CN220872874U - Developing cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

The present utility model relates to a developing cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus provided with a detecting member, said developing cartridge comprising a casing and an end cap mechanism detachably combined; the end cover mechanism comprises an end cover and a counting assembly, wherein at least part of the counting assembly is rotatably arranged on the end cover, and the counting assembly is matched with a detection part in the imaging equipment through rotation to finish counting detection.

Description

Developing cartridge

Technical Field

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

Background

A developing cartridge is a consumable product used in an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer or a copier, in which developer required for image formation is stored, and a driving force receiving member provided in the developing cartridge may receive driving force from the image forming apparatus to transmit rotational power to a rotating member provided in the developing cartridge in operation; the rotating member in the developing cartridge includes, for example, a gear mounted on the developing cartridge, a powder feeding member and a developing member mounted in the developing cartridge, a developer stirring member, and the like. The developer stirring member is configured to stir a developer set in the developing cartridge, the powder feeding member is configured to supply the developer to a surface of a developing member, and the developing member is configured to supply the developer to a surface of a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, so that the electrostatic latent image is developed.

In order to enable the imaging device to accurately grasp the service condition of the developing box, a part named as a counting assembly is arranged in the existing developing box, when the developing box is firstly installed to the imaging device and begins to work, the counting assembly is mutually touched with a detection part in the imaging device, and the service life, the model and other information of the developing box are known by the imaging device through parameters such as the touch duration, the touch interval, the touch times and the like of the counting assembly and the detection part.

In the existing developing cartridge, for the purpose of environmental protection and cost saving, after the developer in the original developing cartridge is used up, a user can inject new developer into the developing cartridge, so that the developing cartridge can obtain a longer service period. When a user wants to install the developing cartridge into an image forming apparatus for reuse after filling the developer, it is necessary to perform a reset process on the count-up assembly of the developing cartridge. In the prior art, the user needs to detach the end cover arranged on one side of the developing box by himself to reset the developing box. The disassembly of the developing cartridge is complicated for the user, and during the reassembly, assembly errors or mistakes may be caused by unfamiliar assembly relations of parts on the developing cartridge, thereby affecting the use of the user.

Disclosure of utility model

The embodiment of the developing box provided by the utility model can simplify the operation of resetting the developing box by a user.

The utility model provides a developing cartridge detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus provided with a detecting member, the developing cartridge comprising a casing and an end cap mechanism detachably combined; the end cover mechanism comprises an end cover and a counting assembly, wherein at least part of the counting assembly is rotatably arranged on the end cover, and the counting assembly is matched with a detection part in the imaging equipment through rotation to finish counting detection.

Further, the counting assembly comprises a counting piece, a third gear and an elastic piece, wherein the counting piece is abutted with the end cover, the elastic piece is arranged between the third gear and the counting piece, and the counting piece and the third gear are rotatably arranged on the end cover.

Further, the third gear is provided with a rotation axis, the rotation axis is parallel to the installation direction of the end cover mechanism, the third gear is provided with a force application part, the counting piece is provided with a force receiving part, the force application part and the force receiving part are arranged to transmit power when contacting each other, and can rotate relatively when being separated from contact.

Further, the end cover is provided with a limiting groove and a first limiting surface, the counting piece is provided with a limited part, the limiting groove and the first limiting surface are arranged on the end cover along the circumferential direction of the first positioning column, and the limited part is arranged on the counting piece along the circumferential direction of the counting piece; the counting piece is provided with a first state and a second state which are different in position relative to the end cover; the first state is that the stressed part is contacted with the force application part, and the limited part is abutted with a first limiting surface on the end cover; the second state is that after the third gear drives the counting piece to rotate by one angle, the limited part enters the limiting groove under the action of the released elastic force of the elastic piece, and meanwhile, the force application part is separated from contact with the force receiving part.

Further, a first positioning column extending towards the shell is arranged on the end cover, and the counting piece, the third gear and the elastic piece are rotatably arranged on the first positioning column.

Further, the end cover mechanism comprises a limiting part, the limiting part is arranged on the first positioning column, the counting assembly is arranged between the limiting part and the end cover, and the limiting part is used for limiting the counting assembly to move along the direction of the rotating axis of the third gear.

Further, the end cap mechanism further includes a fourth gear for transmitting the driving force received from the image forming apparatus by the driving force receiving member to the third gear, and the fourth gear is at least partially disposed between the third gear and the end cap as seen in an axial direction of the third gear.

Further, the limiting part is an elastic arm.

Further, the counting piece on be provided with the action bars, the end cover on be provided with window part, window part along the circumference setting of first reference column, the action bars at least a portion be visual in window part's scope.

Further, the end cover is further provided with a step surface between the limit groove and the first limit surface, when the counting piece is in the second state, an external force is applied to the operating rod to enable the counting piece to move towards the direction close to the shell against the elastic force of the elastic piece, and then the counting piece rotates around the axis for another angle to pass through the step surface of the end cover, so that the counting piece is in the first state.

Drawings

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

Fig. 2 and 3 are exploded views of the end cap mechanism of the developing cartridge according to the present utility model, separated from the casing.

Fig. 4 and 5 are exploded views of an end cap mechanism according to the present utility model.

Fig. 6 and 7 are partial schematic views of a developing cartridge according to the present utility model.

Detailed Description

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

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a developing cartridge according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a developing cartridge, 11 is a casing of the developing cartridge 1, and a developer for accommodating an image formed thereon, a developing member, a powder feeding member, a stirring member for stirring the developer, or the like are provided in the casing 11; 12 shown in fig. 1 is a developing member, the developing member 12 extends in a longitudinal direction of the developing cartridge 1 and is rotatably mounted on the casing 11. The developing cartridge 1 is further provided with a driving force receiving member 13, and the driving force receiving member 13 is for engaging with a driving member in the image forming apparatus to transmit rotational power to the developing cartridge when the developing cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus. The end of the developing cartridge 1 is provided with a first gear 14 which is engaged with the developing member 12 while the first gear 14 is engaged with a gear portion 131 provided on the driving force receiving member 13, and after the driving force receiving member 13 receives rotational power from the image forming apparatus, the gear portion 131 transmits the power to the first gear 14 to rotate the developing member 12. The end cap 21 shown in fig. 1 is a member detachably mounted to the developer cartridge housing 11. The housing 11 has two side ends in the length direction, and the end cover 21 is provided on one side end thereof; the end cap 21 may be mounted to the developer cartridge housing 11 along the length of the housing. When the end cap 21 is attached to the housing 11 of the developing cartridge, the rotating member may be restrained to the housing 11 in the longitudinal direction of the developing cartridge, that is, in the axial direction of the rotating member such as the driving force receiving member 13 in the developing cartridge 1. The rotation axis of the rotating member is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the housing.

An embodiment of the present utility model is further described with reference to fig. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 is a schematic exploded view of a developing cartridge according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

The developing cartridge 1 includes a casing 11 and an end cap mechanism 2 which are detachably coupled. The end cover mechanism 2 is detachably mounted on the shell 11 of the developing cartridge along the length direction of the shell (the mounting direction of the end cover mechanism), the end cover mechanism 2 comprises an end cover 21 and a counting assembly mounted on the end cover 21, and the counting assembly is at least partially rotatably arranged on the end cover. The end cap 21 is further provided with a through hole 211 for allowing the driving force receiving end 131 of the driving force receiving member 13 to be exposed, the through hole 211 is matched with the driving force receiving member 13, and the driving force receiving member 13 can rotate relative to the through hole 211. The housing 11 of the developing cartridge is further provided with a second gear 15. The second gear 15 is coupled with the gear portion 131 on the driving force receiver 13, and transmits rotational power.

Fig. 3 is a schematic exploded view of the developing cartridge seen from another direction, and fig. 4 is a schematic exploded view of an embodiment of an end cap mechanism provided by the present utility model.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4, the end cap mechanism 2 includes a fourth gear 23, and the fourth gear 23 is engaged with the second gear 15 on the developing cartridge to transmit rotational power; the counting assembly comprises a counting piece 24, an elastic piece 25 and a third gear 22, wherein the third gear 22 and the fourth gear 23 are combined to transmit power; the third gear 22 has a rotation axis, and the rotation axis is parallel to the installation direction of the end cover mechanism; the counting member 24, the elastic member 25 and the third gear 22 of the counting assembly are all disposed along the axial direction of the third gear 22. The elastic member 25 is disposed between the counter member 24 and the third gear 22. The elastic member 25 is provided as a spring member. The elastic member 25 is abutted against the third gear 22 and the counter member 24.

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of an embodiment of an end cap mechanism provided by the present utility model.

As shown in fig. 5, the third gear 22 is provided with a force applying portion 221 along the direction of the axis L1 on one side of the end cover 21, and the counter 24 is provided with a force receiving portion 241, which are configured to transmit power when contacting each other and to be relatively rotatable when being out of contact with each other; when the third gear 22 and the counter 24 are mounted on the end cover, the force application part 221 and the force receiving part 241 are contacted with each other, and when the third gear 22 rotates, the counter 24 can be driven to rotate. The end cover 21 is further provided with a first limiting surface 214 and a limiting groove 215, and the counting piece 24 is provided with a limited part 242.

The counter 24 has at least two states, the first state is that the force receiving portion 241 of the counter 24 is matched with the force applying portion 221 of the third gear 22 when the end cover mechanism 2 is assembled initially, and the limited portion 242 is abutted against the first limiting surface 214 of the end cover 21; in the second state, after the third gear 22 is driven to rotate, the counter 24 is driven to rotate by the force applying portion 221, and when the elastic force released by the elastic member 25 by the limiting portion 242 is pushed into the limiting groove 215, the force applying portion 221 is separated from contact with the force receiving portion 241.

The end cover is further provided with a first positioning column 212 extending towards the shell, and the hole formed in the third gear 22 is matched with the first positioning column 212 in a relatively rotatable manner. The end cover is further provided with a second positioning column 216 (as shown in fig. 4), and the fourth gear 23 is provided with a hole along the axial direction to be matched with the second positioning column 216, so that the third gear 22 and the fourth gear 24 are rotatably installed on the end cover 21.

The end cap mechanism 2 also comprises a limiting part. The limiting portion is for limiting the movement of the third gear 22 with respect to the end cap 21 in the axial direction of the third gear 22 even if the third gear 22 is fixed with respect to the end cap 21 in the axial direction thereof.

The third gear 22 of the end cover mechanism has a rotation axis L1, the fourth gear 23 has a rotation axis L2, the axis L1 and the axis L2 are parallel to each other, at least a part of the fourth gear 23 is disposed between the third gear 22 and the end cover 21 as seen in the direction of the axis L1 (L2), and when the third gear 22 and the fourth gear 23 are simultaneously attached to the end cover 21, the third gear 22 is restrained on the end cover by the following restraining portion 213, and the fourth gear 23 is restrained on the end cover 21 by the third gear 22 in the axial direction.

In the embodiment provided by the utility model, the mode that the third gear 22 and the fourth gear 23 are limited on the axis can be exchanged. For example, the limiting part 213 is configured to limit the fourth gear 23, and then limit the movement of the third gear 22 on the axis thereof by the fourth gear 23. The purpose is that when the end cap mechanism 2 is detached from the developing cartridge 1, the third gear 22 and the fourth gear 23 are detached from the housing 11 of the developing cartridge integrally with the end cap 21.

In this embodiment, the limiting portion is disposed on the first positioning post 212, and the limiting portion is implemented by an elastic arm 213 extending from the first positioning post 212. When the third gear 22 is mounted to the end cap in the axial direction of the positioning column 212, the elastic arm 213 is elastically deformed by pressure; when the third gear 22 is mounted in place, the elastic arm 213 elastically deforms to return to the original state, and meanwhile, the elastic arm 213 is provided with a second limiting surface 2131 for abutting against at least a portion of the third gear 22 to prevent the third gear from being separated from the end cover 21, so that the elastic arm 213 can be in a natural state without stress and a state with elastic deformation after stress.

The elastic arm 213 described in the present specification is only one embodiment as a stopper. The limiting part may be implemented in other manners, for example, the third gear 22 may be limited to the end cover in the axial direction by engaging a snap fastener with the end cover 21, or may be limited to the end cover in the axial direction by fixing the third gear with a screw, for example.

Fig. 6 is a partial structural view of the developing cartridge 1 according to the embodiment of the present utility model. Further, as shown in fig. 6, a power transmission schematic of a gear train provided at an end of the developing cartridge is shown. The driving force receiving member 13 receives rotational power from the image forming apparatus, and then transmits the rotational power to the fourth gear 23 through the second gear 15, and then to the third gear 22 through the fourth gear 23. The third gear 22 of the force application part transmits the rotation power to the counter 24 by the cooperation of the force application part 221 and the force receiving part 241, and rotates the counter 24 along the axis relative to the end cover 21.

Fig. 7 is a partial structural view of the developing cartridge 1 of the embodiment provided by the present utility model. At this time, the counter 24 is in the first state, and the limited portion 242 of the counter 24 is in a state of abutting against the first limiting surface 214 of the end cover 21. After the counting member 24 is rotated by an angle, the counting member 24 moves the limited portion 242 axially into the limiting groove 215 of the end cover under the elastic force released by the elastic member 25, and the counting member 24 is in the second state. The counter 24 interacts with a detected member in the image forming apparatus during rotation to detect the developing cartridge, and the developing cartridge completes detection, and at this time, the counter 24 is in the second state, and the image forming apparatus also completes information acquisition. When the user wants to perform the resetting operation on the counting member, the user only needs to manually operate the counting member 24 to be in the first state.

For the resetting operation, in one embodiment of the present utility model, the counting member 24 is provided with a resetting operation rod 243, the end cover 21 is provided with a window 217, and the window 217 is provided with a range that allows at least a part of the resetting operation rod 243 to be visible, so that a user can operate the operation rod conveniently. When the counter 24 is in the second state, the user applies an external force to the reset lever 243, and operates the reset lever 243 to move the counter 24 in the axial direction of the third gear, against the elastic force of the elastic member 25, a distance in the direction approaching the housing 11, and then rotates another angle around the axis to go beyond the step surface 218 of the end cap 21 shown in fig. 7, so that the counter 24 is in the first state again.

In the embodiment of the present utility model, as shown in fig. 7, the limiting groove 215 is disposed on the end cover 21 along the circumferential direction of the first positioning column 212, and the direction of the groove is parallel to the axis of the positioning column. The window 217 is disposed on the end cap 21 along the circumferential direction of the positioning column.

The end cover mechanism comprises a counting assembly and a fourth gear, wherein the counting assembly comprises a third gear for receiving power, and the third gear is meshed with the fourth gear to transmit power.

The end cap mechanism provided by the utility model can also comprise a counting assembly, wherein the counting assembly comprises the third gear 22, an elastic piece 25 and the counting piece 24. The fourth gear is preset on the shell of the developing box.

In either of the above embodiments, the counting assembly is fixed relative to the end cap along the axis of rotation, and the counting assembly is integral with the end cap and is disengaged from the housing when the end cap is removed from the developer cartridge housing.

Claims (10)

1. A developing cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus provided with a detecting member, characterized in that,

The developing cartridge includes a detachably coupled housing and end cap mechanism;

The end cover mechanism comprises an end cover and a counting assembly, at least one part of the counting assembly is rotatably arranged on the end cover, and the counting assembly is matched with a detection part in the imaging equipment through rotation to finish counting detection.

2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the counting assembly includes a counting member, a third gear, and an elastic member, the counting member being abutted to the end cap, the elastic member being disposed between the third gear and the counting member, the counting member and the third gear being rotatably disposed on the end cap.

3. A developing cartridge according to claim 2, wherein said third gear has a rotation axis which is disposed in parallel with a mounting direction of said cap mechanism, a biasing portion is provided on said third gear, a force receiving portion is provided on said counter member, and said biasing portion and said force receiving portion are provided so as to transmit power when in contact with each other and so as to be relatively rotatable when out of contact.

4. A developing cartridge according to claim 3, wherein said end cap is provided with a regulating groove, a first regulating surface and a first positioning column extending toward the casing, said counting member is provided with a regulated portion, said regulating groove and first regulating surface are provided on said end cap in a circumferential direction of said first positioning column, and said regulated portion is provided on said counting member in a circumferential direction of said counting member; the counting piece is provided with a first state and a second state which are different in position relative to the end cover; the first state is that the stressed part is contacted with the force application part, and the limited part is abutted with a first limiting surface on the end cover; the second state is that after the third gear drives the counting piece to rotate by one angle, the limited part enters the limiting groove under the action of the released elastic force of the elastic piece, and meanwhile, the force application part is separated from contact with the force receiving part.

5. The developing cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the end cap is provided with a first positioning post extending toward the housing, and the counting member, the third gear and the elastic member are rotatably mounted on the first positioning post.

6. The developing cartridge as in claim 5, wherein the end cap mechanism includes a stopper portion provided on the first positioning post, the counting assembly is provided between the stopper portion and the end cap, and the stopper portion is configured to restrict movement of the counting assembly in a direction of a rotational axis of the third gear.

7. The developing cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the cap mechanism further comprises a fourth gear for transmitting a driving force received by the driving force receiving member from the image forming apparatus to the third gear, the fourth gear being at least partially disposed between the third gear and the cap as viewed in an axial direction of the third gear.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the stopper is an elastic arm.

9. The developing cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the counter member is provided with an operation lever, the end cap is provided with a window portion, the window portion is provided along a circumferential direction of the first positioning post, and at least a portion of the operation lever is visible in a range of the window portion.

10. The developing cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the cap is further provided with a stepped surface between the stopper groove and the first stopper surface, and when the counter member is in the second state, an external force is applied to the lever to move the counter member in a direction approaching the casing against the elastic force of the elastic member, and then the counter member is rotated about the axis by another angle beyond the stepped surface of the cap to be in the first state.