WO2024074152A1

WO2024074152A1 - Developer replenishing box and processing cartridge

Info

Publication number: WO2024074152A1
Application number: PCT/CN2023/123456
Authority: WO
Inventors: 丁文奕; 黄宗仟
Original assignee: 珠海超俊科技有限公司
Priority date: 2022-10-08
Filing date: 2023-10-08
Publication date: 2024-04-11

Abstract

The present invention relates to a developer replenishing box for replenishing a developer to a main body provided with at least one rotating part and a driving force receiving part. The main body is detachably mounted on an imaging device provided with a driving force output part. The developer replenishing box is further provided with a straightening assembly. The straightening assembly is used for straightening the driving force output part to drive one or more rotating parts to rotate, and after the developer is used up, a user only needs to take out the developer replenishing box and replace same with a new developer replenishing box, and the main body does not have to be taken out. Moreover, by utilizing the straightening assembly arranged in the developer replenishing box, it can be ensured that the driving force output part in the imaging device is combined with the driving force receiving part in the main body and transmits driving force.

Description

Developer replenishment box and process box

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of electronic photographic imaging, and in particular to a processing box detachably installed in an electronic photographic imaging device and a developer replenishing box located in the processing box.

Background technique

As is known to all, when the processing box works in the main component of an imaging device such as a laser printer or a copier, it is necessary to utilize a driving force receiving member installed in the processing box to receive a driving force from a driving force output member provided in the imaging device to drive a rotating member rotatably installed inside the processing box to rotate.

At the same time, in order to reduce the difficulty of installing the processing box, there is an imaging device in which the driving force output member is arranged so that its rotation axis can be changed relative to the main component of the imaging device. For example, the driving force output member is arranged to be able to shake slightly, or, before the processing box is installed, the rotation axis of the driving force output member is inclined relative to the rotation axis of the rotating member. After the processing box is installed, the rotation axis of the driving force output member is parallel to or coaxial with the rotation axis of the rotating member.

Generally, the rotating member may be, for example, at least one of a stirring member for stirring the developer in the processing box, a supply member for conveying the developer, a developing member for carrying the developer, a photosensitive member for carrying the electrostatic latent image, and a charging member for charging the surface of the photosensitive member. The service life of the rotating member is generally designed to be longer than the service life of the processing box (the number of pages that can be imaged by the developer in the processing box). In order to reduce the cost of use for the end user, a replenishing port for replenishing the developer is provided in the existing processing box; when the developer in the processing box is used up, the end user takes the processing box out of the imaging device and replenishes the developer into the processing box through the replenishing port. In practice, the existing processing box has at least the following defects:

1. For most end users, the process of replenishing the developer into the process cartridge through the replenishment port is still too complicated and difficult to operate, and the problem of developer leakage due to improper operation often occurs.

2. In order to ensure accurate and stable combination of the driving force output member and the driving force receiving member, a component for abutting against the driving force output member is provided in the existing processing box. The provision of this component will undoubtedly improve the manufacturing accuracy requirements of the processing box and increase the overall structural complexity and assembly complexity of the processing box.

Summary of the invention

In view of this, the present invention provides a developer replenishing box and a processing box having the developer replenishing box to solve at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

A developer replenishing box is used to replenish developer to a main body provided with at least one rotating part, and the main body can be detachably mounted on an imaging device provided with a driving force output part; the developer replenishing box is also provided with a squaring component, and the squaring component is used to squaring the driving force output part to drive one or more rotating parts to rotate. When the developer is used up, the end user only needs to replace a new developer replenishing box without the need to replenish the developer to the processing box, thereby reducing the risk of developer leakage; at the same time, the squaring component provided in the developer replenishing box can ensure that the driving force output part in the imaging device and the driving force receiving part in the main body are accurately combined and stably transmit the driving force. Through this design, it is beneficial to reduce the structural complexity of the main body.

Specifically, the driving force output member can move between a non-transmission position and a transmission position. In the non-transmission position, the rotation axis of the driving force output member is inclined relative to the rotation axis of the rotating member. In the transmission position, the rotation axis of the driving force output member is coaxial with or parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating member. The alignment assembly is used to force the driving force output member to move from the non-transmission position to the transmission position.

The present invention also provides a process box that can be detachably mounted to an image forming device, the process box comprising a main body and a developer replenishing box as described above, the developer replenishing box being combined with the main body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state where a process cartridge according to the present invention is separated from an image forming device.

2 and 3 are three-dimensional views of the developer replenishing box of the process box involved in the first embodiment of the present invention after being separated from the process box main body.

4 is a perspective view of some components of the developer replenishing box according to the first embodiment of the present invention after being exploded.

5 is a perspective view of the developer replenishment box according to the first embodiment of the present invention when it is installed in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the developer replenishing box in FIG. 5 as viewed in the longitudinal direction.

7 is a perspective view of the developer replenishing box of the process box involved in the second embodiment of the present invention after being separated from the process box body.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a developer replenishing box according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

9A and 9B are three-dimensional views of a process cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

【Imaging equipment】

The imaging device 9 includes a shell 9a and a door cover 9b which are combined with each other. The shell 9a forms a processing box accommodating chamber 9d which can accommodate the processing box. The processing box accommodating chamber 9d is exposed to the outside through an opening 9c formed in the shell 9a. The processing box 100 is installed toward the imaging device through the opening 9c and taken out through the opening 9c. The door cover 9b covers the opening 9c. The side wall 94 is located at the longitudinal end of the processing box accommodating chamber 9d. The driving force output member 90 is arranged on the same side as the second side wall 94. Before the driving force output member 90 outputs the driving force outward, the rotation axis L9 of the driving force output member 90 is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction described below. The side wall 94 has a guide rail 941 for guiding the installation of the processing box, and the driving force output member 90 includes a first driving force output part 91 and a second driving force output part 92 arranged coaxially, wherein the first driving force output part 91 is arranged on the circumferential surface of the driving force output shaft 99, and is used to output the driving force to the developing part in the processing box, and the second driving force output part 92 is arranged at the longitudinal end of the driving force output shaft 99, and is used to output the driving force to the photosensitive part 11 in the processing box (as shown in Figure 9B), and along the radial direction of the driving force output member 90, the first driving force output part 91 is located radially outside the second driving force output part 92.

Further referring to Figures 5 and 6, a protective shell 95 is also provided in the imaging device 9, and the protective shell 95 as a whole has a shape matching the driving force output member 90. As shown in the figure, the driving force output member 90 and the protective shell 95 are both cylindrical, and the driving force output member 90 is located in the protective shell 95. The protective shell 95 is provided with at least a first exposure hole 951 and a second exposure hole 952, wherein the first exposure hole 951 is arranged along the circumferential direction of the protective shell 95, and the number thereof is one or two, and the first driving force output part 91 is exposed through the first exposure hole 951, and the second exposure hole 952 is arranged along the axial direction of the protective shell 95, and the number thereof is one, and the second driving force output part 92 is exposed through the second exposure hole 952. In this way, the driving force output member 90 is exposed only through the first exposure hole 951 and the second exposure hole 952, and the driving force output member 90 is covered by the protective shell 95 in the area outside the first exposure hole 951 and the second exposure hole 952.

Embodiment 1

【Processing box】

The length direction of the processing box 100 is called the longitudinal direction x, and the installation direction of the processing box 100 is A, and the installation direction A is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction x. The processing box 100 includes a shell 1, a rotating member rotatably installed in the shell 1, and a driving force receiving member 2 located at one longitudinal end of the shell. The driving force receiving member 2 is used to combine with the driving force output member 90 and receive the driving force output by the driving force output member 90 to drive the rotating member to rotate. Therefore, the rotating member can be any one of the developing member and the photosensitive member, and the rotating member rotates around a rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal direction x, that is, the developing member and the photosensitive member can be It is regarded as the first rotating part; further, the side on which the driving force receiving part 2 is provided is called the driving end F, the side opposite to the driving end F is called the non-driving end E, the direction from the non-driving end E to the driving end F is the +x direction, and the direction from the driving end F to the non-driving end E is the -x direction.

It should be understood that after receiving the driving force output by the driving force output member 90, the driving force receiving member 2 will also rotate around the rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal direction x. Therefore, the driving force receiving member 2 can also be regarded as a second rotating member. Furthermore, in the processing box 100, as long as it is a rotatable component, it can be regarded as a rotating member, for example, gears arranged in the processing box 100, charging members and powder feeding members rotatably installed in the shell, and other components, wherein the charging member is used to charge the photosensitive member, and the powder feeding member is used to supply developer to the developing member. The gear can be regarded as a third rotating member, and the charging member and the powder feeding member can also be regarded as a first rotating member. No matter which type of rotating member is described in this application, the rotating member can be directly or indirectly driven by the driving force output member 90.

On the whole, the consumable parts (including developing parts, photosensitive parts, charging parts, powder feeding parts, etc.) rotatably arranged in the main body 101 described below can be regarded as the first type of rotating parts, the parts used to combine with the driving force output part 90 and receive the driving force (including the driving force receiving part 2) can be regarded as the second type of rotating parts, the consumable parts (including the stirring part 32 described below) rotatably arranged in the developer replenishing box 102 described below can be regarded as the third type of rotating parts, and the parts used to transmit the driving force of the second type of rotating parts to the first type of rotating parts or to the third type of rotating parts can be regarded as the fourth type of rotating parts (including the developing unit driving part 23 described below, gears, etc.).

In some embodiments, the driving force receiving member 2 is provided with a driving force receiving portion for combining with the driving force output member 90 and a driving force transmitting portion for transmitting the driving force received by the driving force receiving portion. Therefore, when the driving force output member 90 is combined with the driving force receiving member 2, the first driving force output portion 91 can also be configured not to drive the developing member, and the second driving force output portion 92 drives the photosensitive member, and the driving force required for the developing member is transmitted by the driving force transmitting portion; on the contrary, in other embodiments, when the driving force output member 90 is combined with the driving force receiving member 2, the second driving force output portion 92 can also be configured not to drive the photosensitive member, and the first driving force output portion 91 drives the developing member, and the driving force required for the photosensitive member is transmitted by the driving force transmitting portion.

Before the driving force receiving member 2 and the driving force output member 90 are combined with each other, the driving force output member 90 is in a state of being inclined relative to the rotating member. Specifically, the rotation axis L9 of the driving force output member 90 is inclined relative to the rotation axis of the rotating member. At this time, the driving force output member 90 is in a non-transmitting position. After the driving force receiving member 2 and the driving force output member 90 are completely combined, the rotation axis L9 and the rotation axis of the rotating member are coaxial/coincident or parallel to each other, that is, the driving force receiving member 2 and the driving force output member 90 are coaxial or parallel to each other. At this time, the driving force output member 90 is in a transmitting position.

As a whole, the process cartridge 100 includes a developing unit 100a, a photosensitive unit 100b and a replaceable unit 100c. The developing unit 100a includes a developing housing 1a in which a developing member is rotatably disposed. The photosensitive unit 100b includes a photosensitive member. The photosensitive member is rotatably arranged in the photosensitive housing 1b, and the laser beam emitted by the imaging device passes through the laser port 103 located between the developing unit 100a and the photosensitive unit 100b to irradiate the surface of the photosensitive member, so that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive member 11, and the developing member is used to supply the developer carried on its surface to the photosensitive member 11, and the developing housing 1a and the photosensitive housing 1b form a part of the process cartridge housing 1. Hereinafter, the developing unit 100a, the photosensitive unit 100b and the replaceable unit 100c all have the same driving end F and non-driving end E as the process cartridge 100.

The developing unit 100a and the photosensitive unit 100b may be of an integrated structure or a split structure. The so-called integrated structure means that the developing unit 100a and the photosensitive unit 100b are assembled into a whole and can be replaced as a whole. The split structure means that the developing unit 100a and the photosensitive unit 100b are combined in a detachable manner. The end user does not need to replace the developing unit 100a and the photosensitive unit 100b at the same time, but can replace the developing unit 100a and the photosensitive unit 100b separately as needed; the replaceable unit 100c is used to replenish the developer to the developing unit 100a. When the replaceable unit 100c is replaced, the developer 100a and the photosensitive unit 100b are replaced. After the developer in the element 100c is consumed, the end user only needs to replace the replaceable unit 100c, and the other parts of the processing box can be decided whether to be taken out depending on the actual situation. For this reason, the combination of the developing unit 100a and the photosensitive unit 100b can be called the main body 101 of the processing box 100, and the replaceable unit 100c can be called the developer replenishing box 102 of the processing box 100, and the developer replenishing box 102 is combined with the main body 101 in a detachable manner. The combination of the developing shell 1a and the photosensitive shell 1b can also be regarded as the main shell of the processing box 100 (the main shell of the main body 101).

[Developer Refill Box]

As shown in the figure, the developer replenishing box 102 includes a box body 51 and an alignment component 6 combined with the box body 51, the box body 51 is used to accommodate the developer, and the alignment component 6 is used to align the driving force output member 90, that is, the alignment component 6 can force the driving force output member 90 to move from the non-transmission position to the transmission position, and the box body 51 forms a part of the processing box shell 1.

Furthermore, the developer replenishing box 102 also includes a handle 52 connected to the box body 51 and a developer outlet 53 arranged on the box body 51. The alignment assembly 6 can also be arranged on the handle 52. Accordingly, the developing unit 100a is provided with a developer inlet 19 for receiving the developer. The developer outlet 53 is combined with the developer inlet 19 to establish fluid communication between the developer replenishing box 102 and the developing unit 100a. Therefore, the developer located in the developer replenishing box 102 can be replenished to the developing unit 100a through the developer outlet 53 and the developer inlet 19.

It should be understood that the handle 52 can be either a component protruding from the box body 51 or a part of the box body 51 itself, as long as the end user can install or remove the developer replenishing box 102 by grasping this part.

Generally, the process cartridge is provided with an elastic member for forcing the developing member toward the photosensitive member to ensure that the relative position between the developing member and the photosensitive member is maintained within a preset range. Therefore, during the operation of the process cartridge 100, there may be a slight relative movement between the developing unit 100a and the photosensitive unit 100b, or in other words, the developing unit 100a and the photosensitive unit 100b may move relative to the housing 9a of the imaging device. In some embodiments, the cartridge body 51 is configured to move with the movement of the developing unit 100a. The aligning assembly 6 moves with the box body 51, so that the sealing between the developer outlet 53 and the developer inlet 19 will not be reduced. For example, the box body 51 is fixedly combined with the developing unit 100a, or the elastic member pushes the box body 51 and the developing unit 100a at the same time; preferably, the aligning assembly 6 is movably connected to the box body 51, and when the box body 51 moves with the developing unit 100a relative to the housing 9a of the imaging device, the aligning assembly 6 can be maintained in a predetermined position, so that the driving force output member 90 can be effectively maintained in the transfer position.

As described above, the developer replenishing box 102 is used to replenish the developer into the developing unit 100a. Therefore, the position of the developer replenishing box 102 in the processing box 100 should not be limited. In practice, the developer replenishing box 102 can be combined with the developing unit 100a, the photosensitive unit 100b, and the driving end cover 1d and the non-driving end cover 1e respectively located at the longitudinal ends of the shell 1. The driving force receiving member 2 is exposed through the driving end cover 1d, and the driving end cover 1d can be formed in one piece or in a split piece. The developing unit 100a and the photosensitive unit 100b are combined through the driving end cover 1d. When the driving end cover 1d is formed in a split piece, as shown in Figure 3, the driving end cover 1d includes a photosensitive unit driving end cover 1d1 arranged on the photosensitive unit 100b and a developing unit driving end cover 1d2 arranged on the developing unit 100a, and the photosensitive unit driving end cover 1d1 and the developing unit driving end cover 1d2 are movably combined. Specifically, the driving force receiving member 2 is exposed through the photosensitive unit driving end cover 1d1 and/or the developing unit driving end cover 1d2; similarly, the non-driving end cover 1e can also be formed in one piece or in a split piece. When the non-driving end cover 1e is formed in a split piece, the non-driving end cover 1e includes a photosensitive unit non-driving end cover arranged on the photosensitive unit 100b and a developing unit non-driving end cover arranged on the developing unit 100a, and the photosensitive unit non-driving end cover and the developing unit non-driving end cover are movably combined.

In this embodiment, in combination with Figures 2, 3 and 6, when the processing box 100 is installed to the predetermined position of the imaging device, along the installation direction A, the rear space of the developing unit 100a is limited. Preferably, along the installation direction A, the developer replenishing box 102 is arranged behind the photosensitive unit 100b. When the processing box 100 is installed to the predetermined position of the imaging device, the rotation axis L11 of the photosensitive member 11 is located above the rotation axis L0 of the developing member (as shown in Figure 9B), at least a portion of the developing unit 100a is located below the laser beam/laser port 103, and at least a portion of the developer replenishing box 102 is located above the laser beam, that is, at least a portion of the developer replenishing box 102 and the developing unit 100a are respectively located on both sides of the laser beam/laser port 103.

Figure 4 is a three-dimensional diagram of some components of the developer replenishing box involved in Example 1 of the present invention after being decomposed; Figure 5 is a three-dimensional diagram of the developer replenishing box involved in Example 1 of the present invention when it is installed to the imaging device; Figure 6 is a side view of the developer replenishing box in Figure 5 observed along the longitudinal direction.

The alignment assembly 6 includes an attachment 61 and an alignment member 62 that are combined with each other. The attachment 61 is used to connect the alignment assembly 6 to the box body 51, and the alignment member 62 is used to force the driving force output member 90 to move from the non-transmission position to the transmission position. In the alignment assembly 6, the attachment 61 can be set to be movable relative to the box body 51, or the alignment member 62 can be set to be movable relative to the box body 51. The box body 51 is movable, for example, the straightening member 62 is configured to be rotatable around the rotation axis L62 to force the driving force output member 90, or the straightening member 62 is configured to be slidable to force the driving force output member 90, or the rotation method and the sliding method are combined; the attachment 61 includes an attachment body 610 and a coupling portion 611 arranged on the attachment body 610, through which the position of the attachment 61 in the imaging device can be determined, thereby ensuring that the straightening member 62 can accurately align the driving force output member 90.

As shown in Figure 4, the attachment 61 also includes a positioning portion 614 arranged on the attachment body 610. Through the positioning portion 614, the relative position between the attachment 61 and the end cover 1d/1e can be determined, which is not only conducive to ensuring the accurate position of the alignment assembly 6 relative to the driving force output member 90, but also can effectively control the size of the developer replenishing box 102 and the processing box 100.

The straightening member 62 includes a connecting body 621 and a straightening portion 622 connected to the connecting body 621 . When the straightening member 62 is configured to rotate, the straightening portion 622 may be configured to be a protrusion. Accordingly, the attachment body 610 is provided with a coupling hole 613 .

In some embodiments, the alignment component 6 can also be configured to move between an alignment position and a non-alignment position relative to the box body 51 or the main body 101. In the non-alignment position, the driving force output member 90 is located in the non-transmission position, and in the alignment position, the driving force output member 90 is located in the transmission position. As the alignment component 6 moves from the non-alignment position to the alignment position, the driving force output member 90 moves from the non-transmission position to the transmission position. Preferably, the alignment component 6 also includes a forced push surface 612 provided on the attachment body 610, and the forced push surface 612 is used to receive an external force, thereby causing the alignment component 6 to move from the non-alignment position to the alignment position.

In some embodiments, the straightening component 6 and the driving force output member 90 can also be configured that, when the driving force output member 90 is in the transfer position, the straightening component 6 is in the straightening position; when the straightening component 6 moves from the straightening position to the non-straightening position, the driving force output member 90 still remains in the transfer position; when the straightening component 6 moves from the non-straightening position to the straightening position again, the driving force output member 90 moves from the transfer position to the non-transfer position. It can be seen that the straightening position and the non-straightening position of the straightening component 6 and the transfer position and the non-transfer position of the driving force output member 90 do not have a one-to-one correspondence; the external force can come directly from the door cover force applying portion 9b1, or directly from the control component arranged in the processing box 100, and the control component can receive the force applied by the door cover force applying portion 9b1 or the force applied by the end user grasping the processing box.

In some embodiments, the alignment assembly 6 does not have to be configured to move between an alignment position and a non-alignment position. The alignment assembly 6 is positioned on a component within the imaging device (e.g., the side wall 94) or on a processing box. When the developer replenishing box 102 is installed to a predetermined position of the imaging device, the alignment assembly 6 also forces the driving force output member 90 to move from the non-transmission position to the transmission position. For example, the alignment assembly 6 is positioned on the side wall 94. At this time, the alignment assembly 6 is directly combined with the driving force output member 90.

The alignment assembly 6 can be configured to force the driving force output member 90 to move from the non-transmission position to the transmission position during the installation of the developer replenishment box 102 toward the predetermined position of the imaging device, or can be configured to force the driving force output member 90 to move from the non-transmission position to the transmission position during the installation of the developer replenishment box 102 toward the predetermined position of the imaging device. After the cartridge 102 has been installed in a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus, the driving force output member 90 is forced to move from the non-transmitting position to the transmitting position.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, when the developer replenishing box 102 is installed to a predetermined position of the imaging device along the guide rail 941, the squaring member 62 forces the driving force output member 90 to move from the non-transmission position to the transmission position, and the developer replenishing box 102 can also be positioned in the imaging device by at least one of the box body 51 and the handle 52. For example, the handle 52 is supported by at least a portion of the guide rail 941, and the movement trajectory of the developer replenishing box 102 will be more precise and can be supported more stably.

As shown in Figure 6, along the installation direction A, at least a portion of the alignment assembly 6 is located in front of the box body 51, that is, at least a portion of the alignment assembly 6 protrudes from the box body 51 (the protruding position of the alignment assembly 6). In order to reduce the packaging space occupied by the developer replenishment box 102, preferably, the alignment assembly 6 is configured to be foldable/retractable. Before the developer replenishment box 102 is used, the alignment assembly 6 is folded/retracted to the box body 51 or the handle 52 (the folded/retracted position of the alignment assembly 6). When the developer replenishment box 102 needs to be used, the alignment assembly 6 returns to the protruding position.

Specifically, the terminal user may extend the straightening assembly 6 in the folded/retracted position to the protruding position, or the control assembly disposed in the process cartridge may extend the straightening assembly 6 to the protruding position. When the straightening assembly 6 is configured to be controlled by the control assembly to reach the protruding position, the control assembly may control the straightening assembly 6 to reach the protruding position during the installation process of the developer replenishment cartridge 102/process cartridge 100, or the control assembly may control the straightening assembly 6 to reach the protruding position after the developer replenishment cartridge 102/process cartridge 100 reaches the predetermined installation position.

The control component can be used to apply a first force to the straightening component 6 so that the straightening component 6 moves from a non-straightening position to a straightening position, and can also be used to apply a second force to the straightening component 6 so that the straightening component 6 moves from a folded/retracted position to a protruding position. In practice, the application of the first force and the second force can be performed separately or together, as long as the above-mentioned purpose can be achieved.

In some embodiments, the control component can also apply a third force to the straightening component 6 to cancel the effect of the straightening component 6 on the driving force output member 90. For example, when the processing box reaches the predetermined installation position of the imaging device, the control component applies a first force to the straightening component 6, and the straightening component 6 moves from the non-straightening position to the straightening position, and the driving force output member 90 moves from the non-transmission position to the transmission position. Then, when the door cover of the imaging device is closed, the door cover force-applying part 9b1 applies a force to the control component again, and the control component applies the third force to the straightening component 6, so that the straightening component 6 no longer applies a force to the driving force output member 90. During the operation of the processing box, the driving force output member 90 and the driving force receiving member 2 are always in a combined state, and the straightening component 6 does not have to always apply a force to the driving force output member 90, which is beneficial to prevent fatigue of the straightening component 6. At this time, the straightening component 6 can be in a folded/retracted position or in an extended position. Further, when the door cover is opened and the process cartridge 100 is taken out of the imaging device, the door cover force applying portion 9b1 no longer applies force to the control component or utilizes the force applied by the end user when taking the process cartridge to make the alignment component 6 return to the alignment position again, so that the developer replenishment cartridge is 102 to prepare for the next installation, or to straighten the assembly 6 and return it directly to the folded/retracted position.

Furthermore, the processing box 100 also includes an outlet switch assembly for controlling the opening and closing of the developer outlet 53, an inlet switch assembly for controlling the opening and closing of the developer inlet 19, and a sealing assembly for preventing the developer from leaking from the developer outlet 53 and the developer inlet 19. The developer replenishing box 102 also includes a stirring and conveying assembly for stirring and conveying the developer and a driving assembly for driving the stirring and conveying assembly. A part of the stirring and conveying assembly can also be regarded as a kind of rotating member (a fourth rotating member). When the processing box 100 starts working, the driving assembly directly receives a driving force from the imaging device or from the main body 101, thereby driving the stirring and conveying assembly to stir the developer and convey the developer toward the developer outlet 53. Before the developer replenishing box 102 is installed, the outlet switch assembly makes the developer outlet 53 in a closed state, and the inlet switch assembly makes the developer inlet 19 in a closed state. Preferably, when the developer replenishing box 102 is installed to a predetermined position of the imaging device,

The developer outlet 53 and the developer inlet 19 are opened simultaneously by the outlet switch assembly and the inlet switch assembly respectively, or, during the installation of the developer replenishing box 102 toward the imaging device, the inlet switch assembly first opens the developer inlet 19, and after the developer replenishing box 102 reaches the predetermined position, the outlet switch assembly opens the developer outlet 53; when the developer replenishing box 102 needs to be taken out of the imaging device, preferably, the developer outlet 53 and the developer inlet 19 are closed simultaneously by the outlet switch assembly and the inlet switch assembly respectively, or, the outlet switch assembly first closes the developer outlet 53, and as the developer replenishing box 102 is taken out of the imaging device, the inlet switch assembly closes the developer inlet 19; it is understandable that the force of the outlet switch assembly controlling the opening and closing of the developer outlet 53 and the force of the inlet switch assembly controlling the opening and closing of the developer inlet 19 can come from the force applied to the developer replenishing box 102 by the end user when the developer replenishing box 102 is installed and removed, and can also be the force applied to the developer replenishing box 102 by the force-applying portion 9b1 of the door cover when the door cover 9b is closed.

Furthermore, in order to enable the end user to replace the developer replenishing box 102 in time, preferably, the processing box 100 or the developer replenishing box 102 is also provided with a detection component that can detect the remaining developer in the developer replenishing box 102. The detection component can perform the detection during the process of installing the developer replenishing box 102 to the imaging device, and can also perform the detection when the processing box 100 starts to work after the developer replenishing box 102 is installed to the imaging device, and can also perform the detection immediately during the operation of the processing box 100.

Embodiment 2

Figure 7 is a stereoscopic view of the developer replenishing box of the processing box involved in Example 2 of the present invention after being separated from the processing box main body; Figure 8 is a stereoscopic view of the developer replenishing box involved in Example 2 of the present invention; Figures 9A and 9B are stereoscopic views of the processing box involved in Example 2 of the present invention.

The same components as those in the first embodiment are numbered the same. The difference from the first embodiment is that the developer replenishing box 102 in the present embodiment is combined with the developing housing 1a. When the process box 100 reaches the predetermined position, the developer replenishing box 102 is 102 is located below the laser beam/laser port 103; the alignment assembly 6 is connected to the drive end cover 1d, and FIG. 7 shows a structure in which at least a portion of the drive end cover 1d is used as an attachment 61, that is, the attachment 61 is formed integrally with at least a portion of the drive end cover 1d, so that the overall structure of the process cartridge 100 can be simplified. It is feasible that the attachment 61 can also be formed separately from the drive end cover 1d. <Combination of the developer replenishment box and the main body>

7 and 8 , the processing box 100 further includes a coupling member 31 disposed on the main body 101 and a coupled member 33 disposed on the developer replenishing box 102. The developer replenishing box 102 and the main body 101 are coupled together through the coupling member 31 and the coupled member 33. At the same time, the coupling member 31 and the coupled member 33 also play a role in positioning the developer replenishing box 102 on the main body 101. That is, the developer replenishing box 102 is fixedly coupled to the main body 101.

As shown in Figure 7, the inlet switch assembly includes an inlet shielding member 18, which can move between an inlet shielding position for shielding the developer inlet 19 and an inlet opening position for not shielding the developer inlet 19, wherein the developer inlet 19 is in a closed state at the inlet shielding position, and the developer inlet 19 is in an open state at the inlet opening position; as shown in Figure 8, the outlet switch assembly includes an outlet shielding member 54, which can move between an outlet shielding position for shielding the developer outlet 53 and an outlet opening position for not shielding the developer outlet 19, wherein the developer outlet 53 is in a closed state at the outlet shielding position, and the developer outlet 53 is in an open state at the outlet opening position.

In one embodiment, along the x direction, the coupling 31 is arranged at a longitudinal end of the main body 101. Specifically, the coupling 31 can be arranged on at least one of the developing housing 1a, the photosensitive housing 1b and the non-driving end cover 1e. As shown in Figure 7, the coupling 31 is arranged on the non-driving end cover 1e, which originally has a relatively simple structure. In this way, the structural complexity of the developing housing 1a and the photosensitive housing 1b can be reduced.

Furthermore, at least one of the developing housing 1a and the photosensitive housing 1b is also provided with a guiding member 41 for guiding the developer replenishing box 102, and correspondingly, the developer replenishing box 102 is provided with a guided member 56 for being guided by the guiding member 41. Under the guiding action of the guiding member 41 and the guided member 56, the developer replenishing box 102 can be inserted from one end of the main body 101 along the x direction, so that the coupling member 31 and the coupled member 33 are coupled, and the developer replenishing box 102 completes the coupling with the main body 101.

Specifically, the guiding member 41 and the guided member 56 both extend along the x-direction. More specifically, the guiding member 41 is a guiding groove arranged on the photosensitive housing 1b, and the guided member 56 is a guiding protrusion arranged on the box body 51. Conversely, the guiding member 41 can also be set as the guiding protrusion, and the guided member 56 can also be set as a guiding groove; the number of the guiding groove and the guiding protrusion is at least one each, and along the x-direction, the guiding groove and the guiding protrusion can either extend continuously or be intermittently arranged.

Preferably, along the x direction, the developer inlet 19 is arranged close to the coupling member 31, and the developer outlet 53 is arranged close to the coupled member 33. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, compared with the driving end F, the developer inlet 19 and the developer outlet 53 are closer to the non-driving end E, or in other words, along the x direction, the developer inlet 19 and the developer outlet 53 are arranged close to the coupling position of the coupling member 31 and the coupled member 33. This design is conducive to ensuring that a good connection is maintained between the developer inlet 19 and the developer outlet 53. Sealing.

In another embodiment, the coupling member 31 can also be set on the developing housing 1a or the photosensitive housing 1b, and the guide member 41 can also extend along the direction intersecting with the x direction on the non-driving end cover 41. Correspondingly, the guided member 56 extends along the direction intersecting with the x direction on the box body 51. At this time, the developer replenishing box 102 is combined with the main body 101 along the direction intersecting with the x direction.

In another embodiment, the coupling 31 and the guide 41 may also be formed as an integral whole, that is, during the installation and removal of the developer replenishing box 102, the coupling 31/guide 41 guides the developer replenishing box 102, and when the developer replenishing box 102 reaches the installation position, the coupling 31/guide 41 is combined with the developer replenishing box 102 so that the developer replenishing box 102 is fixed on the main body 101.

As shown in Figure 7, the driving force receiving member 2 includes a first driving member 21 and a second driving member 22, a developing unit driving member, which are arranged at the driving end F, wherein the first driving member 21 is used to receive driving force from the imaging device to drive the developing unit driving member to rotate, and the second driving member 22 is used to receive driving force from the imaging device to drive the photosensitive member 11 to rotate around the rotation axis L11, and the developing unit driving member, wherein the first driving member 21 and the second driving member 22 both receive driving force by combining with the driving force output member 90. Specifically, the rotation axis of the first driving member 21 is parallel to the rotation axis of the driving force output member 90, and the rotation axis of the second driving member 22 is coaxial with the rotation axis of the driving force output member 90. The first driving member 21 is used to receive driving force in combination with the first driving force output part 91, and the second driving member 22 is used to receive driving force in combination with the second driving force output part 92.

In some embodiments, the first driving member 21 may be configured to directly drive the developing member to rotate.

In some embodiments, the processing box also includes a developing unit driver 23 disposed in the developing unit 100a, and the developing unit driver 23 is used to receive the driving force of the first driver 21 and drive the developing member to rotate around the rotation axis L0. In this way, the coupling accuracy requirement between the first driver 21 and the developing member disposed on the developer replenishing box 102 can be reduced, and it is only necessary to ensure that the first driver 21 and the developing unit driver 23 can be coupled.

As described in the first embodiment, in one way, the first driving force output portion 91 can also be configured not to drive the developing member, or in other words, the first driving member 21 is omitted, and the photosensitive member is driven by the second driving force output portion 92, and the driving force required for the developing member is transmitted by the driving force transmission portion arranged on the second driving member 22; or, in another way, the second driving force output portion 92 is configured not to drive the photosensitive member, or in other words, the second driving member 22 is omitted, and the developing member is driven by the first driving force output portion 91, and the driving force required for the photosensitive member is transmitted by the driving force transmission portion of the first driving member 21, that is, the first driving member 21 and the second driving member 22 are both provided with a driving force receiving portion for combining with the driving force output member 90 and a driving force transmitting portion for transmitting the driving force received by the driving force receiving portion, accordingly, only one of the first driving member 21 and the second driving member 22 is provided; similarly, in the processing box 100 involved in this embodiment, the first driving member 21 and the second driving member 22 are 22 Alternatively, only one of them may be set.

The rotation axis of the developing unit driving member 23 can be coaxially arranged with the rotation axis of the first driving member 21, or the rotation axis of the developing unit driving member 23 and the rotation axis of the first driving member 21 can be parallel to each other, and the developing unit driving member 23 can be formed integrally with the first driving member 21, or can be formed separately. Along the x direction, the first driving member 21, the second driving member 22 and the developing unit driving member 23 are all arranged at a longitudinal end of the processing box 100. Specifically, the first driving member 21 is arranged at a longitudinal end of the developer replenishing box 102, the second driving member 22 is arranged at a longitudinal end of the main body 101/photosensitive unit 100b, and the developing unit driving member 23 is arranged at a longitudinal end of the main body 101/developing unit 100a. More specifically, the first driving member 21 is located in the +x direction of the second driving member 23, the first driving member 21 is used to receive a driving force from an external driving source of the developer replenishing box 102 (for example, the driving force output member 90 of the imaging device or the second driving member 22 in the main body 101), and the second driving member 22 is used to receive a driving force from an external driving source of the main body 101 (for example, the driving force output member 90 of the imaging device or the first driving member 21 in the developer replenishing box 102).

The following description will be made by taking the case where the process cartridge 100 is provided with the first driving member 21 , the second driving member 22 and the developing unit driving member 23 as an example.

7 and 8, in the present embodiment, the first driving member 21 and the developing unit driving member 23 are formed separately. Specifically, the developing unit driving member 23 is arranged as a part of the developing unit 100a and is exposed from the developing housing 1a. The first driving member 21 is arranged on the developer replenishing box 102. In this design, in addition to the developer replenishing box 102 being able to accommodate the developer, the developing housing 1a can also accommodate part of the developer. This simplifies the structure of the developing unit 100a and the developer replenishing box 102 and also makes the developing unit 100a and the developer replenishing box 102 have a wider applicability.

There are various ways to transmit the driving force between the first driving member 21 and the developing unit driving member 23. For example, the rotation axis of the first driving member 21 and the developing unit driving member 23 are both set to have no change in the rotation axis. In this case, the driving force can be transmitted between the first driving member 21 and the developing unit driving member 23 by means of the cooperation of protrusions and grooves, the cooperation of pins and groove wheels, the meshing of gears and gears, the meshing of gears and pulleys, etc.; for another example, at least one of the rotation axis of the first driving member 21 and the rotation axis of the developing unit driving member 23 is set to be changeable. In this case, the driving force can still be transmitted between the first driving member 21 and the developing unit driving member 23 in the above manner.

As shown in Figure 7, the developing unit driving member 23 includes at least one driven part 232 arranged along its rotation direction. As shown in Figure 8, the first driving member 21 includes a first driving force receiving part 211 and a driving part 212, wherein the first driving force receiving part 211 is used to receive the driving force from the driving force output member 90/the first driving force output part 91, and the driving part 212 is used to receive the driving force of the first driving force receiving part 211 and combine with the driven part 232 to transmit the driving force. Preferably, the driving part 212 and the driven part 232 are both set as protrusions. More preferably, at least one of the driving part 212 and the driven part 232 is set as a spiral protrusion to facilitate a smoother combination of the driving part 212 and the driven part 232.

Furthermore, one of the first driving member 21 and the developing unit driving member 23 is provided with a positioning protrusion, and the other is provided with a positioning groove for cooperating with the positioning protrusion, so that the first driving member 21 and the developing unit driving member 23 can achieve a more stable combination; as shown in Figures 7 and 8, a positioning groove 213 is provided in the first driving member 21, and a plurality of driving parts 212 are arranged at intervals around the positioning groove 213; a positioning protrusion 231 is provided in the developing unit driving member 23, and a plurality of driven parts 232 are arranged at intervals around the positioning protrusion 231.

The first driving force receiving portion 211 is configured as a gear, and the gear 211 is rotatably disposed on the driving end cover 1d/attachment 61. When viewed along the x direction, a portion of the gear 211 is not covered by the driving end cover 1d/attachment 610 and is exposed, and the gear 211 receives the driving force from the driving force output member 90/first driving force output portion 91 through the exposed portion.

Furthermore, the developing unit 100a also includes at least one stirring member 32 arranged in the developing housing 1a. The rotation of the stirring member can, on the one hand, prevent the developer in the developing housing 1a from clumping, and on the other hand, evenly distribute the developer along the x direction, so that the developer is evenly distributed on the surface of the developing member; to this end, the processing box 100 also includes a fourth driving member 24 for driving the stirring member 32 to rotate, and the fourth driving member 24 rotates by receiving the driving force of the first driving member 21. Preferably, the fourth driving member 24 is arranged on the developer replenishing box 102, and more specifically, the fourth driving member 24 is rotatably arranged on the driving end cover 1d/attachment 610.

In a deformable embodiment, the second driving member 22 may not be provided in the driving force receiving member 2. In this case, the driving portion 212 may be used as a driving force transmitting portion for transmitting the driving force to the photosensitive member 11. Alternatively, the first driving member 21 may not be provided in the driving force receiving member. In this case, the developing unit driving member 23 may receive the driving force through the driving force transmitting portion provided in the second driving member 22.

In the above-mentioned modified embodiment, when the first driving member 21 is omitted, the developing unit driving member 23 can also be formed as a driving body integrally with the first driving member 21, and the structure of the processing box 100 will become simpler. At this time, the driving body can be set in the developer replenishing box 102 or in the developing unit 100a, and the driving body has a driving force receiving part for receiving the driving force in combination with the driving force output member 90/the first driving force output part 91 and a driving force transmitting part for transmitting the driving force.

In one embodiment, a stirring member may also be provided in the developer replenishing box 102, and the stirring member is used to receive the driving force of any one of the first driving member 21, the second driving member 22 and the developing unit driving member 23 to rotate. On the one hand, the stirring member is used to stir the developer in the box body 51 to prevent the developer from flowing. On the other hand, the stirring member is used to transport the developer toward the developer outlet 53.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B , when the developer replenishing box 102 is combined with the main body 101, along the longitudinal direction x, the first driving member 21 is farther away from the non-driving end E than the second driving member 22, or in other words, the first driving member 21 is located at the second driving member 22. +x direction, so that a gap 1f is formed between the first driving member 21 and the second driving member 22, and the exposed part of the gear 211 faces the gap 1f, so that not only the second driving member 22 can be protected, but the gear 211 can also be effectively protected; when the processing box 100 is installed to the imaging device, the driving force output member 90 enters the gap 1f, and at least one of the first driving member 21 and the second driving member 22 is combined with the driving force output member 90 in the gap 1f. In the process of the driving force output member 90 outputting the driving force, the possible shaking of the driving force output member 90 can also be limited by the component forming the gap 1f.

Based on the inventive concept of the present invention, in one embodiment, the second driving member 22 can also be set on the developer replenishing box 102, and the first driving member 21 is still retained in the developing unit 100a. Specifically, the second driving member 22 is set at one longitudinal end of the box body 51. At this time, the second driving member 22 receives the driving force from the external driving source of the developer replenishing box 102 (for example, the driving force output member 90 of the imaging device or the first driving member 21 in the main body 101). When the processing box 100 is installed in the imaging device, the first driving member 21 and the second driving member 22 are simultaneously combined with the driving force output member 90 to receive the driving force. , thereby, the photosensitive member 11 receives the driving force of the second driving member 22 and rotates, and the developing member receives the driving force of the first driving member 21 and rotates; or, the first driving member 21 is cancelled, and the second driving member 22 is combined with the driving force output member 90 to receive the driving force, and the developing member and the photosensitive member 11 will receive the driving force from the first driving member 21 and rotate. Specifically, the second driving member 22 transmits the received driving force to the developing unit driving member 23 and the photosensitive member 11 through the driving force transmitting part, and the developing unit driving member 23 then drives the developing member to rotate. It can be seen that the driving force receiving member 2 includes at least one of the first driving member 21 and the second driving member 22.

Setting the second driving member 22 on the developer replenishing box 102 will still have at least part of the following beneficial effects. Accordingly, it can be extended that the first driving member 21 and the second driving member 22 are both set on the developer replenishing box 102, which can also produce at least part of the following beneficial effects. In this case, the external driving source is the driving force output member 90.

[Beneficial Effects]

1. The processing box 100 is configured to include a main body 101 and a developer replenishing box 102 that are detachably combined. The developer replenishing box 102 is used to replenish the developer to the main body 101. When the developer in the developer replenishing box 102 is consumed, the end user can replace the developer replenishing box 102, and the main body 101 can be removed from the imaging device according to the situation. For example, a component in the main body 101 is damaged, or the waste developer in the main body 101 needs to be removed, or the end user needs to check whether the replacement new developer replenishing box is combined with the main body as expected. Obviously, the difficulty of the end user to replenish the developer to the processing box 100/main body 101 can be greatly simplified, and the risk of developer leakage is also greatly reduced.

In some embodiments, the processing box 100 can also be configured so that when the developer is consumed, the main body 101 does not need to be removed. The end user only needs to take out the old developer replenishment box and replace it with a new one to continue using the processing box 100. This method further simplifies the usage steps for the end user.

2. Regardless of whether the main body 101 needs to be taken out of the imaging device, when the developer in the processing box 100 is used up, the end user only needs to replace the developer replenishing box 102 to continue using the processing box 100. In this way, the service life of other components in the processing box 100 is extended, and this structure is conducive to reducing environmental pollution.

3. In the integrated processing box 100, to increase the number of imaging pages of the processing box 100, the existing method is to increase the developer capacity of the processing box 100, but the overall size of the processing box 100 will also increase accordingly, and at the same time, the size of the imaging device will also increase; however, according to the second point, even if the overall size of the processing box 100 does not increase, or even reduces the overall size of the processing box 100, the end user only needs to replace the developer replenishing box 102 to achieve the purpose of increasing the number of imaging pages of the processing box 100.

4. In the existing design, the alignment component 6 is configured to maintain contact with the driving force output member 90. During the long-term use of the processing box 100, the alignment component 6 may experience contact fatigue, so that the driving force output member 90 may deviate from the transmission position, causing unstable driving force transmission.

In the present invention, the alignment component 6 is arranged on the developer replenishing box 102. Regardless of whether the main body 101 needs to be removed from the imaging device, even if the alignment component in the old developer replenishing box appears abutment fatigue, as the end user replaces the developer replenishing box with a new one, the alignment component in the new developer replenishing box will maintain stable abutment with the driving force output member 90 again.

5. The developer replenishing box 102 is also provided with a squaring component 6 for forcing the driving force output member 90 to move from the non-transmission position to the transmission position, while the main body 101 is not required to be provided with the squaring component 6. Compared with the developer replenishing box 102, the overall structure of the main body 101 which is larger in volume and more complex in structure can be simplified, and the overall structural layout of the processing box 100 is more reasonable.

6. Arranging the alignment component 6 on the developer replenishing box 102 can also facilitate the end user to check the alignment component 6 at any time, and during the inspection, there is no need to take out the entire processing box, thereby reducing the difficulty of use for the end user; on the other hand, the developer replenishing box 102 can also be configured to be combined with different models of the main body 101 to become different models of processing boxes, thereby making the developer replenishing box 102 more universal, and the cost of the manufacturer of the processing box 100 and the cost of the end user can be reduced.

7. The developing member rotatably arranged in the developing unit 100a is directly driven by the developing unit driving member 23, and the developing unit driving member 23 is driven by the first driving member 21 arranged in the developer replenishing box 102. Compared with the structure in which the developing unit driving member 23 indirectly drives the developing member through a gear set or the like, the structure of the developing unit 100a involved in the present invention is greatly simplified.

8. The developing unit 100a and the developer replenishing box 102 will have a wider range of applicability. For example, the end user can install an adaptable developer replenishing box 102 according to the change of the structure or position of the driving force output member 90 in the image forming device, as long as the first driving member 21 provided in the developer replenishing box 102 can be combined with the driving force output member 90 and receive the driving force. There are multiple driving force transmission modes between the first driving member 21 and the developing unit driving member 23 .

9. When the first driving member 21 is taken out of the imaging device along with the developer replenishing box 102, the driving force source of the developing unit 100a is cut off. Even if the end user accidentally starts the imaging device, the developing unit 100a cannot receive the driving force. Accordingly, the developing member will not rotate. Especially when the second driving member 22 is cancelled, even if the imaging device is started, the photosensitive member 11 in the processing box 100 cannot receive the driving force and remains in a stationary state. This avoids the problem that the imaging device still performs development/imaging when the developer in the developing unit 100a is consumed.

10. As described above, the first driving member 21 is used to receive the driving force in combination with the driving force output member 90. The first driving member 21 will generate vibration when driven by the driving force output member 90. When the first driving member 21 is set in the developer replenishing box 102, the vibration of the first driving member 21 has less influence on the contact between the developing member and the photosensitive member 11.

11. According to point 10, the vibration will cause the first driving member 21 to be worn. However, the first driving member 21 is arranged in the developer replenishing box 102. In this way, as the developer replenishing box 102 is replaced, the worn first driving member is also replaced at the same time. Therefore, the connection between the first driving member 21 and the driving force output member 90 can remain stable.

12. Continuing with point 10, the material requirements of the first driving member 21 can also be reduced, so that the overall cost of the developer replenishing box 102 or the processing box 100 becomes controllable.

13. Continuing with point 10, the fourth driving member 24 is also arranged on the developer replenishing box 102, so that the vibration generated when the driving force is transmitted between the first driving member 21 and the fourth driving member 24 is not easy to affect the contact between the developing member and the photosensitive member 11.

14. Generally, the second driving member 22 is exposed through the photosensitive unit driving end cover 1d1. When at least a portion of the alignment component 6 is disposed on the photosensitive unit driving end cover 1d1, the photosensitive unit driving end cover 1d1 must ensure that at least a portion of the alignment component 6 is accurately positioned, cooperate with the second driving member 22, and even support the photosensitive member 11. Obviously, the manufacturing accuracy requirement of the photosensitive unit driving end cover 1d1 will be greatly improved.

When at least a portion of the alignment component 6 is disposed on the main shell of the main body 101 , the manufacturing accuracy requirements of the main shell will also increase. At the same time, in order to enable the alignment component 6 to interact with the driving force output member 90 , this design will also increase the structural complexity of the alignment component 6 .

However, the alignment component 6 in the present invention is not arranged on the photosensitive unit driving end cover 1d1, or in other words, the alignment component 6 and the photosensitive unit driving end cover 1d1 are separately arranged at a portion allowing the second driving member 22 to be exposed, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, and the alignment component 6 is arranged on the developing unit driving end cover 1d2, so that the manufacturing accuracy requirements of the photosensitive unit driving end cover 1d1 or the manufacturing accuracy requirements of the main shell can be reduced.

15. By setting the alignment assembly 6 on the drive end cover 1d/developing unit drive end cover 1d2, it is not necessary to set an additional installation position for the attachment 61 of the alignment assembly 6, and the overall structure of the processing box 100 can be simplified.

16. As described above, at least one of the first driving member 21 and the second driving member 22 and the driving force output member 90 are located in the vacant portion. 1f is combined with the photosensitive member 11/driving force output member 90, and at least the straightening member 62 of the straightening assembly 6 is located in the vacant portion 1f along the radial direction of the photosensitive member 11/driving force output member 90. However, when the straightening member 62 is set to be movable relative to the box body 51, during the installation process of the processing box 100/developer replenishing box 102, even if the straightening member 62 interferes with the driving force output member 90, the straightening member 62 can also avoid it, ensuring that the driving force output member 90 can smoothly enter the vacant portion 1f.

17. In order to facilitate forcing the driving force output member 90 to reach the transmission position from the non-transmission position, generally, the straightening member 62 applies a forced thrust to the driving force output member 90 by setting a first exposure hole 951 along the circumferential direction of the protective shell 95. Compared with setting the straightening member 62 to be fixed, the movable straightening member 62 will be able to apply a forced thrust to the driving force output member 90 more effectively, thereby reducing the risk that the driving force output member 90 cannot reach the transmission position.

18. The straightening member 62 is configured as a protrusion protruding from the attachment member 61. Compared with configuring the straightening member 62 to be fixed, the movable straightening member 62 is less likely to be broken.

19. When there are two first exposure holes 951, the attachment 61 can enter one of the first exposure holes 951, so that the attachment 61 can be effectively positioned, thereby indirectly positioning the straightening member 62, and at the same time supporting the attachment 61, so that the straightening member 62 can more effectively apply a thrust force to the driving force output member 90.

20. In the case where the processing box 100 is also provided with the control component, when the developer replenishing box 102 is installed to the predetermined position of the imaging device, the alignment component 6 forces the driving force output member 90 to move from the non-transmission position to the transmission position. When the door cover is closed, the control component controls the alignment component 6 to no longer act on the driving force output member 90, but the driving force output member 90 and the driving force receiving member 2 still maintain a state of mutual combination. Only when the door cover is opened, the control component controls the alignment component 6 to force the driving force output member 90 to move from the transmission position to the non-transmission position again. Then, during the operation of the processing box 100, the alignment component 6 does not have to apply force to the driving force output member 90 all the time, which is beneficial to prevent the alignment component 6 from becoming fatigued and reducing its effect.

Claims

A developer replenishing box, used to be combined with a main body provided with at least one rotating member, and the main body is detachably mounted on an image forming device provided with a driving force output member;

It is characterized in that

The developer replenishing box includes a box body and a squaring assembly.

The cartridge contains a developer that can be replenished to the main body;

The alignment assembly is used to align the driving force output member to drive one or more rotating members to rotate around their rotation axis.
The developer replenishing box according to claim 1, characterized in that the driving force output member is movable between a non-transmitting position and a transmitting position, in which the rotation axis of the driving force output member is inclined relative to the rotation axis of the rotating member, and in which the rotation axis of the driving force output member is coaxial with or parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating member;

The squaring assembly is used to force the drive force output member to move from the non-transmitting position to the transmitting position.
The developer replenishing box according to claim 1 is characterized in that the developer replenishing box is provided with a developer outlet, and the main body is provided with a developer inlet, and fluid communication is established between the developer replenishing box and the main body through the combination of the developer outlet and the developer inlet.
The developer replenishing box according to claim 1 is characterized in that the developer replenishing box also includes a handle connected to the box body, and the alignment assembly is arranged on the box body or the handle.
The developer replenishing box according to claim 4 is characterized in that the imaging device is also provided with a guide rail, and along the installation direction of the developer replenishing box along the guide rail, at least a part of the alignment assembly protrudes from the box body.
According to claim 4, the developer replenishing box is characterized in that the alignment component is configured to be foldable or retractable relative to the box body and has a protruding position and a folded/retracted position, and in the folded/retracted position, the alignment component is folded/retracted to the box body or the handle.
The developer replenishing box according to claim 1 is characterized in that the alignment component includes an alignment member for forcing the driving force output member, and the movement mode of the alignment member is at least one of rotation and sliding.
The developer replenishing box according to claim 1 is characterized in that the developer replenishing box is detachably combined with the main body.
The developer replenishing box according to claim 8 is characterized in that the developer replenishing box is combined with the main body along a direction intersecting with the rotation axis of the rotating member.
The developer replenishing box according to claim 8 is characterized in that the developer replenishing box is combined with the main body along a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating member.
According to any one of claims 1 to 10, the developer replenishing box is characterized in that the developer replenishing box also includes a driving force receiving member arranged at one longitudinal end of the box body, and the driving force receiving member is used to receive a driving force from an external driving source of the developer replenishing box to drive the rotating member in the main body to rotate.
The developer replenishing box according to claim 11, characterized in that the driving force output member serves as an external driving source, Under the action of the alignment assembly, the driving force output member reaches a position coaxial with or parallel to the driving force receiving member.
A developer replenishing box according to claim 11, characterized in that the driving force receiving member and the squaring assembly can be installed and removed together with the box body.
A developer replenishing box according to claim 11, characterized in that the squaring assembly includes an attachment connected to the box body, and the driving force receiving member is arranged on the attachment.
According to the developer replenishing box according to claim 11, it is characterized in that the driving force receiving member includes at least one of a first driving member and a second driving member, and the first driving member and the second driving member are both used to combine with a driving force output member, wherein the rotation axis of the first driving member and the rotation axis of the driving force output member are parallel to each other, and the rotation axis of the second driving member is coaxial with the rotation axis of the driving force output member.
A developer replenishing box according to claim 15, characterized in that when the driving force receiving member does not include the second driving member, at least one of the second driving member and the driving force output member is an external driving source.
The developer replenishing box according to claim 15 is characterized in that when the driving force receiving member does not include the first driving member, at least one of the first driving member and the driving force outputting member is an external driving source.
According to the developer replenishing box described in claim 15, it is characterized in that along the rotation axis direction of the rotating member, one end where the driving force receiving member is provided is the driving end, and the end opposite to the driving end is the non-driving end, the first driving member is farther away from the non-driving end than the second driving member and a vacant portion is formed between the two to allow the driving force output member to enter, and at least one of the first driving member and the second driving member is combined with the driving force output member.
A processing box, which can be detachably installed on an imaging device, is characterized in that the processing box includes a main body and a developer replenishing box as described in any one of claims 1 to 18, and the developer replenishing box is combined with the main body.
The process cartridge according to claim 19, characterized in that the process cartridge is further provided with a control component, the control component being used to control the movement of the alignment component between the alignment position and the non-alignment position;

At least in the alignment position, the drive force output member is aligned.
The processing box according to claim 20 is characterized in that after the driving force output member is aligned, the control component controls the alignment component to no longer apply force to the driving force output member.