Processing box

Abstract

The utility model relates to a process cartridge detachably mounted in imaging equipment with a force application part, which comprises a separation part used for receiving the acting force applied by the force application part so as to force a developing roller and a photosensitive drum to be separated from each other and close to each other; the retaining part is linked with the separating part and is provided with an acting position and a non-acting position; at the action position, the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are kept in a mutually separated state; at the non-acting position, the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are kept close to each other; the acting assembly comprises a first acting piece arranged on the separating piece and a second acting piece arranged on the holding piece; the first acting piece is arranged to move relative to the developing shell along with the separating piece, and the second acting piece is arranged to move relative to the developing shell along with the holding piece; under the action of magnetic force between the first acting piece and the second acting piece, the retaining piece moves to the acting position from the non-acting position; the design is not only convenient to install, but also solves the defects caused by process errors.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] A processing cartridge is a consumable that is detachably installed in an electrophotographic imaging device (hereinafter referred to as "imaging device"). The processing cartridge includes a housing and a developing roller and a photosensitive drum that are rotatably disposed in the housing. The developing roller is used to carry the developer contained in the developing housing. When the processing cartridge is developed in the imaging device, the developing roller supplies the developer to the photosensitive drum by forming an electric field between the developing roller and the photosensitive drum, so that the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum is developed.

[0003] In the prior art, when the processing cartridge is not being developed in the imaging equipment, in order to prevent the developer carried by the developing roller from continuing to reach the surface of the photosensitive drum, the processing cartridge is usually provided with a separating element, a retaining element, and an elastic element. The separating element is used to force the developing roller and the photosensitive drum to separate from each other, and the elastic element forces the retaining element to keep the developing roller and the photosensitive drum in a separated state. However, under long-term use, the elasticity of the elastic element is prone to deterioration, and the elastic element is also prone to falling off during transportation. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this utility model provides a processing box with the following technical solution:

[0005] A processing cartridge, detachably mounted to an imaging device equipped with a force-applying component, includes: a developing unit having a developing housing and a developing roller rotatably disposed within the developing housing, the developing roller carrying toner contained within the developing housing, the rotation axis of the developing roller extending in a left-right direction; a photosensitive unit having a photosensitive housing and a photosensitive drum rotatably disposed within the photosensitive housing, the developing roller supplying toner to the photosensitive drum; a separating component for receiving a force applied by the force-applying component to force the developing roller and the photosensitive drum to separate and move closer together; a holding component, linked to the separating component, having an active position and an inactive position; when the holding component is in the active position, the developing roller and the photosensitive drum remain separated; when the holding component is in the inactive position, the developing roller and the photosensitive drum remain close together; an actuating assembly including a first actuating component disposed on the separating component and a second actuating component disposed on the holding component; the first actuating component is configured to follow the movement of the separating component relative to the developing housing, and the second actuating component is configured to follow the movement of the holding component relative to the developing housing; the holding component moves from the inactive position to the active position through magnetic force between the first and second actuating components.

[0006] Furthermore, at least one of the first and second active elements is configured as a magnetic element.

[0007] Furthermore, the direction intersecting the left and right directions is the up and down direction, and there is a magnetic attraction between the first and second action members, with the first action member located below the second action member.

[0008] Furthermore, the direction intersecting the left and right directions is the up and down direction, and there is a magnetic repulsive force between the first and second action members, with the first action member located above the second action member.

[0009] Furthermore, the developing unit and the photosensitive unit are arranged in a front-to-back direction, and the direction intersecting the front-to-back and left-to-right directions is a vertical direction; the retaining member has a receiving portion, and the processing box further includes a first end cap disposed at the left-to-right end of the developing housing, and the first end cap or the photosensitive housing is provided with a mating portion for cooperating with the receiving portion; the mating portion has a supporting portion and a receiving portion, the supporting portion is used to support the receiving portion in the vertical direction so that the retaining member is held in a non-functional position, and the receiving portion is used to abut against the receiving portion in the front-to-back direction so that the retaining member is held in the functional position.

[0010] Furthermore, the retainer performs a circular motion, and the direction of the magnetic force between the first and second action members is tangent to the motion trajectory of the retainer.

[0011] Furthermore, the retaining member also has a retaining portion for abutting against the separating member, the retaining portion for limiting the movement stroke of the retaining member; by pushing the retaining portion by the separating member, the retaining member moves from the active position to the non-active position.

[0012] Furthermore, the movement of the retaining member is either rotation or translation.

[0013] Furthermore, the separating member has an extended state and a retracted state; in the extended state, the separating member can receive the force applied by the force-applying member in the imaging device; in the retracted state, the separating member cannot receive the force applied by the force-applying member in the imaging device; when the separating member is not subjected to the pressing force applied by the imaging device, the first and second force-applying members attract each other, and the separating member is in the retracted state.

[0014] Furthermore, when the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are in a close proximity state, there is a first attraction between the first actuating member and the second actuating member; when the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are in a separated state, there is a second attraction between the first actuating member and the second actuating member, wherein the first attraction is less than the second attraction. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the processing box involved in this utility model.

[0016] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of some components of the non-drive end of the processing box involved in this utility model.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a side view taken along the longitudinal direction after the processing box involved in this utility model has been installed into the imaging device and before the door cover of the imaging device is closed.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a side view taken along the longitudinal direction after the processing box involved in this utility model has been installed into the imaging device and the door of the imaging device has been closed, with the developing roller and the photosensitive drum in a close proximity to each other.

[0019] Figure 5 This is a side view taken along the longitudinal direction after the processing box involved in this utility model has been installed into the imaging device and the door of the imaging device has been closed, with the developing roller and the photosensitive drum in a state of separation. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The following detailed description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, further illustrates the structure and other aspects of the processing box involved in this utility model.

[0021] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the processing cartridge 100 is detachably installed in an electrophotographic imaging device (hereinafter referred to as "imaging device"). The processing cartridge 100 includes a developing unit 1 and a photosensitive unit 2 that are combined with each other. The developing unit 1 includes a developing housing 11 for containing toner and a developing roller 12 rotatably disposed in the developing housing 11. The developing roller 12 is used to carry toner. The photosensitive unit 2 includes a photosensitive housing 21 and a photosensitive drum 22 rotatably disposed in the photosensitive housing 21. The developing roller 12 is arranged opposite to the photosensitive drum 22 and is used to supply toner to the photosensitive drum 22 so as to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 22.

[0022] For clarity in the following description, the extension direction of the rotation axis L1 of the developing roller 12 is defined as the left-right direction / longitudinal direction, the arrangement direction of the developing unit 1 and the photosensitive unit 2 is defined as the front-back direction, the direction in which the developing unit 1 points towards the photosensitive unit 2 is defined as the front, and the side opposite to the front is defined as the rear; the direction in the processing box 100 where the developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 are not installed is defined as the direction in which the developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 are installed is defined as the bottom, and the direction opposite to the bottom is defined as the top.

[0023] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the processing box 100 further includes a first driving force receiver 31 and a second driving force receiver 32 for receiving the driving force output by the imaging device. The first driving force receiver 31 directly or indirectly drives the developing roller 12 to rotate around the rotation axis L1, and the second driving force receiver 32 directly drives the photosensitive drum 22 to rotate around the rotation axis L2. Along the left-right direction, the end of the processing box 100 that receives the driving force from the imaging device is defined as the driving end / left side, and the end opposite the driving end is defined as the non-driving end / right side. In some embodiments, only one of the first driving force receiver 31 and the second driving force receiver 32 needs to be provided. Along the left-right direction, the processing box 100 also has a first end cap 41 provided at the driving end and a... The second end cap 42 of the non-driving end exposes both the first driving force receiver 31 and the second driving force receiver 32. The developing unit 1 and the photosensitive unit 2 are connected through the first end cap 41 and the second end cap 42. The first end cap 41 and the second end cap 42 can be formed separately from the photosensitive housing 21 or the developing housing 11, or they can be formed integrally with the photosensitive housing 21 or the developing housing 11. When the first end cap 41 and the second end cap 42 are both integrally formed with the photosensitive housing 21 or the developing housing 11, the first end cap 41 and the second end cap 42 can be regarded as part of the photosensitive unit 2 or the developing unit 1. The following description takes the example of the first end cap 41 and the second end cap 42 being integrally formed with the photosensitive housing 21.

[0024] like Figure 2 As shown, the processing cartridge 100 also includes an action mechanism 5. When the processing cartridge 100 is installed in the imaging device and the processing cartridge 100 does not need to perform development work, the action mechanism receives a separation force (one of the forces described below) applied by the imaging device to force the developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 to separate from each other.

[0025] In some embodiments, when the processing cartridge 100 needs to perform a developing operation, the actuating mechanism 5 can force the developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 to move closer to each other by receiving a restoring force (another type of force hereinafter) applied from the imaging device, the direction of which is opposite to the direction of the separating force.

[0026] like Figure 2As shown, along the left-right direction, the actuating mechanism 5 includes a separating member 51 movable relative to the developing housing 11. Along the left-right direction, the separating member 51 is disposed at one longitudinal end of the developing housing 1. The separating member 51 has an extended state and a retracted state. The separating member 51 includes a pressed portion 511 and a force-receiving portion 512. The pressed portion 511 is used to receive pressing force from the imaging device, causing the separating member 51 to move from the retracted state to the extended state. When the separating member 51 is in the extended state, the force-receiving portion 512 can receive the force applied by the force-applying member in the imaging device. When the separating member 51 is in the retracted state, the force-receiving portion 512 cannot receive the force applied by the force-applying member in the imaging device. The force includes at least a separating force; in some embodiments, the force also includes the aforementioned restoring force.

[0027] like Figure 2As shown, the actuating mechanism 5 further includes a retaining member 52 linked to the separating member 51. The retaining member 52 has an active position and an inactive position. In the active position, the developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 remain separated from each other. In the inactive position, the developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 remain close to each other. Further, the retaining member 52 includes a contacting portion 521, a main body portion 522, and a retaining portion 523. The contacting portion 521 and the retaining portion 523 are both connected to the main body portion 522. Preferably, the retaining member 52 is integrally formed. The retaining portion 523 is used to cooperate with the separating member 51. The photosensitive housing 21 has a mating portion 210 for engaging with the abutting portion 521, which restricts the movement of the retaining member 52. Furthermore, the mating portion 210 is disposed on a first end cap 41 integrally formed with the photosensitive housing 21. The mating portion 210 has an adjacently disposed support portion 211 and an abutting portion 212. The support portion 211 is located above the abutting portion 212. In the vertical direction, the support portion 211 supports the abutting portion 521. In the front-back direction, the abutting portion 212 abuts against the abutting portion 521. Specifically, in the active position, the abutting portion 521... 1. The abutting part 521 contacts the abutting part 212. This contact refers to the abutting part 521 and the abutting part 212 abutting each other in the front-to-back direction. The developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 remain separated. In the non-operating position, the abutting part 521 and the abutting part 212 disengage. This disengagement means that the abutting part 521 and the abutting part 212 no longer abut each other in the front-to-back direction. At this time, the abutting part 521 is located above the abutting part 212 and supported by the supporting part 211. The developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 remain close to each other. When the force-receiving part 512 receives the separation force applied by the force-applying member, the separation... The separating member 51 drives the retaining member 52 to move relative to the developing housing 1. Specifically, it forces the retaining member 52 to move from a non-operating position to an operating position. When the force-receiving part 512 receives the restoring force applied by the force-applying member, the separating member 51 pushes the retaining part 523 to force the retaining member 52 to move relative to the developing housing 1. Specifically, it forces the retaining member 52 to move from an operating position to a non-operating position. In some embodiments, the mating part 210 may also be provided on the photosensitive housing 21. The movement of the retaining member 52 can be rotation or translation, etc. The following description takes the rotation of the retaining member 52 as an example.

[0028] like Figure 2As shown, the actuating mechanism 5 further includes an actuating component 53 for forcing the retaining member 52 to move from a non-acting position to an acting position. Specifically, the actuating component 53 is movable relative to the developing housing 11 / photosensitive housing 21 / first end cap 41 / developing roller 12. The actuating component 53 includes a first actuating member 531 and a second actuating member 532 capable of generating magnetic forces with each other. The first actuating member 531 is disposed on the separating member 51, and the second actuating member 532 is disposed on the retaining member 52. Preferably, at least one of the first actuating member 531 and the second actuating member 532 is a magnetic element. When one of the first action member 531 and the second action member 532 is a magnetic element, the other of the first action member 531 and the second action member 532 can be a magnetizable component, or both the first action member 531 and the second action member 532 can be magnetic elements; through the interaction of the magnetic force generated between the first action member 531 and the second action member 532, the retaining member 52 is switched / moved from the non-operational position to the operational position, and the retaining member 52 is held in the operational position; the first action member 531 and the second action member 532 can be installed by adhesive or snap-fit, etc.

[0029] In some embodiments, the magnetic force between the first actuating member 531 and the second actuating member 532 is a magnetic attraction force, thereby forcing the retaining member 52 to move from the non-acting position to the acting position, at which time the first actuating member 531 is located below the second actuating member 532.

[0030] like Figure 3 As shown, before the pressed part 511 receives the pressing force applied by the imaging device, the magnetic attraction between the first actuating member 531 and the second actuating member 532 causes the separating member 51 and the holding member 52 to form a whole. At this time, the force-receiving part 512 is in a retracted state and cannot receive the force applied by the force-applying member in the imaging device. Therefore, the force-receiving part 512 will not interfere with the imaging device during the installation of the processing box 100 to the imaging device, and the processing box 100 can be installed smoothly. The holding member 52 is in a non-acting position, the abutting part 521 and the abutting part 212 are in a disengaged position, the abutting part 521 is above the abutting part 212 and is supported by the support part 211, the developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 are kept close to each other, and the processing box 100 can perform the developing operation.

[0031] like Figure 4As shown, after the pressed part 511 receives the pressing force applied from top to bottom by the imaging device, the separating member 51 moves downward as a whole in the vertical direction, causing the first action member 531 and the second action member 532 to separate from each other. The separating member 51 is in the extended state. At this time, the force-receiving part 512 can receive the force applied by the force-applying member in the imaging device. The magnetic attraction between the first action member 531 and the second action member 532 decreases. The holding member 52 is still in the non-active position. The abutting part 521 is still located above the abutting part 212 and is supported. The developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 remain in a close-to-each-other state. At this time, there is a first attraction between the first action member 531 and the second action member 532, and the processing cartridge 100 can perform the developing operation.

[0032] like Figure 5 As shown, when the processing cartridge 100 does not need to perform development work, the force-receiving part 512 receives a separation force applied from front to back by the force-applying member. The separating member 51 rotates along the r1 direction, and drives the holding member 52 to move from the non-operating position to the operating position around the main body 522 along the r1 direction. Specifically, since the holding member 52 is mounted on the separating member 51, the separating member 51 will make a circular motion along the r1 direction after receiving the separation force. During this process, along the front-back direction, the separating member 51 will drive the holding member 52 to move backward a certain distance. At this time, the abutted part 521 is closer to the top (end) of the mating part 210. Under the magnetic attraction between the first actuating member 531 and the second actuating member 532, the holding member 52 moves to the operating position, and the abutted part 521 is no longer supported by the supporting part 211. The abutted part 521 and the abutting part 210 move together. When the connecting part 212 abuts in the front-to-back direction, the developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 remain in a separated state. At this time, the holding part 523 abuts against the separating member 51, so that the abutted part 521 always remains in a position abutting against the abutting part 212 in the front-to-back direction. Even if there is still a magnetic attraction between the first abutting member 531 and the second abutting member 532, the abutted part 521 will not continue to move downward and disengage from the abutting part 212. In this application, since the weight of the holding member 52 is small, it is not necessary to consider the influence of the weight of the holding member 52 on the movement of the holding member 52 from the non-acting position to the acting position. When the developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 are in a separated state, there is a second attraction between the first abutting member 531 and the second abutting member 532, and the first attraction is smaller than the second attraction.

[0033] When the processing cartridge 100 needs to perform development work again, the force receiving part 512 receives the restoring force applied from back to front by the force applying member, and the separating member 51 pushes the holding member 52 to move from the active position to the non-active position around the main body part 522 in the opposite direction to the r1 direction. Specifically, the abutting part 521 and the abutting part 212 disengage in the front-back direction, the abutting part 521 is supported again by the supporting part 211, the first abutting member 531 moves away from the second abutting member 532, the developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 remain in a close-to-each-other state, and the processing cartridge 100 can perform development work.

[0034] In some embodiments, the first actuating member 531 and the second actuating member 532 can also be forced to move from the non-acting position to the acting position by generating a magnetic repulsive force. In this case, the first actuating member 531 is located above the second actuating member 532.

[0035] As described above, the first actuating member 531 can follow the separating member 51 in its movement relative to the developing housing 11 / photosensitive housing 21 / first end cap 41 / developing roller 12, and the second actuating member 532 can follow the holding member 52 in its movement relative to the developing housing 11 / photosensitive housing 21 / first end cap 41 / developing roller 12. Therefore, this application has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0036] 1. If one of the first action member 531 and the second action member 532 is configured not to move relative to the developing housing 11 / photosensitive housing 21 / first end cap 41 / developing roller 12, then the magnetic force between the first action member 531 and the second action member 532 can only reach its maximum at a certain specific position. However, in this application, since both the first action member 531 and the second action member 532 can move relative to the developing housing 11 / photosensitive housing 21 / first end cap 41 / developing roller 12, the magnetic force between the first action member 531 and the second action member 532 is always at its maximum. This allows the separating member 51 to more quickly force the abutting part 521 to move to the position of abutting part 212 when it receives the separating force applied by the imaging device, thereby keeping the developing roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 22 in a state of mutual separation.

[0037] 2. In this application, by setting a first action member 531 and a second action member 532, and relying on the magnetic force between the two to keep the retaining member 52 in the action position, compared with the prior art, which uses an elastic member to keep the retaining member 52 in the action position, the first action member 531 and the second action member 532 in this application are easier to install.

[0038] 3. In the prior art, an elastic element is used to hold the retaining member 52 in its active position. As the retaining member 52 moves, the direction of the elastic force of the elastic element changes continuously. In this application, the first active member 531 can follow the movement of the separating member 51 relative to the developing housing 11 / photosensitive housing 21 / first end cap 41 / developing roller 12, and the second active member 532 can follow the movement of the retaining member 52 relative to the developing housing 11 / photosensitive housing 21 / first end cap 41 / developing roller 12. When the retaining member 52 makes a circular motion, the magnetic force direction D between the first active member 531 and the second active member 532 is always tangent to the movement trajectory R of the retaining member 52 (e.g., ...). Figure 3 As shown in the figure, this can avoid wasting force.

[0039] 4. In the prior art, the retaining member 52 is held in the active position by setting an elastic member. When the retaining member 52 moves from the position of contacting the abutting part 212 to the position of disengaging from the abutting part 212, the elastic member is stretched or compressed, which increases the elastic force of the elastic member. In this application, when a magnetic attraction is generated between the first active member 531 and the second active member 532, when the retaining member 52 moves from the position of contacting the abutting part 212 (active position) to the position of disengaging from the abutting part 212 (non-active position), the magnetic attraction between the first active member 531 and the second active member 532 decreases, that is, the second attraction is greater than the first attraction. In comparison, in order to make the abutted part 521 stably supported by the support part 211, the thickness (vertical dimension) of the mating part 210 in this application can be reduced compared with the prior art, so that when the retaining member 52 moves with the separating member 51 toward the active position, it is easier for the abutted part 521 to move to the position of contacting the abutting part 212.

[0040] 5. When the first actuating member 531 and the second actuating member 532 generate a magnetic attraction, even if the installation positions of the first actuating member 531 and the second actuating member 532 are deviated, causing the first actuating member 531 and the second actuating member 532 to not be completely opposite, in this application, since the first actuating member 531 can follow the separating member 51 to move relative to the developing housing 11 / photosensitive housing 21 / first end cap 41 / developing roller 12, and the second actuating member 532 can follow the holding member 52 to move relative to the developing housing 11 / photosensitive housing 21 / first end cap 41 / developing roller 12, the first actuating member 531 and the second actuating member 532 can be automatically adjusted to the optimal working position by the magnetic attraction, so as to maximize the magnetic force between the two and solve the defects caused by process errors, and reduce the assembly accuracy requirements.

Claims

1. A processing box, detachably mounted into an imaging device equipped with a force-applying component, characterized in that, The processing box includes: A developing unit has a developing housing and a developing roller rotatably disposed in the developing housing. The developing roller is used to carry toner contained in the developing housing, and the rotation axis of the developing roller extends in the left-right direction. A photosensitive unit has a photosensitive housing and a photosensitive drum rotatably disposed in the photosensitive housing, wherein the developing roller is used to supply toner to the photosensitive drum; The separator is used to receive the force applied by the force-applying component to force the developing roller and the photosensitive drum to separate from each other and move closer to each other; The retaining element is linked to the separating element and has an active position and a non-active position. When the retainer is in the active position, the developing roller and the photosensitive drum remain separated from each other; When in the non-operating position, the developing roller and the photosensitive drum remain close to each other; The action component includes a first action member disposed on the separating member and a second action member disposed on the retaining member; The first actuating member is configured to follow the movement of the separating member relative to the developing housing, and the second actuating member is configured to follow the movement of the holding member relative to the developing housing; The retaining member moves from the non-active position to the active position through the magnetic force between the first and second active members.

2. The processing box according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the first and second active elements is configured as a magnetic element.

3. The processing box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The direction intersecting the left and right directions is the up and down direction. There is a magnetic attraction between the first and second action members, and the first action member is located below the second action member.

4. The processing box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The direction intersecting the left and right directions is the up and down direction. There is a magnetic repulsive force between the first and second action members, and the first action member is located above the second action member.

5. The processing box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The developing unit and the photosensitive unit are arranged in a front-to-back direction, and the direction that intersects with the front-to-back direction and the left-to-right direction is the up-down direction. The retainer has an abutting portion, and the processing box further includes a first end cap disposed at the left and right ends of the developing housing. The first end cap or the photosensitive housing is provided with a mating portion for engaging with the abutting portion. The mating part has a supporting part and an abutting part. The supporting part is used to support the abutting part in the vertical direction so that the retainer is kept in the non-functional position. The abutting part is used to abut against the abutting part in the front-back direction so that the retainer is kept in the functional position.

6. The processing box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The retainer performs a circular motion, and the magnetic force between the first and second action members is tangent to the motion trajectory of the retainer.

7. The processing box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The retainer also has a retaining portion for abutting against the separating member, the retaining portion being used to limit the movement stroke of the retainer; The retaining part is pushed by the separating member, causing the retaining member to move from the active position to the non-active position.

8. The processing box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movement of the retaining member is either rotation or translation.

9. The processing box according to claim 3, characterized in that, The separating element has an extended state and a retracted state; When extended, the separating element is capable of receiving the force applied by the force-applying element in the imaging device; In the retracted state, the separating element cannot receive the force applied by the force-applying element in the imaging device; When the separating member is not subjected to pressure applied by the imaging device, the first and second actuating members attract each other, and the separating member is in a retracted state.

10. The processing box according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are close to each other, there is a first attraction between the first actuating member and the second actuating member. When the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are separated from each other, there is a second attraction between the first actuating member and the second actuating member. The first attraction is less than the second attraction.

Images