CN220543259U

CN220543259U - Developing device, drum assembly, storage medium resetting device and image forming device

Info

Publication number: CN220543259U
Application number: CN202320945530.8U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 杨浩; 程晨; 马海龙; 陶俊宇; 武新宇; 彭天生
Original assignee: Zhuhai Nastar Information Technology Co ltd
Current assignee: Zhuhai Nastar Information Technology Co ltd
Priority date: 2022-05-17
Filing date: 2023-04-23
Publication date: 2024-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2033-04-23

Abstract

A developing device, a drum assembly, a storage medium resetting device, and an image forming apparatus, the developing device includes: a cartridge disposed along a first direction and having two opposite ends in the first direction, the cartridge for storing a developer; a developing assembly including a developing roller disposed in a first direction; an identification assembly including a storage medium including a storage element for storing information of the developing device and an electrical contact surface electrically connected with the storage element for electrically connecting with an electrical contact of a main assembly of the image forming device. The identification component is reasonable in arrangement and convenient to use.

Description

Developing device, drum assembly, storage medium resetting device and image forming device

Technical Field

The present utility model relates to the technical field of electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, and more particularly, to a developing device, a drum assembly, a storage medium resetting device, and an image forming apparatus.

Background

The developing device is a detachable portion widely used in image forming apparatuses. The image forming apparatus main assembly requires replacement of a new developing device after the printing consumables are consumed. In order to enable the main assembly of the image forming apparatus to detect whether the developing device is properly mounted on the drum assembly, and detect information such as the new and old type, capacity, etc. of the developing device, an identification assembly, typically a chip, is disposed on the developing device, and an electrical contact is disposed in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, and is electrically connected to the chip, so that when the developing device is properly mounted in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, the electrical contact is electrically connected to the chip to read information stored in the chip or write information into the chip. The chip design related to the developing device in the prior art is unreasonable.

Disclosure of Invention

According to an aspect of the present utility model, there is provided a developing device for being detachably mounted in a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising:

a cartridge disposed along a first direction and having two opposite ends in the first direction, the cartridge for storing a developer;

a developing assembly including a developing roller disposed in a first direction;

an identification assembly including a storage medium including a storage element for storing information of the developing device and an electrical contact surface electrically connected with the storage element for electrically connecting with an electrical contact of a main assembly of the image forming device.

The identification component is reasonable in arrangement and convenient to use.

In some embodiments, the electrical contact surface is movably disposed at an end of the developing device.

In some embodiments, the identification assembly further comprises a mounting structure telescopically disposed at an end of the cartridge, the electrical contact surface being disposed on the mounting structure; the mounting structure is provided with a guide surface for interaction with the image forming apparatus so that the mounting structure can be contracted in a direction approaching the cartridge under the urging force of the image forming apparatus.

In some embodiments, the telescoping motion of the mounting structure is displaced in a first direction.

In some embodiments, the identification assembly further comprises a guide post having one end connected to the mounting structure and the other end movably disposed on the case in a first direction, and an elastic member for displacing the guide post and the mounting structure in the first direction.

In some embodiments, the identification assembly further comprises a mounting structure movably disposed at an end of the cartridge, the electrical contact surface being disposed on the mounting structure; the image forming device comprises a mounting structure, and is characterized by further comprising a detected piece, wherein a stirring protrusion is arranged on the detected piece and can move along with the detected piece, so that the mounting structure is pushed to move to generate displacement, and an electric contact surface on the mounting structure is electrically connected with an electric contact on a main assembly of the image forming device.

In some embodiments, the developing device further includes a protective cover fixedly provided at an end of the cartridge body, the mounting structure being movably provided on the protective cover; the mounting structure is provided with a stirred part, the detected piece is rotatably arranged at the end part of the box body, and the stirred protrusion can rotate along with the detected piece and stir the stirred part, so that the mounting structure moves.

In some embodiments, the mounting structure is provided with a clamping portion, the protecting cover is provided with a combining portion, and the clamping portion can move to the position of the combining portion along with the mounting structure and interact with the combining portion to fix the mounting structure at the current position relative to the protecting cover.

In some embodiments, the plurality of poking protrusions are distributed along the circumferential direction of the detected member, and the length of the poking protrusion, which is in contact with the poking portion, of the last poking protrusion in the radial direction of the detected member is greater than the length of the other poking protrusions in the radial direction of the detected member, so that the mounting structure has the maximum stroke under the action of the last poking protrusion, and therefore the mounting structure moves to and is fixed at a position where the clamping portion interacts with the combining portion.

In some embodiments, the toggle protrusion is capable of triggering a detection lever within a main assembly of the image forming apparatus when moving with the detected piece.

In some embodiments, the mounting structure is capable of displacement in a third direction.

In some embodiments, the detected piece is further provided with a detected protrusion, and the detected protrusion is arranged at the upstream of the poking protrusion, so that the detected protrusion triggers the event that the detecting rod in the main component of the image forming device is pushed to extend out of the mounting structure by the poking protrusion before the event that the electric contact surface is electrically connected with the electric contact.

In some embodiments, the plurality of sensed protrusions is disposed upstream of a last sensed protrusion such that the toggle protrusion pushes the mounting structure out of engagement with the electrical contact prior to the last sensed protrusion triggering a sensing lever within a main assembly of the image forming device.

In some embodiments, the developing device further includes a detected member movably provided at an end of the cartridge body, the detected member being provided to be movable by a driving force provided by the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, the electric contact surface being provided on the detected member and being moved with the detected member from a position not in contact with the electric contact in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus to a position in contact with the electric contact in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

In some embodiments, the detected member is rotatably disposed at an end of the case, the detected member is provided with a second protrusion along a circumferential direction, the case is provided with a first protrusion, and the second protrusion is forced to displace in a first direction when abutting against the first protrusion, so that the detected member protrudes in the first direction in a direction away from the case and interacts with a detection lever in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

In some embodiments, the detected member is further provided with a detecting protrusion capable of rotating with the detected member and interacting with a detecting lever in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

In some embodiments, the developing device further includes a support column disposed along the first direction, the support column having a first mating portion disposed thereon; the detected piece is provided with a second matching part, and one of the first matching part and the second matching part is a thread, and the other one of the first matching part and the second matching part can slide along the thread.

In some embodiments, the electrical contact surface is configured to be displaceable in a contact direction that coincides with or has a coincident component with a separation direction of the developing roller and the photosensitive drum, such that when the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are separated, the electrical contact surface is displaceable in the contact direction and is held in contact with an electrical contact of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

In some embodiments, the developing device is detachably mounted on a drum assembly having a urging member that applies an urging force to the developing device that moves the developing roller toward a direction approaching the photosensitive drum, and further includes a mounting structure for mounting an electrical contact surface that is arranged to be capable of displacing the electrical contact surface in a contact direction that coincides with or has a component of coincidence with a separation direction of the developing roller and the photosensitive drum such that the mounting structure is capable of causing the electrical contact surface to protrude in the contact direction and to remain in contact with an electrical contact of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus when the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are separated.

In some embodiments, the developing device further includes a first support member, an extension portion, and a foot portion, the mounting structure includes a second support member and an elastic member, the first support member is provided with a guide groove extending along the contact direction, the foot portion is capable of moving in the guide groove, two ends of the extension portion are respectively fixedly connected with the foot portion and the second support member, and the elastic member is disposed between the second support member and the first support member.

In some embodiments, the developing device is provided with a second acting portion at an end remote from the storage medium, and the developing device is provided with a first acting portion at an end near the storage medium, the first and second acting portions being for receiving a separating force from a main assembly of the image forming apparatus such that the developing roller is separated from both ends of the photosensitive drum.

In some embodiments, the developing device is provided with a second acting portion only at an end remote from the storage medium, and only the second acting portion on the developing device is for receiving a separating force from a main assembly of the image forming device, so that the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are separated only at one end close to the second acting portion; the storage medium is fixedly arranged at the other end of the developing device far away from the second action part.

In some embodiments, the developing device is detachably mounted on a drum assembly having a second storage medium, the storage medium of the developing device being a first storage medium electrically connected to the second storage medium storing information of the drum assembly, the first storage medium being electrically connected to electrical contacts of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus through the second storage medium.

In some embodiments, the first storage medium includes a first storage element and a first set of electrical contacts electrically connected to each other, the second storage medium includes a second storage element, a third set of electrical contacts, a fourth set of electrical contacts, and a fifth set of electrical contacts electrically connected in sequence, the second storage element and the fifth set of electrical contacts electrically connected, the fourth set of electrical contacts and the fifth set of electrical contacts for electrical connection with electrical contacts of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

In some embodiments, the identification component of the developing device further comprises a first mount, the first set of electrical contact surfaces being disposed on the first mount; the drum assembly further includes a second bracket, the third set of electrical contact surfaces being disposed at a position of the second bracket opposite the first set of electrical contact surfaces, the fourth set of electrical contact surfaces and the fifth set of electrical contact surfaces being disposed at a position of the second bracket for contact with electrical contacts of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

The present utility model also provides a drum assembly for detachable mounting in a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, including a second storage medium for storing information of the drum assembly, the second storage medium being provided at a front end or a rear end of the drum assembly.

The present utility model also provides an image forming apparatus including:

a main assembly including a mounting bin having an electrical contact disposed therein for making electrical contact with an electrical contact surface of the developing device;

a process cartridge detachably mounted in a mounting bin of the main assembly; the process cartridge includes a developing device and a drum assembly detachably connected to each other, and the developing device is the above-described developing device.

In some embodiments, the developing device is a developing device as described in any one of the above; and a blocking protrusion for interacting with the guide surface of the mounting structure is arranged in the mounting bin, so that the mounting structure can shrink towards the direction approaching to the box body under the acting force of the blocking protrusion, and the blocking protrusion is positioned on one side of the electrical contact approaching to the mounting starting point of the developing device.

In some embodiments, the developing device is a developing device as described in any one of the above;

A detection part is arranged in the installation bin and comprises a detection rod and a light detection groove; the detection lever is capable of swinging in the light detection groove in a first direction and a second direction, respectively, and is used for interacting with a detected piece of the developing device.

In some embodiments, the detection rod comprises a ball head, a head at one end of the ball head and a tail at the other end of the ball head, and the detection rod is rotatably mounted on the side wall of the mounting bin through the ball head, so that the head of the detection rod can swing in the light detection groove along a first direction and a second direction respectively, and the tail of the detection rod is used for interacting with a detected piece of the developing device.

In some embodiments, the detection portion further includes a second compression spring for resetting the detection lever in a first direction and a third compression spring for resetting the detection lever in a second direction;

the light detection groove is provided with a first light transmission window, a second light transmission window, a third light transmission window and a fourth light transmission window which are oppositely arranged; a first laser emitter is arranged in the first light transmission window; a first laser receiver for receiving the laser emitted by the first laser emitter is arranged in the second light transmission window; a second laser emitter is arranged in the third light transmission window; a second laser receiver for receiving the laser emitted by the second laser emitter is arranged in the fourth light transmission window; the blocking of the laser is realized by the movement of the head of the detection rod in the first direction and the second direction so as to form corresponding electric signals.

In some embodiments, the main assembly further comprises a door for opening and closing the mounting bin; the detection part further comprises a first rod and a blocking part, the first rod is movably arranged on the side wall of the installation bin along the second direction, the blocking part is fixed at the first end of the first rod, the second end of the first rod is arranged to receive acting force when the door cover is opened, so that the first rod moves along the second direction, the blocking part jacks up the tail part of the detection rod, and the tail part of the detection rod leaves the working position; when the door cover is closed, the acting force is eliminated, and the tail of the detection rod is reset to a working position capable of interacting with a detected piece of the developing device.

The present utility model also provides a storage medium resetting device, comprising:

a second identification unit for detecting identification information in the storage medium;

and the erasing unit is used for clearing the identification information in the storage medium according to the detection result of the second identification unit.

In some embodiments, the second identifying unit is configured to detect whether identification information is present in the storage medium; the erasing unit is used for clearing the identification information in the storage medium when the second identification unit detects the identification information.

In some embodiments, the identification information includes information of the number of installations of the developing device.

In some embodiments, the second identifying unit is configured to detect the installation number information in the storage medium; and the erasing unit is used for clearing the installation frequency information in the storage medium when the installation frequency corresponding to the installation frequency information is larger than a second preset value.

In some embodiments, the storage medium resetting device further comprises a second prompting unit for prompting no identification information when the second identification unit does not detect the identification information.

The present utility model also provides an image forming apparatus including:

a first identification unit for detecting identification information in the storage medium;

and a writing unit configured to write identification information to the storage medium when the first identification unit does not detect the identification information.

In some embodiments, the image forming apparatus further includes a first prompting unit configured to prompt that the machine cannot be recognized when the first recognition unit detects the identification information.

In some embodiments, the first identifying unit is configured to detect the number of installations in the storage medium; the writing unit is used for writing updated installation frequency information into the storage medium, wherein the updated installation frequency information is 1 larger than the original installation frequency information.

In some embodiments, the image forming apparatus further includes a first prompting unit configured to prompt that the machine cannot be recognized when the number of installations corresponding to the number of installations information detected by the first recognition unit is greater than a first preset value.

In some embodiments, the image forming apparatus further comprises a storage medium reset apparatus according to any one of the above.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a front view of a developing device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a first end of a case according to an embodiment of the utility model;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a partial enlarged structure at A in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a second end of the case according to the first embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a sixth end of the case according to the first embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a partially enlarged structure at B in FIG. 5;

fig. 7 is a schematic view of a structure in which a developing device is mounted to a mounting cartridge in a main assembly of an image forming apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a structure in which a developing device is detached from a mounting hopper in a main assembly of an image forming apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present utility model;

fig. 9 is a schematic view of a structure after a developing device is mounted in a mounting bin in a main assembly of an image forming apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a structure of a developing device at another angle after the developing device is mounted in a mounting bin in a main assembly of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of an identification component according to a first embodiment of the present utility model;

fig. 12 is an overall configuration diagram of a developing device according to a second embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 13 is a partially exploded view of a first end of a developing device according to a second embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 14 is a partially exploded view of a second end of a developing device according to a second embodiment of the present utility model;

fig. 15 is a schematic structural view of an identification component of a developing device according to a second embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing a structure of a detected member of a developing device according to a second embodiment of the present utility model;

fig. 17 is a perspective view showing a process cartridge mounted to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus in a fourth embodiment of the present utility model;

fig. 18 is a perspective view of a developing device according to a fourth embodiment of the present utility model;

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the other end of the developing device in the fourth embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a developing device in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an end of a developing device according to a fourth embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the other end of the developing device according to the fourth embodiment of the present utility model;

fig. 23 is a partial enlarged view of the other end of the developing device of fig. 22;

fig. 24 and 25 are perspective views of the detected member;

fig. 26 is a perspective view of a main assembly of an image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present utility model;

fig. 27 is a schematic perspective view of a detecting unit for detecting a developing device according to a fourth embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 28 is a schematic view showing the structure of a developing device according to the fifth embodiment of the present utility model when the developing device is assembled to a drum assembly and put into a mounting bin;

FIG. 29 is a schematic view showing the construction of the first wall and the second wall of the mounting bin according to the fifth embodiment of the utility model;

FIG. 30 is a schematic view showing the construction of a first wall and a second wall of a mounting compartment according to a fifth embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of a detected member and a second protective cover according to a sixth embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 32 is a schematic perspective view of a developing device according to a seventh embodiment of the present utility model after the developing device is mounted to the drum assembly;

FIG. 33 is a schematic perspective view of a drum assembly in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 34 is a schematic perspective view of a drum assembly in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 35 is a schematic perspective view of a second end of the case according to the seventh embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 36 is a schematic perspective view of a first end of a case after an identification component is disassembled in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 37 is a schematic view of a partially enlarged structure at A in FIG. 36;

fig. 38 is a perspective view of a developing device in an eighth embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 39 is a schematic view showing a second end structure of the developing device in accordance with the eighth embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 40 is a schematic view showing a structure of a transmission assembly of a developing device in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 41 is a schematic view showing the structure of a first end of a developing device in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 42 is a schematic structural view of a drum assembly in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 43 is a schematic view showing the structure of a process cartridge in an eighth embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 44 is a schematic view of one end of a process cartridge in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 45 is a schematic view of one end of a drum assembly in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 46 is a schematic structural view of a drum assembly in accordance with an embodiment nine of the present utility model;

FIG. 47 is a schematic view showing the structure of a process cartridge according to a ninth embodiment of the present utility model;

fig. 48 is a partial schematic configuration of a process cartridge in the tenth embodiment of the present utility model;

fig. 49 is a schematic diagram showing the unit composition of an image forming apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment of the present utility model;

fig. 50 is a schematic diagram showing the unit constitution of an image forming apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 51 is a schematic diagram showing the unit constitution of a storage medium resetting device according to a twelfth embodiment of the present utility model;

fig. 52 is a schematic diagram showing the unit composition of a storage medium resetting device according to another embodiment of the present utility model.

Detailed Description

The utility model is described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the present utility model, unless explicitly specified and limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," "secured," and the like are to be construed broadly and include, for example, either fixedly attached, detachably attached, or integrally formed; may be mechanically connected, may be electrically connected or may be in communication with each other; either directly or indirectly, through intermediaries, or both, may be in communication with each other or in interaction with each other, unless expressly defined otherwise. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present utility model can be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art according to the specific circumstances.

Example 1

The present embodiment provides an image forming apparatus including a main assembly, and a process cartridge detachably mounted on the main assembly. The process cartridge includes a drum assembly and a developing device detachably mounted on the drum assembly. The drum assembly has therein a photosensitive member, such as a photosensitive drum, and the developing device 10 has a developing member, such as a developing roller, for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member.

Referring to fig. 1 to 11, the developing device includes a cartridge 1, a developing assembly, a driving assembly, an identification assembly, a detected assembly, a power supply assembly, a first protective cover 111, and a second protective cover 121.

In the following description of the direction, the left side of the paper in fig. 1 is left, the right side of the paper in fig. 1 is right, the upper side of the paper in fig. 1 is up, the lower side of the paper in fig. 1 is down, the near side of the paper in fig. 1 is front, and the far side of the paper in fig. 1 is rear when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the paper in fig. 1. The left-right direction is an embodiment of the first direction, the front-back direction is an embodiment of the second direction, and the up-down direction is an embodiment of the third direction. Further, in the description about the direction of movement, displacement along a certain direction is not limited to movement parallel to the direction, as long as there is displacement in the direction (i.e., there is a component of movement in the direction).

Referring to fig. 1, 2 and 4, the cartridge 1 has a receiving chamber for receiving developer therein, the cartridge 1 has a first end 11 and a second end 12 disposed opposite to each other in a first direction, the cartridge 1 has a third end 13 and a fourth end 14 disposed opposite to each other in a second direction, and the cartridge 1 has a fifth end 15 and a sixth end 16 disposed opposite to each other in the third direction. The box body 1 is provided with a powder outlet, the powder outlet is positioned at the third end 13, the box body 1 is provided with a handle 141, and the handle 141 is positioned at the fourth end 14. The first protecting cover 111 is detachably and fixedly mounted at the first end 11 of the box body 1 through screws or buckles, and the first protecting cover 111 is used for protecting the transmission assembly. The second protecting cover 121 is detachably mounted on the second end 12 of the box body 1 through screws or buckles, and the second protecting cover 121 is used for protecting the detected component.

The developing assembly comprises a developing roller 131, a powder feeding roller and a stirring frame, and the developing roller 131, the powder feeding roller and the stirring frame are rotatably arranged in the accommodating cavity between the first end 11 and the second end 12. The rotation axes of the developing roller 131, the powder feeding roller, and the stirring frame all extend in the first direction. The developing roller 131 is disposed at the powder outlet. The powder outlet is located at one end (i.e., front end) of the cartridge in the second direction, and the powder feeding roller is disposed adjacent to the developing roller 131. The toner feed roller is closer to the fourth end 14 of the cartridge 1 than the developing roller 131. The stirring frame is used for stirring the developer in the accommodating cavity so as to enable the developer to rub and prevent the developer from caking.

The transmission assembly is arranged at the first end 11, and comprises a driving part rotatably arranged at the first end 11 of the box body 1, and the rotation axis of the driving part is parallel to the first direction. The drive section comprises a coaxial integrally formed drive gear and power receiving section 21, the drive gear being closer to the first end 11 of the cartridge 1 than the power receiving section 21 in the first direction. The power receiving portion 21 is for coupling with a power output shaft on the image forming apparatus main assembly to receive power output from the image forming apparatus main assembly.

The drive assembly also includes a developer roller gear 24, a powder feed roller gear, and a stirring gear. The developing roller gear 24 is coaxially fixedly installed at an end of the developing roller 131 near the first end 11 of the cartridge body 1. The powder feeding roller gear is coaxially and fixedly arranged at one end of the powder feeding roller, which is close to the first end 11 of the box body 1. The stirring gear is coaxially and fixedly arranged at one end of the stirring frame, which is close to the first end 11 of the box body 1.

The developing roller gear 24, the powder feeding roller gear, and the stirring gear are all meshed with the driving gear. In this embodiment, an idler gear is disposed between the stirring gear and the driving gear, and the stirring gear is indirectly meshed with the driving gear through the idler gear. In other embodiments, engagement may be direct engagement or indirect engagement.

The rotation axis of the driving part is closer to the fifth end 15 and the fourth end 14 of the cartridge 1 than the rotation axis of the developing roller 131, and the rotation axis of the driving part is closer to the third end 13 of the cartridge 1 than the rotation axis of the stirring frame.

The detected component is arranged at the second end 12 of the box body 1, and the detected component comprises a detected piece 6, and the detected piece 6 receives the power transmitted by the driving part to move. In this embodiment, the detection target 6 moves by receiving the power of the driving unit indirectly through the stirring frame. In other embodiments, the detected member 6 may be directly moved by receiving the power of the driving portion. In other embodiments the detected component may also be provided at the first end 11 of the cartridge 1.

The detection member 6 touches the detection member in the image forming apparatus main assembly during the movement thereof, so that the developing device is detected by the image forming apparatus main assembly. The image forming apparatus main assembly can detect information such as the type, the date and time, and the capacity of the developing device from a combination of information such as the number of times the detecting member is touched, the speed of the touch, and the duration of each touch.

The power supply assembly comprises a conductive piece 50, the conductive piece 50 is located at the second end 12 of the box body 1, the conductive piece 50 is provided with an electric receiving surface, the conductive piece 50 is further provided with a first power supply terminal and a second power supply terminal, the first power supply terminal is electrically connected with one end of the developing roller 131, which is close to the second end 12 of the box body 1, and the second power supply terminal is electrically connected with one end of the powder feeding roller, which is close to the second end 12 of the box body 1. The electric receiving surface is used for contacting with a power supply part on the main assembly of the image forming device to receive the electric energy output by the main assembly of the image forming device and transmitting the electric energy to the developing roller 131 and the powder feeding roller. The electric receiving surface is located between the agitating frame and the rotation axis of the developing roller 131 in the second direction. In other embodiments the power supply assembly may also be provided at the first end 11 of the cartridge 1.

Referring to fig. 3, 5 to 11, the identification assembly comprises a mounting structure 41, a guide post 44, an elastic member 43, a storage medium comprising an electrical contact surface 42. The storage medium is specifically a first storage medium, the first protecting cover 111 is provided with a first mounting groove 46, the first mounting groove 46 extends along the first direction, and the right end and the lower end of the first mounting groove 46 are not closed, so that the guide post 44 is convenient to mount. The left wall of the first mounting groove 46 is provided with a through hole along the first direction, the guide post 44 is inserted into the through hole along the first direction, the left end of the guide post 44 is integrally formed with a buckle 45, and the buckle 45 is used for preventing the guide post 44 from falling out of the first mounting groove 46 to the right. The guide post 44 is movable in a first direction. The right end of the guide post 44 is fixedly connected with the mounting structure 41, and the elastic piece 43 is sleeved on the guide post 44 between the left end face of the mounting structure 41 and the left wall of the first mounting groove 46. One end of the elastic member 43 abuts against the mounting structure 41, and the other end abuts against the left wall of the first mounting groove 46. The mounting structure 41 is integrally formed with a second mounting groove 47, and the second mounting groove 47 is formed recessed from right to left. The second mounting groove 47 opens rightward. The storage medium is fixedly mounted in the second mounting groove 47 by means of glue. The electrical contact surface 42 is fixedly mounted to the right end surface of the storage medium and is electrically connected to the storage medium. A guide protrusion 411 protruding rightward is integrally formed on the lower wall of the mounting structure 41. The guide protrusion 411 is provided with a guide surface, which may be a slope or an arc surface, in this embodiment, a first slope 4111 and a second slope 4112. Specifically, the guide protrusion 411 has an isosceles triangle shape such that the guide protrusion 411 has a first slope 4111 and a second slope 4112. The first inclined surface 4111 is closer to the developing roller 131 than the second inclined surface 4112 in the front-rear direction. The first inclined surface 4111 and the second inclined surface 4112 are symmetrical with respect to the first direction. And the first and second inclined surfaces 4111 and 4112 are flat surfaces. In other embodiments, the guide protrusion 411 may have other shapes such as a trapezoid, a circle, or an incomplete circle. The first inclined surface 4111 and the second inclined surface 4112 may also be cambered surfaces.

The image forming apparatus main assembly has a mounting bin for mounting the developing device. An electrical contact 610 is disposed within the mounting pocket. The electrical contacts 610 are disposed toward the first end 11 of the cartridge 1. And the first direction intersects a plane in which the electrical contacts 610 lie. A blocking protrusion 620 is integrally formed on a sidewall of the mounting pocket of the rear side of the electrical contact 610.

Referring to fig. 7, when a user applies an external force F1 to the developing device such that the developing device is loaded forward into the mounting cartridge, the identification member on the developing device passes the blocking protrusion 620, the first inclined surface 4111 on the mounting structure 41 contacts the blocking protrusion 620 and applies a pressure F11 to the blocking protrusion 620, and the blocking protrusion 620 applies a reaction force F12 perpendicular to the first inclined surface 4111. Under the action of the first inclined surface 4111, the force F12 has a leftward component F12', and under the action of the component F12', the mounting structure 41 drives the storage medium and the electrical contact surface 42 to move leftward, and the elastic member 43 is compressed, so that the blocking protrusion 620 is avoided, and damage to the identification component is avoided.

After the mounting structure 41 passes the blocking protrusion 620, the mounting structure 41 moves rightward by the elastic force of the elastic member 43, so that the electrical contact surface 42 is brought into contact with and electrically connected to the electrical contact 610. And the electrical contact surface 42 is pressed against the electrical contact 610 due to the elastic force of the elastic member 43, so that the electrical contact surface 42 is ensured to be in close contact with the electrical contact 610, and poor contact is avoided (refer to fig. 9 and 10).

Referring to fig. 8, when a user applies an external force F2 to the developing device such that the developing device is withdrawn rearward from the mounting bin, the second inclined surface 4112 contacts the blocking protrusion 620 and applies a pressure F21 to the blocking protrusion 620, and the blocking protrusion 620 applies a reaction force F22 perpendicular to the second inclined surface 4112. Under the action of the second inclined surface 4112, the force F22 has a leftward component F22', and under the action of the force component F22', the mounting structure 41 drives the storage medium and the electrical contact surface 42 to move leftward, and the elastic member 43 is compressed, so that the blocking protrusion 620 is avoided, and damage to the identification component is avoided.

Through the above design, when the developing device without the identification component disclosed in the technical scheme is installed in the installation bin, the identification device is blocked by the blocking protrusion 620 and cannot reach the position where the electrical contact 610 is located, so that the damage of the identification circuit in the main component of the image forming device caused by the electrical connection of the main component of the image forming device with an unknown storage medium is avoided.

Example two

Referring to fig. 12-16, a main difference between the present embodiment and the embodiment is that: the arrangement of the identification component and the detected piece is different.

To better illustrate this embodiment, define the directions A1 and A2 as the first direction, the direction A1 refers to the positive direction of the first direction, and the direction A2 refers to the negative direction of the first direction;

The directions B1 and B2 are the second direction, the direction B1 refers to the positive direction of the second direction, and the direction B2 refers to the negative direction of the second direction;

the directions C1 and C2 are the third directions, the direction C1 is the positive direction of the third direction, and the direction C2 is the negative direction of the third direction.

The first direction, the second direction and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

The image forming device main assembly comprises an installation bin, wherein the installation bin is used for detachably and fixedly installing a processing box, a detection rod is installed on the side wall of the installation bin, the detection rod can be arranged on the side wall of the installation bin in a swinging mode, a light emitting part and a light receiving part are further arranged on the side wall of the installation bin, and light rays emitted by the light emitting part can be shielded when the detection rod swings. The image forming apparatus main assembly further includes a driving head for transmitting a driving force of the image forming apparatus to the developing device to operate the developing device. The image forming apparatus main assembly further includes an electrical contact for electrically connecting with the identification assembly 5 of the developing device to read information related to the developing device. The electric contact is a metal sheet and can be fixedly arranged on the detection rod in a fastening, welding or sticking mode. The electrical contacts are electrically connected to an identification circuit within the main assembly of the image forming apparatus by wires. In other embodiments, the electrical contacts may be provided separately within the image forming apparatus main assembly, instead of on the detection lever.

Referring to fig. 12, the present embodiment provides a developing device including a cartridge 1, a developing roller 131, a powder feeding roller, a stirring frame, a driving assembly, an electrode, a recognition assembly 5, and a member under test 6.

The cartridge 1 has a toner hopper (not shown) therein which can hold a developer, which may be toner. The case 1 has a length in a first direction (A1 and A2 directions), the case 1 has a first end in a positive direction (A1 direction) of the first direction, has a second end in a negative direction (A2 direction) of the first direction, an end face of the first end of the case 1 in the A1 direction is a first side wall 110, an end face of the second end of the case 1 in the A2 direction is a second side wall, and the first side wall 110 and the second side wall are disposed opposite to each other in the first direction. The case 1 has a width in the second direction (B1 and B2 directions), one end of the case 1 along the B1 direction is also referred to as a front end, one end of the case 1 along the B2 direction is also referred to as a rear end, and the hopper is located at the rear end in the second direction. The case 1 has a height in the third direction (C1 and C2 directions), and one end of the case 1 along the C1 direction is also referred to as an upper end, and one end of the case 1 along the C2 direction is also referred to as a lower end.

Referring to fig. 14, the electrode is disposed at the second end of the casing 1, specifically, at the outer side of the second sidewall, and is electrically connected to and receives the voltage output from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, and transmits the voltage output from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus to the developing roller and the powder feeding roller, alternatively, the electrode may be disposed at the first end of the casing 1. In this embodiment, the electrode is a conductive support 40, the support 40 is supported by a conductive material, and both the developing roller and the powder feeding roller are supported on the support 40 and electrically connected to the support 40. The support 40 is further provided with a support column 410, the support column 410 extends along the A2 direction from the surface of the support 40, that is, the axis of the support column 410 extends along the first direction, and the support column 410 and the support 40 are integrally formed, or may be in a split structure and fixedly mounted on the support 40 by welding, pasting, buckling, plugging or other manners.

Referring to fig. 13, the driving assembly includes a driving gear 220, a gear set and a driving member 29, and the driving assembly is disposed at one end of the box 1 in the A1 direction, specifically, is disposed on the outer side (the side facing away from the box 1) of the first sidewall 110 in the A1 direction; alternatively, the driving assembly may be disposed at the second end of the case 1. The driving gear 220 (main gear) is for receiving a driving force of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus and transmitting the driving force through a gear train, thereby driving the developing roller 131, the powder feeding roller, and the agitator to rotate. The gear train includes a developing roller gear 24, a powder feeding roller gear 25, a stirring frame gear 26, and a driven gear, the developing roller gear 24 is fixed to one end of the shaft of the developing roller 131 in the A1 direction, and the developing roller gear 24 is meshed with the driving gear 220, thereby enabling the developing roller 131 to rotate in response to the driving force. The powder feeding roller gear 25 is fixed to one end of the powder feeding roller in the A1 direction, and the powder feeding roller gear 25 is engaged with the driving gear 220 so that the powder feeding roller can be rotated by receiving the driving force. The agitator rack gear 26 is fixed to one end of the agitator rack in the A1 direction, and the agitator rack gear 26 is indirectly engaged with the drive gear 220 through the driven gear, so that the agitator rack can be rotated by receiving the driving force. The developing roller gear 24, the powder feeding roller gear 25, and the agitator gear 26 may be directly or indirectly engaged with the driving gear 220. The driving member 29 is disposed at one end of the stirring frame in the A2 direction, and rotates synchronously with the stirring frame, the driving member 29 is used for driving the detected member 6 to rotate, and the driving member 29 is preferably a gear.

Referring to fig. 13 and 14, further, the developing device further includes a first protecting cover 111 and a second protecting cover 121, where the first protecting cover 111 covers the outer side of the first sidewall 110 of the casing 1, and covers part or all of the gears of the driving assembly in the first protecting cover 111, so as to perform a protecting function. The second protecting cover 121 is provided outside the second sidewall of the developing device, and the second protecting cover 121 is used for installing the identification component 5, protecting the detected member 6, and preventing the detected member 6 from falling out.

Referring to fig. 14 and 15, the identification component 5 is disposed at the second end of the case 1, the identification component 5 includes a mounting structure 41 and a storage medium, specifically, a storage medium 71, where the mounting structure 41 is movably mounted on the second protecting cover 121, specifically, the mounting structure 41 is a substantially rectangular member, the length direction of the member extends along the third direction, the second protecting cover 121 is provided with a mounting position 151 for mounting the mounting structure 41, the inner wall of the mounting position 151 is provided with a first sliding rail 152, the first sliding rail 152 extends along the third direction, the outer wall of the mounting structure 41 is provided with a first protrusion 511, and when the first protrusion 511 is embedded into the first sliding rail 152, so that the entire identification component 5 is mounted on the second protecting cover 121, the first protrusion 511 can also move along the first sliding rail 152, that is, the entire identification component 5 also moves reciprocally along the third direction. Preferably, the first protruding blocks 511 may be disposed on different outer walls of the mounting structure 41, for example, the first protruding blocks 511 are disposed on two opposite outer walls, and correspondingly, the first sliding rails 152 corresponding to the number and positions of the first protruding blocks 511 are also disposed on the inner wall of the mounting position 151. Alternatively, the first sliding rail 152 may be disposed on the outer wall of the mounting structure 41, and the first protrusion 511 is disposed on the inner wall of the mounting position 151, so that the mounting structure 41 can move along the third direction relative to the second protecting cover 121.

Further, the outer wall of the mounting structure 41 is further provided with a stirred portion 512, the stirred portion 512 is a protrusion formed on the outer wall of the mounting structure 41, and the stirred portion 512 can be stirred by the detecting piece 6, so that the whole identification component 5 is driven to move along the third direction.

The storage medium 71 is mounted on the mounting structure 41, specifically, on one end (i.e., the upper end) of the mounting structure 41 in the C1 direction, and the upper end of the mounting structure 41 may be provided with a chute for mounting the storage medium 71, or the storage medium 71 may be attached to the upper end of the mounting structure 41. The storage medium 71 includes a storage element and an electrical contact surface 42 provided on an upper surface of the storage element, the electrical contact surface 42 being for electrical connection with an electrical contact provided on the image forming apparatus main assembly, thereby establishing communication between the image forming apparatus main assembly and the storage medium 71, enabling the image forming apparatus main assembly to read information (model, size, capacity, etc.) about the developing apparatus stored in the storage medium 71.

When the identification member 5 is moved (moved upward) in the direction C1 by the detection member 6, the electrical contact surface 42 of the storage medium 71 is in contact electrical connection with the electrical contact.

The detected piece 6 is arranged at the second end of the box body 1, the detected piece 6 is close to the identification component 5, and the identification component 5 is positioned at one side of the detected piece 6 along the B2 direction in the second direction. Specifically, the detected member 6 is sleeved on the support column 410 of the support 40, and can rotate around the axis of the support column 410 under the drive of the driving member 29. The one end of the detected piece 6 near the second side wall is provided with a tooth 193 and a notch 195, the tooth 193 is provided with a half circumference tooth, the other half circumference is provided with the notch 195, when the tooth 193 is meshed with the driving piece 29, the detected piece 6 can be driven to rotate, the rotation angle of the detected piece 6 is related to the stroke of the tooth 193, and when the notch 195 is opposite to the driving piece 29, namely, when the tooth 193 is disengaged from the driving piece 29, the detected piece 6 can not be driven to rotate by the driving piece 29 any more. Alternatively, a non-gear transmission mode such as friction transmission, belt transmission, etc. may be used between the detected member 6 and the driving member 29.

An elastic piece is further installed between the detected piece 6 and the second protecting cover 121, and is constructed in a compressed state, one end of the elastic piece is abutted against the detected piece 6, and the other end of the elastic piece is abutted against the second protecting cover 121, so that the detected piece 6 is always abutted against the second side wall of the box body 1. The elastic piece is preferably a compression spring, and can also be a torsion spring, an elastic sponge, elastic rubber, a shrapnel and the like.

The end of the detected piece 6 far away from the second side wall is provided with at least one stirring protrusion 63, the stirring protrusion 63 rotates along with the detected piece 6, and the stirred portion 512 is located in the rotation track of the stirring protrusion 63, so that when the detected piece 6 rotates, the stirring protrusion 63 contacts with the stirred portion 512 and stirs the stirred portion 512, thereby driving the identification component 5 to move upwards along the third direction, and the electric contact surface 42 of the storage medium 71 is in contact electric connection with the electric contact.

When the toggle protrusion 63 rotates beyond the toggled portion 512, the upward pushing force of the toggle protrusion 63 on the toggled portion 512 disappears, the identification module 5 moves downward, and the electrical contact surface 42 of the storage medium 71 is separated from the electrical contact, and the connection is broken. This process is noted as one contact of the electrical contact face 42 with the electrical contact, i.e., one time the number of times the storage medium 71 is electrically connected to the identification circuit within the image forming apparatus.

The number of upward movements of the mounting structure 41 and the number of contact times of the electrical contact surface 42 with the electrical contact are determined by the number of toggle protrusions 63 on the detected member 6, and when the toggle protrusions 63 are arranged in a plurality along the circumferential direction of the detected member 6, different types of developing devices can be provided with different numbers of toggle protrusions 63, and the contact times of the electrical contact surface 42 with the electrical contact are also different, so that different developing devices can be identified.

Further, the outer wall of the mounting structure 41 is further provided with an engaging portion 513, the second protecting cover 121 is provided with a coupling portion 153 engaged with the engaging portion 513, specifically, the engaging portion 513 is a buckle, and the coupling portion 153 is a bayonet matched with the buckle. After the identification module 5 is moved by a certain distance along the direction C1, the engaging portion 513 engages with the engaging portion 153, and the position of the identification module 5 is fixed.

When the engaging portion 513 is provided on the mounting structure 41, the length of the last stirring protrusion 63 of the detected member 6 contacting the stirring portion 512 in the radial direction of the detected member 6 is greater than the lengths of the other stirring protrusions 63 in the radial direction of the detected member 6 (the length of the stirring protrusion 63 in the radial direction of the detected member 6 refers to the distance from one end of the stirring protrusion 63 away from the axis of the detected member 6 to the axis), so that the last stirring protrusion 63 can push the identification component 5 to move upwards by a larger distance, the engaging portion 513 can be engaged with the engaging portion 153, and after the engagement, the identification component 5 can no longer move downwards along the C2 direction, and the electrical contact surface 42 continuously contacts with the electrical contact. If only one toggle protrusion 63 is provided on the detected member 6, the toggle protrusion 63 is also the last toggle protrusion 63 to be in contact with the toggled portion 512, and the length in the radial direction is set to be large, so that the mounting structure 41 can be pushed to a position to be engaged with the engaging portion 153.

In some other embodiments, the engaging portion 513 on the mounting structure 41 and the engaging portion 153 on the second protecting cover 121 may be omitted, so that the storage medium 71 need not be kept in contact with the electrical contacts, and only needs to be contacted for a certain period of time to transmit information, so that the storage medium 71 is prevented from being contacted for a long time to cause abrasion deformation of the electrical contact surface 42, which is not beneficial to recycling of the storage medium 71. In addition, the electrical contact surface 42 may or may not always contact the electrical contact, and may also be used as a combination of recognition mechanisms of different types of developing devices, for example, if the number of contacts between the electrical contact surface 42 and the electrical contact head is the same, the last contact may be used to distinguish between different developing devices.

In some other embodiments, the toggle protrusion 63 also acts as a detection lever for the detected protrusion 64 triggering the main assembly of the image forming apparatus. The number of toggle protrusions 63 determines the number of times of touching the detection lever, the detection lever swings when triggered by the toggle protrusions 63, the detection lever can block light emitted by the light emitting portion when swinging, and a signal is generated when the light intensity received by the light receiving portion changes, so that the image forming apparatus main assembly records the number of times the detection lever is triggered. The image forming apparatus main assembly may compare the number of times the detected projection 64 touches the detection lever with pre-stored information, thereby judging information (model, capacity, lifetime, etc.) of the developing apparatus.

In this embodiment, according to the number of toggle protrusions 63, in addition to the number of times the detecting lever is touched, the number of times the mounting structure 41 moves upward and the number of times the electric contact surface 42 contacts the electric contact are determined, that is, the number of times the storage medium 71 is electrically connected to the identification circuit in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, according to the number of times the storage medium 71 is electrically connected to the identification circuit, the number of times the storage medium 71 is electrically connected to the identification circuit and the number of times the detecting lever is touched may be combined as one dimension for determining the information of the developing apparatus, and compared with the detecting method of a single dimension, the information of two dimensions may be arranged and combined differently, so that more developing apparatuses of different types may be corresponding to each other.

In some other embodiments, the stirring protrusion 63 may be configured to stir only the stirred portion 512 of the mounting structure 41 and not to contact the detection lever, and the detected protrusion 64 for contact with the detection lever is provided on the detected piece 6, the number of detected protrusions 64 being at least one. The length of the toggle protrusion 63 in the radial direction of the detected piece 6 may be set to be different from that of the detected protrusion 64 so that the toggle protrusion 63 can abut against the toggle portion 512 but cannot touch the detection lever when the detected piece 6 rotates, and the detected protrusion 64 is also set so as to touch only the detection lever but cannot release to the toggle portion 512 when the detected piece 6 rotates. Alternatively, the detected projection 64 may be provided so as to be able to both toggle the detected portion and touch the detection lever.

The number of the poking protrusions 63 may be the same as or different from the number of the detected protrusions 64, and the poking protrusions 63 and the detected protrusions 64 may be sequentially arranged along the circumferential direction of the detected member 6 or may be arranged at intervals.

In some other embodiments, the identification component 5 may be disposed at the first end of the box 1, and the detected member 6 is correspondingly disposed at the first end of the box 1, so that the stirred portion 512 of the mounting structure 41 is located in the rotation track of the stirring protrusion 63 of the detected member 6. In addition, when the recognition module 5 is disposed at the first end, the detected member 6 may be disposed at the second end, and the detected member 6 may be disposed at the first end in addition to the same elements as the detected member 6 in structure, so as to implement the movement of the recognition module 5.

In this embodiment, a new detection manner is provided, and the identification of the developing device is performed by combining the number of times that the electrical contact surface 42 of the identification component 5 is electrically connected with the electrical contact and the number of times that the detection lever is triggered, so that more developing devices with different models can be corresponding to each other; the problem that in the prior art, the developing device is detected through a mode that a plurality of protrusions touch the detection rod, the number of protrusions to be arranged is increased, and due to the fact that manufacturing tolerance exists, the more the number of protrusions is, the more the detection is prone to errors, so that the developing device cannot be accurately detected by the image forming device is solved. And the identification component 5 and the detected piece 6 can be designed to be closer to each other, which is beneficial to the miniaturization of the developing device.

Embodiment III:

the difference between the present embodiment and the second embodiment is that at least one detected protrusion 64 and at least one toggle protrusion 63 are provided on the detected member 6 in the present embodiment, and the toggle protrusion 63 is located downstream of the detected protrusion 64 in the rotation direction of the detected member 6. In the present embodiment, the number of the toggle protrusions 63 and the detected protrusions 64 is one. The dimension of the toggle protrusion 63 in the radial direction is larger than the dimension of the detected protrusion 64 in the radial direction.

When the developing device is operated, the driving gear 220 receives the power output from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, and rotates the stirring frame and the driving member 29, the driving member 29 then drives the detected member 6 to rotate, and the stirring protrusion 63 and the detected protrusion 64 move in a circular motion along with the rotation of the detected member 6. Since the dial protrusion 63 is downstream of the detected protrusion 64 in the rotation direction of the detected member 6, the detected protrusion 64 passes the position of the dial portion 512 on the mounting structure 41 first with the movement of the detected member 6, but since the size of the detected protrusion 64 in the radial direction is smaller than the size of the dial protrusion 63 in the radial direction, the detected protrusion 64 cannot dial the dial portion 512. Then, as the detected member 6 continues to rotate, the detected projection 64 rotates to the detection position and touches the detection lever, so that the developing device is detected by the image forming device. As the toggle protrusion 63 passes the detection position again, since the dimension of the toggle protrusion 63 in the radial direction is larger than the dimension of the detected protrusion 64 in the radial direction, the toggle protrusion 63 toggles the toggled protrusion 512, so that the mounting structure 41 moves upward, and the engaging portion 513 engages with the engaging portion 153, so that the electrical contact surface 42 is in electrical contact with the electrical contact. In other embodiments, the toggle protrusion 63 may also be reduced in size in the radial direction such that the toggle protrusion 63 toggles only the mounting structure 41 upward and brings the electrical contact face 42 into electrical contact with the electrical contact without the engagement portion 513 engaging the engagement portion 153.

By adopting the design, after the detection process of the detection rod is finished, the chip is electrically connected, and compared with the prior detection process of the detection rod after the electric connection of the chip, the detection process of the detection rod can avoid the problem that when the detected protrusion 64 on the developing device contacts with the detection rod in the image forming device to carry out the detection process, the box body 1 shakes due to the collision between the detected protrusion 64 and the detection rod, so that the electric contact between the electric contact surface 42 and the electric contact is unstable. Further, damage to the storage medium 71 can be avoided.

In other embodiments, this may be provided as well: the number of the detected protrusions 64 is plural, and the toggle protrusion 63 is disposed upstream of the last detected protrusion 64, so that an event that the toggle protrusion 63 pushes the mounting structure to protrude to electrically connect the electrical contact surface with the electrical contact precedes an event that the last detected protrusion 64 triggers a detection lever in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

Example IV

Referring to fig. 17 to 27, the main difference between the present embodiment and the second embodiment is that: the arrangement of the identification component and the detected piece is different.

Referring to fig. 17 to 20, the cartridge 1 has a hopper 20 for accommodating a developer, which may be toner. The box body 1 has a length in a first direction (A1 and A2 directions), the box body 1 has a first end in a positive direction (A1 direction) of the first direction, has a second end in a negative direction (A2 direction) of the first direction, an end face of the first end of the box body 1 in the A1 direction is a first side wall, an end face of the second end of the box body 1 in the A2 direction is a second side wall, and the first side wall and the second side wall are oppositely arranged in the first direction. The cartridge 1 has a width in the second direction (B1 and B2 directions), one end of the cartridge 1 in the B1 direction is also referred to as a front end, one end of the cartridge 1 in the B2 direction is also referred to as a rear end, and the hopper 20 is located at the rear end in the second direction. The case 1 has a height in the third direction (C1 and C2 directions), and one end of the case 1 along the C1 direction is also referred to as an upper end, and one end of the case 1 along the C2 direction is also referred to as a lower end.

Referring to fig. 22 to 24, the detected member 6 is disposed at one end of the case 1 in the A2 direction, specifically, outside the second sidewall in the A2 direction. The detected member 6 includes a disc portion 191, and at least one detected projection 64 is provided on an end surface of the disc portion 191 remote from the case 1. In some embodiments, the detected protrusion 64 may include adjacent first and second protrusions 1921, 1922, and a third protrusion 1923 distal from the first and second protrusions 1921, 1922. The first boss 1921, the second boss 1922, and the third boss 1923 each have a radial portion and a circumferential portion. The radial portion is a radial portion extending in the A1 direction on the surface of the disc portion 191 and distributed in the radial direction of the disc portion 191, and the circumferential portion is a circumferential portion extending along the vicinity of the edge of the disc portion 191 and having a circumferential curvature. One end of the circumferential portion of the first boss 1921 is connected to one end of the radial portion, and the other end of the circumferential portion is a head end portion having a columnar surface. The radial portion or a part of the radial portion of the second boss 1922 is offset from the radial direction of the disk portion by an angle, and one end of the radial portion of the second boss 1922 is connected to an intermediate position of the circumferential portion, and an end of the circumferential portion of the second boss 1922 is provided as a slope or a rounded surface without providing a head end. The radial portion of the third boss 1923 is connected to the head end portion having a rounded surface.

Referring to fig. 25, a tooth 193 for receiving power is provided on one surface of the disc portion 191 adjacent to the case 1, a notch 195 is provided at a portion other than the tooth 193, a through hole 196 is provided at the center of the disc portion 191, and a hollow cylinder 157 is provided along the tooth 193 side at one end surface of the disc portion 191 adjacent to the case 1. The disc portion 191 and the hollow cylinder 157 are rotatable about their axes. The outer surface of the hollow cylinder 157 is provided with a reinforcing rib 198, one end of the outer surface of the hollow cylinder 157, which is close to the end face of the box body 1, is provided with a protruding circular ring 199 and a second protrusion 194, and the second protrusion 194 connects the side face of the protruding circular ring 199 with the outer surface of the hollow cylinder 157.

Referring to fig. 26, the main assembly of the image forming apparatus includes a mounting chamber for detachably and fixedly mounting a process cartridge, the mounting chamber is provided with a side wall 30, the side wall 30 is provided with a first projection 30a and a second projection 30b along a direction A1, the first projection 30a is provided with a circular through hole, a detecting lever 3 is provided with a ball 31 near one end portion, and the ball 31 divides the detecting lever 3 into a head portion and a tail portion. The ball 31 is mounted in the through hole of the first bump 30 a. The image forming apparatus is provided with a light detection groove 32 at an upper portion of the first bump 30a, the light detection groove 32 being spaced apart from the first bump 30a by a distance. The light detection groove 32 comprises a first U-shaped piece 32a and a second U-shaped piece 32b, the first U-shaped piece 32a is nested in the second U-shaped piece 32b, and the first U-shaped piece 32a is provided with a first light transmission window 33 and a second light transmission window 34 on two side walls; the second U-shaped member 32b is provided with third and fourth light-transmitting windows 35 and 36 on both side walls. A first laser transmitter for transmitting laser light in a first direction is installed in the first light transmission window 33, and a first laser receiver for receiving laser light transmitted by the first laser transmitter is installed in the second light transmission window 34. A second laser transmitter for transmitting laser light in a second direction is installed in the third light transmission window 35, and a second laser receiver for receiving laser light transmitted by the second laser transmitter is installed in the fourth light transmission window 36. The head of the detection rod 3 protrudes into the first U-shaped piece 32a of the light detection groove 32. The head of the detection lever 3 swings in the first U-shaped member 32a in accordance with the pressing of the detection protrusion 192 of the detection subject 6 or the side surface of the disc portion 191 against the detection lever 3. The detection rod 3 is also provided with a second compression spring 38 and a third compression spring 37. The second compression spring 38 is disposed between the tail of the detection rod 3 and the side wall of the mounting bin 30, and provides a restoring force in the first direction for the detection rod 3. The third compression spring 37 is disposed between the tail of the detection lever 3 and the second protrusion 30b to provide a restoring force in the second direction to the detection lever 3. That is, the second compression spring 36 is provided along the axial direction (first direction) of the developing roller 11, and the third compression spring 37 is provided along the front-rear direction (second direction).

Referring to fig. 27, when the developing device 10 or the process cartridge is mounted to the mounting bin of the image forming apparatus main assembly, the detection lever 3 of the image forming apparatus main assembly detects a detected member on the developing device.

The detected member 6 on one end surface of the developing device 10 is driven by a driving member 29 connected to the stirring frame 130, and the driving member 29 may be a gear. In some embodiments, a non-gear transmission mode such as friction transmission, belt transmission and the like can be adopted between the detected member 6 and the driving member 29. The disc portion 191 is rotatably mounted on the second side wall of the case 1. A first compression spring 39 is installed between the detected piece 6 and the second protecting cover 121, and the first compression spring 39 is used for enabling the detected piece 6 to be always abutted against the second end of the box body 1, specifically, to be tightly pressed on the outer side face of the second side wall. The second end of the case 1 is further integrally formed with a first protrusion 250, and the disc portion 191 is integrally formed with a second protrusion 194 that mates with the first protrusion 250, and in some embodiments, the first protrusion 250 is disposed on the circumference of movement of the second protrusion 194. In some embodiments, the first protrusion 25 is disposed on the movement circumference of the second protrusion 194, and the detected member 6 is rotated by receiving the driving force, and when the second protrusion 194 contacts the first protrusion 250, the first protrusion 250 presses the second protrusion 194, and the second protrusion 194 is pressed to move in the axial direction (i.e., move in the negative direction of the first direction, A2 direction), so that the side of the disc portion 191 in the detected member 6 pushes the detection lever 3 to move. The contact surfaces of the first protrusion 250 and the second protrusion 194 are inclined surfaces or arc surfaces.

When the detected piece 6 moves along the axial direction, the tail part of the detection rod 3 swings along the first direction, so that the head part of the detection rod 3 also swings along the first direction, and then the laser emitted by the second laser emitter is blocked, and the second laser receiver cannot receive the laser. The first protrusions 250 may be provided in plurality, and the image forming apparatus generates the same number of electrical signals according to the number of the first protrusions 250.

When the detection object 6 rotates, the plurality of detection protrusions 192 rotate with the rotation of the detection object 6, and when the plurality of detection protrusions 192 rotate to a position where they contact with the tail portion of the detection lever 3, the detection lever 3 is driven to swing in the second direction by the plurality of detection protrusions 192, so that the head portion of the detection lever 3 also swings in the second direction, and further the laser light emitted by the first laser emitter is blocked, the first laser receiver cannot receive the laser light, and the image forming apparatus generates the same number of electric signals according to the number of the plurality of detection protrusions 192.

In the present utility model, the detected member 6 is not only rotatable but also axially movable, so that the detecting lever 3 can judge the type of the developing device based on the combination of the two signals of the number of times of pushing in the first direction and the number of times of pushing in the second direction. And the different types and different information of the developing device can be corresponding according to the different arrangement and combination of the two signals. The speed of touching the detection rod 3, the time of shielding the laser and the interval time of shielding the laser for two times can be judged, so that the detection range of the image forming device to the developing device is greatly widened, more models can be designed for the developing device to adapt to the requirements of different clients, and the problem of detecting the developing device by the image forming device is avoided.

In some embodiments, a storage medium of the developing device, specifically, a first storage medium, may be disposed on the inspected member 6, and correspondingly moved along with the rotational movement and the axial movement of the inspected member 6, and when the inspected member 6 is moved to the final position, the storage medium is correspondingly located at an operating position capable of being electrically connected to an electrical contact of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus. The arrangement mode makes the initial position of the storage medium not contacted by the electrical contact, and the storage medium can not reach the working position and contact with the electrical contact only by moving (for example, moving of the detected piece 6) after being triggered by a specific structure, so that the storage medium is prevented from being damaged or misidentified due to the fact that the electrical contact is unstable due to the fact that the storage medium is wrongly contacted by the electrical contact in the process of installing the developing device 10 into the installation bin.

Fifth embodiment:

referring to fig. 28 to 30, the present embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in that a stopper member is provided on a side wall of a mounting bin of a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the side wall of the mounting bin including a first wall 410 and a second wall 420. The directions A1 and A2 are perpendicular to the first wall 410, and the directions B1 and B2 are perpendicular to the second wall 420. The first wall 410 is provided with a sliding rail along the direction B2, the sliding rail is slidably provided with a first rod 440, the second wall 420 is provided with a supporting seat 48 which is integrally formed with a rotating shaft 481 along the direction C1, the rotating shaft 481 is rotatably provided with a second rod 460, the second rod 460 is parallel to the directions A1 and A2, the second rod 460 is provided with a waist-shaped hole 461 along the directions A1 and A2, and the second rod 460 is connected with the rotating shaft 481 through the waist-shaped hole 461. One end of the second lever 460 near the first wall 410 is rotatably connected to one end of the first lever 440 in the B2 direction, and an elastic member 470 is installed between the second lever 460 and the second wall 420, and the elastic member 470 is used to maintain the second lever 460 in a state parallel to the A1, A2 directions. The image forming apparatus main assembly further includes a door rotatably coupled to the image forming apparatus main assembly. The door is used to close the mounting bin after the developing device 10 and drum assembly 1000 are mounted thereto. The door cover is provided with an acting portion 430, and the acting portion 430 is used for pushing one end of the second lever 460 in the A1 direction. The blocking portion 450 is integrally formed at one end of the first rod 440 in the B1 direction, and the blocking portion 450 extends along the A1 direction, and the blocking portion 450 is used for applying a pushing force to the detection rod 3 to prevent the detection rod 3 from contacting the detected member 6.

The operation is as follows, when the door is opened, the elastic member 470 applies a pulling force to the second lever 460 such that the second lever 460 is parallel to the A1, A2 directions. The second lever 460 pulls the first lever 440 such that the first lever 440 moves in the B1 direction, thereby causing the blocking part 450 to jack up the detection lever 3 and elastically deform the third compression spring 37. Then, the user installs the developing device 10 and the drum assembly 1000 in the installation bin, and during the installation process, the blocking part 450 applies the pushing force towards the direction B1 to the detection rod 3 and counteracts the elastic force of the third pressure spring 37, so that the detection rod 3 cannot be reset, and an error signal generated when the detection rod 3 is touched by mistake during the installation process of the developing device 10 is avoided.

When the developing device 10 and the drum assembly 1000 are installed in the installation bin, the user closes the door so that the door closes the installation bin, and at the same time, the acting portion 430 on the door applies a pushing force to one end of the second lever 460 in the A1 direction, so that the second lever 460 overcomes the elastic force of the elastic member 470 and swings, one end of the second lever 460 in the A2 direction swings toward the B2 direction, thereby pulling the first lever 440 to slide along the B2 direction, and the first lever 440 pulls the blocking portion 450 to move toward the B2 direction, so that the blocking portion 450 no longer blocks the detecting lever 3, and the detecting lever 3 is reset under the action of the third pressure spring 37, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the detecting lever 3.

Example six:

referring to fig. 31, the difference between the present embodiment and the fourth embodiment is that the second cover is integrally formed with a support column along the A1 direction, and the support column includes a threaded section 270 (first mating portion) having an external thread integrally formed on a circumferential surface and a smooth section 260 having a smooth circumferential surface, and the smooth section 260 is farther from the case 1 in the A1 direction than the threaded section 270. The detection target 6 is provided with a screw hole 1961 (first engaging portion) having an internal thread in the axial direction, and the detection target 6 is screwed and rotatably connected to the support column through the screw hole 1961. In other embodiments, support posts may also be provided on the cassette.

When the developing device 10 is mounted in the mounting bin, the detected member 6 is screwed with the thread section 270 without contacting the smooth section 260, and at this time, the detected member 6 is in the first state, the image forming device outputs power to the developing device 10 so that the detected member 6 rotates, and as the detected member 6 rotates, the detected member 6 is moved in the A2 direction while being rotated by the thread until the screw hole 1961 is completely disconnected from the thread section 270, and at this time, the detected member 6 is in the second state, and the detected protrusion 64 on the detected member 6 in the first state is closer to the cartridge 1 in the A1 direction than the detected protrusion 64 on the detected member 6 in the second state. Thereby avoiding the false touching of the detected protrusion 64 to the detecting rod 3 during the installation of the developing device 10, which causes the false signal of the detecting rod 3, and avoiding the movement of the detected protrusion 64 caused by touching of other structures in the installation bin, which causes the error of the detecting process because the detected piece 6 is not at the preset initial position before the dry detection.

In other embodiments, the external thread on the threaded section 270 may be replaced with a sliding protrusion protruding in the radial direction of the threaded section 270, and the sliding protrusion may be inserted into the internal thread of the threaded hole 1961 of the detected member 6, so that displacement in the A1 or A2 direction is achieved by the cooperation of the internal thread and the sliding protrusion when the detected member 6 rotates. Similarly, the sliding protrusions may also replace the internal threads of the threaded bore 1961 and only retain the external threads on the threaded section 270 such that the sliding protrusions mate with the external threads of the threaded section 270.

Embodiment seven:

referring to fig. 32-37, the difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is mainly that: the arrangement mode of the component is identified.

The drum assembly of the present embodiment includes a first frame portion 61, a second frame portion 62, a photosensitive drum 107, a urging member 630, the photosensitive drum 107 being rotatably supported by the first frame portion 61, the central axis of the photosensitive drum 107 being parallel to the central axis of the developing roller 131. The second frame portion 62 is for mounting a developing device, which is detachably mounted into the second frame portion 62, and a urging member 630 is provided on a side of the rear side wall of the second frame portion 62 facing the photosensitive drum 107. A compression spring is fixedly connected to one surface of the pushing member 630, which is close to the rear side wall of the second frame part 62, and one end of the compression spring, which is close to the second frame part 62, is fixedly connected with the second frame part 62.

The identification component of the developing device includes a storage medium 71, a first support 330, and a mounting structure, the storage medium 71 including an electrical contact surface 42. The storage medium, specifically a first storage medium, 71 is provided on a mounting structure provided to enable the electrical contact surface 42 to move telescopically in a contact direction which coincides with or has a coincidence component with a separation direction of the developing roller and the photosensitive drum, so that the mounting structure enables the electrical contact surface 42 to protrude in the contact direction and to remain in contact with an electrical contact of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus when the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are separated. In this embodiment, the mounting structure includes a second support 340 and an elastic member.

The first support 330 includes an integrally formed positioning portion 331 and a support portion 332. The positioning portion 331 is provided with screw holes, and the positioning portion 331 is fixedly mounted to the right end face of the first cover 111 by screws. The support portion 332 extends rightward away from the case 1, and a surface of the support portion 332 facing the photosensitive drum 107 is provided with a mounting hole 333, and the mounting hole 333 is a blind hole. The side wall of the mounting hole 333 is provided with a guide groove 334, and the extending direction of the guide groove 334 is parallel to the contact direction, in this embodiment, the contact direction is parallel to the direction of the urging force applied to the case 1 by the urging member 630 or has a component in the urging direction. In the present embodiment, the directions of the contact direction and the urging force are both parallel to the direction of the line connecting the center axis of the photosensitive drum 107 and the center axis of the developing roller 131. The second support 340 includes a mounting portion 343, an extending portion 341, and a foot portion 342. The mounting portion 343 has a plate shape, and the extending portion 341 is integrally formed on a surface of the mounting portion 343 adjacent to the mounting hole 333, and an extending direction of the extending portion 341 is parallel to an extending direction of the guide groove 334. The leg 342 is integrally formed at an end of the extension 341 remote from the mounting portion 343. The foot 342 is slidably mounted within the guide slot 334, and the foot 342 is slidably mounted within the guide slot 334. The elastic member of the mounting structure is mounted in the mounting hole 333, and specifically, the elastic member is a spring 35, and one end of the spring 35 abuts against the mounting hole 333 and the other end abuts against the mounting portion 343. The spring 35 is retractable in a direction parallel to the contact direction. The storage medium 71 is fixedly mounted on a side of the mounting portion 343 facing the photosensitive drum 107. The electric contact surface 42 is fixedly mounted on a side of the storage medium 71 facing the photosensitive drum 107, and the contact direction is perpendicular to the electric contact surface 42. The electrical contact surface 42 is closer to the rear end of the case 1 than the power receiving portion 21.

The first cover 111 is provided with a first acting portion 1113, the first acting portion 1113 being formed to protrude rightward from the surface of the first cover 111, and a projection of the first acting portion 1113 in the first direction being located between the outer circumferential surface of the power receiving portion 21 and the center axis of the developing roller 131. The front end of the upper cover 123 is integrally formed with a second acting portion 1231, the projection of which in the first direction is located between the outer circumferential surface of the power receiving portion 21 and the central axis of the developing roller 131. The first acting portion 1113 and the second acting portion serve to receive a separation force output from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, the separation force serving to move the cartridge 1 in a direction away from the photosensitive drum 107, so that the developing roller 131 is separated from the photosensitive drum 107 when the image forming apparatus has no print job. The first acting portion 1113 and the second acting portion may directly receive the separation force output from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, or may indirectly receive the separation force output from the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

An electrical contact 610 is provided in the image forming apparatus main assembly, and the electrical contact 610 is configured to contact and electrically connect with the electrical contact surface 42, thereby reading information stored in the storage medium 71.

With the above design, when the developing device is mounted in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, the electric contact surface 42 will not rub, collide or interfere with the inner wall of the developing device, so that the electric contact surface 42 is prevented from being worn out or crashed out, which results in information unreadable or data damaged. When the developing device is mounted in place, the electrical contact surface 42 contacts the electrical contact 610, and the mounting portion 343 slides along the guide groove 334 against the elastic force of the spring 35 under the action of an external force applied by a user, so that the spring 35 is compressed under the action of the external force, thereby maintaining the pressing contact between the electrical contact surface 42 and the electrical contact 610 and avoiding poor contact.

When the image forming apparatus does not have a print job, the first acting portion 1113 and the second acting portion receive a separation force applied by the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, so that the cartridge 1 pushes the urging member 630 rearward, and the compression spring is compressed. The rearward movement of the cartridge 1 also brings the developing roller 131 to move rearward together, thereby separating the developing roller 131 from the photosensitive drum 107. Since the spring 35 is installed between the installation portion 343 and the installation hole 333, and after the developing device is installed in place, the spring 35 is in a compressed state, so that when the cartridge 1 moves backward under the action of the separating force, the elastic potential energy of the spring 35 is released, the spring 35 can always press the installation portion 343, the storage medium and the electric contact surface 42 onto the electric contact 610, and the electric contact surface 42 and the electric contact 610 can still be electrically connected when the cartridge 1 moves under the separating force. The error in the identification of the developing device by the main assembly of the image forming apparatus due to the disconnection of the electrical connection is avoided.

After the electric contact surface 42 is electrically connected with the electric contact 610, the main assembly of the image forming apparatus reads information in the storage medium, identifies information such as the type, capacity, size, service life and the like of the developing device, and as the developing device is used, the information in the storage medium is subjected to coverage update, so that real-time information (such as residual service life, residual developer amount, residual printable number and the like) of the developing device is recorded in the storage medium, and when the developing device which is not used is installed in the main assembly of other image forming apparatuses, the main assembly of the image forming apparatus can display real information of the developing device instead of factory preset information, thereby being convenient for a user to use.

In other embodiments, the first acting portion 1113 may be omitted, and only the end of the developing roller 131 away from the electric contact surface 42 is separated from the photosensitive drum 107, in which case the mounting portion 343 and the mounting hole 333 may be fixedly connected without the mounting spring 35.

In other embodiments, the contact between the developing roller and the photosensitive drum may be achieved in other ways without providing the urging member and the pressing spring.

In other embodiments, the mounting structure may be an elastic structure such as an elastic sponge, and the second supporting member 340 and the spring 35 may be replaced by an elastic sponge, where the elastic sponge has both the functions of mounting and supporting, and providing elastic displacement.

It should be noted that in the first to seventh embodiments described above, the storage medium includes the storage element for storing information and the electric contact surface electrically connected to the storage element and for electrically connecting to the electric contact of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, that is, the storage medium is electrically connected to the electric contact specifically through the electric contact surface, and because the storage element and the electric contact surface are generally integrally provided, the storage medium is moved integrally, that is, the electric contact surface is moved, and in other embodiments, the storage element is provided separately from the electric contact surface, the storage element is not moved, and only the electric contact surface is moved (the storage element and the electric contact surface are electrically connected by a wire or the like), thereby achieving the electric connection to the electric contact.

Example eight:

referring to fig. 38 to 45, the main difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that: the arrangement mode of the component is identified.

The identification component of the developing device includes a first holder 7 and a first storage medium 71. The first bracket 7 is located at the first end 11 of the cartridge 1, the first bracket 7 having a lower end face 72. The first storage medium 71 includes a first storage element for storing information about the developing device 10 and a first set of electrical contact surfaces 71 electrically connected to each other, the first storage medium 71 being located at a lower end surface 72 of the first bracket 7, the first set of electrical contact surfaces 711 being 4 electrical contact surfaces in this embodiment, the first set of electrical contact surfaces 711 facing downward and being inclined to the third direction in the third direction.

The drum assembly 1000 includes a first frame 101, a second frame 102, a third frame 103, a fourth frame 104, a photosensitive drum 107, a second bracket 8, and a second storage medium 81, the first frame 101 and the second frame 102 being disposed opposite each other in a first direction. The second bracket 8 is provided on the first frame 101. The photosensitive drum 107 is located between the first frame 101 and the second frame 102 in the first direction, and is rotatably supported to the first frame 101 and the second frame 102. The photosensitive drum 107 is in contact with a developing roller 131 on the developing device 10, and the photosensitive drum 106 is used to form an electrostatic latent image, and receives charged toner on the developing roller 131 to form a toner image.

A second storage medium 81 is located on the second support 8, the second storage medium 81 comprising a second storage element for storing information of the drum assembly 1000, a third set of electrical contact surfaces 82, a fourth set of electrical contact surfaces 811A and a fifth set of electrical contact surfaces 811B, the second storage element and the fifth set of electrical contact surfaces being electrically connected. The third set of electrical contacts 82 is located on the second support 8, and in the S direction the third set of electrical contacts 82 is located opposite the second set of electrical contacts 811 at both ends of the support 8. The third set of electrical contacts 82 has 4 electrical contacts, the third set of electrical contacts 82 being disposed opposite the fourth set of electrical contacts 811A and the fifth set of electrical contacts 811B for electrical contact with the first set of electrical contacts 711.

The first end 11 is adjacent to the first frame 101, the first leg 7 is adjacent to the second leg 8, the fourth set of electrical contacts 811A and the fifth set of electrical contacts 811B are oriented in the same direction as the first set of electrical contacts 711, and the third set of electrical contacts 82 are electrically connected to the fourth set of electrical contacts 811A by wires 83. The first set of electrical contact surfaces 711 are not in direct contact with electrical contacts within the image forming apparatus main assembly, the first storage medium 71 is electrically connected to the third set of electrical contact surfaces 82 through the first set of electrical contact surfaces 711, the third set of electrical contact surfaces 82 are electrically connected to the fourth set of electrical contact surfaces 811A, and the fourth set of electrical contact surfaces 811A communicate information of the developing device 10 when in contact with electrical contacts within the image forming apparatus main assembly; the fifth set of electrical contact surfaces 811B when in contact with the electrical contacts of the main assembly within the image forming apparatus conveys the information developing device of the drum assembly 1000. With the above structural design, it is possible to make the first storage medium 71 storing the information of the developing device 10 and the second storage medium 81 storing the information of the drum assembly 1000 in the image forming apparatus main assembly not necessarily laid out in different positions respectively to provide two electrical contacts for enabling the first storage medium 71 and the second storage medium 81 to transfer the information into the image forming apparatus main assembly, thereby reducing the number of electrical contacts of the image forming apparatus main assembly and simplifying the circuit arrangement in the image forming apparatus main assembly.

Example nine:

referring to fig. 46-47, the main difference between this embodiment and embodiment eight is that the second storage medium storing the information of the drum assembly 1000 in this embodiment is not located in the first frame 101 and is not electrically connected to the first storage medium storing the information of the developing device 10, and the first storage medium is oriented differently from embodiment eight.

The drum assembly 1000 has a second storage medium 81 storing drum assembly information, the second storage medium 81 being located on the third frame 103, the second storage medium 81 having a drum electrical contact surface 91, the drum electrical contact surface 91 being for electrical contact with electrical contacts within the image forming apparatus main assembly, the drum assembly 1000 information being transferred to the image forming apparatus main assembly, the second storage medium 81 being closer to the third frame 103 than the drum electrical contact surface 91 in the second direction. In the first direction, the distance of the second storage medium 81 from the second frame 102 is smaller than the distance of the second frame 102 from the first frame 101; in the first direction, the second storage medium 81 is closer to the second frame 102 with respect to the first frame 101.

The first holder 7 includes an upper end surface 73 and a first storage medium 71, the first storage medium 71 being for storing information of the developing device 10, the first storage medium 71 being located at the upper end surface 73 of the holder 7, the first storage medium 71 having a developing electrical contact surface 711A, the developing electrical contact surface 711A facing upward and being inclined toward a third direction in which the developing electrical contact surface 711A is farther from the upper end surface 73 of the holder 7 than the first storage medium 71. The developing electrical contact surface 711A is in direct contact with an electrical contact within the image forming apparatus main assembly such that the first storage medium 71 is recognized by the image forming apparatus main assembly and transmits information of the developing device 10 to the image forming apparatus main assembly.

By disposing the second storage medium 81 on the third frame 103 at the front end of the drum assembly 1000 such that the drum electrical contact surface 91 of the drum storage medium 9 is not in contact with the electrical contacts in the image forming apparatus main assembly until the drum assembly 1000 is completely mounted to the image forming apparatus main assembly, it is possible to prevent the second storage medium 81 from rubbing against other originals on the image forming apparatus main assembly during the mounting of the drum assembly 1000 to the image forming apparatus main assembly so that the second storage medium 81 is worn out, ensuring that the second storage medium 81 can be correctly recognized by the image forming apparatus main assembly and the information of the drum assembly 1000 is transferred to the image forming apparatus main assembly.

Example ten:

referring to fig. 48, the main difference between this embodiment and the ninth embodiment is that: the second storage medium 81 storing the information of the drum assembly 1000 in this embodiment is not located in the third frame 103.

The drum assembly 1000 has a second storage medium 81 storing drum assembly information, the second storage medium 81 being located on a fourth frame 104, the second storage medium 81 having a drum electrical contact surface 91, the second storage medium 81 being closer to the fourth frame 104 than the drum electrical contact surface 91 in a second direction, the drum electrical contact surface 91 being at a distance from the first frame 101 in the first direction that is less than the distance from the first frame 101 to the second frame 102, the drum electrical contact surface 91 at least partially overlapping the handle 141 in a third direction. The image forming apparatus main assembly has a top cover 105, the top cover 105 having an open state and a closed state, and the process cartridge 10 being attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus main assembly when the top cover 105 is in the open state. The electrical contacts 610 are positioned on the top cover 105, and when the top cover 105 is closed after the drum assembly 1000 is fully installed on the image forming apparatus main assembly, the electrical contacts 610 of the top cover 105 come into contact with the drum electrical contact surface 91 as the top cover 105 is closed, and the second storage medium 81 is recognized by the image forming apparatus main assembly and transfers information of the drum assembly 1000 to the image forming apparatus main assembly.

With the above structural design, friction between the second storage medium 81 and other elements on the main assembly of the image forming apparatus at the drum electrical contact surface 91 during mounting of the drum assembly 1000 to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus can be prevented, ensuring that the second storage medium 81 can be correctly recognized by the main assembly of the image forming apparatus and that the information of the drum assembly 1000 can be transmitted to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

Example eleven:

referring to fig. 49, the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment includes a first recognition unit 100, a writing unit 200, and a first presentation unit 400. The first identification unit 100 is electrically connected to the storage medium 300 for detecting identification information within the storage medium 300. The writing unit 200 is electrically connected to the first recognition unit 100 and the storage medium 300, respectively, and the writing unit 200 is configured to write the identification information to the storage medium 300 when the first recognition unit 100 does not detect the identification information. The first prompting unit 400 is electrically connected to the first recognition unit 100, and is configured to prompt that the machine cannot be recognized when the first recognition unit 100 detects the identification information.

In some embodiments, the detection flow of the image forming apparatus includes the steps of:

the first recognition unit 100 detects whether there is identification information in the storage medium 300;

If no identification information exists, the writing unit 200 writes the identification information into the storage medium 300;

if the identification information is available, the first prompting unit 400 can not successfully recognize the machine, and simultaneously, the first prompting unit can not recognize the machine.

Since the developing roller of the old developing device is easy to deform after long-time use, the developing roller and the photosensitive drum need to be kept in close contact during working, and the deformed developing roller causes uneven stress when the photosensitive drum contacts with the developing roller, so that the photosensitive drum is easy to deform. In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the first identification means 100 detects whether or not the storage medium 300 has the identification information, and if the storage medium 300 has no identification information, the writing means 200 writes the identification information into the storage medium 300, and if the storage medium 300 has the identification information, the image forming apparatus denies the machine, that is, the image forming apparatus denies the machine to which the developing apparatus is attached, and the image forming apparatus main assembly does not output power to the developing apparatus, thereby preventing the old developing apparatus from being reused and preventing the old developing roller from rotating to damage the photosensitive drum.

The identification information may be one or more of the type, capacity, size, number of installations, and the like of the developing device. In some implementations, one possible form of identification information: the developing device is provided with a detection gear which receives power output by the main assembly of the image forming device and is directly or indirectly driven to rotate, the detection gear is provided with a plurality of protrusions, the protrusions can touch detection pieces in the main assembly of the image forming device, the touch times of the detection pieces are determined according to the number of the protrusions, and the main assembly of the image forming device is compared with pre-stored information according to the touch times of the detection pieces, so that identification information such as the type, capacity, size and the like of the developing box can be judged; and writes the identification information into the blank storage medium 300 through the writing unit 200; when the storage medium 300 having the above identification information is repeatedly installed, the machine cannot be successfully identified. The identification information may also be independent of a plurality of protrusions on the detection gear.

In some embodiments, the identification information may be the number of installation times information of the developing device. The first recognition unit 100 is configured to detect the installation number information in the storage medium 300, and when the installation number corresponding to the installation number information detected by the first recognition unit 100 is greater than a first preset value, the first prompting unit 400 prompts that the machine cannot be recognized. The first prompt unit 400 may be a voice prompt or a screen display. The minimum value of the first preset value is 1. The operation of comparing the installation number information with the first preset value may be performed by the first recognition unit 100 or the first presentation unit 400.

In some embodiments, the first recognition unit 100 is configured to detect the installation number information in the storage medium 300, and the writing unit 200 is configured to write updated installation number information to the storage medium 300, the updated installation number information being greater than the original installation number information by 1. The first prompting unit 400 is configured to prompt that the machine cannot be recognized when the number of installation times corresponding to the number of installation times information detected by the first identifying unit 100 is greater than a first preset value. The original number of installation times information may be 0, that is, may be none, or 1 or more.

When the first preset value is set to 1, that is, the developing device can be installed at most 1 time, the installation is refused again. In other embodiments, the first preset value is set to a value greater than 1, i.e., the developing device may be installed a certain number of times corresponding to the first preset value at most, and when the certain number of times is exceeded, the developing device may be rejected from being installed.

Referring to fig. 50, in some embodiments, the image forming apparatus may further include a first MCU unit 800, where the first identification unit 100, the writing unit 200, and the first prompting unit 400 are electrically connected to the first MCU unit 800, and the first MCU unit 800 generates a corresponding control signal to control the writing unit 200 to write and control the first prompting unit 400 to prompt according to the condition that the first identification unit 100 detects the identification information.

In some embodiments, when the first identification unit 100 does not detect the identification information, the first MCU unit 800 generates a first control signal to control the writing unit 200 to write the identification information into the storage medium 300; or, when the number of installations corresponding to the number of installations information detected by the first recognition unit 100 is greater than the first preset value, the first MCU 800 generates the second control signal to control the first prompt unit 400 to prompt the failed recognition.

Embodiment twelve:

referring to fig. 51, the present embodiment further provides a storage medium 300 resetting device, based on the eleventh embodiment, for resetting the identification information of the storage medium 300. The storage medium 300 resetting device includes a second identification unit 500, an erasing unit 600, and the second identification unit 500, the second identification unit 500 being electrically connected to the storage medium 300 for detecting identification information within the storage medium 300. The erasing unit 600 is electrically connected to the storage medium 300 and the second identifying unit 500, respectively, and is configured to clear the identification information in the storage medium 300 according to the detection result of the second identifying unit 500. The storage medium 300 reset device may be provided in the image forming apparatus or in a separate electronic device.

In some embodiments, the second identifying unit 500 is configured to detect whether the identification information exists in the storage medium 300, and the erasing unit 600 is configured to clear the identification information in the storage medium 300 when the second identifying unit 500 detects the existence of the identification information. The second prompting unit 700 is electrically connected to the second recognition unit 500, and is used for prompting no identification information when the second recognition unit 500 does not detect the identification information.

In some embodiments, the detection process of the reset device of the storage medium 300 includes the following steps:

the second recognition unit 500 detects whether there is identification information in the storage medium 300;

if the storage medium 300 has the identification information, the erasing unit 600 clears the identification information;

if no identification information exists, the second prompting unit 700 prompts no identification information.

The solution is to solve the problem that after the developing device is installed at least once, the storage medium 300 is written with the identification information, but the developer in the developing device is not used yet, and the developing device cannot be reused after being disassembled once due to the arrangement of preventing the developing device from being reused in the eleventh embodiment, so that the resource waste is caused. The developing device can be used again by the installation by erasing the existing identification information.

The identification information may be one or more of the type, capacity, size, number of installations, and the like of the developing device.

In some embodiments, the identification information may be the number of installation times information of the developing device. The second recognition unit 500 is used to detect the number of installation times information in the storage medium 300; the erasing unit 600 is configured to clear the installation number information in the storage medium 300 when the installation number corresponding to the installation number information is greater than a second preset value. The second preset value is not greater than the first preset value, and the minimum value of the second preset value is 1. This solution is designed corresponding to the arrangement of preventing the multiple reuse of the developing device in the eleventh embodiment.

The operation of comparing the installation number information with the second preset value may be performed by the second identifying unit 500 or by the erasing unit 600. In some embodiments, the second identifying unit 500 is configured to detect the number of installation times information in the storage medium 300, generate the third control signal when the number of installation times corresponding to the number of installation times information is greater than the second preset value, and the erasing unit 600 clears the number of installation times information in the storage medium 300 according to the third control signal.

Referring to fig. 52, in some embodiments, the storage medium 300 resetting device may further include a second MCU 900, where the second identifying unit 500, the erasing unit 600 and the second prompting unit 700 are electrically connected to the second MCU 900, and the second MCU 900 generates a corresponding control signal to control the erasing unit 600 to erase and control the second prompting unit 700 to prompt according to the condition that the first identifying unit 100 detects the identification information.

In some embodiments, when the second identification unit 500 detects that the identification information exists, or when the number of installations corresponding to the number of installations information detected by the second identification unit 500 is greater than a second preset value, the second MCU 900 generates a fourth control signal to control the erasing unit 600 to erase the identification information in the storage medium 300; when the second recognition unit 500 does not detect the identification information, the second MCU 900 generates a fifth control signal to control the second cue unit 700 to cue that there is no identification information.

In some embodiments, when the reset device of storage medium 300 is used with the image forming apparatus of embodiment eleven, second hint unit 700 may share the same hint unit as first hint unit 400, and first MCU unit 800 may share the same MCU unit as second MCU unit 900.

What has been described above is merely some embodiments of the present utility model. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that several modifications and improvements can be made to the above-described embodiments, or the above-described embodiments can be freely combined, including the technical features of the different embodiments described above, without departing from the inventive concept of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A developing device for being detachably mounted in a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising:

2. A developing device according to claim 1, wherein said electric contact surface is movably provided at an end portion of said developing device.

3. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the identification assembly further includes a mounting structure telescopically disposed at an end of the cartridge body, the electrical contact surface being disposed on the mounting structure; the mounting structure is provided with a guide surface for interaction with the image forming apparatus so that the mounting structure can be contracted in a direction approaching the cartridge under the urging force of the image forming apparatus.

4. A developing device according to claim 3, wherein the telescopic movement of said mounting structure is displaced in a first direction.

5. The developing device according to claim 4, wherein the identification member further includes a guide post having one end connected to the mounting structure and the other end movably provided on the cartridge body in the first direction, and an elastic member for displacing the guide post and the mounting structure in the first direction.

6. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the identification assembly further includes a mounting structure movably provided at an end of the cartridge body, the electrical contact surface being provided on the mounting structure; the image forming device comprises a mounting structure, and is characterized by further comprising a detected piece, wherein a stirring protrusion is arranged on the detected piece and can move along with the detected piece, so that the mounting structure is pushed to move to generate displacement, and an electric contact surface on the mounting structure is electrically connected with an electric contact on a main assembly of the image forming device.

7. The developing device according to claim 6, further comprising a protective cover fixedly provided at an end of said cartridge body, said mounting structure being movably provided on said protective cover; the mounting structure is provided with a stirred part, the detected piece is rotatably arranged at the end part of the box body, and the stirred protrusion can rotate along with the detected piece and stir the stirred part, so that the mounting structure moves.

8. A developing device according to claim 7, wherein said mounting structure is provided with a engaging portion, said protecting cover is provided with a coupling portion, and said engaging portion is movable with said mounting structure to a position of said coupling portion, and interacts with said coupling portion to fix said mounting structure in a current position with respect to said protecting cover.

9. A developing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said toggle protrusions are provided in plural, and said plurality of toggle protrusions are distributed in a circumferential direction of said detected member, and a length of a last toggle protrusion in contact with said portion to be toggled in a radial direction of said detected member is longer than that of other toggle protrusions in a radial direction of said detected member, so that said mounting structure has a maximum stroke by said last toggle protrusion, thereby being moved to a position where said engaging portion interacts with said engaging portion and fixed at that position.

10. A developing device according to claim 6, wherein said toggle protrusion is capable of triggering a detection lever in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus when moved with said detected member.

11. A developing device according to claim 6, wherein said mounting structure is capable of being displaced in a third direction.

12. The developing device according to claim 6, wherein the detected member is further provided with a detected protrusion provided upstream of the toggle protrusion such that an event that the detected protrusion triggers a detection lever in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus precedes an event that the toggle protrusion pushes the mounting structure to protrude to electrically connect the electrical contact surface with the electrical contact.

13. A developing device according to claim 12, wherein said detected projections are plural, and said toggle projection is provided upstream of a last detected projection, such that an event that said toggle projection pushes said mounting structure to protrude to electrically connect said electric contact surface with an electric contact precedes an event that said last detected projection triggers a detection lever in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

14. A developing device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a detected member movably provided at an end portion of said cartridge, said detected member being provided so as to be movable by a driving force provided by a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, said electric contact surface being provided on said detected member and moving with said detected member from a position not in contact with an electric contact in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus to a position in contact with an electric contact in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

15. A developing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said member to be detected is rotatably provided at an end portion of said cartridge body, said member to be detected is provided with a second projection in a circumferential direction, said cartridge body is provided with a first projection, and said second projection is forced to displace in a first direction when abutting against said first projection, so that said member to be detected protrudes in the first direction in a direction away from said cartridge body and interacts with a detection lever in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

16. A developing device according to claim 15, wherein the detected member is further provided with a detecting projection capable of rotating with the detected member and interacting with a detecting lever in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

17. The developing device according to claim 14, further comprising a support column provided in the first direction, the support column having a first fitting portion provided thereon; the detected piece is provided with a second matching part, and one of the first matching part and the second matching part is a thread, and the other one of the first matching part and the second matching part can slide along the thread.

18. A developing device according to claim 2, wherein said electric contact surface is provided so as to be displaceable in a contact direction which coincides with or has a coincidence component with a separation direction of the developing roller and the photosensitive drum, so that when said developing roller and the photosensitive drum are separated, said electric contact surface is displaceable in said contact direction and is held in contact with an electric contact of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

19. A developing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said urging member is detachably mounted on a drum assembly having an urging member and a photosensitive drum, said urging member imparting an urging force to said developing apparatus, said urging force moving said developing roller in a direction approaching the photosensitive drum, said developing apparatus further comprising a mounting structure for mounting an electric contact surface, said mounting structure being arranged to be capable of displacing said electric contact surface in a contact direction which coincides with or has a component of coincidence with a separation direction of the developing roller and the photosensitive drum, such that when said developing roller and the photosensitive drum are separated, said mounting structure is capable of causing said electric contact surface to protrude in said contact direction and to be held in contact with an electric contact of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

20. The developing device according to claim 19, further comprising a first supporting member provided with a guide groove extending in the contact direction, an extending portion, and a leg portion, wherein the leg portion is movable in the guide groove, both ends of the extending portion are fixedly connected with the leg portion and the second supporting member, respectively, and an elastic member is provided between the second supporting member and the first supporting member.

21. A developing device according to claim 19, wherein said developing device is provided with a second acting portion at an end remote from said storage medium, and said developing device is provided with a first acting portion at an end near said storage medium, said first and second acting portions for receiving a separating force from a main assembly of the image forming apparatus so that both ends of the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are separated.

22. A developing device according to claim 1, wherein said developing device is provided with a second acting portion only at an end remote from said storage medium, and only said second acting portion is provided on said developing device for receiving a separating force from a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, so that the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum only at an end close to said second acting portion; the storage medium is fixedly arranged at the other end of the developing device far away from the second action part.

23. A developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developing device is detachably mounted on a drum assembly having a second storage medium, the storage medium of the developing device being a first storage medium electrically connected to the second storage medium storing information of the drum assembly, the first storage medium being electrically connected to an electrical contact of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus through the second storage medium.

24. The developing device according to claim 23, wherein the first storage medium includes a first storage element and a first set of electrical contact surfaces electrically connected to each other, the second storage medium includes a second storage element, a third set of electrical contact surfaces, a fourth set of electrical contact surfaces, and a fifth set of electrical contact surfaces electrically connected in sequence, the second storage element and the fifth set of electrical contact surfaces electrically connected, the fourth set of electrical contact surfaces and the fifth set of electrical contact surfaces for electrically connecting with electrical contacts of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

25. The developing device of claim 24, wherein the identification component of the developing device further comprises a first mount, the first set of electrical contact surfaces being disposed on the first mount; the drum assembly further includes a second bracket, the third set of electrical contact surfaces being disposed at a position of the second bracket opposite the first set of electrical contact surfaces, the fourth set of electrical contact surfaces and the fifth set of electrical contact surfaces being disposed at a position of the second bracket for contact with electrical contacts of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

26. A drum assembly for detachable mounting in a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising a second storage medium for storing information of the drum assembly, the second storage medium being provided at a front end or a rear end of the drum assembly.

27. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a process cartridge detachably mounted in a mounting bin of the main assembly; the process cartridge includes a developing device and a drum assembly detachably connected to each other, the developing device being the developing device according to claim 1.

28. The image forming apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the developing device is a developing device according to any one of claims 3 to 5; and a blocking protrusion for interacting with the guide surface of the mounting structure is arranged in the mounting bin, so that the mounting structure can shrink towards the direction approaching to the box body under the acting force of the blocking protrusion, and the blocking protrusion is positioned on one side of the electrical contact approaching to the mounting starting point of the developing device.

29. The image forming apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the developing device is a developing device according to any one of claims 12 to 16;

30. The image forming apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the detection lever includes a ball head, a head at one end of the ball head, and a tail at the other end of the ball head, the detection lever being rotatably mounted to a side wall of the mounting bin via the ball head so that the head of the detection lever can swing in the light detection groove in a first direction and a second direction, respectively, the tail of the detection lever being for interaction with a detected member of the developing device.

31. The image forming apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the detecting portion further includes a second compression spring for resetting the detecting lever in the first direction and a third compression spring for resetting the detecting lever in the second direction;

32. The image forming apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the main assembly further comprises a door cover for opening and closing the mounting bin; the detection part further comprises a first rod and a blocking part, the first rod is movably arranged on the side wall of the installation bin along the second direction, the blocking part is fixed at the first end of the first rod, the second end of the first rod is arranged to receive acting force when the door cover is opened, so that the first rod moves along the second direction, the blocking part jacks up the tail part of the detection rod, and the tail part of the detection rod leaves the working position; when the door cover is closed, the acting force is eliminated, and the tail of the detection rod is reset to a working position capable of interacting with a detected piece of the developing device.

33. A storage medium reset device, comprising:

34. The storage medium resetting device of claim 33, wherein: the second identification unit is used for detecting whether identification information exists in the storage medium; the erasing unit is used for clearing the identification information in the storage medium when the second identification unit detects the identification information.

35. The storage medium resetting device of claim 33, wherein: the identification information includes information of the number of times of installation of the developing device.

36. The storage medium resetting device of claim 35, wherein: the second identification unit is used for detecting the installation times information in the storage medium; and the erasing unit is used for clearing the installation frequency information in the storage medium when the installation frequency corresponding to the installation frequency information is larger than a second preset value.

37. A storage medium reset device according to any one of claims 33 to 36, wherein: the system further comprises a second prompting unit for prompting that the identification information is absent when the identification information is not detected by the second identification unit.

38. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

39. The image forming apparatus according to claim 38, wherein: the system further comprises a first prompting unit which is used for prompting that the machine cannot be recognized when the first recognition unit detects the identification information.

40. The image forming apparatus according to claim 38, wherein: the identification information includes information of the number of times of installation of the developing device.

41. The image forming apparatus according to claim 40, wherein: the first identification unit is used for detecting the installation times information in the storage medium; the writing unit is used for writing updated installation frequency information into the storage medium, wherein the updated installation frequency information is 1 larger than the original installation frequency information.

42. The image forming apparatus according to claim 40, wherein: the system further comprises a first prompting unit which is used for prompting that the machine cannot be recognized when the installation times corresponding to the installation times information detected by the first recognition unit are larger than a first preset value.

43. The image forming apparatus according to claim 38, wherein: further comprising a storage medium reset device according to any one of claims 33 to 37.