Developing roller and box

Abstract

The utility model provides a developing roller and a box, the developing roller comprises a roller shaft, the peripheral surface of the roller shaft is provided with a rubber layer, the rubber layer comprises a non-conductive inner ring rubber layer located at the inner layer and a conductive outer ring rubber layer located at the outer layer, and the roller shaft is arranged to extend out from two axial end parts of the inner ring rubber layer; the inner ring rubber layer is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the roller shaft, and a conductive outer ring rubber layer is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring rubber layer. The cartridge is used for being detachably mounted on the electrophotographic image forming equipment and comprises the developing roller. The developing roller and the box have the advantage of low manufacturing cost.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of electrophotographic imaging equipment, more particularly to a cartridge for installation in an electrophotographic imaging device and a developing roller for use in the cartridge. BACKGROUND

[0002] In an electrophotographic imaging device such as a laser printer or a copier, there is usually a cartridge installed in a detachable manner. The cartridge can be a developing cartridge or a process cartridge. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller, and the process cartridge further integrates a photosensitive drum on the basis of the developing cartridge. During the imaging process, the developer carried by the developing roller can be transferred to the photosensitive drum to develop the latent image on the photosensitive drum.

[0003] In the prior art, the developing roller includes a roller shaft and an electrically conductive elastomer constituting a developer carrying portion. Such an electrically conductive elastomer usually includes an electrically conductive filler such as carbon black and a base material such as rubber. Not only is the cost of the elastomer material itself high, but the manufacturing process is also complex and costly. For example, the electrically conductive filler needs to be specially controlled to be uniformly distributed in the base material to meet the requirement for the uniformity of the electrically conductive elastomer.

[0004] The utility model has the advantages of low manufacturing cost. SUMMARY

[0005] The main purpose of the utility model is to provide a developing roller which is beneficial to reducing the manufacturing cost and a cartridge having the developing roller.

[0006] To achieve the above purpose, the first aspect of the utility model discloses a developing roller, including the roller shaft, the outer circumferential surface of the roller shaft is equipped with the rubber layer, the rubber layer includes the non-conductive inner ring rubber layer in the inner layer and the conductive outer ring rubber layer in the outer layer, the roller shaft is provided as the two axial end portions of the inner ring rubber layer stretch out from;

[0007] The inner ring rubber layer is arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the roller shaft, and the outer ring rubber layer is arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring rubber layer.

[0008] Further, the maximum outer diameter of the rubber layer can be 8-30 mm, and the length can be 225-355 mm. The single-side thickness of the outer ring rubber layer is not less than 0.2 mm, the single-side thickness of the inner ring rubber layer is not less than 0.1 mm, the materials of the inner ring rubber layer and the outer ring rubber layer are rubber or silicone or polyurethane elastomer, and the materials of the inner ring rubber layer and the outer ring rubber layer are the same.

[0009] Further, the maximum diameter of the roller shaft can be 5-12 mm, and the length can be 255-385 mm.

[0010] Further, the surface resistance of the outer ring rubber layer can be 105 Omega ~ 10 7 Omega.

[0011] Further, the Shore A hardness of the rubber layer can be 56-70 degrees.

[0012] Further, the entire outer circumferential surface of the inner ring rubber layer can be provided with the outer ring rubber layer; or at least one end region of the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring rubber layer can have an exposed surface not covered by the outer ring rubber layer.

[0013] Further, the outer ring rubber layer can be directly provided on the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring rubber layer.

[0014] Further, the roller shaft can be a conductive shaft or a non-conductive shaft.

[0015] In order to achieve the above-mentioned main purpose, the second aspect of the utility model discloses a box for being detachably installed to electrophotographic imaging equipment;Wherein, the box includes any one of the developing roller as described above.

[0016] Further, the box further includes:

[0017] The powder outlet knife has a blade in elastic electrical contact with the outer ring rubber layer;

[0018] The developing electrode is electrically connected with the powder outlet knife and can supply power to the outer ring rubber layer through the powder outlet knife.

[0019] Beneficial effects:

[0020] In the utility model, the inner ring rubber layer of the developing roller is made of insulating material, which is beneficial to reduce the material cost;The outer ring rubber layer is arranged on the surface of the inner ring rubber layer, which ensures that the developing roller normally performs imaging, and the design of the composite rubber layer is beneficial to reduce the overall manufacturing cost of the developing roller. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 It is the overall structure schematic view of the box embodiment of the utility model.

[0022] Figure 2 It is the exploded structure schematic view of the box embodiment of the utility model.

[0023] Figure 3 It is the radial section structure structure schematic view of the developing roller in the embodiment of the utility model.

[0024] Figures 4-5 It is the two kinds of axial section structure schematic view of the developing roller in the embodiment of the utility model.

[0025] Figures 1-5In the middle: 10, developing box; 11, frame; 112, first supporting side plate; 113, second supporting side plate; 12, developing roller; 121, roller shaft; 122, developer carrier; 122a, inner rubber layer; 122b, outer rubber layer; 122c, exposed surface; 13, powder feeding roller; 14, drive head; 15, end seal; 16, powder discharge knife; 161, knife holder; 162, blade. Detailed Implementation

[0026] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in conjunction with embodiments in order to provide a full understanding of the present invention. However, it should be understood that the following embodiments and detailed description are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] The following will refer to the appendix in the embodiments of this utility model. Figures 1-5 The technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described.

[0028] The cartridges involved in this utility model can be developing cartridges including a developing roller, or processing cartridges including a developing roller and a photosensitive drum. That is to say, regardless of the structural form of the cartridge, as long as it has a developing roller, it falls within the scope of the cartridges described in this utility model.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the box embodiment. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of its exploded structure. For example... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the cartridge 10 described as an embodiment is a developing cartridge, including a frame 11 with a developer container inside, and a developing roller 12 and a powder feeding roller 13 rotatably disposed relative to the frame 11.

[0030] The developing roller 12 includes a roller shaft 121 and a developer carrier 122, which is exposed to the frame 11 to supply developer to the photosensitive drum. Along the axial direction of the developing roller 12 (the direction in which the axis of rotation of the developing roller 12 extends), end seals 15 are provided between the two end regions of the developer carrier 122 and the frame 11 to prevent developer leakage from the gap between the end regions and the frame 11.

[0031] The powder feeding roller 13 is disposed inside the frame 11 and can elastically contact the developer carrier 122 to allow the developer in the developer container to adhere to the surface of the developer carrier 122. During imaging operations, the developer adhering to the surface of the developer carrier 122 is supplied to the photosensitive drum to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum.

[0032] Exemplarily, along the axial direction of the developing roller 12, the two ends of the frame body 11 are respectively provided with a first support side plate 112 and a second support side plate 113, and the roller shaft 121 of the developing roller 12 is rotatably supported on the first support side plate 112 and the second support side plate 113. Among them, the first support side plate 112 and the second support side plate 113 can be provided separately from the developing frame body 11, or can be integrally formed with the developing frame body 11 to form part of the developing frame body 11, and the utility model does not limit this.

[0033] Further, along the axial direction of the developing roller 12, one axial end of the box 10 is provided with a driving head 14 and a gear transmission mechanism, and the gear transmission mechanism can refer to the input gear, the developing roller gear and the powder feeding roller gear in the patent publication No. CN118859653A. In the case of installing the box 10 in the electrophotographic imaging equipment, the driving head 14 can receive the rotating driving force from the electrophotographic imaging equipment, and drive the developing roller 12 and the powder feeding roller 13 to rotate through the gear transmission mechanism.

[0034] Figure 3 It is a radial cross-sectional structure structure diagram of the developing roller in the embodiment of the utility model, which is shown in combination with Figure 3 As shown, in the embodiment, the developer bearing part 122 includes a rubber layer, the maximum outer diameter of the rubber layer is 8-30mm, the length is 225-355mm, the rubber layer is arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the roller shaft, and the rubber layer includes an inner circle rubber layer 122a which is not conductive and is located in the inner layer and an outer circle rubber layer 122b which is conductive and is located in the outer layer. Among them, the inner circle rubber layer 122a is arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the roller shaft 121, and the outer circle rubber layer 122b is arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the inner circle rubber layer 122a. The roller shaft 121 extends from the two axial ends of the inner circle rubber layer 122a, and the extension length of the roller shaft 121 from the two ends of the inner circle rubber layer 122a can be the same or different.

[0035] The roller shaft 121 can be a conductive shaft, for example, a conductive metal shaft or a non-metal shaft. The roller shaft 121 can also be a non-conductive shaft, for example, a non-conductive shaft obtained by insulating the surface of a conductive metal shaft. Exemplarily, the diameter of the roller shaft 121 (the diameter of the contact part with the inner circle rubber layer 122a) can be 5-12mm, and the length of the roller shaft 121 can be 255-385mm.

[0036] The inner rubber layer 122a can be made of a non-conductive rubber material, such as non-conductive silicone rubber, polyurethane rubber, nitrile rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, natural rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, propylene rubber, and mixtures of the aforementioned rubbers. The material of the inner rubber layer 122a can be rubber or silicone or other polymeric materials. However, considering the adhesion performance between the inner and outer layers, the materials of the inner inner rubber layer 122a and the outer outer rubber layer 122b should be similar, such as both being rubber, both being silicone, or both being polyurethane elastomers. This invention does not impose specific limitations in this regard. For example, the outer diameter of the inner rubber layer 122a can be 10mm to 20mm, the thickness of one side of the inner inner rubber layer 122a is not less than 0.1mm, and the length can be 225mm to 355mm.

[0037] The outer ring rubber layer 122b has a single-sided thickness of not less than 0.2mm. If the outer ring rubber layer 122b is too thin, the resistance will be high and the discharge will be slow, affecting the imaging quality; if the outer ring rubber layer 122b is too thick, it will increase the material cost and make the surface of the outer ring rubber layer 122b very smooth, which will affect the powder application effect.

[0038] Furthermore, the surface resistivity of the outer rubber layer 122b is preferably controlled at 10. 5 Ω~10 7 Within the Ω range, the Shore A hardness of the rubber layer is preferably controlled within the range of 56 to 70 degrees. The outer rubber layer 122b effectively shields electromagnetic interference. Its low surface resistance ensures good conductivity, allowing it to absorb and reflect electromagnetic waves, reducing the impact of external electromagnetic interference on the internal circuitry, and preventing signal loss or power depletion due to poor contact. 5 Ω~10 7 The outer rubber layer 122b, within the Ω resistance range, prevents static electricity buildup while avoiding the risk of short circuits due to excessively low resistance. The rubber layer, with a Shore A hardness in the range of 56–70, exhibits high abrasion resistance, effectively resisting friction and wear during daily use and extending the product's lifespan.

[0039] In the embodiments, Figures 4-5 These are schematic diagrams of two axial cross-sectional structures of the developing roller in embodiments of this utility model, as shown below. Figure 4 The outer ring rubber layer 122b can be provided on the entire outer peripheral surface of the inner ring rubber layer 122a; or, as described above. Figure 5 As shown, one or both end regions of the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring rubber layer 122a have exposed surfaces 122c that are not covered by the outer ring rubber layer 122b. The exposed surface 122c can be the surface of the inner ring rubber layer 122a that contacts the end seal 15, and the area in which it is located is a non-development working area.

[0040] The outer rubber layer 122b can be directly provided on the outer circumferential surface of the inner rubber layer 122a, or indirectly provided on the outer circumferential surface of the inner rubber layer 122a, for example, a transition layer is first made on the outer circumferential surface of the inner rubber layer 122a, and then the outer rubber layer 122b is made on the transition layer, so as to enhance the bonding force between the outer rubber layer 122b and the inner rubber layer 122a by means of the transition layer.

[0041] The outer rubber layer 122b can be made of polyurethane containing conductive components, but is not limited thereto.

[0042] For example, the developing roller 12 can be obtained by the following method: first, the raw material for making the inner rubber layer 122a is put into a banbury mixer for mixing, and after mixing, the product is sheeted by an open mill, and after being cooled for a predetermined time, the product is extruded by an extruder according to the size requirement and is put into a heat curing device for heat curing, so as to obtain a tubular inner rubber layer 122a. Then, the roller shaft 121 is inserted into the tubular core of the inner rubber layer 122a, and after the roller shaft 121 is inserted, the excess part of the inner rubber layer 122a at both ends is cut according to the size requirement, so as to ensure the length of the inner rubber layer 122a and the flatness of the end surfaces thereof. Then, the outer circumferential surface of the inner rubber layer 122a is polished on a grinding machine until the product size requirement is reached. After polishing, the product is cleaned to remove surface powder and impurities, and after drying, the outer rubber layer 122b is made on the outer circumferential surface of the inner rubber layer 122a, and then the product is baked in an oven, so as to complete the production of the developing roller 12. Alternatively, in the process of extruding the inner rubber layer 122a, the roller shaft 121 can be embedded at the same time (i.e., the inner rubber layer 122a is extruded on the roller shaft 121) and then heat cured.

[0043] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 for further details. The cartridge 10 of the embodiment further comprises a powder outlet knife 16 fixedly installed on the frame 11, and the powder outlet knife 16 extends along the axial direction of the developing roller 12. Specifically, the powder outlet knife 16 comprises a knife holder 161 connected with the frame 11 and a blade 162 installed on the knife holder 161, and the blade 162 is in elastic contact with the outer rubber layer 122b of the developing roller 12, so as to control the thickness of the developer adhered to the surface of the outer rubber layer 122b. At least the blade 162 of the knife holder 161 and the blade 162 of the powder outlet knife 16 is made of conductive material such as metal, or both the knife holder 161 and the blade 162 are made of conductive material such as metal. The powder outlet knife 16 can also only comprise a conductive blade 162, and in this case, the blade 162 is directly fixedly connected to the frame 11.

[0044] Further, the developing cartridge 10 further comprises a developing electrode (not shown in the drawings), which can be located at the same end of the developing cartridge 10 as the drive head 14 or at a different end of the developing cartridge 10 in the axial direction of the developing roller 12. The developing electrode can be directly electrically connected to the powder outlet blade 16 or indirectly electrically connected to the powder outlet blade 16 through an intermediate conductive member (such as a conductive wire, a conductive spring or a conductive elastic sheet, etc.). In the case where the developing cartridge 10 is installed in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the developing electrode is in contact with a power supply electrode in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus. Thus, in the case where power is received from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, the developing electrode is capable of supplying power to the outer rubber layer 122b through the powder outlet blade 16 to cause the developing roller 12 to perform an image forming operation.

[0045] In the case where only the blade 162 of the powder outlet blade 16 is made of a conductive material and the powder outlet blade 16 only comprises the conductive blade 162, the developing electrode can be directly or indirectly electrically connected to the blade 162; in the case where both the blade holder 161 and the blade 162 of the powder outlet blade 16 are made of a conductive material, the developing electrode can be directly or indirectly electrically connected to any one of the blade holder 161 and the blade 162 or simultaneously electrically connected to both the blade holder 161 and the blade 162.

[0046] Although the present application is described above by way of embodiments, it should be understood that the above embodiments are only used to exemplarily describe the implementable solutions of the present application and should not be interpreted as limiting the protection scope of the present application, i.e. any equivalent replacement or change made by those skilled in the art according to the present application should also be covered by the protection scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A developer roller comprising a roller shaft (121), characterized by: The outer circumferential surface of the roller shaft (121) is provided with a rubber layer, which includes an inner non-conductive inner ring rubber layer (122a) at the inner layer and an outer conductive outer ring rubber layer (122b) at the outer layer, and the roller shaft (121) is arranged to protrude from both axial ends of the inner ring rubber layer (122a). The inner ring rubber layer (122a) is arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the roller shaft (121), and the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring rubber layer (122a) is provided with the outer ring rubber layer (122b).

2. The developer roller of claim 1, wherein: The maximum outer diameter of the rubber layer is 8-30mm, the length is 225-355mm, the single-sided thickness of the outer ring rubber layer (122b) is not less than 0.2mm, the single-sided thickness of the inner ring rubber layer (122a) is not less than 0.1mm, and the materials of the inner ring rubber layer (122a) and the outer ring rubber layer (122b) are rubber or silicone or polyurethane elastomer, and the materials of the two are the same.

3. The developer roller of claim 1, wherein: The maximum diameter of the roller shaft (121) is 5-12mm, and the length is 255-385mm.

4. The developer roller of claim 1, wherein: The surface resistance of the outer ring rubber layer (122b) is 10 5 Ω ~ 10 7 Ω.

5. The developer roller of claim 1, wherein: The Shore A hardness of the rubber layer is 56-70 degrees.

6. The developer roller of claim 1, wherein: The entire outer circumferential surface of the inner ring rubber layer (122a) is provided with the outer ring rubber layer (122b); or at least one end region of the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring rubber layer (122a) has a bare surface (122c) not covered by the outer ring rubber layer (122b).

7. The developer roller of claim 1, wherein: The outer ring rubber layer (122b) is directly arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring rubber layer (122a).

8. The developer roller of claim 1, wherein: The roller shaft (121) is a conductive shaft or a non-conductive shaft.

9. A cartridge for detachable mounting to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, characterized by: The cartridge (10) comprises the developing roller (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein, Further comprising: A powder outlet knife (16) having a blade (162) in elastic electrical contact with the outer ring rubber layer (122b); A developing electrode electrically connected to the powder outlet knife (16) and supplying power to the outer ring rubber layer (122b) through the powder outlet knife (16).

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