CN106647200A

CN106647200A - Developing box

Info

Publication number: CN106647200A
Application number: CN201610961840.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈斌
Original assignee: ZHUHAI LIANHE TIANRUN PRINTING CONSUMABLE CO Ltd
Current assignee: ZHUHAI LIANHE TIANRUN PRINTING CONSUMABLE CO Ltd
Priority date: 2016-10-28
Filing date: 2016-10-28
Publication date: 2017-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 2036-10-28
Also published as: CN106647200B

Abstract

The invention relates to a developing box which comprises a box body and a detecting mechanism, wherein the detecting mechanism is arranged on a side face of the box body; the detecting mechanism comprises a driving component, a driven component and a detecting component; the driving component is equipped with an arc-shaped convex surface which surrounds a rotating axis of the driving component; the driven component is equipped with an arc-shaped concave surface which is matched with the arc-shaped convex surface; the detecting component is arranged as linking with the driven component; one of the driving component and the driven component is equipped with a pin while the other one is equipped with a slot; when the pin is blocked in the slot, the driven component is driven to rotate by the driving component; when the pin is separated from the slot, the arc-shaped convex surface is blocked with the arc-shaped concave surface, so that the rotation of the driven component is stopped; under the driving of the driving component, the driven component is rotated to a second position from a first position; and when the driven component is rotated to the second position, the driven component no longer rotates along with the driving component. The developing box provided by the invention has the advantages of low cost and capability of realizing stable and reliable detection.

Description

Developing box

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a developing cartridge for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

Background

In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus or an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, a detachable developing cartridge (also referred to as a toner cartridge, a powder cartridge, or a developer cartridge) is generally used to supply toner (also referred to as toner or developer) thereto to develop an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member (also referred to as a photosensitive drum), and then the toner on the photosensitive member is transferred to a medium such as paper to form a visible image. Among them, the developing cartridge may be mounted into the electrophotographic image forming apparatus independently, or assembled with a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum. When a developing cartridge is mounted, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus typically detects the developing cartridge to determine information related to the developing cartridge, such as whether the developing cartridge is new, the toner capacity of the developing cartridge, and the like.

Chinese patent document CN100470394C discloses an image forming apparatus and a developing cartridge used therein, in which a drive gear is mounted on the outer side of a cartridge body, and a detection gear having a tooth-missing portion and a contact protrusion is engageable with the drive gear. After a new developing box is installed in the image forming device, when the driving gear is driven to drive the detection gear meshed with the driving gear to rotate, the contact protrusion on the detection gear rotates and triggers a contacted component in the image forming device, and therefore the image forming device detects that the developing box is new; when the detection gear rotates to a position not meshing with the drive gear, the contact protrusion on the detection gear also moves to a position not contacting with the contacted member. When the used developing cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus again, the detection gear will no longer rotate with the drive gear, and the contact protrusion on the detection gear will no longer trigger the contacted member of the image forming apparatus, whereby the image forming apparatus detects that the developing cartridge is not new.

Chinese patent document CN 1828446B also discloses an image forming apparatus and a developing cartridge used therein, which is substantially the same in structure as the developing cartridge in the above patent except that the number of contact protrusions on the detection gear of the developing cartridge may be one or more, and the one or more contact protrusions may contact a contacted member in the image forming apparatus, so that the image forming apparatus determines whether the mounted developing cartridge is new, and obtains information on the toner capacity (i.e., the maximum number of sheets printed). For example, 1 detection projection corresponds to a "high capacity" developing cartridge, and 2 detection projections correspond to a "low capacity" developing cartridge.

The developing cartridges in the above patent documents each employ a detection gear having a missing tooth portion and a contact protrusion to detect whether the developing cartridge is new and/or the toner capacity of the developing cartridge. However, such a detection gear is difficult to manufacture and requires high mounting accuracy, so that the cost of the developing cartridge including the detection gear is also high.

In order to realize the detection of the developing cartridge at low cost, chinese patent document CN 102331699B proposes another developing cartridge, which includes: a box body; a gear train arranged on the outer wall of the box body; the rotating part is rotatably fixed on the outer wall and is provided with a clutch wheel and a coaxial cam, and the cam and the clutch wheel are arranged in a staggered manner; the clutch wheel is provided with a small-diameter part in clearance fit with the top of one gear of the gear train and a large-diameter part in interference fit with the top of the gear, and the large-diameter part is provided with an elastic friction layer along the circumferential direction; the contact member is movably arranged on the outer wall and is provided with a contact end contacted with the cam and a trigger end; and a resilient member installed between the case and the contact member to urge the contact end into contact with the cam. The elastic friction layer is in interference fit with the gear tooth tops, and the driving force of the gear is transmitted to the rotating piece through friction to enable the rotating piece to rotate. The cam of the rotating member pushes the contact member to move, the triggering end of the contact member triggers the contacted member of the electrophotographic image forming device, the developing cartridge is new, and the capacity information of the developing cartridge is transmitted to the electrophotographic image forming device. When the small diameter part of the clutch wheel is matched with the top clearance of the gear, the rotating piece stops rotating without contacting with the gear. When the used developing cartridge is mounted to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the rotating member does not contact the gear and is no longer rotated, and the contact member no longer triggers the contacted member of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, so that this developing cartridge is detected as not being new.

However, in the developing cartridge disclosed in CN 102331699B, when the cartridge detection is performed, the gear and the large diameter portion of the clutch wheel are driven by friction force, and the contact end of the contact member is forced to contact with the cam by the torsion force of the elastic member, and since there is a defect that the torsion force and the friction force are unstable, the transmission among the gear, the rotary member, and the contact member is unstable or it is difficult to achieve desired transmission among these parts, there is a defect that it is difficult to perform stable and reliable detection on the developing cartridge.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the deficiencies of the prior art, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a developing cartridge which is low in cost and capable of achieving stable and reliable detection.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned primary object, an aspect of the present invention provides a developing cartridge including a cartridge body and a detection mechanism provided at a side of the cartridge body; wherein, this detection mechanism includes:

a driving member having a circular arc-shaped convex surface formed to surround a rotation axis of the driving member;

a driven member having a circular arc concave surface that fits with the circular arc convex surface;

a detecting member including one or more detecting portions and configured to be interlocked with the driven member;

wherein one of the driving member and the driven member has a pin and the other of the driving member and the driven member has a slot; when the pin is clamped in the groove, the driving member drives the driven member to rotate; when the pin is disengaged from the groove, the arc-shaped convex surface is engaged with the arc-shaped concave surface to prevent the driven member from rotating;

the driven member is driven by the driving member to rotate from a first position to a second position, and when the driven member rotates to the second position, the driven member does not rotate along with the driving member any more.

The pin and the groove may be engaged only 1 time or a plurality of times (e.g., 3 times or 5 times) in the process of rotating the driven member from the first position to the second position. That is, the driven member may be continuously rotated from the first position to the second position (when the pin and the groove are engaged 1 time), or may be intermittently rotated from the first position to the second position (when the pin and the groove are engaged a plurality of times).

When a new developing cartridge is installed in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the driving member receives the driving force and drives the driven member to rotate from the first position to the second position, and since the detecting member is configured to be linked with the driven member, the rotation of the driven member will correspondingly drive the position of the detecting member to change, and the position change of the detecting member will be sensed by the electrophotographic image forming apparatus (for example, the detecting part of the detecting member triggers the contacted member in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus), so that the electrophotographic image forming apparatus obtains information about the developing cartridge, for example, the developing cartridge is new and/or the toner capacity of the developing cartridge is determined. When the used developing cartridge is mounted again in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, since the driven member is located at the second position and is no longer rotated with the driving member, the position of the detecting member is also not changed, so that the electrophotographic image forming apparatus judges that the developing cartridge is not new.

In the technical scheme, on one hand, the driving member drives the driven member to rotate through the clamping between the groove and the pin, so that the driving member and the driven member can realize stable transmission, and the stable and reliable detection of the developing box is realized; on the other hand, because the gear transmission mechanism is not arranged between the driving member and the driven member, the cost of the detection mechanism and the cost of the developing box can be effectively reduced.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the pin is formed on the driving member, the groove is formed on the driven member, and the driving member and the driven member constitute an incomplete sheave mechanism.

Alternatively, the grooves are formed on the driving member and the pins are formed on the driven member, the driving member and the driven member constituting an incomplete reverse geneva mechanism.

Preferably, the extending track of the groove is formed into a curved shape so that the rotating speed of the driven member is more uniformly controllable. In contrast, when the linear groove is used as the driven member, the rotational speed of the driven member is much higher than that of the curved groove, so that the rotational speed is not uniform and is difficult to control, and the impact force during the rotation is large.

As another embodiment of the present invention, the detecting member is fixedly provided on the driven member or is formed integrally with the driven member, so that the detecting mechanism is simplified. In this particular embodiment, the sensing member will rotate in synchronism with the driven member.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned primary object, another aspect of the present invention provides a developing cartridge including a cartridge body defining a toner accommodating portion and an agitating member rotatably disposed in the toner accommodating portion; wherein, this developing cartridge still includes:

a gear train disposed on a sidewall of the case and including a detection gear assembly; wherein the detection gear assembly comprises a gear and a disc coaxially arranged with the gear, the disc defining a circular arc shaped convexity around the rotation axis of the detection gear assembly;

a driven member having an arc-shaped concave surface formed to fit the arc-shaped convex surface;

wherein one of the detection gear assembly and the driven member has a pin and the other of the detection gear assembly and the driven member has a slot; when the pin is clamped in the groove, the detection gear assembly drives the movable component to rotate; when the driven member is separated from the groove, the arc-shaped convex surface is clamped with the arc-shaped concave surface to prevent the driven member from rotating;

wherein, under the drive of detecting the gear assembly, driven member rotates to the second position from the first position, and when rotating to the second position, driven member will no longer rotate along with detecting the gear assembly.

Among the above-mentioned technical scheme, because detect the gear assembly and drive driven member rotation through the block between groove and the round pin, consequently can realize developing cartridge's reliable and stable detection equally to can effectively reduce detection mechanism and developing cartridge's cost. And likewise, the driven member may be continuously or intermittently rotated from the first position to the second position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the pin is formed on the sensing gear assembly, the groove is formed on the driven member, and the sensing gear assembly and the driven member constitute an incomplete sheave mechanism.

Alternatively, the slot is formed in the sensing gear assembly and the pin is formed in the driven member, the sensing gear assembly and the driven member forming an incomplete reverse geneva mechanism.

More specifically, the pin is provided on a gear of the detection gear assembly or is connected to the disc; the disk-shaped part is arranged on the gear or on the same rotating shaft with the gear. Wherein the disk-shaped portion may be formed integrally with the gear or fixedly arranged on the gear by a connecting means.

More specifically, the extending locus of the groove is formed in a curved shape so that the rotating speed of the driven member is more uniformly controllable.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the detecting member is fixedly provided on the driven member or is formed integrally with the driven member, so that the structure of the developing cartridge is simplified.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the detecting gear assembly is disposed on the shaft of the stirring member to drive the stirring member to rotate through the detecting gear assembly, thereby simplifying the structure of the gear train and the developing cartridge.

To more clearly illustrate the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention, the following detailed description of the present invention is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a developing cartridge of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge shown in fig. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge of FIG. 1 with the end cap removed;

fig. 4 is a perspective view of an end cap in the developing cartridge shown in fig. 1;

fig. 5 is a perspective view of a detection mechanism in the developing cartridge shown in fig. 2;

fig. 6 is another perspective view of the detection mechanism in the developing cartridge shown in fig. 2;

fig. 7 is a schematic rear view of the developing cartridge shown in fig. 2 in which the detection mechanism is in an initial state;

fig. 8 is a schematic front view of the developing cartridge shown in fig. 2 in which a detection mechanism is in an initial state;

FIG. 9 is a schematic rear view of a detecting mechanism in a second embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of a detecting mechanism in a second embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention;

fig. 11 is a graph comparing the rotation speed of the driven member in the developing cartridges of the first and second embodiments;

FIG. 12 is a schematic rear view of a detecting mechanism in a third embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic front view of a detecting mechanism in a third embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention;

fig. 14 is a perspective view of a detecting mechanism in a fourth embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention;

fig. 15 is another perspective view of the detecting mechanism in the fourth embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention;

fig. 16 is a side view of the detecting mechanism in the fourth embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention.

Detailed Description

First embodiment

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a developing cartridge of the present invention; fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge shown in fig. 1, in which the internal structure of the developing cartridge is shown. As shown in fig. 1-2, the developing cartridge includes a cartridge body 1 defining a toner accommodating portion 10, a developing roller 11 rotatably disposed at a toner outlet of the cartridge body 1, a toner feeding roller 12 rotatably disposed in the cartridge body 1 adjacent to the developing roller 11 for feeding toner to the developing roller 11, an agitating member 13 rotatably disposed in the toner accommodating portion 10 and including an agitating shaft and an agitating blade, the developing roller 11, the toner feeding roller 12, and the agitating member 13 extending in a longitudinal direction of the developing cartridge and supported on two opposite sidewalls of the cartridge body 1. The toner in the toner housing 10 adheres to the surface of the developing roller 21 by the stirring member 13 and the toner feeding roller 12 to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum.

Referring to fig. 1, a driving end side of a case body 1 is provided with an end cap 2, and a driving force receiving portion 31 protrudes outside the end cap 2 to receive a driving force from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Further, an arc-shaped window 21 is formed on the end cap 2, and a first detection portion 521 and a second detection portion 522 (see fig. 3 in detail, only the first detection portion 521 is visible in fig. 1) of the detection member 5 can be exposed out of the end cap 2 through the arc-shaped window 21, so as to be detected by the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge shown in fig. 1 with the end cap 2 removed, and referring to fig. 3, a gear train including a driving force receiving part 31, a developing roller driving gear 32, a powder feeding roller driving gear 33, an intermediate gear 34, and a detection gear assembly 35 is provided at the driving end side of the cartridge body 1. Wherein the developing roller drive gear 32 and the powder feeding roller drive gear 33 are respectively engaged with the gears of the drive force receiving portion 31; the intermediate gear 34 is a two-stage gear, an outer tooth portion of which is engaged with the gear of the driving force receiving portion 31, and an inner tooth portion (not visible in the drawing) of which is engaged with the gear 351 (see fig. 5) of the detection gear assembly 35. The detection gear assembly 35 is disposed on the rotation shaft of the stirring member 13 to rotate the stirring member 13.

With continued reference to fig. 3, the driving end side of the case 1 is also provided with a driven member 4 and a detection member 5 formed as one body. The detecting member 5 includes a hollow rotating shaft 51, a first detecting part 521 and a second detecting part 522 provided at a free end of the hollow rotating shaft 51, and the first detecting part 521 and the second detecting part 522 have different structures. The hollow rotary shaft 51 extends outward from the driven member 4 in the axial direction of the developing roller 11, and has a rotational axis substantially coincident with the driven member 4. Referring to fig. 4, the inner side of the end cap 2 is provided with a support shaft 22 substantially coaxial with the arc window 21, and a hollow rotating shaft 51 is rotatably fitted over the support shaft 22. In other embodiments of the present invention, the driven member 4 and the sensing member 5 may be rotatably disposed on the sidewall of the case 1. In addition, in other embodiments of the present invention, the detection member 5 may include only one detection portion.

Fig. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the developing cartridge detecting mechanism including the detecting gear assembly 35, the driven member 4, and the detecting member 5 in the first embodiment; wherein:

the detection gear assembly 35 comprises a gear 351, a disc 352 and a pin 354; the gear 351 and the disc 352 are coaxially arranged (i.e. their centres of rotation substantially coincide), the outer edge of the disc 352 forming a circular arc shaped convexity 353 around the axis of rotation of the detection gear assembly 35, and the pin 354 being arranged at the circumferential edge of the detection gear assembly 35. Thus, the detection gear assembly 35 has the structure of a dial in a geneva mechanism. It will be readily appreciated that the number of pins 354 may be one or more.

The driven member 4 includes three curved grooves 41 and a circular arc shaped concave surface 42 between two adjacent curved grooves 41, and the curved grooves 41 are configured to mate with the pins 354 and the circular arc shaped concave surface 42 is configured to mate with the circular arc shaped convex surface 353. Thereby, the driven member 4 has a structure of a sheave in the sheave mechanism, and is configured as an incomplete sheave. It will be readily appreciated that the number of curved slots 41 may also be one (especially when the detection member has only one detection portion).

That is, the detection gear assembly 35 and the driven member 4 constitute an incomplete sheave mechanism, and the detection gear assembly 35 serves as a driving member to rotate the driven member 4. Specifically, when the pin 354 is engaged with the curved groove 41, the detection gear assembly 35 drives the driven member 4 to rotate; when the pin 354 is disengaged from the curved groove 41, the arcuate convex surface 353 engages with the arcuate concave surface 42 to prevent the driven member 4 from rotating. The driven member 4 intermittently rotates from the first position to the second position by the driving of the detection gear assembly 35, and when rotating to the second position, the driven member 4 will no longer rotate with the detection gear assembly 35.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of the back (i.e., the side facing the cartridge body) of the developing cartridge detecting mechanism in the initial state in the first embodiment; fig. 8 is a schematic view of the front surface (i.e., the surface facing the end cap) of the detection mechanism in the initial state. As shown in fig. 7 to 8, in the initial state (i.e., when the developing cartridge is new, the driven member 4 is at the first position), the pin 354 is just engaged in the curved groove 41 located at the most upstream side in the rotational direction of the driven member 4, so that the detection gear assembly 35 intermittently rotates the driven member 4 from the first position; when the pin 354 is disengaged from the curved groove 41 located on the most downstream side in the rotational direction of the driven member 4, the driven member rotates to the second position (not shown). Since the driven member 4 is constructed as an incomplete sheave, when the driven member 4 rotates to the second position, it will no longer rotate with the detection gear assembly 35 (but the driven member 4 may deflect by its own weight at a small angle to reach a gravity balanced position in the second position).

Since the detecting member 5 is formed integrally with the driven member 4, the detecting member 5 rotates in synchronization with the driven member 4. In this process, the position change of the first and second detecting parts 521 and 522 is detected by the electrophotographic image forming apparatus to obtain information about the developing cartridge. It is to be understood that in other embodiments of the present invention, the detecting member may be movably provided on the side wall or the end cap of the cartridge body independently of the driven member and configured to be interlocked with the driven member to generate a position change by direct or indirect driving of the driven member, which may also realize detection of the developing cartridge.

Second embodiment

For the sake of simplicity, the description of the structure of the other parts of the developing cartridge will be omitted in the following embodiments, and only the developing cartridge detecting mechanism part thereof will be described.

FIG. 9 is a schematic rear view of a detecting mechanism in a second embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention; fig. 10 is a schematic front view of the detection mechanism. Wherein the driven member 14 is in a first position (initial state), and the contacted member 100 in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is shown.

As shown in fig. 9-10, the sensing mechanism includes a driving member 135, a driven member 14, and a sensing member. The driving member 135 includes a gear 1351, a plate 1352, and a pin 1354; the gear 1351 and the disk 1352 are coaxially arranged, and the outer edge of the disk 1352 forms a circular arc-shaped convex surface 1353 surrounding the rotation axis of the driving member 135; the pin 1354 is disposed at a circumferential edge of the active member 135. Thus, the driving member 135 has the structure of a dial in a geneva mechanism.

The follower member 14 includes three arcuate concave surfaces 142 and a radial linear groove 141 disposed between two adjacent arcuate concave surfaces 142, the radial linear groove 141 configured to mate with the pin 1354 and the arcuate concave surface 142 configured to mate with the arcuate convex surface 1353. Thereby, the driven member 4 has a structure of a sheave in the sheave mechanism, and is configured as an incomplete sheave.

That is, the driving member 135 and the driven member 14 constitute an incomplete sheave mechanism, and the driven member 14 intermittently rotates from the first position shown in fig. 9-10 to the second position by the driving member 135, and when rotated to the second position, the driven member 14 will no longer rotate with the driving member 135.

In this embodiment, the detecting member is integrally formed with the driven member 14, and includes a hollow rotating shaft 151 and two detecting portions 152 provided at free ends of the hollow rotating shaft 151. In the process of the driven member 14 rotating from the first position to the second position, the two detecting portions 152 contact the contacted member 100 in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, respectively, so that the electrophotographic image forming apparatus obtains information about the developing cartridge.

Fig. 11 shows a comparison of the rotation speed of the driven member in the developing cartridges of the first and second embodiments. Where the a-curve represents the rotational speed of the driven member in the developing cartridge of the first embodiment and the B-curve represents the rotational speed of the driven member in the developing cartridge of the second embodiment. As can be seen in fig. 11, the driven member with the curved slot has a lower, more uniform rotational speed than the driven member with the straight slot.

Third embodiment

FIG. 12 is a schematic rear view of a detecting mechanism in a third embodiment of the developing cartridge of the present invention; fig. 13 is a front view schematically showing the detection mechanism. Wherein the driven member 24 is in the first position (initial state), and the contacted member 100 in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is shown.

As shown in fig. 12-13, the sensing mechanism includes a gear 235 as a driving member, a driven member 24, and a sensing member. The gear 235 includes a pin 2351 and a disc 2352 formed at one side edge thereof; gear 235 and disc 2352 are coaxially disposed, with the outer edge of disc 2352 forming a circular arc shaped convexity 2353 surrounding the axis of rotation of gear 2355. Thus, the gear 235 has the structure of a dial in a geneva mechanism.

The driven member 24 includes a plurality of arcuate concave surfaces 242 and a plurality of curved grooves 241, and the arcuate concave surfaces 242 and the curved grooves 241 are alternately arranged in sequence. The curvilinear slot 241 is configured to mate with the pin 2351, and the arcuate concave surface 242 is configured to mate with the arcuate convex surface 2353. Thus, the driven member 24 has a structure of a sheave in the sheave mechanism, and is configured as an incomplete sheave.

That is, the gear 235 and the driven member 24 constitute an incomplete sheave mechanism, and the driven member 24 intermittently rotates from the first position to the second position by the gear 235, and when rotated to the second position, the driven member 24 will no longer rotate with the gear 235.

In this embodiment, the detecting member is integrally formed with the driven member 24, and includes a hollow rotating shaft 251 and two detecting portions 252 provided at free ends of the hollow rotating shaft 251. In the process of the driven member 24 rotating from the first position to the second position, the two detecting portions 252 respectively contact the contacted member 100 in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, so that the electrophotographic image forming apparatus obtains information about the developing cartridge.

Fourth embodiment

Fig. 14 and 15 are perspective views of a detection mechanism in the developing cartridge of the fourth embodiment; fig. 16 is a side view of the detection mechanism. Wherein only the driving member 335 and the driven member 334 are shown in fig. 14-16, and the sensing member is not shown, for simplicity.

As shown in fig. 14-16, the driving member 335 includes a gear 3351, a circular disc 3352, and a guide slot 3354; the disk 3352 and the active member 335 are coaxially disposed, and the outer edge of the disk 3352 forms a circular arc-shaped convex surface 3353 that surrounds the rotational axis of the active member 335.

The driven member 334 includes a plurality of pins 3341 and a plurality of arcuate concave surfaces 3342, and the arcuate concave surfaces 3342 and the pins 3341 are alternately arranged in this order. Wherein the plurality of pins 3341 are arranged to be evenly distributed over only a portion of the circumference of the driven member 334; meanwhile, the pin 3341 is configured to fit with the guide groove 3354, and the circular arc concave surface 3342 is configured to fit with the circular arc convex surface 3353. Thus, the driving member 335 and the driven member 334 form an incomplete reverse geneva mechanism, and the driven member 334 intermittently rotates from the first position to the second position upon being driven by the driving member 335, and when rotated to the second position, the driven member 334 will no longer rotate with the driving member 335. It will be readily appreciated that in other embodiments, the number of guide slots 3354 may be plural.

Although the invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent modifications made in accordance with the present invention are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims

1. The developing box comprises a box body and a detection mechanism arranged on the side surface of the box body; wherein, detection mechanism include:

2. A developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said pin is formed on said driving member and said groove is formed on said driven member, said driving member and said driven member constituting a partial sheave mechanism.

3. The developing cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the extended locus of the groove is formed in a curved shape.

4. A developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said detecting member is fixedly provided on or integrally formed with said driven member.

5. A developing cartridge including a cartridge body defining a toner accommodating portion and an agitating member rotatably disposed in the toner accommodating portion; wherein the developing cartridge further comprises:

a gear train disposed on a sidewall of the cartridge body and including a detection gear assembly; wherein the detection gear assembly comprises a gear and a disc coaxially disposed with the gear, the disc defining a circular arc shaped convexity encircling a rotational axis of the detection gear assembly;

a driven member having a circular arc concave surface formed to fit with the circular arc convex surface;

wherein one of the detection gear assembly and the driven member has a pin and the other of the detection gear assembly and the driven member has a slot; when the pin is clamped in the groove, the detection gear assembly drives the driven member to rotate; when the pin is disengaged from the groove, the arc-shaped convex surface is engaged with the arc-shaped concave surface to prevent the driven member from rotating;

the driven member is driven by the detection gear assembly to rotate from a first position to a second position, and when the driven member rotates to the second position, the driven member does not rotate along with the detection gear assembly any more.

6. The developing cartridge as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pin is formed on the detection gear assembly, the groove is formed on the driven member, and the detection gear assembly and the driven member constitute a partial sheave mechanism.

7. A developing cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said pin is provided on said gear or attached to said disk portion; the disk-shaped part is arranged on the gear or on the same rotating shaft with the gear.

8. The developing cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the extended locus of the groove is formed in a curved shape.

9. A developing cartridge according to claim 5, wherein said detecting member is fixedly provided on or integrally formed with said driven member.

10. The developing cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the detection gear assembly is provided on a rotation shaft of the agitating member.