Processing box

Abstract

The utility model provides a process cartridge detachably mounted to an imaging device, the process cartridge comprises a developing unit, the developing unit comprises a developing shell used for storing a developing agent and a developing roller rotatably arranged in the developing shell, and the developing roller rotates around a rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge; the processing box further comprises a second driving assembly and a protecting cover, the second driving assembly is used for receiving driving force at least used for driving the developing roller to rotate from the imaging device, the protecting cover is fixedly arranged relative to the developing shell, a second through hole is formed in the protecting cover, and the second driving assembly is exposed outside the protecting cover through the second through hole in the longitudinal direction. In the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the second driving assembly, the maximum size of the second driving assembly is smaller than the minimum size of the second through hole, and the second driving assembly is exposed outside the protective cover only through the second through hole in the longitudinal direction, so that the assembling process of the developing unit becomes simple.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of electronic photographic imaging, in particular to a processing box which can be detachably installed in an electronic photographic imaging device. Background Art

[0002] In an electronic photographic imaging device such as a laser printer or a copier, a processing cartridge is usually installed in a detachable manner. The processing cartridge includes a developing unit and a photosensitive unit. The photosensitive unit includes a photosensitive housing and a photosensitive drum rotatably disposed in the photosensitive housing. The developing unit includes a developing housing for accommodating a developer and a developing roller rotatably disposed in the developing housing. When the imaging device is imaging, the developing roller transports the developer to the photosensitive drum to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum.

[0003] The processing box also includes a first driving component, a second driving component and an end cover. The first driving component and the second driving component are both used to receive driving force from the imaging device. The driving force received by the first driving component is used to drive the photosensitive drum to rotate, and the driving force received by the second driving component is at least used to drive the developing roller to rotate. Along the extension direction of the developing roller, the end cover is located at one end of the processing box, and a first through hole and a second through hole are provided on the end cover. The first through hole and the second through hole are both configured as circular holes. The first driving component is directly supported by the end cover and exposed to the outside of the processing box through the first through hole, and the second driving component is exposed to the outside of the processing box through the second through hole.

[0004] The processing box also includes a protective cover fixedly arranged relative to the developing shell, and the protective cover is used to support the second driving assembly. The protective cover is supported by the end cover, and thus, the second driving assembly is indirectly supported by the end cover; specifically, the second driving assembly is supported by the inner wall of the through hole arranged on the protective cover, and the size of the through hole on the existing protective cover exactly matches the outer diameter of the second driving assembly. During the assembly process of the developing unit, the second driving assembly and the through hole on the protective cover need to be fully aligned, which complicates the assembly process of the developing unit. Utility Model Content

[0005] The processing box provided by the utility model can solve at least one of the above technical problems, and the specific solution is as follows:

[0006] A processing box is detachably mounted to an imaging device, the processing box includes a developing unit and a photosensitive unit, the developing unit includes a developing shell for storing a developer and a developing roller rotatably arranged in the developing shell, the photosensitive unit includes a photosensitive shell and a photosensitive drum rotatably arranged in the photosensitive shell, the developing roller is used to transport the developer to the photosensitive drum, and the developing roller rotates around a rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the processing box.

[0007] The processing box also includes a second drive component and a protective cover. The second drive component is used to receive a driving force from the imaging device, and the driving force is at least used to drive the developing roller to rotate. The protective cover is fixed relative to the developing shell, and a second through hole is provided on the protective cover. Along the longitudinal direction, the second drive component is exposed to the outside of the protective cover through the second through hole. Along the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the second drive component, the maximum size of the second drive component is smaller than the minimum size of the second through hole.

[0008] The second driving component includes a second receiving end and a second transmission member combined along the longitudinal direction, the second receiving end is used to receive the driving force, and the second transmission member is at least used to transmit the driving force received by the second receiving end to the developing roller. Along the longitudinal direction, the second transmission member passes through the second through hole, and a part of the second transmission member is farther away from the developing shell than the second through hole.

[0009] The second transmission member is not supported by the inner wall of the second through hole. When the second through hole is set as a polygonal hole, the diameter / size of the second transmission member is smaller than the diameter / size of the circumscribed circle of the second through hole; the polygonal hole is set as a regular polygonal hole or an irregular polygonal hole.

[0010] The second transmission member is not supported by the inner wall of the second through hole. When the second through hole is set as a circular hole, the diameter / size of the second transmission member is smaller than the inner diameter / size of the second through hole.

[0011] The second transmission member is not supported by the inner wall of the second through hole. When the second through hole is set as an elliptical hole, the diameter / size of the second transmission member is smaller than the minimum diameter / size of the second through hole.

[0012] The processing box is also provided with an end cover at one end where the second driving component is provided, and the end cover covers at least a portion of the protective cover. The end cover is provided with a third through hole. Along the longitudinal direction, the second receiving end is exposed to the outside of the processing box through the third through hole, and the second transmission member is supported by the inner wall of the third through hole; the third through hole is set to be a polygonal hole or a circular hole.

[0013] The processing box also includes a first driving component, which is used to receive driving force from the imaging device to drive the photosensitive drum to rotate. A first through hole is also provided on the end cover. Along the longitudinal direction, the first driving component is exposed to the outside of the processing box through the first through hole; the first through hole is set to be a circular hole, and the diameter of the first through hole is equal to the diameter of the third through hole or the diameter of the circumscribed circle.

[0014] In the processing box provided by the utility model, along the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the second driving assembly, the maximum size of the second driving assembly is smaller than the minimum size of the second through hole. Therefore, the second driving assembly is not supported by the protective cover, but is only exposed to the outside of the protective cover along the longitudinal direction through the second through hole on the protective cover. In this way, during the assembly process of the developing unit, it is not necessary to completely align the second driving assembly with the second through hole, and the installation of the protective cover can be achieved, which simplifies the assembly of the developing unit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1A It is a three-dimensional diagram of the processing box involved in the utility model.

[0016] Figure 1B It is an exploded view of the processing box involved in the utility model.

[0017] Figure 2 It is a plan view when observing from the driving end to the non-driving end of the processing box involved in the utility model.

[0018] Figure 3 It is a stereoscopic diagram of a protective cover, a transfer assembly and a bracket of a processing box involved in the utility model. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] The processing box 100 can be installed to the imaging device in a detachable manner. As shown in Figure 1, the processing box 100 includes a developing unit 10 and a photosensitive unit 20 that are combined with each other. The photosensitive unit 20 includes a photosensitive housing 21 and a photosensitive drum 22 rotatably arranged in the photosensitive housing 21, and the photosensitive drum 22 rotates around a rotation axis L1. The developing unit 10 includes a developing housing 11 for storing a developer and a developing roller 12 rotatably arranged in the developing housing 11, and the developing roller 12 rotates around a rotation axis L2. The extension direction of the rotation axis L2 is the longitudinal direction of the processing box 100, and the rotation axis L1 and the rotation axis L2 are parallel to each other. When the imaging device is imaging, the developing roller 12 in the processing box 100 transports the developer stored in the developing housing 11 to the photosensitive drum 22, so that the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 22 is developed.

[0021] The processing box 100 is provided with an action member 60. When the imaging device is not performing imaging, the action member 60 is used to receive the separation force applied by the imaging device, so that at least one of the developing unit 10 and the photosensitive unit 20 can move, thereby separating the developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 from each other, avoiding that the developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 are always in contact with each other and the surfaces of the developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 are damaged. The following description takes the movement of the developing unit 10 as an example.

[0022] The processing box 100 also includes a first driving component 30 and a second driving component 40. The first driving component 30 and the second driving component 40 are both used to receive driving force from the imaging device. The first driving component 30 transmits the received driving force to the photosensitive drum 22 to drive the photosensitive drum 22 to rotate around the rotation axis L1; the second driving component 40 transmits the received driving force at least to the developing roller 12 to drive the developing roller 12 to rotate around the rotation axis L2. The first driving component 30 and the second driving component 40 rotate around their respective rotation axes respectively; along the longitudinal direction of the processing box 100, the first driving component 30 and the second driving component 40 are arranged at one end of the processing box 100, and the end where the first driving component 30 and the second driving component 40 are arranged is the driving end, and the other end opposite to the driving end is the non-driving end.

[0023] like Figure 1A , Figure 1B and Figure 2 As shown, the processing box 100 is provided with an end cover 50 at the driving end. The end cover 50 can be independently provided relative to the developing housing 11 and the photosensitive housing 21, or can be provided so that one of the developing housing 11 and the photosensitive housing 21 is formed integrally with the end cover 50; a first through hole 51 is provided on the end cover 50, and the first through hole 51 is provided as a circular hole with a diameter of D1. The first driving component 30 is supported by the end cover 50. Specifically, the first driving component 30 includes a first receiving end 31 and a first transmission member 32 which are combined with each other in the longitudinal direction. In the longitudinal direction, the first receiving end 31 is exposed to the outside of the processing box 100 through the first through hole 51, and is used to receive the driving force and transmit the driving force to the first transmission member 32.

[0024] The first transmission member 32 is used to transmit the driving force to the photosensitive drum 22 so that the photosensitive drum 22 can be driven; in addition, along the longitudinal direction, at least a portion of the first transmission member 32 is also exposed to the outside of the processing box 100 through the first through hole 51. At the same time, the first transmission member 32 is supported by the inner wall of the first through hole 51, so that the first driving assembly 30 is directly supported by the end cover 50, which can simplify the structure of the photosensitive unit 20.

[0025] like Figure 3As shown, at the driving end, the processing box 100 is also provided with a protective cover 70, a transmission assembly 80 and a bracket 90. The protective cover 70 and the bracket 90 are both fixedly arranged relative to the developing shell 11. A second through hole 71 is arranged on the protective cover 70. Along the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the second driving assembly 40, the maximum size of the second driving assembly 40 is smaller than the minimum size of the second through hole 71. Along the longitudinal direction, the second driving assembly 40 is exposed to the outside of the protective cover 70 through the second through hole 71. At least a part of the protective cover 70 covers the transmission assembly 80. The driving force received by the second driving assembly 40 is transmitted to at least the developing roller 12 through the transmission assembly 80. The bracket 90 is used to support the transmission assembly 80. Along the direction from the driving end to the non-driving end, the end cover 50, the protective cover 70 and the bracket 90 are arranged in sequence.

[0026] The second driving assembly 40 includes a second receiving end 41 and a second transmission member 42 which are coupled to each other along a longitudinal direction. Along the longitudinal direction, the second transmission member 42 passes through the second through hole 71. A portion of the second transmission member 42 is farther away from the developing housing 11 than the second through hole 71. The second receiving end 41 is used to receive the driving force and transmit the driving force to the second transmission member 42. Along the longitudinal direction, the second receiving end 41 is exposed to the outside of the protective cover 70 through the second through hole 71. The second transmission member 42 is used to transmit the driving force to the transmission assembly 80. At least a portion of the second transmission member 42 is also exposed to the outside of the protective cover 70 through the second through hole 71 along the longitudinal direction.

[0027] In some embodiments, the second transmission member 42 is configured to be cylindrical, and the maximum outer diameter of the second transmission member 42 is smaller than the inner diameter of the second through hole 71 , that is, the second transmission member 42 is not supported by the inner wall of the second through hole 71 .

[0028] In some embodiments, when the second through hole 71 is configured as a circular hole, the diameter / size of the second transmission member 42 is smaller than the inner diameter / size of the second through hole 71 .

[0029] In some embodiments, when the second through hole 71 is configured as a polygonal hole, the diameter / size of the second transmission member 42 is smaller than the diameter / size of the circumscribed circle of the second through hole 71 , and the polygonal hole may be a regular polygonal hole or an irregular polygonal hole.

[0030] In some embodiments, when the second through hole 71 is configured as an elliptical hole, the diameter / size of the second transmission member 42 is smaller than the minimum diameter / size of the second through hole 71 .

[0031] like Figure 2As shown, the end cover 50 is also provided with a third through hole 52, which is pointed from the non-driving end to the driving end. The second receiving end 41 is exposed to the outside of the processing box 100 through the third through hole 52 to facilitate receiving the driving force. In addition, the second transmission member 42 is supported by the inner wall of the third through hole 52, so that the second driving component 40 can be directly supported by the end cover 50.

[0032] When the third through hole 52 is set as a polygonal hole, the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the third through hole 52 is D2, and the diameter D1 of the first through hole 51 is equal to the diameter D2. When the developing unit 10 rotates around the second driving assembly 40 relative to the photosensitive unit 20, the developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 are separated from each other. In the process, by setting the third through hole 52 as a polygonal hole, the contact area between the second transmission member 42 and the inner wall of the third through hole 52 can be reduced, thereby reducing the wear of the second transmission member 42 and the inner wall of the third through hole 52.

[0033] In some embodiments, when the third through hole 52 is configured as a circular hole, the diameter D1 of the first through hole 51 is equal to the diameter of the third through hole 52 .

[0034] [Beneficial Effects]

[0035] Compared with the prior art, in the processing box 100 provided by the utility model, the maximum size of the second driving assembly 40 is smaller than the minimum size of the second through hole 71 along the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the second driving assembly 40. Therefore, the second driving assembly 40 is not supported by the protective cover 70, and is only exposed to the outside of the protective cover 70 along the longitudinal direction through the second through hole 71 on the protective cover 70. In this way, during the assembly process of the developing unit 10, there is no need to fully align the second driving assembly 40 with the second through hole 71, and the installation of the protective cover 70 can be achieved, which simplifies the assembly of the developing unit 10.

Claims

1. A process cartridge, detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge comprising a developing unit and a photosensitive unit, the developing unit comprising a developing housing for storing a developer and a developing roller rotatably disposed in the developing housing, the photosensitive unit comprising a photosensitive housing and a photosensitive drum rotatably disposed in the photosensitive housing, the developing roller being used to convey the developer to the photosensitive drum, the developing roller rotating about a rotation axis parallel to a longitudinal direction of the process cartridge; It is characterized in that The processing box also includes a second drive component and a protective cover. The second drive component is used to receive a driving force from the imaging device, and the driving force is at least used to drive the developing roller to rotate. The protective cover is fixed relative to the developing shell, and a second through hole is provided on the protective cover. Along the longitudinal direction, the second drive component is exposed to the outside of the protective cover through the second through hole. Along the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the second drive component, the maximum size of the second drive component is smaller than the minimum size of the second through hole.

2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The second driving component includes a second receiving end and a second transmission member combined along the longitudinal direction, the second receiving end is used to receive the driving force, and the second transmission member is at least used to transmit the driving force received by the second receiving end to the developing roller. Along the longitudinal direction, the second transmission member passes through the second through hole, and a part of the second transmission member is farther away from the developing shell than the second through hole.

3. The process cartridge according to claim 2, wherein: The second transmission member is not supported by the inner wall of the second through hole. When the second through hole is configured as a polygonal hole, the diameter / size of the second transmission member is smaller than the diameter / size of the circumscribed circle of the second through hole.

4. The process cartridge according to claim 3, wherein: The polygonal hole is configured as a regular polygonal hole or an irregular polygonal hole.

5. The process cartridge according to claim 2, wherein: The second transmission member is not supported by the inner wall of the second through hole. When the second through hole is set as a circular hole, the diameter / size of the second transmission member is smaller than the inner diameter / size of the second through hole.

6. The process cartridge according to claim 2, wherein: The second transmission member is not supported by the inner wall of the second through hole. When the second through hole is set as an elliptical hole, the diameter / size of the second transmission member is smaller than the minimum diameter / size of the second through hole.

7. The process cartridge according to claim 2, wherein: An end cover is also provided at one end of the processing box where the second driving component is provided. The end cover covers at least a portion of the protective cover. A third through hole is provided on the end cover. Along the longitudinal direction, the second receiving end is exposed to the outside of the processing box through the third through hole, and the second transmission member is supported by the inner wall of the third through hole.

8. The process cartridge according to claim 7, wherein: The third through hole is configured as a polygonal hole or a circular hole.

9. The process cartridge according to claim 7, wherein: The processing box also includes a first driving component, which is used to receive driving force from the imaging device to drive the photosensitive drum to rotate. A first through hole is also provided on the end cover. Along the longitudinal direction, the first driving component is exposed to the outside of the processing box through the first through hole.

10. The process cartridge according to claim 9, wherein: The first through hole is set as a circular hole, and the diameter of the first through hole is equal to the diameter of the third through hole or the diameter of the circumscribed circle.

Images