Developing box

Abstract

The utility model discloses a developing box, which comprises a shell, a first side and a second side, the shell is provided with the first side and the second side in the first direction, and the second side is separated from the first side; a developing roller; an input gear; a forcibly pushed protrusion; a developing chip having a developing chip electrical contact surface; a locking protrusion capable of cooperating with a drum cartridge having a drum chip to lock the developing cartridge into the drum cartridge, the drum chip having a drum chip electrical contact surface; in a state in which the developing cartridge is mounted to the drum cartridge, the drum chip electrical contact surface is disposed closer to the first side of the housing than the second side of the housing in the first direction; in the first direction, the locking protrusion is farther from the second side of the housing than the forced-pushed protrusion. According to the developing box disclosed by the utility model, the structural layout of the developing box is optimized, and the occurrence of error reporting caused by the fact that an electrophotographic imaging device cannot identify a developing chip / drum chip can be effectively reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of electronic photographic imaging, in particular to a developing box. Background Art

[0002] The developer cartridge is a consumable part that is detachably installed in an electronic photographic imaging device. The electronic photographic imaging device uses the principle of photoelectric imaging to form a desired image on an imaging medium. When the developer contained in the developer cartridge is exhausted, the electronic photographic imaging device will prompt the end user to replace the developer cartridge.

[0003] The prior art discloses a developing box, which needs to be pre-installed in a drum frame provided with a photosensitive drum. The two form a processing box, and then the processing box is installed in a laser printer (electronic photographic imaging device). In order to ensure the development quality of the processing box, a locking rod for locking the developing box to the drum box is provided in the drum frame. Correspondingly, a locking protrusion for receiving the locking force is provided in the developing box. When the developing box is installed on the drum frame, the locking rod cooperates with the locking protrusion to fix the developing box inside the drum frame, thereby preventing the developing box from falling off from the drum box when installed. Utility Model Content

[0004] The utility model further develops the prior art and provides a developing box, which can effectively improve the stability of the connection between the developing box / drum box and the electronic photographic imaging device by changing the setting of the locking part in the developing box. The utility model is realized by the following technical solutions:

[0005] A developing box, comprising:

[0006] A housing for containing a developer, the housing having a first side in a first direction and a second side separated from the first side;

[0007] a developing roller rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in the first direction;

[0008] an input gear capable of receiving an external driving force and rotating about an input gear axis extending in the first direction, wherein the input gear is located on the first side of the housing in the first direction;

[0009] a forced pushing protrusion, capable of receiving a forced pushing force in a second direction intersecting the first direction, wherein the forced pushing protrusion is located at the second side of the housing in the first direction;

[0010] A developer chip having a developer chip electrical contact surface, wherein the developer chip electrical contact surface is located at the first side of the housing;

[0011] a locking protrusion capable of cooperating with a drum cartridge having a drum chip to lock the developer cartridge into the drum cartridge, the drum chip having a drum chip electrical contact surface;

[0012] In a state where the developing cartridge is mounted to the drum cartridge, the drum chip electrical contact surface is disposed closer to the first side of the housing relative to the second side of the housing in the first direction;

[0013] The locking protrusion is farther from the second side of the housing than the forced pushing protrusion in the first direction.

[0014] Further, in a state where the developing cartridge is mounted to the drum cartridge, the locking protrusion is located between the input gear and the electrical contact surface of the drum chip in the second direction.

[0015] Further, in a state where the developer cartridge is mounted to the drum cartridge, the locking protrusion is located between the developer chip electrical contact surface and the drum chip electrical contact surface in the second direction.

[0016] Further, in the first direction, the locking protrusion is located between the first side of the shell and the second side of the shell.

[0017] Further, in the first direction, the locking protrusion is located on the first side of the shell.

[0018] Furthermore, the locking protrusion is constructed as an elastic limiting protrusion extending in the second direction, and the locking protrusion can receive external force and generate elastic deformation in the second direction.

[0019] Furthermore, the drum box includes an abutment surface, which is constructed as an arc-shaped contact surface extending in a first direction; when the developing box is installed to the drum box, the abutment surface contacts the locking protrusion to limit the movement of the developing box in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction.

[0020] Furthermore, the drum box includes an opening portion, and the locking protrusion is constructed as an elastic member that can be deformed under the action of an external force; when the developing box is installed to the drum box, at least a part of the locking protrusion is located inside the opening portion.

[0021] Further, in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, the locking protrusion is located below the electrical contact surface of the developing chip.

[0022] Further, in a state where the developing box is mounted to the drum box, the input gear, the forced pushing protrusion, the developing chip electrical contact surface, the locking protrusion and the drum chip electrical contact surface are arranged in sequence in the second direction.

[0023] The locking portion in the developer box of the utility model is located closer to the developer electrical contact surface and the drum chip electrical contact surface. When the developer box is installed together with the drum box in the electronic photographic imaging device, the stability of the electrical connection between the developer box, the drum box and the imaging device can be better maintained, thereby making the communication connection between the imaging device and the developer box and the drum box more stable, and can effectively reduce the occurrence of errors caused by the electronic photographic imaging device being unable to identify the developer chip / drum chip.

[0024] In addition, the locking portion is arranged on a side of the shell close to the input gear, which optimizes the structural layout of the developer box, makes the structure of the developer box more compact, and optimizes the structural layout of the developer box so that the developer box can obtain a larger volume within the limited space inside the drum box. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the developing box in Embodiment 1 of the utility model;

[0026] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the developing box in Embodiment 1 of the utility model from another angle;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the developing box in Embodiment 1 of the utility model from another angle;

[0028] Figure 4 It is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the drum box in Example 1 of the utility model;

[0029] Figure 5 It is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the drum box in Embodiment 1 of the utility model from another angle;

[0030] Figure 6 It is a left side view of the developer cartridge and the drum cartridge in the installed state in Embodiment 1 of the present utility model;

[0031] Figure 7 This is the utility model embodiment 1 Figure 6 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0032] Figure 8 It is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the developing box in Embodiment 2 of the present utility model;

[0033] Fig. 9 It is a left side view of the developer cartridge and the drum cartridge in the installed state in Embodiment 2 of the present utility model;

[0034] Fig.10 This is the utility model embodiment 2 Figure 6 Enlarged view of point B in the middle;

[0035] Fig.11 It is a partial three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the drum box in Embodiment 3 of the present utility model;

[0036] Fig.12 It is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the developing box in Embodiment 4 of the present utility model;

[0037] Fig.13 It is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of another angle of the developing box in Embodiment 4 of the utility model;

[0038] Fig.14 It is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the drum box in Embodiment 4 of the present utility model;

[0039] Fig.15 It is a schematic diagram of the left side structure of the developing box and the drum box in the state where the developing box and the drum box are separated in Embodiment 4 of the present utility model;

[0040] Fig.16 It is a schematic diagram of the left partial structure of the locking protrusion and the engaged portion in the state where the developing cartridge and the drum cartridge are separated in Embodiment 4 of the present utility model;

[0041] Fig.17 It is a schematic diagram of the left side structure of the developing box and the drum box in a locked state of the developing box and the drum box in Embodiment 4 of the present utility model;

[0042] Fig.18 It is a schematic diagram of the left partial structure of the locking protrusion and the engaged portion in the locked state of the developing cartridge and the drum cartridge in Embodiment 4 of the present utility model;

[0043] Fig.19 is a schematic diagram of the locking protrusion when the locking protrusion is located at another position of the developing box in Example 4 of the utility model;

[0044] Fig. 20 It is a schematic diagram of the locking protrusion when the locking protrusion and the developing box are in a separate structure in Example 4 of the utility model;

[0045] Fig.21 It is a schematic diagram of the left side structure of the developing box and the drum box in the state where the developing box and the drum box are separated in Example 5 of the utility model;

[0046] Fig. 22 It is a schematic diagram of the left partial structure of the locking protrusion and the engaged portion in the state where the developing cartridge and the drum cartridge are separated in Embodiment 5 of the present utility model;

[0047] Fig.23 It is a schematic diagram of the left side structure of the developing box and the drum box in the installed state of the developing box and the drum box in Example 5 of the utility model;

[0048] Fig.24 It is a schematic diagram of the left partial structure of the locking protrusion and the engaged portion in the state where the developing cartridge and the drum cartridge are installed in Embodiment 5 of the present utility model;

[0049] Fig.25 It is a partial structural schematic diagram of the developing box in Embodiment 6 of the present utility model;

[0050] Fig.26 It is the utility model embodiment 6 Fig.25 Enlarged view of point C in the middle;

[0051] Fig. 27 It is a structural schematic diagram of the locking protrusion in the installation state of the developing cartridge and the drum cartridge in Example 6 of the utility model;

[0052] Fig.28 It is a partial structural schematic diagram of the locking protrusion and the engaged portion when the developing box and the drum box are installed in Example 7 of the utility model. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and technical effect of the embodiment of the utility model clearer, the technical scheme of the processing box of the utility model will be described clearly and completely in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiment is only a preferred embodiment of the utility model, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiment of the utility model, other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work belong to the protection scope of the utility model.

[0054] Example 1

[0055] like Figure 1-4 In the following description, when referring to the direction of the developing box 100, the axial direction of the developing roller 104 is the left-right direction (first direction); the front-to-back direction (second direction) is defined as the arrangement direction of the developing roller axis and the stirring frame axis; the up-down direction (third direction) is the direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction.

[0056] 1. Drum box

[0057] like Figure 4-5As shown, a drum cartridge 50 is shown, which can be used to accommodate a developer cartridge 100 and is installed together with the developer cartridge 100 to an electronic photographic imaging device (hereinafter referred to as "imaging device") to perform imaging operations. The drum cartridge 50 includes a drum frame 51 for accommodating the developer cartridge 100, and a photosensitive drum 52 supported at the front end of the drum frame 51 in the front-to-back direction; the left end of the photosensitive drum 52 is connected to a photosensitive drum gear. After the drum cartridge 50 is installed in the imaging device, the photosensitive drum gear of the drum cartridge 50 is meshed with a drum driving gear (not shown) of the imaging device to receive the driving force of the imaging device and drive the photosensitive drum 52 to rotate around the photosensitive drum axis extending in the left-right direction. The drum cartridge 50 also includes a drum storage chip 57 and a drum bracket for supporting the drum storage chip 57. The drum bracket includes a drum support portion and a drum cover. The drum support portion is used to support the drum chip 57, and the drum cover is used to limit the movement of the support portion relative to the drum frame 51. The storage chip 57 also includes a drum electrical contact surface 571 that can be electrically connected to the imaging device. When the drum cartridge 50 is installed in the imaging device, the drum chip electrical contact surface 571 can be electrically connected to the electrical contacts inside the imaging device, so that the drum cartridge 50 and the imaging device establish a communication link. The drum cartridge 50 also includes a pushing portion 55 for applying a pushing force to the forced pushing protrusion in the developer cartridge 100. When the developer cartridge 100 is installed in the imaging device, the forced pushing protrusion contacts the pushing portion 55, so that the pushing portion 55 applies a pushing force to the forced pushing protrusion to make the developer roller 104 contact the photosensitive drum 52.

[0058] The drum frame 51 includes a locking member, the locking portion is located at the left end of the drum frame 51, and the locking portion 54 is used to block the movement of the developer cartridge 100 to prevent the developer cartridge 100 from being separated from the drum cartridge 50. Specifically, the locking portion 54 is located on the left side of the drum frame 51, and the locking portion is configured as a drum cover 58 for limiting the movement amount of the drum storage chip 57 and the drum bracket, and the drum cover 58 is provided with an abutment portion 581 below the side close to the photosensitive drum 52 in the front-to-back direction, and the abutment portion 581 is spaced in the up-down direction below the drum storage chip 57 and the electrical contact surface 571. In the front-to-back direction, the abutment portion 581 is located on the side of the drum frame 51 away from the photosensitive drum 52.

[0059] 2. Developer Box

[0060] like Figure 1-3As shown, a developing box 100 is shown, the developing box 100 can be detachably installed in the drum box 50 including the photosensitive drum 52, and the two can be detachably installed together in the imaging device to perform imaging operations, the developing box 100 includes a shell 101, the shell 101 includes a driving side and a conductive side separated from the driving side in the left-right direction, and includes a front side and a rear side separated from the front side in the front direction. In this embodiment, the driving side is the left side and the conductive side is the right side in the left-right direction. The shell 101 includes a main body 101a for accommodating the developer and an end cover 101b detachably installed on the left side of the main body 101a. A handle 101c for a user to hold is provided on the top rear side of the main body 101a, and the end cover 101b is used to protect the gear system provided between the main body 101a and the end cover 101b. The gear system includes but is not limited to an input gear 111, a developing roller gear, a powder feeding roller gear, a stirring frame gear and at least one connecting gear; the input gear 111 can be connected to a driving member (not shown) inside the imaging device to receive the driving force of the imaging device, and after receiving the driving force, the input gear 111 can rotate around a gear axis extending in the left and right directions, the developing roller gear and the powder feeding roller gear are respectively meshed with the input gear 111 to receive the driving force of the input gear 111 and rotate, and the stirring frame gear is meshed with the input gear 111 through the connecting gear to receive the driving force of the input gear 111 and rotate. The developer box 100 also includes a developer roller 104, a powder feeding roller and a stirring frame. The developer roller 104, the powder feeding roller and the stirring frame are rotatably supported between the driving side and the conductive side of the housing 101. The developer roller gear, the powder feeding roller gear and the stirring frame gear are respectively connected to the left ends of the developer roller 104, the powder feeding roller and the stirring frame. Each gear can respectively drive the developer roller 104, the powder feeding roller and the stirring frame to rotate around their respective axes extending in the left and right directions. The stirring frame rotates to stir the developer inside the housing 101 and transport the developer to the powder feeding roller. , the developer is continuously stirred by the rotation of the powder feeding roller, and at the same time, the powder feeding roller transports the developer to the developing roller 104; when the developing box 100 is installed in the drum box, the developing roller 104 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 52, and the developing roller 104 transports the developer to the photosensitive drum 52 by rotation to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 52; further, the developing roller 104, the powder feeding roller and the stirring frame are arranged in sequence from front to back in the front-to-back direction, and the developing roller 104 is located on the side of the shell 101 away from the handle 101c in the front-to-back direction.

[0061] The developing box 100 further includes an electrode 105 and a developing chip 170. The electrode 105 includes an electrical contact portion, which is disposed on the conductive side of the housing 101. The electrode 105 can be electrically connected to the developing roller 104 and the powder feeding roller. When the developing box 100 is installed in the imaging device, the electrical contact portion can contact with the power supply member (not shown) of the imaging device to receive the power of the imaging device and transmit it to the developing roller 104 and the powder feeding roller, so that the developer can be transported more smoothly. The developing chip 170 is used to record the information of the developing box 100. The developing chip 170 includes a storage portion (not shown) and an electrical contact surface 171, which is disposed on the driving side of the housing 101.

[0062] Further, the developing chip 170 is supported on the left side of the housing 101 by the developing bracket 180, and the developing chip 170 is farther away from the developing roller 104 than the input gear 111 in the front-to-back direction, that is, the developing bracket 180 and the electrical contact surface 171 are farther away from the developing roller 104 than the input gear 111 in the front direction. In one implementation direction of this embodiment, the developing bracket 180 includes a supporting portion 181 and a developing protective cover 182, and the developing protective cover 182 is located on the left side of the supporting portion 181 in the left-right direction, and the supporting portion 181 is located between the developing protective cover 182 and the housing 101 in the left-right direction, so that the developing protective cover 182 can limit the movement of the supporting portion 181 relative to the housing to prevent the supporting portion 181 and the developing chip 170 from falling off from the housing 101.

[0063] The developer box 100 also includes a locking portion 190, which is located on the left side of the shell 101 in the left-right direction. When the developer box 100 is installed to the drum box 50, the locking portion 190 cooperates with the abutment portion 581 in the drum box 50 to limit the movement of the developer box 100 relative to the drum box 50 to prevent the developer box 100 from falling off from the drum box 50.

[0064] Specifically, the locking portion 190 is formed by extending from the rear side of the developer cover 18 in the front-to-back direction, and the locking portion is constructed as an elastic protrusion extending in the front-to-back direction and the left-to-right direction. The locking portion 190 is provided with a guide portion 191 and a stop portion 192 on both sides in the up-down direction, respectively. The guide portion 191 is constructed as a guide surface at the rear lower side in the up-down direction and the front-to-back direction, and the stop portion 192 is constructed as an abutment surface at the rear upper side in the up-down direction and the front-to-back direction. When in use, the user places the developer box 100 from top to bottom on the top of the drum box 50, and then the user applies a downward thrust to the developer box 100. Under the action of the thrust, the developer box 100 enters the interior of the drum box 50 from the top of the drum box 50. In this process, the locking portion 190 moves from top to bottom together. During the movement of the locking portion 190, the guide portion 191 contacts and abuts against the top of the drum cover 58 in the drum box 500, and under the action of the thrust, the locking portion 190 produces elastic deformation. At this time, the locking portion 190 moves from top to bottom to the bottom of the drum cover 58 under the action of the forced thrust. After the locking portion 190 moves to the bottom of the drum cover 58, the locking portion 190 returns to its original shape under the action of elastic potential energy. At this time, the stop portion 192 of the locking portion 190 is located below the abutment portion 581 of the drum box 50 to limit the movement of the locking portion 190 in the up and down directions, thereby limiting the movement of the developing box 100 relative to the drum box 50 in the up and down directions, thereby achieving the purpose of preventing the developing box 100 from falling off from the drum box 50.

[0065] When the user needs to replace the developing cartridge 100 in the drum cartridge 50, the user pulls the developing cartridge 100 upwards by the handle 101c of the developing cartridge 100, thereby moving the developing cartridge 100 from the inside of the drum cartridge 50 from the bottom to the top to leave the drum cartridge 50. During this process, the stop portion 192 of the locking portion 190 contacts the abutting portion 581 of the drum cartridge 50, and the locking portion 190 is deformed under the action of the lifting force so that the locking portion 190 moves from the bottom to the top to the top of the drum cover 58 under the action of the lifting force. At this time, the developing cartridge 100 moves to the top of the drum cartridge 50, and the user removes the old developing cartridge 100 and installs a new developing cartridge 100 for continued use.

[0066] Example 2

[0067] like Figure 8-10As shown in the figure, a developer box 100 of another embodiment of the utility model is shown. Different from the above-mentioned embodiment, in this embodiment, the developer box 100 includes a locking portion 290, which is formed by extending outward from the left side of the shell 101, and the locking portion 290 includes a connecting portion 291 for connecting to the shell 101 and a protrusion 292 extending from the right side of the connecting portion 291 in the front-to-back direction, and the protrusion 292 has a stop portion 292a facing upward and a guide portion 292b facing downward in the up-down direction; the stop portion 292a is constructed as a contact surface facing rearward and upward in the up-down direction and the front-to-back direction, and when the developer box 100 is installed in the drum box, the stop portion 292a contacts the abutment portion 581 of the drum box 50 to limit the movement of the developer box 100 relative to the drum box 50 in the up-down direction and thereby prevent the developer box 100 from falling off from the drum box 50.

[0068] Example 3

[0069] like Fig.11 As shown in the figure, similar to the locking portion 229 of the developer cartridge 100 in the above-mentioned embodiment 2, another embodiment of the drum cartridge 50 in the present utility model that cooperates with the developer cartridge is shown in the figure. Different from the above-mentioned embodiment, in this embodiment, the drum cartridge 50 includes a locking protrusion 68 that cooperates with the locking portion of the developer cartridge. The locking protrusion 68 is formed by extending from the left side of the drum frame 51. The locking protrusion 68 is provided with an abutment portion 681 below the side close to the photosensitive drum 52 in the front-to-back direction. The abutment portion 681 is located below the drum storage chip 57 and the electrical contact surface 571 at intervals in the up-down direction. In the front-to-back direction, the abutment portion 681 is located on the side of the drum frame 51 away from the photosensitive drum 52. When the developer cartridge is installed on the drum cartridge 50, the abutment portion 681 can cooperate with the stopper of the developer cartridge and the drum cartridge 50 to limit the relative movement of the developer cartridge and the drum cartridge 50, so as to prevent the developer cartridge from being separated from the drum cartridge 50.

[0070] Embodiment 4:

[0071] like Figure 12-20 As shown, the figure shows a developing box 100 of this embodiment and a drum box 50 matched with the developing box 100 of this embodiment, and the drum box 50 includes a coupled portion 40 configured as an opening. The drum frame 51 of the drum box 50 is provided with guide grooves 53 on both sides in the left and right directions.

[0072] A developing chip 170 for storing developing box information is provided on the driving side of the developing box 100. The developing chip 170 is electrically connected to a power supply device (not shown) of the imaging device through a developing chip electrical contact surface 171. Forced pushing protrusions 108 are extended outward on the left and right sides of the developing box housing 101 for receiving a pushing force provided by the pushing portion 55 in the drum box 50 to keep the developing roller 104 in contact with the photosensitive drum 52.

[0073] The developer box 100 also includes a locking protrusion 160, which can cooperate with the coupled portion 40 of the drum box 50 to lock the developer box 100 into the interior of the drum box 50. That is, when the developer box 100 is installed in the drum box 50, the locking protrusion 160 of the developer box 100 cooperates with the coupled portion 40 of the drum box 50 to prevent the developer box 100 from detaching from the drum box 50; the locking protrusion 160 is located at the bottom of the developer box 100.

[0074] like Fig.13 and Fig.16 As shown, the locking protrusion 160 is connected to the shell 101 of the developing box 100 through the supporting portion 61, and the locking protrusion 160 includes a limiting portion 162, which is constructed of a plastic sheet that can be elastically deformed, and the limiting portion 162 is a triangle protruding toward the front end, and an upper inclined portion 163 and a lower inclined portion 164 are respectively provided on the upper and lower sides of the limiting portion 162.

[0075] Preferably, two locking protrusions 160 may be provided, and the two locking protrusions 160 are symmetrically arranged in the left-right direction of the developing box 100, so that the locking of the developing box 100 and the drum box 50 is more stable.

[0076] The matching of the developing box and the drum box

[0077] When the developer cartridge 100 is installed in the drum cartridge 50, the user places the developer cartridge 100 on the drum frame 51 from top to bottom, and allows the developer roller 104 (which may also be provided as a columnar protrusion coaxial with the developer roller 104) to enter the guide groove 53, so that the developer cartridge 100 enters the drum cartridge 50 along the guide groove 53; Figure 15-16 As shown, the locking protrusion 160 is located above the engaged portion 40, and the forced pushing protrusion 108 is located above the forced pushing unit 55; then the user pushes the developing box 100 downward, and the developing box 100 moves along the guide groove 53 toward the front and lower part of the drum box 50, and at the same time, the developing box 100 rotates downward around the axis of the developing roller 104.

[0078] During this process, the forced pushing protrusion 108 is in contact with the forced pushing unit 55. In the process that the forced pushing protrusion 108 rotates downward with the developer box 100, the forced pushing protrusion 108 moves to the rear of the forced pushing unit 55, and the forced pushing unit 55 applies a forward forced pushing force to the forced pushing protrusion 108; under the action of the forced pushing force, the forced pushing unit 55 pushes the developer box 100 to maintain a forward state through the forced pushing protrusion 108, so that the developing roller 104 maintains contact with the photosensitive drum 52; at the same time, the locking protrusion 160 rotates downward with the developer box 100 at the same time, and contacts the edge of the drum frame 51 located above the coupled part 40. Under the action of the pushing force, the limiting part 162 moves to the rear of the rear wall of the drum frame 51 with the lower inclined part 164, and causes the limiting part 162 to be deformed by the force, so that the limiting part 162 enters the interior of the coupled part 40; Figure 18-19 As shown, at this time, the upper edge of the engaged portion 40 is clamped between the limiting portion 162 and the shell 101, which can prevent the developer box 100 from moving up and down, so that the developer box 100 is locked inside the drum box 50, thereby completing the installation of the developer box 100 and the drum box 50.

[0079] Unlocking the developer cartridge and drum cartridge

[0080] When it is necessary to take the developing box 100 out of the drum box 50, the user can lift the developing box 100 upwards by the handle of the developing box 100, so that the developing box 100 rotates upward around the axis of the developing roller 104. During the upward rotation of the developing box 100, the upper inclined portion 163 above the limiting portion 162 contacts the upper edge of the coupled portion 40; the developing box 100 continues to rotate upwards driven by the separation force, and the limiting portion 162 moves to the rear of the front wall of the drum frame 51 with the upper inclined portion 163, and the limiting portion 162 is deformed and moved to the top of the coupled portion 40, thereby releasing the locking state between the developing box 100 and the drum box 50; after releasing the lock, the staff can move the developing box 100 backward and upward to make the developing box 100 leave the drum box 50.

[0081] Optional, such as Figure 14-15As shown, a second protrusion 109 is provided on the conductive side of the shell 101 of the developer box 100 in the axial direction; a lever unit 54 for lifting the developer box 100 is provided at a position corresponding to the second protrusion 109 inside the drum frame 51; when the developer box 100 needs to be taken out of the drum box 50, the user can press the lever unit 54 to make the lever unit 54 apply an upward force to the second protrusion 109, thereby causing the developer box 100 to rotate upward around the axis of the developing roller 104, and during the upward rotation of the developer box 100, the upper inclined portion 163 above the limiting portion 162 contacts the upper edge of the coupled portion 40; the developer box 100 continues to rotate upward driven by the separation force, so that the limiting portion 162 continues to move to the top of the coupled portion 40, and thus the locking state between the developer box 100 and the drum box 50 can be released more labor-savingly.

[0082] Alternatively, if Fig.19 As shown, in the drum cartridge 50 of the present embodiment, the engaged portion 40 exists only on one side of the bottom of the drum frame 51; correspondingly, the housing 101 is provided with only one locking protrusion 160 at a position corresponding thereto.

[0083] Alternatively, if Fig. 20 As shown, the locking protrusion 160 and the developer box housing 101 can be a split structure; the locking protrusion 160 is fixedly connected to the housing 101 through a screw 65 through the cooperation between the combined part 40 and the locking protrusion 160.

[0084] Embodiment 5:

[0085] Next, we will combine the Figure 21-24 Embodiment 5 of the present invention is described in detail. Embodiment 5 provides a developing box. The similarities between the processing box of this embodiment and the developing boxes in the above-mentioned embodiments 1-4 will not be repeated in this embodiment. The difference is that the arrangement of the combined part 40 and the locking protrusion 160 in this embodiment is different from that in Embodiment 4.

[0086] Specifically, the coupled portion 40 is arranged at the bottom of the drum frame 51, and the coupled portion 40 extends rearward and upward inside the drum frame 51 in an "L" shape; the locking protrusion 160 is connected to the shell 101 of the developing box 100 through the supporting portion 61, and the locking protrusion 160 includes a limiting portion 162, and the limiting portion 162 is a triangle protruding toward the front end, and the upper and lower sides of the limiting portion 162 are respectively provided with an upper inclined portion 163 and a lower inclined portion 164.

[0087] When installing the developing cartridge 100 to the drum cartridge 50, the user places the developing cartridge 100 on the drum frame 51 from top to bottom, and allows the developing roller 104 to enter the inside of the guide groove 53, so that the developing cartridge 100 enters the inside of the drum cartridge 50 along the guide groove 53; Figure 21-22As shown, the locking protrusion 160 is located above the engaged portion 40, and the forced pushing protrusion 108 is located above the forced pushing unit 55; then the user continues to push down the developing box 100, and the developing box 100 moves along the guide groove 53 toward the front and lower part of the drum box 50, and at the same time, the developing box 100 rotates downward around the axis of the developing roller 104.

[0088] During this process, the locking protrusion 160 rotates downward with the developing box 100 and contacts the engaged part 40. Under the action of the pushing force, the engaged part 40 contacts the lower inclined part 164. Under the guidance of the lower inclined part 164, the limiting part 162 enters into the interior of the engaged part 40; thereby, the limiting part 162 is engaged with the interior of the engaged part 40, which can prevent the developing box 100 from moving up and down, and lock the developing box 100 into the interior of the drum box 50, thereby completing the installation of the developing box 100 and the drum box 50.

[0089] Embodiment 6:

[0090] Next, we will combine the Fig. 27 Embodiment 6 of the present invention is described in detail. Embodiment 6 provides a developing box. The similarities between the processing box of this embodiment and the developing boxes in the above-mentioned embodiments 4 and 5 will not be repeated in this embodiment. The difference is that the arrangement of the combined part 40 and the locking protrusion 160 in this embodiment is different from those in embodiments 4 and 5.

[0091] Specifically, unlike Embodiments 4 and 5, the locking protrusion 160 of this embodiment is arranged on the left side of the shell 101; the locking protrusion 160 is located below the developing chip electrical contact surface 171 in the up and down direction, and the leftmost end of the locking protrusion 160 in the left and right direction is closer to the electrode 105 than the leftmost end of the developing chip electrical contact surface 171. In this way, the locking protrusion 160 can be combined with the opening-shaped combined portion 40 provided on the left side wall of the drum frame 51 of the drum box 50, so that the developing box 100 is locked into the drum box drum frame 51, so that the setting of the locking protrusion 160 will not affect the electrical contact between the developing chip electrical contact surface 171 of the developing box and the printer, and will not increase the size of the powder box, thereby meeting the demand for miniaturization.

[0092] Embodiment 7:

[0093] Next, we will combine the Fig.28 Embodiment 7 of the present invention is described in detail. Embodiment 7 provides a developing box. The similarities between the developing box of this embodiment and the developing boxes in the above embodiments 1-6 will not be described in detail in this embodiment. The difference is that the locking unit 180 in this embodiment has a different configuration from that in the above embodiments.

[0094] Specifically, in the present embodiment, the locking unit 180 includes a support 181 connected to the housing 101, the support 181 is configured to be connected to the housing 101 and protrude toward the rear end of the housing 101 in the front-to-back direction, the support 181 includes a hole 182, the hole 182 is configured to be a guide hole extending in the front-to-back direction, and the locking unit 180 also includes a locking member 183, the locking member 183 is configured to be able to slide inside the hole 182 from a first position to a second position closer to the developing roller 104 in the front-to-back direction than the first position. A spring 184 is provided between the locking piece 183 and the hole 182 for pushing the locking piece 183 to move toward the front end along the direction of the hole 182. The locking piece 183 includes a limiting portion 185 which is provided on a side close to the spring 184 and can cooperate with the hole 182 to prevent the locking piece 183 from leaving the hole 182 under the action of the spring 184. The locking piece 183 also includes a guide portion 186 which is arranged opposite to the limiting portion 185 in the front-to-rear direction. The guide portion 186 includes an upper guide surface 186a and a lower guide surface 186b which are relatively inclined.

[0095] In this embodiment, the engaged portion 40 is an opening on the drum frame 51 of the drum box. When the developer box 100 is engaged with the drum box 50, after the developer box housing 101 is subjected to a downward thrust in the up-down direction, the locking member 183 moves downward and contacts the upper side of the engaged portion 40 corresponding to the drum frame 51. As the developer box 100 continues to move downward, the lower guide surface 186b of the locking member 183 contacts the drum frame 51, and a backward thrust is generated on the locking member 183, thereby forcing the locking member 183 to move from the first position to the second position. At this time, the spring 184 is compressed and moves from the first position to the second position. A length is compressed to a second length which is shorter than the first length in the front-to-back direction; when the developer box 100 continues to move downward and the locking piece 183 enters the opening of the coupled part 40, the contact between the locking piece 183 and the drum frame 51 is released, thereby releasing the pushing force of the drum frame 51 on the locking piece 183, and the elastic force accumulated by the spring 184 due to compression is released. The elastic force is applied to the locking piece 183, so that the locking piece 183 can be moved from the second position to the first position again, thereby locking the locking piece 183 in the inside of the coupled part 40, thereby completing the locking of the developer box 100 and the drum box 50.

[0096] When the developing box 100 and the drum box 50 need to be separated, the user pulls up the developing box 100, and the developing box 100 is forced to move upward. During the movement, the upper guide surface 186a of the locking member 183 contacts the upper edge of the coupled portion 40, so that the locking member 183 moves from the first position to the second position. When the developing box 100 continues to move upward and the locking member 183 is located above the drum frame 51, the locking member 183 moves from the second position to the first position again under the action of the spring 184, thereby releasing the lock between the developing box 100 and the drum box 50.

[0097] Optionally, in this embodiment, the positions of the locking unit 180 and the engaged portion 40 are not limited to the rear end of the developer cartridge housing 101, but may also be arranged on the left side of the housing 101 as described in Embodiment 3, or at other suitable positions.

[0098] Functions and beneficial effects:

[0099] Through the description of the above-mentioned multiple embodiments, it is shown that the position of the locking protrusion of the locking portion / locking unit in the developer box 100 of the utility model is closer to the developer electrical contact surface 171 and the drum chip electrical contact surface 571. When the developer box 100 is installed in the electronic photographic imaging device together with the drum box 50, the stability of the electrical connection between the developer box 100, the drum box 50 and the imaging device can be better maintained, thereby making the communication connection between the imaging device and the developer box 100 and the drum box 50 more stable, which can effectively reduce the occurrence of errors caused by the electronic photographic imaging device being unable to recognize the developer chip 170 / drum chip 57.

[0100] The locking portion of the developer box 100 of the present invention is arranged on a side of the shell 101 close to the input gear 111, which optimizes the structural layout of the developer box 100, makes the structure of the developer box 100 more compact, and is conducive to realizing the demand for miniaturization of the developer box 100.

[0101] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments may still be modified, or some of the technical features may be replaced by equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A developing box, comprising: A housing for containing a developer, the housing having a first side in a first direction and a second side separated from the first side; a developing roller rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in the first direction; an input gear capable of receiving an external driving force and rotating about an input gear axis extending in the first direction, wherein the input gear is located on the first side of the housing in the first direction; a forced pushing protrusion, capable of receiving a forced pushing force in a second direction intersecting the first direction, wherein the forced pushing protrusion is located at the second side of the housing in the first direction; A developer chip having a developer chip electrical contact surface, wherein the developer chip electrical contact surface is located at the first side of the housing; a locking protrusion capable of cooperating with a drum cartridge having a drum core having a drum core electrical contact surface to lock the developing cartridge into the drum cartridge; It is characterized in that, in a state where the developing cartridge is mounted to the drum cartridge, the drum chip electrical contact surface is arranged closer to the first side of the housing relative to the second side of the housing in the first direction; The locking protrusion is farther from the second side of the housing than the forced pushing protrusion in the first direction.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: In a state in which the developing cartridge is mounted to the drum cartridge, the locking protrusion is located between the input gear and the drum chip electrical contact surface in the second direction.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that: In a state where the developing cartridge is mounted to the drum cartridge, the locking protrusion is located between the developing chip electrical contact surface and the drum chip electrical contact surface in the second direction.

4. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The locking protrusion is located between the first side of the housing and the second side of the housing in the first direction.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The locking protrusion is located at the first side of the housing in the first direction.

6. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking protrusion is configured as an elastic limiting protrusion extending in the second direction, and the locking protrusion can receive an external force and generate elastic deformation in the second direction.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drum box includes an abutment surface, which is constructed as an arc-shaped contact surface extending in a first direction; when the developer box is installed to the drum box, the abutment surface contacts the locking protrusion to limit the movement of the developer box in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The drum box includes an opening portion, and the locking protrusion is configured as an elastic member that can be deformed under the action of an external force; when the developing box is installed to the drum box, at least a portion of the locking protrusion is located inside the opening portion.

9. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The locking protrusion is located below the electrical contact surface of the developing chip in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction.

10. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: In a state where the developing cartridge is mounted to the drum cartridge, the input gear, the forced-pushing protrusion, the developing chip electrical contact surface, the locking protrusion, and the drum chip electrical contact surface are sequentially arranged in the second direction.

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