CN220855458U - Process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

The present utility model provides a process cartridge suitable for an image forming apparatus provided with a driving force output member, the process cartridge including a housing, a rotary member rotatably mounted in the housing, and a driving force receiving member provided at one longitudinal end of the housing; the driving force output member is movable between a non-transmission position and a transmission position, the non-transmission position being different from the transmission position; the process cartridge further includes a control assembly provided in the housing for controlling the rotation member and the driving force receiving member to move together between the extended state and the retracted state; in the retracted state, the driving force receiving member is not engaged with the driving force outputting member, and the driving force outputting member is in the non-transmitting position; in the extended state, the driving force receiving member is combined with the driving force outputting member, the driving force outputting member is in the transmitting position, the rotating member and the driving force receiving member are arranged to be movable together between the extended state and the retracted state, and both the manufacturing accuracy requirement and the mounting accuracy requirement of the respective components of the control assembly can be reduced.

Description

Process cartridge

Technical Field

The present utility model relates to the field of electrophotographic image forming, and more particularly, to a process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

Background

As is well known, when a process cartridge is operated in an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, a copier, or the like, it is necessary to receive a driving force from a driving force output member provided in the image forming apparatus with a driving force receiving member mounted in the process cartridge to drive a rotary member rotatably mounted inside the process cartridge to rotate.

Chinese patent application publication No. CN111433684a describes a driving force output 1081 with a variable rotation axis, the driving force output 1081 being in a non-transmission position in which the rotation axis thereof is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the driving force receiving member before the process cartridge is not mounted, a control member 1001 provided in the process cartridge forcing the driving force output 1081 to gradually move to a transmission position in which the rotation axis thereof is collinear with or parallel to the rotation axis of the driving force receiving member during the process cartridge mounting, and the driving force output 1081 returning from the transmission position to the non-transmission position during the process cartridge removal.

Chinese patent publication No. CN216595906U describes that a pressing member is provided on the same side as the driving force receiving member, and is movable relative to the case of the process cartridge so that the driving force output member 1081 moves from the above-described non-transmission position to the transmission position.

Whether the control member 1001 or the pressing member needs to be accurately mounted at a predetermined position of the process cartridge, otherwise, the driving force output member cannot be controlled from the non-transmission position to the transmission position, which requires high manufacturing accuracy and mounting accuracy of the control member 1001/pressing member itself.

Disclosure of utility model

In view of this, the present utility model provides a process cartridge for reducing manufacturing accuracy requirements and mounting accuracy requirements of each component in the process cartridge, the process cartridge adopting the following technical scheme:

A process cartridge adapted to an image forming apparatus provided with a driving force output member, the process cartridge including a housing, a rotary member rotatably mounted in the housing, and a driving force receiving member provided at one longitudinal end of the housing, the driving force receiving member for receiving a driving force from the driving force output member and driving the rotary member to rotate; the driving force output member is movable between a non-transmission position in which the rotation axis of the driving force output member is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating member, and a transmission position in which the rotation axis of the driving force output member is coaxial with or parallel to the rotation axis of the driving force receiving member; the process cartridge further includes a control assembly provided in the housing for controlling the rotation member and the driving force receiving member to move together between the extended state and the retracted state; in the retracted state, the driving force receiving member is not engaged with the driving force outputting member, and the driving force outputting member is in the non-transmitting position; in the extended state, the driving force receiving member is combined with the driving force outputting member, and the driving force outputting member is in the transmitting position; this solution allows the rotation member and the driving force receiving member to move together between the extended state and the retracted state, and the manufacturing accuracy requirements and the mounting accuracy requirements of the respective components of the control assembly can be reduced.

Specifically, the control assembly includes a force-bearing portion, a force-pushing portion, and a connecting member for connecting the force-bearing portion and the force-pushing portion, where the force-bearing portion is configured to receive an external force, and the connecting member transmits the external force to the force-pushing portion, and the force-pushing portion is configured to force-push the casing or the rotating member, so that a side of the casing or the rotating member, on which the driving force receiving member is not disposed, is capable of receiving a pressing force, which is favorable for maintaining balance of the process cartridge in the image forming apparatus, and at least a degree of freedom of design of the force-bearing portion is capable of being improved.

The image forming apparatus is provided with an opening for allowing the process cartridge to be mounted and dismounted, and the force receiving portion is exposed through the opening, so that a user can conveniently operate the control assembly, and whether the control assembly is abnormal or not can be observed in time.

In some embodiments, the urging portion makes the rotation member move together with the driving force receiving member by directly abutting against a distal end portion of the rotation member where the driving force receiving member is not provided.

Wherein the connecting member is provided as a part of the lever member, having an inner surface facing the side of the driving force receiving member and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface; the urging portion includes an urging surface inclined toward the side of the driving force receiving member and a holding surface provided adjacent to the urging surface, the urging surface being provided such that a distance between the urging surface and the outer surface in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge gradually increases in a direction from the urging portion toward the force receiving portion.

Further, the control assembly further includes a first elastic member for urging the force receiving portion away from the housing, and a second elastic member for urging the photosensitive member together with the driving force receiving member from the extended state toward the retracted state.

In some embodiments, the urging portion causes the housing to move with the rotation member and the driving force receiving member by directly abutting the housing.

Wherein the connecting member is provided as a part of the lever member, having an inner surface facing the side of the driving force receiving member and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface; the urging portion includes an urging surface inclined toward a side where the driving force receiving member is not provided, and a holding surface provided adjacent to the urging surface, the urging surface being provided such that a distance between the urging surface and the inner surface in a longitudinal direction of the process cartridge gradually increases in a direction from the urging portion toward the force receiving portion.

Further, the control assembly further includes a first movable member and a second movable member movable relative to the housing, the first movable member and the second movable member protruding outwardly from both longitudinal ends of the process cartridge, respectively, the second movable member being disposed on the same side as the driving force receiving member, the first movable member having a forced pushing surface mateable with the forced pushing surface.

Still further, the process cartridge further includes a second elastic member for forcing the housing to move together with the rotation member and the driving force receiving member.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a process cartridge according to the present utility model.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the AA direction in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a state in which the process cartridge according to the present utility model is separated from the image forming apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a process cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present utility model.

Fig. 5 is a partially exploded view of a process cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present utility model.

Fig. 6 is a simplified schematic view of a process of combining a driving force receiving member in a process cartridge and a driving force output member in an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present utility model.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a process cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present utility model.

Fig. 8 is a partially exploded view of a process cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present utility model.

Fig. 9A and 9B are schematic views of a state in which a process cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present utility model is mounted to an image forming apparatus.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a process cartridge according to the second embodiment of the present utility model before being combined with a driving force output member in an image forming apparatus.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a process cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present utility model.

Detailed Description

[ Overall structure of Process Cartridge ]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a process cartridge according to the present utility model; fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the AA direction in fig. 1.

The process cartridge 100 is a container that can accommodate developer, and includes a casing 1, a rotary rotatably installed in the casing 1, and a handle 16 connected to the casing 1, wherein the developer may be fresh developer that is not used, waste developer that is used, and the process cartridge 100 may be of a known integral structure, or a known split structure.

In the integral structure, the process cartridge 100 includes a developing unit and a photosensitive unit combined with each other, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the developing unit includes a developing housing 1a and a developing member 13 and a stirring member 14 rotatably installed in the developing housing 1a, the stirring member 14 being located in a hopper 10 formed by the housing 1a for stirring a new developer contained therein, preventing the new developer from agglomerating, and conveying the new developer to the developing member 13, the photosensitive unit includes a photosensitive member 11 and a charging member 12 rotatably installed in the photosensitive housing 1b, the charging member 12 being for charging a surface of the photosensitive member 11, the developing member 13 being disposed opposite to the photosensitive member 11, and in operation, the developing member 13 supplying the new developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member 11 by exposure, so that the electrostatic latent image is developed, and the used waste developer may be stored in a waste hopper formed by the photosensitive housing 1b, may also be conveyed to a waste hopper other than the process cartridge, or may be conveyed back to the developing unit for reuse; in some embodiments, the developing unit further includes a supply member (not shown) disposed adjacent to the developing member 13, and at this time, the developer conveyed by the stirring member 14 reaches the supply member before being conveyed to the developing member 13 by the supply member, and thus, in the process cartridge of the integral structure, the rotation member may be any one of the photosensitive member 11, the charging member 12, the developing member 13, the stirring member 14, and the supply member.

In the split structure, the developing unit and the photosensitive unit are separately provided, and at this time, the process cartridge 100 generally refers to the developing unit, but the rotary member may be any one of the photosensitive member 11, the charging member 12, the developing member 13, the stirring member 14, and the supplying member.

In some embodiments, the cartridge 10 is separated, that is, the developing unit is further separated into a developing assembly including the developing member 13 and a cartridge including the stirring member 14, and at this time, the process cartridge 100 generally refers to a cartridge, but the rotating member may still be any one of the photosensitive member 11, the charging member 12, the developing member 13, the stirring member 14, and the supplying member.

The direction in which the rotation member extends is referred to as a longitudinal direction x, and as shown in fig. 1, the process cartridge 100 further includes a driving force receiving member 2 at one longitudinal end of the rotation member, the driving force receiving member 2 being coupled to a driving force output member in the image forming apparatus to receive driving force to thereby drive the rotation member to rotate when the process cartridge 100 is mounted to the image forming apparatus, the driving force receiving member 2 being either directly mounted at the longitudinal end of the rotation member to directly drive the rotation member to rotate or indirectly drive the rotation member to rotate via a transmission member, and in general, the rotation member receiving driving force of the driving force receiving member 2 to rotate.

Hereinafter, the end provided with the driving force receiving member 2 is referred to as a driving end F, the end opposite to the driving end F is referred to as a non-driving end E along the longitudinal direction x, the driving end F is directed to the non-driving end E in the-x direction, the non-driving end E is directed to the driving end F in the +x direction, hereinafter, a process cartridge having an integrated structure will be taken as an example, and the photosensitive member 11 is selected as a rotating member for description, the driving force receiving member 2 is fixedly mounted on the driving end of the photosensitive member 11, that is, the driving force receiving member 2 and the photosensitive member 11 may remain relatively stationary, and the driving force receiving member 2 may directly drive the photosensitive member 11 to rotate after receiving the driving force.

[ Imaging device ]

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a state in which the process cartridge according to the present utility model is separated from the image forming apparatus.

Referring to fig. 3, 6 and 9A, 9B, in a longitudinal direction x, the image forming apparatus 9 includes a casing 9A and a door 9B coupled to each other, the casing 9A forming a process cartridge accommodating chamber 9d accommodating a process cartridge, the process cartridge accommodating chamber 9d being exposed outwardly through an opening 9c formed in the casing 9A, the process cartridge 100 being mounted toward the image forming apparatus through the opening 9c and being taken out through the opening 9c, the door 9B covering the opening 9c; the first side wall 93 and the second side wall 94 are located on both longitudinal sides of the cartridge accommodating chamber 9d, respectively, and the driving force output member 90 is disposed on the same side as the second side wall 94, and the rotation axis L9 of the driving force output member 90 is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction before the driving force receiving member 2 is combined with the driving force output member 90.

The first side wall 93 has a first guide rail 931 for guiding the cartridge mounting, the second side wall 94 has a second guide rail 941 for guiding the cartridge mounting, the driving force output member 90 includes a driving force output shaft 99, and a first driving force output portion 91 and a second driving force output portion 92 provided at the driving force output shaft 99, wherein the first driving force output portion 91 is provided at a circumferential surface of the driving force output shaft 99 for outputting driving force to the developing member 13, the second driving force output portion 92 is provided at a longitudinal end of the driving force output shaft 99 for outputting driving force to the photosensitive member 11, and the first driving force output portion 91 is provided coaxially with the second driving force output portion 92, the first driving force output portion 91 being located radially outside the second driving force output portion 92 in a radial direction of the driving force output shaft 99.

As shown in fig. 1, the process cartridge 100 further includes an accommodating space 1c provided adjacent to the driving force receiving member 2 in the longitudinal direction x, the accommodating space 1c being located on the +x direction side of the driving force receiving member 2, the driving force receiving member 2 being effectively protected; when the process cartridge 100 is mounted to the image forming apparatus, the first driving force output portion 91 and the second driving force output portion 92 enter the accommodating space 1c, and further, the first driving force output portion 91 is combined with the developing gear 139, the second driving force output portion 92 is combined with the driving force receiving member 2, and when the driving force output shaft 99 starts rotating, the developing member 13 and the photosensitive member 11 are simultaneously driven to rotate.

Before the driving force receiving member 2 and the driving force outputting member 90 are coupled to each other, as shown in fig. 6 (a), the driving force outputting member 90 is in a state of being inclined with respect to the photosensitive member 11, specifically, the rotation axis L9 of the driving force outputting member 90 is inclined with respect to the rotation axis L11 of the photosensitive member 11, at this time, the driving force outputting member 90 is in the non-transmission position, and after the coupling of the driving force receiving member 2 and the driving force outputting member 90 is completed, the rotation axis L9 coincides with the rotation axis L11, that is, the driving force receiving member 2 and the driving force outputting member 90 are coaxial, at this time, the driving force outputting member 90 is in the transmission position.

Example one

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a process cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present utility model; fig. 5 is a partially exploded view of a process cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present utility model; fig. 6 is a simplified schematic view of a process of combining a driving force receiving member in a process cartridge and a driving force output member in an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present utility model.

In order to move the driving force output member 90 from the non-transmitting position to the transmitting position, the process cartridge 100 further includes a control assembly 3 mounted in the housing 1, and in this embodiment, the control assembly 3 receives an external force from the non-driving end E of the process cartridge 100, thereby forcing the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 to move in the +x direction, while the driving force receiving member 2 presses the driving force output member 90 so that the driving force output member 90 reaches the transmitting position from the non-transmitting position, and finally, the driving force receiving member 2 and the driving force output member 90/the second driving force output portion 92 are completely combined, and the rotation axis L11 is coaxial with the rotation axis L9. Specifically, the power receiving member 2 includes the driving force receiving portion 21 combined with the second driving force outputting portion 92 and the driving force transmitting portion 22 for transmitting the driving force, for example, when the developing gear 139 is provided not to be combined with the first driving force outputting portion 91, the developing gear 139 may be provided to be combined with the driving force transmitting portion 22, so that the driving force outputted from the driving force outputting member 90 is transmitted to the developing member 13 through the driving force receiving portion 21, the driving force transmitting portion 22 and the developing gear 139 in this order.

In the longitudinal direction, the photosensitive member 11 has a first end portion 11a located at the +x-direction end/driving end F and a second end portion 11b located at the-x-direction end/non-driving end E, the driving force receiving member 2 is fixedly mounted at the first end portion 11a, and the drum 23 is fixedly mounted at the second end portion 11b, and thus, the drum 23 can be regarded as a part of the second end portion 11 b; the shaft pin 24 is inserted into the drum 23, and the drum 23 is electrically connected to both the shaft pin 24 and the photosensitive member 11, and the shaft pin 24 is electrically connected to the image forming apparatus when the process cartridge 100 is mounted to the image forming apparatus, so that the photosensitive member 11 can be electrically connected to the image forming apparatus.

The process cartridge 100 further includes an end cap 15 coupled to the casing 1, the photosensitive casing 1b further includes first and second positioning holes 1b1 and 1b2 provided at both longitudinal ends, respectively, the photosensitive member 11 is positioned between the first and second positioning holes 1b1 and 1b2, a positioning protrusion 151 provided at the end cap 15 enters the first positioning hole 1b1 and supports the driving force receiving member 2, and the shaft pin 24 passes through the second positioning hole 1b2, so that the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 are rotatably positioned in the photosensitive casing 1 b.

The control assembly 3 includes a lever 31, a first elastic member 32, and a second elastic member 33, the lever 31 being slidably mounted in a positioning groove 1b3 provided in the photosensitive housing 1 b; the lever member 31 includes a middle lever 310 and a force-receiving portion 31a and a force-pushing portion 31b located at both ends of the middle lever, respectively, in the x-direction/longitudinal direction, the middle lever 310 having an inner surface 311 facing the +x-direction side and an outer surface 312 facing the-x-direction side, the outer surface 312 being arranged opposite to the inner surface 311, the force-pushing portion 31b being formed protruding from the inner surface 311 toward the +x-direction, having a force-pushing surface 31c provided obliquely with respect to the x-direction/rotation axis L11 and a holding surface 31d provided adjacently to the force-pushing surface 31c, the force-pushing surface 31c facing the +x-direction side, the oblique direction of which can be described as that the distance between the force-pushing surface 31c and the outer surface 312 in the x-direction gradually increases in the direction from the force-pushing portion 31b, the holding surface 31d being provided perpendicularly to the x-direction; in some embodiments, the urging portion 31b may also be provided so as not to be formed protruding from the inner surface 311, but to be formed directly as a part of the intermediate lever 310.

The two ends of the first elastic piece 32 are respectively abutted with the rod piece 31 and the photosensitive shell 1b and used for forcedly pushing the rod piece 31 towards the direction protruding out of the photosensitive shell 1 b; the second elastic member 33 is configured to apply a pushing force directly or indirectly to the photosensitive member 11 in the x direction, so that the photosensitive member 11 is reset, and thus, the first elastic member 32 and the second elastic member 33 may be respectively configured as a tension spring or a compression spring, the second elastic member 33 may be configured at the driving end F or the non-driving end E, preferably, the first elastic member 32 and the second elastic member 33 are both configured as compression springs, and the second elastic member 33 is configured at the driving end F.

After the process cartridge 100 is mounted to the predetermined position of the image forming apparatus, before the door cover 9b of the image forming apparatus is closed, as shown in fig. 6 (a), the driving force output member 90 is still in the non-transmission position, the rotation axis L9 of the driving force output member 90 is inclined with respect to the rotation axis L11 of the photosensitive member 11, and the driving force receiving member 2/driving force receiving portion 21 is in the retracted state not combined with the driving force output member 90; as the door 9b is closed, the urging portion 9b1 on the door 9b gradually applies an urging force to the urging portion 31a, the lever 31 slides along the positioning groove 1b3, the urging portion 31 a/lever 31 gradually moves toward the photosensitive housing 1b, the first elastic member 32 is elastically deformed, the urging surface 31c starts to abut against the second distal end portion 11 b/drum 23 of the photosensitive member 11, as the door 9b continues to be closed, the urging surface 31c urges the photosensitive member 11 and the power receiving member 2 together to move in the +x direction by a distance d with respect to the photosensitive housing 1b, or together to move toward the driving end F by a distance d, the second elastic member 33 is elastically deformed, the driving force receiving portion 21 presses the driving force output shaft 99, so that the driving force output member 90 gradually moves from the non-transmission position to the transmission position, as shown in fig. 6 (b), the driving force receiving portion 21 and the second driving force output portion 92 are completely combined, and the rotation axis L9 coincides with the rotation axis L11, at this time, the driving force receiving member 2/driving force receiving portion 21 is in the extended state.

When the driving force receiving portion 21 and the second driving force output portion 92 are in a coupled state, or the rotation axis L9 is coincident with the rotation axis L11, or the driving force output member 90 is in the transmission position, the holding surface 31d of the lever abuts the second distal end portion 11b of the photosensitive member 11/the drum 23, and when the door 9b is in the closed state, the state in which the driving force receiving portion 21 and the second driving force output portion 92 are coupled to each other is always held by the holding surface 31 d.

When the door 9b is opened, the force applied to the force receiving portion 31a is released, the first elastic member 32 forces the force receiving portion 31 a/lever 31 to move away from the photosensitive housing 1b, the holding surface 31d no longer abuts against the second distal end portion 11 b/drum 23 of the photosensitive member 11, the second elastic member 33 releases the elastic force, the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 gradually move toward the-x direction with respect to the photosensitive housing 1b, or the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 gradually move toward the non-driving end E with respect to the photosensitive housing 1b, and when the driving force receiving portion 21 is disengaged from the second driving force output portion 92, i.e., the driving force receiving member 2/driving force receiving portion 21 returns from the extended state to the retracted state, the rotation axis L9 of the driving force output member 90 is tilted again with respect to the rotation axis L11 of the photosensitive member 11, and the driving force output member 90 returns from the transmitting position to the non-transmitting position.

Example two

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a process cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present utility model; fig. 8 is a partially exploded view of a process cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present utility model; fig. 9A and 9B are schematic views of a state in which a process cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present utility model is mounted to an image forming apparatus; fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a process cartridge according to the second embodiment of the present utility model before being combined with a driving force output member in an image forming apparatus.

The same components as those of the above embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, and this embodiment is different from the above embodiment in that the control unit 3 is operated by an external force to move the whole of the photosensitive housing 1b for supporting the photosensitive member 11 in the x direction, thereby driving the driving force receiving member 2 fixedly connected to the photosensitive member 11 to force the driving force output member 90 to move from the non-transmitting position to the transmitting position.

As shown in fig. 7 and 8, the control assembly 3 includes, in addition to the lever 31, the first elastic member 32, and the second elastic member 33 described above, a first movable member 34 and a second movable member 35, each of which first movable member 34 and second movable member 35 is provided to be movable with respect to the photosensitive housing 1b, specifically, each of the first movable member 34 and second movable member 35 is movable in the x-direction with respect to the photosensitive housing 1b, and preferably, one end of the second elastic member 33 abuts against the second movable member 35, and the other end abuts against the photosensitive housing 1b or the end cover 15, and in some embodiments, the second elastic member 33 may be mounted at the non-driving end E; the urging surface 31c is inclined toward the-x direction side, and the inclination direction thereof may be described as a direction in which the distance between the urging surface 31c and the inner surface 311 in the x direction gradually increases along the direction from the urging portion 31b toward the force receiving portion 31a, and at this time, the outer surface 312 disposed adjacent to the urging surface 31c may be regarded as a holding surface; further, the urging portion 31b in the present embodiment may be provided so as to be formed protruding from the intermediate lever 310 in the x-direction, but the urging portion 31b protrudes in the-x-direction.

The first movable member 34 is provided at the non-driving end E with a forced surface 341 which can be mated with the forced surface 31c, and the second movable member 35 is provided at the driving end F, and preferably, both the first movable member 34 and the second movable member 35 are provided to protrude outward at both longitudinal ends of the process cartridge 100, and during the mounting of the process cartridge 100, the first movable member 34 enters the first guide rail 931 and the second movable member 35 enters the second guide rail 941, whereby the process cartridge 100 can be mounted along a predetermined path.

When the force receiving portion 31a receives the external force applied from the force applying portion 9b1 on the door, the force receiving portion 31 a/rod member 31 moves in the direction approaching the photosensitive housing 1b, the first elastic member 32 elastically deforms, the force pushing surface 31c abuts against the force pushed surface 341, at this time, the first movable member 34 has a tendency to move away from the photosensitive housing 1b, but the-x-direction end of the first movable member 34 is restrained by the first side wall 93 of the image forming apparatus, as shown in fig. 10, the rod member 31 will be forced to move in the +x direction, and further, the inner surface 311 of the rod member 31 pushes the entire photosensitive housing 1b to now move in the +x direction with respect to the image forming apparatus or movable member 34/35, and at the same time, the photosensitive member 11/driving force receiving member 2 located in the photosensitive housing 1b will also move in the +x direction together, i.e., the photosensitive member 11/driving force receiving member 2 moves from the retracted state toward the extended state, the second elastic member 33 elastically deforms, the driving force receiving member 2/driving force receiving portion 21 will force the driving force outputting member 90 will be forced to move from the non-transmitting position to the transmitting position, and the rotation axis L9 of the driving force outputting member 90 will coincide with the rotation axis 11/driving force receiving portion 11/92 to complete the second driving force receiving portion. It is to be understood that the position where the photosensitive housing 1b is forced by the lever 31 may be either the end face of the photosensitive housing 1b or a certain component in the photosensitive housing 1b, as long as the photosensitive housing 1b as a whole can be moved in the +x direction.

When the door 9b is opened, the force receiving portion 31a is no longer subjected to external force, the first elastic member 32 forces the force receiving portion 31 a/rod member 31 to move away from the photosensitive housing 1b, the urging surface 31c is no longer in abutment with the urged surface 341, the photosensitive housing 1b is no longer subjected to thrust in the +x direction, and the photosensitive housing 1b drives the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 to move integrally in the-x direction, i.e., the photosensitive member 11/driving force receiving member 2 moves from the extended state toward the retracted state, and when the driving force receiving member 2 is disengaged from the driving force output member 90, the rotation axis L9 of the driving force output member 90 is again inclined with respect to the rotation axis L11 of the photosensitive member 11, i.e., the driving force output member 90 returns from the transmitting position to the non-transmitting position, under the action of the second elastic member 33.

Modified example 1

In the above-described embodiment, the force received by the force receiving portion 31 a/lever 31 is from the door cover 9b of the image forming apparatus, however, the force may also be a pressing from a user, for example, a pressed portion that can be pressed by the user is provided on the housing 1, the pressed portion is combined with the urging portion 31b by a connecting member, at this time, the pressed portion may be regarded as the force receiving portion 31a, and the connecting member may be regarded as an intermediate lever, and thus, the connecting member and the intermediate lever may be collectively referred to as a connecting member that connects the force receiving portion 31a and the urging portion 31b and serves to transmit the external force received by the force receiving portion 31a to the urging portion 31b.

When the process cartridge 100 is mounted to a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus, the user presses the pressed portion, and the photosensitive member 11 brings the driving force receiving member 2 or the photosensitive housing 1b brings the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 together to move in the +x direction by the urging portion 31b, i.e., the photosensitive member 11/driving force receiving member 2 moves from the retracted state to the extended state, and as such, the driving force receiving member 2/driving force receiving portion 21 urges the driving force output member 90 to move from the non-transmitting position to the transmitting position, the rotation axis L9 of the driving force output member 90 reaches the rotation axis L9 to coincide with/coaxial with the rotation axis L11 from a state of being inclined with respect to the rotation axis L11 of the photosensitive member 11; when the pressing force is released, the photosensitive member 11/driving force receiving member 2 returns from the extended state to the retracted state, and the driving force output member 90 returns from the transmitting position to the non-transmitting position.

Preferably, the pressed portion is provided on the handle 16.

Alternatively, when the pressed portion is provided on the handle 16, the process cartridge 100 may be further configured such that the photosensitive member 11/driving force receiving member 2 is in the extended state before the user presses the pressed portion, when the user grips the process cartridge 100 by the handle and mounts the process cartridge 100 toward the predetermined position of the image forming apparatus, the photosensitive member 11/driving force receiving member 2 is returned from the extended state to the retracted state by the urging portion 31b, when the process cartridge 100 reaches the predetermined position of the image forming apparatus, the user releases his hands, the pressed portion is not pressed any more, and the photosensitive member 11/driving force receiving member 2 is moved again from the retracted state to the extended state by the predetermined elastic member, and at the same time, the driving force outputting member 90 is also urged to move from the non-transmitting position to the transmitting position. When the process cartridge 100 needs to be taken out, the user presses the pressed portion again, the photosensitive member 11/driving force receiving member 2 returns from the extended state to the retracted state again, and at the same time, the driving force output member 90 also returns from the transmitting position to the non-transmitting position.

Modified example two

The above embodiment has been described taking the rotary member as the photosensitive member 11 as an example, however, it is to be understood that the rotary member may be any one of the charging member 12, the developing member 13, the stirring member 14, and the supplying member; the driving force receiving member 2 is not necessarily required to be fixedly mounted at the end of the rotating member, and when the process cartridge 100 is set such that the rotation axis of the driving force receiving member 2 and the rotation axis of the rotating member are parallel to each other, then the rotation axis L9 of the driving force output member 90 is still inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating member when the driving force output member 90 is in the non-transmitting position, and the rotation axis L9 will be parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating member when the driving force output member 90 is in the transmitting position.

Modification of the embodiment III

In the embodiment in which the above-described process cartridge 100 is of an integral structure, when the photosensitive housing 1 b/photosensitive member 11/driving force receiving member 2 is moved in the x-direction, the developing unit is not moved, and thus, the photosensitive housing 1 b/photosensitive member 11/driving force receiving member 2 can also be regarded as being moved between the extended state and the retracted state in the x-direction with respect to the developing unit; preferably, in the second embodiment, the movable member 34/35 is movably mounted in the photosensitive housing 1 b.

Example III

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a process cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present utility model.

Based on the above embodiment and its modified embodiments, in this embodiment, the control assembly 3 is disposed at the driving end F, as shown in the drawing, the rod 31/force receiving portion 31a is located at the driving end F, and before the force receiving portion 31a receives an external force, the photosensitive housing 1 b/photosensitive member 11/driving force receiving member 2 is in a retracted state; when the force receiving part 31a receives external force, the force applying part 9b1 positioned on the door cover 9b applies force to the force receiving part 31a, the force pushing part of the control assembly 3 moves the photosensitive shell 1b along the +x direction, the photosensitive shell 1b drives the photosensitive element 11 and the driving force receiving element 2 to move along the +x direction and stretch out, the elastic element in the control assembly 3 elastically deforms, and the driving force receiving element 2 aligns the driving force output element 90, so that the driving force output element 90 moves from the non-transmission position to the transmission position; when the external force is removed, the elastic member forces the photosensitive housing 1b to move in the-x direction, and at the same time, the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 also move together in the-x direction to retract, at which time the driving force receiving member 2 is disengaged from the driving force output member 90, and the driving force output member 90 returns from the transmitting position to the non-transmitting position.

In this embodiment, the structure of the pushing portion for forcing the photosensitive housing 1b to move in the +x direction may be the same as that of the first embodiment, but the pushing portion in this embodiment will directly push the photosensitive housing 1b.

[ Beneficial effects ]

(1) The lever 31/force receiving portion 31a for receiving the external force is provided at the non-drive end E of the process cartridge 100,

In the first aspect, the structure will enable the rod member 31/the force receiving portion 31a to be effectively reduced from the vibration influence from the driving end F, ensuring that the rod member 31/the force receiving portion 31a receives the external force stably;

In the first aspect, the structure can effectively balance the overall installation state of the process cartridge 100, in the existing process cartridge, a slight torsion phenomenon may be generated under the action of the driving force output by the driving force output member 90 in the working process, that is, the driving end F and the non-driving end E of the process cartridge slightly rotate around a certain point in the middle of the process cartridge, so that a part of the electrostatic latent image area on the surface of the photosensitive member 11 cannot be accurately or effectively developed, and the rod member 31/the stress portion 31a is arranged at the non-driving end E, so that the non-driving end of the process cartridge receives a pressing force, and further the stress at two longitudinal ends of the process cartridge 100 is balanced;

in the third aspect, the structure of the non-driving end E of the process cartridge is simpler and the number of parts to be mounted is smaller than that of the driving end F, which is advantageous in not only improving the degree of freedom of design of the control assembly 3 but also improving the mounting efficiency of each part of the control assembly 3.

(2) In the above embodiment, the photosensitive member/rotating member 11 reciprocates the driving force receiving member 2 in the x direction between the extended state and the retracted state, compared to the case where the driving force receiving member 2 is independently controlled to reciprocate in the x direction between the extended state and the retracted state, no other control structure is necessary between the driving force receiving member 2 and the photosensitive member/rotating member 11, and it is only necessary to ensure that the driving force receiving member 2 can move in the x direction along with the photosensitive member 11, and the overall structure of the process cartridge 100 can be simplified.

Further, when the rod member 31/the force receiving portion 31a receives an external force, the housing 1 of the process cartridge 100 drives the rotating member and further drives the driving force receiving member 2 to move together in the x direction, so that no additional component capable of controlling the driving force receiving member 2 to move is required to be installed inside the process cartridge 100, as long as the rod member 31/the force receiving portion 31a can receive the external force, the manufacturing precision requirement of the control assembly 3 can be reduced; furthermore, after the rod 31/the force-receiving member 31a receives the external force, the housing 1 can be forced to drive the rotating member and the driving force receiving member 2 to move along the x direction, or the rotating member can be forced to drive the driving force receiving member 2 to move along the x direction, so that the installation precision requirement of the control assembly 3 can be reduced.

(3) Whether the lever 31/the force receiving portion 31a or the pressing portion is the above-mentioned lever 31/force receiving portion, it is preferable that the force receiving portion of the control assembly 3 for receiving the external force is provided such that the force receiving portion faces the user when the process cartridge 100 is mounted to the predetermined position of the image forming apparatus, or the force receiving portion is exposed through the opening 9c of the image forming apparatus, so that the user can observe whether the control assembly 3 is abnormal or not in time through the opening 9c, thereby improving the use experience of the user.

(4) In the process of mounting the process cartridge 100, the driving force receiving member 2 does not interfere with the driving force output member 90, and only when the process cartridge 100 is mounted to the predetermined position, the driving force output member 90 is moved from the non-transmitting position to the transmitting position by applying the external force to the force receiving portion 31a, and when the process cartridge 100 needs to be taken out, the external force is canceled, and the driving force output member 90 is moved from the transmitting position to the non-transmitting position, it is seen that the driving force receiving member 2 does not interfere with the driving force output member 90 in both the process of mounting and the process of taking out the process cartridge 100, and the process of mounting and taking out the process cartridge 100 become smoother.

As described above, in the process cartridge 100 provided by the present utility model, after the control component 3 receives an external force, the control component controls the driving force output member 90 to move from the non-transmission position to the transmission position by forcing the housing 1 to drive the rotating member and then drive the driving force receiving member 2 to move together in the x direction, or by forcing the rotating member to drive the driving force receiving member 2 to move together in the x direction, so that the manufacturing precision requirements and the mounting precision requirements of the components in the process cartridge 100 can be reduced.

It will be appreciated that the above-described solution is still applicable to a driving force output member 90 that does not require movement of the transmitting position from the non-transmitting position.

For example, when the process cartridge 100 is mounted to an image forming apparatus having such a driving force output member 90, the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 are together in a retracted state by the control unit 3, at which time the driving force output member 90 is in a non-transmitting position, and when the process cartridge 100 is mounted to a predetermined position, the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 are together projected in the +x direction, or the photosensitive housing 1b drives the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 to be together projected in the +x direction, the driving force receiving member 2 is combined with the driving force output member 90, at which time the driving force output member 90 is in a transmitting position; when the process cartridge 100 needs to be taken out, an external force is applied to the control assembly 3 again, the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 are retracted together in the-x direction, or the photosensitive housing 1b brings the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 together to retract in the-x direction, and the driving force receiving member 2 is disengaged from the driving force output member 90;

Or the process cartridge 100 is in a retracted state together with the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 before being mounted to the image forming apparatus, at which time the driving force outputting member 90 is in a non-transmitting position, and when the process cartridge 100 is mounted to a predetermined position and the door 9b is closed, the urging portion 9b1 of the door applies an urging force to the urging portion 31a, the urging portion 31b urges the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 to protrude together in the +x direction, or the urging portion 31b urges the photosensitive housing 1b to bring the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 to protrude together in the +x direction, the driving force receiving member 2 is combined with the driving force outputting member 90, at which time the driving force outputting member 90 is in a transmitting position, the elastic member in the control assembly 3 is elastically deformed; when the process cartridge 100 needs to be taken out, the external force applied to the control assembly 3 is removed, and the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 are retracted together in the-x direction by the elastic force of the elastic member, or the photosensitive housing 1b brings the photosensitive member 11 and the driving force receiving member 2 together in the-x direction, and the driving force receiving member 2 is disengaged from the driving force output member 90.

Claims (11)

1. A process cartridge adapted to an image forming apparatus provided with a driving force output member, the process cartridge including a housing, a rotary member rotatably mounted in the housing, and a driving force receiving member provided at one longitudinal end of the housing, the driving force receiving member for receiving a driving force from the driving force output member and driving the rotary member to rotate;

The driving force output member is movable between a non-transmission position in which the rotation axis of the driving force output member is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating member, and a transmission position in which the rotation axis of the driving force output member is coaxial with or parallel to the rotation axis of the driving force receiving member;

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The process cartridge further includes a control assembly provided in the housing for controlling the rotation member and the driving force receiving member to move together between the extended state and the retracted state;

In the retracted state, the driving force receiving member is not engaged with the driving force outputting member, and the driving force outputting member is in the non-transmitting position;

In the extended state, the driving force receiving member is combined with the driving force output member, and the driving force output member is in the transmitting position.

2. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the control assembly comprises a force receiving portion for receiving an external force, a urging portion for urging the housing or the rotary member, and a connecting member for connecting the force receiving portion and the urging portion, the connecting member transmitting the external force to the urging portion.

3. A process cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided with an opening for allowing the process cartridge to be mounted and dismounted, and the force receiving portion is exposed through the opening.

4. A process cartridge according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the urging portion causes the rotary member to move together with the driving force receiving member by directly abutting against a distal end portion of the rotary member where the driving force receiving member is not provided.

5. A process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the connecting member is provided as a part of the lever member, having an inner surface facing the side of the driving force receiving member and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface;

The urging portion includes an urging surface inclined toward the side of the driving force receiving member and a holding surface provided adjacent to the urging surface, the urging surface being provided such that a distance between the urging surface and the outer surface in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge gradually increases in a direction from the urging portion toward the force receiving portion.

6. A process cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the control assembly further comprises a first elastic member for urging the urging portion away from the housing, and a second elastic member for urging the photosensitive member and the driving force receiving member together from the extended state toward the retracted state.

7. A process cartridge according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the urging portion causes the housing to move together with the rotation member and the driving force receiving member by directly abutting against the housing.

8. A process cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the connecting member is provided as a part of the lever member, having an inner surface facing the side of the driving force receiving member and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface;

The urging portion includes an urging surface inclined toward a side where the driving force receiving member is not provided, and a holding surface provided adjacent to the urging surface, the urging surface being provided such that a distance between the urging surface and the inner surface in a longitudinal direction of the process cartridge gradually increases in a direction from the urging portion toward the force receiving portion.

9. The process cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the control assembly further comprises a first movable member and a second movable member movable with respect to the housing, the first movable member and the second movable member protruding outwardly from both longitudinal ends of the process cartridge, respectively, the second movable member being disposed on the same side as the driving force receiving member, the first movable member having a forced pushing surface mateable with the forced pushing surface.

10. A process cartridge according to claim 9, further comprising a second elastic member for forcing the housing to move together with the rotation member and the driving force receiving member.

11. A process cartridge adapted to an image forming apparatus provided with a driving force output member, the process cartridge including a housing, a rotary member rotatably mounted in the housing, and a driving force receiving member provided at one longitudinal end of the housing, the driving force receiving member for receiving a driving force from the driving force output member and driving the rotary member to rotate;

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The process cartridge further includes a control assembly provided in the housing for controlling the rotation member and the driving force receiving member to move together between the extended state and the retracted state;

In the retracted state, the driving force receiving member is not engaged with the driving force outputting member, and the driving force outputting member is in the non-transmitting position;

In the extended state, the driving force receiving member is combined with the driving force output member, and the driving force output member is in the transmitting position.