Developing box
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ZHUHAI SANRUN PRECISION MFG CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-26
AI Technical Summary
The counting component of the developing cartridge is prone to interference with other parts during rotation, resulting in insufficient detection accuracy.
By setting the second rotation axis of the counting component to be parallel to the vertical direction, the first action part is located above the second action part, and the counting component is driven to rotate by an independent drive component, interference with other components is avoided, and the position of the counting component is adjusted to improve detection accuracy.
It improves the detection accuracy of the developing cartridge, avoids interference between the counting components and other parts, simplifies the structural layout, and increases the powder hopper capacity.
Smart Images
Figure CN224287350U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electrophotographic imaging technology, and in particular to a developing cartridge that can be detachably installed on an imaging device. Background Technology
[0002] A developing cartridge is a consumable that is detachably installed into an imaging device equipped with a detection component. The developing cartridge includes a developing housing and a developing roller rotatably disposed in the developing housing. The developing roller is used to carry the developer contained in the developing housing. The developing cartridge is also provided with a counting component for interacting with the detection component. The imaging device obtains relevant information about the developing cartridge by obtaining at least one of the parameters such as the contact duration, number of contact and contact interval between the counting component and the detection component.
[0003] The counting component can be driven to rotate by an external force. During the rotation of the counting component, it can interact with the detection component. The direction parallel to the rotation axis of the developing roller is the left-right direction. The counting component is generally located at the left or right end of the developing cartridge. The direction intersecting the left-right direction is the front-back direction. The developing cartridge is installed into the imaging device along the forward direction. The rotation axis of the counting component is generally parallel to the rotation axis of the developing roller. In this configuration, during the rotation of the counting component, it is easy for the counting component to interfere with the components located in front of and / or behind the counting component in the developing cartridge, resulting in insufficient detection accuracy when the developing cartridge / counting component is detected by the detection component. Utility Model Content
[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides a developing cartridge with the following technical solution:
[0005] A developing cartridge, detachably mounted to an imaging device equipped with a detection component, the developing cartridge comprising:
[0006] The developing shell has an internal powder container for holding the developer;
[0007] The developing roller, rotatably disposed in the developing housing, is used to carry the developer and has a first axis of rotation;
[0008] A counting assembly, which rotates about a second rotation axis and is used to interact with a detection component, includes a body, a central column, and a first action part and at least one second action part disposed on the central column. The second rotation axis passes through the center of the body and the central column, and the first action part and at least one second action part are both formed by protruding from the central column in its radial direction.
[0009] The direction parallel to the first rotation axis is the left-right direction, and the direction intersecting the left-right direction is the front-back direction. The developing cartridge is installed in the imaging device along the forward direction, and the direction intersecting both the left-right and front-back directions is the up-down direction. The central column extends upward from the main body. The second rotation axis is parallel to the up-down direction. In the up-down direction, the uppermost end of the first functional part is located above the uppermost end of the second functional part.
[0010] During the rotation of the counting component, when the second actuating part comes into contact with the detection member, the rotational speed of the counting component is less than the rotational speed of the counting component when the first actuating part comes into contact with the detection member.
[0011] Along the rotation direction of the counting component, the size of the first action part is larger than the size of the second action part.
[0012] Along the rotation direction of the counting component, the maximum radial dimension of the first action part gradually decreases.
[0013] When viewed along the second axis of rotation, the first functional part is set in an arc shape.
[0014] The first functional part includes a plurality of sheet-like bodies, and gaps are provided between adjacent sheet-like bodies in the vertical direction.
[0015] The second axis of rotation is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation.
[0016] The developing cartridge also includes a driving force receiver and a driving element. The driving force receiver is used to receive driving force from the imaging device, and the driving element is used to drive the counting assembly to rotate. The driving element is not located on the same side as the driving force receiver, and the driving element does not receive driving force from the driving force receiver.
[0017] The driving component is a torsion spring.
[0018] The developing cartridge also includes a trigger and a limiting member. The trigger has a limiting position and a non-limiting position. In the limiting position, the trigger abuts against the limiting member, and the counting component cannot rotate. In the non-limiting position, the trigger disengages from the limiting member, and the counting component rotates around the second rotation axis under the driving force output by the driving member.
[0019] Compared with the prior art, the driving force for rotating the counting component provided by this utility model no longer comes from the driving force receiving component, but from the driving component. Therefore, the position of the counting component can be adjusted according to the design requirements of the developing cartridge, avoiding interference between the counting component and other components, and improving the structural layout of the developing cartridge. Furthermore, in the vertical direction, the uppermost end of the first action part is located above the uppermost end of the second action part. With this setting, during the rotation of the counting component, the contact position between the first action part and the detection component is closer to the third rotation axis of the detection component. The rotation speed of the counting component increases, and the detection component can more accurately detect the developing cartridge, improving the detection accuracy of the developing cartridge / counting component when detected by the detection component. Attached Figure Description
[0020] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the developing cartridge involved in this utility model.
[0021] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of some components of the developing cartridge involved in this utility model.
[0022] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the non-drive end hidden upper shell and the rear part of the second end cover of the developing cartridge involved in this utility model.
[0023] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the non-drive end of the developing cartridge of this utility model after the upper shell and the second end cover are hidden.
[0024] Figure 5A and Figure 5B This is a perspective view of the counting component of the developing cartridge involved in this utility model.
[0025] Figure 6 This is a plan view of the counting component of the developing cartridge involved in this utility model, viewed from top to bottom. Detailed Implementation
[0026] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0027] The developing cartridge 100 can be detachably mounted to a detection component 200 that is provided with a third rotation axis W (e.g., Figure 5A Imaging devices (as shown), such as Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the developing cartridge 100 includes a developing housing 10 and a developing roller 11 rotatably disposed in the developing housing 10. The developing roller 11 rotates about a first rotation axis M. The developing housing 10 includes an upper housing 10a and a lower housing 10b connected to each other, and a powder hopper 10c formed between the upper housing 10a and the lower housing 10b. The powder hopper 10c is used to contain developer. The developing roller 11 is used to carry developer and transport developer to a photosensitive drum disposed opposite to the developing roller 11 outside the developing cartridge 10, so that the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum is developed.
[0028] For ease of description and understanding below, the direction parallel to the first rotation axis M is defined as the left-right direction, and the direction intersecting the left-right direction is defined as the front-back direction. The developing cartridge 100 is installed to the imaging device along the forward direction, and the direction intersecting both the left-right and front-back directions is defined as the up-down direction. Preferably, the left-right, front-back, and up-down directions are orthogonal to each other. Figure 2 As shown, the developing cartridge 100 also includes a stirring element 12 and a powder feeding roller, both of which are rotatably disposed in the developing housing 10. The stirring element 12 is used to stir the developer in the powder hopper 10c to prevent the developer from clumping. The powder feeding roller is used to transport the developer to the developing roller 11. The developing roller 11, the powder feeding roller and the stirring element 12 are arranged in sequence from front to back. Any one of the developing roller 11, the powder feeding roller and the stirring element 12 can be regarded as a rotating component installed in the developing cartridge 100.
[0029] Continue as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the developing cartridge 100 includes a driving force receiver 20 for receiving driving force from the imaging device. The driving force receiver 20 drives the rotating component to rotate directly or indirectly. The developing cartridge 100 also includes a first end cap 30 and a second end cap 40. Along the left-right direction, the first end cap 30 and the second end cap 40 are respectively located at both ends of the developing housing 10. Both the first end cap 30 and the second end cap 40 are used to connect to the developing housing 10. The first end cap 30 is disposed on the same side as the driving force receiver 20. A portion of the driving force receiver 20 is exposed through the first end cap 30. Along the left-right direction, the end of the developing cartridge 100 where the driving force receiver 20 is disposed is the driving end, and the other end opposite to the driving end is the non-driving end. The second end cap 40 is located at the non-driving end.
[0030] In this embodiment, as Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5A and Figure 5BAs shown, the developing cartridge also includes a counting component 50 disposed on the same side as the second end cap 40. The counting component 50 is used to interact with the detection component 200. The imaging device obtains relevant information about the developing cartridge 100, such as the model number and number of printed pages of the developing cartridge 100, by obtaining at least one of the parameters such as the contact duration, number of contact and contact interval between the counting component 50 and the detection component 200. The counting component 50 includes a main body 51, a central column 52 and a positioning part 53. Along the vertical direction, the central column 52 and the positioning part 53 are respectively located on both sides of the main body 51. The central column 52 extends upward from the main body 51. Under the drive of an external force, the counting component 50 can rotate around a second rotation axis N. The second rotation axis N passes through the center of the main body 51, the central column 52 and the positioning part 53, and the second rotation axis N is parallel to the vertical direction.
[0031] like Figure 3 As shown, the developing housing 10 / lower housing 10b is provided with a positioning part 10b1, which is used to cooperate with the positioning part 53 so that the counting component 50 is positioned on the developing housing 10 / lower housing 10b. In some embodiments, the positioning part 53 is configured as a protrusion extending downward from the main body 51, and the positioning part 10b1 is configured as a groove or notch, and the protrusion can enter the groove or notch.
[0032] In some embodiments, the positioned part 10b1 and the positioning part 53 can be interchanged.
[0033] Continue as Figure 3 As shown, the developing cartridge 100 also includes a driving member 60 for forcing the counting component 50 to rotate about the second rotation axis N. The driving member 60 can receive driving force from the outside to force the counting component 50 to rotate, or the driving member 60 itself can output power to force the counting component 50 to rotate. In this embodiment, the driving member 60 is located at the non-driving end, and the driving member 60 does not receive driving force from the driving force receiving member 20.
[0034] In some embodiments, the drive member 60 is configured as a torsion spring; the drive member 60 is mounted on the positioning part 53, one end of the drive member 60 is connected to the developing housing 10 / lower housing 10b, and the other end of the drive member 60 is connected to the main body 51. Specifically, the lower housing 10b is provided with a connector 10b2 for connecting to one end of the drive member 60, the connector 10b2 extends from the lower housing 10b in a direction away from the powder hopper 10c, and the main body 51 is provided with an extension 51a extending downward, the extension 51a for connecting to the other end of the drive member 60.
[0035] In some embodiments, the drive element may also be a motor.
[0036] In some implementations, such as Figure 5B As shown, the main body 51 has a receiving groove 51c with an opening facing downwards, and at least a portion of the driving member 60 can be received by the receiving groove 51c. With this arrangement, the driving member 60 can be prevented from falling off during the rotation of the counting component 50.
[0037] In some embodiments, the drive unit 60 may also be installed elsewhere in the developing cartridge 100, as long as the driving force output by the drive unit is sufficient to drive the counting component 50 to rotate.
[0038] like Figure 3 , Figure 5A and Figure 5B As shown, the developing cartridge 100 is also provided with a trigger 70 and a limiting member 80. The trigger 70 is used to control the movement of the counting component 50, and the limiting member 80 is used to limit the movement of the trigger 70. The trigger 70 includes a first abutting part 71, a second abutting part 72, and at least one forced pushing part 73. In the left-right direction, the first abutting part 71 is used to abut or disengage from the limiting member 80. In the rotation direction R of the counting component 50, the second abutting part 72 is connected to the first abutting part 71 and is used to abut against the extension part 51a to prevent the rotation of the counting component 50. The forced pushing part 73 is connected to the first abutting part 71. The developing cartridge 100 also includes a forced pushing part 90 for forcing the forced pushing part 73 to move toward the powder hopper 10c. In some embodiments, the forced pushing part 90 is configured as an elastic member.
[0039] The limiting member 80 is configured as the aforementioned rotating member. In this embodiment, the limiting member 80 is described as the stirring member 12. Specifically, the trigger member 70 has a limiting position and a non-limiting position. During the rotation of the limiting member 80, the trigger member 70 can move from the limiting position to the non-limiting position. In the limiting position, the trigger member 70 / first abutting part 71 abuts against the limiting member 80, and the limiting member 80 restricts the trigger member 70 from moving towards the powder hopper 10c. Along the rotation direction R of the counting component 50, the second abutting part 72 abuts against the extension part 51a. The counting component 50 cannot rotate, and the counting component 50 does not interact with the detection member 200. In the non-restricted position, the trigger member 70 / first abutment 71 disengages from the restraint member 80, the trigger member 70 moves toward the direction closer to the powder container 10c, and along the rotation direction R of the counting component 50, the second abutment 72 disengages from the extension 51a. Under the driving force output by the drive member 60, the counting component 50 rotates around the second rotation axis N, and the counting component 50 interacts with the detection member 200, so that the developing cartridge 100 is detected.
[0040] In some implementations, such as Figure 5A and Figure 5BAs shown, the extension 51a is provided with a contact portion 51a1 that protrudes in the radial direction of the counting component 50. With this arrangement, when in the restricted position, the second contact portion 72 can contact the contact portion 51a1 in the rotation direction R of the counting component 50, further ensuring that the counting component 50 will not rotate.
[0041] Continue as Figure 3 , Figure 5A and Figure 5B As shown, the counting component 50 further includes a first action portion 521 and at least one second action portion 522 disposed on the central column 52. Both the first action portion 521 and the second action portion 522 protrude from the central column 52 in its radial direction. The first action portion 521 extends in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, and the second action portion 522 extends in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. Both the first action portion 521 and the second action portion 522 are used to interact with the detection component 200. In this embodiment, during the rotation of the counting component 50, when the second action portion 522 abuts against the detection component 200, the rotational speed of the counting component 50 is less than when the first action portion 521 abuts against the detection component 200. With this arrangement, the imaging device can obtain relevant information about the developing cartridge 100.
[0042] In the vertical direction, the uppermost end 521a of the first action part 521 is located above the uppermost end 522a of the second action part 522. That is, in the vertical direction, the maximum distance between the uppermost end 521a of the first action part 521 and the main body 51 is greater than the maximum distance between the uppermost end 522a of the second action part 522 and the main body 51. With this arrangement, during the rotation of the counting component 50, the contact position between the first action part 522 and the detection member 200 is closer to the third rotation axis W of the detection member 200. In other words, the rotation speed of the counting component 50 increases.
[0043] In some embodiments, the maximum radial dimension of the first action part 521 gradually decreases along the rotation direction R of the counting component 50, and the dimension of the first action part 521 is larger than the dimension of the second action part 522 along the rotation direction R of the counting component 50. With this arrangement, when the first action part 521 touches / abuts against the detection member 200, the contact force between the first action part 521 and the detection member 200 gradually increases, which can prevent detection failure due to insufficient structural accuracy of the first action part 521.
[0044] In some embodiments, the first actuating part 521 is configured as an arc when viewed along the second rotation axis N.
[0045] In some embodiments, the first functional part 521 includes a plurality of sheet-like bodies, with gaps between adjacent sheet-like bodies in the vertical direction. This arrangement can prevent shrinkage of the counting component 50 / first functional part 521 during injection molding production, and can also enhance the strength of the first functional part 521 to avoid affecting the subsequent use of the counting component 50.
[0046] In some embodiments, the number of the first action parts 521, the number of the second action parts 522, the arc length of each action part extending along the rotation direction R of the counting component 50, the interval between different first action parts 521, the interval between different second action parts 522, and the interval between the first action parts 521 and the second action parts 522 can all be set according to the specific detection requirements of the developing cartridge 100.
[0047] like Figure 3 , Figure 5A , Figure 5B and Figure 6 As shown, the main body 51 includes a friction surface 51b located on its outermost radial side. The distance between the friction surface 51b and the rotation center S of the main body 51 is variable. Specifically, two points P and Q are arbitrarily selected on the friction surface 51b. Starting from the starting point Y, along the rotation direction R of the counting component 50 / main body 51, point P is located upstream of point Q. The shortest distance from point P to the rotation center S is L2, and the shortest distance from point Q to the rotation center S is L1, where L1 < L2. Therefore, along the rotation direction R of the counting component 50 / main body 51, starting from the starting point Y, the diameter of the friction surface 51b gradually decreases.
[0048] The developing cartridge 100 also includes a friction element 91 for rubbing against the body 51 / friction surface 51b. The rotational speed of the counting assembly 50 / body 51 is controlled by the mutual friction between the friction element 91 and the friction surface 51b. In some embodiments, the friction element 91 is located radially outside the body 51 / friction surface 51b.
[0049] Since the driving element 60 in this embodiment is set as a torsion spring, in the initial stage of the driving element 60 outputting power, the driving force output by the driving element 60 is relatively large, and the friction element 91 can rub against the part with a larger diameter of the friction surface 51b. At this time, the friction force is relatively large, and the driving force can be partially consumed by the friction force. As time goes by, the driving force output by the driving element 60 becomes smaller and smaller. However, at this time, because the distance between the friction surface 51b and the rotation center S becomes smaller, the friction force between the friction element 91 and the friction surface 51b also becomes smaller, so the influence on the rotation speed of the counting component 50 is reduced.
[0050] [Beneficial Effects]
[0051] Compared with the prior art, the developing cartridge 100 provided by this utility model has the following beneficial effects:
[0052] Firstly, in this invention, the driving force for rotating the counting component 50 no longer comes from the driving force receiving component 20, but from the driving component 60. Therefore, the position of the counting component 50 can be adjusted according to the design requirements of the developing cartridge 100 to avoid interference between the counting component 50 and other components.
[0053] Secondly, when the rotating component rotates, the toner will obstruct the rotating component, which will lead to a delay in the transmission of driving force. According to the first aspect, when the counting component 50 is not driven by the rotating component, there will be no decrease in counting accuracy due to the delay in the transmission of driving force by the rotating component, and there is no need to set up a transmission component to transmit the driving force from the rotating component to the counting component 50, which can simplify the structure of the developing cartridge 100.
[0054] Thirdly, the second rotation axis N of the counting component 50 is set to be parallel to the vertical direction. With this setting, the size of the developing cartridge 100 in the left-right direction can be reduced, or in other words, the capacity of the powder container 10c can be increased without reducing the size of the developing cartridge 100 in the left-right direction.
[0055] Fourthly, as described in the third aspect, during the rotation of the counting component 50, the possibility of interference between the counting component 50 and components located in front of and / or behind the counting component 50 in the developing cartridge 100 is reduced. In other words, the structural layout of the developing cartridge 100 is improved by such an arrangement.
[0056] Fifthly, in the vertical direction, the uppermost end 521a of the first action part 521 is located above the uppermost end 522a of the second action part 522. With this arrangement, during the rotation of the counting component 50, the contact position between the first action part 521 and the detection member 200 is closer to the third rotation axis W of the detection member 200. The rotation speed of the counting component 50 increases, and the detection member 200 can detect the developing cartridge 100 more accurately, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the developing cartridge 100 / counting component 50 when it is detected by the detection member 200.
Claims
1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus provided with a detection member, characterized by comprising: The developing cartridge includes: The developing shell has an internal powder container for holding the developer; The developing roller, rotatably disposed in the developing housing, is used to carry the developer and has a first axis of rotation; A counting assembly, which rotates about a second rotation axis and is used to interact with a detection component, includes a body, a central column, and a first action part and at least one second action part disposed on the central column. The second rotation axis passes through the center of the body and the central column, and the first action part and at least one second action part are both formed by protruding from the central column in its radial direction. The direction parallel to the first rotation axis is the left-right direction, and the direction intersecting the left-right direction is the front-back direction. The developing cartridge is installed in the imaging device along the forward direction, and the direction intersecting both the left-right and front-back directions is the up-down direction. The central column extends upward from the main body. The second rotation axis is parallel to the up-down direction. In the up-down direction, the uppermost end of the first functional part is located above the uppermost end of the second functional part.
2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein, During the rotation of the counting component, when the second actuating part comes into contact with the detection member, the rotational speed of the counting component is less than the rotational speed of the counting component when the first actuating part comes into contact with the detection member.
3. The process cartridge of claim 1, wherein, Along the rotation direction of the counting component, the size of the first action part is larger than the size of the second action part.
4. The process cartridge of claim 1, wherein, Along the rotation direction of the counting component, the maximum radial dimension of the first action part gradually decreases.
5. The process cartridge of claim 1, wherein, When viewed along the second axis of rotation, the first functional part is set in an arc shape.
6. The process cartridge of claim 1, wherein, The first functional part includes a plurality of sheet-like bodies, and gaps are provided between adjacent sheet-like bodies in the vertical direction.
7. The process cartridge of claim 1, wherein, The second axis of rotation is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation.
8. The developing cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The developing cartridge also includes a driving force receiver and a driving element. The driving force receiver is used to receive driving force from the imaging device, and the driving element is used to drive the counting assembly to rotate. The driving element is not located on the same side as the driving force receiver, and the driving element does not receive driving force from the driving force receiver.
9. The developing cartridge according to claim 8, characterized in that, The driving component is a torsion spring.
10. The developing cartridge according to claim 8, characterized in that, The developing cartridge also includes a trigger and a limiting member. The trigger has a limiting position and a non-limiting position. In the limiting position, the trigger abuts against the limiting member, and the counting component cannot rotate. In the non-limiting position, the trigger disengages from the limiting member, and the counting component rotates around the second rotation axis under the driving force output by the driving member.