Powder cylinder and developing device

Abstract

The invention discloses a powder barrel and a developing device. The toner cartridge of the embodiment can form a developing device together with a developing cartridge provided with a developing roller, the developing device is mounted on the electronic imaging equipment, and the electronic imaging equipment comprises a detection part for detecting the toner amount in a developing chamber of the developing device; the developing cartridge includes a housing having a developing chamber; wherein the powder cylinder comprises a powder cylinder body which is mounted on the shell; the toner cartridge body comprises a toner containing chamber and a detected part, the toner containing chamber is used for containing toner, and the detected part is matched with the detection part so that the detection result of the detection part can be in a full toner state or a toner lacking state all the time. The toner in the toner accommodating chamber can be continuously supplied to the developing chamber, and the phenomenon that the toner cannot be timely supplied to the developing chamber due to misjudgment of the detection part is effectively eliminated.

Description

Toner cartridge and developing device Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of electronic imaging equipment, and in particular to a powder cartridge and a developing device. Background Art

[0002] An electronic imaging device is a device that forms images on recording materials through electrophotographic imaging processing technology, such as an electronic photographic copier, a laser printer, an electronic photographic printer, a fax machine, a word processor, etc.; a toner cartridge for supplying toner (developer) can be detachably installed inside it. As the toner continuously participates in electronic imaging, the toner will be exhausted; when the toner in the toner cartridge is exhausted, the user needs to replace the toner cartridge in time or inject new toner into the toner cartridge.

[0003] An electronic imaging device in the prior art detects the remaining amount of toner in the developing chamber via a light-transmitting window disposed on the developing chamber, and supplies toner to the developing chamber appropriately based on the remaining toner in the developing chamber. Specifically, when light emitted by the conventional imaging device passing through the light-transmitting window is blocked by toner, the toner cartridge does not supply toner to the developing chamber. As the toner in the developing chamber is consumed, when the light emitted by the imaging device passing through the light-transmitting window is unblocked, the toner cartridge supplies toner to the developing chamber. However, the toner adhering to the light-transmitting window tends to clump, so even if the toner in the developing chamber is insufficient, the light emitted by the imaging device passing through the light-transmitting window is still blocked, causing the electronic imaging device to issue erroneous instructions and misjudge, resulting in the inability to promptly supply toner to the developing chamber, thus affecting imaging quality.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the main purpose of this application is to provide a powder cartridge and a developing device that can continuously supply toner to a developing chamber.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned primary objectives, the present application provides, in a first aspect, a toner cartridge capable of forming a developing device together with a developing cartridge provided with a developing roller, wherein the developing device is mounted on an electronic imaging device, the electronic imaging device including a detecting portion for detecting the amount of toner in a developing chamber of the developing device; the developing cartridge including a housing having the developing chamber; the toner cartridge including:

[0007] The powder cartridge body is installed on the shell; the powder cartridge body includes a toner accommodating chamber and a detected portion, the toner accommodating chamber is used to accommodate toner, and the detected portion is adapted to the detecting portion so that the detection result of the detecting portion is always a full powder state or a powder-out state.

[0008] Furthermore, the powder cartridge body further includes a toner conveyor, which is located in the toner accommodating chamber and is capable of rotating to supply the toner in the toner accommodating chamber to the developing chamber.

[0009] Furthermore, when the detection result of the detection portion is a full toner state, the toner conveyor continuously rotates in the first direction or the second direction to supply the toner in the toner containing chamber to the developing chamber.

[0010] Furthermore, the shell is provided with an inlet portion connected to the developing chamber, and the toner containing chamber is provided with an outlet portion corresponding to the inlet portion, wherein the toner conveyed by the toner conveyor enters the developing chamber through the outlet portion and the inlet portion.

[0011] Furthermore, the powder cartridge body also includes a second gear and a third idle gear, the second gear is arranged at the end of the toner conveyor, and the third idle gear is engaged with the second gear, wherein, when the detection result of the detection part is a full powder state, the third idle gear is also engaged with the moving gear of the developing box, and the moving gear drives the toner conveyor to rotate to supply the toner in the toner holding chamber to the developing chamber.

[0012] Furthermore, the developing box includes a connector, a first gear, a moving gear and a gear cover, the connector is provided with a connecting gear, the connecting gear meshes with the moving gear, the gear cover covers the connecting gear, the first gear and the moving gear, and a spring is provided on a side of the moving gear close to the gear cover; wherein,

[0013] When the detection result of the detection part is a full powder state, the connecting gear moves toward the direction close to the gear cover and drives the moving gear to move axially to compress the spring, and separates the connecting gear from the first gear and makes the moving gear engage with the third idle gear. The connecting gear continues to rotate in the first direction or continues to rotate in the second direction to drive the moving gear and the second gear to rotate continuously in the second direction or continue to rotate in the first direction.

[0014] Furthermore, the developing box includes a connector, a first gear, a moving gear and a gear cover, the connector is provided with a connecting gear, the connecting gear meshes with the moving gear, the gear cover covers the connecting gear, the first gear and the moving gear, and a spring is provided on a side of the moving gear close to the gear cover; wherein,

[0015] When the detection result of the detection part is a powder shortage state, when the coupling gear continues to rotate in the second direction or continues to rotate in the first direction, the coupling gear moves in a direction away from the gear cover and engages with the first gear, and the spring and the moving gear move in a direction away from the gear cover and disengage from the third idle gear.

[0016] Furthermore, the detection part includes an optical detection part, which includes a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part, and the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part are respectively located on both axial sides of the shell; the axial ends of the shell are respectively provided with light-transmitting windows corresponding to the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part; wherein, the detected part is located at the axial end of the powder cartridge body and protrudes toward the shell, so that when the powder cartridge body is installed to the shell, the detected part can block the relative outer side of the light-transmitting window.

[0017] Furthermore, the detected portion includes a partition member located between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion, and the partition member is used to partition the light emitted by the light emitting portion.

[0018] Furthermore, the detected portion includes a light reflecting member located between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion, and the light emitted by the light emitting portion can be reflected by the light reflecting member until being received by the light receiving portion.

[0019] Furthermore, the light reflecting channel of the light reflecting component is U-shaped.

[0020] A second aspect of the present application provides a developing device installed on an electronic imaging device, wherein the electronic imaging device includes a detection unit for detecting the amount of toner in the developing device; the developing device includes a powder cartridge as described in any of the above embodiments and a developing box provided with a developing roller, and the powder cartridge and the developing box are prefabricated or assembled together.

[0021] Furthermore, the developing device includes a driving force receiving part, a toner conveyor, a second gear, a third idle gear, a connecting gear and a moving gear, the driving force receiving part is used to receive the rotational driving force from the electronic imaging device, the second gear is arranged at the end of the toner conveyor, and the third idle gear is engaged with the second gear, wherein, when the detection result of the detection part is a full powder state, the third idle gear is also engaged with the moving gear of the developing box, and the driving force receiving part can drive the connecting gear to rotate in a first direction and drive the moving gear, the third idle gear and the second gear to rotate in a second direction so that the toner conveyor supplies powder to the developing chamber.

[0022] Furthermore, the detection part includes an optical detection part, which includes a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part, and the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part are respectively located on both sides of the axial direction of the shell; the detected part is used to avoid the light emitted by the light-emitting part so that the light-receiving part can receive the light emitted by the light-emitting part.

[0023] Furthermore, the detection part includes an optical detection part, which includes a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part. The light-emitting part and the light-receiving part are respectively located on both sides of the axial direction of the shell. The shell is also provided with a through groove, and the light emitted by the light-emitting part can pass through the through groove and be received by the light-receiving part.

[0024] Furthermore, a protective portion is provided on the bottom surface of the shell, and the protective portion includes at least one arc-shaped plate, and the through groove is formed between the arc-shaped plate and the shell.

[0025] Furthermore, the protective plate extends in the axial direction to cover the bottom surface of the shell.

[0026] This application has the following effective effects:

[0027] In the present application, the detected part actively adapts to the detecting part so that the detection result of the detecting part is always in a full powder state or a powder-out state, and at the same time, the toner in the toner holding chamber is continuously supplied to the developing chamber, effectively eliminating the phenomenon that toner cannot be provided to the developing chamber in time due to misjudgment of the detecting part.

[0028] In order to more clearly illustrate the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of this application, this application is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG1 is a structural diagram of a developing device according to an embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 is an exploded view of Figure 1;

[0031] FIG3 is a front view of the driving side of the developing device in Example 1 of the present application;

[0032] FIG4 is an exploded view of a developing device according to Embodiment 2 of the present application;

[0033] 5 is a front view of the driving side of the developing device in Example 2 of the present application;

[0034] FIG6 is an exploded view of a developing device according to Example 3 of the present application;

[0035] 7 is a front view of the driving side of the developing device in Example 3 of the present application;

[0036] FIG8 is a cross-sectional view of a developing device according to embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0037] FIG9 is an exploded view of a developing device according to Example 4 of the present application;

[0038] Figure 10 is a front view of the driving side of the developing device embodiment 4 of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] In the following description, many specific details are set forth to facilitate a full understanding of the present application. However, the present application may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0040] The powder cartridge 20 of the embodiment of the present application is detachably mounted on the electronic imaging device, specifically, is attached to the developing box 10 mounted on the electronic imaging device, and can be detached from the developing box 10; wherein the developing box 10 is preferably detachably mounted on the electronic imaging device.

[0041] The developing device formed by the developing box 10 and the powder cylinder 20 is shown in Figure 1-2; the developing box 10 includes a shell 101, a developing roller 102, a supply roller 103, a first agitator 104, a gear cover 105 and a connector 106; the developing roller 102, the supply roller 103 and the first agitator 104 are all rotatably arranged on the shell 101; wherein, the shell 101 has a developing chamber 107, and the developing chamber 107 is used to accommodate the toner to be supplied to the developing roller 102; the first agitator 104 is specifically located in the developing chamber 107, which can stir the toner in the developing chamber 107 by rotating, thereby supplying the toner in the developing chamber 107 to the developing roller 102 via the supply roller 103.

[0042] The gear cover 105 and the connector 106 are located on one end side (driving side) of the shell 101 in the axial direction, where the axial direction refers to the length direction of the developing box 10; the gear cover 105 is detachably connected to the shell 101, for example, fixedly connected to the shell 101 by bolts; the gear cover 105 is provided with a connecting hole 108, and the connector 106 can be exposed from the connecting hole 108; wherein the connector 106 serves as a driving force receiving part 106a, which is used to receive the rotational driving force from the force applying part of the electronic imaging device when the developing box 10 is installed on the electronic imaging device.

[0043] As shown in FIG3 , the developer cartridge 10 further includes a developer roller gear 109, a supply roller gear 110, a first agitator gear 111, a first gear 112, a moving gear 113, a first idler gear 114, and a second idler gear 115, all of which are disposed on the driving side. These gears are disposed on the housing 101 and covered by a gear cover 105. The developer roller gear 109 is positioned at the end of the developer roller 102 and rotates together with the developer roller 102; the supply roller gear 110 is positioned at the end of the supply roller 103 and rotates together with the supply roller 103; and the first agitator gear 111 is positioned at the end of the first agitator 104 and rotates together with the first agitator 104.

[0044] A support portion is provided on the housing 101, which is used to movably and rotatably support the moving gear 113, wherein the support portion is preferably a groove-shaped support portion; in detail, the gear shaft of the moving gear 113 can produce non-axial movement on the support portion to allow the moving gear 113 to produce adaptive movement when subjected to external force; at the same time, a spring 116 is provided on the side of the moving gear 113 close to the gear cover 105 to allow the moving gear 113 to produce adaptive movement in the axial direction.

[0045] Specifically, the connector 106 is provided with a coupling gear 106b and a clutch, the coupling gear 106b is coaxially arranged with the first gear 112, and the coupling gear 106b is closer to the gear cover 105; the clutch is positioned between the first gear 112 and the coupling gear 106b in the axial direction, so that when the coupling gear 106b rotates around a first direction (clockwise), it moves toward a direction close to the gear cover 105 and is in a separated state with the first gear 112, and when the coupling gear 106b rotates around a direction opposite to the first direction (counterclockwise), it moves toward a direction away from the gear cover 105 and is in a meshing state with the first gear 112.

[0046] When the connecting gear 106b moves toward the direction close to the gear cover 105, it drives the moving gear 113 to move axially and compresses the spring 116, and at the same time the connecting gear 106b is separated from the first gear 112; in this state, the connecting gear 106b rotates clockwise, and the moving gear 113 rotates counterclockwise due to the engagement with the connecting gear 106b, and at the same time moves to the first position where the moving gear 113 is engaged with the first agitator gear 111, thereby driving the first agitator gear 111 to rotate clockwise.

[0047] On the contrary, when the connecting gear 106b rotates counterclockwise, the connecting gear 106b moves in the direction away from the gear cover 105 and meshes with the first gear 112. At the same time, under the action of the spring 116, the moving gear 113 also moves in the direction away from the gear cover 105. The moving gear 113 rotates clockwise due to the engagement with the connecting gear 106b, and at the same time moves to the second position where it is disengaged from the first agitator gear 111; in this state, the first gear 112 rotates counterclockwise due to the engagement with the connecting gear 106b, and the first agitator gear 111 rotates clockwise due to the engagement with the first gear 112.

[0048] Specifically, the first agitator gear 111 has a large diameter gear and a small diameter gear, and the large diameter gear rotates together with the small diameter gear; wherein, the large diameter gear is closer to the gear cover 105 and can be engaged with the moving gear 113 located at the first position, and the small diameter gear is closer to the housing 101 and is engaged with the first gear 112.

[0049] When the first agitator gear 111 rotates clockwise, the developing roller gear 109 and the developing roller 102 rotate counterclockwise via the first and second idler gears 114 and 115 , and the supply roller gear 110 and the supply roller 103 rotate counterclockwise via the first and second idler gears 114 and 115 .

[0050] Furthermore, the electronic imaging device is provided with a detection unit for detecting the amount of toner in the developing chamber 107. In order to cooperate with the detection unit for detection, two light-transmitting windows 117 are provided on the shell 101, and correspondingly, a detection window 118 is provided on the gear cover 105 corresponding to the light-transmitting window 117; the light-transmitting window 117 allows light to pass through to determine whether the current developing chamber 107 is in a full powder state or a powder-out state; specifically, the detection unit is an optical sensor, which includes a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit. When the developing box 10 is installed on the electronic imaging device, the light-emitting unit and the receiving unit are located on opposite sides of the shell 101; wherein the light-emitting unit faces a light-transmitting window 117 on one side in the axial direction and emits light to the interior of the developing chamber 107, and the light-receiving unit faces another light-transmitting window 117 on the other side in the axial direction and receives light from the light-emitting unit, and the controller in the electronic imaging device is used to obtain the signal of the light-receiving unit and identify the current amount of toner in the developing chamber 107.

[0051] The powder cartridge 20 is connected to the developing box 10 as an independent unit. When the toner in the powder cartridge 20 is exhausted, only the full powder cartridge 20 can be replaced without replacing the developing box 10 to achieve continued use; as shown in Figure 2-3, the powder cartridge 20 includes a powder cartridge body 21, a toner conveyor 22 and a second agitator 23. The powder cartridge body 21 includes a toner holding chamber 24, which contains toner to be supplied to the developing chamber 107. The toner conveyor 22 is arranged in the toner holding chamber 24 and can receive the rotational driving force transmitted from the driving force receiving portion 106a to supply the toner in the toner holding chamber 24 to the developing chamber 107. The second agitator 23 is specifically located in the toner holding chamber 24, and can stir the toner in the toner holding chamber 24 by rotating, thereby supplying the toner in the toner holding chamber 24 to the toner conveyor 22.

[0052] The toner conveyor 22 is preferably a screw conveyor, and an inlet portion 119 connected to the developing chamber 107 is provided on the shell 101, and an outlet portion 25 is provided in the toner containing chamber 24 corresponding to the inlet portion 119. The toner conveyed by the toner conveyor 22 can enter the developing chamber 107 from the outlet portion 25 and the inlet portion 119.

[0053] Continuing with Figure 4 , the powder cartridge 20 also includes a second gear 26, a third idler gear 27, a fourth idler gear 28, and a second agitator gear 29, located on the drive side. These gears are mounted on the powder cartridge body 21 and covered by a gear cover 105. The second gear 26 is positioned at the end of the toner conveyor 22 and rotates along with it. The second agitator gear 29 is positioned at the end of the second agitator 23 and rotates along with it. Specifically, the second agitator gear 29 and the second agitator 23 rotate under the power transmitted by the third idler gear 27 and the fourth idler gear 28.

[0054] In order to eliminate the phenomenon that the detection part cannot provide toner to the developing chamber 107 in time due to misjudgment caused by toner adhering to the light-transmitting window 117, a detected part 30 is also provided on the powder cartridge body 21. The detected part 30 is located at the axial end of the powder cartridge body 21 and protrudes toward the shell 101. When the powder cartridge body 21 is installed on the shell 101, the detected part 30 is blocked on the relatively outer side of the light-transmitting window 117. The detected part 30 actively adapts to the detection part so that the detection result of the detection part is always a full powder state or a powder-out state, and the force-applying part applies a rotational driving force in the first direction or the opposite direction of the first direction to the driving force receiving part 106a to drive the toner conveyor 22 to rotate, thereby realizing continuous supply of toner in the toner holding chamber 24 to the developing chamber 107.

[0055] In some embodiments of the present application, the detected part 30 is used to ensure that the detection result of the detection part is always in a full powder state, so as to maintain the force-applying part to continuously apply a rotational driving force in the first direction (clockwise) to the driving force receiving part 106a; in this state, the connecting gear 106b is separated from the first gear 112, and the connecting gear 106b rotates around the first direction, and the moving gear 113 rotates counterclockwise due to the engagement with the connecting gear 106b, and at the same time moves to the first position where the moving gear 113 is engaged with the first agitator gear 111.

[0056] In embodiment 1, as shown in Figures 1-3, the detected portion 30 includes a blocking member located between the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion. The light emitted by the light-emitting portion is blocked by the blocking member and cannot be received by the light-receiving portion. Consequently, when the powder cartridge 20 is installed in the developer cartridge 10 of the electronic imaging device, the detection portion always detects a full powder state. In further embodiments, the blocking member may be elongated, thereby increasing the surface area of ​​the blocking member to achieve a better blocking effect on the light emitted by the light-emitting portion.

[0057] In order for the toner conveyor 22 to supply toner to the developing chamber 107, the second gear 26 needs to rotate counterclockwise; therefore, when the connecting gear 106b rotates clockwise and the moving gear 113 rotates counterclockwise, the second gear 26 in Example 1 rotates counterclockwise with the help of the third idle gear 27 engaged with the moving gear 113; at the same time, the second agitator gear 29 and the second agitator 23 rotate clockwise with the help of the fourth idle gear 28 engaged with the second idle gear 115.

[0058] In other embodiments of the present application, the detected portion 30 is used to ensure that the detection result of the detection portion is always in a powder-deficient state, thereby maintaining the force-applying portion to continuously apply a rotational driving force in the opposite direction (counterclockwise) of the first direction to the driving force receiving portion 106a; in this state, the connecting gear 106b is engaged with the first gear 112, and the connecting gear 106b rotates counterclockwise, and the moving gear 113 rotates clockwise due to the engagement with the connecting gear 106b, and moves to the second position where the moving gear 113 is disengaged from the first agitator gear 111 under the action of the spring 116.

[0059] In embodiment 2 as shown in Figures 4-5, the detected part 30 includes a light reflecting component located between the light emitting part and the light receiving part, and the light reflecting component provides a light reflecting channel, which is used to reflect the light emitted by the light emitting part until it is received by the light receiving part, that is, the light emitted by the light emitting part forms a light transmission path S in the light reflecting channel and is received by the light receiving part; wherein, the light reflecting channel is preferably U-shaped.

[0060] In order for the toner conveyor 22 to supply toner to the developing chamber 107, the second gear 26 needs to rotate counterclockwise; therefore, when the connecting gear 106b rotates counterclockwise and the moving gear 113 rotates clockwise, the second gear 26 in Example 2 directly engages with the moving gear 113 and rotates counterclockwise; at the same time, the second agitator gear 29 and the second agitator 23 rotate clockwise with the aid of the third idle gear 27 engaged with the second gear 26 and the fourth idle gear 28 engaged with the third idle gear 27.

[0061] In some further embodiments of the present application, the powder cartridge 20 can also be prefabricated or assembled together with the developing box 10 to form a developing device; when in use, the developing device as a whole is attached to the electronic imaging device as an independent component and can be removed from the electronic imaging device.

[0062] In Example 3 as shown in Figures 6-8, the outer wall of the end of the shell 101 in the axial direction is used as the detected part 30 and the detection result of the detection part is always in a full powder state; wherein, the layout between the developing chamber 107 and the toner holding chamber 24 in Example 3 can still adopt the form of Example 1, and at the same time adopt the same gear layout structure as the driving side of Example 1, and this method will not be expanded here; further improvement, the developing chamber 107 and the toner holding chamber 24 in Example 3 can also be directly connected without being conveyed through the toner conveyor 22, that is, the toner located in the toner holding chamber 24 is directly supplied to the developing chamber 107 through the stirring action of the second agitator 23, and at the same time, the toner located in the developing chamber 107 is supplied to the developing roller 102 through the first agitator 104 via the supply roller 103.

[0063] Since the toner supply is continuously carried out in Example 3, there is no need to switch between forward and reverse directions to stop the second agitator 23 from rotating or to rotate in the reverse direction. Therefore, the structure of the connecting gear 106b and the moving gear 113 is cancelled in Example 3; the layout of the gears on the driving side of Example 3 is shown in Figure 7, including the first gear 112, the second gear 26, the developing roller gear 109, the supply roller gear 110, the first agitator gear 111, the second agitator gear 29, the first idle gear 114, the second idle gear 115, the third idle gear 27 and the fourth idle gear 28.

[0064] Among them, the first gear 112 is relatively fixed to the driving force receiving part 106a so as to be driven to rotate when the force applying part applies a rotational driving force in a first direction (clockwise) to the driving force receiving part 106a; when the first gear 112 rotates clockwise, the developing roller gear 109 and the supply roller gear 110 rotate counterclockwise with the help of the first idle gear 114 and the second idle gear 115, the first agitator gear 111 rotates clockwise with the help of the second gear 26, and the second agitator gear 29 rotates clockwise with the help of the second gear 26 meshing with the first gear 112, the third idle gear 27 meshing with the second gear 26, and the fourth idle gear 28 meshing with the third idle gear 27.

[0065] As an optional improvement to Example 3, the light-transmitting window 117 on the end outer wall of the shell 101 can also be retained. When the developing box 10 of the developing device is out of powder, the powder-out signal is detected by the detection unit and the powder-out signal is transmitted to the electronic imaging device for processing, such as issuing a prompt to replace the developing device, etc., which will not be elaborated here.

[0066] In Example 4, as shown in Figures 9-10, a through slot can be provided on the housing 101 as the detected portion 30, so that the detection result of the detection portion is always a powder shortage state. The through slot as the detected portion 30 has openings at both ends in the axial direction, and the openings allow light emitted by the light-emitting portion to pass through, and this light can be directly received by the light-receiving portion. In this embodiment, the layout between the developing chamber 107 and the toner holding chamber 24 in Example 4 can still adopt the form of Example 2, and at the same time adopt the same gear local structure on the drive side as Example 2. This method will not be expanded here. Furthermore, the developing chamber 107 and the toner holding chamber 24 in Example 4 preferably adopt the layout form of Example 3.

[0067] Furthermore, a protective portion 120 is provided on the bottom surface of the shell 101, and a detected portion 30 is formed between the protective portion 120 and the shell 101; the protective portion 120, for example, includes at least one arc-shaped plate; in another optional embodiment, the protective plate extends in the axial direction and can cover the bottom surface of the shell 101, so that the through groove is relatively closed in the non-axial direction, avoiding interference from other objects during use and affecting the detection of the detection portion, and has the advantage of high detection accuracy.

[0068] The driving side gears of Example 4 are shown in Figure 10, including a first gear 112, a second gear 26, a developing roller gear 109, a supply roller gear 110, a first agitator gear 111, a second agitator gear 29, a first idler gear 114, a third idler gear 27 and a fourth idler gear 28.

[0069] The first gear 112 is fixed relative to the driving force receiving portion 106a so as to be driven to rotate when the force applying portion applies a rotational driving force in the opposite direction (counterclockwise) to the first direction to the driving force receiving portion 106a. When the first gear 112 rotates counterclockwise, the developing roller gear 109 and the supply roller gear 110 rotate counterclockwise by means of the first idler gear 114 meshing with the first gear 112. The first agitator gear 111 rotates counterclockwise by means of the second gear 26 meshing with the first gear 112. The second agitator gear 29 rotates counterclockwise by means of the second gear 26 meshing with the first gear, the third idler gear 27 meshing with the second gear 26, and the fourth idler gear 28 meshing with the third idler gear 27. In another optional embodiment, the clockwise rotation of the second agitator gear 29 can be achieved by increasing or decreasing the number of idler gears between the first agitator gear 111 and the second gear 26. This will not be elaborated here.

[0070] In the above-mentioned embodiment of the present application, the developing device also includes a memory 40 for storing information. When the developing device is installed on an electronic imaging device, the information stored in the memory 40 can be read by the electronic imaging device; wherein, the memory 40 can be set on the shell 101 of the developing box 10, or on the powder cartridge body 21, or on the gear cover 105. The setting position of the memory 40 is not limited here.

[0071] In the above-mentioned embodiment of the present application, the detected portion 30 actively adapts to the detection portion so that the detection result of the detection portion is always a full powder state or a powder-out state, and at the same time, the toner in the toner holding chamber 24 is continuously supplied to the developing chamber 107, effectively eliminating the phenomenon that the toner cannot be provided to the developing chamber 107 in time due to misjudgment of the detection portion; when in use, if the user finds that the printed font color is light, it means that a new powder cartridge 20 or developing device needs to be replaced.

[0072] Although the present application has been described above through embodiments, it should be understood that the above embodiments are only used to exemplarily describe the feasible implementation plans of the present application and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of protection of the present application. That is, any replacement or change made by those skilled in the art in accordance with the present application should also be covered by the scope of protection of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A toner cartridge, which can form a developing device together with a developing box provided with a developing roller, wherein the developing device is installed in an electronic imaging device, wherein the electronic imaging device comprises a detecting unit for detecting the amount of toner in a developing chamber of the developing device; the developing box comprises a housing having the developing chamber; wherein: The powder cartridge comprises: The powder cartridge body is installed on the shell; the powder cartridge body includes a toner containing chamber and a detected portion, the toner containing chamber is used to contain toner, and the detected portion is adapted to the detecting portion so that the detection result of the detecting portion is always a full powder state or a powder shortage state.

2. The powder cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder cartridge body further includes a toner conveyor, which is located in the toner containing chamber and is rotatable to supply the toner in the toner containing chamber to the developing chamber.

3. The powder cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the detection result of the detection portion is a full toner state, the toner conveyor continues to rotate in the first direction or continues to rotate in the second direction to supply the toner in the toner containing chamber to the developing chamber.

4. The powder cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that: The housing is provided with an inlet portion communicating with the developing chamber, and the toner containing chamber is provided with an outlet portion corresponding to the inlet portion, wherein the toner conveyed by the toner conveyor enters the developing chamber through the outlet portion and the inlet portion.

5. The powder cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that: The powder cartridge body also includes a second gear and a third idle gear, the second gear is arranged at the end of the toner conveyor, and the third idle gear is engaged with the second gear, wherein when the detection result of the detection unit is a full powder state, the third idle gear is also engaged with the moving gear of the developing box, and the moving gear drives the toner conveyor to rotate to supply the toner in the toner containing chamber to the developing chamber.

6. The powder cartridge according to claim 5, characterized in that: The developing box comprises a coupling, a first gear, a moving gear and a gear cover, wherein the coupling is provided with a coupling gear, the coupling gear meshes with the moving gear, the gear cover covers the coupling gear, the first gear and the moving gear, and a spring is provided on a side of the moving gear close to the gear cover; wherein, When the detection result of the detection part is a full powder state, the connecting gear moves toward the direction close to the gear cover and drives the moving gear to move axially to compress the spring, and separates the connecting gear from the first gear and makes the moving gear mesh with the third idle gear, and the connecting gear continues to rotate in the first direction or continues to rotate in the second direction to drive the moving gear and the second gear to continue to rotate in the second direction or continue to rotate in the first direction.

7. The powder cartridge according to claim 5, characterized in that: The developing box comprises a coupling, a first gear, a moving gear and a gear cover, wherein the coupling is provided with a coupling gear, the coupling gear meshes with the moving gear, the gear cover covers the coupling gear, the first gear and the moving gear, and a spring is provided on a side of the moving gear close to the gear cover; wherein, When the detection result of the detection unit is a powder shortage state, the connecting gear continues to rotate in the second direction or continues to rotate in the first direction, the connecting gear moves in a direction away from the gear cover and engages with the first gear, and the spring and the moving gear move in a direction away from the gear cover and disengage from the third idle gear.

8. The powder cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that: The detection part includes an optical detection part, and the optical detection part includes a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part, and the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part are respectively located on both axial sides of the shell; the axial ends of the shell are respectively provided with light-transmitting windows corresponding to the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part; wherein the detected part is located at the axial end of the powder cartridge body and protrudes toward the shell, so that when the powder cartridge body is installed to the shell, the detected part can block the relative outer side of the light-transmitting window.

9. The powder cartridge according to claim 8, characterized in that: The detected portion includes a blocking member located between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion, and the blocking member is used to block the light emitted by the light emitting portion.

10. The powder cartridge according to claim 8, characterized in that: The detected portion includes a light reflecting member located between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion, and light emitted by the light emitting portion can be reflected by the light reflecting member until being received by the light receiving portion.

11. The powder cartridge according to claim 10, characterized in that: The light reflecting channel of the light reflecting member is U-shaped.

12. A developing device installed in an electronic imaging device, the electronic imaging device comprising a detection unit for detecting the amount of toner in the developing device; characterized in that: The developing device comprises a powder cartridge as described in any one of claims 1 to 11 and a developing box provided with a developing roller, wherein the powder cartridge and the developing box are prefabricated or assembled together.

13. The developing device according to claim 12, characterized in that: The developing device includes a driving force receiving portion, a toner conveyor, a second gear, a third idle gear, a connecting gear and a moving gear, the driving force receiving portion is used to receive a rotational driving force from the electronic imaging device, the second gear is arranged at the end of the toner conveyor, and the third idle gear is meshed with the second gear, wherein, when the detection result of the detection portion is a full powder state, the third idle gear is also meshed with the moving gear of the developing box, and the driving force receiving portion can drive the connecting gear to rotate in a first direction and drive the moving gear, the third idle gear and the second gear to rotate in a second direction so that the toner conveyor supplies powder to the developing chamber.

14. The developing device according to claim 12, characterized in that: The detection unit includes an optical detection unit, which includes a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit, wherein the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit are respectively located on both sides of the axial direction of the shell; the detected unit is used to avoid the light emitted by the light-emitting unit so that the light-receiving unit can receive the light emitted by the light-emitting unit.

15. The developing device according to claim 12, characterized in that: The detection unit includes an optical detection unit, which includes a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit. The light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit are respectively located on both sides of the axial direction of the shell. The shell is also provided with a through groove, and the light emitted by the light-emitting unit can pass through the through groove and be received by the light-receiving unit.

16. The developing device according to claim 15, characterized in that: The bottom surface of the shell is provided with a protection part, the protection part includes at least one arc-shaped plate, and the through groove is formed between the arc-shaped plate and the shell.

17. The developing device according to claim 16, characterized in that: The protection plate extends in an axial direction to cover a bottom surface of the housing.

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