JP5152399B2 - Developer cartridge - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus.

  An electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a laser printer includes a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a developing cartridge for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum. .

  The developing cartridge includes a developing roller and a supply roller for supplying toner to the developing roller. A gear mechanism for driving the developing roller and the supply roller is provided on one side wall of the developing cartridge. The gear mechanism includes an input gear to which driving force is input from the apparatus main body, a developing roller driving gear that is attached to an end of the developing roller shaft of the developing roller and meshes with the input gear, and a supply roller shaft of the supplying roller. A supply roller driving gear attached to the end and meshing with the input gear is provided. That is, the developing roller driving gear attached to the end of the developing roller shaft of the developing roller and the supply roller driving gear attached to the end of the supplying roller shaft of the supplying roller are an input gear to which driving force is input from the apparatus main body. Mesh with the same gear teeth.

  At the time of image formation, a driving force is input from the apparatus main body to the input gear, and the input gear is rotated. When the driving force is transmitted from the input gear to the developing roller driving gear and the supply roller driving gear, the developing roller is rotated through the developing roller driving gear, and the supplying roller is rotated through the supplying roller driving gear. Is done.

JP 2006-72284 A

  In order to prevent the deterioration of the toner, it is conceivable to reduce the friction generated between the supply roller and the developing roller by reducing the peripheral speed of the supply roller. For example, the peripheral speed of the supply roller can be reduced by increasing the gear diameter of the supply roller drive gear.

  In order to satisfactorily supply toner from the supply roller to the development roller, the development roller and the supply roller are in contact with each other with a constant nip width. The nip width is determined by the diameters of the developing roller and the supply roller and the distance between the developing roller shaft and the supply roller shaft. For this reason, it is not possible to easily reduce the peripheral speed of the supply roller by changing the diameters of the development roller and the supply roller and the distance between the development roller shaft and the supply roller shaft. Further, since the peripheral speed (rotational speed) of the developing roller is a factor that most affects the developing process, the gear diameter of the developing roller drive gear cannot be easily changed in order to maintain a desired peripheral speed. Therefore, to reduce the peripheral speed of the supply roller, it is conceivable to change the gear diameter of the supply roller drive gear or the position of the input gear. However, there is a space limitation, and there is a limit to decrease the peripheral speed of the supply roller. There is.

  Further, since both the developing roller driving gear and the supply roller driving gear mesh with the input gear, the gear teeth of the input gear are likely to wear. If the gear teeth of the input gear are worn, the developing roller cannot be driven stably, and the toner image formed by the developing roller may be disturbed.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a developing cartridge capable of greatly changing the peripheral speed of the supply roller and reducing the degree of wear of the developing roller driving gear and the gear portion that transmits the driving force to the supplying roller driving gear. Is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a developing cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, the developing roller provided rotatably around a developing roller axis extending in a predetermined direction, and the predetermined direction. A supply roller for supplying a developer to the developing roller, a developing roller driving gear connected to the developing roller, and a supplying roller connected to the supplying roller a drive gear, the predetermined direction around rotatably provided on the gear axis extending, have a second gear portion for first gear unit and the supply roller drive gear meshed with said developing roller driving gear meshing, the and a driving force transmission gears for transmitting the driving force to the developing roller drive gear and the supply roller driving gear, the developing roller drive gear, said predetermined direction As dynamic is regulated, than said supply roller driving gear disposed in the predetermined direction inside, wherein the first gear portion and said second gear portion, the first helical and second respectively Suva The first helical part and the second helical part have tooth lines along helical windings having different directions, and the first gear part and the second gear part are When the driving force transmission gear rotates, it is configured to generate thrust forces in opposite directions, and when the driving force transmission gear rotates, the second helical gear moves outwardly in the predetermined direction to the driving force transmission gear. It is characterized by being configured to generate a thrust force in the direction toward it.

  According to the present invention, the developing cartridge is provided with a developing roller and a supply roller. The developing roller is provided to be rotatable about a developing roller axis extending in a predetermined direction. A developing roller driving gear is connected to the developing roller. The supply roller is provided to be rotatable about a supply roller axis extending in a predetermined direction. A supply roller driving gear is connected to the supply roller. The developing cartridge is provided with a driving force transmission gear for transmitting a driving force to the developing roller driving gear and the supply roller driving gear. The driving force transmission gear includes a first gear portion and a second gear portion, and is provided to be rotatable around a gear axis extending in a predetermined direction. The developing roller driving gear and the supply roller driving gear mesh with the first gear portion and the second gear portion, respectively. Therefore, by changing the gear diameters of the second gear portion and the supply roller drive gear, the peripheral speed of the supply roller can be greatly changed without changing the peripheral speed of the developing roller.

  In addition, since the developing roller driving gear and the supply roller driving gear mesh with separate gear portions, the degree of wear of the gear portion compared to the configuration in which the developing roller driving gear and the supply roller driving gear mesh with the same gear portion. Can be lowered.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a printer equipped with a developing cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the developing cartridge. FIG. 3 is a left side view of the developing cartridge. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the developing cartridge. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge taken along a cutting line VV shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the developing cartridge, showing a state where the gear cover is removed. FIG. 7 is a left side view of the developing cartridge, showing a state in which the gear cover is removed. FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the developing cartridge, showing a state where the gear cover is removed. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge, showing a state where the gear cover is removed. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining the meshing state of the input gear, the developing gear, and the supply gear.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1. Overall Configuration of Printer As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 1 as an example of an image forming apparatus includes a main body casing 2 as an example of an apparatus main body.

  A process cartridge 3 is provided at the center of the main casing 2. The process cartridge 3 is detachably attached to the main body casing 2 via a front cover 4 provided on one side wall of the main body casing 2.

  In the following description, the side of the main casing 2 where the front cover 4 is provided is the front side, and the opposite side is the rear side. In addition, when the printer 1 is viewed from the front side, the left and right reference is used. For the developing cartridge 32 to be described later, the state in which the developing cartridge 32 is mounted on the main casing 2 is used as a reference for front, rear, left and right.

  The process cartridge 3 includes a drum cartridge 31 and a developing cartridge 32 that is detachably attached to the drum cartridge 31.

  In the drum cartridge 31, the photosensitive drum 6 is rotatably provided. The drum cartridge 31 is provided with a charger 7 and a transfer roller 9.

  The photosensitive drum 6 is provided to be rotatable around an axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.

  The charger 7 is a scorotron charger, and is disposed so as to face the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 6 with a space therebetween.

The developing cartridge 32 includes a developing housing 10 as an example of a housing that accommodates toner. Inside the developing case 10, a developing chamber 33 and a toner storage chamber 34 for storing toner to be supplied to the developing chamber 33 are formed adjacent to each other.
In the developing chamber 33, the developing roller 11 and the supply roller 37 are rotatably held.

  A part of the peripheral surface of the developing roller 11 is exposed from the rear end portion of the developing housing 10. Further, the peripheral surface of the supply roller 37 is in contact with the front portion of the developing roller 11. The developing cartridge 32 is mounted on the drum cartridge 31 so that a portion of the developing roller 11 exposed from the developing housing 10 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 6.

  An agitator 25 is rotatably held in the toner storage chamber 34. The toner in the toner storage chamber 34 is supplied into the developing chamber 33 while being stirred by the rotation of the agitator 25.

  The transfer roller 9 is provided below the photosensitive drum 6 so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum 6, and is arranged so that the peripheral surface thereof is in contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 6. .

  In the main casing 2, an exposure unit 5 having a laser or the like is disposed above the process cartridge 3.

  At the time of image formation, the photosensitive drum 6 is rotated at a constant speed clockwise in FIG. As the photosensitive drum 6 rotates, the peripheral surface (surface) of the photosensitive drum 6 is uniformly charged by the discharge from the charger 7. On the other hand, a laser beam is emitted from the exposure unit 5 based on image data received from a personal computer (not shown) connected to the printer 1. The laser beam passes between the charger 7 and the developing cartridge 32 and is irradiated to the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 6 that is uniformly positively charged. As a result, the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 6 is selectively exposed, charges are selectively removed from the exposed portion, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 6. When the electrostatic latent image faces the developing roller 11 by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 6, toner is supplied from the developing roller 11 to the electrostatic latent image. As a result, a toner image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 6.

  A paper feed cassette 12 that accommodates the paper P is disposed at the bottom of the main casing 2. A pickup roller 13 for feeding paper from the paper feed cassette 12 is provided above the paper feed cassette 12.

  Further, a conveying path 14 having an S-shape in side view is formed in the main body casing 2. This conveyance path 14 reaches from the paper feed cassette 12 to the paper discharge tray 15 formed on the upper surface of the main casing 2 via the space between the photosensitive drum 6 and the transfer roller 9. A separation roller 16 and a separation pad 17, a pair of paper feed rollers 18, a pair of registration rollers 19, and a pair of paper discharge rollers 20 are provided on the conveyance path 14 so as to face each other.

  The paper P sent out from the paper feed cassette 12 passes between the separation roller 16 and the separation pad 17, and at that time, is fed one by one. Thereafter, the paper P is conveyed toward the registration roller 19 by the paper supply roller 18. Then, after the registration by the registration roller 19, the sheet P is conveyed by the registration roller 19 toward the photosensitive drum 6 and the transfer roller 9.

  The toner image on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 6 is electrically attracted by the transfer roller 9 when the photosensitive drum 6 rotates and faces the paper P passing between the photosensitive drum 6 and the transfer roller 9. And transferred to the paper P.

  A fixing device 21 is provided on the transport path 14 on the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P with respect to the transfer roller 9. The paper P on which the toner image has been transferred is transported through the transport path 14 and passes through the fixing device 21. In the fixing device 21, the toner image becomes an image and is fixed on the paper P by heating and pressing.

  The printer 1 has, as operation modes, a single-side mode in which an image (toner image) is formed on one side of the paper P, and an image formed on one side of the paper P and then on the other side opposite to the one side of the paper P. And a duplex mode for forming an image.

  In the single-sided mode, the paper P on which an image is formed on one side is discharged to the paper discharge tray 15 by the paper discharge roller 20.

  As a configuration for realizing the double-sided mode, a reverse conveyance path 22 is formed in the main body casing 2. The reverse conveyance path 22 extends from the vicinity of the paper discharge roller 20 between the conveyance path 14 and the paper feed cassette 12, and is connected to a portion of the conveyance path 14 between the paper feed roller 18 and the registration roller 19. On the reverse conveyance path 22, a pair of first reverse conveyance rollers 23 and a pair of second reverse conveyance rollers 24 are provided.

In the double-sided mode, after an image is formed on one side of the paper P, the paper P is sent to the reverse conveyance path 22 without being discharged to the paper discharge tray 15. Then, the paper P is transported through the reverse transport path 22 by the first reverse transport roller 23 and the second reverse transport roller 24, the front and back are reversed, and the other surface on which the image is not formed is the periphery of the photosensitive drum 6. It is fed into the conveyance path 14 in a posture facing the surface. Then, an image is formed on both sides of the paper P by forming an image on the other side of the paper P.
2. Developing Cartridge The developing housing 10 of the developing cartridge 32 is formed in a box shape with the rear side opened.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the development housing 10 includes a pair of side walls 36 that face in the left-right direction. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an upper wall 38 and a lower wall 39 are installed between the side walls 36. The upper wall 38 and the lower wall 39 are connected at the front end of the developing housing 10. The connecting portion is provided with a grip portion 40. The grip portion 40 extends from the front end portion of the developing housing 10 toward the front upper side, and is formed in a U-shaped cross section with the front side portion opened.

The developing roller 11 and the supply roller 37 (see FIG. 1) are rotatably held between the side walls 36.
(1) Developing Roller As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the developing roller 11 is disposed between the rear ends of the side walls 36. As shown in FIG. 5, the developing roller 11 includes a cylindrical developing roller main body 45 extending in the left-right direction and a developing roller shaft 46 extending along the central axis of the developing roller main body 45.

Both end portions of the developing roller shaft 46 penetrate both side walls 36 of the developing housing 10.
(2) Supply Roller As shown in FIG. 1, the supply roller 37 is disposed at a lower position on the front side with respect to the developing roller 11. As shown in FIG. 5, the supply roller 37 includes a cylindrical supply roller main body 47 extending in the left-right direction, and a supply roller shaft 48 extending along the central axis of the supply roller main body 47.

  The peripheral surface of the supply roller main body 47 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller main body 45 from the lower front side.

Both end portions of the supply roller shaft 48 penetrate both side walls 36 of the developing housing 10.
(3) Bearing Member As shown in FIG. 5, the right bearing member 50 is provided outside the right side wall 36. The right end portions of the developing roller shaft 46 and the supply roller shaft 48 are supported by the right side wall 36 through the right bearing member 50 so as to be relatively rotatable. That is, the right bearing member 50 collectively holds the right end portion of the developing roller shaft 46 and the right end portion of the supply roller shaft 48.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a developing bearing member 51 and a supply bearing member 52 are provided outside the left side wall 36.

  The development bearing member 51 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is attached to the left side wall 36 so as not to be relatively rotatable. The developing roller shaft 46 is inserted inside the developing bearing member 51. Thereby, the left end portion of the developing roller shaft 46 is supported by the left side wall 36 via the developing bearing member 51 so as to be relatively rotatable.

  The supply bearing member 52 is integrally provided with a locking portion 53, a flange portion 54, and a spacer 55.

  The locking portion 53 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and is attached to the left side wall 36 so as not to be relatively rotatable. A hook-like portion 56 that is bent so as to approach the supply roller shaft 48 is formed at the right end portion of the locking portion 53. The supply roller shaft 48 is formed with a locked groove 57 cut out from the peripheral surface along the circumferential direction at a position facing the flanged portion 56. When the hook-like portion 56 enters the locked groove 57, the supply roller shaft 48 is positioned in the axial direction (left-right direction).

  As shown in FIG. 9, the collar part 54 is formed in a substantially quadrangular shape. The flange portion 54 is in contact with the left side wall 36 from the left side.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the spacer 55 is formed in a cylindrical shape. A supply roller shaft 48 is inserted inside the spacer 55.

Thereby, the left end portion of the supply roller shaft 48 is supported by the left side wall 36 through the supply bearing member 52 so as not to be relatively rotatable.
(4) Gear Mechanism As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a gear cover 42 is attached to the left end portion of the developing cartridge 32.
(4-1) Gear Cover The gear cover 42 is integrally provided with a side plate 60 that faces the left side wall 36 from the left side, and a peripheral plate 61 that extends from the periphery of the side plate 60 toward the developing housing 10.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the side plate 60 has a plate shape extending in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, and is formed to have a size facing almost the entire region of the developing chamber 33 and the toner storage chamber 34 (see FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the left end portion of the developing roller shaft 46 protrudes leftward from the gear cover 42, and a cylindrical collar member 62 is attached to the protruding portion.

  Further, two screw holes (not shown) are formed in the front end portion and the rear end portion of the side plate 60. The screws 65 are screwed onto the left side wall 36 through these screw holes, whereby the side plate 60 is fixed to the left side wall 36 (developing housing 10).

  A coupling insertion portion 66 is formed at a position above the front side with respect to the collar member 62. The coupling insertion part 66 has a cylindrical shape protruding leftward. A coupling member 77 described later is inserted into the coupling insertion portion 66 so as to be relatively rotatable.

As indicated by a broken line in FIG. 6, the right end portion of the peripheral plate 61 (gear cover 42) overlaps the left side wall 36 so as to face the vertical direction.
(4-2) Gear As shown in FIG. 6, between the gear cover 42 and the left side plate 36, an input gear 70 as an example of a drive transmission gear, a developing gear 71 as an example of a developing roller driving gear, and a supply A supply gear 72, a connection gear 73, and an agitator gear 74 as an example of a roller drive gear are provided. Each of the gears 70 to 74 is provided to be rotatable around a rotation axis along the left-right direction.
(4-2-1) Input Gear As shown in FIG. 7, the input gear 70 is disposed on the upper side of the front end portion of the developing housing 10. The input gear 70 is supported on the left side wall 36 so as to be relatively rotatable. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the input gear 70 is integrally provided with a first gear portion 75, a second gear portion 76, and a coupling member 77. The first gear portion 75, the second gear portion 76, and the coupling member 77 are arranged in this order from the side wall 36 side.

  As shown in FIG. 10, a first helical 78 having a tooth line along a predetermined helical winding is formed on the peripheral surface of the first gear portion 75.

  The second gear portion 76 is formed with a smaller diameter than the first gear portion 75. On the peripheral surface of the second gear portion 76, a second helical 79 having a tooth line along a helical winding in the direction opposite to that of the first gear portion 75 is formed.

  In other words, the first helical 78 and the second helical 79 have tooth traces along helical windings having different directions.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, a coupling portion 80 is formed on the left side surface of the coupling member 77. The coupling portion 80 is formed by digging rightward from the left side surface of the coupling member 77, and has a shape in which a part of a circle is partially cut out in a fan shape from the periphery.
(4-2-2) Developing Gear As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the developing gear 71 is disposed at a position below the rear side with respect to the input gear 70. The developing gear 71 is attached to the developing roller shaft 46 so as not to be relatively rotatable. The left end portion of the developing roller shaft 46 protrudes leftward from the developing gear 71. Then, a stopper 81 having a C-shape in a side view is attached to the protruding portion. Thereby, the movement of the developing roller 71 in the axial direction (left-right direction) of the developing roller shaft 46 is restricted.

The development gear 71 meshes with the first gear portion 75 of the input gear 70.
(4-2-3) Supply Gear The supply gear 72 is disposed at a position below the input gear 70. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the supply gear 72 is attached around the supply roller shaft 48 so as not to rotate relative to the outside of the spacer 55 of the supply bearing member 52. Specifically, the left end portion of the supply roller shaft 48 is D-cut processed into a D-shaped cross-section with a part of its peripheral surface cut off. Then, by inserting the D-shaped portion into the supply gear 72, the supply gear 72 is attached to the supply roller shaft 48 so as not to be relatively rotatable. The left end portion of the supply roller shaft 48 is disposed on the inner side (right side) than the left end surface of the supply gear 72 while being inserted into the supply gear 72.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the supply gear 72 meshes with the second gear portion 76 of the input gear 70.
(4-2-4) Connection Gear As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the connection gear 73 is disposed at a position in front of the input gear 70. The connection gear 73 is integrally provided with a first gear portion 85 and a second gear portion 86 having gear teeth on the peripheral surface. The first gear portion 85 and the second gear portion 86 are arranged in this order from the side wall 36 side.

  The first gear portion 85 is formed in a cylindrical shape. A support protrusion (not shown) protruding leftward is provided on the left side wall 36. By inserting a support protrusion inside the first gear portion 85 so as to be relatively rotatable, the connecting gear 73 is supported on the left side wall 36 so as to be relatively rotatable.

The second gear portion 86 has a larger outer diameter than the first gear portion 85. The second gear portion 86 meshes with the second gear portion 76 of the input gear 70.
(4-2-5) Agitator Gear As shown in FIG. 7, the agitator gear 74 is disposed at a lower position on the front side with respect to the connecting gear 73. The agitator gear 74 is integrally provided with a support portion 88 and a gear portion 89.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the support portion 88 is formed in a cylindrical shape. A shaft insertion hole 90 having a D-shaped cross section is formed in the center of the support portion 88 so as to penetrate in the axial direction. The agitator shaft 91 is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 90 so as not to be relatively rotatable. Specifically, the left end portion of the agitator shaft 91 is D-cut processed into a D-shaped cross-section with a part of its peripheral surface cut off. Then, by inserting the D-shaped portion into the shaft insertion hole 90, the agitator gear 74 is attached to the agitator shaft 91 so as not to be relatively rotatable. The agitator shaft 91 is connected to the agitator 25 shown in FIG. Accordingly, when the agitator gear 74 rotates, the agitator 25 rotates via the agitator shaft 91.

The gear part 89 meshes with the first gear part 85 of the connection gear 73.
4). Configuration in Main Body Casing As shown by phantom lines in FIG. 2, a main body side coupling 99 as an example of a drive member is provided in the main body casing 2. The main body side coupling 99 is disposed at a position facing the coupling member 77 (see FIG. 7) from the left in a state where the developing cartridge 32 is mounted on the main body casing 2 (see FIG. 1). The main body side coupling 99 has an engagement protrusion (not shown) protruding rightward.

  After the mounting of the developing cartridge 32 into the main body casing 2 is completed, when the main body side coupling 99 is advanced to the right, the engaging protrusion of the main body side coupling 99 is connected to the coupling portion 80 of the coupling member 77 (see FIG. 7)). When the main body side coupling 99 is further advanced to the right, the coupling member 77 is pressed to the right. Thereby, the positioning of the input gear 70 in the left-right direction is achieved. Thereafter, when a rotational driving force from a motor (not shown) is input to the main body side coupling 99, the coupling member 77 rotates via the main body side coupling 99.

The advancement of the main body side coupling 99 to the right can be interlocked with the closing operation of the front cover 4 shown in FIG. Since such an interlocking operation is well known, detailed description of the interlocking mechanism is omitted.
5. Gear Driving When the main body side coupling 99 is coupled to the coupling member 77 and a rotational driving force is input to the input gear 70, the input gear 70 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG.

  The developing gear 71 is engaged with the first gear portion 75 of the input gear 70. Therefore, the developing gear 71 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7 as the input gear 70 rotates. As a result, the developing roller 11 (see FIG. 1) rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 via the developing gear 71.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 10, a thrust force T <b> 1 in the right direction is generated in the input gear 70 by the first helical 78 formed in the first gear portion 75 of the input gear 70.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the supply gear 72 meshes with the second gear portion 76 of the input gear 70. Therefore, the supply gear 72 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7 as the input gear 70 rotates. Accordingly, the supply roller 37 (see FIG. 1) rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 via the supply gear 72.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the second gear 79 formed in the second gear portion 76 of the input gear 70 generates a thrust force T <b> 2 in the direction toward the left side in the input gear 70.

  As shown in FIG. 7, since the gear diameter of the second gear portion 76 is smaller than that of the first gear portion 75, the gear meshes with the second gear portion 76 rather than the rotational speed of the developing gear 71 that meshes with the first gear portion 75. The rotation speed of the supply gear portion 72 to be reduced is reduced. Therefore, the peripheral speed of the supply roller 37 (see FIG. 1) is smaller than the peripheral speed of the developing roller 11.

  In addition, the second gear portion 86 of the connection gear 73 meshes with the second gear portion 76 of the input gear 70. Therefore, the connection gear 73 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7 as the input gear 70 rotates.

The gear portion 89 of the agitator gear 74 meshes with the first gear portion 85 of the connection gear 73. Therefore, the agitator gear 74 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 7 as the connecting gear 73 rotates. As a result, the agitator 25 (see FIG. 1) rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 via the agitator gear 74.
5. As described above, the developing cartridge 32 includes the developing roller 11 and the supply roller 37. The developing roller 11 is rotatably provided around a developing roller shaft 46 extending in the left-right direction. A developing gear 71 is connected to the developing roller 11. The supply roller 37 is rotatably provided around a supply roller shaft 48 extending in the left-right direction. A supply gear 72 is connected to the supply roller 37. Further, the developing cartridge 32 is provided with an input gear 70 for transmitting a driving force to the developing gear 71 and the supply gear 72. The input gear 70 includes a first gear portion 75 and a second gear portion 76, and is provided so as to be rotatable about a gear axis extending in the left-right direction. The development gear 71 and the supply gear 72 mesh with the first gear portion 75 and the second gear portion 76, respectively. Therefore, by changing the gear diameters of the second gear portion 76 and the supply gear 72, the peripheral speed of the supply roller 37 can be greatly changed without changing the peripheral speed of the developing roller 11.

  Further, since the developing gear 71 and the supply gear 72 are engaged with the separate gear portions 75 and 76, the wear of the gear portions 75 and 76 is compared with the configuration in which the developing gear 71 and the supply gear 72 are engaged with the same gear portion. The degree of can be lowered.

  Further, the first gear portion 75 and the second gear portion 76 generate thrust forces T1 and T2 in opposite directions when the input gear 70 rotates. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the input gear 70 from being biased to one side in the left-right direction when the input gear 70 is rotated.

  The first gear portion 75 and the second gear portion 76 are formed with a first helical 78 and a second helical 79, respectively. The first helical 78 and the second helical 79 have tooth lines along helical windings having different directions. Thereby, when the input gear 70 rotates, thrust forces T1 and T2 in opposite directions can be generated in the first gear portion 75 and the second gear portion 76.

  A main body side coupling 99 for inputting driving force is coupled to the coupling portion 80 of the input gear 70 from the left side. As a result, a driving force can be input from the main body side coupling 99 to the input gear 70, and the driving force is transmitted to the developing roller 11 via the developing gear 71 and to the supplying roller 37 via the supplying gear 72. Can communicate.

  The gear diameter of the first gear part 75 is larger than the gear diameter of the second gear part 76. Accordingly, the rotation speed of the supply gear 72 that meshes with the second gear portion 76 is smaller than that of the developing gear 71 that meshes with the first gear portion 75, and the peripheral speed of the supply roller 37 is smaller than that of the developing roller 11. Therefore, friction can be reduced between the supply roller 37 and the developing roller 11, and toner deterioration due to friction generated between the supply roller 37 and the developing roller 11 can be suppressed.

Further, the developing housing 10 of the developing cartridge 32 is provided with a pair of side walls 36 facing the developing roller 11 and the supply roller 37 from both sides in the left-right direction. Further, the development gear 71, the supply gear 72 and the input gear 70 are collectively covered with a gear cover 42. Further, the gear cover 42 partially overlaps the developing housing 10. Thereby, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering between the gear cover 42 and the developing housing 10. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of meshing failure due to foreign matters mixed in the meshing portions between the gears.
7). Modifications Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be implemented in other forms.

  For example, in the above embodiment, a monochrome printer is illustrated as an example of the image forming apparatus, but a color printer may be employed as an example of the image forming apparatus. In this case, the present invention can be applied to a developing cartridge that is detachably attached to a color printer.

  Further, the first gear portion 75 and the second gear portion 76 may be integrally formed by an integral molding technique using a resin material, or may be individually formed and shafts so that they have a common axis. It may be coupled in the direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Main body casing 10 Developing housing 11 Developing roller 32 Developing cartridge 36 Side wall 37 Supply roller 42 Gear cover 70 Input gear 71 Developing gear 72 Supply gear 75 First gear part 76 Second gear part 78 First helical 79 Second Hasuba 99 Body side coupling T1 Thrust force T2 Thrust force

Claims (4)

A developing cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus,
A developing roller provided rotatably around a developing roller axis extending in a predetermined direction;
A supply roller provided to be rotatable about a supply roller axis extending in the predetermined direction, and for supplying a developer to the development roller;
A developing roller driving gear coupled to the developing roller;
A supply roller drive gear coupled to the supply roller;
The developing roller driving gear includes a first gear portion that is rotatably provided about a gear axis extending in the predetermined direction and meshes with the developing roller driving gear and a second gear portion that meshes with the supply roller driving gear. And a driving force transmission gear for transmitting a driving force to the supply roller driving gear,
The developing roller driving gear is disposed on the inner side in the predetermined direction than the supply roller driving gear so that movement in the predetermined direction is restricted ,
The first gear part and the second gear part are formed with first and second helical parts, respectively.
The first helical and the second helical have tooth lines along helical windings having different directions,
The first gear portion and the second gear portion are configured to generate thrust forces in directions opposite to each other when the driving force transmission gear rotates.
The developing cartridge is configured to generate a thrust force in a direction toward the outside in the predetermined direction when the driving force transmission gear rotates . The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the driving force transmission gear is formed with a coupling portion to which a driving member for inputting a driving force from outside in the predetermined direction is coupled. The gear diameter of the first gear portion is larger than the gear diameter of said second gear portion, the developing cartridge according to claim 1 or 2. A housing having a pair of side walls facing the developing roller and the supply roller from both sides in the predetermined direction;
A gear cover that collectively covers the developing roller driving gear, the supply roller driving gear, and the driving force transmission gear;
The gear cover, the are at least partially overlaps the housing, a developing cartridge according to any one of claims 1-3.

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