WO2012031557A1

WO2012031557A1 - Toner cartridge of laser printer

Info

Publication number: WO2012031557A1
Application number: PCT/CN2011/079453
Authority: WO
Inventors: 林龙; 周宏辉; 周忠宝
Original assignee: 珠海天威飞马打印耗材有限公司
Priority date: 2010-09-10
Filing date: 2011-09-08
Publication date: 2012-03-15
Also published as: CN201773273U

Abstract

A toner cartridge (100) of a laser printer. A part, in a toner cabin (108), of a stirring rack (104) thereof includes a stirring section (109) and a sensing section (110). The stirring section (109) and the sensing section (110) are connected to each other by a rotation lagging mechanism (111) there-between including a shaft coupling plate (112) and a motion delayed plate (113). A first side surface (114) of the shaft coupling plate (112) along the axial direction of the stirring rack (104) is provided with a first stopping block (115) and a limiting block (116). The first stopping block (115) and the limiting block (116) both deviate from the central axis of the stirring rack (104). A first side surface (117) of the motion delayed plate (113) along the axial direction of the stirring rack (104) is provided with a second stopping block (118) and a limiting cavity (119). The second stopping block (118) and the limiting cavity (119) both deviate from the central axis of the stirring rack (104). The first side surface (114) of the shaft coupling plate and the first side surface (117) of the motion delayed plate maintain a state of being opposite to each other face to face. A torsion spring (120) has one end fixed on the first stopping block (115) and the other end fixed on the second stopping block (118). A free end of the limiting block (116) extends into the limiting cavity (119).

Description

Toner cartridge for laser printer

Technical field

The present invention relates to a toner cartridge for a laser printer, and more particularly to a toner cartridge including a developing roller, a powder feeding roller, a powder discharging knife, a stirring frame and a toner hopper, which feeds the toner contained in the toner hopper through the developing roller. The layout is applied to the electrostatic latent image area formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum to convert the electrostatic latent image into a visual image displayed by a developer such as toner. The present invention is based on a Chinese utility model patent application filed on Sep. 10, 2010, with the application number of 201020524142.5, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Background technique

The image forming apparatus usually includes a copying machine, a laser printer, a facsimile machine, a ribbon printer, and an LED printer.

In the image forming apparatus of the laser scanning or laser irradiation type, the toner is the final imaging medium for realizing the conversion of the image ~ ~ light ~ ~ electricity ~ ~ map. Usually, the developing roller is disposed near the photosensitive drum to form an image on the photosensitive drum after the toner jumps over a very small gap between the developing roller and the photosensitive drum. The toner transported by the developing roller comes from the toner hopper. The amount of toner stored in the toner hopper is limited by the volume of the hopper. Therefore, the toner in the toner hopper needs to be replenished after it is used up.

As a type of laser image forming apparatus, the main functional blocks of the laser printer include a laser scanning unit, a photoelectric conversion unit, a charging unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a fixing unit.

The main components of the laser scanning unit are the laser generator and the light reflection transmission system.

The main component of the photoelectric conversion unit is a photosensitive drum.

The charging unit mainly includes a positive charge grid-controlled corona charging roller or other forms of charging roller.

The developing unit is composed of a toner storage chamber for storing toner, a developing chamber, and a developing roller. The developing roller, the powder feeding roller, and the powder discharging knife are disposed in the developing chamber. The mixing frame and the toner hopper together form a powder storage chamber.

The transfer unit mainly includes a transfer roller.

The fixing unit is composed of a heat roller and a pressure roller.

A common toner cartridge or process cartridge usually includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a charging unit, and a developing unit. This configuration generally results in a multi-functional integrated toner cartridge or process cartridge. There is also a photoelectric conversion unit and a charging unit which are directly disposed on the laser printer main body, and the toner cartridge includes only the developing unit, and this configuration method can obtain a toner cartridge which can perform only a single developing function, such a single function toner cartridge. The match between the two is done in the form of an assembly with the laser printer mainframe.

In the state in which the toner cartridge is loaded into the laser printer, the surface of the photosensitive drum is uniformly charged by the charging roller. The laser scanner emits a modulated laser light containing image information to the photosensitive drum to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image to be reproduced on the surface of the photosensitive drum. Thereafter, the toner from the developing roller is adsorbed on the surface of the photosensitive drum to convert the electrostatic latent image into a visible image displayed by the toner. As the photosensitive drum rotates, the visible image formed by the toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum is displaced to the position where the transfer roller is located. Transferring toner in the form of visible image to a recording medium such as paper by the transfer voltage of the transfer roller, and then heating and pressing the visible image on the recording medium by the heating roller and the pressure roller, The visible image formed by the toner is completely cured on the recording medium. This completes a basic imaging operation. After the operation is repeated, the complete picture, text and image required by the user can be obtained.

technical problem

Whether it is a multi-functional integrated toner cartridge or a single-function type toner cartridge, as mentioned above, toner is always a consumable substance as an imaging medium. Therefore, as the imaging process continues to be repeated, the amount of powder stored in the toner hopper will gradually become exhausted, and it is necessary to monitor the amount of powder stored in the toner hopper to prevent powder-free use.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, there is shown a toner cartridge of a conventional laser printer. On one side of the toner cartridge 100 along the axial direction of the developing roller 105, the encoder disc 101 and the two reflecting

sheets

102, 103 are double-sided. After the adhesive bonding is assembled, it is fixed to the end of the agitator 104 in which the shaft extends beyond the aforementioned side of the toner cartridge 100. On the other side of the toner cartridge 100 along the axial direction of the developing roller 105, the other end of the shaft among the agitating frames 104 is coupled to the gear 107 via a coupling 106. Specifically, the coupling 106 is axially coupled to the agitator 104 at its center in the radial direction, and the coaxial outer periphery of the coupling 106 is coupled to the gear 107. After the toner cartridge 100 is loaded into the interior of the laser printer main body, the laser printer drives the gear 107 to drive the coupling 106 to drive the agitator 104 and the code disc 101 to rotate. The coupling 106 fixedly coupled to the agitating frame 104 sensitively senses the resistance or torque transmitted from the toner of the toner cartridge 100 during the rotation of the agitating frame 104, and the agitator 104 transmits the resistance or torque generated by the toner. The code disk 101 is given. The code disc 101 cooperates with the code readers disposed in the laser printer through the two

retroreflective sheets

102, 103 disposed thereon to complete the detection of the amount of toner of the toner cartridge 100. In this configuration, since the entire mixing rack 104 is used to carry out the task of detecting the resistance of the toner, the mixing rack 104 feels a large area of the toner resistance, so that the mixing rack 104 feels that the change of the toner reserve cannot be the same as the change of the toner reserve. Matching, therefore, changes in toner reserves are difficult to detect in time for laser printers.

Technical solution

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge for a laser printer capable of promptly reading the resistance or torque generated by the toner content of the toner cartridge. The toner cartridge sensitively reflects the toner reserves in the toner hopper.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention utilizes a toner cartridge for a laser printer having the following features. It includes a developing roller, a powder feeding roller, a powder discharging knife, a mixing rack, and a toner hopper. The agitator is rotatably supported in the toner hopper in such a manner that its axial direction is parallel to the axial direction of the developing roller. The axial ends of the agitator protrude from the toner cartridge and are fixedly connected to the drive gear and the encoder disc, respectively. The portion of the mixing rack located in the toner hopper includes a stirring section and a sensing section. The stirring section and the sensing section are connected by a rotary hysteresis mechanism. The rotary lag mechanism includes a coupling plate and a retarding plate. The first plate and the limiting block are disposed on the first side of the coupling plate along the axial direction of the mixing frame. Both the first block and the stop block are offset from the central axis of the agitator. The second plate and the limiting cavity are disposed on the first side of the agitating plate along the axial direction of the mixing frame. Both the second block and the limiting cavity are offset from the central axis of the mixing frame. The first side surface of the coupling plate and the first side surface of the delay plate are disposed to face each other. One end of the torsion spring is fixed to the first block, and the other end is fixed to the second block. The free end of the limiting block projects into the limiting cavity.

In the foregoing toner cartridge for a laser printer, the central axis of the torsion spring is fixed to the shaft of the agitator frame so as to overlap the central axis of the agitator. On the first side of the retardation plate, a plurality of stopper blocks are respectively disposed on the two walls of the limiting cavity in the circumferential direction.

In the foregoing toner cartridge for a laser printer, the connecting plate is fixedly connected to the second side of the first side of the connecting shaft along the axial direction of the stirring frame and the middle shaft of the stirring section, and the retarding plate is back-to-back along the axial direction of the stirring frame. The second side of the first side of the moving plate is fixedly coupled to the central axis of the sensing section.

In the foregoing toner cartridge for a laser printer, the connecting plate is fixedly connected with the second side of the first side of the connecting shaft along the axial direction of the stirring frame and the middle shaft of the sensing section, and the retarding plate is back-to-back along the axial direction of the stirring frame. The second side of the first side of the movable plate is fixedly coupled to the central axis of the agitating section.

In the foregoing toner cartridge for a laser printer, the rotation hysteresis mechanism is biased toward the side where the drive gear is located along the axial direction of the agitator.

In the foregoing toner cartridge for a laser printer, the position of the rotary lag mechanism in the axial direction of the agitating frame is biased toward the side where the encoder disk is located.

Beneficial effect

In the toner cartridge for a laser printer of the present invention, the agitator is divided into two parts, a stirring section and a sensing section, and the two parts are connected by a rotation hysteresis mechanism. In this configuration, the agitating section of the agitator continues to undertake the task of agitating, conveying toner and transmitting rotational torque. The sensing section of the agitator takes up agitation, conveys toner, senses the inertial resistance of the toner, and transmits the rotational torque. task. Thus, the difference in the inertial resistance of the perceived toner occurs in the detection sequence due to the intervention of the rotational lag mechanism between the agitating section and the sensing section. This difference is transmitted to the code disk via the agitator and then learned by the laser printer, thereby achieving the task of sensitively detecting the toner content in the toner hopper. In addition, when the mixing frame rotates, the hysteresis rotation effect generated by the rotation hysteresis mechanism can reduce the initial driving force, which has a better buffering effect on the agitation of the carbon powder which is integrally compacted due to long-term storage and transportation. In addition, when there is a large amount of agitated toner, the agitator can be in full contact with the toner, thereby improving the charging ability of the toner.

DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional toner cartridge for a laser printer;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a conventional toner cartridge for a laser printer;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a conventional mixing frame for a toner cartridge for a laser printer;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the mixing frame of the existing toner cartridge for a laser printer;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional mixing frame for a toner cartridge for a laser printer;

Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a toner cartridge for a laser printer of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a mixing frame of a toner cartridge for a laser printer of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a partial perspective view of the mixing frame of the toner cartridge for a laser printer of the present invention;

Figure 9 is a partial perspective view of the mixing frame of the toner cartridge for a laser printer of the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention

The toner cartridge for a laser printer of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6 to 9, a perspective view, a structural exploded perspective view, and a partial perspective view, respectively, of a toner cartridge for a laser printer or a stirring frame thereof according to the present invention are shown.

The toner cartridge for a laser printer of the present invention is basically the same as the main structure of the conventional laser printer toner cartridge shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and the main difference is that there is a difference in the structure of the stirring frame between the two. Hereinafter, the structure of the stirring frame of the toner cartridge for a laser printer of the present invention will be mainly described. Other parts similar to those of the existing laser printer toner cartridge can be referred to the existing laser printer toner cartridge and the text description thereof shown in FIGS. To understand the overall construction of the toner cartridge for a laser printer of the present invention. In the following, the markings of the components of Figures 6-9 are still marked with the corresponding components of the conventional laser printer toner cartridge shown in Figures 1-5.

The main improvement of the toner cartridge 100 for a laser printer of the present invention is as follows.

The axial ends of the agitating frame 104 are fixedly coupled to the drive gear 107 and the encoder disk 101, respectively, after projecting to the outside of the toner hopper 108. The portion of the agitator 104 located within the toner hopper 108 is designed as a portion of the agitating section 109 and the sensing section 110. The agitating section 109 and the sensing section 110 are connected by a rotation hysteresis mechanism 111. The agitator 104 is fixedly coupled to the drive gear 107 corresponding to the axial end of the agitating section 109. The agitator 104 is fixedly coupled to the code disc 101 corresponding to the axial end of the sensing section 110. The torque transfer task between the agitating section 109 and the sensing section 110 is undertaken by the rotational hysteresis mechanism 111. Along the axial direction X of the agitator 104, the position of the rotary hysteresis mechanism 111 is placed in the middle of the agitator 104, i.e., the agitating section 109 and the sensing section 110 remain substantially the same along the length of the axial direction X.

The composition of the rotary hysteresis mechanism 111 includes a coupling plate 112 and a retarding plate 113.

In the axial direction X of the agitator 104, on the first side 114 of the coupling plate 112 along the X-axis, a first block 115 and a stop block 116 are disposed. The positions of the first block 115 and the stop block 116 are both offset from the central axis of the agitator 104, which are located on different circumferences that are a predetermined distance from the central axis of the agitator 104.

In the axial direction X of the agitator 104, on the first side 117 of the retardation plate 113 along the X-axis, a second block 118 and a limiting cavity 119 are provided. The positions of the second block 118 and the limiting cavity 119 are simultaneously offset from the central axis of the agitator 104, which are located on different circumferences that are a predetermined distance from the central axis of the agitator 104.

In the assembled state of the toner cartridge 100, the first side surface 114 of the coupling plate 112 and the first side surface 117 of the retardation plate 113 are kept in a state of being opposed to each other. One of the spring legs of the torsion spring 120 is fixedly fastened to the first block 115, and the second leg of the torsion leg is fixedly pressed against the second block 118. The free end of the stop block 116 extends into the limiting cavity 119. The torsion spring 120 is fixed to the central shaft of the agitator 104 in such a manner that its axis coincides with the central axis of the agitator 104. On the first side surface 117 of the retardation plate 113, a plurality of stopper blocks 121 and 122 are respectively disposed on the two walls of the limiting cavity 119 in the circumferential direction. The second side 123 of the coupling plate 112 facing away from the first side surface 114 along the X-axis is fixedly coupled to the central axis of the agitating section 109. The second side 124 of the retarding plate 113 facing away from the first side 117 along the X-axis is fixedly coupled to the central axis of the sensing section 110.

When the toner cartridge 100 is in operation, the driving gear 107 drives the agitating section 109 to rotate, and after the agitating section 109 rotates by a predetermined angle, the limiting block 116 provided in the rotary hysteresis mechanism 111 driven by it moves and reaches in the limiting cavity 119. The position of the stop block 122 is further in a state of being pressed against the stopper block 122, and the rotational torque is transmitted to the sensing section 110, thereby finally realizing the entire agitator 104 composed of the agitating section 109 and the sensing section 110. Rotate. During this process, the difference in the rotation time sequence between the agitation section 109 and the sensing section 110 is fed back to the laser printer via the encoder disc 101, so that the toner stored in the toner cartridge 108 can be detected. .

In the above embodiment, the position of the rotation hysteresis mechanism 111 in the axial direction X of the agitating frame 104 may be reversed by one hundred and eighty degrees; or the rotational hysteresis mechanism 111 may be in the axial direction X of the agitating frame 104. The position is offset from the middle of the agitator 104, i.e., the position of the rotary hysteresis mechanism 111 is biased toward the side on which the drive gear 107 is located, or is biased toward the side on which the encoder disc 101 is located. These modifications are all based on the simple changes made on the basis of the essential features of the technical solutions of the present invention, and cannot be deviated from the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Industrial applicability

According to the invention, the mixing frame is divided into two parts, a stirring section and a sensing section, and the two parts are connected by a rotation hysteresis mechanism. The task of agitating, conveying toner, and transmitting rotational torque continues to be carried out by the agitating section, and the sensing section assumes the task of agitating, conveying toner, sensing the inertial resistance of the toner, and transmitting the rotational torque. Thus, the difference in the inertial resistance of the perceived toner occurs in the detection sequence due to the intervention of the rotational lag mechanism between the agitating section and the sensing section. This difference is transmitted to the code disk via the agitator and then learned by the laser printer, thereby achieving the task of sensitively detecting the toner content in the toner hopper. In addition, the hysteresis rotation effect generated by the rotary hysteresis mechanism can reduce the initial driving force, which has a good buffering effect on the agitation of the carbon powder which is integrally compacted due to long-term storage and transportation. In addition, when there is a large amount of agitated toner, the agitator can be in full contact with the toner, thereby improving the charging ability of the toner.

Claims

A toner cartridge for a laser printer, comprising a developing roller, a powder feeding roller, a powder discharging knife, a stirring frame and a toner hopper, wherein the stirring frame is rotatably supported at a direction parallel to an axial direction of the developing roller In the toner cartridge, the axial ends of the stirring frame protrude from the toner cartridge and are respectively fixedly connected with the driving gear and the encoder disk;

It is characterized by:

The portion of the mixing rack located in the toner hopper includes a stirring section and a sensing section, and the stirring section and the sensing section are connected by a rotation hysteresis mechanism;

The rotation hysteresis mechanism includes a coupling plate and a delay plate, and the first plate and the limiting block are disposed on the first side of the axial direction of the mixing frame, the first block and the The limit blocks are all offset from the central axis of the mixing frame;

a second clamping block and a limiting cavity are disposed on the first side of the agitating frame along the axial direction of the agitating frame, and the second clamping block and the limiting cavity are both offset from the central axis of the agitating frame;

a state in which the first side of the connecting plate and the first side of the delay plate are opposite to each other, and one end of the torsion spring is fixed to the first block and the other end is fixed to the second card. On the block, the free end of the limiting block extends into the limiting cavity.
A toner cartridge for a laser printer according to claim 1, wherein:

The central axis of the torsion spring is fixed on the shaft of the agitating frame in a manner of overlapping the central axis of the agitating frame, and the first side of the delay plate is respectively disposed on the two walls of the limiting cavity along the circumferential direction. A stop block is provided.
A toner cartridge for a laser printer according to claim 2, wherein:

a second side of the connecting plate axially facing away from the first side of the connecting plate along the axial direction of the stirring frame is fixedly connected with a middle shaft of the stirring section, and the delay plate is axially backed along the stirring frame A second side of the first side of the delay plate is fixedly coupled to the central axis of the sensing section.
A toner cartridge for a laser printer according to claim 2, wherein:

a second side of the connecting plate axially facing away from the first side of the connecting plate along the axial direction of the stirring frame is fixedly connected with a middle shaft of the sensing section, and the delaying plate is axially along the stirring frame A second side facing away from the first side of the retarding plate is fixedly coupled to the central axis of the agitating section.
A toner cartridge for a laser printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that:

The position of the rotary hysteresis mechanism along the axial direction of the agitator is biased toward the side where the drive gear is located.
A toner cartridge for a laser printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that:

The position of the rotary hysteresis mechanism along the axial direction of the agitator is biased toward the side where the code disc is located.