Storage assembly and installable unit

Abstract

The utility model discloses a storage assembly. The storage assembly can be independently installed in an imaging device with an electric contact point relative to a developing box. Wherein the storage assembly comprises a chip, information of the developing box is stored in the chip, and the chip is provided with an electric contact surface; the support is used for supporting the electric contact surface, and the support is provided with a first side and a second side which are separately arranged in the first direction; the elastic component is arranged on the support and used for forcibly pushing the electric contact surface, and the elastic component is located on the second side of the support in the first direction; the electric contact surface is positioned on the first side of the bracket in the first direction; compared with the prior art, the developing box has the advantages that the replacement frequency is reduced, and the use cost of the developing box is reduced.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of electrophotographic imaging, and particularly relates to a storage assembly and a mountable unit. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the prior art, an electrophotographic imaging device generally needs to be used in cooperation with a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge mounted in the drum cartridge. A storage component is mounted on the developing cartridge for printer identification and counting. After the developer in the developing cartridge is used up each time, the developing cartridge needs to be refilled with developer and the storage component needs to be replaced, or a new developing cartridge with a storage component needs to be replaced. The service life of the storage component is obviously longer than the service life of the developing cartridge, and the storage component can continue to be used after the service life of the developing cartridge ends.

[0003] The design of the developing cartridge in the prior art has the following problems. Generally, the storage component is expensive, and frequent replacement of the storage component will increase the printing cost. UTILITY MODEL CONTENTS

[0004] Therefore, the utility model provides a storage assembly and a developing cartridge to solve the above technical problems, mainly through the following technical solutions:

[0005] A storage assembly, the storage assembly being independently mountable to an imaging device having an electrical contact point relative to a developing cartridge; wherein the storage assembly comprises:

[0006] a chip storing information of the developing cartridge, the chip having an electrical contact surface;

[0007] a support for supporting the electrical contact surface, the support having a first side and a second side separately arranged in a first direction;

[0008] a resilient member for urging the electrical contact surface, the resilient member being located at the second side of the support in the first direction;

[0009] the electrical contact surface being located at the first side of the support in the first direction.

[0010] Further, in a state where the storage assembly is mounted to the imaging device, the resilient member can bias the electrical contact surface towards the direction of the electrical contact point.

[0011] Further, the support comprises a chip accommodating portion, the chip accommodating portion being located at the first side of the support in the first direction, and the second side of the support is provided with a resilient portion, and the resilient member is configured as the resilient portion.

[0012] Further, one end of the elastic part is connected to the main body part of the bracket in a third direction intersecting the first direction, and the other end of the elastic part is spaced apart from the main body part of the bracket, and the elastic part is movable relative to the main body part of the bracket.

[0013] Further, the elastic member is configured as an elastic piece integrally extending from one side of the bracket.

[0014] Further, the chip accommodating part is recessed inward from the first side of the bracket.

[0015] Further, the storage assembly further comprises a holding part extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction.

[0016] The distance of the holding part intersecting the first direction and the second direction is G, wherein 3mm≤G≤8mm.

[0017] Further, the bracket extends in the first direction, and the length of the bracket in the first direction is L, wherein 25mm≤L≤31mm.

[0018] The utility model further provides a unit can be installed, including storage assembly and developing box, the developing box can be installed independently to the imaging device with electric contact point relative the storage assembly, the imaging device has first containing area and second containing area, the developing box is contained in first containing area, the storage assembly is contained in second containing area, first containing area and second containing area are adjacent to set up in first direction, first containing area has photosensitive drum, second containing area has electric contact point, the storage assembly includes the chip with electric contact surface, the chip stores the information of developing box;

[0019] The developing box comprises:

[0020] A developing roller is rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in an axial direction;

[0021] A housing is configured to accommodate a developer, and the housing has a driving side and a conductive side that are separately arranged in the axial direction;

[0022] In a state where the developing box and the storage assembly are installed in the imaging device, the electric contact surface is spaced apart from the developing roller in the axial direction, and the electric contact surface is farther from the conductive side of the housing than the driving side of the housing in the axial direction.

[0023] Further, the developing box comprises a coupling gear and a cover;

[0024] The coupling gear is located on the driving side of the housing in the axial direction, the cover covers at least a part of the coupling gear, the cover includes a through hole and a hole wall constituting the through hole;

[0025] The cover is provided with a relief surface on one side in the axial direction, and the relief surface is configured to visualize the end of at least a part of the cartridge in the axial direction;

[0026] The relief surface is closer to the conductive side of the housing than the end of the coupling gear / hole wall in the axial direction.

[0027] Advantages:

[0028] The storage component is directly installed on the electrophotographic imaging device, so that the storage component installed on the electrophotographic imaging device can directly establish a communication connection with the electrophotographic imaging device when the developing cartridge is used, so that even if the storage component is not provided on the developing cartridge, the developing cartridge can be normally used, and the developing cartridge is more convenient to use; in addition, in the case that the storage component is a non-counting storage component or a counting limiting storage component, on the one hand, after the developer in the developing cartridge is used up, only the developing cartridge needs to be treated, such as adding developer or replacing a new developing cartridge, without replacing the storage component, thereby reducing the use cost of the developing cartridge. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 is a schematic view of the storage assembly and the developing cartridge being prepared to be installed on the electrophotographic imaging device in the utility model;

[0030] Figure 2 is an exploded schematic view of the storage assembly in the utility model;

[0031] Figure 3 is a schematic view of the storage assembly being prepared to be installed on the chip mounting groove in the utility model;

[0032] Figure 4 is another angle schematic view of the storage assembly being prepared to be installed on the chip mounting groove in the utility model;

[0033] Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional structural schematic view of the storage assembly and the chip mounting groove in the utility model in the engaged state;

[0034] Figure 6 is a structural schematic view of the developing cartridge when viewed along the third direction in the utility model;

[0035] Figure 7 is a structural schematic view of the developing cartridge when viewed along the second direction in the utility model;

[0036] Figure 8It is the structural schematic view of the developing box in the utility model along the first direction;

[0037] Figure 9 It is the three-dimensional structural schematic view of the developing box in the utility model in a certain angle;

[0038] Figure 10 It is the sectional view of the storage assembly in the vertical direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] In order to make the purpose of the utility model embodiment, technical scheme and technical effect more clearly, the technical scheme of the utility model developing box will be clearly and completely described below in combination with the drawings. Obviously, the described embodiment is only a preferred embodiment of the utility model, not all embodiments, based on the embodiment of the utility model, other embodiments obtained by the skilled in the art without creative labor, all belong to the protection scope of the utility model.

[0040] Embodiment one:

[0041] Figure 1 It shows the schematic view of the storage assembly 110 and the developing box 100 to the prior art electronic photographic imaging device 1 (hereinafter referred to as "imaging device") installation; the storage assembly 110 includes chip support 120 and chip 130, and the chip 130 is used for storing the information of the developing box 100 and / or drum box (not shown). The developing box 100 can be detachably installed into the drum box, and installed into the accommodating part 2 of the imaging device 1 together with the drum box; the imaging device 1 further includes a chip mounting groove 3 on one side of the accommodating part 2 in the first direction, and the chip mounting groove 3 is provided with an electrical contact 4 on one side in the second direction, and the electrical contact 4 is electrically connected with the control system inside the imaging device 1.

[0042] The developing box 100 and the storage assembly 110 can be independently installed into the imaging device 1, specifically, the developing box 100 can be installed into the inside of the accommodating part 2 of the imaging device 1; and the storage assembly 110 can be installed into the inside of the chip mounting groove 3.

[0043] In order to facilitate the following description of the structure layout of the utility model, as shown in Figure 1 In the state that the developing box 100 and the storage assembly 110 are installed into the imaging device 1, the length direction of the developing box 100 is the first direction, the length direction of the storage assembly 110 is the second direction, and the third direction intersects with the first direction and the second direction; preferably, the first direction, the second direction and the third direction are perpendicular to each other; in order to further clarify the direction of each structure, the following is taken as an example Figure 1The left-right direction shown in the figure is taken as the first direction, the front-rear direction is taken as the second direction, and the up-down direction is taken as the third direction as examples. Specifically, the chip mounting slot 3 is located at the left side of the accommodating portion 2 in the first direction; the electrical contact 4 is located in front of the chip mounting slot 3 in the second direction, and the outer cover 5 is located above the accommodating portion 2 in the third direction.

[0044] As Figure 2 As shown in the figure, the chip 130 includes an electrical contact surface 131 and a storage portion (not shown), the electrical contact surface 131 is electrically connected with the storage portion, and the storage portion stores information of at least one of the developing cartridge 100 and the drum cartridge, or simultaneously stores information of the developing cartridge 100 and the drum cartridge. In the state that the storage assembly 110 is installed to the image forming apparatus 1, the electrical contact surface 131 is in contact with the electrical contact 4 to form an electrical connection, so that the chip 130 can establish a communication connection with the control system of the image forming apparatus 1, so that the image forming apparatus reads or writes information in the chip 130, to facilitate the image forming apparatus 1 to identify whether the developing cartridge 100 is a developing cartridge 100 adapted to the image forming apparatus 1, to avoid damage of the developing cartridge 100 and / or the image forming apparatus 1 due to incorrect installation of the developing cartridge 100. When the service life of the developing cartridge 100 and / or the drum cartridge is about to be exhausted, the image forming apparatus 1 can prompt the user to replace a new developing cartridge 100 and / or drum cartridge in time through an operation panel or an indicator lamp.

[0045] As Figure 2 A chip holder 120 is shown in the figure, the chip holder 120 is used to support and fix the chip 130, and the chip holder 120 and the chip 130 can be installed to the image forming apparatus 1 together. Specifically, the chip holder 120 can be detachably installed into the chip mounting slot 3 of the image forming apparatus 1, and the chip holder 120 includes a main body portion 121, a chip accommodating portion 122, an elastic portion 123, a holding portion 124, and a limiting portion 125. As Figure 10As shown, the main body 121 extends in the third direction, the chip accommodating portion 122 is arranged on one side of the main body 121 in the second direction, and the chip accommodating portion 122 is used to accommodate the chip 130, and the electrical contact surface 131 of the chip 130 is exposed on one side of the chip holder 120 in the second direction. The elastic portion 123 is located on the other side of the main body 121 in the second direction. In the state that the storage assembly 110 is installed to the imaging device 1, the elastic portion 123 is in contact with the abutting surface 3a on the side of the chip mounting groove 3 in the second direction away from the electrical contact 4, at this time, the elastic portion 123 exerts an elastic force on the abutting surface 3a, and in return, the elastic portion 123 is subjected to a reaction force from the abutting surface 3a, thereby driving the chip holder 120 to be biased toward the direction close to the electrical contact 4, and the electrical contact surface 131 is biased in the second direction together with the chip holder 120 toward the direction close to the electrical contact 131, so that the electrical contact surface 131 is in contact with the electrical contact 4 and a stable electrical connection is established. The gripping portion 124 is arranged on one side of the chip holder 120 in the third direction, and the gripping portion 124 extends from the upper side of the main body 121 of the chip holder 120 in the third direction, and at least one side of the gripping portion 124 in the first direction is provided with a recess 124a to facilitate the user's grip. The shortest distance between the end of the gripping portion 124 away from the main body 121 in the third direction and the main body 121 is G, that is, the length of the gripping portion 124 extending in the third direction is G, in order to avoid interference between the gripping portion 124 and the outer cover 5 of the imaging device 1, so G≤9mm; preferably, 3mm≤G≤8mm.

[0046] Further, the length C of the chip mounting groove 3 in the second direction decreases from top to bottom in the third direction, that is, the length C1 of the upper side of the chip mounting groove 3 in the second direction is greater than the length C2 of the lower side of the chip mounting groove 3 in the second direction, and the initial length L of the storage assembly 110 in the second direction, that is, C1≤L≤C2; in the state that the storage assembly 110 is installed in the chip mounting groove 3, the elastic portion 123 is in a compressed state, at this time, the elastic portion 123 exerts an elastic force on the abutting surface 3a, and the abutting surface 3a exerts a reaction force on the elastic portion 123 opposite to the elastic force, thereby making the electrical contact surface 131 more closely contact with the electrical contact 4, and ensuring the stability of the electrical connection between the electrical contact surface 131 and the electrical contact 4. Specifically, in this embodiment, C1 can be set to 31mm-32mm, and C2 can be set to 24mm-25mm, and the value range of L is 25mm≤L≤31mm. Preferably, in this embodiment, the elastic portion 123 is configured as an elastic plastic sheet, and at the same time, the elastic portion 123 can be integrally formed with the main body 121, so as to reduce the production cost of the storage assembly 110.

[0047] The limiting part 125 is located on one side of the chip holder 120 in the first direction, and is configured as a limiting protrusion extending in the second and third directions. The limiting part 125 can cooperate with the limiting protrusion 3b arranged on the inner side of the chip mounting slot 3 to limit the movement of the chip holder 120 in the third direction.

[0048] The installation process of the storage assembly 110 to the imaging device 1 and the cooperation relationship between the storage assembly 110 and the developing cartridge 100 in the installed state will be described in detail below. Figure 1 、 3 When produced, the chip 130 is fixedly installed inside the chip accommodating part 122 by buckling or using adhesion by the production and manufacturing personnel, and the electrical contact surface 131 is exposed on one side of the chip holder 120 in the second direction.

[0049] When installed for use, the user first opens the outer cover 5 of the imaging device 1 and takes out the original developing cartridge 100 and drum cartridge. Then the user moves the storage assembly 110 above the imaging device 1 by holding the holding part 124, and aligns the storage assembly 110 with the chip mounting slot 3 in the third direction. Then the user moves the chip holder 120 downward, so that the chip holder 120 moves towards the inside of the chip mounting slot 3. At this time, the user applies a downward pushing force to the chip holder 120 in the third direction, and the elastic part 123 of the chip holder 120 abuts against the abutting surface 3a of the chip mounting slot 3 to apply an elastic force. On the other hand, the abutting surface 3a of the chip mounting slot 3 applies a reaction force to the elastic part 123 of the chip holder 120 in the second direction. As a result, the chip holder 120 is biased in the second direction towards the direction of approaching the electrical contact 4 under the action of the reaction force, so that the electrical contact surface 131 of the chip 130 contacts the electrical contact 4. Under the action of the elastic force provided by the elastic part 123, the chip holder 120 is kept biased in the second direction towards the direction of approaching the electrical contact surface 131, so as to keep the electrical contact surface 131 in contact with the electrical contact 4, thereby making the electrical connection between the chip 130 and the imaging device 1 more stable.

[0050] As Figures 6-9As shown, the developing cartridge 100 includes a housing 101 for containing developer. The housing 101 has a first side and a second side separated from each other in a first direction. The housing 101 includes a housing body 101a and a cover 101b detachably mounted on the housing body 101a near the first side of the housing 101. The cover 101b covers a gear train located on the first side of the housing 101. The gear train includes, but is not limited to, a coupling gear 105. The coupling gear 105 is located on the first side of the housing 101 and can be connected to a drive member (not shown) inside the imaging device 1 to receive the driving force of the imaging device 1 and rotate about the coupling gear axis extending in the first direction. The coupling gear 105 can drive the developing roller 104, the powder feeding roller, and the stirring frame to rotate along their respective axes extending in the first direction. With both the storage assembly 110 and the developing cartridge 100 installed in the imaging device 1, the storage assembly 110 is located at one end of the developing cartridge 100 near the first side of the housing 101. The cover 101b has a through hole 101b1 that exposes the coupling gear 105 in a first direction, and a hole wall 101b2 forming the through hole 101b1. The hole wall 101b2 and / or the coupling gear 105 are located at the far end of the developing cartridge 100 in the first direction, close to the first side. It is worth noting that, in order to ensure that both the chip holder 120 and the developing cartridge 100 can be smoothly installed into the imaging device 1, a clearance surface 140 is provided on one side of the cover 102 in the developing cartridge 100. The clearance surface 140 is configured as at least a portion of the end of the developing cartridge 100 in the first direction. When the developing cartridge 100 is installed into the imaging device 1 together with the storage component 110, the clearance surface 140 coincides with at least a portion of the storage component 110 when viewed along the first direction, so as to prevent interference between the developing cartridge 100 and the storage component 110 when both the storage component 110 and the developing cartridge 100 are installed into the imaging device. Specifically, the third-party upward clearance surface 140 is further away from the developing roller 104 than the coupling gear 105, and in the first direction, the clearance surface 140 is closer to the second side of the developing cartridge 100 than the hole wall 101b2 and / or the left end of the coupling gear 105.

[0051] like Figure 10 As shown, optionally, the main body 121 has a cavity 121a inside, which is connected to the chip receiving part 122. The cavity 121a can be used to receive the power supply part 133 of the chip 130. The power supply part 133 is used to supply power to the storage part 132. The power supply part 133 is preferably a button battery.

[0052] The utility model discloses still provided a combination of above-mentioned storage component 110 and above-mentioned developing box 100, storage component 110 and developing box 100 are independently arranged to each other, and storage component 110 and developing box 100 can be installed to imaging device 1 respectively and use, only need to replace new developing box 100 after the service life of developing box 100 is exhausted and can continue to use, need not to replace storage component 100 together, and the use cost of developing box 100 is reduced.

[0053] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the utility model, and not to limit them; although the utility model has been explained in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments can still be modified, or some technical features can be replaced equivalently; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the utility model.

Claims

1. A memory assembly, comprising: The storage assembly is capable of being independently mounted into an image forming device having an electrical contact point with respect to the developing cartridge; wherein the storage assembly comprises: a chip storing information of the developing cartridge, the chip having an electrical contact surface; a support for supporting the electrical contact surface, the support having a first side and a second side separately arranged in a first direction; a resilient member for urging the electrical contact surface, the resilient member being located at the second side of the support in the first direction; the electrical contact surface being located at the first side of the support in the first direction.

2. The storage assembly of claim 1, wherein, In a state where the storage assembly is mounted into the image forming device, the resilient member can bias the electrical contact surface towards a direction of the electrical contact point.

3. The memory assembly of claim 1, wherein, The support comprises a chip accommodating portion located at the first side of the support in the first direction, and the second side of the support is provided with a resilient portion, and the resilient member is configured as the resilient portion.

4. The memory assembly of claim 3, wherein, In a third direction intersecting the first direction, one end of the resilient portion is connected with a main body portion of the support, and the other end of the resilient portion is spaced apart from the main body portion of the support, and the resilient portion is movable relative to the main body portion of the support.

5. The storage assembly of claim 3 or 4, wherein, The resilient member is configured as a resilient sheet extending integrally from one side of the support.

6. The memory assembly of claim 3, wherein, The chip accommodating portion is recessed inwardly from the first side of the support.

7. The memory assembly of claim 1, wherein, The storage assembly further comprises a gripping portion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; a distance of the gripping portion in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction is G, wherein 3mm≤G≤8mm.

8. The memory assembly of claim 1, wherein, The support extends in the first direction, and a length of the support in the first direction is L, wherein 25mm≤L≤31mm.

9. An installable unit comprising a storage component and a developing cartridge, characterized by, The developing cartridge is capable of being independently mounted into an image forming device having an electrical contact point with respect to the storage assembly, the image forming device having a first accommodating region and a second accommodating region, the developing cartridge being accommodated in the first accommodating region, and the storage assembly being accommodated in the second accommodating region, the first accommodating region and the second accommodating region being arranged adjacently in a first direction, the first accommodating region having a photosensitive drum, and the second accommodating region having an electrical contact point, and the storage assembly comprising a chip having an electrical contact surface, the chip storing information of the developing cartridge; The developing cartridge comprises: a developing roller rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in an axial direction; a housing for accommodating a developer, the housing having a driving side and a conductive side separately arranged in the axial direction; In a state where the developing cartridge and the storage assembly are mounted into the image forming device, the electrical contact surface is spaced apart from the developing roller in the axial direction, and the electrical contact surface is farther away from the conductive side of the housing than the driving side of the housing in the axial direction.

10. The mountable unit of claim 9, wherein, The developing cartridge comprises a coupling gear and a cover; the coupling gear is located at the driving side of the housing in the axial direction, the cover covers at least a portion of the coupling gear, and the cover comprises a through hole and a hole wall constituting the through hole; The cover is provided with a relief surface on one side in the axial direction, the relief surface is configured to develop the cartridge at least one end of the axial direction; The relief surface is closer to the conductive side of the housing than the end of the coupling gear / hole wall in the axial direction.

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