Developing cartridge

Abstract

The invention provides a developing box detachably mounted to imaging equipment, the developing box comprises a developing shell, and a developing roller and a powder feeding roller which are arranged in the developing shell, the developing roller rotates around a first rotating axis, a containing cavity for containing a developing agent is formed in the developing shell, the powder feeding roller is used for conveying the developing agent to the developing roller, and the developing roller is arranged in the containing cavity. The developing roller is used for supplying a developing agent to a photosensitive part outside the developing box; the direction parallel to the first rotation axis is the left-right direction; the developing box further comprises a power receiving part, the power receiving part comprises at least one contact part and at least one conductive part which are connected with each other, the contact part and the conductive part are electrically connected with each other, the conductive part is used for being electrically connected with the imaging equipment, and the contact part is used for making contact with the developing agent so that the developing agent can be charged. The contact piece is located outside the projection range of the powder feeding roller in the left-right direction. The developing agent in the developing box arranged in this way is in contact with the contact piece while being stirred and rubbed mutually, so that the developing agent can carry more charges.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of electronic photographic imaging, and in particular to a developing box which can be detachably installed in an electronic photographic imaging device. Background Art

[0002] The developing box can be detachably installed on the imaging device, and the developing box includes a developing roller and a powder feeding roller. The developing roller is used to supply the developer in the developing box to the photosensitive component outside the developing box, and the powder feeding roller is used to supply the developer to the developing roller. The developing roller and the powder feeding roller are both rotatably arranged in the developing box. After the developing box is installed on the imaging device, the developing box can form an electrical connection with the imaging device; during the imaging process of the imaging device, under the action of the electric field force between the developing roller and the photosensitive component, the charged developer can be transferred to the photosensitive component, thereby developing the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive component.

[0003] Existing developers generally obtain electric charge through mutual friction between developers or friction between developers and other components. This method may cause the developer to fail to carry a sufficient amount of charge, and the charge may also be uneven. Summary of the invention

[0004] The developer cartridge provided by the present invention can solve at least one of the above technical problems, and the specific technical solution is as follows:

[0005] A developing box is detachably mounted to an imaging device, comprising a developing housing and a developing roller and a powder feeding roller arranged in the developing housing, wherein the developing roller rotates around a first rotation axis, and the powder feeding roller rotates around a second rotation axis, a accommodating chamber for accommodating a developer is formed in the developing housing, the powder feeding roller is used to transport the developer to the developing roller, and the developing roller is used to supply the developer to a photosensitive component outside the developing box; a direction parallel to the first rotation axis is a left-right direction.

[0006] The developing box also includes an electric power receiving member, which includes at least one contact member and at least one conductive member connected to each other, the contact member and the conductive member are electrically connected to each other, the conductive member is used to form an electrical connection with the imaging device, and the contact member is used to contact the developer so that the developer is charged, and the contact member is located outside the projection range of the powder feeding roller in the left and right directions.

[0007] The direction intersecting with the left and right direction is the front-to-back direction. At least a portion of the developing roller is located in front of the powder feeding roller. The developing box also includes a powder knife, which includes a blade for adjusting the thickness of the developer on the surface of the developing roller. Along the front-to-back direction, the contact piece is farther away from the first rotation axis than the blade of the powder knife.

[0008] The conductive member can form an electrical connection with the contact member and the powder discharge knife at the same time.

[0009] In the front-to-back direction, the contact piece is located behind the second rotation axis; in the front-to-back direction, the contact piece is located between the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis.

[0010] The direction intersecting the left-right direction and the front-back direction is the up-down direction. Compared with the second rotation axis, the contact piece is arranged closer to the lower surface of the accommodating cavity in the up-down direction.

[0011] The powder feeding roller comprises a powder feeding roller shaft and a powder feeding roller layer located radially outside the powder feeding roller shaft, the powder feeding roller layer is used for carrying and transferring the developer to the developing roller, and the powder feeding roller shaft is configured to be non-conductive.

[0012] The powder feeding roller shaft is made of an insulating member.

[0013] The powder feeding roller shaft is made of conductive material, and an insulating member is installed on the powder feeding roller shaft.

[0014] The powder feeding roller shaft is made of conductive material, and the surface of the powder feeding roller shaft is coated with insulating material.

[0015] The conductive part does not contact the powder feeding roller shaft.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the developer box provided by the present invention is provided with an electric power receiving element for contacting the developer so that it carries a sufficient amount of electric charge. The electric power receiving element at least includes a contact element. The contact element only needs to be able to conduct electricity, and its diameter size and specific material do not need to be considered. The contact element can directly contact the developer, so that the developer can contact the contact element while being stirred and rubbed against each other, so that the developer can carry more electric charge. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1A and Figure 1B It is a three-dimensional view of the developing box involved in the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 The present invention relates to a developing box edge Figure 1A The plan view after cutting along the AA direction.

[0019] Figure 3 The present invention is a schematic diagram of a powder discharging knife, a power receiving member, a powder feeding roller and a developing roller in a developing box after being separated from each other.

[0020] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the developing box involved in the present invention after being hidden in the lower shell.

[0021] Figure 5 The present invention is a partial schematic diagram of a powder discharging knife, a power receiving component, a powder feeding roller and a developing roller in a developing box after being assembled.

[0022] Figure 6It is a schematic diagram of another contact member in the power receiving member of the developing box involved in the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] The developing box 100 can be detachably mounted to an image forming device, such as Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the developing box 100 includes a developing shell 10 and a rotating member rotatably arranged in the developing shell 10, the rotating member is a developing roller 30 or a powder feeding roller 40, the developing roller 30 rotates around a first rotation axis L1, and the powder feeding roller 40 rotates around a second rotation axis L2, the first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 are parallel to each other, and a accommodating cavity 50 for accommodating a developer is formed in the developing shell 10, the powder feeding roller 40 is used to transport the developer in the accommodating cavity 50 to the developing roller 30, and the developing roller 30 is used to carry the developer and supply the developer to the photosensitive component outside the developing box 100.

[0025] The direction parallel to the first rotation axis L1 is the left-right direction, the direction intersecting the left-right direction is the front-back direction, at least a portion of the developing roller 30 is exposed forward to the outside of the developing box 100, and in the front-back direction, at least a portion of the developing roller 30 is located in front of the powder feeding roller 40, and the direction intersecting the left-right direction and the front-back direction is the up-down direction.

[0026] The developing box 100 also includes a driving force receiving member 90, which is used to receive driving force from the imaging device. At least one of the developing roller 30 and the powder feeding roller 40 is driven to rotate by the driving force. The driving force receiving member 90 is located at one of the left and right ends of the developing box 100.

[0027] like Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the developer box 100 also includes a powder knife 60 for adjusting the thickness of the developer on the developer roller 30. The powder knife 60 is fixed on the developer housing 10. The powder knife 60 includes a knife holder 61 and a blade 62 fixed on the knife holder 61. The blade 62 is used to contact the surface of the developer roller 30 to adjust the thickness of the developer on the surface of the developer roller 30; in the front-to-back direction, the blade 62 is located between the first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2.

[0028] like Figure 2 and Figure 4As shown, the developing box 100 also includes a stirring assembly 80 located in the accommodating chamber 50, and the stirring assembly 80 includes a stirring roller shaft 81 and a stirring blade 82 installed on the stirring roller shaft 81. The stirring roller shaft 81 is supported by the developing shell 10 and is used to drive the stirring blade 82 to rotate in the accommodating chamber 50, and the stirring blade 82 is used to stir the developer.

[0029] When the imaging device is imaging, an electric field force can be generated between the developing roller 30 and the photosensitive component, so that the charged developer on the surface of the developing roller 30 can be transferred to the surface of the photosensitive component to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive component.

[0030] In some embodiments, the developing housing 10 further includes a bracket 11 for at least supporting the developing roller 30 , and the bracket 11 is non-conductive, that is, the bracket 11 cannot receive power from a power output element of the image forming device.

[0031] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the developer box 100 also includes a power receiving member 70, which includes at least one contact member 71 and at least one conductive member 72. Both the contact member 71 and the conductive member 72 are capable of conducting electricity and are electrically connected to each other. The contact member 71 is used to directly contact the developer so that the developer can carry a sufficient amount of charge; the conductive member 72 is used to receive power from the imaging device and at least transfer the power to the contact member 71. The conductive member 72 includes a first end 721, a second end 722 and a third end 723 that are electrically connected to each other. The first end 721 is used to contact the contact member 71 to form an electrical connection, the second end 722 is used to contact the imaging device to form an electrical connection, and the third end 723 is used to contact the developer housing 10 or a component installed in the developer housing 10 to form an electrical connection.

[0032] like Figure 1A As shown, the rightmost end of the contact member 71 can pass through the developing housing 10, so that the contact member 71 can be electrically connected to the first end 721 of the conductive member 72; or, the first end 721 of the conductive member 72 can also pass through the developing housing 10 to the left so that the contact member 71 is electrically connected to the first end 721; or, the first end 721 of the conductive member 72 and the contact member 71 are simultaneously supported by the developing housing 10 and electrically connected to each other, that is, the connection between the contact member 71 and the first end 721 is supported by the developing housing 10.

[0033] The second end 722 of the conductive member 72 can directly contact the power output member in the imaging device to receive the power outputted by the power output member in the imaging device. In some embodiments, a support portion 20 is provided on the developing housing 10, and the second end 722 of the conductive member 72 can also be sleeved on the support portion 20 so that the conductive member 72 is fixed on the developing housing 10.

[0034] In some embodiments, the third end 723 of the conductive member 72 can be connected to other components in the developer box 100 that need to be conductive, which can reduce the number of components in the developer box 100 and reduce costs; for example: Figure 1A and Figure 5 As shown, the third end 723 of the conductive member 72 can be in contact with the powder discharge knife 60, so that the conductive member 72 can supply power to the contact member 71 and the powder discharge knife 60 at the same time. The voltage borne by the contact member 71 is the same as the voltage borne by the powder discharge knife 60. There will be no voltage difference between the contact member 71 and the powder discharge knife 60 / blade 62, and no electric field force will be generated between the two. The developer will not accumulate toward the powder discharge knife 60, which can effectively prevent powder leakage or imaging defects caused by powder accumulation; because the blade 62 of the powder discharge knife 60 is in contact with the developing roller 30, the power of the conductive member 72 can be transmitted to the developing roller 30 through the blade 62.

[0035] The contact member 71 is located outside the projection range of the powder feeding roller 40 in the left-right direction. In the front-to-back direction, the contact member 71 is farther away from the first rotation axis L1 than the blade 62 of the powder discharge knife 60. The position of the contact member 71 in the developing housing 10 is not limited, as long as the contact member 71 can contact the developer and charge the developer before the developer reaches the developing roller 30.

[0036] In some embodiments, the contact member 71 may be located between the powder feeding roller 40 and the developing roller 30. In the front-to-back direction, the contact member 71 is located behind the first rotation axis L1 and in front of the second rotation axis L2, that is, the contact member 71 is located between the first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2. A more preferred embodiment is as follows: Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the contact member 71 is located in the accommodating chamber 50. Along the front-to-back direction, the contact member 71 is located behind the powder feeding roller 40 / the second rotation axis L2. Compared with the top or front of the powder feeding roller 40, the space behind the powder feeding roller 40 is larger, so that the contact member 71 can fully contact with the developer.

[0037] In some embodiments, the power receiving element 70 includes a plurality of contact members 71 spaced apart in the left-right direction, and an electrical connection can be formed between the plurality of contact members 71. In the power receiving element 70 thus arranged, different contact members 71 can contact the developer located at different positions in the left-right direction. This can make the charge distribution on the developer in the developer box 100 more uniform, and the charge carried by different developers is also less different, thereby improving the imaging quality of the imaging device and providing users with a better experience.

[0038] In some embodiments, the number of the contact members 71 gradually increases from the middle to both ends along the left-right direction, so that the developer located at the edges of the left and right ends can also obtain sufficient charge.

[0039] The contact member 71 may be configured in a cylindrical, sheet, curved, or stepped shape. In some embodiments, Figure 6 As shown, the contact member 71 is configured to be wavy, so that when the contact member 71 contacts the developer, it can simultaneously contact the developer located at different positions in the front-to-back direction, thereby making the charge of the developer more evenly distributed.

[0040] In some embodiments, the contact member 71 and the conductive member 72 can be formed integrally, which can reduce the structural complexity of the power receiving member 70. In addition, after the developing box 100 is installed in the imaging device, the contact member 71 can directly contact the imaging device and form an electrical connection. This arrangement can reduce the loss during power transmission.

[0041] In some embodiments, the contact member 71 is fixed in the developing housing 10 , and in the left-right direction, at least one of the left and right ends of the contact member 71 is directly supported by the developing housing 10 , or the contact member 71 is fixed in the developing housing 10 through the first end 721 of the conductive member 72 .

[0042] In some embodiments, the contact member 71 is movably disposed in the developing housing 10. Specifically, the contact member 71 is movably disposed in the accommodating chamber 50. The contact member 71 may be directly driven by the driving force receiving member 90, or may be driven by the powder feeding roller 40 or the stirring roller shaft 81.

[0043] In some embodiments, the contact member 71 may also be installed on the stirring roller shaft 81 or the stirring blade 82 and rotate along with the rotation of the stirring roller shaft 81 .

[0044] In some embodiments, in the up and down directions, the contact member 71 is disposed close to the lower surface of the accommodating chamber 50. Compared with the second rotation axis L2, the contact member 71 is closer to the lower surface of the accommodating chamber 50, thereby ensuring that the contact member 71 can contact the developer even when the amount of developer is small.

[0045] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the powder feeding roller 40 includes a powder feeding roller shaft 41 and a powder feeding roller layer 42 located radially outside the powder feeding roller shaft 41. The powder feeding roller layer 42 is used to carry and transfer the developer to the developing roller 30. The powder feeding roller 40 / powder feeding roller shaft 41 in the present invention does not need to be conductive. Specifically, the powder feeding roller 40 can have the following structures:

[0046] In the first structure, the powder feeding roller shaft 41 is directly made of an insulating member, so that even if the contact member 71 contacts the powder feeding roller shaft 41, the powder feeding roller shaft 41 will not be conductive;

[0047] In the second structure, the powder feeding roller shaft 41 is made of a conductive material, but an insulating member is provided on the powder feeding roller shaft 41, or an insulating material is coated on the surface of the powder feeding roller shaft 41, and the contact member 71 can contact the insulating member or the surface of the powder feeding roller shaft 41, so that the powder feeding roller shaft 41 will not be conductive;

[0048] In the third structure, the conductive member 72 does not contact the powder feeding roller 40 / the powder feeding roller shaft 41 , that is, the conductive member 72 does not supply power to the powder feeding roller 40 / the powder feeding roller shaft 41 .

[0049] The technical solution of the present invention is also applicable to a processing box, which includes a developing box 100 and a photosensitive box that are combined with each other. The photosensitive box includes a photosensitive component whose surface is used to form an electrostatic latent image. The developer in the developing box 100 can be supplied to the photosensitive component to develop the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive component.

[0050] [Beneficial Effects]

[0051] Compared with the prior art, the developer box 100 provided by the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0052] On the one hand, in the existing powder feeding roller 40, in order to ensure the rotation stability and conductivity of the powder feeding roller 40, the powder feeding roller shaft 41 is generally made of a metal material with higher hardness, and the diameter of the powder feeding roller shaft 41 is set to a lower limit. When the powder feeding roller 40 / powder feeding roller shaft 41 is set to be non-conductive, the powder feeding roller shaft 41 can be made of an insulating material, or an insulating part can be installed on the powder feeding roller shaft 41, or an insulating material can be sprayed on the powder feeding roller shaft 41, which can reduce the material cost of the developing box 100.

[0053] Secondly, the developer box 100 is also provided with a power receiving member 70 for contacting the developer so that it carries a sufficient amount of charge. The power receiving member 70 includes at least a contact member 71. As long as the contact member 71 can be conductive, its diameter and specific material do not need to be considered. The increased cost of the developer box 100 due to the addition of the contact member 71 is less than the reduced cost after the material of the powder feeding roller 40 is changed. Generally speaking, the manufacturing cost of the developer box 100 can still be reduced.

[0054] Thirdly, the contact member 71 can be arranged in the accommodating chamber 50, and the contact member 71 can directly contact the developer, so that the developer can contact the contact member 71 while being stirred and rubbed against each other, so that the developer can carry more electric charge. In addition, during the process of being transported from the powder feeding roller 40 to the developing roller 30, even if the developer does not rub against the powder outlet knife 60, it will not affect the imaging quality.

[0055] Fourthly, when the contact member 71 is located on the rotation path of the stirring assembly 80, the stirring blade 82 can beat the contact member 71, which is beneficial to the stirring of the developer and prevents the developer from agglomerating.

[0056] Fifthly, the powder feeding roller shaft 41 is non-conductive, and there will be a voltage difference between the contact member 71 and the powder feeding roller shaft 41 , which is beneficial for the developer to be transported toward the powder feeding roller 40 .

[0057] Sixthly, the third end 723 of the conductive member 72 can also contact the powder outlet knife 60, so that the conductive member 72 can supply power to the contact member 71 and the powder outlet knife 60 at the same time, and no voltage difference will be formed between the contact member 71 and the powder outlet knife 60 / blade 62, and no electric field force will be generated between the two. The developer will not accumulate toward the powder outlet knife 60, which can effectively prevent powder leakage or imaging defects caused by powder accumulation.

[0058] Seventhly, compared with the second rotation axis L2, the contact member 71 is closer to the lower surface of the accommodating chamber 50 in the up and down direction. This is beneficial for the contact member 71 to be in contact with the developer when the amount of developer is small, thereby reducing the waste of developer.

Claims

1. A developing cartridge, detachably mounted to an imaging device, comprising a developing housing, and a developing roller and a powder feeding roller arranged in the developing housing, wherein the developing roller rotates around a first rotation axis, the powder feeding roller rotates around a second rotation axis, a receiving chamber for receiving a developer is formed in the developing housing, the powder feeding roller is used to transport the developer to the developing roller, and the developing roller is used to supply the developer to a photosensitive component outside the developing cartridge; a direction parallel to the first rotation axis is a left-right direction; It is characterized in that The developing box also includes an electric power receiving member, which includes at least one contact member and at least one conductive member connected to each other, the contact member and the conductive member are electrically connected to each other, the conductive member is used to form an electrical connection with the imaging device, and the contact member is used to contact the developer so that the developer is charged, and the contact member is located outside the projection range of the powder feeding roller in the left and right directions.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The direction intersecting with the left and right direction is the front-to-back direction. At least a portion of the developing roller is located in front of the powder feeding roller. The developing box also includes a powder knife, which includes a blade for adjusting the thickness of the developer on the surface of the developing roller. Along the front-to-back direction, the contact piece is farther away from the first rotation axis than the blade of the powder knife.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that: The conductive member can form an electrical connection with the contact member and the powder discharge knife at the same time.

4. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, wherein: In the front-to-back direction, the contact element is located behind the second rotation axis; or, in the front-to-back direction, the contact element is located between the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that: The direction intersecting the left-right direction and the front-back direction is the up-down direction. Compared with the second rotation axis, the contact piece is arranged closer to the lower surface of the accommodating cavity in the up-down direction.

6. The developing cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The powder feeding roller comprises a powder feeding roller shaft and a powder feeding roller layer located radially outside the powder feeding roller shaft, the powder feeding roller layer is used for carrying and transferring the developer to the developing roller, and the powder feeding roller shaft is configured to be non-conductive.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 6, wherein: The powder feeding roller shaft is made of an insulating member.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 6, wherein: The powder feeding roller shaft is made of conductive material, and an insulating member is installed on the powder feeding roller shaft.

9. The developing cartridge according to claim 6, wherein: The powder feeding roller shaft is made of conductive material, and the surface of the powder feeding roller shaft is coated with insulating material.

10. The developing cartridge according to claim 6, wherein: The conductive part does not contact the powder feeding roller shaft.

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