A developing cartridge

Abstract

The utility model discloses a developing box, developing box includes: casing, casing is used to accommodate developer, casing has the first side and second side of opposite arrangement in the first direction, and casing has the third side and fourth side of opposite arrangement in the second direction with the first direction intersection, developing roller, powder feeding roller, coupling gear, developing roller gear, developing roller gear is located the first side of casing, and developing roller gear can rotate together with developing roller, powder feeding roller gear, powder feeding roller gear is located the first side of casing, and powder feeding roller gear can rotate together with powder feeding roller, and powder feeding roller gear is engaged connection with coupling gear, and developing box still includes idler gear, and idler gear is connected between coupling gear and developing roller gear, in the second direction, and there is no powder stirring member between coupling gear and the fourth side of casing, compared with prior art, the structure of the utility model developing box is more compact, and the production manufacturing cost of developing box is reduced simultaneously.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electrophotographic imaging technology, and in particular to a developing cartridge. Background Technology

[0002] The prior art discloses an electrophotographic imaging device, such as a laser printer, and a detachable developing cartridge installed in the laser printer. The developing cartridge includes a developing frame containing developer and a toner feeding roller, a developing roller, and a stirring frame that are rotatably supported on the developing frame. The rotation of the toner feeding roller, the developing roller, and the stirring frame is achieved by driving a coupling gear.

[0003] In the existing technology, the structure used to transport developer is relatively complex, which is not conducive to the miniaturization of the developing cartridge and the production cost is high. Therefore, it is necessary to upgrade the developing cartridge to solve these problems. Utility Model Content

[0004] Therefore, this utility model provides a developing cartridge to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, mainly through the following technical solution:

[0005] A developing cartridge, the developing cartridge comprising:

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

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

[0008] A powder feeding roller for feeding developer to the developing roller, the powder feeding roller being rotatable about a powder feeding roller axis extending in the first direction;

[0009] A coupling gear is located on the first side of the housing. The coupling gear has a coupling part for receiving external driving force from the developing cartridge and is rotatable about the axis of the coupling gear extending in the first direction.

[0010] A developing roller gear is located on the first side of the housing and is capable of rotating together with the developing roller.

[0011] A powder feeding roller gear is located on the first side of the housing. The powder feeding roller gear can rotate together with the powder feeding roller and is meshed with the coupling gear.

[0012] The developing cartridge also includes an idler wheel, which is connected between the coupling gear and the developing roller gear;

[0013] In the second direction, no agitator is provided between the coupling gear and the fourth side of the housing.

[0014] Furthermore, an even number of idler gears are provided between the coupling gear and the developing roller gear.

[0015] Furthermore, the idler wheel includes a first idler wheel and a second idler wheel, the first idler wheel being meshed with the coupling gear, and the second idler wheel being meshed with the developing roller gear.

[0016] Furthermore, the housing also includes a bearing plate that can rotatably support the developing roller. The bearing plate extends outwardly in the first direction with a protrusion, and the idler wheel is connected to the bearing plate through the protrusion.

[0017] Furthermore, in the second direction, no intermediate transmission gear is provided between the coupling gear and the fourth side of the housing.

[0018] Furthermore, it also includes a first guide protrusion, a first push protrusion, and a force-receiving protrusion, wherein the first guide protrusion, the first push protrusion, and the force-receiving protrusion are located on the first side of the housing in the first direction;

[0019] The first guide protrusion, the first pushing protrusion, and the force-bearing protrusion are integrally formed.

[0020] Furthermore, it also includes a cover located on the first side of the housing in the first direction, the cover being capable of covering at least a portion of the developing roller gear;

[0021] The first guide protrusion, the first push protrusion, and the force-bearing protrusion are integrally formed with the cover.

[0022] Furthermore, it also includes electrodes, which are located on the second side of the housing in the first direction;

[0023] The electrode has an electrical contact portion located in the second direction between the rotation axis of the developing roller and the rotation axis of the coupling gear.

[0024] Furthermore, it also includes a chip having an electrical contact surface located on the first side of the housing in the first direction;

[0025] In the second direction, the electrical contact surface is closer to the fourth side of the housing than the idler wheel.

[0026] Beneficial effects:

[0027] The developing cartridge provided by this invention has a more compact structure and reduces the production cost of the developing cartridge. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the developing cartridge in this utility model;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the left side structure of the developing cartridge in this utility model when viewed from the left and right direction.

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the right side structure of the developing cartridge in this utility model when viewed from the left and right direction.

[0031] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the upper structure of the developing cartridge as viewed from the top and bottom in this utility model.

[0032] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the lower structure of the developing cartridge as viewed from the top and bottom in this utility model.

[0033] Figure 6 This is a partial three-dimensional structural diagram of the protective cover of the developing cartridge in this utility model, in its disassembled state from the powder hopper;

[0034] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the positions of the developing box and the photosensitive drum in the imaging position state of this utility model;

[0035] Figure 8 This is a partial right view of the push unit in the separated position state of this utility model;

[0036] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing the positions of the developing cartridge and the photosensitive drum in the separated position state in this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0037] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and technical effects of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solution of the developing cartridge of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of this utility model, and not all embodiments. Other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this utility model without creative effort are all within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0038] In the following description, when referring to the orientation of the developing cartridge 100, such as Figure 1As shown, with the length direction of the developing cartridge 100 as the left-right direction (first direction), the cover 103 is located to the left of the powder hopper 102 in the left-right direction; the front-back direction (second direction) is defined as the width direction of the developing cartridge 100, and the developing roller 120 is disposed at the front end of the developing cartridge 100 in the front-back direction; the up-down direction (third direction) is the direction that intersects the left-right direction and the front-back direction, and the electrical contact surface 141 faces the top of the developing cartridge 100 in the up-down direction.

[0039] like Figure 1-7 As shown, this utility model provides a developer cartridge 100, which can be detachably installed to a drum cartridge (not shown), and can be detachably installed together with the drum cartridge to an electrophotographic imaging device (hereinafter referred to as "imaging device"). The developer cartridge 100 includes a housing 101, the housing 101 including a powder container 102 for containing developer, and a cover 103 detachably installed on the left side of the powder container 102; as Figure 9 As shown, the developing cartridge 100 also includes a developing roller 120 for carrying developer and a powder feed roller 130 for feeding developer to the developing roller 120. The developing roller 120 is rotatably supported at the front end of the housing 101 and can rotate about a developing roller axis extending in the left-right direction. The powder feed roller 130 contacts the developing roller 120 in the front-back direction and can rotate about a powder feed roller axis extending in the left-right direction. When the developing cartridge 100 is in operation, the developing cartridge 100 is mounted to the drum housing. The developing roller 120 contacts the photosensitive drum (not shown) of the drum housing. The powder feed roller 130 rotates to feed developer to the developing roller 120. The developing roller 120 rotates and feeds developer to the photosensitive drum to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum.

[0040] like Figure 2-3As shown, the developing cartridge 100 includes an electrode 150, which includes an electrical contact portion. The electrical contact portion is located on the right side of the housing 101 and, in the front-rear direction, is located between the rotation axis of the coupling gear 111 and the rotation axis of the developing roller 120. After the developing cartridge 100 is installed in the imaging device, the electrical contact portion contacts the power supply component (not shown) of the imaging device to receive power from the imaging device and supply power to the developer delivery components such as the developing roller 120 and the powder delivery roller 130, thereby ensuring the smooth delivery of developer in the developing cartridge 100. The developing cartridge 100 also includes a storage chip 140 and a chip holder 104 for supporting the storage chip 140. The storage chip 140 also includes an electrical contact surface 141 and a storage section (not shown). In the front-rear direction, the electrical contact surface 141 is located at the rear end of the rotation axis of the coupling gear 111. The electrical contact surface 141 can contact the electrical contact point (not shown) of the imaging device, thereby establishing a communication connection between the developing cartridge 100 and the imaging device. The storage section is used to record information such as the model, age, and page yield of the developing cartridge 100. The storage section is electrically connected to the electrical contact surface 141. When the developing cartridge 100 is installed in the imaging device, the storage section establishes an electrical connection with the imaging device through the electrical contact surface 141 and the electrical contact point, thereby establishing a communication connection between the developing cartridge 100 and the imaging device, so that the imaging device can read the information of the developing cartridge 100 recorded in the storage section. When the developer in the developing cartridge 100 is about to be consumed, the imaging device can prompt the user to replace the developing cartridge 100 through the operation panel.

[0041] like Figure 2 As shown, the developing cartridge 100 also includes a plurality of protrusions extending outward from both sides of the housing 101 in the left-right direction. Specifically, the cover 103 is provided with a first guide protrusion 108a, a first push protrusion 108c, and a force-receiving protrusion 108b, the force-receiving protrusion 108b extending outward from the first guide protrusion 108a in the left-right direction. The first guide protrusion 108a is used to cooperate with the drum frame (not shown) on the drum cartridge to guide the developing cartridge 100 during installation. The first push protrusion 108c can receive the force of the push part (not shown) on the drum cartridge to maintain close contact between the developing roller 120 and the photosensitive drum. In the front-rear direction, the first guide protrusion 108a, the first push protrusion 108c, and the force-receiving protrusion 108b are all located on the front end side of the rotation axis of the coupling gear 111. The force-receiving protrusion 108b can contact the drum-side cam (not shown) of the drum housing to receive the force that separates the developing roller 120 from the photosensitive drum. The first guide protrusion 108a, the first push protrusion 108c, and the force-receiving protrusion 108b can be integrally formed with the cover 103 or can be installed separately on the cover 103.

[0042] Furthermore, such as Figure 3As shown, the right side surface of the developing cartridge 100 extends outward in the left-right direction with a second guide protrusion 109a, a second push protrusion 109b, and a locking protrusion 109c. The second guide protrusion 109a is used to cooperate with the drum frame (not shown) on the drum housing to guide the installation of the developing cartridge 100. The second push protrusion 109b can receive the force of the push portion (not shown) of the drum housing to maintain close contact between the developing roller 120 and the photosensitive drum. The locking protrusion 109c is used to cooperate with the drum housing to prevent the developing cartridge 100 from falling out of the drum housing. In this embodiment, the second push protrusion 109b is integrally provided with the electrode 150, and when viewed in the left-right direction, the second push protrusion 109b and the first push protrusion 108c have at least a partial overlap.

[0043] like Figure 6-8 As shown, to achieve the rotation of the developing roller 120 and the powder feeding roller 130, the developing cartridge 100 is provided with a gear train. The gear train is located on the left side of the housing 101, and the cover 103 can cover at least a portion of the gear train to prevent interference with the gear train during use. The gear train includes, but is not limited to, a coupling gear 111, a developing roller gear 112, a powder feeding roller gear 113, and at least one idler gear. The coupling gear 111 has a coupling portion 111a, which is exposed on the left side of the cover 103 through a through hole. When the developing cartridge 100 is installed in the imaging device, the coupling portion 111a is connected to a drive member (not shown) inside the imaging device to receive the driving force from the imaging device, causing the coupling gear 111 to rotate about a coupling gear axis extending in the left-right direction.

[0044] The developing roller gear 112 and the powder feeding roller gear 113 are respectively connected to the left ends of the developing roller 120 and the powder feeding roller 130. Multiple idler gears are arranged between the developing roller gear 112 and the coupling gear 111. The number of idler gears is set to an even number to ensure that the rotation direction of the developing roller gear 112 is opposite to the rotation direction of the coupling gear 111. That is, the number of idler gears between the developing roller gear 112 and the coupling gear 111 is 2, 4, 6, 8...2n (n is a positive integer), and these idler gears mesh sequentially. The idler gear closest to the coupling gear 111 meshes with the coupling gear 111, and the idler gear closest to the developing roller gear 112 meshes with the developing roller gear 112. The developing roller gear 112 receives the driving force of the coupling gear 111 through the aforementioned idler gears and rotates around an axis extending in the left-right direction, thereby enabling the developing roller gear 112 to drive the developing roller 120 to rotate around the developing roller axis extending in the left-right direction.

[0045] Specifically, such as Figure 8As shown, a first idler wheel 114 and a second idler wheel 115 are provided between the developing roller gear 112 and the coupling gear 111. The first idler wheel 114 is meshed with the coupling gear 111, and the second idler wheel 115 is meshed with the developing roller gear 112. At the same time, the first idler wheel 114 and the second idler wheel 115 are meshed together. That is to say, the developing roller gear 112 is connected to the coupling gear 111 through the second idler wheel 115 and the first idler wheel 114, so that it can receive the driving force of the coupling gear 111 to drive the developing roller 120 to rotate around an axis extending in the left-right direction.

[0046] like Figure 6-8 As shown, the housing 101 also includes a bearing plate 106 located between the cover 103 and the powder hopper 102. Multiple protrusions extend from the left side of the bearing plate 106 in a left-right direction to support gears in the gear train, including a first protrusion 106a, a second protrusion 106b, and a third protrusion 106c. The first protrusion 106a rotatably supports the coupling gear 111, the second protrusion 106b supports the first idler gear 114, and the third protrusion 106c supports the second idler gear 115. The bearing plate 106 also has multiple bearing holes, including a first bearing hole 106d and a second bearing hole 106e. The first bearing hole 106d rotatably supports the roller shaft of the developing roller 120, and the second bearing hole 106e rotatably supports the roller shaft of the powder feeding roller 130.

[0047] like Figure 7 and Figure 9 As shown, while the developing roller gear 112 is connected to the coupling gear 111 via an idler gear, the powder feeding roller gear 113 is directly connected to the coupling gear 111. Unlike existing technologies, the developing cartridge 100 of this invention does not include a stirring rack. In other words, in the front-to-back direction, the developing cartridge 100 does not have a rotating component behind the coupling gear 111, or a rotating component between the coupling gear 111 and the electrical contact surface 141. More specifically, there is no powder stirring component between the coupling gear 111 and the rear side of the housing 101. Therefore, the developing cartridge 100 does not have an intermediate transmission gear behind the coupling gear 111 in the front-to-back direction. More specifically, there is no intermediate transmission gear between the coupling gear 111 and the rear side of the housing 101. The intermediate transmission gear can be specifically configured as an idler gear. When the developing cartridge 100 of this application is installed in an imaging device, the developing roller 120 of the developing cartridge 100 is vertically positioned below the powder hopper 101. The developer in the developing cartridge 100 can be smoothly transported under the action of gravity, thus replacing the function of the stirrer in the prior art with gravity-fed powder delivery. This arrangement simplifies the structure of the developing cartridge 100 and reduces its manufacturing cost.

[0048] The developing cartridge provided by this invention has a more compact structure and reduces the production cost of the developing cartridge.

[0049] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and are not intended to limit it. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model.

Claims

1. A developing cartridge, the developing cartridge comprising: A housing for containing a developer, the housing having a first side and a second side disposed opposite to each other in a first direction, and a third side and a fourth side disposed opposite to each other in a second direction intersecting the first direction; A developing roller for carrying developer, the developing roller being rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in the first direction, the developing roller being located on the third side of the housing in the second direction; A powder feeding roller for feeding developer to the developing roller, the powder feeding roller being rotatable about a powder feeding roller axis extending in the first direction; A coupling gear is located on the first side of the housing. The coupling gear has a coupling part for receiving external driving force from the developing cartridge and is rotatable about the axis of the coupling gear extending in the first direction. A developing roller gear is located on the first side of the housing and is capable of rotating together with the developing roller. A powder feeding roller gear is located on the first side of the housing. The powder feeding roller gear can rotate together with the powder feeding roller and is meshed with the coupling gear. The developing cartridge is characterized in that it further includes an idler wheel, which is connected between the coupling gear and the developing roller gear; In the second direction, no agitator is provided between the coupling gear and the fourth side of the housing.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, An even number of idler gears are provided between the coupling gear and the developing roller gear.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The idler wheel includes a first idler wheel and a second idler wheel. The first idler wheel is meshed with the coupling gear, and the second idler wheel is meshed with the developing roller gear.

4. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing also includes a bearing plate that can rotatably support the developing roller. The bearing plate extends outwardly in the first direction with a protrusion, and the idler wheel is connected to the bearing plate through the protrusion.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the second direction, no intermediate transmission gear is provided between the coupling gear and the fourth side of the housing.

6. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a first guide protrusion, a first push protrusion, and a force-receiving protrusion, wherein the first guide protrusion, the first push protrusion, and the force-receiving protrusion are located on the first side of the housing in the first direction; The first guide protrusion, the first pushing protrusion, and the force-receiving protrusion are integrally formed.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes a cover located on the first side of the housing in the first direction, the cover being capable of covering at least a portion of the developing roller gear; The first guide protrusion, the first push protrusion, and the force-bearing protrusion are integrally formed with the cover.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes electrodes, which are located on the second side of the housing in the first direction; The electrode has an electrical contact portion located in the second direction between the rotation axis of the developing roller and the rotation axis of the coupling gear.

9. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a chip having an electrical contact surface located on the first side of the housing in the first direction; In the second direction, the electrical contact surface is closer to the fourth side of the housing than the idler wheel.

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