030] The process cartridge of the present application further includes a posture holding member 5 for ensuring that the side opening 311b of the power receiving portion 311 faces the mounting direction Y when the driving shaft 31 is in the first position, so as to avoid the power receiving portion 311 from colliding with the driving head of the image forming device when the process cartridge is mounted or dismounted. As shown, Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, in a specific embodiment, the posture holding member 5 has a raised portion 51 formed by symmetrically arranged inclined surfaces 511. Correspondingly, the central shaft 312 of the driving shaft 31 has a protrusion 312a (first protrusion), and the protrusion 312a is two and symmetrically arranged on both sides of the central shaft 312. When the driving shaft 31 is power disconnected from the photosensitive drum gear 32 along the axial direction X of the photosensitive drum, the protrusion 312a contacts the inclined surface 511 and slides along the inclined surface 511 from the high point to the low point of the raised portion 51 to rotate the driving shaft 31, until the side opening 311b of the power receiving portion 311 faces the mounting direction Y, so that at least a portion of the driving head of the image forming device can pass through the side opening 311b, so as to ensure that the power receiving portion 311 does not interfere or collide with the driving head of the image forming device when the process cartridge is mounted or dismounted.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the attitude holding member 5 has an elongated through hole 52 through which the protrusion 312a passes. Two raised portions 51 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the elongated through hole 52. Providing two raised portions 51 is more conducive to the rotation of the drive shaft 31.

[0032] like Figure 7 As shown, the photosensitive drum gear 32 has a locking portion 321 on its side. Correspondingly, the central shaft 312 also includes a protrusion 312b (a second protrusion). After the central shaft 312 passes through the through hole 322 on the photosensitive drum gear 32, the locking portion 321 can engage with the protrusion 312b. When the drive shaft 31 rotates in the forward direction, the protrusion 312b engages with the locking portion 321, thereby driving the photosensitive drum gear 32 to rotate. When the drive shaft 31 rotates in the reverse direction, the protrusion 312b slides along the locking portion 321 and does not drive the photosensitive gear 32 to rotate. In a specific embodiment, the locking portion 321 is a step with an inclined surface 321a. When the drive shaft 31 rotates in the forward direction, the protrusion 312b contacts the stepped surface 321b of the locking portion 321 to drive the photosensitive drum gear 32 to rotate. When the drive shaft 31 rotates in the reverse direction, the protrusion 312b slides along the inclined surface 321a of the locking part 321 and will not be blocked by the step. The drive shaft 31 will then rotate freely, so the drive shaft 31 will not drive the photosensitive gear 32 to rotate.

[0033] Before the processing box of the present invention is installed on the imaging device, the drive shaft 31 is in the first position under the action of the spring 332, and the side opening 311b of the power receiving port 311 of the drive shaft 31 faces the installation direction Y under the action of the posture holding member 5. When the processing box of the present invention is installed on the imaging device, the first part 331a of the lever 331 contacts the side wall of the imaging device or a structure extending from the side wall. When the user pushes the processing box, the lever 331 rotates around the rotating rod 331c, driving the second part 331b to move towards the side wall of the imaging device, thereby driving the drive shaft 31 to move from the first position to the second position. Thus, the power receiving port 311 of the drive shaft 31 is dynamically coupled with the drive head in the imaging device, and the drive shaft 31 is also dynamically coupled with the photosensitive drum gear 32. Before the power receiving port 311 is powered to couple with the driving head of the imaging device, at least a portion of the driving head can pass through the side opening 311b of the power receiving port 311 to avoid collision between the power receiving port 311 and the driving head of the imaging device. After passing through, the central axis 312 of the driving shaft 31 is coaxial with the driving head.

[0034] When the process cartridge is removed from the image forming device, the driving shaft 31 is moved from the second position to the first position under the action of the spring 332 because the lever 331 no longer contacts the sidewall of the image forming device. The power of the driving shaft 31 is disconnected from the power of the driving head of the image forming device, and the driving shaft 31 is disconnected from the photosensitive drum gear 32. In the process of moving the driving shaft 31, the protrusion 312a on the center shaft 312 slides along the inclined surface 511 of the raised portion 51 of the posture holder 5 from the high point of the raised portion 51 to the low point of the raised portion 51. When the protrusion 312a slides to the low point, the side opening 311b of the power receiving port 311 of the driving shaft 31 faces the installation direction, so that at least a part of the driving head of the image forming device can pass through the side opening 311b of the power receiving port 311, avoiding the interference between the pawl 311a of the power receiving port 311 and the driving head.

[0035] The above-described embodiments are merely used to illustrate the idea and scope of the present application, and are not used to limit the protection scope of the present application. The modifications, equivalent replacements and other ways of improvement, which are obvious to the person skilled in the art, to the above-described embodiments are also within the idea of the present application. The protection scope and idea of the present application are specifically defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus in a mounting direction, the image forming apparatus having a drive gear provided therein; the process cartridge comprising a casing, a rotating member rotatably mounted in the casing, and a driving device. The driving device is used to drive the rotation of the rotating member, and comprises: a driving shaft for receiving driving force from the image forming device, the driving shaft comprising a power receiving portion and a central shaft, the power receiving portion being capable of being power coupled with the driving head; a driving gear, the driving shaft being capable of driving the rotation of the driving gear; and a clutch device for power coupling or decoupling the driving shaft and the driving gear; the clutch device comprising a lever for moving the driving shaft along the axial direction of the rotating member from a first position to a second position, the driving shaft being closer to the driving head in the second position than in the first position. The processing cartridge further comprises a posture maintaining member for ensuring that the side opening of the power receiving portion faces the mounting direction when the driving shaft is in the first position, so as to avoid the collision between the power receiving portion and the driving head during the mounting or dismounting of the processing cartridge. The central shaft of the driving shaft has a first protrusion extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the central shaft, and the posture maintaining member has a raised portion formed by symmetrically arranged inclined surfaces; the inclined surfaces are arranged such that when the driving shaft is power decoupled from the driving gear, the first protrusion contacts the inclined surfaces and slides along the inclined surfaces to rotate the driving shaft until the side opening of the power receiving portion faces the mounting direction.

2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein, The posture maintaining member has an elongated through hole through which the first protrusion passes, and the raised portion has two portions symmetrically arranged on both sides of the elongated through hole.

3. The process cartridge of claim 1, wherein, The lever comprises: a first portion extending along the axial direction of the rotating member, the first portion being capable of contacting the side wall of the image forming device; a second portion extending along the mounting direction, the second portion being capable of cooperating with the driving shaft; and a rotating rod extending along the longitudinal direction, the first portion and the second portion being located at two ends of the rotating rod; wherein the axial direction of the rotating member, the mounting direction and the longitudinal direction form an orthogonal coordinate system.

4. The process cartridge of claim 3 wherein, The first portion has a recess, and at least a portion of the driving shaft is capable of being located in the recess, thereby facilitating the movement of the lever along the axial direction of the rotating member.

5. The process cartridge of claim 4 wherein, The lever is rotatably mounted at the end of the housing.

6. The process cartridge of claim 1, wherein, The central shaft further comprises a second protrusion, and the driving gear is provided with a clamping portion cooperating with the second protrusion, the clamping portion being arranged such that when the driving shaft rotates in the forward direction, the second protrusion cooperates with the clamping portion to drive the rotation of the driving gear; when the driving shaft rotates in the reverse direction, the second protrusion slides along the clamping portion without driving the rotation of the driving gear.

7. The process cartridge of claim 6 wherein, The clamping portion is a step having an inclined surface.

8. The process cartridge of claim 1, wherein, The clutch device comprises a spring sleeved on the central shaft of the driving shaft to force the movement of the driving shaft along the axial direction of the rotating member from the second position to the first position.

9. The process cartridge of claim 1, wherein, The driving gear is a photosensitive drum gear, and the rotating member is a photosensitive drum, the photosensitive drum gear being mounted at the end of the photosensitive drum.

Images