Developing box

Abstract

The utility model relates to a developing box which comprises a box body, an electrode, a developing roller, a powder feeding roller and a storage medium, and the box body is provided with a first end and a second end in a first direction; the electrode is positioned at the second end and comprises a first electric receiving part for receiving external voltage; the developing roller rotates around a first axis extending in the first direction and comprises a second electric receiving part electrically connected with the electrode; the powder feeding roller rotates around a second axis extending in the first direction and comprises a third electric receiving part electrically connected with the electrode; the storage medium is arranged in the box body and is provided with an electric contact surface; in the second direction, the distance between the electrical contact surface and the third electrical receiving portion is not less than the distance between the electrical contact surface and the second electrical receiving portion. According to the developing box, the capacity of the accommodating cavity for accommodating the developing agent in the third direction is improved, and the size of the developing box in the second direction can be reduced under the condition that the volume of the accommodating cavity is not changed, so that the volume of the developing box can be reduced.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of electronic imaging, and in particular to a developing cartridge. BACKGROUND

[0002] The developing cartridge is mounted on a drum assembly and is detachably installed into an image forming device together with the drum assembly. The drum assembly can also be directly fixed in the image forming device, and the developing cartridge is detachably installed onto the drum assembly in the image forming device. The developing cartridge stores a developer therein, and has a developing roller and a powder feeding roller which is arranged in close proximity to the developing roller. The powder feeding roller rotates to feed the developer stored in the developing cartridge to the developing roller, and the developing roller supplies the developer to a photosensitive drum of the drum assembly, thereby realizing imaging.

[0003] In the prior art, in the front-rear direction of the developing cartridge, the powder feeding roller is generally located more rearward relative to the developing roller, and the diameter of the powder feeding roller is generally greater than that of the developing roller, so that the volume of the developing cartridge is relatively large. CONTENT OF THE UTILITY MODEL

[0004] The present application provides a developing cartridge to solve the problem of a large volume of the existing developing cartridge.

[0005] The developing cartridge provided by the present application comprises:

[0006] A cartridge body for storing a developer, the cartridge body having a first end and a second end in a first direction, a third end and a fourth end in a second direction, and a fifth end and a sixth end in a third direction, the first direction, the second direction and the third direction being perpendicular to each other;

[0007] An electrode located at the second end and comprising a first electrical receiving portion for receiving an external voltage;

[0008] A developing roller rotating around a first axis extending in the first direction and comprising a second electrical receiving portion electrically connected to the electrode;

[0009] A powder feeding roller rotating around a second axis extending in the first direction and comprising a third electrical receiving portion electrically connected to the electrode;

[0010] A storage medium arranged in the cartridge body, the storage medium having an electrical contact surface;

[0011] In the second direction, the distance between the electrical contact surface and the third electrical contact surface is not less than the distance between the electrical contact surface and the second electrical receiving portion.

[0012] In a possible design, the developing cartridge has a first plane formed by a center line of the electric contact surface extending in the third direction, in the second direction, the second electric receiving part has a first distance from the first plane, and the third electric receiving part has a second distance from the first plane, and the first distance is equal to the second distance.

[0013] In a possible design, the electric contact surface faces the third direction.

[0014] In a possible design, the electric contact surface is located at the second end.

[0015] In a possible design, in the second direction, the second axis is located behind the first axis, and an extension of a line connecting the first axis and the second axis intersects the third direction, and an intersection angle α satisfies: 0° < α ≤ 10°.

[0016] In a possible design, the second electric receiving part is an end of the developing roller located at the second end, and the third electric receiving part is an end of the powder feeding roller located at the second end.

[0017] In a possible design, a difference d between a diameter of the developing roller and a diameter of the powder feeding roller satisfies: -3 mm ≤ d ≤ 3 mm.

[0018] In a possible design, the diameter of the powder feeding roller is 13 mm.

[0019] In a possible design, the electrode rotatably supports the developing roller.

[0020] In a possible design, the developing cartridge further includes a bracket supporting the storage medium, and the bracket is provided with a locking member, which is a rib, and when the developing cartridge is installed to the drum assembly, the drum assembly clamps the locking member to lock the developing cartridge.

[0021] In the present application, in the second direction (front-rear direction), the second electric receiving part is located behind the third electric receiving part or flush with the third electric receiving part, so that the accommodating cavity has an increased capacity of accommodating the developer in the third direction (up-down direction), and in the case where the volume of the accommodating cavity is unchanged, the size of the developing cartridge in the second direction (front-rear direction) can be reduced, thereby facilitating the reduction of the volume of the developing cartridge.

[0022] It should be understood that the general description above and the detailed description below are only exemplary and not limiting to the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1A structure diagram of the developing cartridge in a specific embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 2 A structure diagram of the developing cartridge in a specific embodiment of the present application; Figure 1 A sectional view of the developing cartridge in the specific embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 3 A structure diagram of the developing cartridge in a specific embodiment of the present application; Figure 1 A partial structure exploded view of the first end of the developing cartridge in the specific embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 4 A partial structure exploded view of the second end of the developing cartridge in the specific embodiment of the present application; Figure 1

[0027] Figure 5 A structure diagram of the developing cartridge in a specific embodiment of the present application; Figure 1

[0028] Figure 6 A structure diagram of the developing cartridge in a specific embodiment of the present application; Figure 1

[0029] Figure 7 A structure diagram of the developing cartridge and the drum assembly in the specific embodiment of the present application, wherein the developing cartridge is separated from the drum assembly; Figure 1

[0030] Figure 8 A structure diagram of the developing cartridge and the drum assembly in the specific embodiment of the present application, wherein the developing cartridge is mounted on the drum assembly. Figure 1

[0031] Reference signs:

[0032] 10 - cartridge body

[0033] 101 - storage medium

[0034] 1011 - electrical contact surface

[0035] 102 - support

[0036] 1021 - connecting hole

[0037] 1022 - rib

[0038] 11 - first end

[0039] 111 - cover

[0040] 1110 - neck portion

[0041] 12 - second end

[0042] 121 - bearing

[0043] 1211 - first electrical receiving portion

[0044] ​​​​​1212- connecting column;

[0045] 13- third end;

[0046] 131- developing roller;

[0047] 1311- second electric receiving part;

[0048] 132- powder feeding roller;

[0049] 1321- third electric receiving part;

[0050] 14- fourth end;

[0051] 20- drum assembly;

[0052] 21- first side wall;

[0053] 22- second side wall;

[0054] 221- locking member;

[0055] 40- driving part;

[0056] 41- developing gear;

[0057] 42- powder feeding gear;

[0058] 43- stirring gear;

[0059] 441- first idler;

[0060] 442- second idler;

[0061] 443- third idler.

[0062] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the application and serve to explain the principles of the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] For a better understanding of the technical solutions of the present application, the embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0064] It should be clear that the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative labor fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0065] The terminology used in the embodiments of the present application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present application. As used in the embodiments of the present application and the accompanying claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0066] It should be understood that the term "and / or" used herein only describes an association relationship of associated objects, and means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B, which can represent three cases of A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. In addition, the character " / " herein generally represents an "or" relationship between the front and rear associated objects.

[0067] It should be noted that the "up", "down", "left", "right" and the like described in the embodiments of the present application are described from the angle shown in the drawings, and should not be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application. In addition, in the context, it should also be understood that when referring to an element connected to another element "on" or "under", it can be directly connected to another element "on" or "under", or indirectly connected to another element "on" or "under" through an intermediate element.

[0068] The embodiments of the present application provide a developing cartridge, which is detachably installed in an image forming device and works in the image forming device.

[0069] For the convenience of description of the developing cartridge, the direction perpendicular to the middle paper surface is observed as the front direction, the direction along the left side of the middle paper surface is observed as the left direction, the direction along the right side of the middle paper surface is observed as the right direction, the direction along the upper side of the middle paper surface is observed as the upper direction, the direction along the lower side of the middle paper surface is observed as the lower direction, the direction along the front side of the middle paper surface is observed as the front direction, and the direction along the rear side of the middle paper surface is observed as the rear direction. Figure 1 When the middle paper surface is observed, Figure 1 The left side of the middle paper surface is left, Figure 1 The right side of the middle paper surface is right, Figure 1 The upper side of the middle paper surface is up, Figure 1 The lower side of the middle paper surface is down, Figure 1 The front side of the middle paper surface is front, Figure 1 The rear side of the middle paper surface is rear. The left-right direction is an embodiment of the first direction, the front-rear direction is an embodiment of the second direction, and the up-down direction is an embodiment of the third direction. The first direction, the second direction and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0070] The developing cartridge comprises a cartridge body 10, a developing assembly, a transmission assembly, an electrode and an identification assembly.

[0071] As Figure 1As shown, the cavity inside the cartridge 10 can hold developer. The cartridge 10 has a first end 11 and a second end 12 arranged opposite each other in a first direction (left-right direction), a third end 13 and a fourth end 14 arranged opposite each other in a second direction (front-back direction), and a fifth end and a sixth end arranged opposite each other in a third direction (up-down direction). The developing cartridge is provided with multiple screws for fixing the remaining components of the developing cartridge to the cartridge 10.

[0072] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the developing assembly includes a developing roller 131 and a powder feeding roller 132. The developing roller 131 and the powder feeding roller 132 are rotatably supported by the cartridge body 10. The developing roller 131 rotates about a first axis extending in a first direction (left-right direction), and the powder feeding roller 132 rotates about a second axis extending in the first direction (left-right direction). The powder feeding roller 132 is disposed adjacent to the developing roller 131 and delivers developer to the developing roller 131. A stirring rack is rotatably disposed inside the cartridge body 10 to stir the developer within the cartridge body 10 and prevent developer clumping.

[0073] like Figure 3 As shown, a transmission assembly is disposed at the first end 11 for receiving external power. The transmission assembly includes a drive unit 40, which includes a power receiving unit and a drive gear, which can be integrally formed or combined. In the first direction (left-right direction), the drive gear is closer to the first end 11 than the power receiving unit. The power receiving unit is used to receive the power output by the image forming apparatus, thereby driving the drive gear to rotate.

[0074] The transmission assembly also includes a developing gear 41, a powder feeding gear 42, and a stirring gear 43. The developing gear 41, powder feeding gear 42, and stirring gear 43 rotate upon receiving power from the drive unit 40, and respectively drive the developing roller 131, the powder feeding roller 132, and the stirring frame to rotate. The idler gears include a first idler gear 441, a second idler gear 442, and a third idler gear 443. The first idler gear 441 meshes with the developing gear 41 and the powder feeding gear 42. The second idler gear 442 meshes with the drive gear and the first idler gear 441 to transmit power from the drive unit 40 to the developing gear 41 and the powder feeding gear 42. The third idler gear 443 meshes with the drive gear and the stirring gear 43 to transmit power to the stirring gear 43. This embodiment does not limit the number of gears or their meshing relationships in the transmission assembly; the number of gears and their meshing relationships can be set according to actual needs.

[0075] like Figure 4As shown, the first end 11 is also provided with a cover 111, which is detachably installed on the housing 10 by means of screws or clips. The cover 111 covers at least part of the transmission assembly to protect it. The cover 111 is provided with a collar portion 1110 extending in a first direction (left-right direction). The collar portion 1110 is hollow and is used to protect the power receiving part and expose the power receiving part to receive external power.

[0076] A bearing 121 is provided at the second end 12. The bearing 121 is detachably fixed to the housing 10 by screws or clips. The bearing 121 rotatably supports the developing roller 131 and the powder feeding roller 132 located at the end of the second end 12. The bearing 121 is at least partially made of conductive material, and in this embodiment, the bearing 121 is an electrode. The bearing 121 includes a first electrical receiving part 1211 and a connecting post 1212 extending in a first direction (left-right direction). The first electrical receiving part 1211 is used to receive external voltage and transmit the voltage to the developing roller 131 and the powder feeding roller 132, so that they are charged and adsorb developer. Specifically, the developing roller 131 and the powder feeding roller 132 receive the voltage transmitted by the first electrical receiving part 1211 at the end of the second end 12 in the first direction (left-right direction). That is, the end of the developing roller 131 and the powder feeding roller 132 located at the second end 12 can be regarded as the second electrical receiving part 1311 and the third electrical receiving part 1321. In some embodiments, the first electrical receiving part 1211 and the bearing 121 may be separately configured, that is, the electrode and the bearing 121 may be separately configured.

[0077] The identification component is located at the second end 12. The identification component includes a storage medium 101 and a bracket 102. The storage medium 101 stores information about the developing cartridge and includes an electrical contact surface 1011 integrally formed with or electrically connected to it separately. When the developing cartridge is installed in the image forming apparatus, the electrical contact surface 1011 contacts components within the image forming apparatus to transmit information to the image forming apparatus, enabling the developing cartridge to be identified by the image forming apparatus. The bracket 102 supports the storage medium 101 and is detachably fixed to the bearing 121. The bracket 102 has a connecting hole 1021 extending in a first direction (left-right direction), which mates with a connecting post 1212, connecting the bracket 102 to the bearing 121. To ensure a stable connection between the bracket 102 and the bearing 121, it can be further secured with screws or other fasteners.

[0078] In some embodiments, the bracket 102 can be directly connected to the housing 10, and neither the bracket 102 nor the storage medium 101 can move relative to the housing 10. In some embodiments, the bracket 102 and the storage medium 101 can also move relative to the housing 10. In some embodiments, the identification component is disposed at the first end 11.

[0079] The first plane P1 is defined as the plane formed by the center line of the electrical contact surface 1011 extending along the second direction (front-back direction) and extending in the third direction (up-down direction). In the second direction (front-back direction), the second electrical receiving part 1311 has a first distance L1 between itself and the first plane P1, and the third electrical receiving part 1321 has a second distance L2 between itself and the first plane P1. The second distance L2 is not less than the first distance L1. That is, in the second direction (front-back direction), the second electrical receiving part 1311 is located behind or flush with the third electrical receiving part 1321. This increases the capacity of the receiving cavity to hold developer in the third direction (up-down direction). With the volume of the receiving cavity remaining unchanged, the size of the developing cartridge in the second direction (front-back direction) can be reduced, thereby helping to reduce the volume of the developing cartridge.

[0080] Understandably, in the second direction (front-back direction), the second electrical receiving part 1311 and the third electrical receiving part 1321 are flush. This can be because the center of the second electrical receiving part 1311 is flush with the center of the third electrical receiving part 1321, the rear end of the second electrical receiving part 1311 is flush with the rear end of the third electrical receiving part 1321, or the front end of the second electrical receiving part 1311 is flush with the front end of the third electrical receiving part 1321.

[0081] Example 1

[0082] In this embodiment, as Figure 5 As shown, the electrical contact surface 1011 of the storage medium 101 is oriented parallel to a third direction (vertical direction), that is, the electrical contact surface 1011 is parallel to the plane containing the first direction (left-right direction) and the second direction (front-back direction), and perpendicular to the third direction (vertical direction). The first plane P1 is parallel to the first direction (left-right direction) and the third direction (vertical direction), and perpendicular to the second direction (front-back direction).

[0083] Furthermore, the developing roller 131 and the powder feeding roller 132 are approximately the same size, and the difference d between the diameters of the developing roller 131 and the powder feeding roller 132 satisfies the condition: -3mm ≤ d ≤ 3mm. For example, the specific difference d between the diameters of the developing roller 131 and the powder feeding roller 132 can be -3mm, -2.8mm, -2.5mm, -2mm, -1.5mm, -1mm, 0.5mm, 1mm, 1.5mm, 2mm, 2.8mm, 3mm, etc. By controlling the difference between the diameters of the powder feeding roller 132 and the developing roller 131, the size of the powder feeding roller 132 can be controlled, thereby controlling the production cost of the developing cartridge. For example, the diameters of both the developing roller 131 and the powder feeding roller 132 could be 13mm.

[0084] Optionally, the developing roller 131 and the powder feeding roller 132 are distributed along a third direction (vertical direction), that is, the line connecting the first axis and the second axis extends in the third direction (vertical direction), so that the powder feeding roller 132 can better contact the developing roller 131 to transfer the developer.

[0085] Optionally, the developing roller 131 and the powder feeding roller 132 are not completely flush in the third direction (vertical direction). The second axis, along the second direction (front-back direction), is located behind the first axis. That is, the line connecting the first and second axes can have a small included angle α with the third direction (vertical direction), where 0° < α ≤ 10°. This reduces the size of the developing cartridge while simplifying its assembly. For example, the included angle α can be 30′, 1°, 1°30′, 2°, 2°30′, 3°, 3°30′, 4°, 4°30′, 5°, 6°, 6°30′, 8°, 8°30′, 9°, 9°30′, 10°, etc.

[0086] Furthermore, the first distance L1 is equal to the second distance L2, that is, in the second direction (front and back direction), the distance from the second electrical receiver 1311 to the first plane P1 is equal to the distance from the third electrical receiver 1321 to the first plane P1.

[0087] When the second electrical receiving unit 1311 is located at the center of the end of the developing roller 131 and the third electrical receiving unit 1321 is located at the center of the end of the powder feeding roller 132, in the third direction (up and down direction), the first axis is flush with the second axis, and the distance from the first axis to the first plane P1 is equal to the distance from the second axis to the first plane P1.

[0088] When the second electrical receiving part 1311 is deviated from the center of the end of the developing roller 131 and the third electrical receiving part 1321 is deviated from the center of the end of the powder feeding roller 132, in the third direction (up and down direction), the second axis can be located behind the first axis, and the distance from the second axis to the first plane P1 is slightly less than the distance from the first axis to the first plane P1.

[0089] Example 2

[0090] This embodiment is based on Embodiment 1 with modifications.

[0091] In this embodiment, as Figure 6 As shown, the electrical contact surface 1011 of the storage medium 101 is oriented to intersect the third direction (vertical direction) and the second direction (front-back direction), that is, the electrical contact surface 1011 is inclined relative to the third direction (vertical direction) and the second direction (front-back direction). The first plane P1 is parallel to the first direction (left-right direction) and the third direction (vertical direction), and perpendicular to the second direction (front-back direction).

[0092] Since the other structures of the developing cartridge are the same as in Example 1, they will not be described again.

[0093] In the above embodiments, such as Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the developing cartridge is detachably mounted on the drum assembly 20 within the image forming apparatus. The drum assembly 20 includes a first sidewall 21 and a second sidewall 22, which are adjacent to the first end 11 and the second end 12, respectively.

[0094] A locking member 221 is provided on the drum assembly 20 to lock the developing cartridge and prevent it from detaching from the drum assembly 20. The locking member 221 is disposed adjacent to the second sidewall 22 and is rotatable relative to the second sidewall.

[0095] The developing cartridge is equipped with a locking element that engages with locking element 221. To simplify the structure of the developing cartridge, the locking element is mounted on the support 102.

[0096] Specifically, the locked component is the rib 1022 on the bracket 102, which extends in the first direction (left-right direction). When the developing cartridge is installed on the drum assembly 20, the locking component 221 engages with the rib 1022, thereby locking the developing cartridge and preventing it from moving relative to the drum assembly 20 during operation, thus ensuring stable operation of the image forming apparatus.

[0097] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A developing cartridge, the developing cartridge comprising: A housing for storing developer, the housing having a first end and a second end in a first direction, a third end and a fourth end in a second direction, and a fifth end and a sixth end in a third direction, wherein the first direction, the second direction and the third direction are mutually perpendicular; An electrode, located at the second end, includes a first electrical receiver for receiving external voltage; A developing roller, rotating about a first axis extending in the first direction, includes a second electrical receiving portion electrically connected to the electrode; A powder feeding roller, which rotates about a second axis extending in the first direction, includes a third electrical receiving part electrically connected to the electrode; Storage medium, having electrical contact surface, The feature is that, in the second direction, the distance between the electrical contact surface and the third electrical receiving part is not less than the distance between the electrical contact surface and the second electrical receiving part.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The developing cartridge has a first plane, which is formed by the center line of the electrical contact surface extending in the second direction along the third direction. In the second direction, the second electrical receiving part has a first distance from the first plane, and the third electrical receiving part has a second distance from the first plane. The first distance is equal to the second distance.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that, The electrical contact surface faces the third direction.

4. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that, The electrical contact surface is located at the second end.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that, Along the second direction, the second axis is located behind the first axis; The extension of the line connecting the first axis and the second axis intersects the third axis, and the intersection angle α satisfies: 0°<α≤10°.

6. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second electrical receiving part is the end of the developing roller located at the second end, and the third electrical receiving part is the end of the powder feeding roller located at the second end.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The difference d between the diameter of the developing roller and the diameter of the powder feeding roller satisfies: -3mm ≤ d ≤ 3mm.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 7, characterized in that, The diameter of the powder feeding roller is 13mm.

9. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrode rotatably supports the developing roller.

10. The developing cartridge according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, It also includes a bracket that supports the storage medium. The bracket is provided with a locking element, which is a rib. When the developing cartridge is installed on the drum assembly, the drum assembly locks the locking element to lock the developing cartridge.

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