Developing box

Abstract

The utility model discloses a developing box, which can be detachably arranged on an electrophotographic imaging device with an electric contact, and comprises a shell, a first side, a second side, a third side, a fourth side, a fifth side and a sixth side, the shell is provided with a third side and a fourth side which are separately arranged in a second direction crossed with the first direction; a developing roller; a coupling gear; a chip having an electrical contact surface; the shell comprises a protective cover arranged on the first side of the shell; the electric contact surface can be in contact with the electric contact to form electric connection; the electric contact surface faces the third side of the shell in the second direction, and the electric contact surface faces the upper portion of the shell in the third direction; according to the developing box, the electric contact surface can be protected and is prevented from being rusted by moisture in air or being adhered with dust, so that the conductivity of the electric contact surface is kept, and the electric connection between the developing box and the electrophotographic imaging device is more stable.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of electrophotographic imaging, especially to a developing box. BACKGROUND

[0002] The prior art discloses a drum cartridge comprising a photosensitive drum and a drum frame and a developing cartridge comprising a developing roller, and the developing cartridge generally further has an electrical contact surface for electrical connection with an electrophotographic imaging device; in operation, the developing cartridge is detachably mounted to the inside of the drum cartridge and is mounted together with the drum cartridge to the inside of the electrophotographic imaging device; at this time, the electrical contact surface establishes electrical connection with the electrophotographic imaging device, and the electrophotographic imaging device establishes electrical connection with a memory chip through the electrical contact surface, so that the electrophotographic imaging device can identify the developing cartridge and thus complete an imaging operation.

[0003] In order to facilitate connection with the electrical contact surface, the electrical contact surface of the developing cartridge is generally exposed, and when the developing cartridge is placed for a long time, the electrical contact surface may be corroded by moisture in the air or adhere to dust, thereby affecting the electrical conductivity of the electrical contact surface and further affecting the stability of the electrical connection between the developing cartridge and the electrophotographic imaging device, resulting in an error of the electrophotographic imaging device; for the above-mentioned situations, neither the manufacturer nor the end user is willing to see, so it is urgent to design a new developing cartridge to solve the above-mentioned problems. SUMMARY

[0004] Therefore, the utility model provides a kind of developing cartridge to solve above-mentioned technical problems, mainly by following technical scheme to realize:

[0005] A developing cartridge can be detachably mounted to an electrophotographic imaging device having an electrical contact, the developing cartridge comprising:

[0006] A housing for containing a developer, the housing having a first side and a second side disposed separately in a first direction, the housing having a third side and a fourth side disposed separately in a second direction intersecting the first direction;

[0007] A developing roller for carrying the developer, the developing roller being rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in the first direction, the developing roller being located at the third side of the housing in the second direction;

[0008] A coupling gear for receiving a driving force from outside of the developing cartridge;

[0009] A chip having an electrical contact surface;

[0010] The electrical contact surface is close to the first side of the housing in the first direction and close to the third side of the housing in the second direction;

[0011] The housing comprises a cover arranged at the first side of the housing;

[0012] The electric contact surface is capable of contacting and forming an electrical connection with the electric contact;

[0013] The electric contact surface is located at the inner side of the cover, faces the third side of the housing in the second direction, and faces the upper side of the housing in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction.

[0014] Further, the minimum angle between the plane where the electric contact surface is located and the second direction is α, where 65°≤α≤90°.

[0015] Further, the electric contact surface is movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position, and the electric contact surface is closer to the developing roller axis when the electric contact surface is located at the first position than when the electric contact surface is located at the second position.

[0016] Further, the developing cartridge further comprises an elastic member, one end of the elastic member acting on the electric contact surface, and the other end of the elastic member acting on the housing.

[0017] The elastic member can bias the electric contact surface towards the first position.

[0018] Further, the electric contact surface is perpendicular to the second direction when the electric contact surface is located at the second position.

[0019] Further, the cover comprises an opening, the opening facing the lower side of the housing in the third direction.

[0020] At least a portion of the electric contact surface is exposed to the bottom of the housing through the opening.

[0021] Further, the developing cartridge comprises a chip holder, the chip holder being used to support the electric contact surface.

[0022] The chip holder is movably connected to the inner side of the cover.

[0023] Further, the chip holder comprises a joint portion, the joint portion extending in the first direction.

[0024] In the third direction, the joint portion is closer to the rotation axis of the coupling gear than the electric contact surface.

[0025] Further, the developing cartridge further comprises a detected protrusion, the detected protrusion is located at the second side of the housing in the first direction, and the detected protrusion is movable relative to the housing.

[0026] Further, in the second direction, the electric contact surface is spaced apart from the rotation axis of the coupling gear;

[0027] In the second direction, the electric contact surface is farther away from the developing roller than the rotation axis of the coupling gear.

[0028] Beneficial effects:

[0029] In the developing cartridge of the utility model, the electric contact surface is located inside the cover, and the electric contact surface is arranged towards the front in the front-back direction, which can protect the electric contact surface, prevent the electric contact surface from being corroded by moisture in the air or adhering dust, and thus maintain the conductivity of the electric contact surface; on the other hand, the electric contact surface can increase the contact area with the electric contact in the image forming device, and thus make the electric connection of the developing cartridge and the electrophotographic image forming device more stable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 is a drum cartridge of the prior art;

[0031] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the developing cartridge of the utility model;

[0032] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the developing cartridge of the utility model from another angle;

[0033] Figure 4 is a top view of the developing cartridge of the utility model in the up-down direction;

[0034] Figure 5 is a left view of the developing cartridge of the utility model in the left-right direction;

[0035] Figure 6 is a partial exploded view of the cover in the developing cartridge of the utility model;

[0036] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the cover in the developing cartridge of the utility model;

[0037] Figure 8 is a bottom view of the left end of the developing cartridge of the utility model in the up-down direction;

[0038] Figure 9 is a left view of the developing cartridge of the utility model in the left-right direction, with the electric contact surface of the developing cartridge being in the first position state;

[0039] Figure 10This is a left view of the developing cartridge in the left-right direction, with the electrical contact surface of the developing cartridge in the second position. Detailed Implementation

[0040] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and technical effects of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solution of the processing box of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only one preferred embodiment of this utility model, and not all embodiments. Other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this utility model without creative effort are all within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0041] In the following description, when referring to the orientation of the developing cartridge 100, it will be indicated by... Figure 2 The left-right direction marked on the developing cartridge 100 is the first direction, specifically the axial direction of the developing roller 104. The coupling gear 111 is located closer to the left side of the developing roller 104 in the left-right direction; Figure 2 The front-back direction marked on the developing cartridge 100 is the second direction, specifically the width direction of the developing cartridge 100. The handle 101c is located at the rear of the developing cartridge 100 in this front-back direction. Figure 2 The up and down directions marked on the developing cartridge 100 are third directions. Specifically, the up and down directions are the directions that intersect with the left and right directions and the front and back directions. Preferably, the left and right directions, the front and back directions, and the up and down directions are perpendicular to each other.

[0042] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A prior art drum cartridge 50 and a developing cartridge 100 of this invention are shown respectively. The developing cartridge 100 can be detachably installed to the drum cartridge 50, and can be detachably installed together with the drum cartridge 50 to an electrophotographic imaging device (hereinafter referred to as "imaging device"); such as Figure 1 As shown, the drum box 50 includes a drum frame 51, inside which a photosensitive drum 52 is rotatably supported, and the drum frame 51 also includes an opening 53.

[0043] Figures 2-4A developing box 100 in the utility model is shown, the developing box 100 includes the shell 101, the shell 101 has the first side and the second side of separate arrangement in the left and right direction, the shell 101 has the third side and the fourth side of separate arrangement in the front and back direction. The shell 101 includes powder bin 101a, and the powder bin 101a is used to accommodate developer, and the powder bin 101a is provided with handle 101c on the fourth side in the front and back direction, and the shell 101 further includes cover 101b, and the cover 101b can be detachably installed on the left side of powder bin 101a, and the cover 101b is used to protect the gear train located on the first side of shell 101, specifically, the cover 101b covers at least a part of the gear train. As Figure 6 As shown, the gear train includes but is not limited to coupling gear 111, developing roller gear 112, powder feeding roller gear 113, stirring frame gear 114, transmission gear 116 and at least one idler gear 115. The coupling gear 111 is located on the first side of the shell 101 in the left and right direction, and the coupling gear 111 includes coupling part 111a and gear part 111b, and the coupling part 111a can be connected with the driving member (not shown) in the imaging device, so that the coupling gear 111 receives the driving force of the imaging device, so that the coupling gear 111 rotates around the coupling gear axis A1 extending in the left and right direction. The developing roller gear 112, the powder feeding roller gear 113 and the stirring frame gear 114 are directly or indirectly engaged with the gear part 111b of the coupling gear 111, as Figure 6 And 9 As shown, the developing roller gear 112 is engaged with the gear part 111b to enable the coupling gear 111 to drive the developing roller gear 112 to rotate around the developing roller gear axis extending in the left and right direction, the powder feeding roller gear 113 is engaged with the gear part 111b to enable the coupling gear 111 to drive the powder feeding roller gear 113 to rotate around the powder feeding roller gear axis extending in the left and right direction, and the stirring frame gear 114 is engaged with the coupling gear 111 through the idler gear 115 to enable the stirring frame gear 114 to receive the driving force of the coupling gear 111 and rotate around the axis extending in the left and right direction.

[0044] As Figure 4As shown, the developing cartridge 100 further comprises a developing roller 104, a powder feeding roller 103 and a stirring frame 102; a developing roller gear 112, a powder feeding roller gear 113 and a stirring frame gear 114 are connected at the left end of the developing roller 104, the powder feeding roller 103 and the stirring frame 102 respectively, the developing roller 104 can be driven by the developing roller gear 112 to rotate around a developing roller axis extending in the left-right direction, the powder feeding roller 103 can be driven by the powder feeding roller gear 113 to rotate around a powder feeding roller axis extending in the left-right direction, the stirring frame 102 can be driven by the stirring frame gear 114 to rotate around a stirring frame axis extending in the left-right direction. The developing cartridge 100 supplies the developer to the outside of the developing cartridge 100 through the rotation of the stirring frame 102, the powder feeding roller 103 and the developing roller 104, specifically, the stirring frame 102 stirs the developer inside the powder tank 101a by rotating to prevent the developer inside the powder tank 101a from caking and deliver the developer to the powder feeding roller 103, the powder feeding roller 103 contacts the developing roller 104 in the front-back direction, the powder feeding roller 103 is located between the stirring frame 102 and the developing roller 102 in the front-back direction, the powder feeding roller 103 delivers the developer to the developing roller 104 by rotating, the developing roller 104 is located at the front side of the developing cartridge 100 in the front-back direction, in the state that the developing cartridge 100 is installed to the drum cartridge 50, the developing roller 104 is opposite to the photosensitive drum 52, the developing roller 104 delivers the developer to the photosensitive drum 52 by rotating to develop the latent image on the photosensitive drum 52. The developing cartridge 100 further comprises a powder outlet blade 106 located between the housing 101 and the developing roller 104 in the front-back direction, the powder outlet blade 106 is used to control the thickness of the developer attached to the developing roller 104. The developing cartridge 100 further comprises an electrode 105, the electrode 105 can contact the power supply member inside the image forming device to receive the power of the image forming device, the electrode 105 can be electrically connected with the components inside the developing cartridge 100 to supply power to the components of the developing cartridge 100, specifically, the components of the developing cartridge 100 include but are not limited to at least one of the developing roller 104, the powder feeding roller 103 and the powder outlet blade 106, the electrode 105 has an electrical connection part 105a located at the right side of the housing 101, the electrical connection part 105a is exposed to the second side of the housing 101 in the left-right direction, when the developing cartridge 100 is installed to the image forming device, the electrical connection part 105a contacts the power supply member (not shown in the figure) of the image forming device, so that the electrode 105 receives the power from the image forming device and delivers to the components in the developing cartridge 100 to ensure the smooth delivery of the developer. As Figures 3-4 and Figure 6As shown, the housing 101 is also provided with a detection device, which includes a detection protrusion 109, a transmission gear 116, and a transmission rod connected between the detection protrusion 109 and the transmission gear 116. The detection protrusion 109 is located on the second side of the housing 101 in the left-right direction. The detection protrusion 109 is movable relative to the housing 101. The detection protrusion 109 can actuate a detection element (not shown) inside the imaging device to transmit information to the imaging device, helping the imaging device to identify the developing cartridge 100. Specifically, as... Figure 6 As shown, the transmission gear 116 receives the driving force of the coupling gear 111 through the idler gear 115 and the stirring rack gear 114 and rotates about its axis extending in the left and right direction. The detected protrusion 109 is connected to the transmission gear 116 through the transmission rod, so that the detected body 109 can move according to the rotation of the transmission gear 116.

[0045] like Figures 5-7 As shown, a storage member 120 is provided on the cover 101b. The storage member 120 includes a storage chip 121 and a chip support 122 that supports the storage chip 121. The storage chip 121 is used to store information of the developing cartridge 100. The storage chip 121 has a storage part (not shown) for storing information of the developing cartridge 100 and an electrical contact surface 121a. The electrical contact surface 121a is located on the first side of the housing 101 in the left-right direction, and the electrical contact surface 121a is closer to the third side than the fourth side of the housing 101 in the front-back direction. The chip holder 122 has a plate-like structure. The chip holder 122 includes a chip receiving portion 122a and a connecting portion 122b, which are recessed inward on one side. The chip receiving portion 122a is used to receive the memory chip 121 and exposes the electrical contact surface 121a on one side of the outer surface of the chip holder. The connecting portion 122b is located on one side of the chip receiving portion 122a and is used to connect with the cover 101b. The cover 101b has a connecting portion 101b1 on the side near the powder hopper 101a in the left-right direction. The connecting portion 122b can cooperate with the connecting portion 101b1, so that the chip holder 122 is connected to the inside of the cover 101b from left to right in the left-right direction. Specifically, the connecting portion 122b is configured as a connecting hole extending in the left-right direction, and the coupled portion 101b1 is configured as a connecting shaft extending in the left-right direction. The engagement of the connecting portion 122b and the coupled portion 101b1 allows the chip holder 122 to rotate relative to the cover 101b around the axis of the connecting portion 122b or the coupled portion 101b1. Optionally, the connecting portion 122b can also be configured as a connecting shaft, and correspondingly, the coupled portion 101b1 can be configured as a connecting hole. Alternatively, the coupled portion 101b1 can also be disposed on the powder hopper 101a and extend outward from the left outer surface of the powder hopper 101a.

[0046] Further, to facilitate the contact of the electric contact surface 121a with the electric contact in the image forming device, the joint part 122b and the chip accommodating part 122a are arranged in the up-down direction, the joint part 122b is closer to the rotation axis of the coupling gear 111 in the up-down direction than the chip accommodating part 122a, the storage chip 121 is fixedly installed in the chip accommodating part 122a of the chip holder 122, and the storage chip 121 and the electric contact surface 121a can rotate together with the chip holder 122 relative to the cover 101b around the joint part 122b or the axis of the joint part 101b1; specifically, the electric contact surface 121a can move relative to the cover 101b around the axis of the connecting shaft extending in the left-right direction between a first position and a second position, and the distance between the first position of the electric contact surface 121a in the front-rear direction and the developing roller axis is less than the distance between the second position of the electric contact surface 121a and the developing roller axis. The elastic member 123 is connected between the chip holder 122 and the cover 101b, one end of the elastic member 123 is connected to the chip holder 122, the other end of the elastic member 123 is connected to the cover 101b, and the elastic member 123 is used to apply a force to the chip holder 122 to bias the electric contact surface 121a to the first position, so that the electric contact surface 121a is located at the first position in the state that the chip holder 122 is not subjected to the force; in other words, the first position of the electric contact surface 121a is the position of the electric contact surface 121a or the chip holder 122 relative to the housing 101 in the state that the electric contact surface 121a is not subjected to the external force, and the second position of the electric contact surface 121a is the position of the electric contact surface 121a relative to the housing 101 after the developing cartridge 100 is installed to the image forming device. The elastic member 123 is preferably a torsion spring.

[0047] As shown in Figure 8 , the bottom of the cover 101b is provided with a second opening 101b2 extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, at least a part of the electric contact surface 121a is located inside the second opening 101b2, and specifically, at least a part of the electric contact surface 121a in the up-down direction is located inside the second opening 101b2 and extends below the second opening 101b2. The electric contact surface 121a includes a plurality of electric contact points, and in this embodiment, the electric contact surface 121a specifically includes four electric contact points arranged in the left-right direction. As shown in Figures 8-9 , in the front-rear direction, the electric contact surface 121a is arranged apart from the coupling gear axis A1, and in the front-rear direction, the electric contact surface 121a is farther away from the developing roller 104 than the coupling gear axis A1. When the electric contact surface 121a is at the first position, the electric contact surface 121a faces the front or the front-up direction, and when the electric contact surface 121a is at the second position, the plane on which the electric contact surface 121a is located is substantially perpendicular to the front-rear direction (as shown in Figure 10In other words, the minimum angle between the electrical contact surface 121a viewed in the left-right direction and the front-back direction is α, where 65°≤α≤90°. Figure 8 As shown, when viewed from bottom to top along the vertical direction, the electrical contact surface 121a is not exposed at the bottom of the developing cartridge 100. In other words, when viewed from bottom to top along the vertical direction, the electrical contact surface 121a is hidden inside the housing 101. The electrical contact 12 of the imaging device is constructed as a column extending in the vertical direction. When the electrical contact surface 121a contacts the electrical contact 12, the electrical contact surface 121a faces the third side of the housing 101 in the front-back direction and contacts the electrical contact 12. Specifically, the electrical contact surface 121a contacts the side of the electrical contact 12 in the front direction. This arrangement can protect the electrical contact surface 121a, reduce the corrosion of the electrical contact surface 121a by moisture in the air or the adhesion of dust, and help maintain the conductivity of the electrical contact surface.

[0048] like Figures 9-10 As shown, during use, the user picks up the developing cartridge 100 by holding the handle 101c and installs it into the imaging device from back to front. During this installation process, the electrical contact surface 121a moves towards the electrical contact 12 and makes contact with it. Under the user's forward pushing force, the developing cartridge 100 continues to move from back to front. At this time, the forward movement of the electrical contact surface 121a is blocked by the electrical contact 12. Under the blocking force of the electrical contact 12 on the electrical contact surface 121a, the electrical contact... The contact surface 121a moves from a first position to a second position relative to the housing 101 about the connecting shaft axis. In the second position, the extension direction of the electrical contact surface 121a is parallel to the extension direction of the electrical contact 12. Thus, the contact area between the electrical contact surface 121a and the electrical contact 12 is larger in the second position than in the first position. At the same time, the elastic part 123 provides a force to the electrical contact surface 121a to keep it moving closer to the electrical contact 12, thereby making the contact between the electrical contact surface 121a and the electrical contact 12 tighter and increasing the stability of the electrical connection between the developing cartridge 100 and the imaging device.

[0049] Furthermore, with the developing cartridge 100 installed in the drum cartridge 50, the opening 53 and the second opening 101b2 are at least partially connected in the vertical direction. The interior of the cover 101b is connected to the bottom of the drum cartridge 50 through the opening 53 and the second opening 101b2. The electrical contact surface 121a extends to the bottom of the drum cartridge 50 through the opening 53 and the second opening 101b2 and can contact the electrical contact 12 to establish an electrical connection.

[0050] Functions and beneficial effects:

[0051] In the developing box of the utility model, the electric contact surface is located inside the protective cover and is arranged forward in the front-back direction, which can protect the electric contact surface on the one hand, prevent the electric contact surface from being corroded by moisture in the air or adhering dust, thereby maintaining the conductivity of the electric contact surface; on the other hand, the contact area of the electric contact surface and the electric contact in the imaging device can be increased, thereby making the electric connection of the developing box and the electrophotographic imaging device more stable.

[0052] The above examples are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the utility model, and not to limit them; although the utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing examples, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing examples 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 developing cartridge, detachably mountable to an electrophotographic imaging apparatus having electrical contacts, the developing cartridge comprising: A housing for containing developer, the housing having a first side and a second side separately disposed in a first direction, and a third side and a fourth side separately disposed in a second direction intersecting the first direction; A developing roller for carrying developer, the developing roller being rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in the first direction, the developing roller being located on the third side of the housing in the second direction; A coupling gear is used to receive external driving force from the developing cartridge; The chip has an electrical contact surface; The electrical contact surface is close to the first side of the housing in the first direction and close to the third side of the housing in the second direction; The housing includes a cover disposed on the first side of the housing; Its characteristic is that the electrical contact surface can contact the electrical contact and form an electrical connection; The electrical contact surface is located inside the cover, and in the second direction, the electrical contact surface faces the third side of the housing, and in the third direction intersecting the first and second directions, the electrical contact surface faces upwards towards the housing.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The minimum angle between the plane containing the electrical contact surface and the second direction is α, where 65°≤α≤90°.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrical contact surface is movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position, wherein the electrical contact surface is closer to the axis of the developing roller when it is in the first position than when it is in the second position.

4. The developing cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that, The developing cartridge also includes an elastic element, one end of which acts on the electrical contact surface, and the other end of which acts on the housing; The elastic element can cause the electrical contact surface to be biased toward the first position.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the electrical contact surface is in the second position, the electrical contact surface is perpendicular to the second direction.

6. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cover includes an opening, which faces downwards from the third direction and towards the bottom of the housing; At least a portion of the electrical contact surface may be exposed to the bottom of the housing through the opening.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The developing cartridge includes a chip holder, which is used to support the electrical contact surface; The chip holder is movably connected to the inside of the cover.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 7, characterized in that, The chip holder includes a connecting portion that extends in the first direction; In the third direction, the engagement portion is closer to the rotation axis of the coupling gear than the electrical contact surface.

9. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The developing cartridge also includes a detection protrusion located on the second side of the housing in the first direction, the detection protrusion being movable relative to the housing.

10. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the second direction, the electrical contact surface is spaced apart from the rotation axis of the coupling gear; In the second direction, the electrical contact surface is further away from the developing roller than the axis of rotation of the coupling gear.

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