Developing cartridge, process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming system

Abstract

The application provides a developing box, a process box and an electrophotographic imaging system. The electrophotographic imaging system comprises the process box, and the process box comprises the developing box. The developing box comprises a box body and a separation mechanism. The separation mechanism comprises a lever and an end cover. The lever is provided with a slot hole, a force applying column pin, a rotating column pin and a pressure receiving part. The end cover has a base and a limiting cover. The base is installed at one end of the box body. The base has a plate body and a supporting arm extending from the plate body. The plate body is provided with a conductive protrusion and a first through hole for the shaft core of a developing roller. The supporting arm is provided with a supporting pin. The box body is provided with a groove at the root of the supporting arm. The groove is provided with a rib plate. The limiting cover has a limiting bridge part and a connecting arm connected between the limiting bridge part and the plate body. The limiting bridge part and the supporting arm form a space for the lever to pass through. The limiting bridge part is located between the pressure receiving part and the rotating column pin. The supporting pin is inserted into the slot hole. The force applying column pin is inserted into the groove. The limiting bridge part and the box body limit the movement of the lever in the axial direction. The separation mechanism of the developing box has a small number of parts, is easy to assemble and has a low manufacturing cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electrophotographic imaging technology, specifically to a developing cartridge, a processing cartridge having the developing cartridge, and an electrophotographic imaging system having the aforementioned processing cartridge. Background Technology

[0002] The processing cartridge is a core component that supplies toner to electrophotographic imaging equipment. One type of processing cartridge includes a developing cartridge and a drum cartridge, which are movably connected, allowing the developing roller on the developing cartridge and the photosensitive drum on the drum cartridge to come into contact with or separate from each other.

[0003] When an electrophotographic imaging device performs a printing job, the developing roller contacts the photosensitive drum, and the toner in the developing cartridge is transferred to the surface of the photosensitive drum via the developing roller, developing the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum into a visible toner image. Subsequently, with the assistance of the transfer roller of the electrophotographic imaging device, the toner image on the photosensitive drum is transferred to the image forming medium (such as paper). Finally, the fuser permanently fixes the toner image on the image forming medium by heating and pressurizing.

[0004] After the photosensitive drum completes the transfer process, toner usually remains on its surface. At this point, the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum so that the cleaning unit on the drum cartridge or in the electrophotographic imaging equipment can clean the surface of the photosensitive drum, removing the residual toner and thus ensuring the quality of subsequent imaging.

[0005] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the existing separation mechanism for separating the developing roller 91 from the photosensitive drum includes an end cover 92, a lever 93, and a side cover 94.

[0006] The end cap 92 is provided with a support pin 921, a groove 922, a conductive protrusion 923, and a limiting groove 924. The groove 922 is located between the support pin 921 and the conductive protrusion 923, and a rib 9221 is provided on the side of the groove 922 away from the developing roller 91. The conductive protrusion 923 is made of conductive resin and is used to receive current from the electrophotographic imaging device and transmit it to the shaft core 911 of the developing roller 91; the conductive protrusion 923 has a push portion 9231, which is used to contact the pushing member of the drum to receive the pushing force applied by the pushing member, thereby maintaining appropriate contact pressure between the developing roller 91 and the photosensitive drum.

[0007] The lever 93 is provided with a slot 931, a force-applying pin 932, and a rotating pin 933. Along the axial direction of the developing roller 91, the slot 931 and the force-applying pin 932 are located on one side of the lever 93, and the rotating pin 933 is located on the other side. The diameter of the slot 931 is larger than the diameter of the support pin 921 on the end cap 92, and the rotating pin 933 protrudes from the other side of the lever 93. Furthermore, a pressure-receiving portion 934 is provided at the end of the lever 93 furthest from the developing roller 91.

[0008] The side cover 94 is provided with a first connecting part 941, a second connecting part 942 and a connecting bridge part 943. The connecting bridge part 943 is connected between the first connecting part 941 and the second connecting part 942, and the second connecting part 942 is provided with a limiting protrusion 9421.

[0009] When assembling the end cap 92, lever 93, and side cover 94, first, the end cap 92 is fixedly installed onto the end of the developing cartridge 9 using fasteners. Then, the lever 93 is assembled with the end cap 92. During assembly, the support pin 921 is inserted into the slot 931, and the force-applying pin 932 is inserted into the groove 922, maintaining the lever 93 and end cap 92 in the aforementioned mating position. Finally, the side cover 94 is placed on the lever 93 and connected to the cartridge body. During installation, the connecting bridge 943 is positioned between the pressure-bearing part 934 and the rotating pin 933 to prevent the lever 93 from disengaging from the end cap 92 and side cover 94. The limiting protrusion 9421 is inserted into the limiting groove 924, allowing the side cover 94 to disengage from the end cap 92 axially on the developing roller 91. Finally, the first connecting part 941 and the cartridge body are connected using fasteners. In addition, the developing cartridge 9 also needs to be equipped with a conductive shaft cover 95. After the side cover 94 or end cover 92 is installed, the conductive shaft cover 95 is fitted onto the end of the shaft core 911 of the developing roller 91 and electrically connected to the conductive protrusion 923 so that the current on the conductive protrusion 923 can be transmitted to the shaft core 911 of the developing roller 91.

[0010] During the assembly of the separation mechanism, the end cap 92 is first fixedly installed to the end of the developing cartridge 9 body using fasteners; then the lever 93 is assembled with the end cap 92, so that the support pin 921 is inserted into the slot 931 and the force-applying pin 932 is inserted into the groove 922, and the lever 93 and the end cap 92 are kept in the above-mentioned mating position; then the side cap 94 is closed on the lever 93, so that the connecting bridge 943 is located between the pressure part 934 and the rotating pin 933, so as to restrict the lever 93 from disengaging from the end cap 92 and the side cap 94, and at the same time, the limiting protrusion 9421 is inserted into the limiting groove 924 to prevent the side cap 94 from disengaging from the end cap 92 in the axial direction of the developing roller 91; finally, the first connecting part 941 is connected to the cartridge body using fasteners. In addition, the separation mechanism also includes a conductive shaft cover 95. After the end cover 92 or the side cover 94 is assembled, the conductive shaft cover 95 is fitted onto the end of the shaft core 911 of the developing roller 91 and electrically connected to the conductive protrusion 923, thereby transmitting the current received by the conductive protrusion 923 to the shaft core 911 of the developing roller 91.

[0011] When it is necessary to separate the developing roller 91 from the photosensitive drum, the operating mechanism in the electrophotographic imaging device applies a driving force to the pressure part 934, forcing the lever 93 to rotate around the rotating pin 933 as the fulcrum. The force-applying pin 932 then applies pressure to the rib plate 9221, causing the developing cartridge 9 to move relative to the drum, thereby realizing the separation of the developing roller 91 from the photosensitive drum.

[0012] However, the existing separation mechanism has the following shortcomings: the large number of parts leads to high costs; and the assembly process is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and difficult. Summary of the Invention

[0013] The first objective of this invention is to provide a developing cartridge with a separation mechanism that has a small number of parts, is easy to assemble, and has a low manufacturing cost.

[0014] A second objective of the present invention is to provide a processing cartridge having the aforementioned developing cartridge.

[0015] A third objective of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic imaging system equipped with the aforementioned processing box.

[0016] To achieve the first objective of this invention, a developing cartridge is provided, comprising a cartridge body, a developing roller, and a separation mechanism. The developing roller is mounted on the cartridge body and can rotate about its own axis. The separation mechanism includes a lever, which has a slot, a force-applying pin, a rotating pin, and a pressure-receiving part. The force-applying pin is located at a first end of the lever, and the pressure-receiving part is located at a second end of the lever. Along the axial direction of the developing roller, the slot and the force-applying pin are located on one side of the lever, and the rotating pin is located on the back side of the slot. The separation mechanism further includes an end cap, which has a base and a limiting cap. The base is connected to one end of the cartridge body. The base has a plate and a support arm. The plate has conductive protrusions and a first... The developing roller shaft passes through the first through hole. The support arm extends from the back of the plate towards the developing roller. A support pin is provided at the extended end of the support arm. The base has a first hollow area on the first side of the support arm. The box body has a groove in the first hollow area. A rib is provided on the side of the groove away from the developing roller. The limiting cover has a limiting bridge and a connecting arm. The connecting arm connects the first end of the limiting bridge and the plate body. An insertable space is formed between the limiting bridge and the support arm. The lever passes through the insertable space. The limiting bridge is located between the pressure part and the rotating pin. The support pin is inserted into the slot. The force-applying pin is inserted into the groove. The limiting bridge and the box body restrict the axial movement of the lever.

[0017] As can be seen from the above, by designing the end cap structure and integrally molding the base and limiting cap, the number of parts in the separation mechanism can be effectively reduced, assembly steps can be reduced, assembly difficulty can be lowered, and manufacturing costs can be reduced. Specifically, the groove and rib are formed on the cartridge body, and the first hollow area is set on the base of the end cap. On the one hand, the space of the cartridge body can be fully utilized, and on the other hand, the thickness of the base can be avoided, which helps to make the structure of the developing cartridge more compact, while ensuring the reliability of the engagement between the force-applying pin and the groove and rib. The interlocking space formed between the limiting bridge and the support arm can realize the pre-assembly of the end cap and the lever, or the lever can be assembled after the end cap is assembled onto the cartridge body. Both assembly methods do not require additional auxiliary fixation of the lever during the assembly process, making the assembly simpler and more convenient.

[0018] A further design is to provide a second hollow area on the second side of the support arm on the base; when projected axially, the projection of the limiting bridge does not overlap with the projection of the support arm, and the projection of the limiting bridge is located at the projection of the second hollow area; the limiting cover can be elastically deformed.

[0019] As can be seen from the above, the design of staggering the limiting bridge and the support arm makes the pre-assembly of the lever and the end cap more convenient. Alternatively, when the end cap is installed on the housing first and the lever is assembled later, the assembly difficulty of the lever is lower and the assembly is more convenient. At the same time, the limiting cap can be elastically deformed, providing a certain amount of clearance during the assembly process, further reducing the assembly difficulty of the lever and improving assembly efficiency.

[0020] A preferred embodiment is that the second end of the limiting bridge is provided with a connecting part, the connecting part is provided with a second through hole and a first mating part, and the first mating part is located at the upstream end of the rotation path of the pressure part along the direction of the push rotation of the lever; the housing is provided with a first connecting hole at the second through hole, and the second through hole and the first connecting hole are connected by a first fastener.

[0021] As can be seen from the above, by providing a connecting part at the second end of the limiting bridge to connect with the cartridge body, the installation structural strength of the limiting bridge can be improved and the cartridge structure simplified, enabling the limiting bridge to more reliably limit the lever in the axial direction of the developing roller. The first mating part is used to cooperate with the locking lever on the drum cartridge, so that after the developing cartridge is installed in the drum cartridge, the locking lever can be moved to act on the first mating part and pry up the developing cartridge, thus facilitating the disassembly of the developing cartridge and the drum cartridge.

[0022] Another preferred embodiment is that the second end of the limiting bridge is suspended; the housing is provided with a limiting guide and a second mating part at the second end of the limiting bridge, and an interpenetration channel is formed between the limiting guide and the second end of the limiting bridge. The width of the interpenetration channel is smaller than the diameter of the rotating pin. Along the direction of the push rotation of the lever, the second mating part is located at the upstream end of the rotation path of the pressure part.

[0023] As can be seen from the above, by making the second end of the limiting bridge suspended, the subsequent assembly of the lever is more convenient and easier after the end cap is installed on the cartridge body. The limiting guide on the cartridge body and the second end of the limiting bridge form an insertion channel, which facilitates the passage of the rotating pin of the lever. The width of the insertion channel is smaller than the diameter of the rotating pin, which can better prevent the lever from falling off the end cap. The second mating part on the cartridge body is designed to cooperate with the locking lever on the drum cartridge. After the developing cartridge is installed on the drum cartridge, the locking lever can be moved to act on the second mating part and pry up the developing cartridge, thereby facilitating the disassembly of the developing cartridge and the drum cartridge.

[0024] Another preferred embodiment is that the developing cartridge also includes a powder feeding roller, which is mounted on the cartridge body and can rotate about its own axis; the plate body has a third through hole at the conductive protrusion, the shaft of the powder feeding roller passes through the third through hole and is electrically connected to the conductive protrusion; the plate body has a fourth through hole at the root of the support arm, the cartridge body has a second connecting hole at the fourth through hole, and the fourth through hole and the second connecting hole are connected by a second fastener.

[0025] As can be seen from the above, the toner feeding roller can better transfer the toner in the developing cartridge to the developing roller, improving the imaging quality. The third through hole on the plate can be used to support the end of the toner feeding roller's spindle and facilitate a stable electrical connection between the toner feeding roller and the conductive protrusion, thereby maintaining a stable voltage difference between the developing roller and the toner feeding roller and improving the toner transfer quality. Since the extended end of the support arm has a support pin that matches the slot of the lever, and the support arm is suspended relative to the plate, a fourth through hole is provided at the root of the support arm on the plate and connected to the cartridge through a second fastener. This can improve the structural strength of the support arm and ensure the reliability of the support pin's support for the lever.

[0026] A further proposed solution is to integrally form a conductive shaft cover at the first through hole on the plate body. The conductive shaft cover is sleeved on the shaft core of the developing roller, and the conductive shaft cover is electrically connected to the conductive protrusion.

[0027] As can be seen from the above, the conductive shaft cover is used to establish an electrical connection between the conductive protrusion and the shaft core of the developing roller; by integrally molding the conductive shaft cover onto the plate, the number of parts can be further reduced, the assembly process of the separation mechanism can be simplified, and the assembly difficulty can be reduced.

[0028] A further solution is to provide a mating structure at the end of the box body, which includes a support surface assembly and a positioning rib. The support surface assembly is adjacent to the plate body and the support arm, and the positioning rib is located on the side of the plate body away from the developing roller. The positioning rib extends to the first hollow area, and the rib plate is part of the positioning rib.

[0029] As can be seen from the above, the support surface assembly can provide stable support for the plate and ensure the reliability of the connection between the plate and the box. The positioning rib plays a role in positioning and preventing mistakes when the end cover is installed. Using part of the positioning rib as a rib plate can simplify the structure of the box.

[0030] A further improvement is that the support arm has a socket on the back side of the support pin; the box body has a pin at the socket, and the pin is inserted into the socket.

[0031] As can be seen above, since the support arm is suspended relative to the plate, and the extended end of the support arm is provided with a support pin for supporting the lever, by setting a socket on the back side of the support pin and setting a corresponding pin on the box to cooperate with the socket, the pin can form an auxiliary support for the support arm after being inserted into the socket, thereby enhancing the structural strength of the support arm and ensuring the reliability of the support pin supporting the lever.

[0032] To achieve the second objective of the present invention, the present invention provides a processing box, including a drum box, wherein the drum box is provided with a photosensitive drum, and the processing box further includes the aforementioned developing box, the box body being movably connected to the drum box, and the developing roller being able to contact or separate from the photosensitive drum.

[0033] As can be seen from the above, by adopting the aforementioned developing cartridge, the processing cartridge can effectively reduce the overall number of parts, thereby reducing assembly difficulty and manufacturing costs.

[0034] To achieve the third objective of this invention, this invention provides an electrophotographic imaging system, including an electrophotographic imaging device. The electrophotographic imaging device includes a body, and the body has a cartridge mounting cavity. A drive mechanism is provided in the cartridge mounting cavity. The aforementioned processing cartridge is installed in the cartridge mounting cavity. The drive mechanism can push the pressure receiving part, forcing the lever to rotate around the rotating pin as a fulcrum. This causes the force-applying pin to apply pressure to the rib plate, causing the developing cartridge to move relative to the drum cartridge, thereby controlling the separation of the developing roller from the photosensitive drum.

[0035] As can be seen from the above, by adopting the aforementioned processing box, the electrophotographic imaging system helps to reduce the overall operating and maintenance costs of the equipment due to the reduction in the number of components and the simplification of the assembly process. Attached Figure Description

[0036] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of a portion of the existing developing cartridge structure.

[0037] Figure 2 This is a partial structural exploded view of an existing developer cartridge with some components omitted.

[0038] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of the first embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 4 This is a partial structural diagram of the first embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention, with some components omitted.

[0040] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the developing cartridge body of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 6 This is a structural diagram of the separation mechanism of the first embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 7 This is a structural diagram of the lever in the first embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 8 This is a structural diagram of the end cap of the first embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention from a first perspective.

[0044] Figure 9 This is a structural diagram of the end cap of the first embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention from a second perspective.

[0045] Figure 10 This is a structural diagram of the second embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention.

[0046] Figure 11 This is a structural diagram of the second embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention with some components omitted.

[0047] Figure 12This is a structural diagram of the separation mechanism of the second embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention.

[0048] Figure 13 This is a structural diagram of the end cap of the second embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention from a first-view perspective.

[0049] Figure 14 This is a structural diagram of the end cap of the second embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention from a second perspective.

[0050] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0051] First embodiment of the developing cartridge Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 The developing cartridge 100 includes a cartridge body 1, a developing roller 2, a powder delivery roller 3, a drive wheel assembly, and a separation mechanism 4. The cartridge body 1 has a powder hopper and a developing chamber connected to the powder hopper. Both the developing roller 2 and the powder delivery roller 3 are located within the developing chamber, with the powder delivery roller 3 positioned at the outlet of the powder hopper and the developing roller 2 positioned at the outlet of the developing chamber, and the powder delivery roller 3 adjacent to the developing roller 2. The powder delivery roller 3 can better transfer the toner from the powder hopper to the developing roller 2, thereby improving image quality. Both the developing roller 2 and the powder delivery roller 3 can rotate relative to the cartridge body 1 around their own axes. The drive wheel assembly is installed at one end of the cartridge body 1 and is connected to both the developing roller 2 and the powder delivery roller 3 to drive their rotation.

[0052] The separation mechanism 4 is located at the second end of the housing 1. The separation mechanism 4 is used to control the movement of the developing cartridge 100 and the relative drum box, so as to separate the developing roller 2 from the photosensitive drum of the drum box, thereby facilitating the cleaning of the photosensitive drum, preventing residual toner on the photosensitive drum, and ensuring image quality.

[0053] Combination Figure 5 The second end wall of the box body 1 is provided with a groove 11, a mating structure 12, and a pin 13. Figure 6 The separation structure includes a lever 41 and an end cap 42.

[0054] Combination Figure 7 The lever 41 is provided with a slot 411, a force-applying pin 412, a rotating pin 413, and a pressure-receiving part 414. The force-applying pin 412 is located at the first end of the lever 41, and the pressure-receiving part 414 is located at the second end of the lever 41. Along the axial direction of the developing roller 2, the slot 411 and the force-applying pin 412 are located on the first side of the lever 41, while the rotating pin 413 is located on the second side of the lever 41, and the rotating pin 413 is located on the front and back sides of the slot 411.

[0055] Combination Figure 8 and Figure 9The end cap 42 has a base 421 and a limiting cap 422, which are integrally formed. Compared with the existing separation mechanism where the end cap and side cap are designed separately, the end cap 42 in this embodiment eliminates the assembly step between the base 421 and the limiting cap 422, and also eliminates the mating structure 12 between the two, effectively reducing assembly difficulty and manufacturing cost.

[0056] The base 421 is connected to the second end of the housing 1. The base 421 has an integrally formed plate 4211 and a support arm 4212. The support arm 4212 extends from the plate 4211 away from the developing roller 2, and the base 421 has a first hollow area A on the first side of the support arm 4212 and a second hollow area B on the second side of the support arm 4212.

[0057] The base 421 is connected to the housing 1 by the mating structure 12. The mating structure 12 includes a support surface group 121 and a positioning rib 122. The support surface group 121 is adjacent to the plate 4211 and the support arm 4212, providing a stable support base for the end cover 42 and ensuring that the connection between the plate 4211 and the housing 1 is firm and reliable.

[0058] The groove 11 of the cartridge body 1 is located at the first hollow area A, and a rib 1221 is provided on the side of the groove 11 away from the developing roller 2. By directly forming the groove 11 and the rib 1221 on the cartridge body 1, and correspondingly providing the first hollow area A on the base 421, on the one hand, the internal space of the cartridge body 1 can be fully utilized, avoiding excessive local thickness of the base 421, making the overall structure of the developing cartridge 100 more compact; on the other hand, it can ensure a reliable fit between the force-applying pin 412 and the groove 11 and the rib 1221.

[0059] The positioning rib 122 is located on the side of the plate 4211 opposite to the developing roller 2 and extends to the first hollow area A. It can play a precise guiding and error-proof role during the assembly of the end cap 42, improving assembly efficiency and accuracy. Preferably, the rib plate 1221 is part of the positioning rib 122. Integrating the rib plate 1221 into the positioning rib 122 can reduce the number of independent structures on the box 1, thereby effectively simplifying the structure of the box 1 and reducing molding difficulty and manufacturing cost.

[0060] The plate 4211 is provided with a conductive protrusion 42111, a first through hole 42112, a third through hole 42113, a conductive shaft cover 42114, and a fourth through hole 42115. The conductive protrusion 42111 is made of conductive resin material to receive the current output from the electrophotographic imaging device and transmit it to the shaft core of the developing roller 2 via the conductive shaft cover 42114; preferably, the conductive protrusion 42111 is provided with a push portion 421111, which is used to contact the pushing member of the drum box B to receive the pushing force applied by the pushing member, thereby maintaining appropriate contact pressure between the developing roller 2 and the photosensitive drum.

[0061] When the plate 4211 is installed on the housing 1, the shaft of the developing roller 2 passes through the first through hole 42112, and the conductive shaft cover 42114 is fitted onto the end of the shaft of the developing roller 2. The shaft of the toner delivery roller 3 passes through the third through hole 42113. The third through hole 42113 is located at the conductive protrusion 42111, so that the shaft of the toner delivery roller 3 can directly contact the conductive protrusion 42111 after passing through the third through hole 42113, establishing an electrical connection between the two. It can be seen that the third through hole 42113 on the plate 4211 not only provides effective support for the end of the shaft of the toner delivery roller 3, ensuring the stable operation of the toner delivery roller 3, but also facilitates the electrical connection between the toner delivery roller 3 and the conductive protrusion 42111, maintaining a stable voltage difference between the developing roller 2 and the toner delivery roller 3, and further optimizing the toner transfer effect.

[0062] Furthermore, the conductive shaft cover 42114 is located at the first through hole 42112, allowing the shaft core of the developing roller 2 to pass through the first through hole 42112, and the conductive shaft cover 42114 to be sleeved on the end of the shaft core of the developing roller 2, with a direct electrical connection between the conductive shaft cover 42114 and the conductive protrusion 42111; preferably, the conductive shaft cover 42114 or the end cover 42 is made entirely of conductive resin material. Moreover, the conductive shaft cover 42114 is integrally formed with the plate body 4211. This integral forming design effectively reduces the number of parts in the separation mechanism 4, eliminates the need for a separate assembly process between the conductive shaft cover 42114 and the plate body 4211, and eliminates the need to design and manufacture a separate molding die for the conductive shaft cover 42114, further simplifying the assembly process and reducing assembly difficulty and production costs.

[0063] A support pin 42121 is provided at the extended end of the support arm 4212. The support pin 42121 is used to engage with the slot 411 of the lever 41 to provide rotational support for the lever 41. A fourth through hole 42115 on the plate 4211 is located at the root of the support arm 4212. Correspondingly, the housing 1 has a second connecting hole 15 at the fourth through hole 42115, which is connected to the second connecting hole 15 via a second fastener. Since the support arm 4212 extends outwards from the plate 4211, the support pin 42121 at its extended end needs to provide reliable rotational support for the lever 41. Therefore, the fourth through hole 42115 is provided at the root of the support arm 4212 and fastened to the housing 1 via a second fastener. This effectively enhances the rigidity and structural strength of the support arm 4212, prevents deformation of the support arm 4212 under stress, and ensures stable and reliable support of the lever 41 by the support pin 42121.

[0064] Furthermore, the support arm 4212 has an insertion hole 42122 on the back side of the support pin 42121; the box body 1 has a pin 13 at the insertion hole 42122, and when the end cover 42 is installed on the box body 1, the pin 13 is inserted into the insertion hole 42122. Since the support arm 4212 is suspended relative to the plate 4211 and the support pin 42121 at its extended end needs to provide rotational support for the lever 41, an insertion hole 42122 is opened on the back side of the support pin 42121, and a corresponding pin 13 is provided on the housing 1 to insert into the insertion hole 42122. The insertion and engagement of the pin 13 with the insertion hole 42122 provides an additional auxiliary support point for the suspended support arm 4212, effectively improving the rigidity and deformation resistance of the support arm 4212, preventing the support arm 4212 from shaking or bending under the repeated force of the lever 41, thereby ensuring that the support pin 42121 can continuously and stably support the lever 41 reliably, and thus ensuring the long-term working stability of the separation mechanism 4.

[0065] The limiting cover 422 has a limiting bridge portion 4221 and a connecting arm 4222. The connecting arm 4222 extends axially along the developing roller 2 and connects the first end of the limiting bridge portion 4221 and the plate body 4211, forming a gap between the limiting cover 422 and the base 421, which forms an insertable space C. When the lever 41 is assembled with the limiting cover 422, the lever 41 passes through the insertable space C, and its limiting bridge portion 4221 is located between the pressure portion 414 and the rotating pin 413, while the support pin 42121 is inserted into the slot 411 and the force-applying pin 412 is inserted into the groove 11. The limiting bridge portion 4221 is used to cooperate with the cartridge body 1 to limit the movement of the lever 41 in the axial direction of the developing roller 2.

[0066] In this design, when projected orthogonally along the axial direction of the developing roller 2, the projection of the limiting bridge portion 4221 does not overlap with the projection of the support arm 4212, and the projection of the limiting bridge portion 4221 is located at the projection of the second hollow area B. It is understood that the limiting cover 422 can undergo a certain degree of elastic deformation. By setting the second hollow area B on the second side of the support arm 4212 and offsetting the limiting bridge portion 4221 from the support arm 4212, the base 421 provides ample operating space for the assembly of the lever 41. Whether the lever 41 is pre-assembled with the end cover 42 and then installed as a whole onto the housing 1, or the end cover 42 is first fixed to the housing 1 and then the lever 41 is assembled separately, the assembly difficulty is significantly reduced, and the assembly convenience is improved. In addition, the limiting cover 422 adopts an elastic deformation design, which can generate a certain elastic clearance during the assembly process, making it easy for the lever 41 to smoothly engage with the interlocking space C between the limiting bridge 4221 and the support arm 4212, further simplifying the assembly operation and improving the assembly efficiency.

[0067] In this embodiment, the second end of the limiting bridge portion 4221 is provided with a connecting portion 4223. The connecting portion 4223 is provided with a second through hole 42231 and a first mating portion 42232. Along the pushing rotation direction of the lever 41, the first mating portion 42232 is located at the upstream end of the rotation path of the pressing portion 414. Correspondingly, the housing 1 is provided with a first connecting hole 14 at the second through hole 42231. The second through hole 42231 is connected to the first connecting hole 14 through a first fastener. When the lever 41 is not pre-assembled with the end cap 42, that is, when the end cap 42 is assembled with the box body 1 first, the fourth through hole 42115 and the second connecting hole 15 can be connected first. Taking advantage of the elastic deformation of the limiting cover 422 to make room, the lever 41 is passed through the insertable space C, so that the limiting bridge part 4221 is located between the pressure part 414 and the rotating pin 413, and the support pin 42121 is inserted into the slot 411 and the force-applying pin 412 is inserted into the groove 11. Then the second through hole 42231 and the first connecting hole 14 are connected. This design, by setting a connecting part 4223 at the second end of the limiting bridge part 4221 and fixing the second through hole 42231 of the connecting part 4223 to the first connecting hole 14 of the box body 1 with the first fastener, not only enhances the installation rigidity and structural strength of the limiting bridge part 4221, but also helps to simplify the molding structure of the box body 1; at the same time, the limiting bridge part 4221 can reliably limit the lever 41 in the axial direction of the developing roller 2, ensuring that the lever 41 does not move axially during operation. Furthermore, by providing a first mating part 42232 on the connecting part 4223, and the first mating part 42232 being located at the upstream end of the rotation path of the pressure-bearing part 414, after the developing cartridge 100 is installed into the drum box, the locking lever on the drum box can effectively engage with the first mating part 42232. When it is necessary to disassemble the developing cartridge 100 and the drum box, the operator only needs to move the locking lever to push the first mating part 42232 to pry the developing cartridge 100 out of the drum box, thereby greatly facilitating the disassembly operation of the developing cartridge 100 and improving the ease of maintenance.

[0068] In summary, by optimizing the structure of the end cap 42, the base 421 and the limiting cap 422 are designed as an integral molded structure, which effectively reduces the number of parts in the separation mechanism 4, simplifies the assembly process, and reduces assembly difficulty and manufacturing costs. At the same time, the interpenetrating space C formed between the limiting bridge 4221 and the support arm 4212 allows the lever 41 to be pre-assembled with the end cap 42, or to be assembled after the end cap 42 is installed into the housing 1. Both assembly methods do not require additional auxiliary fixing of the lever 41 during the entire assembly process, significantly improving the convenience and flexibility of assembly.

[0069] Second embodiment of the developing cartridge Reference Figure 10 to Figure 14The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment of the developing cartridge lies in the partial structure of the limiting cover 422, the partial structure of the cartridge body 1, and the partial mating structure 12 between the limiting cover 422 and the cartridge body 1. The differences will be explained below.

[0070] Specifically, in this embodiment, the connecting part 4223 (including the second through hole 42231 and the second mating part 17) at the second end of the limiting bridge part 4221 is eliminated, so that the second end of the limiting bridge part 4221 is suspended. Simultaneously, the housing 1 is provided with a limiting guide part 16 and a second mating part 17 at the second end of the limiting bridge part 4221; wherein, an insertion channel D is formed between the limiting guide part 16 and the second end of the limiting bridge part 4221, and the width of the insertion channel D is smaller than the diameter of the rotating pin 413. Along the pushed rotation direction of the lever 41, the second mating part 17 is located at the upstream end of the rotation path of the pressure part 414.

[0071] Similar to the assembly principle of the first embodiment, In this embodiment, by designing the second end of the limiting bridge 4221 as a suspended structure, the lever 41 can be assembled with the end cover 42 first, and then assembled onto the housing 1 as a whole; or the end cover 42 can be installed onto the housing 1 first, and then the lever 41 can be assembled. Compared with the traditional separation mechanism, the separation mechanism 4 in this embodiment is easier to assemble and more flexible to assemble.

[0072] When the end cap 42 is first installed onto the housing 1 and then the lever 41 is assembled, the limiting guide part 16 on the housing 1 and the second end of the limiting bridge part 4221 cooperate to form an insertion channel D. The insertion channel D allows the rotating pin 413 to pass through smoothly. Furthermore, by setting the channel width to be smaller than the diameter of the rotating pin 413, an effective anti-detachment structure is formed, ensuring that the lever 41 will not fall off the end cap 42 during operation, thereby improving the working reliability of the separation mechanism 4.

[0073] Similarly, in this embodiment, a second mating part 17 is provided on the cartridge 1, and the second mating part 17 is located at the upstream end of the rotation path of the pressure-bearing part 414, so that after the developing cartridge 100 is installed into the drum cartridge, the locking lever on the drum cartridge can effectively engage with the second mating part 17. When it is necessary to disassemble the developing cartridge 100 and the drum cartridge, the operator only needs to move the locking lever to push the second mating part 17 to pry the developing cartridge 100 out of the drum cartridge, thereby greatly facilitating the disassembly operation of the developing cartridge 100 and improving the convenience of maintenance.

[0074] Processing box embodiment The processing cartridge includes a drum cartridge and the developing cartridge described in the first or second embodiment of the developing cartridge. The drum cartridge contains a photosensitive drum, and the housing of the developing cartridge is movably connected to the drum frame of the drum cartridge, allowing the developing roller to contact or separate from the photosensitive drum. By employing the aforementioned developing cartridge and movably connecting its housing to the drum frame of the drum cartridge, the processing cartridge achieves contact or separation between the developing roller and the photosensitive drum. This effectively reduces the overall number of components in the processing cartridge, simplifies the assembly process, and lowers assembly difficulty and production costs, while ensuring stable and reliable developing functionality and thorough cleaning of the photosensitive drum.

[0075] Example of an electrophotographic imaging system The electrophotographic imaging system includes an electrophotographic imaging device and the processing box described in the above-described processing box embodiment. The electrophotographic imaging device includes a body with a box mounting cavity. A drive mechanism is located within the box mounting cavity. The processing box is detachably mounted within the box mounting cavity. The drive mechanism pushes against a pressure-receiving part, forcing a lever to rotate around a rotating pin as a fulcrum. This causes the force-applying pin to apply pressure to a rib plate, moving the developing box relative to the drum, and controlling the separation of the developing roller from the photosensitive drum. By employing the aforementioned processing box, the electrophotographic imaging system reduces the number of components and simplifies the assembly process, thus helping to lower the overall operating and maintenance costs of the equipment.

[0076] Finally, it should be emphasized that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention can have various changes and modifications. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Developing box, including: Box body; A developing roller, which is mounted on the housing and can rotate about its own axis; A separation mechanism includes a lever, which has a slot, a force-applying pin, a rotating pin, and a pressure-receiving part. The force-applying pin is located at the first end of the lever, and the pressure-receiving part is located at the second end of the lever. Along the axial direction of the developing roller, the slot and the force-applying pin are located on one side of the lever, and the rotating pin is located on the back side of the slot. Its features are: The separation mechanism further includes an end cap, which has a base and a limiting cap, and the base is connected to one end of the box body; The base has a plate and a support arm. The plate has conductive protrusions and a first through hole. The shaft of the developing roller passes through the first through hole. The support arm extends from the plate away from the developing roller. A support pin is provided at the extended end of the support arm. The base has a first hollow area on the first side of the support arm. The box has a groove in the first hollow area. A rib is provided on the side of the groove away from the developing roller. The limiting cover has a limiting bridge and a connecting arm. The connecting arm connects the first end of the limiting bridge and the plate. An insertable space is formed between the limiting bridge and the connecting arm. The lever passes through the insertable space, the limiting bridge is located between the pressure-bearing part and the rotating pin, the support pin is inserted into the slot, the force-applying pin is inserted into the groove, and the limiting bridge and the housing restrict the movement of the lever in the axial direction.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base has a second hollow area on the second side of the support arm; When projected orthogonally along the axial direction, the projection of the limiting bridge portion does not overlap with the projection of the support arm, and the projection of the limiting bridge portion is located at the projection of the second hollow area; The limiting cover is elastically deformable.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second end of the limiting bridge is provided with a connecting part, the connecting part is provided with a second through hole and a first mating part, and along the pushing rotation direction of the lever, the first mating part is located at the upstream end of the rotation path of the pressing part; The box body has a first connecting hole at the second through hole, and the second through hole and the first connecting hole are connected by a first fastener.

4. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second end of the limiting bridge is suspended in the air; The housing is provided with a limiting guide and a second mating part at the second end of the limiting bridge. An interpenetration channel is formed between the limiting guide and the second end of the limiting bridge. The width of the interpenetration channel is smaller than the diameter of the rotating pin. Along the direction of the push rotation of the lever, the second mating part is located at the upstream end of the rotation path of the pressure part.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that: The developing cartridge also includes a powder feeding roller, which is mounted on the cartridge body and can rotate about its own axis. The plate body has a third through hole at the conductive protrusion, and the shaft of the powder feeding roller passes through the third through hole and is electrically connected to the conductive protrusion. The plate has a fourth through hole at the root of the support arm, and the box has a second connecting hole at the fourth through hole. The fourth through hole and the second connecting hole are connected by a second fastener.

6. The developing cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The plate has an integrally formed conductive shaft cover at the first through hole. The conductive shaft cover is sleeved on the shaft core of the developing roller and is electrically connected to the conductive protrusion.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 6, characterized in that: The end of the box body is provided with a mating structure, the mating structure including: A support surface assembly, which is adjacent to the plate and the support arm; The positioning rib is located on the side of the plate away from the developing roller, and extends to the first hollow area. The rib plate is part of the positioning rib.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 7, characterized in that: The support arm has a socket on the back side of the support pin; The box body is provided with a pin at the socket, and the pin is inserted into the socket.

9. A processing box, including a drum housing, wherein the drum housing is provided with a photosensitive drum, characterized in that: The processing box further includes a developing box as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the box body is movably connected to the drum box, and the developing roller can contact or separate from the photosensitive drum.

10. An electrophotographic imaging system, comprising an electrophotographic imaging device, the electrophotographic imaging device comprising a body, the body having a housing mounting cavity, and a drive mechanism disposed within the housing mounting cavity, characterized in that: The processing box as described in claim 9 is installed inside the box mounting cavity. The driving mechanism can push the pressure-receiving part, forcing the lever to rotate around the rotating pin as the fulcrum, so that the force-applying pin applies pressure to the rib plate, causing the developing box to move relative to the drum box, and controlling the separation of the developing roller from the photosensitive drum.

Images