Developing cartridge

Abstract

The present invention relates to a developing cartridge, comprising a housing for containing a developer, a driving assembly and an end cover. The housing has a first side and a second side in a first direction. The driving assembly is located on the first side of the housing. The end cover is detachably mounted on the first side of the housing. The developing cartridge further comprises a chip holder for mounting a chip, wherein the chip holder further comprises a mounting portion and an elastically deformable portion; the mounting portion has an upper side face and a lower side face; the chip is mounted on the upper side face; and one end of the elastically deformable portion is connected to the lower side face, and the other end of the elastically deformable portion is connected to the end cover. The elastically deformable portion is of a flat-plate structure and extends obliquely downwards from the lower side face. The chip holder of the developing cartridge in the present invention has a simpler structure and is easily produced and manufactured.

Description

A developing cartridge Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a developing cartridge. In particular, it relates to a developing cartridge that can be detachably mounted to a laser imaging device. Background Technology

[0002] The developing cartridge is an essential printing consumable in laser imaging equipment. It typically contains a chip that stores relevant printing data. The imaging equipment has electrical contacts that interact with the chip. The developing cartridge is installed within the imaging equipment, and the equipment reads or writes data from the chip during operation.

[0003] Chinese patent document CN106919030A discloses a developing cartridge that can be detachably installed into an imaging device. The developing cartridge includes a chip and a holding part for mounting the chip, the holding part being movable in two directions. When the developing cartridge is not installed into the imaging device, the holding part moves downwards under gravity to allow the chip to pass over a locking position within the imaging device; after the developing cartridge is installed into the imaging device, the holding part moves upwards under the support of the imaging device's frame to allow the chip to contact electrical contacts within the imaging device. This holding part has a complex structure and high manufacturing costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a developing cartridge with a simple chip mounting bracket structure that is easy to manufacture.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the developing cartridge of the present invention includes a housing for containing developer, a drive assembly, and an end cap. The housing has a first side and a second side in a first direction. The drive assembly is located on the first side of the housing. The end cap is detachably mounted on the first side of the housing. The developing cartridge also includes a chip holder for mounting chips, the chip holder further including a mounting portion and an elastically deformable portion. The mounting portion has an upper side and a lower side, the chip is mounted on the upper side, one end of the elastically deformable portion is connected to the lower side, and the other end is connected to the end cap. The elastically deformable portion has a flat plate structure and extends downwardly at an angle from the lower side.

[0006] The chip holder of the developing cartridge of this invention is provided with an elastic deformation part. During the installation of the developing cartridge, after the chip holder is pressed by the inner frame structure of the imaging device, the elastic deformation part will elastically deform, allowing the mounting part to move downwards. This allows the chip to pass over the locking position on the inner wall of the imaging device cavity. After the chip passes over the locking position on the inner wall, the elastic deformation part will elastically return to its initial state, and the chip on the chip holder can make electrical contact with the electrical contacts inside the imaging device. Compared with the movable bracket that can move up and down in the prior art, the chip holder structure of the developing cartridge of this invention is simpler and easier to manufacture.

[0007] In one embodiment, the chip holder includes a fixing part, one end of an elastically deformable part is connected to the lower side, and the other end is connected to the fixing part, wherein the fixing part is detachably installed to the end cap.

[0008] In one embodiment, the chip holder further includes a support cantilever extending downward from the lower side of the mounting portion and forming an angle with the elastically deformable portion. When the developing cartridge is installed into the imaging device, the lower end of the support cantilever abuts against the mounting track of the imaging device to support the mounting portion upward, thereby allowing the chip on the mounting portion to contact the electrical contacts within the imaging device. The support cantilever ensures that the chip can fully contact the electrical contacts within the imaging device after the developing cartridge is in place.

[0009] In one embodiment, the chip holder further includes an abutment portion disposed on the support cantilever; when the developing cartridge is installed into the imaging device, the abutment portion abuts against the inner wall of the imaging device frame to apply a pushing force to the support cantilever. The pushing force applied by the abutment portion to the support cantilever keeps the support cantilever in a vertical position, thereby facilitating full contact between the chip and the electrical contacts inside the imaging device.

[0010] In one embodiment, the chip holder further includes a mounting guide located between the abutment portion and the support cantilever, wherein the free end of the mounting guide can slide along a mounting track when the developing cartridge is installed to the imaging device.

[0011] In one embodiment, the end cap has a protrusion extending from the side wall of the end cap in a direction away from the housing; the protrusion is configured such that its end interferes with the movement of the elastically deformable portion. The protrusion allows the elastically deformable portion to remain in its initial position after undergoing stress deformation by contacting or being prevented from rebounding by the protrusion. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge of the present invention according to one embodiment.

[0013] Figure 2 is a partial exploded view of the developing chamber shown in Figure 1.

[0014] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the installation process of the developer cartridge of the present invention according to one embodiment.

[0015] Figure 4 is a front view of the chip holder of the developing cartridge of the present invention according to another embodiment.

[0016] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the installation process of the developer cartridge of the present invention according to another embodiment.

[0017] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the developer cartridge shown in Figure 5 after installation.

[0018] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the chip holder of the developing cartridge of the present invention according to another embodiment.

[0019] Figure 8 is a front view of the chip holder of the developing cartridge of the present invention shown in Figure 7.

[0020] Figures 9a and 9b are schematic diagrams showing the change in the orientation of the chip holder when the developing cartridge of the present invention is installed in the imaging device.

[0021] Figures 10a and 10b are schematic diagrams showing the change in the orientation of the chip holder when the developing cartridge of the present invention is removed from the imaging device. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The structure and other aspects of the developing cartridge of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the developing cartridge of the present invention includes a housing 1, a developing roller 2, and a drive assembly 3. The housing 1 has a cavity for containing developer. The developing roller 2 is rotatably mounted on the housing 1. Along the axial direction X (first direction) of the developing roller 2, the housing 1 has a drive side 11 (first side) and a non-drive side 12 (second side). The drive assembly 3 is disposed at the drive side 11 of the housing 1. The drive assembly 3 includes, for example, a coupling member for receiving driving force from an imaging device, a developing roller gear mounted on the shaft end of the developing roller, and a powder feeding roller gear mounted on the shaft end of the powder feeding roller. After the developing cartridge of the present invention is detachably mounted to an imaging device, the drive assembly 3 can receive driving force from within the imaging device and drive the rotatable components on the developing cartridge, such as the developing roller 2 or the powder feeding roller (not shown in the figures), to rotate.

[0024] The developing cartridge of the present invention also includes an end cap 4 and a chip holder 5. The end cap 4 is detachably mounted on the drive side 11 of the housing 1, and the drive assembly 3 is located between the housing 1 and the end cap 4. The chip holder 5 is disposed on the end cap 4. The chip holder 5 is used to mount the chip 6. The chip holder 5 can be integrally formed with the end cap 4, or it can be detachably mounted to the side wall of the end cap 4 separately.

[0025] As shown in Figure 3, according to a first embodiment, the chip holder 5 of the developing cartridge of the present invention further includes a mounting portion 51 and an elastically deformable portion 52. The mounting portion 51 has an upper side surface 511 and a lower side surface 512, and the chip 6 is mounted on the upper side surface 511. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting portion 51 has a groove 513 for accommodating the chip 6 at the upper side surface 511. The chip 6 is snapped into the groove 513. One end of the elastically deformable portion 52 is connected to the lower side surface 512 of the mounting portion 51, and the other end is connected to the end cap 4. The elastically deformable portion 52 has a flat plate structure and extends obliquely relative to the plane of the lower side surface 512, that is, the angle formed between the plane of the elastically deformable portion 52 and the plane of the lower side surface 512 is not a right angle. In a preferred embodiment, the chip holder 5 includes a fixing portion 53, one end of the elastically deformable portion 52 is connected to the lower side surface 512, and the other end is connected to the fixing portion 53. The fixing portion 53 is detachably mounted to the end cap 4, that is, the chip holder 5 is detachably mounted to the end cap 4.

[0026] The developing cartridge of this invention is installed inside the cavity of an imaging device. The inner wall 80 of the cavity (the inner wall of the imaging device's frame) has an irregular structure. For certain models of imaging devices, the developing cartridge may encounter the inner wall 80 at a localized location when entering the cavity, as shown in Figure 3. The chip 6 needs to pass over the localized structure of the inner wall 80 before it can make electrical contact with the electrical contact 81 inside the imaging device. Using the chip holder of the developing cartridge of this invention, when the developing cartridge is installed into the imaging device, the elastic deformation part 52 of the chip holder 5 undergoes elastic deformation after being pressed or squeezed by the inner wall 80, causing the mounting part 51 to move downwards, thus passing over the locking position of the inner wall 80. After the chip 6 passes over the locking position of the inner wall 80, the elastic deformation part 52 elastically returns to its initial state, so that the chip 6 on the chip holder 5 can make electrical contact with the electrical contact 81 inside the imaging device.

[0027] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, according to the second embodiment, the chip holder 5 of the developing cartridge of the present invention is further provided with a supporting cantilever 54. The supporting cantilever 54 extends downward from the lower side 512 of the mounting part 51 and forms an angle with the elastic deformation part 52. For some models of imaging devices, using the chip holder 5 of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, although the chip 6 can cross the inner wall of the imaging device to reach the position of the electrical contact 81, the chip 6 cannot fully contact the electrical contact 81 due to the deformation of the elastic deformation part 52 or due to processing errors. Possible reasons include, for example, that the deformation of the elastic deformation part 52 is too large and cannot be completely restored to its initial position. To this end, the chip holder 5 of the developing cartridge of the present invention is further provided with a supporting cantilever 54. When the developing cartridge is installed in the imaging device, the movable end of the supporting cantilever 54 can abut against the mounting track 82 of the imaging device, and the supporting cantilever 54 can support the mounting part 51 upward so that the chip 6 can fully contact the electrical contact 81.

[0028] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, according to the third embodiment, the chip holder 5 of the developing cartridge of the present invention further includes an abutment portion 55, which is disposed on the support cantilever 54 and extends outward from the support cantilever 54. The abutment portion 55 is located on the side of the support cantilever 54 opposite to the elastically deformable portion 52. When the developing cartridge is installed in the imaging device, the abutment portion 55 abuts against the vertical sidewall 83 of the inner wall 80, as shown in Figures 9a and 9b. The abutment portion 55 applies a thrust to the support cantilever 54 to keep the support cantilever 54 as vertical as possible, and the direction of this thrust is opposite to the installation direction Y of the developing cartridge. Keeping the support cantilever 54 vertical helps the mounting portion 51 of the chip holder 5 to be in a horizontal position, thereby allowing the chip 6 to make better contact with the electrical contact 81.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the chip holder 5 further includes a mounting guide 56 located between the abutment portion 55 and the support cantilever 54. When the developing cartridge is installed into the imaging device, the end of the mounting guide 56 can slide along the mounting track 82 to guide the movement trajectory of the chip holder 5.

[0030] As shown in Figures 10a and 10b, in a preferred embodiment, a protrusion 41 is provided on the side wall of the end cap 4. The protrusion 41 extends from the side wall of the end cap 4 away from the housing 1 in the axial direction X of the developing roller. The height of the protrusion 41 is set such that when the chip holder 5 is subjected to a pushing force, the elastic deformation portion 52 can elastically deform and extend beyond the end of the protrusion 41, as shown in the transition from the state in Figure 10a to the state in Figure 10b. The end of the protrusion 41 contacts the elastic deformation portion 52, thereby preventing the elastic deformation portion 52 from elastically returning to the state shown in Figure 10a from the state shown in Figure 10b. If the chip holder 5 is in a bent and deformed state for a long time in the imaging device, the elastic deformation portion 52 will undergo fatigue deformation, and the chip holder 5 will not be able to return to its factory orientation (initial orientation). When the developing cartridge is removed from the imaging device, the orientation of the chip holder 5, which has undergone fatigue deformation, changes. When the developing cartridge is installed into the imaging device, the elastic deformation part 52 deforms, and the mounting part 51 cannot move downward to overcome the locking position on the inner wall. Instead, it moves upward, making it impossible for the developing cartridge to be smoothly reinserted into the imaging device. The protrusion 41 ensures that the orientation of the chip holder 5 remains consistent with its factory orientation, which facilitates the smooth installation of the developing cartridge into the imaging device.

[0031] The developing cartridge of this invention is installed inside the cavity of an imaging device. The inner wall 80 of the cavity has an irregular structure. For certain models of imaging devices, when the developing cartridge enters the cavity, the chip may touch the inner wall 80 at a local location, as shown in Figure 9a. The chip must pass over the local structure of the inner wall 80 before it can make electrical contact with the electrical contact 81 inside the imaging device. Using the chip holder of the developing cartridge of this invention, when the developing cartridge is installed into the imaging device, the chip holder 5 is squeezed by the inner wall 80, and the elastic deformation part 52 will undergo elastic deformation, thereby causing the mounting part 51 to move downward, thus passing over the locking position of the inner wall 80. After the chip passes over the locking position of the inner wall 80, the support cantilever 54 applies an upward pushing force to the mounting part 51, so that the chip 6 on the mounting part 51 makes contact with the electrical contact 81. At the same time, the abutting part 55 abuts against the side wall 83, and the abutting part 55 applies a thrust opposite to the installation direction Y to the support cantilever 54, so that the support cantilever 54 is as vertical as possible, so that the mounting part 51 can be in a horizontal position, thereby allowing the chip to better contact the electrical contact 81.

[0032] After the developing cartridge is removed from the imaging device, the user can manually press the chip holder 5 to position the elastic deformation part 52 below the protrusion 41, restoring it to its factory state, as shown in Figure 10b. The protrusion 41 on the end cover 4 can ensure that the chip holder 5 is in its factory state.

[0033] Compared to the movable support structure in existing technologies, the chip support structure of the developing cartridge of this invention is simpler and easier to manufacture.

[0034] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the concept and scope of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Modifications, equivalent substitutions, and other improvements to the above embodiments that are obvious to those skilled in the art are also within the scope of the present invention. The scope and concept of the present invention are specifically defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A developing cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the developing cartridge comprising a housing for accommodating a developer, the housing having a first side and a second side in a first direction; a drive assembly located at the first side of the housing; and an end cover detachably mounted at the first side of the housing; wherein the developing cartridge further comprises a chip holder for mounting a chip, the chip holder further comprising a mounting portion and an elastically deformable portion, the mounting portion having an upper side and a lower side, the chip being mounted at the upper side, one end of the elastically deformable portion being connected to the lower side and the other end being connected to the end cover; the elastically deformable portion is in a flat plate structure and extends downwardly from the lower side. the chip holder further comprises a fixing portion, one end of the elastically deformable portion being connected to the lower side and the other end being connected to the fixing portion, the fixing portion being detachably mounted to the end cover.

2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the chip holder further comprises a support cantilever extending downwardly from the lower side of the mounting portion and forming an angle with the elastically deformable portion; 3. The process cartridge of claim 2 wherein, when the developing cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus, a lower end of the support cantilever abuts against a mounting rail in the image forming apparatus to support the mounting portion upwardly. the fixing portion is mounted to a side wall of the end cover.

4. The process cartridge of claim 3 wherein, the mounting portion has a recess for accommodating the chip at the upper side.

5. The process cartridge of claim 1, wherein, the chip holder further comprises an abutting portion provided on the support cantilever, the abutting portion abutting against an inner wall of a frame of the image forming apparatus to apply a pushing force to the support cantilever when the developing cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus.

6. The process cartridge of claim 3 wherein, the chip holder further comprises a mounting guide portion between the abutting portion and the support cantilever; 7. The process cartridge of claim 6 wherein, when the developing cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus, a free end of the mounting guide portion is slidable along the mounting rail. a protrusion is provided on the end cover, the protrusion extending from a side wall of the end cover away from the housing; the protrusion is configured such that an end portion of the protrusion interferes with movement of the elastically deformable portion.

8. The process cartridge of claim 1, wherein, ​

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