Developing box

Abstract

A developing cartridge includes: a housing for accommodating a developer, the housing having a first side and a second side disposed separately in a first direction, the housing having a third side and a fourth side disposed separately in a second direction crossing the first direction; a developing roller; a coupling gear; a chip including an electrical contact surface; the forcing and pushing unit can receive force used for enabling the developing roller to approach the photosensitive drum and comprises an abutting part, and the abutting part can move relative to the shell; the abutting part is farther away from the developing roller than the electric contact surface in the second direction; the forced pushing unit of the developing box is farther away from the developing roller than the stirring frame and the electric contact surface in the front-back direction, so that the mutual interference condition between the forced pushing unit and a gear train of the developing box caused by over-concentration of the structure of the developing box is avoided; the developing box can provide a forcing force for enabling the developing roller to be in contact with the photosensitive drum, so that the adaptability of the developing box is improved.

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] The developer cartridge is a consumable material used in an electronic photographic imaging device. When in use, the developer cartridge can be detachably mounted to the drum cartridge and installed inside the electronic photographic imaging device together with the drum cartridge. The developer cartridge includes an input gear, a powder feeding roller, a developer roller, a stirring frame and a storage chip. The drum cartridge includes a drum frame and a photosensitive drum. After the developer cartridge is installed in the drum cartridge, the developer roller in the developer cartridge contacts the photosensitive drum of the drum cartridge, so that the developer inside the developer cartridge can be transported to the photosensitive drum to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum.

[0003] The prior art discloses a developing box, wherein both sides of the developing box are provided with forced pushing protrusions. After the developing box is installed to the drum box, the forced pushing protrusions can receive the thrust of the drum box, thereby moving the developing box toward the direction close to the photosensitive drum, and making the developing roller of the developing box contact with the photosensitive drum of the drum box to complete the developing operation. However, the forced pushing protrusion of the developing box is closer to the front side of the developing box relative to the rear side of the developing box in the front-to-back direction, and the forced pushing protrusion is close to the input gear and the stirring rack in the front-to-back direction and is located between the input gear and the stirring rack; in the actual production and use of the developing box, the movable components of the input gear and the stirring rack gear in the developing box are easily interfered by the forced pushing protrusion or the forced pushing component in the drum box due to insufficient processing accuracy of some parts, forming interference, thereby affecting the normal use of the developing box, which is what neither the manufacturer nor the user of the developing box wants to see. Moreover, the storage chip and its electrical contact surface are farther away from the developing roller than the forced pushing protrusion in the front-to-back direction, which is not conducive to the stability of the connection between the electrical contact surface and the electronic photographic imaging device when the developing box and the drum box are installed to the electronic imaging device. Summary of the invention

[0004] Therefore, the present invention provides a developing box to solve the above technical problems, which is mainly achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0005] A developing box, which can be detachably mounted to a drum box having a photosensitive drum, comprises:

[0006] A housing for containing a developer, the housing having a first side and a second side separately arranged in a first direction, and the housing having a third side and a fourth side separately arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction;

[0007] a developing roller rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in the first direction, the developing roller being closer to the third side of the housing relative to the fourth side of the housing in the second direction;

[0008] a coupling gear having a coupling portion, the coupling gear being located on the first side of the housing in the first direction, the coupling portion being used to receive a driving force from outside the developing cartridge and causing the developing roller to rotate;

[0009] a chip comprising an electrical contact surface, the electrical contact surface being located on the first side of the housing in the first direction;

[0010] A forced pushing unit, which can receive a force for bringing the developing roller close to the photosensitive drum, and the forced pushing unit includes an abutment portion, which can move relative to the housing;

[0011] The abutment portion is further away from the developing roller than the electrical contact surface in the second direction.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes a chip frame for supporting the chip and the electrical contact surface; the chip frame is fixed to the first side of the housing.

[0013] Further, in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, the forced pushing unit is closer to the bottom of the housing than the electrical contact surface.

[0014] Furthermore, it also includes an agitator and an agitator gear for driving the agitator, and in the second direction, the abutment portion is farther away from the developing roller than the rotation axis of the agitator gear.

[0015] Furthermore, the stirring frame gear includes a first gear portion and a second gear portion, and the outer diameter of the first gear portion is greater than the outer diameter of the second gear portion;

[0016] The first gear portion is closer to the second side of the housing than the second gear portion is in the first direction.

[0017] Further, the housing is provided with a groove, the groove extends along the second direction, and the abutting portion moves along the groove between a first position and a second position;

[0018] In the second direction, the first position of the abutment portion is farther from the developing roller than the second position of the abutment portion.

[0019] Furthermore, an elastic member is provided between the abutting portion and the shell; the elastic member is used to keep the abutting portion located at the first position.

[0020] Furthermore, the elastic member is configured as a compression spring, one end of the compression spring is connected to the abutment portion, and the other end of the compression spring is connected to the housing.

[0021] Furthermore, the developing box can be installed in a detachable direction to an electrophotographic imaging device having an outer cover; when the developing box is installed to the electrophotographic imaging device, the abutting portion can abut against the outer cover.

[0022] Further, the drum box includes a rear side wall extending in the first direction; when the developing box is mounted to the drum box, the abutting portion can abut against the rear side wall.

[0023] Beneficial effects:

[0024] Compared with the prior art, the pushing unit of the developer box of the present invention is located near the rear end of the shell in the front-to-back direction or near the bottom of the shell in the up-down direction, that is, the projection of the pushing unit in the left-right direction is separated from the gear system of the developer box, thereby avoiding the mutual interference between the pushing unit and the gear system of the developer box caused by the structure of the developer box being too centralized; in addition, through the arrangement of the pushing unit, the developer box can provide a pushing force for contacting the developing roller and the photosensitive drum, thereby improving the adaptability of the developer box;

[0025] In the front-to-back direction, the electrical contact surface is located between the developing roller and the pushing unit. After the developing box is installed on the drum box, the positional relationship between the electrical contact surface and the drum frame is more stable, thereby improving the stability of the connection between the electrical contact surface and the electronic photographic imaging device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of electronic photographic imaging in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the drum box in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the developing box in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the developing box in Embodiment 1 of the present invention from another angle;

[0030] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the developing box in Embodiment 1 of the present invention from another angle;

[0031] Figure 6 is a partially exploded schematic diagram of a developing cartridge in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 7 is a left side view of the developing cartridge in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 8 1 is an exploded schematic diagram of the developing cartridge pushing unit 140 in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0034] Fig. 9 is a structural schematic diagram of the abutment member in the first position when the developing cartridge is installed to the imaging device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0035] Fig.10 is a structural schematic diagram of the abutment member in the second position when the developing cartridge is installed to the imaging device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0036] Fig.11 The present invention Fig. 9 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0037] Fig.12 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the developing box in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0038] Fig.13 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the developing box in Embodiment 2 of the present invention from another angle;

[0039] Fig.14 is a left side view of the developing cartridge in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0040] Fig.15 is a partial cross-sectional view of a developing cartridge and a drum cartridge in a state of being engaged in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0041] Fig.16 is a schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the pushing unit and the electrical contact surface and the drum electrical contact surface in a state where the developing cartridge and the drum cartridge are engaged in Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

[0042] Fig.17 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the drum box in Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

[0043] Fig.18 is a schematic structural diagram of the abutment surface in the drum box in Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

[0044] Fig.19 is a schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the pushing unit and the abutting surface in the state where the developing cartridge and the drum cartridge are engaged in Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

[0045] Fig. 20 is a schematic diagram of the partial structure of the left end portion of the developing cartridge in Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

[0046] Fig.21 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the developing box in Embodiment 5 of the present invention;

[0047] Fig. 22 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the drum box in Example 5 of the present invention;

[0048] Fig.23 is a left side cross-sectional view of the extension portion and the groove in a state where the developing cartridge is installed to the drum cartridge in Embodiment 5 of the present invention;

[0049] Fig.24 The present invention Fig.23 A magnified schematic diagram of center A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and technical effect of the embodiment of the present invention clearer, the technical scheme of the developer box of the present invention will be described clearly and completely in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiment is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiment of the present invention, other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

[0051] Embodiment 1:

[0052] like Figure 2 As shown, a drum box 50 in the prior art is shown; Figure 3-5 As shown, a developing box 100 is shown; the developing box 100 can be detachably installed inside the drum box 50, and the two can be installed together as a whole. Figure 1 In the electronic photographic imaging device 10 (hereinafter referred to as "imaging device") shown, the drum box 50, the developing box 100 and the imaging device 10 can cooperate with each other to complete the imaging operation.

[0053] 1. Imaging device

[0054] like Figure 1 , an imaging device 10 is shown, the imaging device 10 includes a housing chamber 11 for housing a developing cartridge 100 and a drum cartridge 50, and the imaging device 10 also includes an outer cover 12 for covering the housing chamber 11. When in use, the user can open the outer cover 12 and install the drum cartridge 50 together with the developing cartridge 100 into the housing chamber 11 of the imaging device 10, and then the user closes the outer cover 12, so that the drum cartridge 50 and the developing cartridge 100 complete the imaging operation inside the imaging device 10.

[0055] 2. Drum box

[0056] like Figure 2As shown, a drum cartridge 50 is shown, which can accommodate a developer cartridge 100 and be installed to an imaging device 10 together with the developer cartridge 100 to perform an imaging operation. The drum cartridge 50 includes a drum frame 51 for accommodating the developer cartridge 100, and a photosensitive drum 52 supported on the front end of the drum frame 51 in the front-to-back direction; the left end of the photosensitive drum 52 is connected to a photosensitive drum gear, and when the drum cartridge 50 is installed to the imaging device 10, the photosensitive drum gear of the drum cartridge 50 is meshed with a drum drive gear (not shown) of the imaging device 10 to receive the driving force of the imaging device 10 and drive the photosensitive drum 52 to rotate around a photosensitive drum axis extending in the left-right direction, and the front-to-back direction intersects with the left-to-right direction; the drum frame 51 includes a locking member 54, and the locking member 54 includes a locking portion and a lifting portion, and the locking portion is relative to the lifting portion and is closer to the upper side of the drum frame 51, and the locking member 54 can rotate around a portion provided on the locking portion and the shaft between the lifting portion rotates, wherein the locking portion is used to block the movement of the developing box 100 to lock the developing box 100 in the drum box 50, so as to prevent the developing box 100 from being separated from the drum box 50 due to external force after the developing box 100 is installed in the drum box 50; the lifting portion can push the developing box 100 upward when the developing box 100 needs to be removed from the drum box 50, so that the locking portion of the developing box 100 is separated from the developing box 100, so as to release the lock of the developing box 100 and the drum box 50; in the drum box 50, a storage unit (not shown) and a drum electrical contact surface (not shown) for connecting the storage unit to the imaging device 10 are also provided, which can be electrically contacted with the electrical contacts of the imaging device 10.

[0057] 3. Developer Box

[0058] like Figure 3-71 , a developing cartridge 100 in Embodiment 1 of the present invention is shown. The developing cartridge 100 can be detachably installed in the drum cartridge 50 and can be installed in the imaging device 10 together with the drum cartridge 50 to complete the imaging operation. The developing cartridge 100 includes a housing 101, the housing 101 includes a main body 101a for accommodating a developer and an end cover 101b detachably installed on the left side of the main body 101a. The end cover 101b can cover the gear train of the developing cartridge 100. The gear train of the developing cartridge 100 includes but The coupling gear 111 is not limited to the coupling gear 111, the stirring frame gear 112, the powder feeding roller gear 113, the developing roller gear 114 and the plurality of connecting gears. The coupling gear 111 is arranged on the left side of the housing 101. The coupling gear 111 has a coupling portion 111a and a gear portion 111b. When the developing cartridge 100 is installed with the drum cartridge 50, the coupling portion 111a can be connected to a driving member (not shown) of the imaging device 10 to receive the driving force of the imaging device 10 to drive the coupling gear 111 to rotate around an input gear axis extending in the left-right direction. The gear portion 111b of the coupling gear 111 is meshed with the powder feeding roller gear 113 and the developing roller gear 114, so that the coupling gear 111 can drive the powder feeding roller gear 113 and the developing roller gear 114 to rotate. The coupling gear 111 is meshed with the stirring frame gear 112 through the idler gear 115 to transmit the driving force to the stirring frame gear 112, thereby driving the coupling gear 111 to rotate. The developing box 100 also includes a developing roller 104, a powder feeding roller 103 and a stirring frame 102 supported on the shell 101. The left ends of the developing roller 104, the powder feeding roller 103 and the stirring frame 102 are respectively connected to the developing roller gear 114, the powder feeding roller gear 113 and the stirring frame gear 112, so that each gear can respectively drive the developing roller 104, the powder feeding roller 103 and the stirring frame 102 to rotate around their respective axes extending in the left and right directions; the developing roller 104 is arranged at the front end of the shell 101 in the front-to-back direction. When the developing box 100 is installed on the drum box 50, the developing roller 104 can contact the photosensitive drum 52. During the operation of the developing box 100, the coupling gear 111 is connected to the driving member of the imaging device 10 to receive the driving member of the imaging device 10 The force drives the stirring frame 102, the powder feeding roller 103 and the developing roller 104 to rotate respectively. The stirring frame 102 stirs the developer inside the shell 101 and feeds the developer to the powder feeding roller 103. The powder feeding roller 103 continues to stir the developer and feeds it to the developing roller 104. The developer on the developing roller 104 is transported to the photosensitive drum 52 through the contact between the developing roller 104 and the photosensitive drum 52 to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 52. The developing box 100 also includes an electrode 105, and the electrode 105 has an electrical connection part 105a. The electrical connection part 105a can be connected to the power supply device of the imaging device 10 to receive the power provided by the imaging device 10 and transmit the power to the developing roller 104 and the powder feeding roller 103, thereby ensuring the smooth transportation of the developer.

[0059] The developing box 100 also includes a chip rack 130 and a chip 131 supported by the chip rack 130. The chip rack 130 is located on the left side of the shell 101 in the left-right direction, and the chip rack 130 is closer to the rear side of the shell 101 relative to the side of the shell 101 in the front-to-back direction; preferably, in the present embodiment, the chip rack 130 is movable relative to the shell 101; optionally, in other embodiments, the chip rack 130 may also be fixedly connected to the left side of the shell 101, and the chip rack 130 is formed by extending outward from one side of the shell 101, that is, the chip rack 130 is fixedly arranged on one side of the shell 101. The chip 131 includes a storage portion (not shown) and an electrical contact surface 132. The storage portion stores the model, age, and maximum printing volume information of the developer cartridge 100. The storage portion is electrically connected to the electrical contact surface 132. The electrical contact surface 132 can contact an electrical contact point (not shown) of the imaging device 10 and be electrically connected to the imaging device 10, thereby establishing a communication link between the developer cartridge 100 and the imaging device 10. When the service life of the developer cartridge 100 is about to expire, the imaging device 10 can prompt the user to replace the developer cartridge with a new one through the operation panel or indicator light.

[0060] like Figure 8-10 As shown, in order to achieve close contact between the developing roller 104 and the photosensitive drum 52, the developing box 100 further includes a pushing unit 140. When the developing box 100 is installed in the imaging device 10, the pushing unit 140 can provide a pushing force to make the developing roller 104 and the photosensitive drum 52 contact each other. The pushing unit 140 is located at the rear side of the developing box 100 in the front-to-back direction. When viewed from the front-to-back direction, the pushing unit 140 does not overlap with the gear train and the chip frame 130 of the developing box 100. Such a setting can effectively prevent the various components of the developing box 100 from interfering with each other during operation.

[0061] Specifically, in the present embodiment, the forced pushing unit 140 includes abutment member 141 and an elastic member 142; in the front-to-back direction, a mounting groove 143 is formed in a recess on the rear side of the shell 101, and the abutment member 141 and the elastic member 142 are located inside the mounting groove 143, the elastic member 142 is located between the shell 101 and the abutment member 141, and the abutment member 141 can move relative to the shell 101 along the recessed direction of the mounting groove 143; further, the abutment member 141 includes an abutment surface 141a and a limiting portion 141b, the abutment surface 141a faces the rear in the front-to-back direction, and is used to receive a forced pushing force from the outside; the limiting portion 141b is used to prevent the abutment member 141 from falling off from the mounting groove 143. Preferably, in order to facilitate the installation of the abutment member 141, the limiting portion 141b is constructed as an elastic buckle.

[0062] In the front-to-back direction, the forced pushing unit 140 is located at the rear end of the housing 101 in the front-to-back direction, that is, the forced pushing unit 140 is farther away from the developing roller 104 than the stirring frame 102 and the electrical contact surface 132 in the front-to-back direction. In this way, the structure of the developing box 100 is too centralized, which can avoid the mutual interference between the forced pushing unit 140 and the gear system of the developing box 100.

[0063] The following will be combined with the attached Figure 9-10 As shown, the installation process of the developing box of this embodiment is that when in use, the user installs the developing box 100 to the drum box 50, and then installs it together with the drum box 50 into the accommodating chamber 11 of the imaging device 10, and then rotates the outer cover 12 upward and fixes the outer cover 12 at the exit of the accommodating chamber 11 of the imaging device 10 by a locking member (not shown). During the upward rotation of the outer cover 12, the outer cover 12 contacts the abutment 141 and pushes the abutment 141 to move along the mounting groove 143 from the first position to the second position which is closer to the developing roller 104 in the front-to-back direction than the first position; during the movement of the abutment 141, the abutment 141 applies force to the elastic member 142 in the front-to-back direction, so that the elastic member 142 is compressed from the first length to the second length which is shorter than the first length. During the compression of the elastic member 142, the elastic member 142 accumulates elastic potential energy in the compression process; when the elastic member 142 is at the second length, the elastic member 142 applies a thrust in the front-to-back direction to the abutment 141 in the direction away from the developing roller 104, such as Fig.10 As shown, the abutment 141 applies a thrust F1 to the outer cover 12, and at the same time, the outer cover 12 applies a reaction force F2 to the abutment 141, pushing the developing box 100 to move forward in the front-to-back direction as a whole under the left and right reaction force F2, so that the developing roller 104 of the developing box 100 and the photosensitive drum 52 of the drum box 50 maintain close contact.

[0064] The developing box 100 of the present invention can provide a pushing force for bringing the developing roller 104 into contact with the photosensitive drum 52 by disposing the pushing unit 140 , thereby improving the adaptability of the developing box 100 .

[0065] Embodiment 2:

[0066] Next, we will combine the Figure 12-15Embodiment 2 of the present invention is described in detail. Embodiment 2 provides a developing box. The similarities between the developing box of this embodiment and the developing box in the above embodiments will not be repeated in this embodiment. The difference is that, in this embodiment, the pushing unit 150 is arranged at the bottom of the shell 101; and when observed from the left and right directions, there is no overlapping part between the pushing unit 150 and the chip frame 130 and the gear system of the developing box 100; in the up and down directions, the pushing unit 150 is located below the electrical contact surface 310, and the pushing unit 150 is located below the chip frame 130 and the chip 131; and in the front and back directions, the pushing unit 150 is farther away from the developing roller 104 than the electrical contact surface 310; in the left and right directions, the pushing unit 150 and the electrical contact surface 310 are staggered, and the pushing unit part 150 is closer to the main body 101a of the shell than the electrical contact surface 310; preferably, in the front and back directions, the pushing unit 150 is arranged on the side of the shell 101 close to the handle 101c.

[0067] Correspondingly, the drum box 50 of this embodiment includes a rear side frame wall 51a adapted to the above-mentioned pushing unit 150, and the rear side frame wall 51a is extended in the up and down directions, and the rear side frame wall 51a includes a contact surface in the direction of the photosensitive drum 52, which is convenient for abutting with the pushing unit 150 to generate a thrust in the direction of the photosensitive drum 52.

[0068] Specifically, the pushing unit 150 includes a contact piece 151 and an elastic piece 152. At least part of the contact piece 151 and the elastic piece 152 are located inside a mounting groove 153 formed by a depression of the housing 101, and the contact piece 151 can move relative to the housing 101. When the developing cartridge 100 is installed in the drum cartridge 50, the contact piece 151 of the developing cartridge 100 contacts the rear side frame wall 51a of the drum cartridge 50 in the front-to-back direction. At this time, under the action of the elastic piece 152, the contact piece 151 of the developing cartridge 100 contacts the rear side frame wall 51a of the drum cartridge 50 in the front-to-back direction. The contact member 151 applies a pushing force F3 to the rear side frame wall 51a of the drum box 50. At the same time, the rear side frame wall 51a of the drum box 50 applies a reaction force F4 to the contact member 151. The contact member 151 transmits the reaction force to the shell 101 of the developing box 100 through the elastic member 152, so that the developing box 100 moves forward in the front-to-back direction relative to the drum box 50, so that the developing roller 104 of the developing box 100 contacts the photosensitive drum 52 of the drum box 50, thereby ensuring the smooth progress of the imaging operation.

[0069] Embodiment 3:

[0070] This embodiment 3 provides a developing box. The similarities between the developing box of this embodiment and the developing box in the above embodiments will not be repeated in this embodiment. The difference is that the forced pushing unit in this embodiment can have different settings. In this embodiment, the forced pushing unit can be set to other structures that can apply external force; taking the forced pushing unit as a deformable metal steel sheet as an example, when the developing box 100 is installed on the drum box 50 or the imaging device 10, the metal steel sheet abuts against the drum box 50 or the imaging device 10 to generate elastic deformation to accumulate elastic potential energy, so that the developing box 100 applies an external force to the drum box 50 or the imaging device 10 away from the photosensitive drum 52, and obtains a reaction force in the direction of the photosensitive drum 52, so that the developing roller 104 of the developing box 100 contacts the photosensitive drum 52 of the drum box 50, thereby ensuring the smooth progress of the imaging operation.

[0071] Embodiment 4:

[0072] This embodiment 4 provides a developing box, and the similarities between the developing box of this embodiment and the developing box in the above-mentioned embodiments will not be repeated in this embodiment. The difference from the above-mentioned embodiments 1-2 is that the position of the pushing unit 160 is different from the position in the above-mentioned embodiments, and the pushing unit 160 is farther away from the developing roller 104 than the electrical contact surface 132 in the front-to-back direction; correspondingly, the abutment surface 57 in the drum box 50 cooperates with the abutment member 161 in the pushing unit 160, and the drum box 50 also includes a drum chip 58, and the drum chip 58 includes a drum electrical contact surface 58a, and the drum chip 58 and the drum electrical contact surface 58a are supported on the left side of the drum frame 51 in the left-right direction. When the developer cartridge 100 is installed in the drum cartridge 50, the push unit 160 is located between the electrical contact surface 132a and the drum electrical contact surface 58a in the front-to-back direction; and the electrical contact surface 132a is closer to the photosensitive drum 52 than the drum electrical contact surface 58a in the front-to-back direction, and the push unit is spaced apart from the electrical contact surface 132a and the drum electrical contact surface 58a in the left-right direction, and the push unit 160 is closer to the housing body 101a than the electrical contact surface 132a and the drum electrical contact surface 58a. Fig. 20 As shown, at least a portion of the pushing unit 132 overlaps with the coupling gear 111 in the left-right direction.

[0073] Embodiment 5:

[0074] Next, we will combine the Figure 21-24Embodiment 3 of the present invention is described in detail. Embodiment 3 provides a developing box. The similarities between the developing box of this embodiment and the developing box in the above-mentioned embodiment 1 will not be repeated in this embodiment. The difference is that the developing box 300 includes an extension portion 30, and the extension portion 30 is constructed as an elastic member extending downward from the bottom of the shell 301. When the developing box 300 is installed on the drum box 50, the extension portion 30 can abut against the drum frame 61, so that the drum frame 51 generates a reaction force on the extension portion 30 in the front-to-back direction toward the developing roller 404; the reaction force is the reaction force generated by the drum frame 51 on the extension portion 30 when the extension portion 30 abuts against the drum frame 61 and elastically presses the drum frame 51. The reaction force can push the developing roller 404 to be in close contact with the photosensitive drum 52, so as to improve the stability of the installation of the developing box 300 and the drum box 50. The left side of the drum frame 51 in the left-right direction is recessed downward to form a groove 57 that cooperates with the extension part 30. The groove 57 includes a first surface 571 and a second surface 572. The first surface 571 extends in the up-down direction, and the second surface 572 extends in the front-to-back direction. The first surface 571 and the second surface 572 are arranged adjacent to each other. The first surface 571 is configured as an abutment surface facing the front side in the front-to-back direction, and the second surface 572 is an abutment surface facing upward in the up-to-down direction. Specifically, the extension part 30 is formed by extending downward from the bottom of the end cover 301b. In the front-to-back direction, the extension part 30 is farther away from the developing roller 304 than the electrical contact surface 381. In the up-to-down direction, the electrical contact surface 381 is arranged above the extension part 30 at intervals.

[0075] The elastic hook includes an arm portion 31 and a hook portion 32. The hook portion 32 is arranged on the free end of the arm portion 31. The hook portion 32 is lower than the arm portion 31 in the vertical direction. The arm portion 31 is arranged corresponding to the first surface 571, and the hook portion 32 is arranged corresponding to the second surface 572. The reaction force received by the arm portion 31 is directed toward the side of the developing roller 404. The reaction force is the reaction force generated by the first surface 571 on the arm portion 31 when the arm portion 31 abuts against the first surface 571 and elastically presses the first surface 571. The arm portion 31 is provided with a contact surface on the side facing away from the developing roller 404. The contact surface can be a plane or an arc surface. The contact surface can directly abut against the first surface 571 of the drum frame 51 to generate a reaction force toward the side of the developing roller 404 in the front-to-back direction to push the developing roller 404 to be in close contact with the photosensitive drum 52. In the cross section of the developer box 1, the reaction force of the hook 32 is toward the side close to the electrical contact surface 381 in the front-to-back direction. The reaction force is the reaction force generated by the second surface 572 on the hook 32 when the hook 32 abuts against the second surface 572 and elastically presses the second surface 572.

[0076] When the developing box 300 is installed and matched with the drum box 20, the arm 31 abuts against the first surface 571 of the drum frame 51, and utilizes the reaction force to make the first surface 571 push the developing box 300 toward one side of the developing roller 404 in the front-to-back direction, that is, the first surface 571 pushes the developing box 300 to the front side, so that the developing box 300 is stably installed inside the drum box 50, and pushes the developing roller 404 to be in close contact with the photosensitive drum 52, so as to improve the imaging quality of the developing box 300. When the developer box 300 is installed and matched with the drum frame 51, the hook 32 abuts against the second surface 572 of the drum frame 51, and the reaction force is used to make the drum frame 51 push the developer box 300 toward the electrical contact surface 381 in the up and down directions. That is, the second surface 572 pushes the developer box 300 upward, and the chip frame 370 of the developer box 300 pushes the electrical contact surface 381 upward, thereby achieving stable contact between the electrical contact surface 381 and the electrical contacts in the imaging device in the up and down directions, thereby ensuring a stable communication connection between the developer box 300 and the imaging device.

[0077] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit the same. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments may still be modified, or some of the technical features may be replaced by equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A developing cartridge, which can be detachably mounted to a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum, the developing cartridge comprising: A housing for containing a developer, the housing having a first side and a second side separately arranged in a first direction, and the housing having a third side and a fourth side separately arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction; a developing roller rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in the first direction, the developing roller being closer to the third side of the housing relative to the fourth side of the housing in the second direction; a coupling gear having a coupling portion, the coupling gear being located on the first side of the housing in the first direction, the coupling portion being used to receive a driving force from outside the developing cartridge and causing the developing roller to rotate; a chip comprising an electrical contact surface, the electrical contact surface being located on the first side of the housing in the first direction; It is characterized by further comprising: A forced pushing unit, which can receive a force for bringing the developing roller close to the photosensitive drum, and the forced pushing unit includes an abutment portion, which can move relative to the housing; The abutment portion is further away from the developing roller than the electrical contact surface in the second direction.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: A chip frame is also included for supporting the chip and the electrical contact surface; the chip frame is fixed to the first side of the housing.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: In a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, the pushing unit is closer to the bottom of the housing than the electrical contact surface.

4. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: An agitator and an agitator gear for driving the agitator are further included, wherein the abutment portion is farther from the developing roller than a rotation axis of the agitator gear in the second direction.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The stirring frame gear comprises a first gear portion and a second gear portion, wherein the outer diameter of the first gear portion is greater than the outer diameter of the second gear portion; The first gear portion is closer to the second side of the housing than the second gear portion is in the first direction.

6. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing is provided with a groove, the groove extends along the second direction, and the abutting portion moves along the groove between a first position and a second position; In the second direction, the first position of the abutment portion is farther from the developing roller than the second position of the abutment portion.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 7, wherein: An elastic member is provided between the abutting portion and the housing; the elastic member is used to keep the abutting portion located at the first position.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 8, characterized in that: The elastic member is configured as a compression spring, one end of the compression spring is connected to the abutment portion, and the other end of the compression spring is connected to the housing.

9. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The developing box can be installed in a detachable direction to an electrophotographic imaging device having an outer cover; when the developing box is installed to the electrophotographic imaging device, the abutting portion can abut against the outer cover.

10. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The drum cartridge includes a rear side wall extending in a first direction; and the abutment portion may abut against the rear side wall when the developing cartridge is mounted to the drum cartridge.

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