CN215181415U - Developing unit and imaging device with same - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model discloses a developing unit and have this developing unit's image device, developing unit includes: the image forming apparatus includes a housing having a front end and a rear end in a front-rear direction, a driving member, a stirring member, a developing member, and a first protrusion; the shell comprises a first side wall and a second side wall which are oppositely arranged in the left-right direction; the driving member is close to the front end, and the developing member is positioned at the front end of the shell; the first projection is disposed on the first side wall for engagement with a push-on portion provided on the drum assembly, the first projection being at least partially located between the rotational axis and the rear end of the stirring member in the front-rear direction, while the first projection is partially located between the rotational axis of the driving member and the rotational axis of the stirring member. The contact area of the forced pushing part arranged on the drum assembly and the first protruding part arranged on the developing unit is increased, the forced pushing part applies acting force towards the direction of the photosensitive medium arranged on the drum assembly to the first protruding part, the photosensitive medium is forced to be in contact with the developing part, and then the drum assembly can adapt to different drum assemblies.

Description

Developing unit and imaging device with same

Technical Field

The utility model relates to an imaging equipment field, in particular to development unit and have this development unit's image device.

Background

The developing unit is a detachable part widely used in the electronic image forming apparatus. The developer unit is typically installed with the drum assembly prior to being integrated into the electrophotographic apparatus. After the developing unit and the drum assembly are installed, the single urging protrusion arranged on the side wall of the developing unit is in contact with the urging block arranged on the drum assembly, and the urging block applies an extrusion force towards the direction of the photosensitive drum to the urging protrusion to urge the developing roller to be in contact with the photosensitive medium. The side wall of the existing developing unit is usually only fixedly provided with a single urging protrusion to contact with an urging block arranged on the drum component, the drum components of different types cannot be adapted, and the developing unit has limitation in use and poor universality. And the single forced pushing bulge arranged on the developing unit has poor mechanical strength, and the drum assembly and the developing unit are frequently assembled or disassembled, so that the forced pushing bulge is damaged, the developing unit cannot be contacted with the photosensitive drum, and the printing quality of the imaging device is further influenced.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing unit detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, including:

a housing that accommodates a developer therein, a length direction of the housing being set to a left-right direction, a width direction of the housing being set to a front-back direction, a height direction of the housing being set to an up-down direction, the front-back direction being perpendicular to the up-down direction, and the left-right direction being perpendicular to the front-back direction and the up-down direction; the housing has two ends in the front-to-rear direction, a front end and a rear end respectively; the shell comprises a first side wall and a second side wall which are oppositely arranged in the left-right direction;

a driving member provided on the first side wall near the front end for receiving a driving force applied from an image forming apparatus main body;

an agitating member including an agitating blade that receives a driving force from the driving member to agitate the developer;

a developing member located at a front end of the casing for carrying and transporting a developer;

and a first protrusion provided on the first side wall for engaging with a pushing portion provided on a drum assembly of the image forming apparatus, the first protrusion being located at least partially between the rotational axis and the rear end of the stirring member in the front-rear direction, while the first protrusion being located partially between the rotational axis of the driving member and the rotational axis of the stirring member.

Further, the stirring member is rotatably supported on the housing, and the first projection is located mostly between the rotation axis of the stirring member and the rear end.

Further, the first protruding part protrudes in a direction away from the housing, the first protruding part includes a first bending part, a first reinforcing part and a first extending part which are connected, and the first reinforcing part is located between the first bending part and the first extending part; the first bending part is located at a first position close to the driving part, and the first extending part is located at a second position in contact with the bottom end face of the first side wall.

Further, when the developing unit is mounted to the drum assembly, the first bending portion is in contact with the urging portion, so that the first bending portion obtains a pressing force toward the photosensitive medium provided on the drum assembly, urging the developing member to be in close contact with the photosensitive medium; the first reinforcement part is used for reinforcing the strength of the first bending part and the first extending part.

Furthermore, the first bending part is of an S-shaped structure, the tail end of the upper part of the S-shaped structure is in transition connection with the first reinforcing part through an arc, and the middle part of the S-shaped structure is of a plane structure parallel to the vertical direction; the first extending part is of a cambered surface structure, and the first reinforcing part is of a plane structure parallel to the front-back direction; the first extending part and the first reinforcing part are in transition connection through an arc, and the first extending part extends from the rear end of the first reinforcing part to the edge of the first side wall towards the rear lower part of the shell.

Further, the developing unit further comprises a second protrusion part, the second protrusion part is used for being matched with a locking switch and a second pushing part which are arranged on the drum assembly, and the second protrusion part is located in the middle of the second side wall in the front-back direction; at least a part of the second protruding portion overlaps with a projection of the first protruding portion in the left-right direction.

Further, the second protruding part comprises a second bending part, a second reinforcing part and a second extending part which are connected; the second bending part is used for being matched with the second pushing part to enable the second bending part to obtain extrusion force towards the direction of the photosensitive medium arranged on the drum assembly, so that the developing piece is forced to be in close contact with the photosensitive medium; the second reinforcing part is used for reinforcing the strength of the second bending part and the second extending part; the second extension part is used for being matched with the locking switch to realize the locking and lifting of the developing unit and the drum assembly.

Further, the projection of the second bending part and the projection of the first bending part in the left-right direction are overlapped, the second bending part is of an S-shaped structure, the upper tail end of the S-shaped structure is in transition connection with the second reinforcing part through an arc, and the middle part of the S-shaped structure is a plane structure parallel to the up-down direction; the second reinforcing part is a plane structure parallel to the front-back direction; the second extension part is formed by sequentially connecting an L-shaped part, a V-shaped part and a vertical part, and the vertical part is of a plane structure and is parallel to the vertical direction; the V-shaped portion may act with a locking switch of the drum assembly when the developing unit is mounted in the drum assembly, thereby locking the developing unit; when the locking switch is pressed, the locking switch can act with the L-shaped part to lift the developing unit.

Furthermore, a supply port is arranged on the second side wall and used for adding the developer into the shell; the supply port is located at the top of the second side wall and near the rear end, the second protruding portion is located below the supply port in the up-down direction, the second extending portion is adjacent to the supply port in the front-rear direction, and the second bending portion is located between the second extending portion and the front end.

Further, at least a part of the first protruding portion overlaps a projection of at least a part of the second protruding portion in a left-right direction of the developing unit; the first bending portion and the second bending portion are bent toward an axial direction of the developing member, respectively.

Further, when the developing unit and the drum assembly of the image forming device are completely installed, the second extension part is in contact with a locking switch arranged on the drum assembly so as to realize locking of the developing unit and the drum assembly; the locking switch is located on the same side of the drum assembly as the supply port.

Further, when the user presses the lock switch, the lock switch applies a force to the second extension portion that can lift the developing unit from the drum assembly, enabling separation of the developing unit from the drum assembly; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

when the user presses the lock switch, the lock switch does not apply a force to the second extension portion that can lift the developing unit from the drum assembly, but the user manually lifts the developing unit from the drum assembly, effecting separation of the developing unit from the drum assembly.

Further, when the developing unit and the drum assembly are mounted, a boss is arranged on the drum assembly on the same side as the supply port, and the projection of the supply port and the boss is not overlapped in the left-right direction of the developing unit.

Further, the developing unit further includes a developing member mounting portion and a developer storage portion; at least one rib is vertically arranged between the bottom of the developing member mounting part and the developer storage part; the developer storage part includes a protrusion part provided at a bottom of the developing unit and protruding along a lower direction; the rib is followed the surface of shell is to keeping away from the direction of shell is outstanding, the rib extends in the front and back direction, the rearmost end of rib is first portion, first portion is located the bottom of development part installation department with between the protruding portion, first portion can with the cooperation of the outer circumference of the paper feed roller in the drum subassembly, the lower extreme border of first portion does not have the bending.

Further, a shield covering the surface of the developing member is arranged on one side of the developing member, and the shield is positioned in the radial direction of the developing member;

the driving piece is provided with a driving end, the second side wall is provided with an electrode, and the protective cover is provided with at least one opening which is respectively installed or detached with the driving end and/or the electrode.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a main body and a drum assembly, the main body being detachably assembled and coupled to the developing unit as described in any one of the above through the drum assembly.

The utility model has the advantages that: the utility model provides an among the technical scheme, be equipped with first protruding portion on developer unit's lateral wall, and in the front and back is ascending, first protruding portion is located between stirring piece and the rear end, and this kind of structural design mode can make the forced portion that is equipped with on the drum subassembly and the first protruding portion area of contact that is equipped with on the developer unit increase, even different drum subassemblies compel to push away a structure position difference, with the developer unit install the time, equally can contact and apply the effort of the photosensitive medium direction that is equipped with on the drum subassembly to first protruding portion with the first protruding portion that is equipped with on the developer unit, force photosensitive medium and developer contact, and then can adapt different drum subassemblies. Additionally, the utility model provides an among the technical scheme, the structural design mode of first protruding portion makes part mechanical strength strengthened, avoids causing the damage of first protruding portion because of frequent assembly or dismantlement.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is an angular schematic view of a developer unit according to some embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 2 is an angle structure diagram of the developing unit according to some embodiments of the present invention, in which the driving gear of the stirring frame is omitted;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a developing unit according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of a developing unit according to some embodiments of the present invention, in which a portion of a housing is omitted;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a further angular configuration of a developer unit according to some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a regulating member of a developing unit according to some embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural view of a shield of a developing unit according to some embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a schematic view of a separation structure of a developing unit and a shield according to some embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a separation structure of the developing unit and the protective cover according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In order to describe the structure of the developing unit and the image forming apparatus in more detail, the following description will be made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which specific directions "up", "down", "left", "right", "front", and "rear" are shown by arrows.

Fig. 1 to 9 schematically show a developing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the developing unit includes a housing 100, a driving member 200, an agitating member 300, a developing member 400, a transmission member 800, a first protrusion 130, a second protrusion 140, a shield 600, an adjusting member 700, an electrode 121, a detection mechanism 900, and a protective cover 20.

As shown in fig. 1 to 5, the casing 100, including the first side wall 110, the second side wall 120, the electrode 121, the developer mounting part 170, the developer storage part 180, and the supply port 160, has a length direction of the casing 100 extending in a left-right direction, a width direction of the casing extending in a front-rear direction, a height direction of the casing extending in an up-down direction, the front-rear direction being perpendicular to the up-down direction, and the left-right direction being perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the up-down direction; the first side wall 110 and the second side wall 120 are oppositely arranged in the left-right direction, that is, the first side wall 110 and the second side wall 120 are respectively arranged at the left end and the right end of the housing 100, and the first side wall 110 and the second side wall 120 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the left-right direction; the developing member mounting portion 170 and the developer storage portion 180 extend in the left-right direction and are located between the first sidewall 110 and the second sidewall 120, the developer storage portion 180 is for storing developer, the developing member 400 and the powder feeding roller (not shown in the drawings) are mounted in the developing member mounting portion 170, and the developing member mounting portion 170 is located on the front end side of the developer storage portion 180 in the front-rear direction. The developer storage part 180 is located at a lower end side of the casing 100, the developer storage part 180 has a protrusion 181, the protrusion 181 protrudes downward, at least one rib 500 is provided between the bottom of the developer mounting part 170 and the protrusion 181, the rib 500 extends in the front-rear direction, and the rib 500 is provided perpendicular to a contact surface of the bottom of the developer mounting part 170 and a contact surface of the protrusion 181, respectively. When the developing unit is mounted on the drum assembly, at least one rib 500 is perpendicular to a contact surface of a sheet-feeding roller (not shown) provided on the drum assembly. Preferably, the ribs 500 are provided in plurality, and are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction on the outer surface of the developing device mounting portion 170. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a driving member 200, provided on the first sidewall 110, for receiving and transmitting a driving force applied from the image forming apparatus body; the driving member 200 includes a developing roller gear 210, a driving gear 220, and a powder feeding roller gear 230, which are all helical gears. The drive gear 220 has a large tooth portion and a small tooth portion which are coaxially and integrally provided, the diameter of the large tooth portion is larger than that of the small tooth portion, the large tooth portion is closer to the housing 100 than the small tooth portion, the large tooth portion is engaged with the developing roller gear 210, the small tooth portion is engaged with the powder feeding roller gear 230, the drive gear 220 further has a drive end 211, the drive end 211 is farther from the housing 100 than the small tooth portion, and the drive end 211 is used for being connected with a drive portion of the image forming apparatus. In a state where the developing unit is mounted to the image forming apparatus, the driving gear 220 is connected to a driving portion of the image forming apparatus to receive a rotational driving force from the image forming apparatus, a rotational axis of the driving gear 220 extending in a left-right direction; powder feed roller gear 230 is disposed below drive gear 220, and developing roller gear 210 and powder feed roller gear 230 are respectively meshed with drive gear 220.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the transmission member 800, disposed on the first sidewall 110, receives and transmits the driving force from the driving member 200, the transmission member 800 including a first transmission gear 810 and a second transmission gear 820, the first transmission gear 810 being disposed between the driving gear 220 and the second transmission gear 820 and being engaged with each other. Specifically, the first transmission gear 810 includes a first gear portion, a second gear portion and a third gear portion that are coaxially and integrally formed, the first gear portion is closer to the casing 100 than the second gear portion, the second gear portion is closer to the casing 100 than the third gear portion, a diameter of the first gear portion is smaller than a diameter of the third gear portion, a diameter of the third gear portion is smaller than the diameter of the second gear portion, the second gear portion is a helical gear, and the first gear portion and the third gear portion are straight gears. The second gear portion is engaged with the large gear portion of the driving gear 220, the first gear portion is engaged with the first transmission gear 810, the first transmission gear 810 is engaged with the detection mechanism 900, and the third gear portion is engaged with the agitator drive gear 320.

As shown in fig. 2, the detecting mechanism 900 is used for detecting information such as the old and new of the developing cartridge and the specification provided to the electronic imaging device by the detecting device of the electronic imaging device, the detecting mechanism is located on the first side wall 110, the detecting mechanism 900 is located at a position of the first side wall 110 near the top edge in the up-down direction, and the detecting mechanism 900 is located at a position of the detecting mechanism 900 near the rear end in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, the stirring member 300 includes a stirring frame 330, a stirring blade 310, and a stirring frame driving gear 320, the stirring frame is disposed in the developer storage portion 180, the stirring frame driving gear 320 is disposed on the first sidewall 110, and the stirring blade 310 is engaged with the stirring frame 330. The stirring member 300 is located between the driving gear 220 and the detecting mechanism 900 in the front-rear direction. The agitation frame driving gear 320 is positioned at a lower side of the first transmission gear 810 and the second transmission gear 820, and the agitation frame driving gear 320 is engaged with the first transmission gear 810 to indirectly receive a driving force from the driving member 200 to agitate the developer in the developer storage part 180 to prevent the developer from being agglomerated.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, the developing member 400 for carrying and transporting the developer is preferably provided as a developing roller supported in the developing member mounting portion 170 in the left-right direction, the developing member 400 being located on the front end side of the developing unit in the front-rear direction, the developing member 400 being coupled with the developing roller gear 210, and indirectly receiving a rotational driving force from the image forming apparatus to rotate the developing member 400 about the axis of the developing member 400.

As shown in fig. 3, the electrode 121 is located on the second sidewall 120, and overlaps with the projection of the developing member 400 and the powder feeding roller in the left-right direction. The electrode 121 is electrically connected to the developing member 400 and the powder feeding roller, and is electrically connected to the image forming apparatus to supply a certain voltage to the developing member 400 and the powder feeding roller. The electrode 121 may be configured as a bracket made of conductive material, and is fixed on the housing 100 by clipping.

As shown in fig. 3, the supply port 160 is provided on the second sidewall 120, and communicates with the outside and the developer storage portion 180, for adding the developer into the developer storage portion 180. Specifically, the supply port 160 is a through hole formed in the second sidewall 120, the supply port 160 is located at the top of the second sidewall 120 and at a side of the second sidewall 120 away from the developing member 400, that is, in the front-back direction, the supply port 160 is located at the rear end side of the second sidewall 120, and in the up-down direction, the supply port 160 is located at the upper end side (top edge) of the second sidewall 120, preferably, the supply port 160 is a circular through hole, and may be in other geometric shapes such as a square shape, a prismatic shape, and an irregular shape, which is not limited in this embodiment. Further, the second sidewall 120 is further provided with a top flange 150, the top flange 150 is located right above the supply port 160, and the shape of the top flange 150 is adapted to the outer contour line of the upper portion of the supply port 160.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a first protrusion 130 provided on the first sidewall 110, protruding from an outer surface of the housing 100 in a direction away from the housing 100; the first protrusion 130 is located between the stirring member 300 and the detecting mechanism 900 in the front-rear direction, and the first protrusion 130 is located at least partially between the rotation axis and the rear end of the stirring member 300 in the front-rear direction, while the first protrusion 130 is located partially between the rotation axis of the driving member 200 and the rotation axis of the stirring member 300; the first protrusion 130 extends from a first position adjacent to the driver 200 toward a direction away from the driver 200 to a second position contacting a bottom end surface of the first side wall 110, the first position is adjacent to a front end side of the first side wall 110 in the front-rear direction, the second position is adjacent to a rear end side of the first side wall 110, the first position is located on a front side of the second position, that is, the first protrusion 130 extends from front to rear in the front-rear direction, the first position is located above the second position in the up-down direction, and the first protrusion 130 extends from the first position to the second position. Specifically, the first protrusion 130 includes a first bending portion 131, a first reinforcing portion 132 and a first extending portion 133, which are connected to each other, and the first bending portion is configured to contact with the urging portion, so that the first bending portion obtains a pressing force toward the photosensitive medium provided on the drum assembly, and the developing member is forced to tightly contact with the photosensitive medium; the first reinforcement part serves to reinforce the strength of the first bent part and the first extension part, and the first reinforcement part 132 is located between the first bent part 131 and the first extension part 133; the first bending portion 131 is of an "S" shaped structure, the upper end of the "S" shaped structure is connected with the first reinforcing portion 132 through an arc transition, and the middle of the "S" shaped structure is of a plane structure parallel to the up-down direction; the first extending portion 133 is a cambered surface structure, and the first reinforcing portion 132 is a planar structure, which is parallel to the front-back direction. The first extending portion 133 and the first reinforcing portion 132 are connected by an arc transition, and the first extending portion 133 extends from the rear end of the first reinforcing portion 132 to the edge of the first sidewall 110 toward the rear and downward direction. The first bent portion 131 is located at a first position adjacent to the stirring member 300, the first extending portion 133 is located at a second position adjacent to the detection mechanism 900 and in contact with the bottom end surface of the first side wall 110 of the housing 100, that is, in the front-rear direction, the first bent portion 131 is located at the front end side of the first protruding portion 130, the first extending portion 133 is located at the rear end side of the first protruding portion 130, and the first bent portion 131 is located at the front side of the first extending portion 133. The first bending portion 131 is bent toward the axial direction of the developing member 400, the first extending portion 133 may be curved or linear, and the joints between the first bending portion 131 and the first reinforcing portion 132, and between the first reinforcing portion 132 and the first extending portion 133, may be circular arc transition or planar transition.

As shown in fig. 3, a second protrusion 140, provided on the second sidewall 120, protrudes from an outer surface of the housing 100 in a direction away from the housing 100; the second protruding part is positioned in the middle of the second side wall in the front-back direction; at least a part of the second protruding part overlaps with a projection of at least a part of the stirring bar 300 in the left-right direction, the second protruding part 140 is positioned between the driving gear 220 and the detection mechanism 900 in the front-rear direction, and the second protruding part 140 is positioned in front of the supply port 160; the second protrusion 140 extends from a third position adjacent to the side of the axis of the developing member 400 toward a direction away from the developing member 400, that is, in the front-rear direction, the second protrusion 140 extends from front to rear. The second protrusion 140 is located below the supply port 160 in the up-down direction. The second protrusion 140 includes a second bending portion 141, a second reinforcing portion 142 and a second extending portion 143, which are connected to each other, and the second bending portion is configured to cooperate with a second urging portion on the drum assembly such that the second bending portion obtains a pressing force toward the photosensitive medium provided on the drum assembly, and the developing member is forced to be in close contact with the photosensitive medium; the second reinforcing part is used for reinforcing the strength of the second bending part and the second extending part; the second extension is for cooperating with a lock switch to effect locking and lifting of the developing unit with the drum assembly. The second bending part 141 is of an "S" shaped structure, the upper end of the "S" shaped structure is transitionally connected with the second reinforcing part 142 through an arc, and the middle of the "S" shaped structure is of a planar structure parallel to the up-down direction; the second reinforcement portion 142 has a planar structure, which is parallel to the front-rear direction; the second extending portion 143 is formed by sequentially connecting an "L" -shaped portion, a "V" -shaped portion and a vertical portion, the vertical portion is a plane structure, and the vertical portion is parallel to the vertical direction; the "V" shaped portion is engageable with a locking switch of the drum assembly when the developing unit is mounted in the drum assembly, thereby locking the developing unit; when the locking switch is pressed, the locking switch can act with the L-shaped part to lift the developing unit. In the front-rear direction, the second extending portion 143 is adjacent to the supply port 160, the second bent portion is located between the second extending portion and the front end (the second bent portion 141 is located at the third position adjacent to the side of the axis of the developing member 400), that is, the second bent portion 141 is located on the front side of the second extending portion 143, and the second bent portion 141 is bent toward the direction of the axis of the developing member 400.

Note that, at least a part of the first protruding portion 130 overlaps a projection of at least a part of the second protruding portion 140 in the left-right direction of the developing unit, and preferably, the first bent portion 131 completely overlaps a projection of the second bent portion 141 in the left-right direction, that is, the first bent portion 131 and the second bent portion 141 are aligned in the left-right direction.

The drum assembly in the image forming apparatus is provided with at least one urging portion (not shown), preferably two urging portions, which are respectively located on both sides of the drum assembly in the left-right direction, a photosensitive medium (not shown), and a lock switch (not shown) located on the drum assembly on the same side as the supply port 160. In the process of mounting the developing unit on the drum assembly, a user firstly needs to press the locking switch, place the developing unit on the drum assembly and align with the mounting position of the developing unit on the drum assembly, then apply downward pressure to the developing unit, press the developing unit into the drum assembly, then release the locking switch, at this time, the second extending portion 143 contacts with the locking switch and applies downward acting force to the locking switch, the second extending portion 143 is pressed between the locking switch and the second urging portion, and the second extending portion 143 (specifically, the "V" shaped portion of the second extending portion 143) is clamped and fixed by the locking switch, so that the locking of the developing unit and the drum assembly is realized. Alternatively, a lock switch is pivotally provided on the drum assembly, i.e., the lock switch is pressed, and the lock switch can be rotated relative to the drum assembly so that the position where the lock switch is engaged with the second extension 143 is separated, thereby achieving locking or unlocking of both.

After the developing unit is installed in the drum assembly, the first bending portion 131 and the second bending portion 141 are respectively in contact with two urging portions symmetrically arranged left and right on the drum assembly, the urging portions respectively apply pressing forces to the first bending portion 131 and the second bending portion 141 in the direction of the photosensitive drum, and further force the developing roller to be in contact with the photosensitive drum, and the pressing forces can be applied through elastic members, such as a compression spring, a tension spring, a spring piece, elastic sponge, elastic rubber and the like, without limitation.

Since the end of the locking switch contacting the second extending portion 143 has a curved curled portion (not shown in the figure), when the user presses the locking switch downwards, the locking switch will apply an upward pushing force to the second extending portion 143 along the direction perpendicular to the axis of the developing device 400, pushing the developing unit to lift upwards relative to the drum assembly, the locking switch is disengaged from the second extending portion 143, the user holds the handle 190 provided on the developing unit to remove the developing unit from the drum assembly, the first curved portion 131 and the second curved portion 141 are disengaged from the urging block, and at this time, the developing unit is separated from the drum assembly, and the developing roller is disengaged from the photosensitive drum.

Alternatively, when the user presses the locking switch, the second extension 143 is separated from the locking switch, the user holds the handle 190 provided on the developing unit, lifts the developing unit upward, removes the developing unit from the drum assembly, the locking switch is separated from contact with the second extension 143, the first bending portion 131 and the second bending portion 141 are separated from contact with the urging block, respectively, at this time, the developing unit is separated from the drum assembly, and the developing roller is separated from contact with the photosensitive drum.

It should be noted that the first protrusion 130 and the second protrusion 140 may also be configured in other shapes or structures to adapt to different developing units. In an alternative of the present embodiment, the structure of the second protrusion 140 may be changed to cancel the lifting function of the locking switch for the developing unit, and when the locking switch is pressed by the user, the locking switch does not apply a force to the second extension 143 that can lift the developing unit from the drum assembly, but the user manually lifts the developing unit from the drum assembly, and the separation of the developing unit from the drum assembly is achieved. In an alternative of the present embodiment, the first and second protrusions 130 and 140 may also be provided separately from the housing 100 to fit different developing units. The first protrusion 130 and the second protrusion 140 are disposed on the first sidewall 110 by means of pasting, welding, clipping, or screwing. Be equipped with first protruding portion 130 on the lateral wall of development unit, and first protruding portion 130 is constructed to extend to the structure with first lateral wall 110 bottom end face contact second position department from the direction of the first position department orientation of neighbouring driving piece 200 of keeping away from driving piece 200, and this kind of structural design mode can make the first protruding portion 130 area of contact increase that is equipped with on the compel portion that is equipped with on the drum subassembly and the development unit, even the compel portion of pushing structure position of different drum subassemblies is different, when with the development unit install, equally can contact and apply the effort towards the photosensitive medium direction that is equipped with on the drum subassembly to first protruding portion 130 that is equipped with on the development unit, force photosensitive medium and development 400 contact, and then can adapt different drum subassemblies. In addition, the first protrusion 130 is composed of the first bent portion 131, the first reinforcing portion 132 and the first extending portion 133, and the second protrusion 140 is composed of the second bent portion 141, the second reinforcing portion 142 and the second extending portion 143, so that the mechanical strength of the first protrusion 130 and the second protrusion 140 can be enhanced, and the problem of component damage caused by frequent detachment of the developing unit and the drum assembly can be avoided.

Further, a boss (not shown) and a lock switch are provided on the drum assembly on the same side as the supply port 160, and when the developing unit and the drum assembly are completely mounted, the projection of the supply port 160 and the boss does not overlap in the left-right direction of the developing unit. Specifically, in the state where the developing unit is attached to the drum assembly, the boss is located below the supply port 160 in the up-down direction, and the two do not contact and overlap. When the developer in the developing unit is exhausted, a user can directly replenish a new developer to the developing unit storage part through the supply port 160 without disassembling the developing unit from the drum assembly and then replenishing the developer, so that the use of the user is more convenient and more convenient, and the use feeling of the user is enhanced.

As shown in fig. 5, a rib 500, provided on the outer surface of the casing 100 facing away from the developing roller and the powder feed roller, is located between the stirring member and the developing roller, the rib 500 extending in the front-rear direction. The plurality of ribs 500 are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction, and the ribs 500 are symmetrically arranged in the left-right direction as a whole. The distance between the adjacent two ribs 500 is not exactly the same, and the ribs 500 at the left, right, and middle portions of the housing 100 are spaced apart by a smaller distance than the ribs 500 at the right and left ends and the middle portion. The rib 500 has a rearmost end formed as a first portion 510, the first portion 510 is located between the bottom of the developing device mounting portion 170 and the projection 181, the first portion 510 is engageable with the outer circumference of the sheet feeding roller in the drum assembly, and the lower end edge of the first portion 510 forms a straight line, i.e., the lower end edge of the first portion 510 is not bent. At least one inclined rib 520 is respectively arranged at two tail ends of the shell 100, which are close to the developing roller along the left-right direction, the inclined ribs 520 are symmetrically arranged on the left-right direction integrally, the extending direction of the inclined ribs 520 is inclined with the rotation axis of the developing roller, namely, the included angle between the extending direction of the inclined ribs 520 and the rotation axis of the developing roller is an acute angle. The distance that the inclined ribs 520 protrude from the housing 100 is less than the distance that the ribs 500 protrude from the housing 100.

As shown in fig. 7 to 9, the protective cover 600 is disposed on one side of the developing member 400 in the radial direction, the length direction of the protective cover extends in the left-right direction, the protective cover 600 covers the surface of the developing member 400 to prevent the developer from leaking from the developing unit, at least one opening is disposed on the protective cover 600, the number of the openings is preferably two, the openings are disposed on the left side and the right side of the protective cover 600, the two openings are respectively sleeved on the driving end 211 of the driving gear 220 on the first side wall 110 and the electrode 121 disposed on the second side wall 120, so that the protective cover 600 can be mounted on the developing unit, the positions of the openings can be deformed, and the shapes of the two openings are respectively matched with the electrode and the portion (i.e., the driving end 211) of the driving gear 220 protruding from the protective cover 20. Application of a force in the left-right direction to the opening position can deform it to disengage from the driving end 211 and the electrode 121, thereby detaching the cover 600 from the developing unit. When the developing unit is required to be used, the shield 600 is detached from the developing unit and mounted to the drum assembly, and when the developing unit is not required to be used, the shield 600 is mounted to one side of the developing member 400 of the developing unit after the developing unit is removed from the drum assembly, and the surface of the developing member 400 is covered to protect the developing unit and prevent the leakage of the developer.

As shown in fig. 4 and 6, the regulating member 700 including a holder 710 and a regulating portion 720 extending in the left-right direction, the regulating member 700 preferably being a doctor blade, the holder 710 preferably being a blade holder, the regulating portion 720 preferably being a blade, an end of the regulating portion 720 contacting the developing member 400 for regulating the thickness of the developer attached to the developing member 400. The support 710 and the adjusting part 720 are both long-bar-shaped, the cross section of the support 710 is L-shaped, the left-right direction is the length direction of the support 710 and the adjusting part 720, the length of the support 710 is greater than that of the adjusting part 720, the two opposite ends of the support 710 in the left-right direction and the part longer than the adjusting part 720 are defined as an unbonded part 760, the adjusting part 720 is connected with the support 710 in a welding mode, the position of the welded connection of the two is defined as a bonding part 730, a plurality of welding points 740 are distributed on the bonding part 730, the welding points 740 are arranged on the bonding part 730 at intervals in the left-right direction, and any welding point 740 on the bonding part 730 is not overlapped with the adjacent welding points 740 in the left-right direction. The welding points 740 of the adjacent two of the bracket 710 and the unbonded portion 760 of the adjustment part 720 may overlap or may not overlap, and the welding is started with the unbonded portion 760 as a starting position. The bracket 710 and the unassociated portion 760 of the regulating portion 720 are provided with fixing member mounting holes 750, preferably two, and the regulating member 700 is mounted on the developing unit by fixing members, preferably screws.

As shown in fig. 9, the protecting cover 20 is used for covering the driving member 200, the transmission member 800, the stirring rack driving gear 320 and the first protrusion 130, the protecting cover 20 is disposed on the outer surface of the first sidewall 110, a through hole 21 is disposed on the protecting cover 20, and the driving end 211 of the driving gear 220 is exposed outwards from the protecting cover 20 through the through hole 21. The protective cover 20 has a notch exposing at least a portion of the first protruding portion 130, and the first bending portion 131 contacts the urging portion through the notch.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, including a main body and a drum assembly, the urging portions provided on the left and right sides of the drum assembly are assembled with the first protruding portion 130 and the second protruding portion 140 in the developing unit, respectively, so as to realize mounting the developing unit on the drum assembly, and then mounting the drum assembly and the developing unit as a whole into the main body of the image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus further includes an exposure unit, an image carrier, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a printing medium supplying unit, and first, the exposure unit receives a printing data signal and forms a corresponding electrostatic latent image on the image carrier. The main body of the image forming apparatus is provided therein with a driving force supply unit for supplying a driving force to the developing unit, the driving member 200 provided in the developing unit receives the driving force supplied from the image forming apparatus, and the developing member 400 and the stirring member 300 provided in the developing unit are driven to operate to supply a developer to the image carrier to form a developed image. The printing medium supply unit supplies a printing medium, and the developed image passes through the transfer unit and the fixing unit in sequence, so that the image is fixed on the printing medium and is output to the outside of the image forming apparatus.

In an alternative of the present embodiment, the first protrusion 130 and the second protrusion 140 may also be provided as sidewalls of the housing 100 to accommodate different image forming apparatuses. The stirring member 300 may also be configured to be non-rotatably fixed to the housing 100.

In the description of the present invention, unless explicitly stated or limited otherwise, the terms "first", "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance; the term "plurality" means two or more unless specified or indicated otherwise; the terms "connected," "fixed," and the like are to be construed broadly and may, for example, be fixedly connected, detachably connected, integrally connected, or electrically connected; may be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific situations by those skilled in the art.

In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper" and "lower" used in the embodiments of the present invention are used in the angle shown in the drawings, and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, in this context, it will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being "on" or "under" another element, it can be directly on "or" under "the other element or be indirectly on" or "under" the other element via an intermediate element.

The above are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, without departing from the inventive concept, several modifications and improvements can be made, which are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (16)

1. A developing unit detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, comprising:

a housing that accommodates a developer therein, a length direction of the housing being set to a left-right direction, a width direction of the housing being set to a front-back direction, a height direction of the housing being set to an up-down direction, the front-back direction being perpendicular to the up-down direction, the left-right direction being perpendicular to the front-back direction and the up-down direction; the housing has two ends in the front-to-rear direction, a front end and a rear end respectively; the housing includes a first side wall and a second side wall oppositely disposed in the left-right direction;

a driving member provided on the first side wall near the front end for receiving a driving force applied from an image forming apparatus main body;

an agitating member including an agitating blade that receives a driving force from the driving member to agitate the developer;

a developing member located at a front end of the casing for carrying and transporting a developer;

and the first protruding part is arranged on the first side wall and is used for being matched with the pushing part arranged on the drum assembly of the imaging device, and in the front-back direction, the first protruding part is at least partially positioned between the rotating axis of the stirring piece and the back end, and meanwhile, the first protruding part is partially positioned between the rotating axis of the driving piece and the rotating axis of the stirring piece.

2. The developer unit of claim 1, wherein the agitator member is rotatably supported on the housing, the first projection being located largely between the rotational axis of the agitator member and the rear end.

3. The developing unit according to claim 1, wherein the first projecting portion projects in a direction away from the housing, the first projecting portion includes a first curved portion, a first reinforcing portion, and a first extending portion, which are provided in a connected manner, the first reinforcing portion being located between the first curved portion and the first extending portion; the first bending part is located at a first position close to the driving part, and the first extending part is located at a second position in contact with the bottom end face of the first side wall.

4. The developing unit according to claim 3, wherein the first bent portion is in contact with the urging portion when the developing unit is mounted to the drum assembly, so that the first bent portion obtains a pressing force toward a photosensitive medium provided on the drum assembly, urging the developing member into close contact with the photosensitive medium; the first reinforcement part is used for reinforcing the strength of the first bending part and the first extension part.

5. The developing unit according to claim 3, wherein the first curved portion has an "S" -shaped structure, an upper end of the "S" -shaped structure is transitionally connected with the first reinforcing portion through an arc, and a middle of the "S" -shaped structure has a planar structure parallel to the up-down direction; the first extending part is of an arc surface structure, and the first reinforcing part is of a plane structure parallel to the front-back direction; the first extending part and the first reinforcing part are in transition connection through an arc, and the first extending part extends from the rear end of the first reinforcing part to the edge of the first side wall towards the rear lower part of the shell.

6. The developing unit according to any one of claims 3 to 5, further comprising a second protrusion for engaging with a lock switch and a second urging portion provided on the drum assembly, the second protrusion being located at a middle position of the second side wall in the front-rear direction; at least a part of the second protruding portion overlaps a projection of the first protruding portion in the left-right direction.

7. The developer unit according to claim 6, wherein the second protrusion comprises a second bent portion, a second reinforcing portion and a second extending portion which are connected; the second bending part is used for being matched with the second pushing part to enable the second bending part to obtain extrusion force towards the direction of the photosensitive medium arranged on the drum assembly, so that the developing piece is forced to be in close contact with the photosensitive medium; the second reinforcing part is used for reinforcing the strength of the second bending part and the second extending part; the second extension part is used for being matched with the locking switch to realize the locking and lifting of the developing unit and the drum assembly.

8. The developing unit according to claim 7, wherein the second curved portion overlaps with a projection of the first curved portion in the left-right direction, the second curved portion has an "S" shaped structure, an upper end of the "S" shaped structure is transitionally connected with a second reinforcing portion through an arc, and a middle portion of the "S" shaped structure has a planar structure parallel to the up-down direction; the second reinforcing part is a plane structure parallel to the front-back direction; the second extension part is formed by sequentially connecting an L-shaped part, a V-shaped part and a vertical part, and the vertical part is of a plane structure and is parallel to the vertical direction; the V-shaped portion may act with a locking switch of the drum assembly when the developing unit is mounted in the drum assembly, thereby locking the developing unit; when the locking switch is pressed, the locking switch can act with the L-shaped part to lift the developing unit.

9. The developer unit according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the second side wall is provided with a supply port for adding a developer into the housing; the supply port is located at the top of the second side wall and near the rear end, the second protruding portion is located below the supply port in the up-down direction, the second extending portion is adjacent to the supply port in the front-rear direction, and the second bending portion is located between the second extending portion and the front end.

10. The developer unit according to claim 9, wherein a projection of at least a portion of the first protrusion and at least a portion of the second protrusion in a left-right direction of the developer unit overlap; the first bending portion and the second bending portion are bent toward an axial direction of the developing member, respectively.

11. The developer unit according to claim 10, wherein when the developer unit is completely mounted to a drum assembly of the image forming apparatus, the second extension contacts a lock switch provided on the drum assembly to lock the developer unit to the drum assembly; the locking switch is located on the same side of the drum assembly as the supply port.

12. The developer unit of claim 10, wherein when the lock switch is depressed by a user, the lock switch applies a force to the second extension that can lift the developer unit from the drum assembly, effecting separation of the developer unit from the drum assembly; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

when the user presses the lock switch, the lock switch does not apply a force to the second extension portion that can lift the developing unit from the drum assembly, but the user manually lifts the developing unit from the drum assembly, effecting separation of the developing unit from the drum assembly.

13. The developer unit according to claim 9, wherein a projection is provided on the drum assembly on the same side as the supply port when the developer unit and the drum assembly are completely mounted, and the projection of the supply port and the projection of the projection do not overlap in the left-right direction of the developer unit.

14. The developing unit according to claim 1, further comprising a developing member mounting portion and a developer storage portion; at least one rib is vertically arranged between the bottom of the developing part mounting part and the developer storage part, and the developer storage part comprises a protruding part which is arranged at the bottom of the developing unit and protrudes along the lower part; the rib is followed the surface of shell is to keeping away from the direction of shell is outstanding, the rib extends in the front and back direction, the rearmost end of rib is first portion, first portion is located the bottom of development part installation department with between the protruding portion, first portion can with the cooperation of the outer circumference of the paper feed roller in the drum subassembly, the lower extreme border of first portion does not have the bending.

15. The developing unit according to claim 1, wherein one side of the developing member is provided with a shield covering a surface of the developing member, the shield being located in a radial direction of the developing member;

the driving piece is provided with a driving end, the second side wall is provided with an electrode, and the protective cover is provided with at least one opening which is respectively installed or detached with the driving end and/or the electrode.

16. An image forming apparatus comprising a main body and a drum assembly, wherein the main body is detachably fittingly coupled to the developing unit according to any one of claims 1 to 15 through the drum assembly.

Images