Process cartridge

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of processing boxes, including the photosensitive unit with waste powder discharge passage and the carbon powder container with waste powder storage part, waste powder storage part has waste powder inlet, waste powder in photosensitive unit can be into waste powder storage part via waste powder discharge passage and waste powder inlet;Waste powder discharge part, it is set to reciprocatingly move in waste powder discharge passage, and then waste powder is discharged from waste powder discharge passage to the waste powder inlet of waste powder storage part;Compared with prior art, the utility model uses the waste powder discharge part that can reciprocate, transmission is carried out by intermittent pushing developer, avoid persistent friction and compression developer, to avoid the situation that developer appears local accumulation or caking, to realize the continuous stable output of developer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electronic photographic imaging equipment, and specifically to a processing box. Background Technology

[0002] Patent JP2024002380A discloses a processing box that includes a drum box, a developing box, and a toner container. The drum box is equipped with a cleaning scraper that can collect waste toner from the photosensitive drum of the drum box. The waste toner in the drum box is conveyed to the waste toner bin located in the toner container by a rotating component located at the end of the processing box.

[0003] However, the transport method of the rotating component (screw) has some inherent limitations. First, because the developer has a certain degree of adhesion and fluidity, as the rotating component continues to rotate and push the developer, a portion of the developer will be continuously subjected to friction and compression between the rotating component and the housing, which can easily lead to local accumulation or clumping, affecting the transport of the developer. Utility Model Content

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a processing box.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned main objectives, this utility model discloses a processing box, including a photosensitive unit with a waste powder discharge channel and a toner container with a waste powder storage section. The waste powder storage section has a waste powder inlet, and the waste powder in the photosensitive unit can enter the waste powder storage section through the waste powder discharge channel and the waste powder inlet. It also includes a waste powder discharge component, which is disposed in the waste powder discharge channel and is used to continuously transfer the toner in the waste powder discharge channel to the waste powder storage section.

[0006] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, a waste powder conveying component is provided in the photosensitive unit, which is used to convey the waste powder in the photosensitive unit to the waste powder discharge channel.

[0007] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the waste powder discharge component includes a conveyor belt arranged along the waste powder discharge channel. The conveyor belt can receive waste powder in the photosensitive unit and convey the waste powder to the waste powder inlet and discharge it.

[0008] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the waste powder discharge component further includes a first rotating shaft and a second rotating shaft, and a conveyor belt is disposed on the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft; wherein, the first rotating shaft is disposed inside the photosensitive unit, and the second rotating shaft is disposed adjacent to the waste powder inlet and at least partially above the waste powder inlet.

[0009] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the waste powder conveying component includes a screw, and a first rotating shaft rotates synchronously with the screw.

[0010] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor belt is provided with a mating part, and the first rotating shaft and / or the second rotating shaft are provided with a limiting part at the joint with the conveyor belt. When the conveyor belt is installed on the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft, the limiting part cooperates with the mating part to limit the conveyor belt in the axial direction of the first rotating shaft.

[0011] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the waste powder discharge component is configured to reciprocate in the waste powder discharge channel, thereby discharging the waste powder from the waste powder discharge channel to the waste powder inlet of the waste powder storage section.

[0012] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the waste powder discharge component includes a shaking frame and multiple powder pushing parts, which are spaced apart on the shaking frame and cover the entire waste powder discharge channel.

[0013] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the photosensitive unit includes a rotating component. One of the rotating component and the shaking frame is provided with a protrusion and the other is provided with a recess. When the rotating component rotates, it can drive the protrusion to intermittently enter and exit the recess, thereby driving the shaking frame to move back and forth.

[0014] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the rotating component and the waste powder conveying component are driven and connected by a transmission mechanism; wherein, the transmission mechanism includes a first bevel gear and a second bevel gear that mesh with each other, the waste powder conveying component includes a screw, the first bevel gear is disposed on the screw and rotates synchronously with the screw, and the second bevel gear is fixed to the rotating component.

[0015] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the shaking frame is provided with a reset member, which is used to ensure that the shaking frame always has a tendency to move in the opposite direction to the toner conveying direction along the waste powder discharge channel.

[0016] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the powder pushing part includes a rotatable powder pushing plate, which can rotate when the shaking frame is reset and avoid the carbon powder accumulated in the waste powder discharge channel.

[0017] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, a limiting part is provided on the shaking frame. When the powder pushing plate pushes the powder along the powder conveying direction of the waste powder discharge channel, the limiting part abuts against the powder pushing plate and restricts the rotation of the powder pushing plate.

[0018] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: Compared with the prior art, this utility model adopts a reciprocating waste powder discharge component, which intermittently pushes the developer for transmission, avoiding continuous friction and compression of the developer, thereby avoiding local accumulation or clumping of the developer, so as to achieve continuous and stable output of the developer.

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and advantages of this utility model, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of Embodiment 1 of the processing box of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of Embodiment 1 of the processing box of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the waste powder discharge component in Embodiment 1 of the present invention's processing box;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of embodiment 2 of the processing box of this utility model;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of Embodiment 2 of the processing box of this utility model;

[0025] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the waste powder discharge component in Embodiment 2 of the present invention's processing box;

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the first joint;

[0027] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram showing the second joint;

[0028] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of embodiment 3 of the processing box of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in conjunction with embodiments in order to provide a full understanding of the present invention. However, it should be understood that the following embodiments and detailed description are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, the processing box of Embodiment 1 includes a photosensitive unit 10, a developing unit 20, and a toner container 30. The toner container 30 includes a toner storage section 31 and a waste toner storage section 32. Along the length X of the toner container 30, the waste toner storage section 32 is located at one end of the toner storage section 31. The toner storage section 31 has a toner discharge channel 311, the photosensitive unit 10 has a waste toner discharge channel 11, and the waste toner storage section 32 has a waste toner inlet 321. In use, the toner container 30 can be installed on the developing unit 20 and the photosensitive unit 10. The toner in the toner storage section 31 can be replenished to the developing unit 20 through the toner discharge channel 311, and the waste toner in the photosensitive unit 10 can enter the waste toner storage section 32 through the waste toner discharge channel 11 and the waste toner inlet 321.

[0031] Specifically, the toner storage unit 31 has a first frame 312 that forms an internal toner containing space, and the waste toner storage unit 32 has a second frame 321 that forms an internal waste toner containing space 32a. The first frame 312 and the second frame 321 are assembled together. In an optional embodiment, the first frame 312 and the second frame 321 may also be integrally formed. The waste toner inlet 321 is located on the second frame 321 and communicates with the waste toner containing space 32a.

[0032] The photosensitive unit 10 includes a photosensitive frame 12, a photosensitive drum 13, and a cleaning blade 14. Both the photosensitive drum 13 and the cleaning blade 14 are disposed inside the photosensitive frame 12, and the cleaning blade 14 cooperates with the photosensitive drum 13 to collect waste toner from it. In Embodiment 1, the photosensitive unit 10 also includes a waste toner conveying component 16, which conveys the toner scraped from the photosensitive drum 13 by the cleaning blade 14. This toner is then conveyed through the waste toner discharge channel 11 and enters the waste toner storage section 32 via the waste toner inlet 321.

[0033] In Example 1, a waste toner discharge component 15 is provided in the waste toner discharge channel 11. The waste toner discharge component 15 is used to continuously convey the toner in the waste toner discharge channel 11 to the waste toner storage section 32. Preferably, the extending direction of the waste toner discharge channel 11 is orthogonal to the length direction X of the toner container 30. Figure 2-3As shown, the waste powder discharge component 15 includes a conveyor belt 151, a first rotating shaft 152, and a second rotating shaft 153. The first rotating shaft 152 is disposed inside the photosensitive frame 12 and adjacent to the waste powder conveying component 16. The second rotating shaft 153 is disposed adjacent to the waste powder inlet 321 and at least partially above the waste powder inlet 321. The conveyor belt 151 is disposed on the first rotating shaft 152 and the second rotating shaft 153 and can rotate with the first rotating shaft 152 and the second rotating shaft 153. The conveyor belt 151 is arranged along the waste powder discharge channel 11. The waste powder conveyed by the waste powder conveying component 16 can be received by the conveyor belt 151 and then conveyed to the waste powder inlet 321 and discharged by the conveyor belt 151.

[0034] For example, the waste toner conveying component 16 can be a screw arranged along the length of the photosensitive drum 13. The first rotating shaft 152 is preferably connected to the screw and rotates synchronously with the screw. In this case, the second rotating shaft 153 serves as a follower shaft. In use, the waste toner conveying component 16 can receive rotational driving force from the developing unit 20 of the electrophotographic imaging device body or processing box, and simultaneously drive the conveyor belt 151 to rotate to achieve waste toner discharge. As a variation of Embodiment 1, one of the first rotating shaft 152 or the second rotating shaft 153 can also directly receive rotational driving force from the developing unit 20 of the electrophotographic imaging device body or processing box. In this case, one of the first rotating shaft 152 or the second rotating shaft 153 serves as a follower shaft. In this case, the axial direction of the first rotating shaft 152 can coincide with or be parallel to the rotation axis of the screw, or it can be intersected with the axial direction of the screw.

[0035] Furthermore, the conveyor belt 151 preferably has a mating portion 154, and the first rotating shaft 152 and / or the second rotating shaft 153 has a limiting portion 155 at the joint with the conveyor belt 151. When the conveyor belt 151 is installed on the first rotating shaft 152 and the second rotating shaft 153, the limiting portion 155 cooperates with the mating portion 154 to restrict the conveyor belt 151 and prevent the conveyor belt 151 from shifting in the axial direction of the first rotating shaft 152 and the second rotating shaft 153. For example, the mating portion 154 is specifically a hole including a plurality of circular holes, and the limiting portion 155 is specifically a protrusion including a plurality of cylindrical bodies. During the rotation of the conveyor belt 151, at least one pair of circular holes cooperates with the cylindrical bodies.

[0036] As a variation of Embodiment 1, mounting structures such as rollers may also be provided on the first rotating shaft 152 and the second rotating shaft 153. These mounting structures are at least used to provide better rotational support for the conveyor belt 151.

[0037] As another variation of Embodiment 1, the first rotating shaft 152 and the second rotating shaft 153 may also be provided with concave mounting portions of the same width as the conveyor belt 151. The conveyor belt 151 is mounted in the concave mounting portion and is limited by the concave mounting portion, thereby preventing the conveyor belt 151 from shifting in the axial direction of the first rotating shaft 152 and the second rotating shaft 153.

[0038] The surface of the conveyor belt 151 preferably has high anti-slip properties, so that the toner carried on the conveyor belt 151 during the toner conveying stage will generally not detach freely. The toner will only detach from the conveyor belt 151 when it is conveyed to the waste powder inlet.

[0039] Example 2

[0040] The main difference between Example 2 and Example 1 lies in the change of the waste powder discharge component 15 and its installation structure. In Example 2, the waste powder discharge component 15 adopts a shaking structure and is configured to move back and forth in the waste powder discharge channel 11, thereby discharging waste powder from the waste powder discharge channel 11 to the waste powder inlet 321 of the waste powder storage unit 32.

[0041] like Figure 4-6 As shown, the waste toner discharge component 15 includes a shaking frame 156 and a plurality of toner pushing parts 157 disposed on the shaking frame 156. Specifically, the shaking frame 156 is a support shaft arranged along the extension direction of the waste toner discharge channel 11. The plurality of toner pushing parts 157 are spaced apart on the opposite lower side of the shaking frame 156 and fill the entire waste toner discharge channel 11. This allows the toner pushing part 157 adjacent to the first end of the shaking frame 156 to receive toner conveyed by the waste toner conveying component 16, and the toner pushing part 157 adjacent to the second end of the shaking frame 156 to push the toner into the waste toner inlet 321 of the waste toner storage unit 32. In use, the shaking frame 156 reciprocates along the waste toner discharge channel 11 to drive the toner pushing parts 157 to push the toner, thereby realizing the conveying of toner.

[0042] Preferably, the waste powder discharge channel 11 is cylindrical, and the powder pushing part 157 is, for example, semi-circular plate-shaped, to better push the toner in the waste powder discharge channel 11. In other embodiments, the waste powder discharge channel 11 can also be configured as, for example, a square tube. Figure 6 As shown, the powder pushing part 157 is arranged perpendicular to the shaking frame 156. Preferably, the axis of the shaking frame 156 coincides with the center line of the waste powder discharge channel 11. In an optional embodiment, other forms of support frame structures can be used instead of the shaking frame 156, as long as the powder pushing part 157 can reciprocate along the waste powder discharge channel 11. This will not be elaborated here.

[0043] The embodiment includes a rotating component 18 for driving the shaking frame 156 to move along the toner conveying direction of the waste toner discharge channel 11, such as... Figure 6-8 As shown, the rotation axis of the rotating component 18 is collinear or parallel to the extension direction of the waste powder discharge channel 11. The rotating component 18 is provided with a first joint 181 around its rotation axis, and a second joint 156a is provided at the first end of the shaking frame 156. One of the first joint 181 and the second joint 156a has a protrusion that protrudes along the extension direction of the shaking frame 156, and the other of the first joint 181 and the second joint 156a has a recess that is recessed along the extension direction of the shaking frame 156. In use, as the rotating component 18 rotates, the first joint 181 rotates, and the protrusion can intermittently enter and exit the recess, so that the shaking frame 156 drives the powder pushing part 157 on it to reciprocate along the extension direction of the waste powder discharge channel 11 to achieve shaking. Preferably, the mating surfaces of the first joint 181 and the second joint 156a are both selected as arc-shaped surfaces to more smoothly and steadily drive the shaking frame 156 and the powder pushing part 157 on it to reciprocate.

[0044] In Embodiment 2, the rotation of the rotating component 18 can be achieved through a transmission mechanism 17, the power of which comes from the waste powder conveying component 16 (screw). The transmission mechanism 17 includes a first bevel gear 171 and a second bevel gear 172. The first bevel gear 171 is mounted on the screw and rotates synchronously with it. The second bevel gear 172 is mounted on the photosensitive frame 12 and meshes with the first bevel gear 171. The rotation of the screw drives the first bevel gear 171 and the second bevel gear 172 to rotate. The second bevel gear 172 is integrally connected to the rotating component 18 or is integrally formed. As a variation of Embodiment 2, the power source for the rotating component 18 or the transmission mechanism 17 can also be the driving force received directly from the developing unit 20 of the electrophotographic imaging device body or processing cartridge. For example, the reciprocating movement of the shaker 156 can be driven directly by a cam disk whose rotation axis is perpendicular to the moving direction of the shaker 156. Further details will not be elaborated here.

[0045] Furthermore, a reset member 158 is preferably provided at the second end of the shaking frame 156. The reset member 158 is used to ensure that the shaking frame 156 always has a tendency to move towards its first end along its length direction, that is, always has a tendency to move in the opposite direction to the toner conveying direction of the waste powder discharge channel 11. The second end of the shaking frame 156 has a stepped structure with a stepped surface. The reset member 158 can be a spring sleeved on the second end of the shaking frame 156, with both ends of the spring abutting against the stepped surface and the inner wall of the waste powder discharge channel 11, respectively. This embodiment does not limit the specific arrangement of the elastic element and will not elaborate further.

[0046] In use, as the screw rotates, it drives the first bevel gear 171 to drive the second bevel gear 172 and the rotating component 18 to rotate. When the first engagement part 181 pushes the second engagement part 156a and the shaking frame 156, the shaking frame 156 drives the multiple powder pushing parts 157 on it to move against the force of the reset member 158. When the first engagement part 181 separates from the second engagement part 156a, the shaking frame 156 can return to its original position under the action of the reset member 158. By repeating this process, the waste powder can be discharged through the waste powder discharge channel 11 to the waste powder inlet 321 of the waste powder storage part 32.

[0047] As a variation of Example 2, the shaking frame 156 may also have a stirring plate to further agitate and deliver powder.

[0048] Example 3

[0049] The main difference between Example 3 and Example 2 lies in the change in the mounting structure of the powder pushing part 157. For example... Figure 9 As shown, the powder pushing section 157 includes a powder pushing plate 1571 and a mounting shaft 1572. The powder pushing plate 1571 is rotatably mounted on the shaking frame 156 via the mounting shaft 1572. Preferably, the axial direction of the mounting shaft 1572 is perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaking frame 156. In embodiment 3, when the shaking frame 156 moves forward, the powder pushing plate 1571 does not rotate, thus pushing the toner more stably. When the shaking frame 156 resets, the powder pushing plate 1571 rotates and avoids the toner accumulated in the waste powder discharge channel 11, thereby preventing the toner that has already been conveyed forward from being pushed back.

[0050] Specifically, a limiting part 159 is provided on the shaking frame 156. When the powder pushing plate 1571 pushes the toner along the toner conveying direction of the waste powder discharge channel 11, the limiting part 159 abuts against the powder pushing plate 1571, thus restricting the rotation of the powder pushing plate 1571 and limiting its position. In this embodiment, the powder pushing plate 1571 is located perpendicular to the shaking frame 156 when it abuts against the limiting part 159. In other embodiments, the relevant positions can be set as needed, as long as the toner can be pushed out.

[0051] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, some identical descriptions in the different embodiments described above have been omitted. Unless there are contradictions or exclusions, the different embodiments disclosed above can be referenced, consulted, or combined with each other, and the technical features / components of different embodiments can also be combined and / or substituted with each other.

[0052] Although the present invention has been described above through embodiments, the above embodiments are only used to exemplarily describe possible implementations of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent substitutions or changes made by those skilled in the art in accordance with the present invention should also be covered by the scope of protection defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A processing box, comprising a photosensitive unit with a waste toner discharge channel and a toner container with a waste toner storage section, wherein the waste toner storage section has a waste toner inlet, and waste toner in the photosensitive unit can enter the waste toner storage section through the waste toner discharge channel and the waste toner inlet; characterized in that: The waste powder discharge component is configured to reciprocate within the waste powder discharge channel, thereby discharging waste powder from the waste powder discharge channel to the waste powder inlet of the waste powder storage unit.

2. The processing box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The photosensitive unit is equipped with a waste toner conveying component, which is used to convey the waste toner in the photosensitive unit to the waste toner discharge channel.

3. The processing box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The waste powder discharge component includes a shaking frame and multiple powder pushing parts, which are spaced apart on the shaking frame and cover the entire waste powder discharge channel.

4. The processing box according to claim 3, characterized in that: The photosensitive unit includes a rotating component. One of the rotating component and the shaking frame has a protrusion and the other has a recess. When the rotating component rotates, it can drive the protrusion to intermittently enter and exit the recess, thereby driving the shaking frame to move back and forth.

5. The processing box according to claim 4, characterized in that: The rotating component and the waste powder conveying component are driven together by a transmission mechanism; wherein, the transmission mechanism includes a first bevel gear and a second bevel gear that mesh with each other, the waste powder conveying component includes a screw, the first bevel gear is disposed on the screw and rotates synchronously with the screw, and the second bevel gear is fixed to the rotating component.

6. The processing box according to claim 5, characterized in that: The shaking frame is equipped with a reset component, which is used to ensure that the shaking frame always has a tendency to move in the opposite direction to the toner conveying direction along the waste toner discharge channel.

7. The processing box according to claim 4, characterized in that: The powder pushing section includes a rotatable powder pushing plate, which can rotate when the shaking frame resets and avoid carbon powder accumulated in the waste powder discharge channel.

8. The processing box according to claim 7, characterized in that: The shaking frame is provided with a limiting part. When the powder pushing plate pushes the powder along the powder conveying direction of the waste powder discharge channel, the limiting part abuts against the powder pushing plate and restricts the rotation of the powder pushing plate.

9. The processing box according to claim 3, characterized in that: The waste powder discharge channel is cylindrical, and the powder pushing part is semi-circular plate-shaped.

10. The processing box according to claim 3, characterized in that: The shaking rack has stirring blades.

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