Electrical connection assembly and consumable cartridge

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of electric connection assembly and consumable box, electric connection assembly is installed in image forming device with consumable box, image forming device includes interface assembly and conductive unit, along first direction, interface assembly has with the exposed part of the projection of conductive unit not coinciding, multiple conductive parts are equipped on conductive unit, multiple conductive parts are used to correspond with interface assembly electric contact, at least part conductive part is outwardly exposed by exposed part, electric connection assembly includes: chip, external part, external part includes first part and second part, first part is used to with chip electric contact, second part is used to with at least part conductive part electric contact by exposed part.The utility model provides scheme, external part is electrically contacted with conductive part in image forming device by exposed part, since conductive part is located in the rear side of interface assembly, so it can avoid the conductive impurity or conductive substance of outside to adhere or slide to conductive unit, cause the short circuit condition of chip, ensure safe use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of consumable boxes in imaging devices, and in particular to an electrical connection component and a consumable box. Background Technology

[0002] Printers and other image forming devices are common office equipment, providing convenience for modern offices. Each image forming device contains a replaceable ink cartridge. To record the ink level and characteristics of the cartridge, a chip is installed within it. This chip communicates with the contact pins of the image forming device. The chip has multiple terminals. During prolonged use, if foreign objects (ink droplets, metal wires, or metal fragments) adhere between these terminals, a short circuit can occur, potentially burning out the chip or causing the image forming device to malfunction.

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, existing technologies employ a solution by adding a connector to the consumable cartridge. The first end of the connector is electrically connected to one terminal of the chip, and the second end is electrically connected to a conductive unit in the image forming apparatus. During the insertion or removal of the consumable cartridge from the mounting unit of the image forming apparatus, the connector frequently slides along the surface of the conductive unit. Alternatively, during normal operation of the image forming apparatus, the connector may slide along the surface of the conductive unit, following the movement of the mounting unit.

[0004] However, in the aforementioned structure and chip usage, the sliding contact between the connector and the conductive unit surface is problematic. Due to the small contact area and the heat generated by the connector's prolonged friction with the conductive unit, this can lead to deformation or wear, compromising the stable electrical connection or causing communication interruptions, thus affecting the use of the consumable box. Furthermore, the noise generated by friction during use can negatively impact the user experience. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this utility model is to solve the problems in the prior art by providing an electrical connection component for installation in an image forming apparatus along with a consumable cartridge. The image forming apparatus includes at least an interface component and a conductive unit. Along a first direction, the interface component has an exposed portion that does not coincide with the projection of the conductive unit. The conductive unit is provided with a plurality of conductive portions, which are used to make corresponding electrical contacts with the interface component. At least a portion of the conductive portions are exposed to the outside through the exposed portion. The electrical connection component includes: chip; An external component, comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is used for electrical contact with the chip, and the second portion is used for electrical contact with at least a portion of the conductive portion through the exposed portion.

[0006] Furthermore, the interface component includes at least a pin holder and a plurality of pins, one end of each of the plurality of pins being electrically contacted with a corresponding conductive portion, the plurality of pins including at least a first pin and a second pin, an exposed portion being formed on the pin holder and, along a second direction, the exposed portion being adjacent to the first pin, the second pin being used for electrical contact with the chip, and the second direction having an angle with the first direction.

[0007] Furthermore, the plurality of said contact pins includes at least one first contact pin for electrical contact with a target conductive portion in the conductive portion, the exposed portion being adjacent to the first contact pin, the second portion passing through the exposed portion and making electrical contact with the target conductive portion, the second portion being insulated from the first contact pin.

[0008] Furthermore, along the second direction, the stylus holder has an outer side wall, on which a locking portion is provided, and the exposed portion is formed between the outer side wall and the locking portion; or, The stylus holder is provided with a plurality of slits, and a plurality of styluses are installed in a portion of the slits, while another portion of the slits includes a target slit, and the exposed portion is formed by the target slit; The second part extends through the exposed portion.

[0009] Furthermore, the chip includes at least a first contact portion, a second contact portion, and a storage element. The second contact portion is used for electrical contact with the second pin, the first contact portion is used for electrical contact with a portion of the first portion, and at least one of the second contact portion and the first contact portion is electrically connected to the storage element.

[0010] Furthermore, the first part includes at least one connecting arm that is electrically in contact with the first contact portion and applies a contact force thereto. One end of the second part is connected to the first part, and the other end extends in a direction away from the chip surface along a first direction.

[0011] Furthermore, the second portion is used to apply abutment force to the target conductive part, and the extension direction of the second portion is parallel to the first direction; or, The extension direction of at least a portion of the second portion forms an angle with the first direction or the first portion; or, Under the action of external force, the second part deforms toward the chip.

[0012] This utility model also provides a consumable box that can be detachably installed in an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes at least an interface component and a conductive unit, including a body for storing ink and an electrical connection component as described in any of the above technical solutions. The interface component has an exposed portion that does not overlap with the projection of the conductive unit, and the electrical connection component is used to make electrical contact with at least a portion of the interface component and the conductive unit respectively. Along the second direction, the body includes at least a first surface, and along the first direction, the body includes at least a second surface, the second surface having an ink outlet; An inclined surface is used to connect the first surface and the second surface; A mounting portion is located on the inclined surface, and the mounting portion is configured to form a recess along a first direction toward the body direction; The electrical connection assembly is mounted on the placement portion. The electrical connection assembly includes at least a chip and an external component. The external component includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is in electrical contact with the chip, and the second portion is used to make electrical contact with at least a portion of the conductive unit through the exposed portion.

[0013] Furthermore, the consumable box includes a support portion for detachably connecting to the placement portion, the support portion having a locking portion for connecting to the locking portion on the placement portion, the electrical connection assembly being mounted on the support portion, and at least a portion of the second portion extending outward from the support portion.

[0014] Furthermore, the chip is mounted on a consumable cartridge, and the external component is inserted into the image forming apparatus. The first portion extends toward the consumable cartridge and is in electrical contact with the chip, while the second portion extends toward the conductive unit and is in electrical contact with at least a portion of the conductive unit through the exposed portion.

[0015] The beneficial technical effects of this utility model are as follows: This utility model provides an electrical connection component and a consumable box. The electrical connection component is installed in an image forming apparatus along with the consumable box. The image forming apparatus includes at least an interface component and a conductive unit. Along a first direction, the interface component has an exposed portion that does not coincide with the projection of the conductive unit. The conductive unit is provided with multiple conductive portions for corresponding electrical contact with the interface component. At least some of the conductive portions are exposed to the outside through the exposed portion. The electrical connection component includes a chip and an external component. The external component includes a first part and a second part. The first part is used for electrical contact with the chip, and the second part is used for electrical contact with at least some of the conductive portions through the exposed portion. In the solution provided by this utility model, the external component makes electrical contact with the conductive portions in the image forming apparatus through the exposed portion. Since the conductive portions are located behind the interface component, it can prevent external conductive impurities or conductive substances from adhering to or sliding onto the conductive unit, thus avoiding short circuits in the chip and ensuring safe use. Furthermore, since the external component and the conductive part are in contact with each other and there is no synchronous dynamic displacement between them, it can prevent the external component from detaching from the surface of the conductive unit due to vibration or other reasons, and prevent the external component from deforming due to long-term sliding friction with the conductive unit. This ensures the stability of the electrical connection between the chip and the conductive unit, the realization of the chip's corresponding functions, reduces the failure rate during chip use, improves user safety, and enhances the communication quality between the chip and the image forming device. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an image forming apparatus in one direction; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of an image forming apparatus in one direction; Figure 3 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the support frame and interface components; Figure 4 for Figure 3 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of the interface component and some conductive units (including the target conductive part) at point G; Figure 5 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the installation status of the bracket, interface components, and conductive units; Figure 6 for Figure 5 Exploded view of the central support and conductive unit section; Figure 7 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the contact state between the conductive region and the target conductive part; Figure 8 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of the interface component; Figure 9 for Figure 4Schematic diagram of the structure of the central contact needle holder; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the consumable box in Example 1; Figure 11 for Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the structure of the consumables box; Figure 12 for Figure 10 A partial exploded structural diagram of the consumables box; Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the consumable box and electrical connection assembly in Embodiment 1; Figure 14 for Figure 13 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of the electrical connection assembly and the load-bearing part at point M; Figure 15 for Figure 14 Exploded view of the core chip, external components, and supporting structure; Figure 16 for Figure 15 Structural diagrams of Chinese and foreign components; Figure 17 for Figure 15 A schematic diagram of the structure of the chip; Figure 18 This is a schematic diagram of the pre-installation state of the consumable box and the installation unit in Example 1; Figure 19 This is a schematic diagram showing the consumable box and installation unit in a fully installed state in Example 1; Figure 20 middle Figure 19 A partially enlarged schematic diagram showing the contact state between the external component and the conductive unit at point N; Figure 21 This is a schematic diagram of the interface component and some conductive units (including the target conductive part) in Embodiment 2. Figure 3 (Enlarged view of part G in the middle) Figure 22 This is a schematic diagram of the consumable box and electrical connection assembly in Embodiment 2; Figure 23 middle Figure 22 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of the electrical connection assembly and the load-bearing part at point Q; Figure 24 for Figure 23 Structural diagrams of Chinese and foreign components; Figure 25 This is a schematic diagram showing the consumable box and installation unit in a fully installed state in Example 2; Figure 26 for Figure 25 A partially enlarged schematic diagram showing the contact state between the external component and the conductive unit at point P; Figure 27This is a schematic diagram showing the installation state of the external components and the image forming apparatus in Embodiment 3; Figure 28 for Figure 27 Structural diagrams of Chinese and foreign components; Figure 29 This is a schematic diagram of the consumable box and electrical connection assembly in Embodiment 3; Figure 30 for Figure 29 A schematic diagram of the structure of the chip; Figure 31 This is a schematic diagram of the consumable box and installation unit in a fully installed state in Example 3; Figure 32 for Figure 31 A partially enlarged schematic diagram showing the contact state between the external component and the conductive unit at point R in the middle; Figure 33 This is a schematic diagram of another variation of the chip structure in Example 3.

[0017] Figure label: Mounting unit 1, mounting part 1a, slot 1b, lever 1c, inner extension end 1ca, outer extension end 1cb, mating surface 1cc, bottom wall 1d, partition wall 1e, bracket 1f, second locking block 1fa, notch 1fb, positioned part 1h, protrusion 1k. Interface component 10, pin holder 11, pin 12, first pin 12a, second pin 12b, outer side wall 13, locking part 14, first locking block 14a, first end 12aa, second end 12ab, third end 12ac, ink supply component 15. Slit 11a, target slit 11ab, first target slit 11aba, non-target slit 11aa, partition 11ac; Conductive unit 20, conductive part 21, target conductive part 21a, non-target conductive part 21b, conductive area 22, exposed part 30, gap K; Consumable box 100, body 110, receiving part 110a, connecting recess 110b, first surface 111, second surface 112, ink outlet 113, inclined surface 114, first abutting protrusion 114a, placement part 115, through groove 115a, buffer part 115b, locking part 116, third surface 118, positioning part 118a, fourth surface 119; Abutting part 120, operating part 130, movable rod 131, connecting protrusion 131a, operating end 131b, locking surface 131c, and resetting part 132; Electrical connection assembly 200, chip 210, second contact portion 211, second projection point 211a, first contact portion 212, first projection point 212a, storage element 213, first terminal 214, second terminal 215, first surface 216, second surface 217. Outer component 220, first part 221, second part 222, extension 222a, middle part 222b, connecting part 222c, connecting arm 223, extension end 223b, support arm 224, base end arm 225, bending arm 226, coupling part 227, through part 228. Supporting part 300, locked part 310, center line M1 of the supporting part, left part 311, right part 312, rear wall 313, stop part 320, left component 321, right component 322, gap S, second abutting protrusion 330, first imaginary line C1, second imaginary line C2, midpoint MP. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The specific embodiments of this utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] A consumable cartridge is a component within an image forming apparatus that needs to be replaced frequently. The image forming apparatus can be an inkjet image forming apparatus, and the corresponding consumable cartridge is a cartridge that stores ink. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus can be a laser image forming apparatus, and the corresponding consumable cartridge is a processing cartridge, developing cartridge, or toner cartridge, etc., that stores toner.

[0020] The chip on the consumable box is used to store information such as manufacturer information, ink volume information, consumable box type information, ink color, related processing programs, and communication programs.

[0021] For a better explanation of the consumable box components, please refer to... Figure 10 As shown, establish a coordinate system: define the length direction of the consumable box as the X-axis, the width direction of the consumable box as the Y-axis, and the height direction of the consumable box as the Z-axis. The installation direction of the consumable box is the same as the height direction of the consumable box.

[0022] In this example, the first direction is the direction indicated by the X-axis, the second direction is the direction indicated by the Y-axis, and the third direction is the direction indicated by the Z-axis. The angle between the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction can be 90°. In other possible implementations, the angle between the first direction and the second direction can be 80° to 100°, for example, 80°, 85°, 90°, 95°, or 100°.

[0023] Example 1 refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, this utility model provides a consumable cartridge and a detachable mounting unit 1 for an image forming apparatus. The mounting unit 1 includes multiple mounting portions 1a, and each consumable cartridge 100 is inserted into a corresponding mounting portion 1a. In this embodiment, the number of mounting portions 1a is six. However, the number of mounting portions 1a can also be four or other numbers, with the number of consumable cartridges 100 matching the number of mounting portions 1a. Each mounting portion 1a includes at least a slot 1b, a lever 1c, a positioning portion 1h, an interface assembly 10, and an ink supply assembly 15. The ink supply assembly 15 is disposed on the bottom wall 1d of the mounting portion 1a, and adjacent mounting portions 1a are separated by a partition wall 1e disposed on the bottom wall 1d. The ink supply assembly 15 receives ink from the consumable cartridge 100 and supplies it to a printhead (not shown) located below the mounting unit 1.

[0024] like Figures 1 to 9 As shown, the mounting unit 1 also has a bracket 1f and a conductive unit 20 on its main body. The bracket 1f spans each mounting part 1a, and the conductive unit 20 is disposed on the bracket 1f. The interface assembly 10 and the lever 1c are both disposed on the bracket 1f. Under the action of an external force, the lever 1c can rotate relative to the bracket 1f. Along the third direction, the lever 1c has an inner extension end 1ca located in the mounting part 1a and extending toward the interface assembly 10, and an outer extension end 1cb extending to the outside of the mounting part 1a. The outer extension end 1cb has a mating surface 1cc on the side facing away from the mounting part 1a. Along the first direction, the conductive unit 20 is located behind the interface assembly 10. The conductive unit 20 has a plurality of conductive areas 22. Each mounting part 1a corresponds to one conductive area 22 on the conductive unit 20, that is, each interface assembly 10 corresponds to one conductive area 22 on the conductive unit 20. Each conductive area 22 has a plurality of conductive parts 21, which are divided into target conductive parts 21a and non-target conductive parts 21b. The plurality of conductive portions 21 are configured to include at least a data conductive portion, a reset conductive portion, a clock conductive portion, a power conductive portion, and a ground conductive portion, or the plurality of conductive portions 21 are configured to include at least a data conductive portion, a reset conductive portion, a clock conductive portion, a power conductive portion, a ground conductive portion, a high voltage conductive portion, and a short circuit conductive portion. Additionally, along the first direction, the interface assembly 10 has an exposed portion 30 that does not coincide with the projection of the conductive unit 20.

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, each mounting part 1a has a protrusion 1k on its bottom wall 1d, or the bracket 1f has a protrusion 1k at one end extending toward the ink supply assembly 15. Along the first direction, the protrusion 1k is closer to the interface assembly 10 than the ink supply assembly 15.

[0026] like Figure 8 and Figure 9As shown, each interface component 10 includes at least a stylus holder 11. Along the second direction, the stylus holder 11 has two outer side walls 13. Each outer side wall 13 is provided with a locking part 14. One end of the locking part 14 is connected to the outer side wall 13, and the other end is a free end. The free end is configured to have a first locking block 14a. The first locking block 14a is used to engage with a second locking block 1fa provided on the bracket 1f. That is, each mounting part 1a has a notch 1fb on the two side walls of the bracket 1f. The first locking block 14a enters into the notch 1fb and engages with the second locking block 1fa to prevent the stylus holder 11 from falling off the bracket 1f.

[0027] like Figure 4 As shown, the interface assembly 10 also includes a plurality of pins 12, including a first pin 12a and a second pin 12b. The pin holder 11 also has a plurality of slits 11a, each slit 11a being formed by a gap between two adjacent partitions 11ac, including a non-target slit 11aa and a target slit 11ab. The plurality of pins 12 are inserted into the non-target slits 11aa, while the target slits 11ab are left unattended, i.e., no pins 12 are inserted into them. The plurality of pins 12 are configured to include at least a data pin, a reset pin, a power pin, a clock pin, and a ground pin, or the plurality of pins 12 are configured to include at least a data pin, a reset pin, a power pin, a clock pin, a ground pin, a high-voltage pin, and a short-circuit pin.

[0028] like Figure 5 , Figure 7 As shown, each stylus 12 has a first end 12aa facing the conductive unit 20 and a second end 12ab facing away from the conductive unit 20. The first end 12aa and the second end 12ab are connected by a third end 12ac. Along the first direction, there is a gap K between the conductive unit 20 and the stylus holder 11. The first end 12aa of each stylus 12 is located in the gap K. The first end 12aa of the first stylus 12a is used to make electrical contact with the target conductive part 21a provided on the conductive area 22, and the first end 12aa of the second stylus 12b is used to make electrical contact with the non-target conductive part 21b provided on the conductive area 22.

[0029] like Figure 4 , Figure 8 , Figure 9As shown, along the first direction, the interface assembly 10 has a shielding area that coincides with the projection of the conductive unit 20, and an exposed portion 30 that does not coincide with the conductive unit 20. When the stylus holder 11 and the bracket 1f are in an installed state, or when the stylus holder 11 is not installed in the bracket 1f, there is a gap between the outer side wall 13 of each stylus holder 11 and the locking portion 14; this gap is the exposed portion 30. Along the first direction, the target conductive portion 21a on each conductive area 22 is exposed outward through the exposed portion 30. This exposed portion 30 is adjacent to the first stylus 12a, and the two are separated by at least a portion of the stylus holder 11.

[0030] like Figures 10 to 14 As shown, the consumable cartridge 100 includes a body 110, which stores ink. Along a first direction, the body 110 has a first surface 111 and a third surface 118; along a second direction, it has a second surface 112 and a fourth surface 119. An ink outlet 113 is disposed on the second surface 112. When the consumable cartridge 100 is installed with the mounting part 1a, the ink outlet 113 engages with the ink supply assembly 15, allowing the ink stored in the body 110 to be transferred to the ink supply assembly 15 of the image forming apparatus. The first surface 111 has an abutment part 120 and an operating part 130. Along the first direction, one end of the operating part 130 extends away from the body 110, and the other end is movably connected to the body 110. The abutment part 120 abuts against the inclined surface 114.

[0031] Along the first direction, a positioning part 118a is provided on the third surface 118 opposite to the first surface 111. When the consumable box 100 and the mounting part 1a are in the installation state, the abutment part 120 is used to engage with the positioned part 1h, and the positioning part 118a is used to engage with the slot 1b to fix the consumable box 100 in the mounting part 1a. The main body 110 is provided with a receiving part 110a, and at least a part of the operating part 130 is located in the receiving part 110a. The operating part 130 has a movable rod 131 and a reset member 132. The reset member 132 is located in the receiving part 110a. A connecting recess 110b is provided on the outer wall of the receiving part 110a, which is movably connected to the connecting protrusion 131a provided on the movable rod 131. Under the action of external force, the movable rod 131 can swing relative to the main body 110 with the connecting recess 110b as a fulcrum. The movable lever 131 includes an operating end 131b and a locking end 131c. Along a first direction, the operating end 131b is partially located in the receiving portion 110a, and the locking end 131c extends away from the body 110. When the consumable box 100 is installed with the mounting portion 1a, the locking end 131c engages with the mating surface 1cc. At this time, the reset member 132 applies a force to the operating end 131b, causing the operating end 131b to extend out of the receiving portion 110a. If it is necessary to remove the consumable box 100 from the mounting portion 1a, a pressing force is applied to the operating end 131b along a third direction, causing the operating end 131b to displace towards the receiving portion 110a, and the locking end 131c disengages from the mating surface 1cc. During this process, the reset member 132 deforms under the action of external force. When the consumable box 100 is completely removed from the mounting portion 1a, the reset member 132 returns to its original shape.

[0032] like Figures 10 to 14As shown, the body 110 has an inclined surface 114, the extension direction of which forms an angle with the first direction or the third direction. The inclined surface 114 is connected to the first surface 111 and the second surface 112 respectively. The body 110 is provided with a mounting portion 115, which is configured to form a recess from the inclined surface 114 toward a direction away from the inclined surface 114. Along the second direction, the two opposite side walls of the mounting portion 115 are provided with through grooves 115a, and the locking portion 116 is formed in the through grooves 115a. The mounting portion 115 is also provided with a buffer portion 115b. The consumable box 100 includes a support portion 300, which can be detachably installed on the mounting portion 115. Along the second direction, the two side walls of the support portion 300 are provided with locking portions 310. When the support portion 300 and the mounting portion 115 are in the installed state, the locking portions 310 and the locking portions 116 are engaged to prevent the support portion 300 from falling off the mounting portion 115. One end of the carrier portion 300 facing the buffer portion 115b abuts against the buffer portion 115b. This prevents the carrier portion 300 from being forced to move towards the placement portion 115 due to the abutting force when the external component 220 and the chip 210 mounted on the carrier portion 300 come into contact with the target conductive portion 21a or the stylus 12, thereby causing the chip 210 to lose electrical communication or become unstable with the image forming apparatus. In this solution, by using the buffer portion 115b in the placement portion 115, a force can be applied to the carrier portion 300 in the direction of the stylus 12, preventing the spatial position of the carrier portion 300 from shifting. At the same time, the displacement of the carrier portion 300 in the first direction is limited, which can ensure the stability of the contact between the chip 210 and the external component 220 and the target conductive portion 21a or the stylus 12, and improve the communication quality between the chip and the image forming apparatus.

[0033] like Figure 14 As shown, a plurality of first abutting protrusions 114a are arranged at intervals on the inclined surface 114. When the support part 300 and the consumable box 100 are in the installation state, they are used to abut against the second abutting protrusions 330 provided on the side of the support part 300 facing the inclined surface 114. This allows a buffer to be formed between the support part 300 and the inclined surface 114 when the support part 300 is subjected to external force, thereby enhancing the strength of the inclined surface 114 and the support part 300 and preventing damage to both due to force. At the same time, it ensures the stability of the assembly of the electrical connection component 200 and the consumable box 100.

[0034] Along a first direction, the electrical connection assembly 200 is mounted on the side of the support portion 300 facing away from the mounting portion 115, meaning at least a portion of the electrical connection assembly 200 is located within the support portion 300. The support portion 300 is provided with multiple sets of stops 320. The mounting portion 115 has a center line M1 parallel to the Z-axis. Along a second direction, the support portion 300 is divided by the center line M1 into a left portion 311 and a right portion 312. In one possible implementation, such as... Figure 15As shown, the stop portion 320 is preferably in two sets. The two sets of stop portions 320 can be arranged at intervals on the rear wall 313 of the support portion 300. The two sets of stop portions 320 are respectively arranged in the left portion 311 and the right portion 312. Each set of stop portions 320 includes at least one left component 321 and at least one right component 322. Along the second direction, the right component 322 and the left component 321 are arranged at intervals, that is, there is a gap S between the left component 321 and the right component 322. The stop portion 320 is used to ensure that at least a portion of the electrical connection assembly 200 is stably installed in the support portion 300, and to prevent the electrical connection assembly 200 from falling off the support portion 300 due to vibration or shaking during use. In addition, the support portion 300 is used to provide support for the electrical connection assembly 200, increase the strength of the electrical connection assembly 200, and prevent the electrical connection assembly 200 from deforming, failing, or being damaged.

[0035] In one possible embodiment, the carrier portion 300 may also be configured as other structures to accommodate electrical connection components with different results.

[0036] like Figures 15 to 17 As shown, the electrical connection assembly 200 includes at least a chip 210 and an external component 220. The chip 210 includes at least a first terminal 214, a second terminal 215, and a storage element 213. At least one of the first terminal 214 and the second terminal 215 is electrically connected to the storage element 213. The second terminal 215 is used to make electrical contact with the second contact pin 12b to form a second contact portion 211, and the first terminal 214 is used to make at least partial electrical contact with the external component 220 to form a first contact portion 212. Along a first direction, the projections of the second contact portion 211 and the first contact portion 212 at least partially overlap.

[0037] In one possible embodiment, the chip 210 has a first surface 216 and a second surface 217, which are disposed opposite to each other along a first direction. The first surface 216 faces the interface assembly 10, and the second surface 217 faces the carrier portion 300. A second contact portion 211 is located on the first surface 216 and is used to make electrical contact with the second pin 12b in the interface assembly 10. That is, when the chip 210 and the mounting unit 1 are in the mounting state, each second contact portion 211 faces the corresponding second pin 12b, and along the first direction, the projection of each second contact portion 211 and the second end 12ab of the corresponding second pin 12b at least partially overlaps. The first contact portion 212 and the storage element 213 are located on the second surface 217, and the first contact portion 212 does not make direct electrical contact with any pin in the interface assembly 10.

[0038] In one possible embodiment, the projections of the second contact portion 211 and the first contact portion 212 do not coincide along the first direction.

[0039] like Figure 15 , Figure 16 As shown, the external component 220 includes at least a first portion 221, which is mounted on the carrier portion 300. At least a portion of the first portion 221 is used to make electrical contact with the first terminal 214 to form a first contact portion 212. Specifically, the first portion 221 also includes at least one connecting arm 223, which has a connecting end 223a for connecting with the first portion 221 and an extension end 223b extending away from the first portion 221 in a first direction. There is a gap between the extension end 223b and the first portion 221. When the chip 210 and the external component 220 are in the installed state, the extension end 223b of the connecting arm 223 applies a contacting force toward the first contact portion 212, so that the two make electrical contact. This can effectively avoid the problem of poor contact or loss of contact between the target conductive portion 21a and the chip 210 due to improper installation of the chip 210 or external environmental factors such as vibration and shaking during use, thereby improving the communication quality and stability between the chip 210 and the image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, the number of connecting arms 223 is preferably two. In some possible embodiments, the number of connecting arms 223 may also be multiple.

[0040] like Figure 15 , Figure 16As shown, the first part 221 also includes a support arm 224, which is configured to extend toward the stop portion 320. In this embodiment, the setting direction of the support arm 224 is adapted to the setting direction of the left component 321 or the right component 322 in the stop portion 320. When the outer component 220 and the support portion 300 are in the installed state, the support arm 224 is inserted into the gap S formed between the left component 321 and the right component 322 of the stop portion 320. Specifically, since the thickness of the support arm 224 is greater than or equal to the width of the gap S, the fastening force on the support arm 224 gradually increases as the support arm 224 gradually enters the gap S. When the outer component 220 is fully installed on the support portion 300, the support arm 224 is completely accommodated in the gap S. At this time, the fastening force on the support arm 224 is the greatest, thereby achieving a tight fit between the support arm 224 and the left component 321 and the right component 322, and thus achieving a tight fit between the outer component 220 and the support portion 300. Fixed installation avoids the problems in the prior art where the installation position of the external component 220 is offset or a part of the fixing structure of the external component 220 is damaged, resulting in misalignment or poor contact between the first contact portion 212 on the chip 210 and the connecting arm 223 on the external component 220, or the problem that the external component 220 can easily fall directly off the consumable box. If the operator neglects to notice that the external component 220 has fallen off the consumable box and directly installs the chip 210, some terminals on the chip 210 will not be electrically connected to the corresponding contacts in the image forming apparatus, causing some functions of the chip 210 to fail to be realized. This solution can improve the communication quality and stability between the chip 210 and the image forming apparatus.

[0041] like Figure 15 and Figure 16 As shown, the outer component 220 also includes a second portion 222 connected to the first portion 221. Along the first direction, the second portion 222 extends toward a direction away from the consumable box 100. The second portion 222 includes an extension portion 222a and a middle portion 222b. Figure 16In the diagram, the portion between dashed lines A and B is the middle portion 222b of the outer component 220, and the portion between dashed lines B and C is the extension portion 222a of the outer component 220. One end of the middle portion 222b is used to connect at least part of the first portion 221, and the other end is connected to the extension portion 222a. Along the first direction, the extension portion 222a is closer to the conductive unit 20 than the middle portion 222b. Specifically, when the chip 210 and the outer component 220 are in the mounted state, the second portion 222 extends from one side wall of the chip 210 along the second direction and extends along the first direction toward the exposed portion 30 formed by the gap between the outer side wall 13 of the stylus holder 11 and the locking portion 14 disposed on the outer side wall 13 and adjacent to the first stylus 12a. The setting position or setting direction of the second portion 222 is adapted to the exposed portion 30. When the consumable box 100 and the mounting part 1a are in the installed state, the second part 222 enters and passes through the exposed part 30, that is, the middle part 222b of the second part 222 is located in the exposed part 30, and the extension part 222a of the second part 222 passes through the exposed part 30 and enters into the gap K, and makes electrical contact with the target conductive part 21a in the corresponding conductive area 22 in the conductive unit 20, and applies a contact force to it. At this time, along the first direction, the projection of the second part 222 and the exposed part 30 at least partially overlaps, and along the second direction, the second part 222 is adjacent to the first stylus 12a. Since the second part 222 and the first stylus 12a are at least partially separated by the stylus holder 11, they are electrically insulated from each other.

[0042] Since the target conductive part 21a is disposed on the conductive unit 20 on the rear side of the stylus holder 11 of the mounting part 1a, that is, the electrical contact point between the extension portion 222a of the second part 222 and the target conductive part 21a is also located on the rear side of the stylus holder 11, it can prevent external conductive impurities or conductive substances from adhering to or sliding onto the conductive unit 20, causing a short circuit in the chip 210, thus ensuring safe use. In addition, when the consumable box 100 is in normal use, the extension portion 222a of the second part 222 and the target conductive part 21a in the corresponding conductive area 22 make contact with each other, and there is no synchronous dynamic displacement between the two. This can effectively avoid the phenomenon of deformation of external components caused by long-term sliding friction with the conductive unit in the prior art, thereby ensuring the stability of the electrical connection between the chip and the conductive unit, the realization of the corresponding functions of the chip, reducing the failure rate during chip use, improving user safety, and the communication quality between the chip and the image forming apparatus. Meanwhile, since there is no sliding friction between the external components and the conductive unit, the problem of generating significant noise and affecting user experience during the reciprocating sliding of the connector along the surface of the conductive unit, as is present in the prior art, can be avoided.

[0043] Furthermore, since the epitaxial portion 222a of the second part 222 is in electrical contact with the target conductive portion 21a, the middle portion 222b of the second part 222 is still located in the exposed portion 30. The exposed portion 30 can limit the second part 222, which can further align the positions of the epitaxial portion 222a and the target conductive portion 21a. This helps to improve the accuracy of the electrical connection between the epitaxial portion 222a and the target conductive portion 21a, and avoids the problem that the second part 222 cannot make electrical contact with the target conductive portion 21a due to misalignment between the second part 222 and the exposed portion 30, which could lead to the chip and the image forming apparatus being unable to communicate normally or the second part 222 being damaged due to violent installation.

[0044] It should be noted that the external component 220, or at least a portion thereof, is made of a deformable material, such as the second part 222. This allows the second part 222 to make non-rigid contact with the conductive unit 20, and simultaneously applies a contact force to the target conductive portion 21a. This effectively prevents poor contact or loss of contact between the external component 220 and the target conductive portion 21a due to improper chip installation or external environmental factors such as vibration or shaking during use, thereby improving the communication quality and stability between the chip and the image forming apparatus. Because the second part 222 makes non-rigid contact with the target conductive portion 21a of the conductive unit 20, it also prevents damage or irreversible deformation caused by stress generated during the instantaneous contact between the external component 220 or the second part 222 and the conductive unit 20 due to user-induced forceful installation or improper installation, thus extending the service life of the external component 220.

[0045] In some possible embodiments, the extension direction of the second portion 222 is parallel to the first direction, or at least a portion of the extension direction of the second portion 222 has an angle with the first direction, or the second portion 222 deforms toward the chip direction under the action of an external force.

[0046] It should be noted that part or all of the outer component 220 is made of conductive material, and the outer component 220 or the second part 222 may also be other structures to adapt to different chips 210 or exposed parts 30 or image forming apparatuses.

[0047] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the first contact pin 12a is preferably a grounded contact pin, the target conductive part 21a is preferably a grounded conductive part, and the first contact part 212 is preferably a grounded contact part.

[0048] In some possible embodiments, when chip 210 includes a ground terminal, a power terminal, a reset terminal, a clock terminal, and a data terminal, the first terminal 214, i.e., the first contact portion 212, may also be one or more of the ground terminal, power terminal, reset terminal, clock terminal, and data terminal. The second terminal 215, i.e., the second contact portion 211, includes the remaining contacts other than the first contact portion 212. It should be noted that the ground terminal is used to receive a ground potential; the power terminal is used to receive a power potential different from the ground potential (e.g., 3.6V or 3.3V), through which power is provided for the operation of the storage element 213; the reset terminal is used to reset the data inside the storage element 213; the clock terminal is used to receive a clock signal; and the data terminal is used to transmit or receive data signals, and also to detect a short circuit between the data terminal and at least one of the clock terminal, reset terminal, and power terminal.

[0049] In other examples, when chip 210 includes a ground terminal, a power terminal, a reset terminal, a clock terminal, a data terminal, a high-voltage terminal, and a detection terminal, the first terminal 214, i.e., the first contact portion 212, can be one or more of the following: ground terminal, power terminal, reset terminal, clock terminal, data terminal, high-voltage terminal, and detection terminal. The second terminal 215, i.e., the second contact portion 211, includes the remaining contacts other than the first contact portion 212. It should be noted that the high-voltage terminal is used to detect whether the consumable cartridge is correctly inserted into the image forming apparatus. The detection terminal is used to detect whether a short circuit occurs between the high-voltage terminal of the chip and at least one of the other terminals (i.e., the low-voltage terminals).

[0050] In one possible embodiment, the chip 210 may be connected to the external component 220 by means including but not limited to welding, abutting, clamping, moving, and conductive adhesive, so as to achieve contact between the first terminal 214 and the first part 221 of the external component 220.

[0051] In one possible embodiment, the first terminal 214 may be disposed on, but is not limited to, the first surface 216 or the second surface 217 of the chip 210, and the second terminal 215 may be disposed on, but is not limited to, the first surface 216 or the second surface 217 of the chip 210.

[0052] like Figure 18 , Figure 19 , Figure 20 and Figure 22 , Figure 23As shown, during use, when a force is applied to the consumable box 100 in a third direction, causing the consumable box to be inserted into the corresponding mounting part 1a in the third direction, the extension 222a of the outer component 220 first abuts against a portion of the locking part 14 provided on the outer side wall 13 of the stylus holder and adjacent to the first stylus 12a. Under this force, the extension 222a gradually moves toward the exposed part 30, and the abutting part 120 provided on the first surface 111 of the consumable box 100 gradually moves toward the positioned part in the mounting part 1a. As the consumable box 100 is further inserted into the mounting part 1a, the positioning part 118a on the third surface 118 of the consumable box 100 gradually moves toward the slot 1b in the mounting part 1a. The locking end 131c of the movable rod 131 in the operating part 130 abuts against the extension end 1cb of the lever 1c in the mounting part 1a. As the consumable box 100 is further inserted into the mounting part 1a, the extension part 222a moves to the exposed part 30 and partially enters the exposed part 30. The abutment part 120 on the first surface 111 of the consumable box 100 partially... The positioning part 118a, located on the third surface 118 of the consumable box 100, enters the positioning part 1h in the mounting part 1a. The locking end 131c of the movable rod 131 in the operating part 130 gradually moves towards the mating surface 1cc of the lever 1c in the mounting part 1a. When the consumable box 100 is fully inserted into the corresponding mounting part 1a, the second part 222 enters and passes through the exposed part 30, meaning the middle part 222b of the second part 222 is located in the exposed part 30. The extension portion 222a of the second part 222 passes through the exposed portion 30 and enters the gap K, and makes electrical contact with the target conductive portion 21a in the corresponding conductive area 22 of the conductive unit 20, and applies a contact force to it, thereby making the first contact portion 212 disposed on the chip 210 make electrical contact with the corresponding target conductive portion 21a through the external component 220, and the second contact portion 211 disposed on the chip 210 makes electrical contact with the second end 12ab of the second stylus 12b, thereby realizing normal communication between the chip 210 and the image forming device. At this time, the ink outlet 113 on the second surface 112 is connected to the ink supply assembly 15, the abutment part 120 on the first surface 111 of the consumable box 100 is engaged with the positioning part 1h in the mounting part 1a, the positioning part 118a on the third surface 118 of the consumable box 100 is engaged with the slot 1b in the mounting part 1a, and the locking end 131c of the movable rod 131 in the operation part 130 is engaged with the engagement surface 1cc of the lever 1c in the mounting part 1a.

[0053] When the ink in the consumable cartridge 100 is depleted, a pressing force is applied to the operating end 131b of the movable lever 131 in a third direction. The operating end 131b moves toward the receiving portion 110a, the locking end 131c disengages from the mating surface 1cc, the extension portion 222a of the second part 222 disengages from the target conductive portion 21a in the corresponding conductive area 22 of the conductive unit 20, and the second part 222 disengages from the exposed portion 30 and at least partially abuts against the locking portion 14. The abutting portion 120 provided on the first surface 111 of the consumable cartridge 100 disengages from the positioned portion 1h in the mounting portion 1a, and the positioning portion 118a provided on the third surface 118 of the consumable cartridge 100 disengages from the slot 1b in the mounting portion 1a, so that the consumable cartridge 100 can be directly removed from the mounting portion 1a.

[0054] Example 2 The difference between this second embodiment and the first embodiment is that, Figure 21 As shown, in this embodiment, the target slit 11ab includes at least a first target slit 11aba. Along the first direction, the first target slit 11aba faces the target conductive portion 21a, and their projections at least partially overlap. The first target slit 11aba is the exposure portion 30. Along the first direction, the target conductive portion 21a on each conductive area 22 is exposed outward through the exposure portion 30. The exposure portion 30 is adjacent to the first stylus 12a, and the two are at least partially separated by the stylus holder 11. When the consumable box 100 and the mounting portion 1a are in the mounting state, the second portion 222 enters and passes through the exposure portion 30. That is, the middle portion 222b of the second portion 222 is located in the exposure portion 30, and the outer extension portion 222a of the second portion 222 passes through the exposure portion 30 into the gap K, and makes electrical contact with the target conductive portion 21a in the corresponding conductive area 22 of the conductive unit 20, and applies a contact force to it. The second part 222 and the first contact pin 12a are electrically insulated from each other because they are separated by at least a portion of the contact pin holder 11.

[0055] In this embodiment, as Figures 22-24 As shown, the second part 222 of the outer component 220 is configured to also include a connecting part 222c, in Figure 24In the diagram, the portion between dashed lines A and B is the extension portion 222a of the outer component 220, the portion between dashed lines B and C is the middle portion 222b of the outer component 220, and the portion between dashed lines C and D is the connecting portion 222c of the outer component 220. One end of the connecting portion 222c is used to connect at least a portion of the first portion 221, and the other end is connected to the middle portion 222b. Specifically, when the chip 210 and the outer component 220 are in an installed state, a portion of the second portion 222 extends from one side wall of the chip 210 toward the abutment portion 120 in a third-direction upward direction. Simultaneously, the extension portion 222a and the middle portion 222b in the second portion 222 are configured to extend along a first direction toward the exposed portion 30 formed by the first target slit 11aba adjacent to the first stylus 12a. The placement position or direction of the extension portion 222a and the middle portion 222b in the second portion 222 are adapted to the exposed portion 30.

[0056] In some possible embodiments, the extending directions of the intermediate portion 222b and the epitaxial portion 222a form an angle with the connecting portion 222c, or, under the action of an external force, the second portion 222 deforms toward the chip 210.

[0057] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the first contact pin 12a is preferably a reset contact pin, the target conductive part 21a is preferably a reset conductive part, and the first contact part 212 is preferably a reset contact part.

[0058] In some possible embodiments, the number of second portions 222 of the external component 220 can be one or more, and the first contact 12a can also be configured as one or more of a data contact, a clock contact, a power contact, a high voltage contact, and a short circuit detection contact. The target conductive portion 21a is preferably one or more of a data conductive portion, a clock conductive portion, a power conductive portion, a high voltage conductive portion, and a short circuit detection conductive portion, and the first contact portion 212 is preferably one or more of a data contact portion, a clock contact portion, a power contact portion, a high voltage contact portion, and a short circuit contact portion.

[0059] like Figure 25 and Figure 26As shown, during use, a force is applied to the consumable box 100 in a third direction, causing the consumable box 100 to be inserted into the corresponding mounting part 1a in the third direction. During this process, the extension 222a of the outer component 220 first abuts against a portion of the stylus holder 11. Under this force, the extension 222a gradually moves toward the exposed part 30, and the abutting part 120 on the first surface 111 of the consumable box 100 gradually moves toward the positioning part 1h in the mounting part 1a. The abutting part 120 on the third surface 111 of the consumable box 100... The positioning part 118a on the 8 gradually moves toward the slot 1b in the mounting part 1a. The locking end 131c of the movable rod 131 in the operating part 130 abuts against the outer extension end 1cb of the lever 1c in the mounting part 1a. As the consumable box 100 is further inserted into the mounting part 1a, the middle part 22b and the outer extension 222a move to the exposed part 30 formed by the first target slit 11aba adjacent to the first stylus 12a, and partially enter the exposed part 30. The abutment provided on the first surface 111 of the consumable box 100... The connecting part 120 enters the positioning part 1h in the mounting part 1a, and the positioning part 118a, which is provided on the third surface 118 of the consumable box 100, enters the slot 1b in the mounting part 1a. The locking end 131c of the movable rod 131 in the operating part 130 gradually moves toward the mating surface 1cc of the lever 1c in the mounting part 1a. When the consumable box 100 is fully installed in the corresponding mounting part 1a, the second part 222 enters and passes through the exposed part 30, that is, the middle part 222b of the second part 222 is located in the exposed part 30. In the middle, the extension portion 222a of the second part 222 passes through the exposed portion 30 and enters the gap K, and makes electrical contact with the target conductive portion 21a in the corresponding conductive area 22 in the conductive unit 20, and applies a contact force to it, thereby making the first contact portion 212 disposed on the chip 210 make electrical contact with the corresponding target conductive portion 21a through the external component 220, and the second contact portion 211 disposed on the chip 210 makes electrical contact with the second end 12ab of the second stylus 12b, thereby realizing normal communication between the chip 210 and the image forming device. At this time, the ink outlet 113 on the second surface 112 is connected to the ink supply assembly 15, the abutment part 120 on the first surface 111 of the consumable box 100 is engaged with the positioning part 1h in the mounting part 1a, the positioning part 118a on the third surface 118 of the consumable box 100 is engaged with the slot 1b in the mounting part 1a, and the locking end 131c of the movable rod 131 in the operation part 130 is engaged with the engagement surface 1cc of the lever 1c in the mounting part 1a.

[0060] When the ink in the consumable cartridge 100 is depleted, a pressing force is applied to the operating end 131b of the movable lever 131 in a third direction. The operating end 131b moves toward the receiving portion 110a, the locking end 131c disengages from the mating surface 1cc, the extension portion 222a of the second part 222 disengages from the target conductive portion 21a in the corresponding conductive area 22 of the conductive unit 20, and the second part 222 disengages from the exposed portion 30 and at least partially abuts against the stylus holder 11. The abutting portion 120 provided on the first surface 111 of the consumable cartridge 100 disengages from the positioned portion 1h in the mounting portion 1a, and the positioning portion 118a provided on the third surface 118 of the consumable cartridge 100 disengages from the slot 1b in the mounting portion 1a, so that the consumable cartridge 100 can be directly removed from the mounting portion 1a.

[0061] The remaining structures, such as the electrical connection components, consumable boxes, and chips, as well as the communication methods between the chips, electrical connection components, electrical interface components, and conductive units, are the same as in Embodiment 1, and will not be described again.

[0062] Example 3 The difference between this embodiment three and embodiment two is that, as Figure 27 and Figure 28As shown, in this embodiment, the external component 220 and the consumable box 100 are separately arranged. Specifically, the chip 210 is installed on the support part 300, and the support part 300 and the consumable box 100 are detachably assembled. The external component 220 is installed in the mounting unit 1. The first part 221 of the external component 220 also includes a base arm 225 and a bent arm 226. The base arm 225 is provided with a through part 228 for engaging with the protrusion 1k. One end of the base arm 225 is connected to the support arm 224. The base arm 225 and the support arm 224 are set at an angle, and the support arm 224 is closer to the interface assembly 10 than the base arm 225. The support arm 224 is provided with a bent arm 226, which is configured to extend toward the interface assembly 10 and abut against the bracket 1f. The connecting arm 223 is disposed on the bent arm 226. The connecting end 223a of the connecting arm 223 is used to connect with the bent arm 226, and the extending end 223b of the connecting arm 223 is used to extend toward the first contact portion 212 and apply abutment force thereto, so that the two make electrical contact. When the external component 220 is installed with the mounting unit 1 or the mounting part 1a, the protrusion 1k enters the through part 228, and the two are tightly fitted together. The support arm 224 and the bending arm 226 are respectively used to abut against the bracket 1f, so that the external component 220 is fixedly installed with the mounting unit 1 or the mounting part 1a, ensuring that the connecting arm 223 of the external component 220 is aligned with the first contact part 212 and has stable electrical contact. This can effectively avoid the problem of poor contact or loss of contact between the target conductive part 21a and the chip 210 in the image forming apparatus due to improper installation of the external component 220 or external environmental factors such as vibration and shaking during use, thereby improving the communication quality and stability between the chip 210 and the image forming apparatus.

[0063] One end of the second part 222 is used to connect with the first part 221. Specifically, the connecting portion 222c of the second part 222 is used to connect with one or more of the base arm 225, the support arm 224, or the bending arm 226. Along the first direction, the intermediate portion 222b connected to the connecting portion 222c and the extension portion 222a connected to the intermediate portion 222b extend toward the exposed portion 30. The exposed portion 30 is configured to be formed by a gap between the locking portions 14 adjacent to the first stylus 12a, or the exposed portion 30 is configured to be formed by a first target slit 11aba adjacent to the first stylus 12a. The location or orientation of the extension portion 222a and the intermediate portion 222b in the second part 222 are adapted to the exposed portion 30.

[0064] In this embodiment, as Figure 29 and Figure 30As shown, the first terminal 214 is disposed on the first surface 216 facing the interface assembly 10, that is, the first terminal 214 and the second terminal 215 are disposed on the same surface of the chip 210. The first terminal 214 makes electrical contact with the extension portion 222a of the outer component 220 to form a first contact portion 212, and the second terminal 215 makes electrical contact with the second contact pin 12b to form a second contact portion 211. Two mutually orthogonal straight lines are defined, namely the first imaginary line C1 and the second imaginary line C2. In this embodiment, the second imaginary line C2 is parallel to the second direction or the width direction of the chip 210. All contacts are projected onto the second imaginary line C2 to form projection points, namely the first projection point 212a formed by the projection of the first contact 212 onto the second imaginary line C2, and multiple second projection points 211a formed by the projection of the second contact 211 onto the second imaginary line C2. The line connecting the two projection points that are farthest apart among all projection points has a midpoint MP. The first imaginary line C1 passes through this midpoint MP. The number of projection points distributed in the regions on both sides of the first imaginary line C1 is equal, which is two for each side.

[0065] like Figure 31 and Figure 32 As shown, in use, the outer component 220 is first installed into the mounting unit 1 or mounting part 1a, that is, the protrusion 1k enters into the through part 228. The support arm 224 and the bending arm 226 are respectively used to abut against the bracket 1f. The second part 222 enters and passes through the exposed part 30, that is, the middle part 222b of the second part 222 is located in the exposed part 30. The outer extension 222a of the second part 222 passes through the exposed part 30 and enters into the gap K, and makes electrical contact with the target conductive part 21a in the corresponding conductive area 22 in the conductive unit 20, and applies abutment force to it. The consumable box 100 is then inserted into the corresponding mounting part 1a. The abutment part 120 on the first surface 111 of the consumable box 100 engages with the positioning part 1h in the mounting part 1a. The positioning part 118a on the third surface 118 of the consumable box 100 engages with the slot 1b in the mounting part 1a. The locking end 131c of the movable rod 131 in the operation part 130 engages with the engagement surface 1cc of the lever 1c in the mounting part 1a. That is, the ink outlet 113 on the second surface 112 is connected to the ink supply assembly 15. At this time, the extension part 222a of the outer component 220 makes electrical contact with the first contact part 212 on the chip 210 and applies abutment force to it. The second contact part 211 on the chip 210 makes electrical contact with the second end 12ab of the second stylus 12b, thereby realizing normal communication between the chip 210 and the image forming device.

[0066] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the number of mounting parts 1a is adapted to the number of external components 220. The multiple external components 220 can be detachably connected to each other through coupling parts 227, or the multiple external components 220 can be formed integrally. Each of the multiple external components 220 can be installed into the corresponding mounting part 1a, or the multiple external components 220 can be installed as a whole into the mounting unit 1.

[0067] In one possible embodiment, such as Figure 33 As shown, the first contact portion 212 can also be arranged to at least partially coincide with the projection of at least one of the plurality of second contact portions 211 along a third direction, that is, the first contact portion 212 coincides with the projection point of at least one of the plurality of second contact portions 211 onto the second imaginary line C2.

[0068] The remaining structures, such as the electrical connection components, consumable boxes, and chips, as well as the communication methods between the chips, electrical connection components, electrical interface components, and conductive units, are the same as in Embodiment 1, and will not be described again.

[0069] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second," "at least one," "force," and "driving force" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0070] The above embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of this utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of implementation of this utility model. Many variations are possible in shape, structure, and principle according to this utility model. Therefore, any variations and modifications made without departing from the spirit and scope of this utility model should be included within the scope of this utility model. The term "preferred" as used in the disclosure of this utility model is exclusive and indicates "preferred," not limiting. The terms in the claims should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the utility model described in the description.

Claims

1. An electrical connection assembly for mounting in an image forming apparatus along with a consumable cartridge, the image forming apparatus comprising at least an interface assembly (10) and a conductive unit (20), characterized in that, Along a first direction, the interface assembly (10) has an exposed portion (30) that does not coincide with the projection of the conductive unit (20). The conductive unit (20) is provided with a plurality of conductive portions (21), which are used to make corresponding electrical contact with the interface assembly (10). At least a portion of the conductive portions (21) are exposed to the outside through the exposed portion (30). The electrical connection assembly (200) includes: Chip (210); The external component (220) includes a first part (221) and a second part (222), the first part (221) being used for electrical contact with the chip (210) and the second part (222) being used for electrical contact with at least a portion of the conductive part (21) through the exposed part (30).

2. The electrical connection assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The interface component (10) includes at least a pin holder (11) and a plurality of pins (12). One end of each of the plurality of pins (12) is electrically contacted with a corresponding conductive part (21). Each of the plurality of pins (12) includes at least a first pin (12a) and a second pin (12b). An exposed part (30) is formed on the pin holder (11) and is adjacent to the first pin (12a) along a second direction. The second pin (12b) is used to make electrical contact with the chip (210). The second direction has an angle with the first direction.

3. The electrical connection assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The plurality of said styluses (12) include at least one first styluse (12a) for electrical contact with a target conductive portion (21a) in the conductive portion (21), the exposed portion (30) being adjacent to the first styluse (12a), the second portion (222) passing through the exposed portion (30) and making electrical contact with the target conductive portion (21a), the second portion (222) being insulated from the first styluse (12a).

4. The electrical connection assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, Along the second direction, the stylus holder (11) has an outer side wall (13) on which a locking part (14) is provided, and the exposed part (30) is formed between the outer side wall (13) and the locking part (14); or, The stylus holder (11) is provided with a plurality of slits (11a), and a plurality of styluses (12) are installed in a portion of the slits (11a). The other portion of the slits (11a) includes a target slit (11ab), and the exposed portion (30) is formed by the target slit (11ab). The second part (222) penetrates the exposed part (30).

5. The electrical connection assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The chip (210) includes at least a first contact portion (212), a second contact portion (211), and a storage element (213). The second contact portion (211) is used to make electrical contact with the second contact pin (12b), and the first contact portion (212) is used to make electrical contact with a portion of the first part (221). At least one of the second contact portion (211) and the first contact portion (212) is electrically connected to the storage element (213).

6. The electrical connection assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first part (221) includes at least one connecting arm (223) that is in electrical contact with the first contact portion (212) and applies a contact force thereto. The second part (222) is connected at one end to the first part (221) and extends at the other end in a direction away from the surface of the chip (210) along a first direction.

7. The electrical connection assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second portion (222) is used to apply abutment force to the target conductive part (21a), and the extension direction of the second portion (222) is parallel to the first direction; or, The extension direction of at least a portion of the second portion (222) forms an angle with the first direction or the first portion; or, Under the action of external force, the second part (222) deforms toward the chip (210).

8. A consumable box, detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising at least an interface assembly (10) and a conductive unit (20), characterized in that, Includes a body (110) for storing ink and an electrical connection component (200) as described in any one of claims 1-7, wherein the interface component (10) has an exposed portion (30) that does not coincide with the projection of the conductive unit (20), and the electrical connection component (200) is used to make electrical contact with at least a portion of the interface component (10) and the conductive unit (20), respectively. Along the second direction, the body (110) includes at least a first surface (111), and along the first direction, the body (110) includes at least a second surface (112), on which an ink outlet (113) is provided. An inclined surface (114) is used to connect the first surface (111) and the second surface (112). The mounting portion (115) is located on the inclined surface (114), and the mounting portion (115) is configured to form a recess in the direction of the body (110) in the first direction; The electrical connection assembly (200) is mounted on the placement portion (115). The electrical connection assembly (200) includes at least a chip (210) and an external component (220). The external component (220) includes a first portion (221) and a second portion (222). The first portion (221) is in electrical contact with the chip (210), and the second portion (222) is used to make electrical contact with at least a portion of the conductive unit (20) through the exposed portion (30).

9. The consumable box according to claim 8, characterized in that, The consumable box (100) includes a support portion (300) for detachable connection with the placement portion (115), the support portion (300) having a locking portion (310) for connection with a locking portion (116) on the placement portion (115), the electrical connection assembly (200) being mounted on the support portion (300), and at least a portion of the second portion (222) extending outward from the support portion (300).

10. The consumable box according to claim 8, characterized in that, The chip (210) is mounted on the consumable cartridge (100), and the external component (220) is inserted into the image forming apparatus. The first portion (221) extends toward the consumable cartridge (100) and is in electrical contact with the chip (210). The second portion (222) extends toward the conductive unit (20) and is in electrical contact with at least a portion of the conductive unit (20) through the exposed portion (30).

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