Developing box

Abstract

The invention discloses a developing box which comprises a shell which comprises a cavity capable of containing a developing agent; a developing roller; a powder feeding roller; the coupling part can rotate the developing roller and the powder feeding roller; the shell comprises a cavity body lower surface located in the cavity body, the cavity body lower surface is constructed to extend in the direction from back to front, in the front-back direction, the cavity body lower surface is located at the rear end of the axis of the powder feeding roller, and the front tail end of the cavity body lower surface is adjacent to the powder feeding roller; in the vertical direction, the distance between the lower surface of the cavity and the lower tail end of the cavity is reduced along the extension of the lower surface of the cavity in the direction from back to front.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of electronic photographic imaging, and in particular to a developing box. Background Art

[0002] In a conventional imaging device, a processing device (i.e., a developing box) that can act on a photosensitive drum and a photosensitive drum are integrated into a box, and the box can be detachably mounted to the imaging device. Depending on the type of box, the user can perform maintenance operations on the device without relying on service personnel, thereby significantly improving operability. Therefore, this type of box is widely used in imaging devices.

[0003] The prior art discloses a developing box, which includes a shell that can accommodate a developer, a developing roller and an agitator that can be rotatably supported on the shell, wherein the agitator can be used to stir the developer in the shell when the developing box performs a printing task (i.e., when working), so as to facilitate the delivery of the developer to the developing roller. Therefore, by providing the agitator in the developing box, the developer in the shell can be stably and efficiently delivered to the developing roller. However, this method of adding an agitator to the developing box will also make the structure of the developing box complicated, and due to the addition of the agitator, the manufacturing cost of the developing box will also increase. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a new processing box, which is mainly achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0005] A developing box is detachably mounted in a drum box having a photosensitive drum, wherein the photosensitive drum can rotate around the axis of the photosensitive drum, and the developing box and the drum box can be mounted as a whole in an imaging device, wherein the developing box comprises:

[0006] A housing including a cavity for accommodating a developer;

[0007] A developing roller is rotatably supported on the housing and is rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in the left-right direction;

[0008] A powder feeding roller is rotatably supported on the housing and can rotate around an axis of the powder feeding roller, and the powder feeding roller can supply developer to the developing roller;

[0009] A coupling portion, disposed at the left end of the housing in the left-right direction, the coupling portion being capable of receiving a driving force of the imaging device to rotate the developing roller and the powder feeding roller;

[0010] When the developing box is installed in the drum box and supported by a horizontal surface, the direction perpendicular to the horizontal surface is the up-down direction, the up-down direction is perpendicular to the left-right direction, and in the up-down direction, the end of the developing box close to the horizontal surface is the lower end; the developing roller axis and the photosensitive drum axis are arranged in the front-to-back direction, the developing roller axis is located at the rear end of the photosensitive drum axis in the front-to-back direction, and the front-to-back direction is perpendicular to both the left-right direction and the up-to-down direction;

[0011] The shell includes a cavity lower surface located in the cavity, and the cavity lower surface is constructed to extend in a direction from rear to front. In the front-to-back direction, the cavity lower surface is located at the rear end of the axis of the powder feeding roller, and the front end of the cavity lower surface is arranged adjacent to the powder feeding roller; measured in the up and down directions, the distance between the cavity lower surface and the horizontal surface supporting the drum box and the developer box decreases along the extension of the cavity lower surface in the direction from rear to front.

[0012] Furthermore, the powder feeding roller is arranged in the cavity, and no developer stirring component is arranged.

[0013] Furthermore, the lower surface of the cavity is constructed as a continuous plane.

[0014] Further, in the front-to-back direction, the lower surface of the cavity and the powder feeding roller have an overlapping portion.

[0015] Furthermore, a first line segment is made to connect the axis of the developing roller and the axis of the powder feeding roller, and another second line segment is made to connect the front end and the rear end of the lower surface of the cavity, and the angle between the first line segment and the second line segment is 90° to 150°.

[0016] Furthermore, an angle between the first line segment and the second line segment is in a range of 110° to 130°.

[0017] Further, when the developing box is installed in the drum box and supported by the horizontal surface, there is a height difference K between the front end and the rear end of the lower surface of the cavity in the up and down direction, wherein 18mm<K<32mm.

[0018] Furthermore, 20mm<K<26mm.

[0019] Furthermore, the developing box also includes a detection protrusion that can move the detection body in the imaging device, and the coupling part can drive the detection protrusion to move relative to the shell. Along the transmission direction of the driving force from the coupling part to the detection protrusion, a plurality of intermediate transmission gears for transmitting the driving force are arranged between the coupling part and the detection protrusion.

[0020] Furthermore, when projected along the left-right direction, the intermediate transfer gear has an overlapping portion with the lower surface of the cavity.

[0021] Further, in the up-down direction, there is a spacing distance H between the lower end of the powder feeding roller and the shell at the lower end of the powder feeding roller, wherein 0 mm<H<2.5 mm.

[0022] Furthermore, 0.4 mm<H<1.5 mm.

[0023] Furthermore, the shell includes a first part located at the lower end of the powder feeding roller, the wall thickness of the first part is T1; the shell also includes a second part adjacent to the first part in the front-to-back direction, the wall thickness of the second part is T2, wherein T1>T2.

[0024] On the other hand, the present invention further provides a developing box, the developing box comprising:

[0025] A housing including a cavity for accommodating a developer;

[0026] A developing roller is rotatably supported on the housing and is rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in the left-right direction;

[0027] A powder feeding roller is rotatably supported in the cavity and can rotate around an axis of the powder feeding roller, and the powder feeding roller can supply developer to the developing roller;

[0028] A coupling portion, disposed at the left end of the housing in the left-right direction, the coupling portion being capable of receiving a driving force of the imaging device to rotate the developing roller and the powder feeding roller;

[0029] a chip having an electrical contact surface, the electrical contact surface being disposed at a left end of the housing in the left-right direction;

[0030] an electrode, electrically connected to the developing roller, disposed at a right end of the housing in the left-right direction;

[0031] When the developing box is installed in the imaging device, the developer can move in the front-to-back direction from the rear end away from the developing roller to the front end close to the developing roller under the action of gravity. In the cavity, no developer stirring member is arranged between the powder feeding roller and the rear end of the developing roller, and the front-to-back direction is perpendicular to the left-to-right direction.

[0032] In another aspect, the present invention further provides a developing box, the developing box comprising:

[0033] A housing including a cavity for accommodating a developer;

[0034] A developing roller is rotatably supported on the housing and is rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in the left-right direction;

[0035] A powder feeding roller is rotatably supported on the housing and can rotate around an axis of the powder feeding roller, and the powder feeding roller can supply developer to the developing roller;

[0036] A coupling portion, disposed at the left end of the housing in the left-right direction, the coupling portion being capable of receiving a driving force of the imaging device to rotate the developing roller and the powder feeding roller;

[0037] The cavity has and only has one rotating member at least a portion of which is exposed in the cavity.

[0038] The developer box in the present invention eliminates the agitator and adopts an inclined surface structure on the lower surface of the cavity. The developer can be transported to the powder feeding roller along the inclined surface by relying on the developer's own gravity and the vibration of the developer box when it is working. This simplifies the structure of the developer box and reduces the production cost of the developer box while ensuring the developer transportation effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the developer cartridge installed in the drum cartridge in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a developing cartridge at a certain angle in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a developing cartridge in which a protective cover is separated from a housing in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the developing box in Embodiment 1 of the present invention from another angle;

[0043] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a gear train of a developing cartridge in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a cross-section of a developing cartridge in Embodiment 1 of the present invention at a certain angle;

[0045] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a cross-section of the developing cartridge in Embodiment 1 of the present invention from another angle;

[0046] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the angle between the first line segment and the second line segment in the developing box in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0047] Fig. 9 This is a schematic diagram of the first structure of the lower surface of the cavity in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0048] Fig.10This is a schematic diagram of the second structure of the lower surface of the cavity in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0049] Fig.11 This is a schematic diagram of the third structure of the lower surface of the cavity in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0050] Fig.12 This is a schematic diagram of the fourth structure of the lower surface of the cavity in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0051] Fig.13 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the developing cartridge in Embodiment 2 of the present invention from another angle;

[0052] Fig.14 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the developing cartridge in Embodiment 2 of the present invention from another angle;

[0053] Fig.15 Schematic diagram of a developing box in which a cover plate is mounted on a housing in Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0054] Fig.16 is a schematic diagram of a certain angle of the cover plate being removed from the housing in Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0055] Fig.17 is a schematic diagram of another angle of removing the developing cartridge from the housing in Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0056] Fig.18 is a schematic diagram of a developing cartridge in Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

[0057] Fig.19 is a schematic diagram of chip assembly decomposition in Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

[0058] Fig. 20 is a schematic diagram of a developing cartridge in Embodiment 5 of the present invention;

[0059] Fig.21 is a schematic diagram of the developer cartridge installed in the drum cartridge in Embodiment 5 of the present invention;

[0060] Fig. 22 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a developing cartridge in Embodiment 5 of the present invention;

[0061] Fig.23 is a schematic diagram of a developing cartridge in Embodiment 6 of the present invention from a certain angle;

[0062] Fig.24 is another angled schematic diagram of the developing cartridge in Embodiment 6 of the present invention;

[0063] Fig.25 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a developing cartridge in Embodiment 6 of the present invention;

[0064] Fig.26 is a schematic diagram of a developing cartridge in Embodiment 7 of the present invention;

[0065] Fig. 27 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the developing box in Example 7 of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] Example 1

[0067] For the convenience of description, the direction of the developing box 100 is now defined. The developing roller 102 can rotate around a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction, and the coupling part 103 is arranged on the left side of the shell 101 in the left-right direction; when the developing box 100 is installed in the drum box 10 and supported by the horizontal surface B, the direction perpendicular to the horizontal surface B is the up-down direction, and the up-down direction is perpendicular to the left-right direction. In the up-down direction, the end of the developing box 100 close to the horizontal surface B is the lower end; the developing roller axis and the photosensitive drum axis are arranged in the front-to-back direction, and the developing roller axis is located at the rear end of the photosensitive drum axis in the front-to-back direction, and the front-to-back direction is perpendicular to both the left-to-right direction and the up-to-down direction.

[0068] like Figure 1-12 As shown, a developing box 100 in embodiment 1 of the present invention is shown. The developing box 100 can be installed in conjunction with a drum box having a photosensitive drum. The photosensitive drum can rotate around the axis of the photosensitive drum. The developing box 100 and the drum box can be installed in an imaging device as a whole to perform printing work together.

[0069] The developer cartridge 100 includes a housing 101 and a developer roller 102 and a powder feeding roller 106 rotatably supported at the front lower end of the housing 101. The developer roller 102 and the powder feeding roller 106 can rotate around the developer roller axis and the powder feeding roller axis extending in the left-right direction, respectively. The housing 101 includes an upper housing 101a and a lower housing 101b connected to each other. The upper housing 101a is arranged on the upper side of the lower housing 101b in the up-down direction. The two together form a housing having a capacity for holding the developer. The cavity 101c for accommodating the developer, the developing roller accommodating chamber 101b1 for accommodating the developing roller 102, and the powder feeding roller accommodating chamber 101b2 for accommodating the powder feeding roller 106. When the developing cartridge 100 performs a printing task, the developer contained in the housing 101 can be transported successively through the cavity 101c, the powder feeding roller accommodating chamber 101b2, and the developing roller accommodating chamber 101b1. In other words, the developer can be transported successively through the cavity 101c and the powder feeding roller 106 to the developing roller 102. The developing box 100 also includes a coupling portion 103 rotatably supported at the front end of the left side of the shell 101, and the coupling portion 103 can receive a driving force from the imaging device to rotate the developing roller 102 and the powder feeding roller 106; an electrode 104 and a detection protrusion 107 are also provided on the right side of the shell 101, and the electrode 104 includes an electrical connection surface that can be electrically contacted with the imaging device, and the electrical connection surface is provided on the right side of the shell 101 and can transmit the received power to the developing roller 102 to ensure that the developer contained in the shell 101 is stably attached to the developing roller 102 after being charged, and the detection protrusion 107 can move relative to the shell 101 in response to the rotation of the coupling portion 103, and the detection protrusion 107 can be used to toggle the detection body in the imaging device so that the imaging device detects the toggle signal and identifies the model of the developing box 100, the maximum number of printing pages and other information, and the detection protrusion 107 is farther away from the axis of the developing roller in the front-to-back direction than the electrical contact surface of the electrode 104;Furthermore, the developing box 100 further includes a chip 105, the chip 105 having an electrical contact surface 105a that can be electrically contacted with the imaging device and a storage unit (not shown) storing relevant information such as the model of the developing box 100 and the maximum number of print pages. The imaging device can more accurately identify the relevant information of the developing box 100 stored in the storage unit through electrical contact with the electrical contact surface 105a, thereby establishing a communication connection with the developing box 100. The electrical contact surface 105a is arranged at a position closer to the left side of the housing 101 than the right side of the housing 101 in the left-right direction. a is arranged at a position closer to the front side of the housing 101 than the rear side of the housing 101 in the front-to-back direction, that is, the electrical contact surface 105a is arranged on the left side of the housing 101 in the left-right direction, so as to make it as far away from the electrode 104 as possible to avoid electrical interference between the two during operation, and the electrical contact surface 105a is arranged on the front side of the housing 101 in the front-to-back direction, so as to be as close to rotating parts such as the developing roller 102 and the coupling part 103 in the front-to-back direction as possible, reduce the vibration of the electrical contact surface 105a, and improve the electrical contact stability between the electrical contact surface 105a and the imaging device. ;

[0070] From the foregoing description, it can be known that the coupling portion 103 can receive external force to rotate the developing roller 102 and the powder feeding roller 106 and drive the detection protrusion 107 to move. In order to better understand how the coupling portion 103 transmits power to the developing roller 102, the powder feeding roller 106 and the detection protrusion 107, the power transmission process of the developing box 100 will be described in detail below; specifically, the developing box 100 also includes a developing roller gear 111 and a powder feeding roller gear 112 directly engaged with the coupling portion 103, the developing roller gear 111 is installed at one end of the developing roller 102, and the powder feeding roller gear 112 is installed at one end of the powder feeding roller 106, the developing roller gear 111 and the powder feeding roller gear 112 that receive power from the coupling portion 103 can respectively drive the developing roller 102 and the powder feeding roller 106 to rotate. The developing box 100 also includes a plurality of gears for transmitting the driving force on the coupling portion 103 to the detecting protrusion 107. To solve the problems in the prior art, the developing box 100 in the present invention does not have an agitator structure, that is, an agitator for stirring the developer is not provided in the cavity 101c at the rear end of the powder feeding roller 106 (the agitator is defined as a component that can be used to change the developer in the cavity 101c into a flying state). In other words, the cavity 101c has and only has one rotating member extending from the left end to the right end of the shell 101 and at least a portion of which is exposed in the cavity 101c. In the present embodiment, the rotating member is the powder feeding roller 106. Based on this structure, along the driving force transmission direction from the coupling portion 103 to the detecting protrusion 107, there is no need to provide an agitator gear for driving the agitator. Therefore, the plurality of gears provided between the coupling portion 103 and the detecting protrusion 107 are all unconnected rotating members. The intermediate transfer gear is a rotating member that extends from the left end of the shell 101 to the right end of the shell 101 and is rotatable relative to the shell 101. Through the driving force transmission of the intermediate transfer gear, the detection protrusion 107 can receive the driving force transmitted from the coupling part 103 and move; preferably, there are three intermediate transfer gears, and along the direction of the driving force transmission of the coupling part 103, the first intermediate transfer gear 113, the second intermediate transfer gear 114, and the third intermediate transfer gear 115 are sequentially arranged, so that the faster rotation speed received by the first intermediate transfer gear 113 from the coupling part 103 is reduced to the rated speed after being decelerated by multiple intermediate transfer gears, thereby reducing the turning speed of the detection protrusion 107 operably connected to the third intermediate transfer gear 115, thereby reducing the turning error of the detection protrusion 107 and improving the turning accuracy.

[0071] From the above description, it can be known that the developer box 100 of the present invention is no longer provided with an agitator. At this time, the developer contained in the shell 101 cannot be stably transported to the powder feeding roller 106 through the existing developer box structure. Therefore, the present invention improves the structure of the shell 101 of the developer box 100 so that it can achieve the technical effect of stably transporting the developer contained in the shell 101 to the powder feeding roller 106. For the convenience of the following description, it is defined that when the developer box 100 is installed in the drum box and the two are placed together on a horizontal surface When the developer box 100 is on the horizontal surface B, the direction perpendicular to the horizontal surface B is the up-down direction (i.e., the direction of gravity), the side of the developer box 100 facing the horizontal surface B is the lower end, and the side away from the horizontal surface B is the upper end, the shell 101 includes a cavity lower surface 101b3 located in the cavity 101c, in the front-to-back direction, the cavity lower surface 101b3 is located at the rear end of the axis of the powder feeding roller, and is constructed to extend in a direction from back to front, and the front end of the cavity lower surface 101b3 is arranged adjacent to the powder feeding roller 106, and further, the cavity lower surface 101b3 is constructed The cavity lower surface 101b3 is formed as a continuous surface inclined relative to the front-to-back direction. When projected along the left-right direction, the cavity lower surface 101b3 has an overlapping portion with the intermediate transmission gear, so that the inclination angle of the cavity lower surface 101b3 is at a suitable position, which is beneficial to the flow of the developer. In the up-down direction, the distance between the cavity lower surface 101b3 and the lower end of the powder feeding roller 106 decreases along the extension of the cavity lower surface 101b3 in the direction from back to front, so that the developer covered on the cavity lower surface 101b3 can flow along the inclined cavity. The lower surface 101b3 of the body flows toward the side of the powder feeding roller accommodating chamber 101b2 under the combined action of gravity and the vibration of the shell 101 during the operation of the developer box 100, so as to avoid the problem that the developer accumulates in the shell 101 and cannot be stably transported to the powder feeding roller accommodating chamber 101b2. Therefore, the developer box 100 in the present invention simplifies the structure of the developer box 100 and reduces the production cost of the developer box 100 by eliminating the agitator while ensuring that the developer can be stably transported to the powder feeding roller 106.

[0072] Further, the cavity lower surface 101b3 is configured as a continuous surface extending from the lower end of the housing 101 to the upper end of the housing 101 in the up-down direction to prevent the developer in the cavity 101c from accumulating at the rear side of the cavity 101c.

[0073] Further, such as Fig. 9 As shown, the cavity lower surface 101b3 is constructed as a plane. Compared with the curved surface structure, the cavity lower surface 101b3 with a plane structure is simpler in structure, which simplifies the structure of the housing 101. Of course, optionally, the cavity lower surface 101b3 can also be as follows Fig.10 The lower surface 101b3 of the cavity can also be as shown in Fig.11 The arc surface structure shown; and the lower surface 101b3 of the cavity can also be as follows Fig.12 The wavy surface shown.

[0074] Furthermore, in order to ensure that the developer contained in the housing 101 can be stably transported to the powder feeding roller 106, the lower surface 101b3 of the cavity should have an appropriate inclination angle, and a first line segment L1 connecting the axis of the developing roller and the axis of the powder feeding roller is made, and another second line segment L2 connecting the front end and the rear end of the lower surface 101b3 of the cavity is made. Preferably, the first line segment L1 is used as the reference line, and the angle α between the first line segment L1 and the second line segment L2 is preferably 90° to 150°. Within this range, the structure of the lower surface 101b3 of the cavity is more appropriate, which can avoid the situation where the inclination angle of the lower surface 101b3 of the cavity relative to the front-to-back direction is too large when the angle α is too small (less than 90°), resulting in a reduction in the volume of the cavity 101c. of the developer in the cavity 101c, because this will lead to a decrease in the developer capacity in the cavity 101c, and a poor user experience. At the same time, within the range of the angle α, it can also be avoided that when the angle α is too large (greater than 150°), the inclination angle of the lower surface 101b3 of the cavity relative to the front-to-back direction is too small, which makes it difficult for the developer covered thereon to flow into the powder feeding roller accommodating chamber 101b2, thereby causing a large amount of developer to accumulate on the lower surface 101b3 of the cavity and unable to be transported to the developing roller 102, thereby causing a large amount of developer to be wasted; more preferably, the angle α between the first line segment L1 and the second line segment L2 is 110° to 130°. Within this range, the structure of the lower surface 101b3 of the cavity is most appropriate, and its technical effects will not be repeated here.

[0075] In other words, the inclination angle of the lower surface 101b3 of the cavity can be defined by its extended height in the up and down direction. Specifically, in the up and down direction, there is a height difference K between the front end of the lower surface 101b3 of the cavity and the rear end of the lower surface 101b3 of the cavity. Preferably, 18mm<K<32mm, and more preferably, 20mm<K<26mm. When K is less than or equal to 18mm, this means that the inclination angle of the lower surface 101b3 of the cavity with respect to the front-to-back direction is small, and the problem of developer accumulation is prone to occur. When K is greater than or equal to 26mm, this means that the inclination angle of the lower surface 101b3 of the cavity with respect to the front-to-back direction is large, which will cause the volume of the cavity 101c to decrease, reducing the developer capacity of the cavity 101c. Therefore, within the above-mentioned preferred and more preferred range of K, the developer box 100 is more appropriately constructed.

[0076] Example 2

[0077] like Figure 13-14As shown, a developing box 200 in embodiment 2 of the present invention is shown. The same parts of the developing box 200 as those in the above-mentioned embodiment 1 will not be repeated. The difference lies in that the structure of the shell 201 of the developing box 200 is changed. Specifically, the structure of the lower shell 201b of the shell 201 is changed, which will be described in detail below.

[0078] In this embodiment, the extension length of the cavity lower surface 201b3 of the shell 201 in the front-to-back direction is longer than that of the cavity lower surface in Example 1, and the front end of the cavity lower surface 201b3 has an overlapping part with the powder feeding roller 206 in the front-to-back direction. In other words, the front end of the cavity lower surface 201b3 extends in the front-to-back direction to the lower end of the powder feeding roller accommodating chamber 201b2. Through this construction, the cavity lower surface 201b3 has a smoother structure in the front-to-back direction, and the developer attached to the cavity lower surface 201b3 will be more easily transported to the powder feeding roller accommodating chamber 201b2, thereby improving the transportation effect of the developer to the powder feeding roller 206.

[0079] Typically, in the up-down direction, the lower end of the outer surface of the powder feeding roller 206 (i.e., the developer bearing surface) and the shell 201 at the lower end of the powder feeding roller 206 have a certain spacing distance H, so as to avoid repeated friction between the developer bearing surface of the powder feeding roller 206 and the shell 201 during the high-speed rotation of the powder feeding roller 206, thereby wearing the developer bearing surface of the powder feeding roller 206 and reducing the conveying effect of the powder feeding roller 206. However, in order to further improve the conveying effect of the developer to the powder feeding roller 206, the spacing distance H between the developer bearing surface of the powder feeding roller 206 and the lower end of the powder feeding roller accommodating chamber 201b2 is smaller than that in Example 1, preferably, 0mm<H<2.5mm. In this way, the adsorption efficiency of the charged powder feeding roller 206 to adsorb the developer will become higher, thereby The developer conveying efficiency will be improved; more preferably, 0.4mm<H<1.5mm. On the one hand, compared with the previous range, the minimum distance of H is increased to avoid manufacturing errors in the shell 201 and the powder feeding roller 206 or installation errors in the powder feeding roller 206 when it is installed on the shell 201, so that the powder feeding roller 206 contacts the shell 201 due to the error, and then continuously rubs against the shell 201 when the powder feeding roller 206 rotates, causing the powder feeding roller 206 to wear. Therefore, the lower end of the powder feeding roller 206 and the shell 201 still need to ensure a certain spacing distance to compensate for the error. On the other hand, compared with the previous range, the maximum distance of H is reduced to reduce the distance as much as possible and improve the adsorption efficiency of the powder feeding roller 206; therefore, H has a better developer conveying effect within the above range.

[0080] To achieve this structure of reducing the spacing distance H, it can be achieved by increasing the wall thickness of the shell 201 at the lower end of the powder feeding roller 206; specifically, the wall thickness T1 of the shell 201 at the lower end of the powder feeding roller 206 (defined as the first part) is greater than the wall thickness T2 of the second part adjacent to the first part in the front-to-back direction, that is, T1>T2, that is, only the local wall thickness of the shell 201 at the lower end of the powder feeding roller 206 can be increased, while the wall thickness of the shell 201 at the rear end of the powder feeding roller 206 remains unchanged, so that while the spacing distance H can be reduced, the production cost of the developing box 200 can also be reduced; optionally, the spacing distance H can also be reduced by moving the powder feeding roller 206 downward, so the technical means adopted to achieve the required range of the spacing distance H are not unique.

[0081] Example 3

[0082] like Figure 15-17 As shown, a developing box 300 in Example 3 of the present invention is shown. The similarities between the developing box 300 and the developing boxes in Examples 1-2 will not be repeated in this embodiment. The difference is that the developing box 300 also includes a cover plate 310 located at the lower end of the shell 301. The cover plate 310 and the structure related to the cover plate 310 will be specifically introduced below.

[0083] The developer box 300 also includes a plurality of ribs 309 arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. The plurality of ribs 309 are constructed to protrude downward from the lower end surface of the shell 301. More specifically, the plurality of ribs 309 are constructed to protrude downward from the lower end surface of the lower shell 301b. In the left-right direction, the plurality of ribs 309 are positioned closer to the right end of the shell 301 than the electrical contact surface 305a of the chip 305. When the developer box 300 performs printing work, the plurality of ribs 309 can be used to guide the movement of the printing medium (such as paper); however, since the plurality of ribs 309 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction of the developer box 300, during the movement of the paper and the contact with the ribs 309, the paper is easily wrinkled after being squeezed, which will affect the subsequent printing process and cause the text or image on the paper to be unclear.

[0084] Therefore, to avoid the occurrence of this problem, one embodiment is that the developer box 300 also includes the cover plate 310 mentioned above. Preferably, the cover plate 310 is detachably installed on the shell 310. In this way, the original structure of the shell 301 does not need to be changed or has less changes, and the role played by the cover plate 310 can be achieved, which reduces the production cost of the developer box; the cover plate 310 is constructed to cover the multiple ribs 309 so that the multiple ribs 309 cannot be exposed to the outside of the developer box 300. When observed along the length direction of the cover plate 310, the cover plate 310 is roughly in the shape of a "7". The cover plate 310 includes a first part 311 and a second part 312 that are cross-arranged. The width of the first part 311 is greater than the width of the second part 312. A preferably arc-shaped bending portion 316 is connected between the first part 311 and the second part 312. The bending portion 316 can make the transition between the first part 311 and the second part 312 smoother, avoiding problems such as cracking at the junction of the two.

[0085] The cover 310 includes, in its thickness direction, an outer surface 310a exposed to the outside of the developer box 300 and an inner surface 310b facing the multiple ribs 309. The outer surface 310a is not provided with a rib structure such as multiple ribs 309 or a protrusion structure such as multiple protrusions. Preferably, the outer surface 310a is constructed as a smooth surface to increase the contact area with the paper, so that the local pressure on the paper is reduced, and the problem of wrinkles on the paper after being squeezed can be avoided. In addition, when the developer box 300 performs printing work, the outer surface 310a can also guide the movement of the paper. Therefore, by setting the outer surface of the cover 310 to a smooth surface, the contact area with the paper is increased. On the premise of ensuring that the cover 310 can guide the movement of the paper, the problem of wrinkles on the paper after being squeezed can be avoided.

[0086] Further, the cover plate 310 further includes a positioning portion, which can be used to position the cover plate 310 on the housing 301. The positioning portion includes at least one positioning protrusion 314, which is configured to protrude from the inner surface 310b of the cover plate 310 toward the housing 301. The positioning protrusion 314 can be matched and inserted into the positioning hole 301f located at the lower end of the housing 301 to ensure that the cover plate 310 can be correctly installed on the housing 301, so that the position of the cover plate 310 will not be offset; further, the positioning protrusion 314 and the positioning hole 301f are interference fit, so that the cover plate 310 can be stably positioned and installed on the housing 301 without being separated from the housing 301. Further, the positioning portion further includes at least one elastic buckle 315, which can be buckled on the housing 301 to further prevent the cover plate 310 from falling off the housing 301.

[0087] Furthermore, the cover 310 also includes an avoidance hole 313, which is located approximately in the middle of the cover 310 in the left-right direction. The avoidance hole 313 is constructed as a through hole formed on the cover 310, so as to avoid the inductive protrusion in the imaging device when the developing box 300 is installed in the imaging device, thereby ensuring that no installation interference occurs during the installation of the developing box 300 to the imaging device.

[0088] Furthermore, when the cover 310 is installed on the rib 309, in order to avoid the installation interference between the cover 310 that is too thick and the drum box, and at the same time, to ensure that the cover 310 has sufficient structural strength, the cover 310 cannot be set too thin, otherwise it may be deformed or even broken, affecting the movement of the paper. Therefore, the thickness S of the cover 310 should be moderate, neither too thick nor too thin. Preferably, 0.2mm≦S≦2mm, more preferably, 0.5mm≦S≦1.5mm. Within this range, the cover 310 has a strong structural strength without interfering with the drum box. Further, the cover 310 is made of plastic material, and optionally, it can also be made of blister sheet or steel sheet, but this is not a limitation.

[0089] Optionally, the cover plate 310 may be formed together with the shell 301 , which eliminates the need to additionally install the cover plate 310 on the shell 301 , thereby improving the assembly efficiency of the developer box.

[0090] Example 4

[0091] like Figure 18-19 As shown, a developing box 400 in Example 4 of the present invention is shown. The similarities between the developing box 400 and the developing boxes in Examples 1-3, such as the structure of the lower surface of the cavity, will not be repeated in this embodiment. The difference is that the position and structure of the chip component of the developing box 400 are different, and this difference will be described in detail below.

[0092] The chip assembly includes a chip 405, and in the left-right direction, the electrical contact surface 405a is located at the left end of the developer box 400, that is, it is still located at the same end of the developer box 400 in the left-right direction as the coupling part 403, and in the front-to-back direction, the electrical contact surface 405a of the chip 405 is set at a position closer to the rear end relative to the front end of the developer box 400, and, in the up-down direction, the electrical contact surface 405a is arranged to face the upper end of the developer box 400.

[0093] Furthermore, the chip assembly also includes a chip frame 420 for supporting the chip 405 and separately arranged from the shell 401, a pushing protrusion 422 that is buckled on the chip frame 420 through a first elastic buckle 422a and is movable relative to the chip frame 420, and an elastic member 423 connected between the chip frame 420 and the pushing protrusion 422. By providing the elastic member 423, the pushing protrusion 422 can elastically push the chip frame 420 after being subjected to force, so that the chip 405 supported on the chip frame 420 can elastically contact the electrical contacts of the imaging device, and even if there is a deviation in the chip installation position, the elastically movable chip can adaptively maintain stable electrical contact with the electrical contacts of the imaging device, thereby improving the electrical contact stability between the chip and the imaging device.

[0094] Furthermore, the chip assembly also includes a retainer 421 for supporting the chip frame 420 and maintaining the position of the chip frame 420. The retainer 421 is detachably connected to the protective cover of the shell 401 through a second elastic buckle 421b arranged thereon. A strip guide hole 421a is arranged on the retainer 421, and a guide protrusion 420b is correspondingly arranged on the chip frame 420. The guide protrusion 420b can be inserted into the guide hole 421a, so that when the chip frame 420 moves relative to the developing roller 402, the chip frame 420 can move in the guide hole 421a under the limitation of the preset path of the guide hole 421a.

[0095] Example 5

[0096] like Figure 20-22 As shown, a developing box 500 in Example 5 of the present invention is shown. The similarities between the developing box 500 and the developing boxes in Examples 1-4, such as the structure of the lower surface of the cavity, the structure of the chip assembly, and no stirring rack or cover plate is provided in the shell, etc., will not be repeated in this embodiment. The difference is that the position of the chip assembly of the developing box 500 is different, and this difference will be described in detail below.

[0097] The chip assembly in this embodiment still includes a chip 505 having an electrical contact surface 505a, but the drum cartridge in this embodiment also includes a chip. For the convenience of the following description, the chip disposed on the developer cartridge 500 is named developer cartridge chip 505, and the electrical contact surface on the developer cartridge chip 505 is named developer cartridge chip electrical contact surface 505a. The chip disposed on the drum cartridge 10 is named drum cartridge chip 11, and the drum cartridge chip 11 has a drum cartridge chip electrical contact surface 11a that is in electrical contact with the electrical contacts of the imaging device, and is used for the structure of the drum cartridge chip assembly and the developer cartridge chip assembly to be large. The developer box chip electrical contact surface 505a is approximately located in the middle of the developer box 500 in the front-to-back direction, and the drum box chip electrical contact surface 11a is arranged at a position closer to the rear end relative to the front end of the drum box 10 in the front-to-back direction. When the developer box 500 is installed in the drum box 10, in the front-to-back direction, the developer box chip electrical contact surface 505a is located between the coupling portion 503 and the drum box chip electrical contact surface 11a. It can also be said that the developer box chip electrical contact surface 505a is located between the developing roller 502 and the drum box chip electrical contact surface 11a.

[0098] Example 6

[0099] like Figure 23-25 As shown, a developing box 600 in Example 6 of the present invention is shown. The similarities between the developing box 600 and the developing box in Example 5, such as the structure of the lower surface 601b3 of the cavity, and the fact that no stirring rack is provided in the shell 601, etc., will not be repeated in this embodiment. The differences will be described in detail below.

[0100] Specifically, the developer box 600 is not provided with a developer chip, and the drum box used with the developer box 600 is also not provided with a chip, but the developer box 600 includes a detection protrusion 607 that can be detected by the imaging device, and the detection protrusion 607 is arranged at the left end of the shell 601 in the left-right direction, that is, the detection protrusion 607 and the coupling part 603 are located at the same end of the shell 601 in the left-right direction, and in the front-to-back direction, compared with the coupling part 603, the detection protrusion 607 is arranged at a position closer to the rear end of the shell 601, more specifically, in the front-to-back direction, the detection protrusion 607 is arranged at the rear end of the shell 601.

[0101] Furthermore, the developer box 600 also includes a forced push protrusion 612 respectively arranged at the left end and the right end of the shell 601. In the front-to-back direction, the forced push protrusion 612 is arranged between the coupling portion 603 and the detection protrusion 607. More specifically, in the front-to-back direction, compared with the rear end of the shell 601, the forced push protrusion 612 is arranged at a position closer to the front end of the shell 601. When the developer box 600 is installed in the drum box, the forced push protrusion in the drum box can elastically push the forced push protrusion 612 forward (in the front-to-back direction toward the direction close to the developing roller 602) so that the developing roller 602 of the developer box 600 maintains pressure contact with the photosensitive drum in the drum box, thereby improving the conveying effect of the developing roller 602 to convey the developer to the photosensitive drum.

[0102] Furthermore, the developing box 600 also includes a locking protrusion 613, which is arranged at the right end of the shell 601 in the left-right direction. When the developing box 600 is installed in the drum box, the locking protrusion 613 can be locked by the locking protrusion of the drum box to limit the developing box 600 from accidentally detaching from the drum box, thereby ensuring the correct position of the developing box 600 in the drum box.

[0103] In general, the present embodiment 6 provides a developing box 600 which is different from the developing box 600 in the embodiment 5. The developing box 600 can still eliminate the agitator in the shell 601 and realize the developer transportation in the shell 601 by setting the lower surface 601b3 of the cavity to an inclined structure.

[0104] Example 7

[0105] like Figure 26-27 As shown, the developing box 700 in the embodiment 7 of the present invention is shown. The developing box 700 is similar to the developing box in the embodiment 6, for example, the coupling part 703 and the detection protrusion 707 are both arranged at the left end of the housing 701. This embodiment will not repeat these similarities. The difference is that the forced pushing protrusion 712 and the locked protrusion 713 are located at different positions in the developing box 700; specifically, in the front-to-back direction, the forced pushing protrusion 712 is arranged at the rear end of the housing 701, and more specifically, in the front-to-back direction, the forced pushing protrusion 712 is arranged at the rear end of the detection protrusion 707. As for the locked protrusion 713 of the developing box 700, in the left-right direction, the locked protrusion 713 is arranged at the left end of the housing 701, which is also different from the locking protrusion in the embodiment 6. In addition, the developing box 700 can still cancel the agitator in the housing 701, and the developer conveying in the housing 601 is realized by setting the lower surface 701b3 of the cavity into an inclined structure.

[0106] The developer box in the present invention eliminates the agitator and adopts an inclined surface structure on the lower surface of the cavity. The developer can be transported to the powder feeding roller along the inclined surface by relying on the developer's own gravity and the vibration of the developer box when it is working. This simplifies the structure of the developer box and reduces the production cost of the developer box while ensuring the developer transportation effect.

Claims

1. A developing box, which can be detachably mounted in a drum box having a photosensitive drum, wherein the photosensitive drum can rotate around the axis of the photosensitive drum, and the developing box and the drum box can be mounted as a whole in an imaging device, wherein the developing box comprises: A housing including a cavity for accommodating a developer; A developing roller is rotatably supported on the housing and is rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in the left-right direction; A powder feeding roller is rotatably supported on the housing and can rotate around an axis of the powder feeding roller, and the powder feeding roller can supply developer to the developing roller; A coupling portion, disposed at the left end of the housing in the left-right direction, the coupling portion being capable of receiving a driving force of the imaging device to rotate the developing roller and the powder feeding roller; When the developing box is installed in the drum box and supported by a horizontal surface, the direction perpendicular to the horizontal surface is the up-down direction, the up-down direction is perpendicular to the left-right direction, and in the up-down direction, the end of the developing box close to the horizontal surface is the lower end; the developing roller axis and the photosensitive drum axis are arranged in the front-to-back direction, the developing roller axis is located at the rear end of the photosensitive drum axis in the front-to-back direction, and the front-to-back direction is perpendicular to both the left-right direction and the up-to-down direction; The housing comprises a cavity lower surface located in the cavity, the cavity lower surface is configured to extend in a direction from rear to front, the cavity lower surface is located at a rear end of the axis of the powder feeding roller in the front-to-back direction, and a front end of the cavity lower surface is arranged adjacent to the powder feeding roller; The distance between the lower surface of the cavity and the horizontal surface supporting the drum cartridge and the developer cartridge, measured in the up-down direction, decreases along the extension of the lower surface of the cavity in the direction from rear to front.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder feeding roller is arranged in the cavity, and no developer stirring component is arranged.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower surface of the cavity is configured as a continuous plane.

4. The developing cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that: In the front-to-back direction, the lower surface of the cavity and the powder feeding roller have an overlapping portion.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: A first line segment is made to connect the axis of the developing roller and the axis of the powder feeding roller, and another second line segment is made to connect the front end and the rear end of the lower surface of the cavity, and the angle between the first line segment and the second line segment is 90° to 150°.

6. The developing cartridge according to claim 5, characterized in that: The included angle between the first line segment and the second line segment is 110° to 130°.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the developing box is installed in the drum box and supported by the horizontal surface, there is a height difference K between the front end and the rear end of the lower surface of the cavity in the up-down direction, wherein 18 mm < K < 32 mm.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 7, wherein: 20mm<K<26mm.

9. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The developing box also includes a detection protrusion that can move the detection body in the imaging device, and the coupling part can drive the detection protrusion to move relative to the shell. Along the transmission direction of the driving force from the coupling part to the detection protrusion, a plurality of intermediate transmission gears for transmitting the driving force are arranged between the coupling part and the detection protrusion.

10. The developing cartridge according to claim 9, characterized in that: Projected along the left-right direction, the intermediate transmission gear has an overlapping portion with the lower surface of the cavity.

11. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the up-down direction, there is a spacing distance H between the lower end of the powder feeding roller and the shell at the lower end of the powder feeding roller, wherein 0 mm<H<2.5 mm.

12. The developing cartridge according to claim 11, characterized in that: 0.4mm<H<1.5mm.

13. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shell includes a first part located at the lower end of the powder feeding roller, and the wall thickness of the first part is T1; the shell also includes a second part adjacent to the first part in the front-to-back direction, and the wall thickness of the second part is T2, wherein T1>T2.

14. A developing box, comprising: A housing including a cavity for accommodating a developer; A developing roller is rotatably supported on the housing and is rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in the left-right direction; A powder feeding roller is rotatably supported in the cavity and can rotate around an axis of the powder feeding roller, and the powder feeding roller can supply developer to the developing roller; A coupling portion, disposed at the left end of the housing in the left-right direction, the coupling portion being capable of receiving a driving force of an imaging device to rotate the developing roller and the powder feeding roller; a chip having an electrical contact surface, the electrical contact surface being disposed at a left end of the housing in the left-right direction; an electrode, electrically connected to the developing roller, disposed at a right end of the housing in the left-right direction; It is characterized in that when the developing box is installed in the imaging device, the developer can move in the front-to-back direction from the rear end away from the developing roller in the cavity to the front end close to the developing roller in the cavity under the action of gravity, and in the cavity, no developer stirring member is arranged between the powder feeding roller and the rear end, and the front-to-back direction is perpendicular to the left-to-right direction.

15. A developing box, comprising: A housing including a cavity for accommodating a developer; A developing roller is rotatably supported on the housing and is rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in the left-right direction; A powder feeding roller is rotatably supported on the housing and can rotate around an axis of the powder feeding roller, and the powder feeding roller can supply developer to the developing roller; A coupling portion, disposed at the left end of the housing in the left-right direction, the coupling portion being capable of receiving a driving force of an imaging device to rotate the developing roller and the powder feeding roller; The invention is characterized in that the cavity has and only has one rotating member at least a part of which is exposed in the cavity.

Images