Processing box assembly

Abstract

The utility model provides a processing box assembly detachably mounted in imaging equipment. The processing box is provided with a first unit and a second unit which are combined with each other, a first unit vacancy part is formed in the first unit, a second unit vacancy part is formed in the second unit, and at least one part of the second unit sub-shell of the processing box located at the rear part enters the first unit vacancy part of the processing box located at the front part and adjacent to the processing box; at least a part of the first unit main housing of the front process cartridge enters the second unit vacancy portion of the rear process cartridge; at least one part of the second unit sub-shell of the foremost processing box is in a suspended state or is supported by the tray; the first unit vacancy part of the rearmost process cartridge is in an exposed state, or the part of the image forming device enters the first unit vacancy part; according to the scheme, the structure of the imaging equipment can be simplified, and leakage of the residual developing agent in the process of cleaning the residual developing agent can be avoided.

Description

[0001] This utility model claims the priority of the Chinese prior application with the application date of October 24, 2022, the application number of 202222810125.3, and the invention name of “Processing Box”. All contents of the prior application are cross-referenced in this application.

[0002] This utility model is a divisional application of the Chinese prior application with an application date of October 24, 2023, an application number of 202322866067.0, and an invention name of “Processing Box”. Technical Field

[0003] The utility model relates to the field of electronic photographic imaging, in particular to a processing box component which can be detachably installed in an electronic photographic imaging device. Background Art

[0004] A processing box is an essential component of an electronic photographic imaging device (hereinafter referred to as the "device"). There is currently a processing box that can be detachably installed in the device. The processing box includes a first unit and a second unit that are combined with each other. The first unit has a first unit shell for accommodating toner and a developing roller rotatably arranged in the first unit shell. The second unit has a second unit shell and a photosensitive drum rotatably arranged in the second unit shell. The developing roller is used to carry a developer and supply the developer to the photosensitive drum to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum.

[0005] In the prior art, since a small amount of developer still remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum after the electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive drum is developed and passes through the transfer step, the imaging device is usually provided with a residual developer storage portion for accommodating the residual developer, and a developer conveying channel for conveying the developer. When the residual developer in the residual developer storage portion reaches a predetermined value, the user needs to clean the residual developer separately. However, this method not only complicates the internal structure of the imaging device and makes cleaning inconvenient, but may also cause leakage of the residual developer during the cleaning process. Utility Model Content

[0006] The utility model is a further development of the processing box structure involved in the above-mentioned Chinese patent application, and provides the following processing box assembly:

[0007] A processing box assembly, which can be detachably installed in an imaging device with a tray, includes a plurality of processing boxes for accommodating developers of different colors, the processing box having a first unit and a second unit combined with each other, the first unit including a first unit main shell and a first unit sub-shell that are connected to each other, and a developing roller rotatably arranged in the first unit main shell; the second unit includes a second unit main shell and a second unit sub-shell that are connected to each other, and a photosensitive drum rotatably arranged in the second unit main shell, the developing roller is used to carry the developer and supply the developer to the photosensitive drum; the side of the first unit pointing to the second unit is the front, and the side opposite to the front is the rear; the rear end of the first unit main shell and the rear end of the first unit sub-shell A first unit vacant portion is formed between the square ends; a second unit vacant portion is formed between the rear end of the second unit main shell and the rear end of the second unit sub-shell; when the processing box assembly is installed on the tray, along the front-to-back direction, at least a portion of the second unit sub-shell of the processing box located at the rear enters into the first unit vacant portion of the processing box in the front adjacent to the processing box; at least a portion of the first unit main shell of the front processing box enters into the second unit vacant portion of the rear processing box; at least a portion of the second unit sub-shell of the processing box located at the front is in a suspended state, or is supported by the tray; the first unit vacant portion of the processing box located at the rear is in an exposed state, or components of the imaging device enter into the first unit vacant portion.

[0008] Further, along the front-rear direction, the first unit main housing extends farther rearward than the first unit sub-housing.

[0009] Furthermore, the process box is also provided with a residual developer receiving chamber located in the second unit main shell and the second unit sub-shell, and the residual developer receiving chamber is used to accommodate the residual developer.

[0010] Further, the second unit sub-housing extends further forward than the second unit main housing.

[0011] Further, the second unit sub-casing of the process cartridge is supported by the first unit main casing of the process cartridge in front and adjacent to the process cartridge.

[0012] Further, the first unit main housing of the process cartridge is restricted by the second unit sub housing of the rear process cartridge adjacent to the process cartridge.

[0013] Furthermore, the side of the processing box where the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are installed points to the side where the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are not installed as the upper side, the side that receives the driving force is the left side, and the side opposite to the left side is the right side. When viewed along the left and right directions, the vacant portion of the first unit is exposed facing upward and backward.

[0014] Furthermore, the side of the processing box on which the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are installed is pointed to the side on which the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are not installed as the top, the side opposite to the top is the bottom, the side that receives the driving force is the left, and the side opposite to the left is the right, and when viewed along the left and right directions, the vacant portion of the second unit is exposed facing downward and forward.

[0015] Furthermore, the side of the processing box where the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are installed is directed to the side where the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are not installed as the upper side, and the side opposite to the upper side is the lower side. Along the up and down direction, the uppermost part of the second unit vacant part is higher than the lowermost part of the first unit vacant part.

[0016] Furthermore, the processing box is also provided with a separation receiving mechanism for receiving the separation force and the restoring force applied by the imaging device, wherein the separation force is used to force the developing roller and the photosensitive drum to separate from each other, and the restoring force is used to force the developing roller and the photosensitive drum to contact each other. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional view of the processing box involved in the first embodiment of the present utility model after being installed on the tray of the imaging device.

[0018] Figure 2A and Figure 2B It is a three-dimensional diagram of the processing box involved in the first embodiment of the utility model.

[0019] Figure 2C It is a side view of the processing box involved in the first embodiment of the utility model observed from left to right along the left-right direction.

[0020] Figure 3 Cut along a plane perpendicular to the left and right directions Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of two adjacent processing boxes after multiple processing boxes are installed.

[0021] Figure 4 It is a three-dimensional diagram of a processing box involved in the second embodiment of the present utility model.

[0022] Figure 5 It is a side view of the processing box involved in the second embodiment of the present utility model observed from front to back along the front-to-back direction.

[0023] Fig. 6A It is a side view when viewed from left to right along the left-right direction after the processing box involved in the third embodiment of the utility model reaches the installation position and before the separation and receiving mechanism is pressed.

[0024] Figure 6B It is a side view when viewed from left to right along the left-right direction after the processing box involved in the third embodiment of the utility model reaches the installation position and the separation and receiving mechanism is pressed.

[0025] Fig. 7AIt is a side view of the processing box involved in the fourth embodiment of the present utility model after reaching the installation position and before the separation and receiving mechanism is pressed, when viewed from left to right along the left-right direction.

[0026] Figure 7B It is a side view when viewed from left to right along the left-right direction after the processing box involved in the fourth embodiment of the utility model reaches the installation position and the separation and receiving mechanism is pressed.

[0027] Figure 8 This is a state diagram when the developer injection port of the processing box involved in the utility model is opened. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The embodiments of the present utility model are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] Embodiment 1

[0030] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of the process cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present utility model after being installed on a tray of an imaging device; Figure 2A and Figure 2B It is a three-dimensional diagram of a processing box involved in the first embodiment of the utility model; Figure 2C It is a side view of the process cartridge involved in the first embodiment of the utility model observed from left to right along the left-right direction; Figure 3 Cut along a plane perpendicular to the left and right directions Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of two adjacent processing boxes after multiple processing boxes are installed.

[0031] In a color imaging device, a plurality of process cartridges (black process cartridge CK, blue process cartridge CC, red process cartridge CM and yellow process cartridge CY) containing different color developers are supported by a tray 95. Each process cartridge has the same structure. Figure 2A , Figure 2B and Figure 2C The structure of the process cartridge is described.

[0032] As shown in the figure, the processing box C includes a first unit 100 and a second unit 200 combined with each other and a first end cover 300 and a second end cover 400 located at two longitudinal ends of the processing box. The first unit 100 and the second unit 200 can be combined with each other through the first end cover 300 and the second end cover 400, and can also be combined by means such as pins, snaps, etc. The first end cover 300 and the second end cover 400 can be used as a part of the first unit 100 or the second unit 200, or as a component independent of the first unit 100 or the second unit 200, as long as the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 can be combined.

[0033] The developing roller 11 is rotatably mounted in the housing 1 of the first unit 100 , and the photosensitive drum 21 is rotatably mounted in the housing 2 of the second unit 200 . When the processing box C is working, the photosensitive drum 21 contacts the developing roller 11 , and the developing roller 11 supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 21 .

[0034] For the convenience of the following description, it is defined here that the side of the processing box C where the photosensitive drum 21 and the developing roller 11 are installed pointing to the side where the photosensitive drum 21 and the developing roller 11 are not installed is the top, the side opposite to the top is the bottom, the direction from the first unit 100 to the second unit 200 is the front, the side opposite to the front is the rear, the side that receives the driving force is the left, and the side opposite to the left is the right, and the first driving force receiving member 3 for receiving the driving force for the developing roller 11 and the second driving force receiving member 4 for receiving the driving force for the photosensitive drum 21 are both exposed from the first end cover 300.

[0035] Generally, after the electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive drum 21 is developed and passes through the transfer step, a small amount of developer still remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum. The existing imaging device is provided with a residual developer storage section. After the residual developer on the surface of the photosensitive drum is removed, it is transported to the residual developer storage section through the residual developer transport channel. When the amount of residual developer contained in the residual developer storage section reaches a predetermined value, the imaging device reminds the user to remove the residual developer.

[0036] However, this method not only requires setting up a complex residual developer conveying channel in the imaging device, but the user may also be unable to smoothly clean the residual developer storage portion, and may also cause residual developer leakage during the cleaning operation of the residual developer storage portion.

[0037] To this end, the second unit 200 of the process box of the present invention is further provided with a residual developer storage chamber 2d (such as Figure 3 As shown), the residual developer on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 can be received by the residual developer receiving chamber 2d. The residual developer received in the residual developer receiving chamber 2d is cleaned when the user replaces the processing cartridge, thereby avoiding the above-mentioned problem caused by the user having to clean the residual developer separately.

[0038] like Figure 2A and Figure 2BAs shown, the first unit housing 1 includes a first unit main housing 1a and a first unit sub-housing 1b which are interconnected, and the developing roller 11 is rotatably installed in the first unit main housing 1a. Along the front-to-back direction, the first unit main housing 1a extends farther backward than the first unit sub-housing 1b to form a protrusion, so that a first unit vacant portion 1c is formed between the rear end of the first unit main housing 1a and the rear end of the first unit sub-housing 1b; the second unit housing 2 includes a second unit main housing 2a and a second unit sub-housing 2b which are interconnected, and the photosensitive drum 21 is rotatably installed in the second unit main housing 2a, and the residual developer storage chamber 2d is located in the second unit main housing 2a and the second unit sub-housing 2b. Along the front-to-back direction, the second unit sub-housing 2b extends farther forward than the second unit main housing 2a to form a protrusion, so that a second unit vacant portion 2c is formed between the rear end of the second unit main housing 2a and the rear end of the second unit sub-housing 2b.

[0039] When viewed along the left-right direction, the first unit missing portion 1c is exposed upward and backward, and the second unit missing portion 2c is exposed downward and forward. Along the up-down direction, the uppermost portion of the second unit missing portion 2c is higher than the lowermost portion of the first unit missing portion 1c.

[0040] like Figure 3 As shown, taking the adjacently installed black process box CK and blue process box CC as an example, at least a portion of the second unit sub-shell CC2b of the blue process box CC located behind the black process box CK enters into the first unit vacant portion CK1c of the black process box CK, and correspondingly, at least a portion of the first unit main shell CK1a of the black process box CK enters into the second unit vacant portion CC2c of the blue process box CC, and in the up and down direction, the second unit sub-shell CC2b of the blue process box CC is located above the first unit main shell CK1a of the black process box CK.

[0041] Generally speaking, along the front-to-back direction, the second unit of the first processing box is provided with a protrusion, and the first unit of the second processing box adjacent to the first processing box is provided with a vacant portion. When the processing box is installed to the tray 95, the protrusion of the first processing box cooperates with the vacant portion of the second processing box.

[0042] like Figure 1As shown, after the processing boxes of four colors are installed on the tray 95, along the front-to-back direction, at least a part of the second unit sub-shell 2b of the processing box located at the rear enters the first unit vacant portion 1c of the front processing box adjacent to the processing box, and correspondingly, at least a part of the first unit main shell 1a of the front processing box enters the second unit vacant portion 2c of the rear processing box, and along the up-down direction, the second unit sub-shell 2b of the rear processing box is located above the first unit main shell 1a of the front processing box; at least a part of the second unit sub-shell 2b of the processing box located at the front is in a suspended state, or is supported by the tray 95, that is, a part of the tray 95 enters the second unit vacant portion 2c of the front processing box; the first unit vacant portion 1c of the processing box located at the rear is in an exposed state, or a component of the imaging device enters the first unit vacant portion 1c.

[0043] Finally, the second unit 200 of each processing box is formed with a residual developer storage chamber 2d. In the up and down directions, the second unit sub-shell 2b of each processing box can be supported by the first unit main shell 1a of the front processing box adjacent to the processing box. On the contrary, the first unit main shell 1a of each processing box can be restricted by the second unit sub-shell 2b of the rear processing box adjacent to the processing box. As mentioned above, the second unit sub-shell 2b of the processing box located at the front can be supported by the tray 95. In this way, the multiple processing boxes can be stably installed in the tray 95.

[0044] like Figure 2A , Figure 2B and Figure 2C As shown, the processing box C also includes a separation receiving mechanism 5 located therein. When the processing box C does not need to work in the device, the separation receiving mechanism 5 receives the separation force (action force) applied by the separation control mechanism 93 in the device, thereby forcing the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 to separate from each other. At the same time, the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 are also separated from each other, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is contaminated or the surface deformation of the developing roller 11 is suppressed; when the processing box C needs to start working again, the separation control mechanism 93 applies a restoring force (action force) to the separation receiving mechanism 5, thereby making the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 contact each other again. The separation receiving mechanism 5 is arranged near the longitudinal end of the processing box, and the number thereof can be one or two.

[0045] like Figure 2CAs shown, the separation receiving structure 5 includes a pressed portion 57 and an action portion 51. After the processing box reaches the installation position, before the top plate above the tray 95 presses the pressed portion 57, the action portion 51 is in a state where it cannot receive the force applied by the separation control mechanism 93. When the top plate above the tray 95 presses the pressed portion 57, the action portion 51 enters the separation control mechanism 93 and becomes able to receive the force applied by the separation control mechanism 93.

[0046] The top plate can be configured to automatically move in the up and down directions. For example, after the processing box reaches the installation position, the top plate automatically moves downward to press the pressed portion 57. The top plate can also be configured to move in the up and down directions as the door cover of the imaging device moves. For example, when the user closes the door cover, the top plate moves downward to press the pressed portion 57, and when the user opens the door cover, the top plate moves upward and no longer presses the pressed portion 57.

[0047] Embodiment 2

[0048] Figure 4 It is a three-dimensional diagram of a processing box involved in the second embodiment of the utility model; Figure 5 It is a side view of the processing box involved in the second embodiment of the present utility model observed from front to back along the front-to-back direction.

[0049] Generally, in order to enable the user to accurately know the remaining developer amount in the processing box, the processing box includes a detected portion 16 arranged in the first unit shell 1. When the processing box reaches the installation position, the detected portion 16 can cooperate with the detection mechanism provided in the imaging device to detect the remaining developer amount in the processing box; further, the detected portion 16 can also be used to detect whether the processing box is installed or whether it is installed to a predetermined position. The detection of the remaining developer amount, the detection of whether the processing box is installed, and the detection of whether the processing box is installed to the predetermined position can adopt a light detection method, a capacitance detection method, etc.

[0050] To prevent the detection portion 16 from being damaged before the process cartridge C reaches the installation position of the imaging device, Figure 4 As shown, the processing box C also includes a shielding member 24 arranged in the second unit housing 2. This embodiment provides the following two types of shielding members 24.

[0051] like Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the shielding member 24 is configured to be movable relative to the first unit shell 1 / the second unit shell 2, that is, the shielding member 24 is installed in the first unit shell 1 / the second unit shell 2 in a movable manner, and the processing box C also includes an elastic member 25 abutting against the shielding member 24. Under the action of the elastic member 25, the shielding member 24 is located in front of at least a part of the detected portion 16, that is, when observed from front to back along the front-to-back direction, at least a part of the detected portion 16 is blocked by the shielding member 24.

[0052] Furthermore, the shielding member 24 includes a shielding portion 241 located in front of the detected portion 16 and a force transmitting portion 242 combined with the shielding portion 241, the elastic member 25 abuts against the shielding portion 241, and the force transmitting portion 242 can receive external force to move the shielding member 24; preferably, the force transmitting portion 242 is combined with the separation receiving mechanism 5, and more preferably, the force transmitting portion 242 is combined with the pressed portion 57, when the top plate of the imaging device presses the separation receiving mechanism 5 / pressed portion 57, the shielding portion 241 overcomes the elastic force of the elastic member 25 and moves downward, thereby exposing the detected portion 16; when the top plate no longer presses the separation receiving mechanism 5 / pressed portion 57, the elastic member 25 releases the elastic force, so that the shielding portion 241 moves upward, and at least a portion of the detected portion 16 is again blocked by the shielding portion 241.

[0053] The shielding member 24 can also be set as a fixed plate opposite to the detected part 16 along the front-to-back direction. At this time, along the front-to-back direction, at least the portion of the fixed plate 24 opposite to the detected part 16 is set as a light-transmitting portion. When the processing box reaches the installation position, even if the fixed plate 24 does not move downward, the detected part 16 can receive the detection light through the light-transmitting portion for detection.

[0054] Embodiment 3

[0055] Fig. 6A It is a side view of the process cartridge according to the third embodiment of the present utility model after it reaches the installation position and before the separation receiving mechanism is pressed, when viewed from left to right along the left-right direction; Figure 6B It is a side view when viewed from left to right along the left-right direction after the processing box involved in the third embodiment of the utility model reaches the installation position and the separation and receiving mechanism is pressed.

[0056] In this embodiment, the separation receiving mechanism 5 includes a main body 52 and an action part 51 which are separately formed. The pressed part 57 is located at the upper end of the main body 52. ​​The lower end of the main body 52 is provided with an intermediate part 521 which can be combined with the action part 51. The action part 51 is rotatably arranged at the longitudinal end of the processing box. For example, the action part 51 is arranged at the longitudinal end of the first unit shell 1 by means of an axial hole.

[0057] The pressed part is provided with an elliptical through hole; the main body is movably connected to the first unit shell through the elliptical through hole; an elastic reset member is provided between the elliptical through hole and the first unit shell, and the elastic reset member is used to reset the main body. In some embodiments, the elastic member can also be provided at a position other than the elliptical through hole.

[0058] Before the top plate of the imaging device presses the pressed portion 57, the middle portion 521 is in the first position not combined with the action portion 51. At this time, the elastic reset member is in the original state, and the action portion 51 is kept in a drooping state under the action of its own gravity. Regardless of whether the process cartridge C is installed toward or removed from the imaging device, even if the components in the imaging device interfere with the action portion 51, the action portion 51 can still move along the Fig. 6A The action part can be movably arranged to avoid the action part from being broken due to interference during installation, and can also avoid the action part from being broken during packaging or transportation.

[0059] When the top plate of the imaging device presses the pressed portion 57, the middle portion 521 is in the second position combined with the action portion 51, at which time, the elastic reset member undergoes elastic deformation, and the rotation angle of the action portion 51 will be limited, or the action portion 51 is limited by the middle portion 521 and cannot rotate, but the action portion 51 can still receive two forces in different directions applied by the separation control mechanism 93, one of which is used to force the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 to separate from each other, and the other is used to force the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 to approach each other; preferably, the separation receiving mechanism 5 is also provided with a retaining member, when the separation control mechanism 93 applies a separation force to the separation receiving mechanism 5, the separation control mechanism 93 is disengaged from the separation receiving mechanism 5, at which time, the state of the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 being separated from each other is maintained by the retaining member. When the top plate no longer presses the pressed portion 57, the elastic reset member releases the elastic force, pushing the middle portion 521 from the second position back to the first position to reset.

[0060] However, in some embodiments, the retaining member can also be cancelled. After the separation control mechanism 93 applies the separation force to the separation receiving mechanism 5, the separation control mechanism 93 does not disengage from the separation receiving mechanism 5, and the state in which the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 are separated from each other is maintained by the interaction between the separation control mechanism 93 and the separation receiving mechanism 5.

[0061] Embodiment 4

[0062] Fig. 7A It is a side view of the process cartridge according to the fourth embodiment of the present utility model when viewed from left to right along the left-right direction after the process cartridge reaches the installation position and before the separation receiving mechanism is pressed; Figure 7BIt is a side view when viewed from left to right along the left-right direction after the processing box involved in the fourth embodiment of the utility model reaches the installation position and the separation and receiving mechanism is pressed.

[0063] Different from the third embodiment, before the top plate of the imaging device presses the pressed portion 57, the angle at which the action portion 51 in this embodiment can rotate is limited, which can prevent the action portion 51 from rotating too much and failing to return to the drooping state. As shown in the figure, the action portion 51 includes a rotating portion 513 and a force receiving portion 514 that are combined with each other. The action portion 51 is rotatably arranged at the longitudinal end of the first unit housing 1 through the rotating portion 513. Specifically, a limiting groove 513b is arranged in the rotating portion 513, and the first unit 100 is provided with a positioning protrusion 18 that cooperates with the limiting groove 513b. The rotatable angle of the action portion 51 is limited by the length of the limiting groove 513b. On the contrary, the positions of the limiting groove 513b and the positioning protrusion 18 can also be interchanged; further, the rotating portion 513 is also provided with a matching portion 513a for matching with the middle portion 521.

[0064] Before the top plate of the imaging device presses the pressed portion 57, the middle portion 521 is in the first position not engaged with the matching portion 513a. At this time, the elastic reset member is in the original state, and the action portion 51 remains in a drooping state under the action of its own gravity. Regardless of whether the processing box C is installed toward or removed from the imaging device, even if the components in the imaging device interfere with the action portion 51, the action portion 51 can still move along the Fig. 7A The action portion 51 rotates in the direction indicated by r5 or r6, but the rotation angle of the action portion 51 is limited by the contact between the positioning protrusion 18 and the limiting groove 513b.

[0065] When the top plate of the imaging device presses the plate pressing portion 57, the middle portion 521 is in the second position combined with the action portion 51. At this time, the elastic return member undergoes elastic deformation, and the rotation angle of the action portion 51 will be limited. Alternatively, the action portion 51 is restricted by the middle portion 521 and cannot rotate, but the action portion 51 / force receiving portion 514 can still receive the force applied by the separation control mechanism 93.

[0066] When the top plate of the imaging device no longer presses the pressed portion 57 , the elastic restoring member releases its elastic force to push the middle portion 521 from the second position back to the first position for restoration.

[0067] Other notes

[0068] Figure 8 This is a state diagram when the developer injection port of the processing box involved in the utility model is opened.

[0069] The first unit housing 1 is used to accommodate unused developer. As the processing box C works, the unused developer gradually decreases. When the amount of unused developer is lower than a threshold or is consumed, the user can inject unused developer into the first unit housing 1 so that the processing box C can continue to be used.

[0070] As shown in the figure, the processing box C also includes a developer injection port 19 arranged on the first unit shell 1 and a seal 101 for sealing the developer injection port 19. In practice, the developer injection port 19 can be formed at the longitudinal end of the first unit shell 1, or can be formed between the two longitudinal ends of the first unit shell 1. The seal 101 is combined with the developer injection port 19 in a detachable manner, so that the user can inject unused developer into the first unit shell 1 by opening the seal 101.

[0071] Among them, the developer injection port 19 is set to be non-circular, that is, when the developer injection port 19 is cut along the developer injection direction, the cut surface is non-circular. In this way, when the user uses the developer replenishing container to inject developer into the first unit shell 1, a fluid flow gap will be formed between the developer replenishing container and the side of the developer injection port 19, which is conducive to the rapid discharge of air in the first unit shell 1 from the gap, thereby accelerating the injection speed of the developer.

[0072] Preferably, the developer injection port 19 is configured to have at least one non-arc surface 19b. When observed along the developer injection direction, the non-arc surface 19b and its adjacent side edge may form any one of an acute angle, a right angle, an obtuse angle and a flat angle, as long as a fluid flow gap is formed between the developer replenishing container and the side edge of the developer injection port 19.

Claims

1. A process cartridge assembly, detachably mounted in an imaging device having a tray, comprising a plurality of process cartridges for accommodating developers of different colors, the process cartridge comprising a first unit and a second unit combined with each other, the first unit comprising a first unit main housing and a first unit sub-housing which are interconnected, and a developing roller rotatably arranged in the first unit main housing; the second unit comprising a second unit main housing and a second unit sub-housing which are interconnected, and a photosensitive drum rotatably arranged in the second unit main housing, the developing roller being used to carry the developer and supply the developer to the photosensitive drum; the side of the first unit pointing to the second unit is the front, and the side opposite to the front is the rear; characterized in that A first unit vacant portion is formed between the rear end of the first unit main housing and the rear end of the first unit sub-housing; A second unit vacant portion is formed between the rear end of the second unit main housing and the rear end of the second unit sub-housing; When the process cartridge assembly is mounted on the tray, along the front-to-back direction, at least a portion of the second unit sub-shell of the process cartridge located at the rear enters into the first unit vacant portion of the process cartridge located in the front adjacent to the process cartridge; at least a portion of the first unit main shell of the front process cartridge enters into the second unit vacant portion of the rear process cartridge; At least a portion of the second unit sub-housing of the frontmost process box is suspended in the air or supported by the tray; The first unit vacant portion of the process cartridge located rearmost is in an exposed state, or a component of the image forming apparatus enters the first unit vacant portion.

2. The process cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein: In the front-rear direction, the first unit main housing extends farther rearward than the first unit sub housing.

3. The process cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The process box is also provided with a residual developer receiving chamber located in the second unit main housing and the second unit sub-housing, and the residual developer receiving chamber is used to accommodate the residual developer.

4. A process cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second unit sub-casing extends further forward than the second unit main casing in the front-rear direction.

5. The process cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The second unit sub-casing of the process cartridge is supported by the first unit main casing of the process cartridge in front and adjacent to the process cartridge.

6. The process cartridge assembly according to claim 5, wherein: The first unit main casing of the process cartridge is restricted by the second unit sub casing of the rear process cartridge adjacent to the process cartridge.

7. The process cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The side of the processing box where the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are installed points to the side where the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are not installed as the top, the side that receives the driving force is the left, and the side opposite to the left is the right. When viewed along the left and right directions, the vacant part of the first unit is exposed facing upward and backward.

8. The process cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The side of the processing box where the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are installed is pointed to the side where the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are not installed as the top, the side opposite to the top is the bottom, the side that receives the driving force is the left, and the side opposite to the left is the right, and when viewed along the left and right directions, the vacant portion of the second unit is exposed facing downward and forward.

9. The process cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The side of the processing box where the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are installed is directed to the side where the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are not installed as the upper side, and the side opposite to the upper side is the lower side. Along the up and down direction, the uppermost part of the second unit vacant part is higher than the lowermost part of the first unit vacant part.

10. The process cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The processing box is also provided with a separation receiving mechanism for receiving the separation force and restoring force applied by the imaging device, wherein the separation force is used to force the developing roller and the photosensitive drum to separate from each other, and the restoring force is used to force the developing roller and the photosensitive drum to contact each other.

Images