CN116107180A - Developing cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a developing cartridge detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus, the developing cartridge comprising a housing, a rotary rotatably mounted in the housing, a driving force receiving member at an end of the housing for receiving a driving force from a driving force output member and driving the rotary and the detecting mechanism to operate, and a detecting mechanism comprising a transmitting member and a striking member, the transmitting member being provided with a transmitting portion, the striking member being provided with a force receiving portion and a striking portion, the striking member rotating about another rotational axis when the transmitting portion abuts against the force receiving portion, the striking portion striking a striking lever; the number of at least one of the transmitting portions and the force receiving portions is set to be a plurality of the transmitting portions or the force receiving portions which are arranged at intervals in the first direction, the plurality of transmitting portions or the plurality of force receiving portions form a spacing portion therebetween in the first direction, when the transmitting member rotates until the spacing portion is opposite to the transmitting portion or the force receiving portion, the toggle member is kept stationary, the structure of the detecting mechanism is simplified, and accordingly, the assembly of the developing cartridge is also simplified.

Description

Developing cartridge

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of electrophotographic image forming, and more particularly, to a developing cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

Background

The developing cartridge is a consumable part widely used in image forming apparatuses such as laser printers/copiers, and the image forming apparatus prompts a user to replace a new developing cartridge when the developer in the developing cartridge is used up.

There is a conventional one in which a driving force receiving member for receiving driving force and a detecting mechanism for interacting with a lever provided in an image forming apparatus are provided at both longitudinal ends of a developing cartridge, respectively, and the image forming apparatus ensures correct reminding of a user by detecting parameters such as the number of interactions of the detecting mechanism with the lever, the duration of each time of the interaction, the time interval of the two interactions, or the like, or information such as the service life, model, etc. of the developing cartridge.

The detection mechanism disclosed in chinese patent application CN216792683U and the activation assembly disclosed in chinese patent application CN111240168a both transmit the driving force from the side of the driving force receiving member to the side of the detection mechanism through a transmission member such as a rotation shaft of the stirring member, and then force a rotatable detection member to rotate through a member such as a lever or a rack, and the detection member interacts with a dial in the image forming apparatus while the detection member rotates; in addition, the detection mechanism or the activation assembly also needs to be provided with an elastic piece abutted with the detection piece, so that the detection piece can be reset after being interacted with the deflector rod.

The existing detection mechanism or activation assembly has the problems of complex structure and difficult assembly.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of this, the present invention provides a developing cartridge which achieves the object of simplifying the structure of the developing cartridge by simplifying the structure of the detecting mechanism and makes the assembly of the developing cartridge simple.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical scheme:

a developing cartridge detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus provided with a lever and a driving force output member, the developing cartridge including a housing, a rotary member rotatably mounted in the housing, and a driving force receiving member and a detecting mechanism at an end of the housing, the driving force receiving member for receiving a driving force from the driving force output member and driving the rotary member to rotate about a rotation axis extending in a first direction, the detecting mechanism including a transmitting member for receiving the driving force of the driving force receiving member and a toggle member, the toggle member being provided with a force receiving portion and a toggle portion, the toggle member rotating about another rotation axis when the transmitting portion abuts against the force receiving portion, the toggle portion toggling the lever, the other rotation axis extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; the number of at least one of the transmission parts and the force receiving parts is set to be a plurality of the transmission parts or the force receiving parts which are distributed at intervals in the first direction, a spacing part is formed between the transmission parts or the force receiving parts in the first direction, and when the transmission part rotates until the spacing part is opposite to the transmission part or the force receiving part, the stirring part is kept static; the structure of the detecting mechanism in this embodiment is further simplified as compared with the detecting mechanism in the prior art, and thus, the assembly of the developing cartridge will also become simpler.

In some embodiments, the driving force receiving member and the detecting mechanism are respectively located at both ends of the casing in the first direction, the rotating member is a stirring member for stirring the developer accommodated in the casing, and the transmitting member is driven by the stirring member.

In some embodiments, the developing cartridge further includes a first gear and a third gear disposed on the same side as the driving force receiving member, the first gear being connected to the driving force receiving member and coaxially disposed, the third gear being located at one end of the stirring member, the first gear and the third gear being engaged.

In some embodiments, the rotating member is a developing member for carrying a developer accommodated in the casing, the developing cartridge further includes a conductive bracket electrically connected to the developing member, and the toggle member is further provided with a power transmitting portion for abutting the conductive bracket, and when the transmitting portion abuts the force receiving portion, the electrical connection of the power transmitting portion and the conductive bracket is disconnected.

In some embodiments, the toggle member has a distal portion distal from the housing and a proximal portion proximal to the housing, the toggle member being located in the distal portion having a mass greater than a mass of the proximal portion.

In the detection process of the detection mechanism, the transmission member rotates around the rotation axis extending in the first direction, meanwhile, the transmission member is gradually far away from the shell, the developing box further comprises an end cover which is arranged on the same side as the detection mechanism, a protruding portion is formed on one side of the end cover, which faces the shell, of the end cover in a protruding mode, the protruding portion is provided with an internal thread or an external thread, the transmission member is provided with a clamping portion which is used for being clamped with a groove of the internal thread or the external thread, the transmission member is provided with a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion which are oppositely arranged in the radial direction of the transmission member, and the first clamping portion is used for being clamped with the thread groove at a position which is far away from the shell than the second clamping portion is used for being clamped with the thread groove along the first direction.

When the force receiving portions are provided in a plurality of spaced apart in the first direction, the force receiving portion closer to the housing is higher than the force receiving portion farther from the housing in a third direction intersecting both the first direction and the second direction.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a developing cartridge according to the present invention.

Fig. 2A is a perspective view of a developing cartridge according to the present invention with parts exploded.

Fig. 2B is a perspective view of the drive end of the developing cartridge according to the present invention after the drive end cap is hidden.

Fig. 3A is a perspective view of a detection mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention separated from a developer cartridge housing.

Fig. 3B is a perspective view of a transmission member in a detection mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3C is a broken view of the transfer element taken along the axis of rotation through the toggle element.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the inner side of a test end cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a developing cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention after a detection end cap is coupled to a casing.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the detection mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention separated from the developer cartridge housing.

Fig. 7 is a side view of a detecting member in a detecting mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention, as seen in a first direction.

Fig. 8 to 10 are schematic diagrams of a detection process of a detection mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a schematic view of a detecting mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the transmitting portion and the first force receiving portion are seen from the beginning of contact to the end of contact in the first direction during the detecting process.

Fig. 12 is a schematic view of a detection mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the transmission portion and the second force receiving portion are observed in the first direction from the start of contact to the disconnection during detection.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a third variation of the detection mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[ Structure of developing Box ]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a developing cartridge according to the present invention; FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of the components of the developer cartridge according to the present invention; fig. 2B is a perspective view of the drive end of the developing cartridge according to the present invention after the drive end cap is hidden.

The developing cartridge 100 includes a casing 1, a rotation member 2 rotatably mounted in the casing 1, the casing 1 being formed with a storage chamber 10 accommodating developer, a driving force receiving member 3 for stirring or conveying the developer outward, and a detection mechanism 4 at an end of the casing, the driving force receiving member 3 for receiving a driving force from a driving force output member of the image forming apparatus to drive the rotation member 2 to rotate, and the detection mechanism 4 also receiving a driving force of the driving force receiving member 3 to interact with a lever in the image forming apparatus.

For clarity of the following description, the following definitions apply: the developing cartridge has a length extending in a first direction/longitudinal direction, a width extending in a second direction/lateral direction, and a height extending in a third direction/longitudinal direction, the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction intersecting.

The driving force receiving member 3 and the detecting mechanism 4 may be located at both longitudinal ends of the housing 1, respectively, or may be disposed at the same longitudinal end of the housing 1, however, the detecting mechanism 4 is capable of being driven to operate by the driving force from the driving force receiving member 3 regardless of the distribution of the driving force receiving member 3 and the detecting mechanism 4, hereinafter, it will be described with emphasis that the driving force receiving member 3 and the detecting mechanism 4 are located at both longitudinal ends of the housing 1, respectively, the side of the driving force receiving member 3 may be referred to as the driving end, and the side of the detecting mechanism 4 may be referred to as the detecting end.

The rotary member 2 extends in the first direction, and the rotary member 2 also rotates about a rotation axis extending in the first direction, as shown in fig. 2, the rotary member 2 may be a developing member 21 for carrying developer, or may be a stirring member 22 located in the storage chamber 10, the stirring member 22 stirring the developer in the storage chamber 10 when the developing cartridge 100 is in operation, on the one hand preventing the developer from agglomerating, and on the other hand supplying the developer toward the developing member 21, the developing member 21 rotates about a first axis L1, the stirring member 22 rotates about a second axis L2, and both the first axis L1 and the second axis L2 extend in the first direction to remain parallel to each other.

Further, the developing cartridge 100 further includes a first end cap/driving end cap 11 and a second end cap/detecting end cap 12 respectively located at both longitudinal ends of the casing 1, wherein the first end cap 11 is disposed on the same side as the driving force receiving member 3 such that the driving force receiving member 3 is exposed through the first end cap 11, and the second end cap 12 is disposed on the same side as the detecting mechanism 4 such that the detecting mechanism 4 is exposed through an opening 121 of the second end cap 12, and further, the developing cartridge 100 further includes a cover 122 covering the opening 121, and the first direction end of the detecting mechanism 4 may be covered at least a portion by the cover 122 to be protected. As shown in fig. 2, the housing 1 includes a first cover 1a and a second cover 1b coupled to each other in a third direction, and the stirring member 22 is rotatably installed at the second cover 1b.

In some embodiments, the developing cartridge 100 further includes a driving force transmitting part 3a provided on the same side as the driving force receiving member 3, a second gear 32 and a third gear 33, the second gear 32 being mounted at the end of the developing member 21, the third gear 33 being mounted at one end of the stirring member 22, the stirring member 22 providing the driving force required for the operation of the detecting mechanism 4, wherein the driving force transmitting part 3a is connected to the driving force receiving member 3 for transmitting the driving force of the driving force receiving member 3, preferably, the driving force transmitting part 3a is provided coaxially with the driving force receiving member 3, more preferably, integrally formed therewith; the second gear 32 and the third gear 33 are simultaneously coupled with the driving force transmitting portion 3a, so that when the driving force receiving member 3 rotates, the developing member 21 and the stirring member 22 are simultaneously driven to rotate. Specifically, the driving force transmitting portion 3a is provided as one gear (first gear) 31, the first gear 31 is closer to the housing 1 than the driving force receiving portion 3 is, in the first direction, and the second gear 32 and the third gear 33 are simultaneously meshed with the first gear 31.

Preferably, the transmission ratio of the third gear 33 to the first gear 31 is in the range of 1.5-1.9, for example, the number of teeth of the first gear 31 is set to 31 and the number of teeth of the third gear 33 is set to 53, so that the rotation speed of the stirring member 22 can be effectively controlled, and consequently, the detection accuracy of the detection mechanism 4 driven by the stirring member 22 can be improved.

In some embodiments, the rotary may also be a supply member (not shown) rotatably mounted in the casing 1, the supply member being in contact with the developing member 21 for supplying the developer toward the developing member 21, and at this time, the developing cartridge 100 further includes a fifth gear 35 provided on the same side as the driving force receiving member 3, the fifth gear 35 being provided coaxially with the supply member, and the second gear 32, the third gear 33, the fifth gear 35 simultaneously meshing with the first gear 31.

In some embodiments, when the supply member and the fifth gear 35 are provided, the driving force transmitting portion 3a further includes a fourth gear 34 coaxially provided with the first gear 31, and the fourth gear 34, the first gear 31, and the driving force receiving member 3 are sequentially arranged in the first direction and gradually apart from the housing 1, and preferably, the fourth gear 34, the first gear 31, and the driving force receiving member 3 are integrally formed. The first gear 31 is engaged with the third gear 33, the second gear 32 and the fifth gear 34 are simultaneously engaged with the fourth gear 34, and when the driving force receiving member 3 is rotated, the second gear 32 and the fifth gear 35 are driven by the fourth gear 34 to thereby drive the developing member 21 and the supplying member, and the third gear is driven by the first gear 31 to thereby drive the stirring member 22 to rotate.

It is to be understood that the driving force transmitting portion 3a may transmit driving force by friction between teeth and rubber members, belt friction, or the like, in addition to the above-described transmission of driving force to the outside by way of the gear meshing with each other.

In some embodiments, the developing cartridge 100 further includes a chip frame 13 coupled to the first end cap 11 or the second end cap 12, and when the developing cartridge 100 is mounted to a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus, a chip mounted in the chip frame 13 is in electrical contact with the image forming apparatus, and thus, a communication connection of the developing cartridge 100 and the image forming apparatus is established; alternatively, the chip may be disposed at other positions of the developing cartridge 100 according to design requirements.

When the third gear 33 is directly engaged with the first gear 31 to transmit the driving force, the structure of the side of the driving force receiving member 3 can be simplified, and the number of gears for transmitting the driving force can be reduced. In some embodiments, an idler gear (not shown) may be further disposed between the third gear 33 and the first gear 31, and the driving force of the driving force receiving member 3 is sequentially transmitted to the stirring member 22 through the first gear 31, the idler gear and the third gear 33, and the stirring member 22 may also drive the detecting mechanism 4 to operate.

[ detection mechanism ]

Example one

Fig. 3A is a perspective view of a detection mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention separated from a developer cartridge housing; FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a toggle member of a detection mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3C is a broken view of the toggle member taken along an axis of rotation passing through the toggle member; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inside of a test end cap according to one embodiment of the present invention; fig. 5 is a perspective view of a developing cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention after a detection end cap is coupled to a casing.

(general structure of detection mechanism)

As shown in fig. 3A, the developing cartridge 100 further includes a conductive holder 14 provided at the detection end, the developing member 21 is electrically connected to the conductive holder 14, and the detection mechanism 4 is also provided such that the detection mechanism 4 is electrically connected to the conductive holder 14 after the detection by the detection mechanism 4 is completed, so that the electric power supplied from the image forming apparatus can be supplied to the developing member 21 through the detection mechanism 4 and the conductive holder 14.

The stirring member 22 has a stirring member shaft 221 passing through the housing 1 in the first direction, as shown, the stirring member 221 being exposed at the detection end; the detecting mechanism 4 includes an intermediate member 41 coupled to the stirring member shaft 221, a transmitting member 42 coupled to the intermediate member 41, and a striking member 43 that can be struck by the transmitting member 42, the intermediate member 41 is mounted on the other end of the stirring member 21, and when the stirring member 21 rotates, the stirring member shaft 221 drives the intermediate member 41 and the transmitting member 42 to rotate, and in turn, the striking member 43 is struck by the transmitting member 42 to interact with a striking rod in the image forming apparatus, so that the stirring member shaft 221 can be regarded as a force input member of the detecting mechanism 4.

The intermediate member 41 is configured to rotate with the rotation of the stirring rod shaft 221, preferably, the intermediate member 41 is fixedly connected to the stirring rod shaft 221, and as shown in the figure, the intermediate member 41 includes a first connecting portion 411 and a second connecting portion 412 extending along a first direction, the first connecting portion 411 is connected to the stirring rod shaft 221, and the second connecting portion 412 is connected to the transmission member 42; the transmission member 42 includes a third connecting portion 421 connected to the second connecting portion 412, and a transmission portion 422 rotatable with the third connecting portion 421, where the transmission portion 422 is used to dial the dial 43; in some embodiments, the intermediate member 41 may also be dispensed with, in which case the transfer member 42 will be directly coupled to the stirring member shaft 221, the transfer member 42 being formed as a cam as a whole, the third connecting portion 421 being formed as a cylinder rotatable about the second rotation axis L2, and the transfer portion 422 being formed extending radially outwardly from the circumferential surface of the cylinder.

The stirring member 43 is provided rotatably about a third rotation axis L3 extending in the second direction, and as shown, the stirring member 43 includes a stirring portion 432, and a force receiving portion 431 and a power transmitting portion 433 connected to the stirring portion 432, the rotation shaft 434 passes through the stirring portion 432, the force receiving portion 431 is adapted to be stirred by the transmitting portion 422 so that the stirring member 43 as a whole rotates about the third rotation axis L3 in the direction shown by r, and at the same time, the stirring portion 432 interacts with a stirring lever in the image forming apparatus; at least a part of the striking member 43 is made of a conductive material, and when the force receiving portion 431 does not receive the striking force of the transmitting portion 422, the power transmitting portion 433 abuts against the conductive bracket 14 to realize the electrical connection of the striking member 43 and the conductive bracket 14, and the striking portion 432 abuts against the power output member in the image forming apparatus, so that the power in the image forming apparatus can be transmitted to the developing member 21 sequentially through the striking member 43 and the conductive bracket 14; when the stirring member 43 rotates around the third rotation axis L3 along the direction r, the electric power transmission part 433 is separated from the conductive bracket 14 to disconnect the electric connection, and when the stirring member 43 rotates around the third rotation axis L3 along the direction opposite to the direction r, the electric power transmission part 433 is again abutted to the conductive bracket 14 to connect the electric connection.

The detection mechanism 4 is arranged such that, during detection by the detection mechanism 4, the transmission member 42 is gradually moved away from the stirring rod shaft 221/the intermediate member 41/the housing 1, and upon completion of the detection, the transmission member 42 is disengaged from the stirring rod shaft 221/the intermediate member 41, which means that the transmission of driving force between the stirring rod 22 and the detection mechanism 4 is interrupted, the detection mechanism 4 stops operating, but the stirring rod 22 will continue to rotate.

(detection of interruption of drive force transmission by the mechanism)

As is known in the art, there are various structures (simply referred to as "separating structures") in which the transmission member 42 and the stirring member shaft 221/intermediate member 41 start to rotate from together to separate from each other, for example, an elastic member is provided between the stirring member shaft 221/intermediate member 41/housing 1 and the transmission member 42, which is capable of urging the transmission member 42 toward the original housing 1, after the detection mechanism 4 completes detection, the elastic member urges the transmission member 42 to disengage from the stirring member shaft 221/intermediate member 41, or an elastic member is provided between the transmission member 42 and the second end cap 12, the stirring member shaft 221/intermediate member 41/housing 1 is provided with a receiving portion that can receive the transmission member 42, which urges the transmission member 42 toward the housing 1, when the detection mechanism 4 completes detection, the transmission member 42 is urged to the receiving portion, or an elastic member is provided between the transmission member 42 and the second end cap 12, the stirring member shaft 221/intermediate member 41/housing 1 is provided with a notch or a projection, which can be engaged with the notch or the projection, and the transmission mechanism 42 is urged to enter the notch or notch upon completion of detection mechanism 4 detection of the detection mechanism 4, upon completion of detection of the transmission member 42.

The prior art generally has the problems of a large number of parts and a complex structure, and the invention provides a separation structure with a simple structure as described below.

The transmission member 42 further includes a first engaging portion 423 and a second engaging portion 424 disposed opposite to each other in a radial direction of the third connecting portion, a protruding portion 123 is further provided on a side (inner side) of the second end cap 12 facing the housing, a thread is provided on an outer surface of the protruding portion 123, the first engaging portion 423 and the second engaging portion 424 are engaged in a groove of the thread, and as the stirring member shaft 221 rotates, the first engaging portion 423 and the second engaging portion 423 move in the groove of the thread along an extending direction of the thread, so that separation of the transmission member 42 from the stirring member shaft 221/intermediate member 41 can be achieved.

In practice, the groove of the screw thread extends in a direction away from the housing 1, and in the first direction, the positions of the first engaging portion 423 and the second engaging portion 423 in the groove are different from the distance between the housing 1, and in order to keep the rotation axis of the transmission member 42 coincident with the second axis L2, as shown in fig. 3B and 3C, in the second axis L2/first direction, the portion of one engaging portion for engaging with the screw thread is further away from the housing 1 than the portion of the other engaging portion for engaging with the screw thread, specifically, the portion of the first engaging portion 423 for engaging with the screw thread groove (the upper engaging portion 4231) is further away from the housing 1 than the portion of the second engaging portion 424 for engaging with the screw thread groove (the lower engaging portion 4241).

In some embodiments, the protruding portion 123 may be further provided with an internal thread, and the transmission member 42 still cooperates with the internal thread through the first engaging portion 423 and the second engaging portion 424 to achieve the purpose that the transmission member 42 is gradually far away from the housing 1; in some embodiments, the protrusion 123 provided with an internal or external thread may also be interchanged with the transfer element 42 such that the transfer element 42 gradually moves away from or towards the housing 1, thereby achieving a separation of the transfer element 42 from the stirring element shaft 221/intermediate element 41.

The above-mentioned separating mechanism does not need to provide an elastic member, and the engaging portion is engaged with the screw thread, and the position of the engaging portion engaged with the screw thread is changed along with the rotation of the transmitting member 42, so that the transmitting member 42 can be close to the housing 1 or far from the housing 1 according to the extending direction of the screw thread, and finally the purpose of separating the transmitting member 42 from the stirring member shaft 221/intermediate member 41 is achieved.

(detection procedure)

Before the detection mechanism 4 starts operating, the transmitting portion 422 is closer to the housing 1 or farther from the housing 1 than the force receiving portion 431 in the first direction, that is, the transmitting portion 422 and the force receiving portion 431 are arranged in a staggered manner, or the transmitting portion 422 and the force receiving portion 431 are not opposed in the second direction/the third direction. When the detection mechanism 4 is provided such that the transmission member 42 is separated from the stirring bar shaft 221/the intermediate member 41 by being away from the housing 1 after the detection is completed, the transmission portion 422 is closer to the housing 1 than the force receiving portion 431 in the first direction before the detection mechanism 4 starts to operate.

When the driving force receiving member 3 starts to rotate, the driving force is transmitted to the transmitting member 42 through the stirring member shaft 221, the transmitting portion 422 starts to rotate along with the transmitting member 42, the transmitting portion 422 presses the force receiving portion 431 in the process that the transmitting member 42 gradually rotates away from the housing 1, the stirring member 43 rotates around the third rotation axis L3 in the direction indicated by r, the electric power transmitting portion 433 is separated from abutment with the conductive bracket 14, and the stirring portion 432 stirs the stirring rod in the imaging device; when the force receiving portion 431 is no longer pressed by the transmitting portion 422, the stirring member 43 rotates around the third rotation axis L3 in the opposite direction to the direction indicated by r, the power transmitting portion 433 again abuts against the conductive bracket 14, and at the same time, the transmitting member 43 and the stirring member shaft 221/intermediate member 41 are separated from each other, and the detection mechanism 4 will remain stationary without receiving the driving force.

Preferably, the toggle member 43 is configured such that, with the third rotation axis L3 as a boundary, the toggle member 43 has a distal end portion 43a far from the housing 1 and a proximal end portion 43b near the housing 1, the toggle portion 432 is located in the distal end portion 43a, and the mass of the distal end portion 43a is greater than that of the proximal end portion 43b, that is, the toggle member 43 is configured as a lever inclined with respect to the third direction, at this time, the toggle member 43 can achieve that the power transmission portion 433 is held in abutment with the conductive bracket 14 by its own weight, and no elastic member or other auxiliary member is required to be installed, so that the structure of the detection mechanism 4 is simplified.

Further, the moment at which the transmitting portion 422 presses the force receiving portion 431 may be adjusted according to the detection requirement of the image forming apparatus, for example, when the third gear 33 is set to directly mesh with the first gear 31, the rotation speed of the stirring rod shaft 221 may be faster, thereby causing the rotation speed of the transmitting member 42 to become faster, and the moment at which the transmitting portion 422 presses the force receiving portion 431 may be advanced; for this reason, the joint of the transmission member 42 and the stirring rod shaft 221/the intermediate member 41 may be disposed closer to the housing 1, or further away from the force transmission portion 431, and at this time, a time delay assembly is formed between the transmission member 42 and the stirring rod shaft 221/the intermediate member 41, which can make the timing at which the transmission portion 422 presses the force receiving portion 431 accurate even if the rotation speed of the stirring rod shaft 221 is increased; in contrast, when the moment at which the transmitting portion 422 presses the force receiving portion 431 may be delayed, the joint portion of the transmitting member 42 and the stirring rod shaft 221/intermediate member 41 may be disposed further away from the housing 1, or closer to the force transmitting portion 431, at which time an acceleration assembly is formed between the transmitting member 42 and the stirring rod shaft 221/intermediate member 41, and even if the rotation speed of the stirring rod shaft 221 is slowed down, the moment at which the transmitting portion 422 presses the force receiving portion 431 can be made accurate along the acceleration assembly.

Example two

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a detection mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention separated from a developer cartridge housing; FIG. 7 is a side view of a sensing member of a sensing mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention viewed in a first direction; fig. 8 to 10 are schematic diagrams of a detection process of a detection mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the toggle 43 is provided to interact with the toggle lever twice, and thus, the transmitting portion 422 needs to press the force receiving portion 431 twice. As shown in the drawing, the structure of the transmission member 42 is not changed, the toggle member 43 is provided with two force receiving portions, which are respectively referred to as a first force receiving portion 431 and a second force receiving portion 435, which are arranged at intervals along a first direction, and a spacing portion 436 is formed therebetween, that is, one of the two force receiving portions is closer to the rotation axis 434 in the first direction, and the second force receiving portion 435 is closer to the rotation axis 434 in this embodiment.

In order to ensure a correct interaction of the toggle part 432 with the toggle lever when the transmission member 42 is moved in the first direction in a direction away from the housing 1, the first force receiving part 431 is arranged higher than the second force receiving part 435 in the third direction, i.e. the first force receiving part 431 is higher than the second force receiving part 435 in a direction directed from the first cover 1a to the second cover 1 b; the high and low points here refer to the positions where the force receiving portions are in contact with the transmitting portions.

As shown in fig. 8, when the transmission member 42 starts to contact the first force receiving portion 431, the distance between the first connecting portion 411 and the third connecting portion 421 is d1 along the first direction, the toggle member 43 rotates around the rotation axis L3 in the direction indicated by r in fig. 3A as the transmission member 422 presses the first force receiving portion 431, the toggle portion 432 lifts up to touch the toggle lever, and when the transmission member 422 is out of contact with the first force receiving portion 431, the toggle member 43 rotates around the rotation axis L3 in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by r, and the toggle portion 432 is out of contact with the toggle lever, which is the first interaction between the toggle member 43 and the toggle lever.

As shown in fig. 9, as the transmission member 42 continues to move in the first direction toward the direction away from the housing 1, when the transmission portion 422 rotates again to approach the toggle member 43, the transmission portion 422 opposes the spacer portion 436, and the distance between the first connection portion 411 and the third connection portion 421 in the first direction is d2, d2 > d1, so that the toggle member 43 cannot be toggled by the transmission portion 422 to remain stationary, i.e., the transmission member 42 rotates around the second rotation axis L2 continuously, and moves toward the direction away from the housing 1.

As shown in fig. 10, when the transmission member 42 rotates again to approach the toggle member 43, the distance between the first connection portion 411 and the third connection portion 421 is d3, d3 > d2, the transmission portion 422 presses the second force receiving portion 435, the toggle member 43 rotates again around the rotation axis L3 in the direction r shown in fig. 3A, the toggle portion 432 lifts up the touch toggle lever, and when the transmission portion 422 is out of contact with the second force receiving portion 435, the toggle member 43 rotates around the rotation axis L3 in the opposite direction r, the toggle portion 432 is out of contact with the toggle lever, which is the second interaction between the toggle member 43 and the toggle lever.

Subsequently, the transmission member 42 continues to rotate about the rotation axis L2 and continues to move away from the housing 1 until the transmission member 42 is disengaged from the stirring rod shaft 221/intermediate member 41, at which point the detection mechanism 4 completes detection and no longer receives driving force but remains stationary. As described above, the second force receiving portion 435 is provided closer to the rotation axis L3 than the first force receiving portion 431 in the first direction, and at the same time, the second force receiving portion 435 is lower than the first force receiving portion 431 in the third direction, so that the timing at which the transmitting portion 422 comes into contact with the second force receiving portion 435 is delayed, and the delay detection function of the detecting means 4 is realized.

As shown in fig. 11, the position where the transmission portion 422 and the first force receiving portion 431 come into contact is (point) M, and the position where the transmission portion 422 and the first force receiving portion 431 are out of contact is (point) N, and thus, the angle at which the transmission portion 422 rotates during the contact period of the transmission portion 422 and the first force receiving portion 431 is α; as shown in fig. 12, the position where the transmission portion 422 and the second force receiving portion 435 come into contact is (point) P, and the position where the transmission portion 422 and the second force receiving portion 435 come out of contact is (point) Q, and therefore, during the period of contact between the transmission portion 422 and the second force receiving portion 435, the angle of rotation of the transmission portion 422 is β, α > β, and the point P is located downstream of the point M in the rotation direction s of the transmission member 42, but since the second force receiving portion 435 is closer to the rotation axis L3 than the first force receiving portion 431, the height of the dial portion 432 lifted up can be kept uniform according to the lever principle.

Accordingly, the scheme may also have the following variations:

in a variation, when the lever is moved twice during the detection by the detection mechanism 4 for a longer time interval than the time interval during which the twice-moving member 43 interacts with the lever, the size of the spacing part 436 in the first direction may be set larger, for example, the second force receiving part 435 may be further moved in a direction away from the housing 1, or the second force receiving part 435 may be further moved in a direction closer to the rotation axis 434, so that the transmitting part 422 may be brought into contact with the second force receiving part 435 after idling for two or more weeks;

in contrast, when the time interval in which the toggle lever is fluctuated twice is shorter than the time interval in which the toggle member 43 interacts with the toggle lever twice as described above, the size of the spacer 436 in the first direction may be set smaller, while another transmission portion is provided on the transmission member 42, and after the first transmission portion 422 presses the first force receiving portion 431, the transmission member 42 continues to rotate less than one revolution, and the other transmission portion 422 presses the second force receiving portion 435.

The second variation is that when the time for which the toggle lever needs to be toggled by the toggling portion 432 is longer or shorter, this can be achieved by adjusting the duration of the contact between the transmitting portion 422 and the force receiving portion, for example, by arranging the force receiving portion closer to the transmitting member 42 in the second direction, so that the time for which the transmitting portion 422 contacts the force receiving portion will be lengthened, that is, the angle α/β in fig. 11 and 12 will be enlarged; alternatively, extending the transfer portion 422 longer in the radial direction of the transfer member 42 can also achieve the purpose of extending the length of time that the transfer portion 422 is in contact with the force receiving portion.

As shown in fig. 13, the transmission member 42 is provided with a first transmission portion 422 and a second transmission portion 425 along a first direction, the two transmission portions are arranged at intervals to form a spacing portion 426, when the transmission member 42 moves along a second rotation axis L2 in a direction away from the housing 1, the first transmission portion 422 starts to abut against the force receiving portion 431, the stirring member 43 rotates around the rotation axis L3 to complete the first interaction between the stirring member 43 and the stirring rod, then the transmission member 42 continues to rotate around the rotation axis L2 and away from the housing 1, the force receiving portion 431 enters into the spacing portion 426 between the two transmission portions, the transmission member 43 remains stationary, the transmission member 42 rotates for one turn, and when the transmission member 42 continues to rotate until the second transmission portion 425 abuts against the force receiving portion 431, the stirring member 43 rotates again around the rotation axis L3 to complete the second interaction between the stirring member 43 and the stirring rod, and finally the transmission member 42 continues to move in a direction away from the housing 1 and separate from the stirring member 42 and the stirring member shaft 221.

Similar to the two above variations, the spacing between the first transmission portion 422 and the second transmission portion 425 in the first direction and the position in the rotation direction of the transmission member 42 can be changed according to the detection requirement of the shift lever; further, the number of the force receiving portions may be changed correspondingly, for example, the toggle member 43 is provided with a plurality of force receiving portions distributed at intervals in the first direction, and the transmitting member 42 is provided with a plurality of toggle portions distributed at intervals in the circumferential direction thereof, and the plurality of transmitting portions may be distributed on the same circle or on different circles in the circumferential direction of the transmitting member 42, and when the plurality of transmitting portions are distributed on different circles of the transmitting member 42, the plurality of transmitting portions will form a staggered arrangement along the first direction.

As described above, the detection mechanism 4 is configured such that the transmission force is transmitted between the transmission member 42 and the toggle member 43 by the abutment of the transmission portion 422 and the force receiving portion 431, at least one of the transmission portion 422 and the force receiving portion 431 is provided in plural at intervals in the first direction, the plural transmission portions 422 or the plural force receiving portions 431 form the spacing portions 435/426 therebetween in the first direction, and when the transmission member 42 rotates until the spacing portions 435/426 are opposed to the transmission portion 422 or the force receiving portion 431, the toggle member 43 is kept stationary without receiving the force.

In the above embodiment, the transmission of the force from the transmission member 42 to the toggle member 43 is achieved by pressing the force receiving portion by the transmission member, that is, the transmission member contacts the force receiving portion from above the force receiving portion, however, it may be achieved that the transmission member is also provided to contact the force receiving portion from below the force receiving portion, and at this time, the transmission of the force from the transmission member 42 to the toggle member 43 is achieved by lifting the force receiving portion by the transmission member, and thus, according to the inventive concept of the present invention, the transmission of the force between the transmission member 42 and the toggle member 43 may be any of the pressing manner or the lifting manner described above, and in particular, the transmission of the force between the transmission member 42 and the toggle member 43 is achieved by the mutual contact of the transmission member 422 and the force receiving portion 431/435.

Compared with the existing detection mechanism, the detection mechanism 4 is simpler in structure, can be manufactured more conveniently, and is also fast in assembly of the developing cartridge.

Claims (9)

1. A developing cartridge detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus provided with a lever and a driving force output member, the developing cartridge including a housing, a rotary rotatably mounted in the housing, and a driving force receiving member and a detecting mechanism at an end of the housing,

the driving force receiving member is for receiving driving force from the driving force output member and driving the rotating member to rotate about a rotation axis extending in a first direction, characterized in that,

the detection mechanism comprises a transmission piece and a poking piece, the transmission piece is used for receiving the driving force of the driving force receiving piece and is provided with a transmission part, the poking piece is provided with a force receiving part and a poking part, when the transmission part is abutted with the force receiving part, the poking piece rotates around another rotation axis, the poking part pokes the poking rod, and the other rotation axis extends along a second direction intersecting with the first direction;

the number of at least one of the transmitting portions and the force receiving portions is set to a plurality of the transmitting portions or the force receiving portions which are spaced apart in the first direction, and the dial remains stationary when the transmitting member rotates until the spacing portion is opposite to the transmitting portion or the force receiving portion.

2. A developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein in the first direction, the driving force receiving member and the detecting mechanism are respectively located at both ends of the casing, the rotating member is a stirring member for stirring the developer accommodated in the casing, and the transmitting member is driven by the stirring member.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, further comprising a first gear and a third gear provided on the same side as the driving force receiving member, the first gear being connected to the driving force receiving member and coaxially provided, the third gear being located at one end of the stirring member, the first gear and the third gear being engaged.

4. A developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the rotary member is a developing member for carrying the developer accommodated in the casing, the developing cartridge further includes a conductive bracket electrically connected to the developing member, the striking member is further provided with a power transmitting portion for abutting against the conductive bracket, and when the transmitting portion abuts against the force receiving portion, the electrical connection of the power transmitting portion to the conductive bracket is disconnected.

5. A developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the stirring member has a distal end portion distant from the housing and a proximal end portion close to the housing, the stirring member being located in the distal end portion, the mass of the distal end portion being greater than the mass of the proximal end portion, with the rotation axis of the stirring member being defined.

6. A developing cartridge according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the transmitting member rotates about a rotation axis extending in the first direction during detection by the detecting mechanism, and the transmitting member gradually moves away from the housing.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 6, further comprising an end cap provided on the same side as the detection mechanism, the end cap being formed with a protruding portion protruding toward a side of the housing, the protruding portion having an internal thread or an external thread, the transmission member being provided with an engaging portion for engaging with a groove of the internal thread or the external thread.

8. A developing cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the transmitting member is provided with first engaging portions and second engaging portions arranged opposite in a radial direction of the transmitting member, and in the first direction, a portion of the first engaging portions for engaging with the screw grooves is farther from the housing than a portion of the second engaging portions for engaging with the screw grooves.

9. The developing cartridge according to claim 6, wherein when the force receiving portions are provided in a plurality of spaced apart in the first direction, the force receiving portion closer to the casing is higher than the force receiving portion farther from the casing in a third direction intersecting both the first direction and the second direction.

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