阅读说明：本技术 处理盒的计数齿轮及处理盒 (Processing box and counting gear thereof ) 是由 石学良 肖创 吴超强 于 2019-09-02 设计创作，主要内容包括：处理盒的计数齿轮及处理盒,处理盒包括壳体和设置于所述壳体端部的齿轮端盖,所述齿轮端盖内设置有驱动齿轮以及与所述驱动齿轮同步转动的计数齿轮,所述计数齿轮包括齿轮本体以及设置于所述齿轮本体上的识别部,所述识别部在外力作用下可与所述齿轮本体分离或者发生形变。所述处理盒上设置有分离/形变机构,所述分离/形变机构包括挤压部,所述挤压部位于所述识别部径向上的内侧或者外侧,用于与所述识别部的内侧面或外侧面相接触并沿径向向外或向内挤压所述识别部。本发明在计数齿轮上设置可断开的识别部,识别部在处理盒落机识别完成后与计数齿轮相分离,从而计数齿轮在后续的旋转过程中都不会再与图像形成装置上的检测机构相接触,从而可以检测出处理盒是否是全新的。(Handle the count gear and handle the box of box, handle the box including the casing with set up in the gear end cover of casing tip, be provided with drive gear in the gear end cover and with drive gear synchronous rotation's count gear, count gear include the gear body and set up in identification portion on the gear body, identification portion under the exogenic action can with the gear body separation perhaps takes place deformation. The processing box is provided with a separation/deformation mechanism, the separation/deformation mechanism comprises an extrusion part, and the extrusion part is positioned on the radial inner side or outer side of the identification part and is used for contacting with the inner side surface or outer side surface of the identification part and extruding the identification part outwards or inwards along the radial direction. The invention sets a disconnectable identification part on the counting gear, and the identification part is separated from the counting gear after the process cartridge is completely identified, so that the counting gear can not contact with a detection mechanism on the image forming device in the subsequent rotation process, and whether the process cartridge is brand new can be detected.)

1. A counter gear of a process cartridge, comprising: the gear body and set up in identification portion on the gear body, identification portion under the exogenic action can with the gear body separation or take place deformation.

2. A count gear of a process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: the identification part is arranged on the outer end face of the gear body and protrudes out of the outer end face of the gear body along a direction parallel to the axis of the gear body.

3. a count gear of a process cartridge according to claim 2, wherein: the identification portion is one section curved lamellar body, the identification portion set up in the outer peripheral edges department of gear body outer terminal surface follows gear body's circumference extends.

4. A count gear of a process cartridge according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein: when the identification part can be separated from the gear body under the action of external force, the identification part is connected with the gear body through at least one section of breakable connecting part.

5. A count gear of a process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein: the connecting part is a convex part which is connected with the outer end face of the gear body into a whole and protrudes out of the outer end face of the gear body in the radial direction.

6. A count gear of a process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein: the identification part is connected with the gear body through a plurality of connecting parts arranged at intervals.

7. A count gear of a process cartridge according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein: the counting gear is a full-tooth gear, and meshing teeth are uniformly distributed on the circumferential outer edge of the gear body in an end-to-end mode.

8. a processing box, comprising a shell and a gear end cover arranged at the end part of the shell, wherein a driving gear and a counting gear synchronously rotating with the driving gear are arranged in the gear end cover, and the counting gear is the counting gear of the processing box as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7;

When the identification part can be separated from the gear body under the action of external force, a separation mechanism is arranged on the gear end cover and can separate the identification part from the technical gear.

When the identification part deforms under the action of external force, the gear end cover is provided with a deformation mechanism, and the deformation mechanism can enable the identification part to deform.

9. A process cartridge according to claim 8, wherein: the separating mechanism and the deformation mechanism respectively comprise an extrusion part, and in the state that the processing box is assembled, the extrusion part is positioned on the radial inner side or outer side of the identification part and is used for contacting with the inner side surface or outer side surface of the identification part and extruding the identification part outwards or inwards along the radial direction.

10. A process cartridge according to claim 9, wherein: the separating mechanism further comprises a supporting and guiding-in part, the supporting and guiding-in part and the extruding part are sequentially arranged along the rotating direction of the counting gear, and the supporting and guiding-in part, the extruding part, the inner peripheral wall of the gear cavity and the inner end wall of the gear cavity form a passage for the identification part to enter the isolating and accommodating part; the support introduction part is used for guiding the recognition part to be in contact with the pressing part.

11. A process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein: the support guiding part is an arc-shaped convex rib.

12. a process cartridge according to claim 8, 9, 10 or 11, wherein: the separating mechanism further comprises an isolating and accommodating part used for accommodating the identification part separated from the counting gear, the isolating and accommodating part is positioned on the radial outer side of the identification part, and the cross section of the isolating and accommodating part is in a shape of a & lt or L.

13. A process cartridge according to claim 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, wherein: the separating mechanism is arranged in the gear end cover.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a process cartridge used in an image forming apparatus.

background

An image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, a copier, or the like generally has an image processing unit and a developing unit, and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the image processing unit with a developer such as toner supplied from the developing unit to form a visible image on a medium such as paper. The developing unit includes a process cartridge, which is a cartridge detachably loaded in the main body of the image forming apparatus, as an integral unit including a casing, a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a chamber for accommodating a developer, and the like.

in order to facilitate the judgment of the residual amount of the developer in the processing box, a counting gear is arranged on some processing boxes and can be matched with a detection mechanism on the image forming device to detect the residual amount of the developer in the processing box. Some of the detecting mechanisms of the image forming apparatuses also determine and recognize whether or not the process cartridge is completely new when the process cartridge is loaded, and therefore, the process cartridge needs to be provided with a recognition structure that cooperates with the detecting mechanism of the image forming apparatus.

Disclosure of Invention

the invention aims to provide a counting gear capable of identifying whether a processing box is brand new and a processing box with the counting gear.

In order to achieve the purpose, the invention adopts the following technical solutions:

A counter gear of a process cartridge, comprising: the gear body and set up in identification portion on the gear body, identification portion under the exogenic action can with the gear body separation or take place deformation.

According to the technical scheme, the counting gear is provided with the identification part which can be separated from the counting gear, the identification part is used for being matched with the detection mechanism on the image forming device to trigger the detection signal, and the identification part can be separated from the counting gear after the detection is finished, so that the disposable detection is realized, and whether the process cartridge is brand new or not can be judged.

Further, the identification portion is disposed on an outer end surface of the gear body and protrudes from the outer end surface of the gear body in a direction parallel to an axis of the gear body, or protrudes from an outer surface of the gear in a radial direction of the gear body.

Furthermore, the identification portion is an arc-shaped sheet body, and the identification portion is arranged at the outer peripheral edge of the outer end face of the gear body and extends along the circumferential direction of the gear body.

the identification part is arranged on the outer end face of the gear body, so that interference between the identification part and other elements on the end wall of the processing box can be avoided, and the structure is simplified.

Further, when the identification part can be separated from the gear body under the action of external force, the identification part is connected with the gear body through at least one section of breakable connecting part.

Furthermore, the connecting part is a convex part which is connected with the outer end face of the gear body into a whole and protrudes out of the outer end face of the gear body in the radial direction.

More specifically, the identification portion is connected to the gear body through a plurality of connection portions arranged at intervals.

Further, the identification portion may be bent around the connection portion as an axis.

Furthermore, the counting tooth further comprises a limiting mechanism, and the limiting mechanism can enable the identification part to be separated from the counting tooth body or to be deformed.

Further, the restricting mechanism is a separating mechanism capable of separating the identifying part from the counter gear.

Furthermore, the limiting mechanism is a deformation mechanism, which can deform the identification part, and more specifically can deform the identification part with the connecting part as an axis.

Furthermore, the deformation is rotated by a certain angle by taking the connecting part as an axis.

Further, the counter device further comprises a storage part which can store the identification part separated from the counting gear.

further, the counter gear is a full-tooth gear that can be driven to rotate at all times.

The identification mechanism on the counting gear is connected with the gear in at least one small section, and the section (thickness) of the connecting part is small, so that the identification part can be separated from the gear body.

furthermore, the counting gear is a full-tooth gear, and meshing teeth are uniformly distributed on the circumferential outer edge of the gear body in an end-to-end manner.

The invention also provides a processing box, which comprises a shell and a gear end cover arranged at the end part of the shell, wherein a driving gear and a counting gear synchronously rotating with the driving gear are arranged in the gear end cover;

When the identification part can be separated from the gear body under the action of external force, a separation mechanism is arranged on the processing box and can separate the identification part from the technical gear.

the separating mechanism further comprises a pressing part which is positioned on the inner side or the outer side of the radial direction of the identification part and is used for contacting with the inner side surface or the outer side surface of the identification part and pressing the identification part outwards or inwards in the radial direction.

When the recognition part can deform under the action of external force, a deformation mechanism is arranged on the processing box and can enable the recognition part to deform.

Further, the deformation mechanism includes a pressing portion, and in a state where the process cartridge is assembled, the pressing portion is located on an inner side or an outer side of the identification portion in a radial direction, and is configured to contact with an inner side or an outer side of the identification portion and press the identification portion outward or inward in the radial direction.

A separating mechanism is arranged on a gear end cover or a powder bin of the processing box, when the counting gear moves to a certain position after detection and identification are completed, the identification part on the counting gear collides with the separating/deforming mechanism, the separating mechanism provides external force to separate or deform the identification part on the counting gear from the counting gear, so that the identification part can only be matched with the detecting mechanism once, and an identification signal can not be triggered in the subsequent rotation process of the counting gear, so that disposable detection is realized.

Furthermore, the separating mechanism also comprises a supporting and guiding-in part, the supporting and guiding-in part and the extruding part are sequentially arranged along the rotating direction of the counting gear, and the supporting and guiding-in part, the extruding part, the inner peripheral wall of the gear cavity and the inner end wall of the gear cavity form a passage for the identification part to enter the isolating and accommodating part; the support introduction part is used for guiding the recognition part to be in contact with the pressing part.

More specifically, the support introduction part is an arc-shaped rib.

The support guiding-in part is arranged, so that the contact between the identification part and the extrusion part can be guided, and the extrusion part can correctly apply force on the identification part to separate the identification part from the gear body.

Further, the separating mechanism further comprises an isolating and accommodating part for accommodating the identification part separated from the counting gear, the isolating and accommodating part is positioned on the radial upper outer side of the identification part, and the cross section of the isolating and accommodating part is shaped like a & lt or L.

Through setting up the isolation portion of accomodating, can accomodate the discernment portion that breaks away from the count gear, prevent that it from falling into image forming device, avoid causing harmful effects to image forming device's normal operating.

Further, the separation mechanism is arranged in the gear end cover.

Drawings

In order to illustrate the embodiments of the present invention more clearly, the drawings that are needed in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly described below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and that other drawings can be obtained by those skilled in the art without inventive effort.

FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded view of an end portion of a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a counter gear according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3a to 3d are schematic views of the recognition part on the counter gear and the detection mechanism of the image forming apparatus in different states during the detection of recognition, respectively;

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of a gear cover of a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 FIG. 3 5 3 is 3a 3 cross 3- 3 sectional 3 view 3 taken 3 along 3 line 3A 3- 3A 3 of 3 FIG. 3 4 3; 3

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the inside of a gear cover of the process cartridge according to the present invention;

Fig. 7a to 7d are schematic views of different states of the identification part and the separating mechanism on the counter gear in the separating process.

The following describes embodiments of the present invention in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Detailed Description

the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustrating embodiments of the invention, the drawings showing the structure of the device are not to scale but are partly enlarged, and the schematic drawings are only examples, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. It is to be noted that the drawings are in a very simplified form and are not to precise scale, which is provided solely for the purpose of facilitating and distinctly claiming the embodiments of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 1, the process cartridge of the present embodiment includes a housing 1 and a gear cover 2 provided at a side end of the housing 1. A photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a powder hopper for containing developer, and the like are provided in the casing 1. A driving gear 3 is arranged on one end wall of the shell 1, the driving gear 3 is matched with a driving head on the image forming device and can be driven by the driving head to rotate, and when the driving gear 3 rotates, the photosensitive drum of the processing box is driven to rotate together. The driving gear 3 is also engaged with the transmission gear of other parts to be rotated, so that the rotating force is transmitted to other parts to be rotated, such as the developing roller, through the transmission gear. A counter gear 4 is further mounted on the end wall of the housing 1, the counter gear 4 of the present embodiment is directly engaged with the drive gear 3, and the counter gear 4 is a full-tooth gear so as to always rotate synchronously with the drive gear 3. In other embodiments, the counting gear can also rotate synchronously with the driving gear through the transmission of other transmission gears.

Referring to fig. 2, the counter gear 4 of the present embodiment includes a gear body 4-1, an identification portion 4-2, and a connecting portion 4-3. The center of the gear body 4-1 is provided with a through hole 4-1a extending along the axial direction, the through hole 4-1a is used for matching with a mounting shaft 1a arranged on the end wall of the shell 1, and the counting gear 4 is mounted on the end wall of the shell 1; the gear body 4-1 is provided with meshing teeth which are evenly distributed on the circumferential outer edge in an end-to-end connection mode, namely the counting gear 4 is a full-tooth gear. The identification portion 4-2 is used for matching with a detection mechanism on the image forming apparatus, the identification portion 4-2 of the present embodiment is disposed on the outer end face of the gear body 4-1 (the side of the gear body away from the end wall of the housing 1) and located at the outer periphery of the outer end face of the gear body 4-1, the identification portion 4-2 protrudes from the outer end face of the gear body 4-1 along a direction parallel to the axis of the gear body 4-2, and the identification portion 4-2 of the present embodiment is an arc-shaped sheet body extending along the circumferential direction of the gear body and is in a cylindrical surface structure. The identification part 4-2 rotates along with the gear body 4-1, and in the rotating process, the outer side surface of the identification part 4-2 can be in contact with a detection mechanism on the image forming device, so that the detection mechanism is triggered to send a detection signal to the image forming device. The identification part 4-2 can be separated from the gear body 4-1, the identification part 4-2 is connected with the gear body 4-1 through a breakable connecting part 4-3, the connecting part 4-3 of the embodiment is a three-section convex part which is connected with the outer end face of the gear body 4-1 into a whole and protrudes out of the outer end face of the gear body along the radial direction of the gear body, and the connecting part 4-3 is arranged at intervals along the circumference. The connecting part 4-3 is thin, so that the connecting part is convenient to break under the action of external force, and the identification part 4-2 is separated from the gear body 4-1. The identification part 4-2 is connected with the gear body 4-1 at least through a section of connecting part 4-3, and the required force when the identification part is separated from the gear body is adjusted by controlling the thickness of the connecting part. The identification portion may also take the form of a rib extending in a direction parallel to the gear body axis.

The following describes a process of detecting whether the process cartridge is completely new by the counter gear of the present invention in cooperation with the detecting mechanism of the image forming apparatus, with reference to fig. 3a to 3 d:

As shown in fig. 3a, immediately after the process cartridge is loaded into the image forming apparatus, the counter gear 4 is in the initial position where the identification portion 4-2 of the counter gear 4 has not yet come into contact with the detection mechanism 100 on the image forming apparatus;

After the processing box falls off, the driving gear is driven by a driving head of the image forming device to rotate and drive the counting gear 4 to rotate together, the identification part 4-2 rotates along with the counting gear 4, the identification part 4-2 approaches to the detection mechanism 100 in the rotating process of the counting gear 4, and fig. 3b is a schematic diagram of the state when the counting gear 4 rotates until the identification part 4-2 just contacts with the detection mechanism 100;

As the counter gear 4 continues to rotate, the detecting mechanism 100 comes into contact with the outer side surface of the identifying portion 4-2 (fig. 3c), and at this time, the detecting mechanism 100 triggers a detection signal to the image forming mechanism, indicating that the loading of the process cartridge is detected;

The counting gear 4 continues to rotate, and the identifying part 4-2 rotates together with the counting gear 4 and leaves the detecting mechanism 100, as shown in fig. 3d, the detecting mechanism 100 is separated from the identifying part 4-2, and the identification detection of the process cartridge is completed.

In order to separate the identification part 4-2 from the counting gear 4 after the process cartridge is completely identified, the process cartridge is further provided with a separating mechanism 5, the separating mechanism 5 can separate the identification part 4-2 from the counting gear 4 after the identification part 4-2 moves away from the detection mechanism 100, so that the counting gear 4 can not contact with the detection mechanism on the image forming device in the subsequent rotating process, namely, the machine falling detection process of the counting gear is disposable, the identification part on the counting gear is separated from the counting gear after the old process cartridge is installed, a detection signal cannot be sent by triggering the detection mechanism, and whether the process cartridge is brand new or not can be detected.

The separation mechanism 5 of the present embodiment is provided in the gear cover 2. After the separation mechanism 5 is contacted with the identification part 4-2, force is applied to the identification part 4-2, so that the connecting part 4-3 is disconnected under the action of external force, and the identification part 4-2 is separated from the gear body. Referring to fig. 4, 5 and 6, the separation mechanism 5 is provided in the gear chamber 2a of the gear cover 2 that accommodates the counter gear 4. The separating mechanism 5 comprises a supporting and guiding part 5-1, a squeezing part 5-2 and an isolating and accommodating part 5-3 which are sequentially arranged along the rotating direction of the counting gear. In the state that the process cartridge is completely assembled, the support introduction part 5-1 is positioned on the vertical plane of the extension surface of the identification part 4-2, and the extrusion part 5-2 is positioned on the inner side of the identification part 4-2 in the radial direction; the support leading-in part 5-1 of the embodiment is an arc-shaped convex rib, the convex rib is arranged on the inner peripheral wall of the gear cavity 2a, and the extrusion part 5-2 is opposite to the inner peripheral wall of the gear cavity 2 a; the support leading-in part 5-1, the extrusion part 5-2, the inner peripheral wall of the gear cavity 2a and the inner end wall of the gear cavity 2a form a passage for the identification part 4-2 to enter the isolation accommodating part 5-3. The support introduction portion 5-1 serves to guide the identification portion 4-2 into contact with the pressing portion 5-2 so that the pressing portion 5-2 can contact the inner side surface of the identification portion 4-2 and press the identification portion 4-2 radially outward. The extrusion part 5-2 of this embodiment is a segment of arc sheet body, and is a cylindrical structure, and when the processing box is assembled, the extrusion part 5-2 is located on the radial inner side of the identification part 4-2. Preferably, in the embodiment, an isolation accommodating part 5-3 is arranged in the gear cavity 2a, and the cross section of the isolation accommodating part 5-3 is approximately in a shape of & lt or L; when the recognition part 4-2 is separated from the counting gear, the recognition part can be accommodated in the isolation accommodating part 5-3, so that the recognition part is prevented from falling into the image forming device after falling off. However, in another embodiment, the support introduction portion and/or the isolation housing portion may not be provided, and the identification portion and the counter gear may be separated from each other and then dropped into the gear cover.

In another mode of realization, in a process cartridge assembly completion state, the pressing portion is located outside the identification portion in a radial direction for contacting an outer side surface of the identification portion and pressing the identification portion inward in the radial direction.

The following describes a process of separating the identification portion 4-2 from the gear body 4-1 with reference to fig. 7a to 7 d:

after the identification part 4-2 leaves the detection mechanism 100, the identification part continues to rotate together with the counting gear 4, when the counting gear 4 rotates until the outer side surface of the identification part 4-2 is contacted with the supporting and guiding-in part 5-1, the supporting and guiding-in part 5-1 guides the identification part 4-2, so that the inner side of the identification part 4-2 is contacted with the extrusion part 5-2, as shown in fig. 7 a;

The identification part 4-2 continues to move, the identification part 4-2 starts to move into the isolation accommodating part 5-3, and simultaneously the identification part 4-2 is extruded outwards in the radial direction by the extrusion part 5-2, as shown in fig. 7b, when the identification part 4-2 is extruded outwards by the extrusion part 5-2, the connection parts 4-3 are broken one by one under force;

with the continuous rotation of the counting gear 4, the identification part 4-2 moves into the isolation accommodating part 5-3, and when all the connecting parts 4-3 are disconnected, the identification part 4-2 can be separated from the counting gear 4 (fig. 7c) and fall into the isolation accommodating part 5-3;

After the identification part 4-2 is separated from the counting gear 4, the counting gear 4 continues to rotate under the driving of the driving gear, and the identification part 4-2 is left at the isolation storage part 5-3 and stops moving. Since the identifying portion 4-2 is disengaged from the counter gear 4, the counter gear 4 does not come into contact with the detecting mechanism 100 of the image forming apparatus any more in the course of the subsequent rotation, and therefore the detection signal is not triggered any more, and the detection signal is triggered only once when the counter gear has the identifying portion, so that it is possible to judge whether or not the process cartridge is a brand new process cartridge.

in another implementation, the identification portion 4-2 may not be separated from the gear body 4-1, but may be deformed by an external force after the first contact with the detection mechanism, so that the detection mechanism 100 cannot contact the identification portion 4-2 after the first contact, that is, the detection signal is triggered only once when the counter gear performs the first rotation, so as to determine whether the process cartridge is a brand new process cartridge. The separation mechanism is replaced by a deformation mechanism for deforming the identification part 4-2, such as a boss extrusion part arranged on the inner peripheral wall in the gear end cover 2; the connecting part 4-3 between the identification part 4-2 and the gear body 4-1 is replaced by a mechanism which is easy to bend or deform, when the boss extrusion part acts on the identification part 4-2, the bending deformation is easy to occur, so that the detection mechanism 100 cannot contact with the identification part 4-2 after the first contact.

although the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.