Developing cartridge

Abstract

The utility model provides a developing box which comprises a shell used for accommodating a developing agent; the developing roller is rotatably arranged on the shell; the developing roller rotates around a developing axis extending in the longitudinal direction; the power receiving piece is located at one end of the developing box in the longitudinal direction and used for receiving driving force from the outside of the developing box, the end where the power receiving piece is located is a driving end, and the end opposite to the driving end is a non-driving end in the longitudinal direction; the driving end cover is arranged at the driving end, the non-driving end cover is arranged at the non-driving end, and the driving end cover and the non-driving end cover are fixedly connected with the shell; the first protruding part and the second protruding part are respectively arranged on the driving end cover and the non-driving end cover and are used for guiding the installation of the developing box; through holes are formed in the first protruding part and the second protruding part respectively, the longitudinal tail end of the developing roller is exposed through the first protruding part and the second protruding part respectively, and after the structure of the developing box is optimized, the developing box can be matched with a second type of developing roller which is larger in supply quantity and longer in length in the market.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electrophotographic imaging, and more particularly to a developing cartridge that can be detachably installed in an electrophotographic imaging device. Background Technology

[0002] A developing cartridge is a container that holds developer and has a rotatable developing roller that delivers the developer outward. When the developing cartridge is installed in an electrophotographic imaging device (hereinafter referred to as the imaging device), the developer displays the desired image or text on the imaging medium (such as paper, photographic paper, or film) using electrostatic imaging technology.

[0003] There are two types of developing rollers in the prior art: a first type and a second type. The first type of developing roller is shorter than the second type, but the second type is more widely available on the market. A compatible developing cartridge in the prior art is compatible with the first type of developing roller but not with the second type. This means that when manufacturers produce the compatible developing cartridge, they need to develop a mold specifically for producing the first type of developing roller. However, this requirement not only extends the production cycle of the developing cartridge but also significantly increases production costs. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, this utility model provides a structurally optimized developing cartridge. After upgrades and modifications, the developing cartridge can be matched with the second type of developing roller described in the background art, which has a larger market supply. This avoids manufacturers having to produce the first type of developing roller themselves, thus saving production costs.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows:

[0006] A developing cartridge includes: a housing for containing developer; a developing roller rotatably disposed on the housing for conveying developer outward; the developing roller rotates about a developing axis extending longitudinally; a power receiver located at one end of the developing cartridge in the longitudinal direction for receiving driving force from outside the developing cartridge, wherein the end of the power receiver is a driving end and the end opposite to the driving end is a non-driving end; a driving end cover disposed at the driving end and fixedly connected to the housing; a non-driving end cover disposed at the non-driving end and fixedly connected to the housing; a first protrusion and a second protrusion respectively disposed on the driving end cover and the non-driving end cover for guiding the installation of the developing cartridge; each of the first and second protrusions has a through hole, through which the longitudinal end of the developing roller is exposed respectively.

[0007] Furthermore, the developing cartridge includes a powder feeding roller rotatably mounted on the housing, the powder feeding roller being used to deliver developer to the developing roller; simultaneously, the developing cartridge also includes a gear set arranged on the same side as the power receiving unit, the gear set being used to transmit driving force from the power receiving unit to the powder feeding roller, the gear set including at least an idler gear, a developing roller gear, and a powder feeding roller gear, the developing roller gear being the power receiving unit, the developing roller gear engaging with the developing roller, the powder feeding roller gear engaging with the powder feeding roller, the idler gear meshing with the developing roller gear, and the powder feeding roller gear meshing with the idler gear; along the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, the side of the developing roller gear away from the non-driving end cover does not overlap with the side of the powder feeding roller gear near the non-driving end cover.

[0008] Furthermore, the developing roller gear includes a wheel body, teeth, mounting portion and abutment portion. The teeth are arranged radially on the circumference of the wheel body. The abutment portion protrudes from the wheel body and extends in the longitudinal direction away from the side where the non-drive end cover is located. The mounting portion is formed by the wheel body and the inner cavity of the abutment portion communicates with the mounting portion.

[0009] Furthermore, the first protrusion is coaxial with the abutting portion, and the abutting portion extends into the first protrusion.

[0010] Furthermore, the developing roller gear also includes a blocking part for preventing axial movement of the developing roller.

[0011] Furthermore, a blocking part is disposed in the inner cavity of the abutment part, and the blocking part extends from the circumferential surface of the inner cavity of the abutment part toward the circumferential center.

[0012] Furthermore, the blocking part is connected to the wheel body, and at this time, the blocking part is set in the mounting part.

[0013] Furthermore, the developing cartridge also includes a conductive element for transmitting power received from outside the developing cartridge to the developing roller and the powder feeding roller, the conductive element being in contact with the circumferential surface of the developing roller. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is an overall view of the developing cartridge involved in this utility model.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the developing cartridge involved in this utility model, viewed from another angle.

[0016] Figure 3a This is a perspective view of the developing cartridge involved in this utility model after the drive end cover is hidden.

[0017] Figure 3b This is a perspective view of the developing cartridge involved in this utility model after the non-driving end cap is hidden.

[0018] Figure 4This is a perspective view of the developing cartridge involved in this utility model after the front cover and drive end cover are hidden.

[0019] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the developing roller involved in this utility model.

[0020] Figure 6a This is a perspective view of the developing roller gear involved in this utility model.

[0021] Figure 6b This is a perspective view of the developing roller gear involved in this utility model, viewed from another angle. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] The developing cartridge 1 is a consumable component detachably installed in an imaging device. The developing cartridge 1 includes a housing 2, which comprises a bottom shell 52 and a top cover 51 joined together, forming a cavity for containing developer. Further, the developing cartridge 1 includes a plurality of rotating components rotatably disposed within the housing 2. Under the combined action of these rotating components, the developer is conveyed to the outside of the developing cartridge 1. The plurality of rotating components includes at least one of a developing roller 31 for conveying developer outwards, a powder feeding roller 32 for conveying developer to the developing roller 31, and a stirring frame 33 for stirring the developer. The developing roller 31, powder feeding roller 32, and stirring frame 33 all rotate by receiving a driving force from a power receiving member 13, wherein the developing roller 31 rotates about a developing axis L. The developing roller 31 is disposed on one side of the housing 2, and the developing cartridge 1 is also provided with a handle 5, which is arranged in a second direction with the developing roller 31.

[0024] For ease of description, the orientations involved in this specification are first defined as follows: the direction in which the developing axis L is located, or the direction parallel to the developing axis L, is the first direction (also called the "longitudinal direction"); the direction intersecting the first direction is the second direction; preferably, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction; and the direction intersecting both the first and second directions is the third direction; preferably, the first, second, and third directions are orthogonal. The side where the driving end 6 is located, referred to below, is the left side, and the side opposite to the side where the driving end 6 is located is the right side. The left and right directions are parallel to the first direction.

[0025] The developing cartridge 1 also includes a driving end 6 and a non-driving end 7 located at the two longitudinal ends of the housing 2. The driving end 6 is provided with a power receiving element 13 for receiving driving force from the imaging setup. The housing 2 has a first sidewall 11 at the driving end 6 and a second sidewall 12 at the non-driving end 7, with the first sidewall 11 and the second sidewall 12 spaced apart from each other along a first direction. Further, the driving end 6 is provided with a driving end cover 8 for protecting the components disposed at the driving end 6, and the non-driving end 7 is also provided with a non-driving end cover 9 for protecting the components disposed at the non-driving end 7. Both the driving end cover 8 and the non-driving end cover 9 are fixedly connected to the housing 2.

[0026] Both the drive end cover 8 and the non-drive end cover 9 are provided with protrusions, namely a first protrusion 21 and a second protrusion 22. Both the first protrusion 21 and the second protrusion 22 are coaxial with the developing roller 31, with the first protrusion 21 extending to the left and the second protrusion extending to the right. When the developing cartridge 1 is installed into an imaging device or a drum housing containing a photosensitive drum, the first protrusion 21 serves as a guide for installation on the left side of the developing cartridge 1, and the second protrusion 22 serves as a guide for installation on the right side of the developing cartridge 1.

[0027] There are two types of developing rollers in the prior art: a first type and a second type. The first type of developing roller is shorter than the second type, but the second type is more widely available in the market. The developing roller 31 involved in this embodiment is the second type. The developing roller 31 includes a roller shaft 1a and a bushing 1b. The bushing 1b encloses the roller shaft 1a, and the roller shaft 1a extends from both ends of the bushing 1b. The bushing 1b is used to carry the developer. The length of the roller shaft of the first type of developing roller is shorter than the length of the roller shaft of the second type.

[0028] Furthermore, in this embodiment, both the first protrusion 21 and the second protrusion 22 are provided with through holes. When the developing roller 31 is installed in the developing cartridge 1, the roller shaft 1a of the developing roller 31 enters the through hole. The roller shaft 1a of the developing roller 31 has a left end 1c and a right end 1d. The left end 1c of the roller shaft 1a is exposed through the first protrusion 21, and the right end 1d of the roller shaft 1a is exposed through the second protrusion 22. In some embodiments, the left end 1c is flush with the end face of the first protrusion 21, and the right end 1d is flush with the end face of the second protrusion 22. The above design enables the developing roller 31 to be installed using existing space without changing the length of the developing cartridge 1.

[0029] Furthermore, the developing cartridge 1 also includes a gear set arranged on the same side as the power receiving unit 13. This gear set transmits driving force from the power receiving unit 13 to multiple rotating components within the housing 2. The gear set includes at least an idler gear 41, a developing roller gear 42, a powder feeding roller gear 43, an intermediate gear set 44, and a stirring rack gear 45. In this embodiment, the power receiving unit 13 is the developing roller gear 42, which receives driving force from the electrophotographic imaging device and rotates accordingly. Further, the developing roller gear 42 is coupled to the developing roller 31, the powder feeding roller gear 43 is coupled to the powder feeding roller 32, and the stirring rack gear 45 is coupled to the stirring rack 33. The idler gear 41 meshes with the developing roller gear 42 (power receiving unit 13) and receives driving force. The powder feeding roller gear 43 and the intermediate gear set 44 both mesh with the idler gear 41 and receive driving force. The stirring rack gear 45 meshes with the intermediate gear set 44 and receives driving force. In terms of gear arrangement, in the direction intersecting with the first direction, the side of the developing roller gear 42 away from the non-driving end cover 9 does not overlap with the side of the powder feeding roller gear 43 near the non-driving end cover 9, thereby avoiding interference between the developing roller gear 42 and the powder feeding roller gear 43.

[0030] Further, the developing roller gear 42 includes a wheel body 421, teeth 422, a mounting portion 423, and an abutment portion 424; the teeth 422 are arranged radially on the circumference of the wheel body 421, and the abutment portion 424 protrudes from the wheel body 421 and extends to the left in a first direction; the wheel body 421 and the abutment portion 424 are integrally formed. The mounting portion 423 is formed by the wheel body 421, and at least a portion of the roller shaft 1a of the developing roller 31 extends into the mounting portion 423. The abutment portion 424 is hollow and cylindrical, and its inner cavity communicates with the mounting portion 423.

[0031] The first protrusion 21 is coaxial with the abutment portion 424, which extends into the first protrusion 21. When the developing roller gear 42 is mounted on the developing roller 31, the roller shaft 1a of the developing roller 31 extends into the abutment portion 424. Further, the developing roller gear 42 also includes a blocking portion 425, which restricts or prevents the developing roller 31 from moving in a first direction. The blocking portion 425 is disposed within the inner cavity of the abutment portion 424; specifically, the blocking portion 425 extends from the circumferential surface of the inner cavity of the abutment portion 424 towards the circumferential center. In other embodiments, the blocking portion 425 may also be connected to the wheel body 421; in this case, the blocking portion 425 is disposed in the mounting portion 423.

[0032] Furthermore, the developing cartridge 1 also includes a conductive element (not shown in the figure) for transmitting power received from the electronic imaging device to the developing roller 31 and the powder feeding roller 32. In this embodiment, the conductive element is in contact with the circumferential surface of the roller shaft 1a of the developing roller 31. This design is advantageous for reducing the longitudinal dimension of the developing cartridge 1 compared to placing the conductive element at the axial end of the developing roller 31.

[0033] This invention provides a structurally optimized developing cartridge, which, after upgrades and modifications, can be adapted to the second type of developing roller described in the background art, thereby avoiding the need for manufacturers to independently produce the first type of developing roller and saving production costs.

Claims

1. A developing cartridge, characterized in that, The developing cartridge includes: The housing, used to contain the developer; The developing roller, rotatably mounted on the housing, is used to deliver developer outward; the developing roller rotates about a developing axis extending in the longitudinal direction; The power receiver is located at one end of the developing cartridge in the longitudinal direction. It is used to receive driving force from outside the developing cartridge. In the longitudinal direction, the end where the power receiver is located is the driving end, and the end opposite to the driving end is the non-driving end. A drive end cover is installed at the drive end and is fixedly connected to the housing. The non-driving end cap is located on the non-driving end and is fixedly connected to the housing. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are respectively provided on the drive end cover and the non-drive end cover, and are used to guide the installation of the developing cartridge; Both the first protrusion and the second protrusion are provided with through holes, and the longitudinal ends of the developing roller are exposed through the first protrusion and the second protrusion, respectively.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The developing cartridge includes a powder feeding roller rotatably mounted on a housing for feeding developer to a developing roller. The developing cartridge also includes a gear set arranged on the same side as a power receiver for transmitting driving force from the power receiver to the powder feeding roller. The gear set includes at least an idler gear, a developing roller gear, and a powder feeding roller gear. The developing roller gear is the power receiver. The developing roller gear engages with the developing roller, the powder feeding roller gear engages with the powder feeding roller, the idler gear meshes with the developing roller gear, and the powder feeding roller gear meshes with the idler gear. Along the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, the side of the developing roller gear away from the non-driving end cover does not overlap with the side of the powder feeding roller gear near the non-driving end cover.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that, The developing roller gear includes a wheel body, teeth, mounting portion and abutment portion. The teeth are arranged radially on the circumference of the wheel body. The abutment portion protrudes from the wheel body and extends in the longitudinal direction away from the side where the non-drive end cover is located. The mounting portion is formed by the wheel body and the inner cavity of the abutment portion communicates with the mounting portion.

4. The developing cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first protrusion is coaxial with the abutting part, and the abutting part extends into the first protrusion.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that, The developing roller gear also includes a blocking part for preventing axial movement of the developing roller.

6. The developing cartridge according to claim 5, characterized in that, The blocking part is disposed in the inner cavity of the abutment part, and the blocking part extends from the circumferential surface of the inner cavity of the abutment part toward the circumferential center.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 5, characterized in that, The blocking part is connected to the wheel body, and at this time, the blocking part is set in the mounting part.

8. The developing cartridge according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that, The developing cartridge also includes a conductive element for transmitting power received from outside the developing cartridge to the developing roller and the powder feeding roller, the conductive element being in contact with the circumferential surface of the developing roller.

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