Developing box

Abstract

The utility model relates to a developing box. The developing box comprises a shell, a driving gear, a counting deflector rod and a reset gear, the shell is used for containing the developing agent, the shell is provided with a first side and a second side in a second direction, the first side is close to a detection piece of the imaging equipment, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The counting deflector rod can reciprocate in a third direction and can trigger a detection piece in the imaging equipment, and the third direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The reset gear can be driven by the driving gear to rotate and make contact with the counting deflector rod so as to force the counting deflector rod to move in the third direction. The developing box comprises a first elastic part and a limiting part, and when the tooth missing part of the reset gear faces the driving gear, the first elastic part forces the reset gear to rotate; when the developing box is mounted in the drum box and the tooth missing part of the reset gear faces the driving gear, the limiting piece can be in contact with the reset gear to prevent the reset gear from rotating; and after the developing box is detached from the drum box, the limiting piece is separated from the reset gear. The developing box disclosed by the utility model can realize automatic resetting of the counting mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a developing cartridge. In particular, it relates to a developing cartridge that can be detachably mounted to a laser imaging device. Background Art

[0002] The developing cartridge is an essential printing consumable in a laser imaging device. After the laser imaging device works for a period of time, the toner filled in the developing cartridge will be exhausted, and at this time, a new developing cartridge needs to be replaced.

[0003] For some models of developing cartridges, manufacturers usually provide a counting mechanism on the developing cartridge. The counting mechanism can cooperate with a detection mechanism (sensor) on the imaging device to indicate to the imaging device whether the developing cartridge has been installed or to identify the specification of the developing cartridge. The counting mechanism needs to contact or touch the detection mechanism on the imaging device in a specific timing sequence.

[0004] Chinese Patent Document CN104487903A discloses a developing cartridge that can be detachably mounted inside an imaging device. The developing cartridge includes a detected gear, and the detected gear is a gear with missing teeth. The detected gear has a first abutting portion (second detected portion) and a second abutting portion (first detected portion). When the detected gear rotates, the first abutting portion or the second abutting portion contacts the detection mechanism inside the program device successively. Such a detected gear as a counting mechanism can only achieve a single counting function and cannot be automatically reset. After the user takes out the developing cartridge from the imaging device and then reinstalls it into the imaging device, it cannot be counted again, which means that the developing cartridge cannot be reused. Summary of the Utility Model

[0005] The purpose of the utility model is to provide a developing cartridge that can achieve an automatic reset function, so that the developing cartridge can be reused.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the developing cartridge of the present utility model includes a housing, a driving gear, a counting lever, and a reset gear. The housing is used to accommodate the developer. The housing has a first side and a second side in a second direction, the first side is close to the detecting member of the imaging device, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The driving gear is located on the first side of the housing. The counting lever can reciprocate in a third direction and can trigger the detecting member in the imaging device, and the third direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The reset gear can rotate under the drive of the driving gear and contact the counting lever to force the counting lever to move in the third direction. The reset gear includes a toothed portion and a toothless portion. The developing cartridge further includes a first elastic member and a limiting member. When the toothless portion of the reset gear faces the driving gear, the first elastic member forces the reset gear to rotate so that the reset gear meshes with the driving gear; when the developing cartridge is installed in the drum cartridge and the toothless portion of the reset gear faces the driving gear, the limiting member can contact at least a part of the reset gear to prevent the reset gear from rotating; when the developing cartridge is detached from the drum cartridge, the limiting member is separated from the reset gear. The developing cartridge of the present utility model can be detachably installed into the drum cartridge and then installed into the imaging device together with the drum cartridge along the first direction, and a detecting member is provided in the imaging device.

[0007] In the developing cartridge of the present utility model, the reset gear drives the counting lever to move up and down to trigger the detecting member of the imaging device, and the reset action of the reset gear is controlled by setting the first elastic member and the limiting member, thereby realizing the counting function and the automatic reset of the counting function. In addition, for imaging devices of different models, the vertical positions of the detecting members are different. The stroke distance of the counting lever in the developing cartridge of the present utility model is large, and it can trigger the detecting members at different positions. Therefore, the counting mechanism of the developing cartridge of the present utility model has good versatility.

[0008] In one embodiment, the developing cartridge includes an end cap, and the end cap is detachably installed on the first side of the housing; the counting lever is installed on the end cap.

[0009] In one embodiment, the limiting member is provided on the end cap. When the developing cartridge is installed in the drum cartridge, the limiting member is moved by the extrusion of the drum cartridge and can contact at least a part of the reset gear to prevent the reset gear from rotating; when the developing cartridge is detached from the drum cartridge, the limiting member is elastically reset and separated from the reset gear.

[0010] In one embodiment, the reset gear includes a clamping portion, and the clamping portion extends from the side wall of the reset gear towards the end cap; when the toothless portion of the reset gear faces the driving gear, the limiting member can contact the clamping portion of the reset gear to prevent the reset gear from rotating.

[0011] In one embodiment, the reset gear includes a shifting block located on the side wall of the reset gear. When the reset gear rotates, the shifting block can contact the counting lever to force the counting lever to move in the third direction.

[0012] In one embodiment, the developing cartridge further includes a second elastic member. One end of the second elastic member contacts the counting lever, and the other end contacts the end cap, so as to realize the automatic reset of the counting lever.

[0013] In one embodiment, the second elastic member is a compression spring.

[0014] In one embodiment, the first elastic member is a torsion spring. A lapping portion is provided on the rotating shaft of the reset gear. The first end of the torsion spring is lapped on the lapping portion, and the second end is lapped on the end cap. The torsion spring rotates the reset gear by applying an elastic thrust to the lapping portion.

[0015] In one embodiment, the second end of the torsion spring has a compression coil. When the developing cartridge is installed on the drum cartridge, the compression coil can contact the limiting member to apply an elastic restoring force to the limiting member. The limiting member undergoes long-term elastic deformation and produces stress deformation and cannot return to the initial position. The compression coil applies an elastic restoring force to the limiting member to make the limiting member return to the initial position. Description of the Drawings

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a developing cartridge according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a schematic diagram of the developing cartridge shown installed on the drum cartridge.

[0018] Figure 3 is Figure 1 a partial exploded view of the developing cartridge shown.

[0019] Figure 4 is Figure 3 a partial exploded view of the developing cartridge from another angle shown.

[0020] Figure 5a and Figure 5b is Figure 1 perspective views of the end cap of the developing cartridge shown from different angles.

[0021] Figure 6a and Figure 6b is Figure 1 perspective views of the reset gear of the developing cartridge shown from different angles.

[0022] Figure 7a and Figure 7bIt is a three-dimensional view of the limiting member of the developing cartridge of the present utility model from different angles.

[0023] Figure 8a and Figure 8b is a schematic diagram of the working process of the developing cartridge of the present utility model. Detailed implementation manners

[0024] In the following, through the detailed implementation manners and with reference to the drawings, the structure and other aspects of the developing cartridge of the present utility model will be further described in detail.

[0025] As Figures 1 to 4 shown, the developing cartridge 1 of the present utility model can be detachably installed into the drum cartridge 2, and then together with the drum cartridge 2, it can be detachably installed into the imaging device along the first direction D1. A detecting member is provided in the imaging device, and the detecting member is used to detect relevant information of the developing cartridge 1 installed in the imaging device, such as the model of the developing cartridge installed in the imaging device, etc.

[0026] In one implementation manner, the developing cartridge 1 of the present utility model includes a housing 11, a driving assembly 12 and a developing roller 13. The developing roller 13 is rotatably installed on the housing 11. The housing 11 has a cavity for accommodating the developer. The housing 11 has a first side 111 and a second side 112 in the second direction D2. Compared with the second side 112, the first side 111 is closer to the detecting member of the imaging device. The second direction D2 is perpendicular to the first direction D1. The driving assembly 12 is installed on the first side 111 of the housing 11, and the driving assembly 12 is used to drive the rotatable members on the developing cartridge 1 to rotate, such as the developing roller 13 or the powder feeding roller, etc. The driving assembly 12 includes a driving gear 121.

[0027] In one implementation manner, the developing cartridge 1 of the present utility model further includes an end cap 14. The end cap 14 can be detachably installed on the first side 111 of the housing 1, and the driving assembly 12 is located between the housing 11 and the end cap 14.

[0028] The developing cartridge 1 of the present utility model further includes a counting lever 15 and a reset gear 16. The counting lever 15 is used to trigger the detecting member in the imaging device to send corresponding signals or information to the imaging device. The counting lever 15 can reciprocate in the third direction D3. The third direction D3 is perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. As Figure 5a shown, a space 141 is provided on the end cap 14, and the space 141 is used to accommodate and guide the counting lever 15 to reciprocate in the third direction D3.

[0029] The reset gear 16 is located on the first side 111 of the housing 11. The reset gear 16 can be driven by the driving gear 121 to rotate. After the reset gear 16 rotates a certain angle, at least a part of the reset gear 16 can contact the counting lever 15 to force or push the counting lever 15 to move in the third direction D3. AsFigure 6a and Figure 6b As shown in Figure 6b , the reset gear 16 has a toothed portion 161 and a toothless portion 162. In this embodiment, the reset gear 16 meshes directly with the drive gear 121. The reset gear 16 may also receive the driving force of the drive gear 121 through an intermediate gear. The reset gear 16 is mounted on the inner side wall of the end cap 14. A shaft 142 is provided on the inner side wall of the end cap 14, and the reset gear 16 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 142. In one embodiment, the reset gear 16 includes a dial block 165, and the dial block 165 is provided on the side wall of the reset gear 16. When the reset gear 16 rotates, the dial block 165 can contact the upper end of the counting lever 15 to push the counting lever 15 to move in the third direction D3, and the lower end of the counting lever 15 can be separated from the detecting member on the imaging device.

[0030] A compression spring 19 (second elastic member) is provided between the counting lever 15 and the end cap 14. After the reset gear 16 pushes the counting lever 15 to move, the reset gear 16 continues to rotate and thus separates from the counting lever 15, and the counting lever 15 returns to its initial position under the action of the compression spring 19, that is, the lower end of the counting lever 15 contacts the detecting member on the imaging device again.

[0031] The developing cartridge 1 of the present utility model further includes a first elastic member 17 and a limiting member 18. When the toothless portion 162 of the reset gear 16 faces the drive gear 121, that is, when the toothed portion 161 of the reset gear 16 does not mesh with the drive gear 121, the first elastic member 17 forces the reset gear 16 to rotate so that the reset gear 16 meshes with the drive gear 121 again. The first elastic member 17 is, for example, a torsion spring. The torsion spring 17 is mounted on the end cap 14. A shaft 143 is provided on the inner side wall of the end cap 14, and the torsion spring 17 is mounted on the shaft 143. The torsion spring 17 has a first end 171 and a second end 172, and a lapping portion 163 is provided on the rotating shaft of the reset gear 16. As Figure 6a shown, the first end 171 is lapped on the lapping portion 163, and the second end 172 is lapped on the end cap 14. The first end 171 of the torsion spring 17 pushes the reset gear 16 to continue rotating by lapping on the lapping portion 163 of the reset gear 16.

[0032] When the developing cartridge 1 is mounted on the drum cartridge 2 and the toothless portion 162 of the reset gear 16 faces the drive gear 121, the limiting member 18 can contact the reset gear 16 to prevent the reset gear 16 from continuing to rotate. When the developing cartridge 1 is separated from the drum cartridge 2, the limiting member 18 is separated from the reset gear 16, and the reset gear 16 continues to rotate under the action of the first elastic member 17, so that the toothed portion 161 of the reset gear 16 meshes with the drive gear 121 again. As Figure 5b 、 Figure 7a and Figure 7bAs shown, the limiting member 18 is provided on the end cap 14. The end cap 14 is provided with a through space for accommodating the limiting member 18. One end of the limiting member 18 is fixedly connected to the end cap 14 or integrally formed with the end cap 14, and the other end of the limiting member 18 is a free end. The limiting member 18 has a protruding portion 182 protruding from the side wall of the end cap 14. When the developing cartridge 1 is installed on the drum cartridge 2, the protruding portion 182 of the limiting member 18 can contact the side wall 21 of the drum cartridge 2 and is thus squeezed by the side wall 21 of the drum cartridge 2. After the limiting member 18 is squeezed by the side wall 21, the free end of the limiting member 18 elastically moves toward the housing 11.

[0033] The limiting member 18 further has a limiting protrusion 183. Relative to the protruding portion 182, the limiting protrusion 183 is located on the side of the limiting member 18 close to the housing 11. The reset gear 16 has a clamping portion 166, and the clamping portion 166 is located on the side of the reset gear 16 close to the end cap 14, that is, on the other side opposite to the dial block 165. When the limiting member 18 is elastically moved toward the housing 11 by being squeezed by the side wall 21 of the drum cartridge 2, the limiting protrusion 183 of the limiting member 18 can extend into the groove 167 on the side wall of the reset gear 16. When the reset gear 16 rotates to a specific position, the limiting protrusion 183 can contact the clamping portion 166 of the reset gear 16, thereby preventing the reset gear 16 from continuing to rotate. At this time, the toothless portion 162 of the reset gear 16 is exactly facing the driving gear 121.

[0034] When the developing cartridge 1 is removed from the drum cartridge 2, the protruding portion 182 of the limiting member 18 no longer contacts the side wall 21 of the drum cartridge 2, the limiting member 18 will elastically reset, and the limiting protrusion 183 will withdraw from the groove 167 on the side wall of the reset gear 16. The reset gear 16 will continue to rotate under the action of the torsion spring 17, so that the toothed portion 161 of the reset gear 16 meshes with the driving gear 121 again.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the second end 172 of the torsion spring 17 has a compression coil 173. When the developing cartridge 1 is installed on the drum cartridge 2, the compression coil 173 can contact the limiting member 18 to apply an elastic restoring force to the limiting member 18, so as to prevent the limiting member 18 from being elastically deformed for a long time and unable to return to the initial state.

[0036] As Figure 8aAs shown, when the developing cartridge 1 is detachably loaded into the drum cartridge 2, the limiting member 18 is squeezed by the side wall of the drum cartridge 2, and the limiting protrusion 183 of the limiting member 18 extends into the groove 167 of the reset gear 16. After the developing cartridge 1 and the drum cartridge 2 are loaded into the imaging device together, the lower end of the counting lever 15 of the developing cartridge 1 touches the detecting member 30 of the imaging device. The driving mechanism of the imaging device drives the driving gear 121 to rotate, the driving gear 121 drives the reset gear 16 to rotate, and after the dial block 165 of the reset gear 16 rotates a certain angle, it will contact the upper end of the counting lever 15 and push the counting lever 15 to move upward in the third direction D3. The lower end of the counting lever 15 is separated from the detecting member 30 of the imaging device, as Figure 8b shown. The reset gear 16 continues to rotate until the toothless portion 162 of the reset gear 16 faces the driving gear 121. After the reset gear 16 is disengaged from the driving gear 121, it stops rotating. At the same time, the dial block 165 of the reset gear 16 is also separated from the upper end of the counting lever 15, and the counting lever 15 returns to its initial position under the elastic force of the second elastic member 19. At this time, the lower end of the counting lever 15 touches the detecting member 30 of the imaging device again, that is, from Figure 8b the state shown returns to Figure 8a the state shown. In this way, one counting function of the developing cartridge 1 is completed.

[0037] The toothless portion 162 of the reset gear 16 faces the driving gear 121, and the first end 171 of the torsion spring 17 applies a force to the reset gear 16 to make the reset gear 16 have a tendency to continue rotating. However, due to the limiting effect of the limiting member 18, the reset gear 16 cannot rotate further. When the developing cartridge 1 is taken out of the drum cartridge 2, the side wall 21 of the drum cartridge 2 no longer squeezes the limiting member 18, and the limiting member 18 is elastically reset. The limiting protrusion 183 of the limiting member 18 exits from the groove 167 of the reset gear 16. The limiting member 18 no longer restricts the rotation of the reset gear 16, and the torsion spring 17 applies a force to the reset gear 16 to make the reset gear 16 rotate further, so that the toothed portion 161 of the reset gear 16 meshes with the driving gear 121 again. In this way, the automatic reset of the counting function of the developing cartridge of the present invention is realized. After the developing cartridge 1 is loaded into the drum cartridge 2 again and then into the imaging device, the above counting function can be realized again.

[0038] Compared with the prior art, the developing cartridge of the present invention can realize the automatic reset of the counting mechanism. In addition, in the prior art, the sizes of the detected gears of developing cartridges of different models are different, and the counting mechanisms of the developing cartridges are not universal. The counting lever of the developing cartridge of the present invention can be moved up and down, and can be applied to developing cartridges of different models, with good versatility.

[0039] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the concept and scope of the present utility model, and are not used to limit the protection scope of the present utility model. Modifications, equivalent substitutions, and other improvements that are obvious to those skilled in the art to the above embodiments are also within the concept of the present utility model. The protection scope and concept of the present utility model are specifically defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A developing cartridge that can be detachably mounted to a drum cartridge and then installed together with the drum cartridge into an imaging device in a first direction. A detecting member is provided in the imaging device. The developing cartridge includes a housing for containing a developer. The housing has a first side and a second side in a second direction. The first side is close to the detecting member of the imaging device. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction; a driving gear located on the first side of the housing; a counting lever that can reciprocate in a third direction and can trigger the detecting member in the imaging device. The third direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; and a reset gear that can be rotated under the drive of the driving gear and contacts the counting lever to force the counting lever to move in the third direction. The reset gear includes a toothed portion and a toothless portion; characterized in that the developing cartridge further includes: a first elastic member that, when the toothless portion of the reset gear faces the driving gear, forces the reset gear to rotate so that the reset gear meshes with the driving gear; and a limiting member that, when the developing cartridge is installed in the drum cartridge and the toothless portion of the reset gear faces the driving gear, can contact at least a part of the reset gear to prevent the reset gear from rotating; when the developing cartridge is detached from the drum cartridge, the limiting member is separated from the reset gear.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein, The developing cartridge includes an end cap that is detachably mounted on the first side of the housing; the counting lever is mounted on the end cap.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that, The limiting member is provided on the end cap; when the developing cartridge is installed in the drum cartridge, the limiting member is moved by the extrusion of the drum cartridge and can contact at least a part of the reset gear to prevent the reset gear from rotating; when the developing cartridge is detached from the drum cartridge, the limiting member is elastically reset and separated from the reset gear.

4. The developing cartridge according to claim 3, wherein, The reset gear includes a clamping portion that extends from the side wall of the reset gear toward the end cap; when the toothless portion of the reset gear faces the driving gear, the limiting member can contact the clamping portion of the reset gear to prevent the reset gear from rotating.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein, The reset gear includes a dial block located on the side wall of the reset gear; when the reset gear rotates, the dial block can contact the counting lever to force the counting lever to move in the third direction.

6. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, wherein, The developing cartridge further includes a second elastic member, one end of which contacts the counting lever and the other end of which contacts the end cap.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 6, wherein, The second elastic member is a compression spring.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, wherein, The first elastic member is a torsion spring. A lapping portion is provided on the rotating shaft of the reset gear. The first end of the torsion spring laps on the lapping portion, and the second end laps on the end cap.

9. The developing cartridge according to claim 8, wherein, The second end of the torsion spring has a compression coil. When the developing cartridge is installed in the drum cartridge, the compression coil can contact the limiting member to apply an elastic restoring force to the limiting member.

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