Processing box, consumable chip and printer

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of regeneration of processing boxes, in particular to a processing box, a consumable chip and a printer. The processing box is detachably installed in the printer, the processing box comprises a driving module, a driving control module and the consumable chip, and the driving module is used for driving consumables in the processing box to be sprayed out of the processing box; the driving control module is used for controlling the driving module to drive the consumable quantity; and the consumable chip is connected with the driving control module, and the consumable chip and the driving control module are respectively arranged on different circuit boards and are used for being connected and communicated with the printer. According to the processing box and the consumable chip provided by the utility model, the communication efficiency between the processing box and the printer is high, and the installation mode of the consumable chip in the processing box is relatively simple.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of regeneration of a processing box, in particular to a processing box, a consumable chip and a printer. Background Art

[0002] Printers are one of the common devices used in modern daily office work. Printers are usually used with consumables such as ink cartridges, toner cartridges, and drum cartridges. In order to better control the printing process, printer manufacturers usually install consumable chips in the above-mentioned processing boxes. The consumable chips are used to record the remaining powder or liquid in the processing box, the serial number, and encrypted communication with the printer, so that a binding relationship is formed between the consumable chip and the processing box. When the remaining powder or liquid in the processing box is used up, the consumable chip cannot restore the relevant data, and the consumable chip is thus invalidated, which in turn causes the processing box to be invalidated - even if powder or liquid is refilled in the processing box, it cannot be used anymore.

[0003] This practice of printer manufacturers is not conducive to market competition, and the original consumable chips (that is, the chips designed by the printer manufacturer corresponding to the processing box of its printer) are usually expensive and cannot be reused, and the corresponding processing box cannot be reused, which increases the consumption burden of consumers and is not conducive to environmental protection. Therefore, third-party consumable chips designed and produced by third-party substitute manufacturers have gradually appeared on the market to replace or be used in conjunction with the original consumable chips in the processing box, thereby achieving the reuse of the processing box.

[0004] In some processing boxes, especially an original ink cartridge (i.e., an ink cartridge designed by a printer manufacturer corresponding to its printer), the original ink cartridge includes an original chip (i.e., a consumable chip designed by the printer manufacturer corresponding to the original ink cartridge), an inkjet device and an inkjet device control circuit, wherein the inkjet device is used to control the ink ejection from the original ink cartridge, and the inkjet device control circuit is used to control the speed and ejection amount of the inkjet device, and the inkjet device control circuit is connected to the original chip, and the two are arranged on the same FPC (flexible circuit board), and are physically difficult to separate. However, the manufacturing precision required for the inkjet device control circuit is high, and the production cost is high. Therefore, a third-party chip appears (that is, a consumable chip designed by a third-party substitute manufacturer corresponding to the above-mentioned original ink cartridge). The third-party chip covers the original chip and is connected to the original chip, and is used to communicate with the printer. In other words, it is equivalent to adding a third-party chip to the original chip without changing the inkjet device control circuit, original chip and other components in the original ink cartridge, so as to realize the reuse of the original ink cartridge. When communicating with the printer, the signal of the printer is first processed by the third-party chip, and then the original chip responds or provides data.

[0005] However, this third-party chip makes the communication efficiency between the original ink cartridge and the printer low, and the third-party chip is usually covered on the original chip by welding, so that the contacts in the original chip that originally contacted the printer are aligned with the corresponding contacts in the third-party chip and welded together. However, since the third-party chip is also covered on the original chip, the third-party chip has higher requirements for the positioning between the contacts in the third-party chip and the original chip, so the installation of the third-party chip is also more troublesome. Utility Model Content

[0006] The utility model provides a processing box, a consumable chip and a printer, which can better solve the problem of ink cartridge regeneration.

[0007] The processing box provided by the embodiment of the utility model can be detachably installed in the printer, and the processing box includes a driving module, a driving control module and a consumable chip, wherein the driving module is used to drive the consumable amount in the processing box to be ejected from the processing box; the driving control module is used to control the driving module to drive the consumable amount; the consumable chip is connected to the driving control module, and is on a different circuit board from the driving control module, and is used to connect and communicate with the printer.

[0008] The consumable chip provided in the embodiment of the utility model is the consumable chip in the processing box provided in the embodiment of the utility model.

[0009] The printer provided by the embodiment of the utility model comprises the processing box provided by the embodiment of the utility model, and the processing box is detachably installed in the printer.

[0010] Therefore, the processing box, consumable chip and printer provided by the utility model do not include the original chip, and the consumable chip is connected to the drive control module and is not connected to the original chip, so the procedure of the printer signal from the third-party chip to the original chip during the communication between the processing box and the printer can be omitted - the printer signal can directly reach the consumable chip and then establish communication with the processing box, so the communication efficiency is high. And the consumable chip does not need to cover the original chip, and the installation of the consumable chip does not need to be aligned with the contacts of the original chip, and its installation method is also relatively simple. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for describing the embodiments.

[0012] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a processing box according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2A schematic diagram of the structure of a processing box according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of a processing box according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of a processing box according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the utility model to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the utility model, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the utility model.

[0017] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the embodiments of the present invention have the same meanings as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. It should also be understood that terms such as those defined in common dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or extremely formal sense, unless the embodiments of the present invention are explicitly defined in this way.

[0018] The terms "center", "up", "down", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", etc. used in the embodiments of the present invention to indicate directions or positional relationships are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, or are the directions or positional relationships in which the products of the embodiments are usually placed when in use. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present invention.

[0019] The words "first", "second" and similar words used in the embodiments of the present utility model do not indicate any order, quantity or importance, but are only used to distinguish different components. Words such as "one", "an" or "the" and similar words do not indicate a quantity limitation, but indicate the existence of at least one. Similarly, words such as "include" or "comprise" and similar words mean that the elements or objects appearing before the word cover the elements or objects listed after the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Words such as "connect" or "connected" and similar words are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. The steps before or after the method of the embodiments of the present utility model are not necessarily carried out in precise order. On the contrary, various steps can be processed in reverse order or simultaneously. At the same time, other operations can also be added to these processes, or a step or several steps can be removed from these processes.

[0020] See also Figure 1-Figure 4 , is a schematic diagram of the structure of the processing box provided by different embodiments of the present invention, and the processing box 100 provided by the present invention can be detachably installed in the printer.

[0021] The processing box 100 includes a driving module 1, a driving control module 2 and a consumable chip 3. The driving module 1 is used to drive the consumables in the processing box 100 to be ejected from the processing box 100; the driving control module 2 is used to control the driving module 1 to drive the consumables; the consumable chip 3 is connected to the driving control module 2, and is on a different circuit board from the driving control module 2, and is used to connect and communicate with the printer.

[0022] The consumable chip 3 is a third-party chip, that is, a chip designed by a third-party OEM manufacturer and used in the processing box 100 .

[0023] The types of process cartridges 100 include ink cartridges, toner cartridges, ink bags, drum cartridges, toner cartridges, developer cartridges, and other consumables used in printers.

[0024] The amount of consumables may be ink, toner, carbon powder, etc., which is specifically determined according to the type of the processing cartridge 100 .

[0025] Therefore, in the prior art, the original chip is connected to the drive control module 2 and is integrally formed on the same circuit board, and it is difficult to separate the original chip from the drive control module 2. Some other existing third-party chips directly cover the original chip and are connected to the original chip. When the printer communicates with the original ink cartridge, the signal of the printer must be processed by the third-party chip and then responded by the original chip. Compared with this existing third-party chip solution, the consumable chip 3 in this solution can replace the original chip and connect to the drive control module 2 to control the drive control module 2, and the consumable chip 3 is used to communicate with the printer, so that in the process of communication between the processing box 100 and the printer, the step of the printer's signal passing through the third-party chip and then to the original chip is omitted, thereby improving the communication efficiency. At the same time, since the consumable chip 3 does not need to be covered on the original chip, and the installation of the consumable chip 3 does not need to be aligned with the contacts of the original chip and connect the two, its installation method is also relatively simple.

[0026] It should be noted that the processing box 100 can be an original processing box (a processing box designed by a printer manufacturer to match its printer) or a third-party substitute processing box (a processing box designed by a third-party substitute manufacturer to match the original printer). Since the technical problems overcome in this solution include problems caused by the original chip being connected to the drive control module 2 and being integrally formed on the same circuit board, and the original chip is usually used in the original processing box, the processing box 100 mentioned is mainly an original processing box. However, in other third-party substitute processing boxes, there may also be problems caused by the corresponding third-party substitute chip being connected to the corresponding drive control module 2 and being integrally formed on the same circuit board, and thus this solution can also solve such technical problems, and the processing box 100 mentioned at this time can be a third-party substitute processing box.

[0027] exist Figure 1-Figure 4 In the figure, the driving module 1 includes a discharge port 1a and a driving pump device (not shown), and the driving pump device discharges the consumable material from the discharge port 1a under the control of the driving control module 2.

[0028] The drive control module 2 is equivalent to a chip or circuit board that can control the drive pump device. Figure 1-Figure 4 In the process cartridge regeneration technology, the drive control module 2 is designed as a circuit board. It should be noted that, due to the high manufacturing precision and high manufacturing cost of the drive control module 2, in the process cartridge regeneration technology, the drive control module 2 is usually a module designed by the original manufacturer and is not modified by a third-party substitute manufacturer.

[0029] The driving control module 2 controls the driving module 1 to drive the consumables, including the driving control module 2 controlling the driving module 1 to drive the consumables to be ejected from the processing box 100 in the quantity, speed and other parameters. That is, the driving module 1 drives the consumables to be ejected from the processing box 100 in the quantity, speed and other parameters to be controlled by the driving control module 2.

[0030] Furthermore, in this solution, the original chip needs to be separated from the drive control module 2 before the consumable chip 3 is installed on the original position of the process box 100 and connected to the drive control module 2. After the drive control module 2 and the original chip are separated, a notch 2a is formed, and then the consumable chip 3 is connected to the notch 2a.

[0031] In some embodiments, Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the consumable chip 3 is connected to the drive control module 2 by welding, and the welding point H is located near the cutout 2a. This connection method is relatively simple and firm, making the communication between the consumable chip 3 and the drive control module 2 more stable.

[0032] In other embodiments, Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the consumable chip 3 is connected to the drive control module 2 via a wiring socket 31. Specifically, Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the wiring socket 31 is arranged on the consumable chip 3, and the connection between the consumable chip 3 and the driving control module 2 can be realized by inserting the cutout 2a of the driving control module 2 into the wiring socket 31. This connection method is more convenient for ordinary consumers to operate, and is convenient for ordinary consumers to replace the consumable chip 3 into the exhausted processing box 100, so as to realize the regeneration of the processing box 100.

[0033] In some embodiments, Figure 1-Figure 2 As shown, the consumable chip 3 is a chip in the form of a soft board, such as: FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit). Since the original chip after being cut is also in the form of a soft board, there is no need to worry about the consumable chip 3 in the form of a soft board interfering with the printer or affecting its contact with the printer.

[0034] In other embodiments, Figure 3-Figure 4 As shown, the consumable chip 3 is a hard board chip, such as a PCB (Printed Circuit Board), and the thickness of the PCB where the consumable chip 3 is located is determined according to the actual situation, so as not to affect the contact between the printer and the consumable chip 3 and not interfere with the printer. Using the consumable chip 3 in the form of a hard board has a simple process and low cost.

[0035] like Figure 1-Figure 4 As shown, the process cartridge 100 further includes a housing 4 .

[0036] In some embodiments, Figure 1-Figure 4 As shown, the consumable chip 3 is fixed in the housing 4 of the processing box 100 in the form of pasting. For example, one side of the consumable chip 3 is used to connect and communicate with the printer, and the other side is pasted on the housing 4 of the processing box 100. This fixing method is simple and low-cost.

[0037] Therefore, in the embodiments provided by the present utility model, Figure 1 As shown, the consumable chip 3 is a chip in the form of a soft board, which is fixed to the shell 4 of the processing box 100 by pasting. The consumable chip 3 in the form of a soft board is connected to the soft board circuit where the drive control module 2 is located by welding, and the welding point H is located near the incision 2a of the drive control module 2.

[0038] like Figure 2 As shown, the consumable chip 3 is a chip in the form of a soft board, which is fixed to the shell 4 of the processing box 100 by gluing. The consumable chip 3 in the form of a soft board is connected to the soft board circuit where the drive control module 2 is located through a wiring socket 31, and the cutout 2a of the drive control module 2 is inserted into the wiring socket 31.

[0039] like Figure 3 As shown, the consumable chip 3 is a hard board chip, which is fixed to the shell 4 of the processing box 100 by pasting. The consumable chip 3 in the hard board form is connected to the soft board circuit where the drive control module 2 is located by welding, and the welding point H is located near the incision 2a of the drive control module 2.

[0040] like Figure 4 As shown, the consumable chip 3 is a hard board chip, which is fixed to the shell 4 of the processing box 100 by gluing. The consumable chip 3 in the hard board form is connected to the soft board circuit where the drive control module 2 is located through a wiring socket 31, and the cutout 2a of the drive control module 2 is inserted into the wiring socket 31.

[0041] The utility model also provides a consumable chip, which is at least Figure 1-Figure 4 The consumable chip 3 is shown.

[0042] The utility model also provides a printer, including Figure 1-Figure 4 The process cartridge 100 is shown, and the process cartridge 100 is detachably installed in the printer.

[0043] There are a few points to note:

[0044] (1) The drawings of the embodiments of the present utility model only relate to the structures involved in the embodiments of the present utility model, and other structures may refer to the conventional designs.

[0045] (2) In the absence of conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features therein may be combined with each other to obtain new embodiments.

[0046] The above description is only a specific implementation of the present utility model, but the protection scope of the present utility model is not limited thereto. The protection scope of the present utility model shall be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A process cartridge, detachably mounted in a printer, characterized in that: The processing box comprises: A driving module, used for driving the consumables in the processing box to be ejected from the processing box; A driving control module, used for controlling the driving module to drive the consumables; The consumable chip is connected to the drive control module and is on a different circuit board from the drive control module, and is used for connecting and communicating with the printer.

2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The consumable chip is connected to the drive control module by welding.

3. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The consumable chip is connected to the drive control module via a wiring socket.

4. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The consumable chip is a chip in the form of a soft board.

5. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The consumable chip is a chip in the form of a hard board.

6. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The processing box also includes a shell, and the consumable chip is fixed in the shell of the processing box in the form of adhesion.

7. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The consumable chip is a third-party substitute chip.

8. A consumable chip, characterized in that: The consumable chip is the consumable chip in the processing box according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A printer, characterized in that: The printer comprises a process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the process cartridge is detachably mounted in the printer.

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