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EP-4428619-B1 - PROCESS CARTRIDGE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLY, AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE

EP4428619B1EP 4428619 B1EP4428619 B1EP 4428619B1EP-4428619-B1

Inventors

  • SHAO, Zhe
  • XIA, Xiangchao
  • YANG, Hongjian

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20221226

Claims (14)

  1. A process cartridge (1), applicable to an image-forming apparatus (3), comprising: a cartridge main body (14); a rotating part (11), disposed on the cartridge main body, wherein along an axial direction of the rotating part, the cartridge main body includes a first end portion (111) and a second end portion (112); a chip part (12), wherein the chip part is disposed on the cartridge main body and includes a contact point portion (121) for being in contact with and electrically connected to an electrical contact portion (311) of the image-forming apparatus; and a positioning portion (13), wherein the positioning portion is at the first portion and configured to be supported on a moving part (2) of the image-forming apparatus, wherein: when the process cartridge is installed in the image-forming apparatus, any point on the second end portion is configured as a reference point, a distance between projections of the contact point portion and the reference point along the axial direction of the rotating part is L1, and a minimum distance between projections of the reference point and a surface of the positioning portion away from the second end portion along the axial direction of the rotating part is L2, wherein L1>L2, characterized in that , the contact point portion and the positioning portion protrude from an end surface of the cartridge main body along the axial direction of the rotating part.
  2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: the contact point portion is fixedly disposed relative to the cartridge main body; or the contact point portion is movably disposed relative to the cartridge main body.
  3. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: the chip part (12) includes a chip main body, and the contact point portion (121) is disposed on the chip main body.
  4. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: the chip part (12) includes a chip main body and a connecting part; the connecting part is configured to be electrically connected to the chip main body and the electrical contact portion (311) respectively; and the contact point portion is a portion of the connecting part configured to be in contact with and electrically connected to the electrical contact portion.
  5. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: a distance between projections of an end surface of the first end portion and the reference point along the axial direction of the rotating part is La, wherein L1>L2>La.
  6. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: the process cartridge further includes a chip bracket (15), and the chip part (12) is installed at the chip bracket; and the chip bracket and the positioning portion (13) are disposed separately or formed into a single piece.
  7. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: a surface of the positioning portion away from the second end portion includes a first region and a second region; the first region is on a side of the second region away from the chip part; and a distance between projections of the second region and the reference point along the axial direction of the rotating part is less than L1.
  8. The process cartridge according to claim 7, wherein: a protrusion (16) is disposed at the first region and extends along the positioning portion (13) along a direction away from the second end portion; and when the process cartridge is installed in the image-forming apparatus, projections of the protrusion and the electrical contact portion on the axial direction of the rotating part are not overlapped with each other.
  9. The process cartridge according to claim 8, wherein: a distance from the reference point to a side of the protrusion away from the second end portion is L3, wherein L3 > L1.
  10. The process cartridge according to claim any one of claims 1 to 6, further including: a pressing mechanism, wherein when the process cartridge is not installed in the image-forming apparatus, the pressing mechanism presses the chip part (12) to satisfy L2 ≥ L1.
  11. The process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein: the pressing mechanism includes an elastic part (18) and a locking part (17); when the process cartridge is not installed in the image-forming apparatus, the locking part is capable of overcoming an elastic force of the elastic part to press the chip part (12) to satisfy L2 ≥ L1; and when the process cartridge is installed in the image-forming apparatus, the chip part is capable of being released by the locking part; and the elastic part drives the contact point portion, through the elastic force of the elastic part, to move along a direction away from the rotating part to satisfy L1>L2.
  12. A process cartridge assembly, comprising: a moving part (2); and a process cartridge (1), installed in the moving part, the process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein: the moving part is disposed with a limiting portion (21), and the positioning portion of the process cartridge is supported at the limiting portion.
  13. The process cartridge assembly according to claim 12, wherein: a portion of the moving part (2) is recessed to form the limiting portion (21); and a first limiting surface (211) is formed at an inner surface of the limiting portion; a first limited surface (131) is formed at an inner surface of the positioning portion; and when the process cartridge is installed in the moving part, the first limiting surface is abutted against the first limited surface.
  14. An image-forming apparatus (3), comprising: a main body (31), disposed with a moving part (2) and an electrical contact portion (311); and a process cartridge (1), the process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 11; and when the process cartridge is installed in the moving part, the contact point portion (121) is electrically connected to the electrical contact portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to the field of image-forming technology and, more particularly, relates to a process cartridge, a process cartridge assembly, and an image-forming apparatus. BACKGROUND The existing technology provides one type of image-forming apparatuses. A drawer is disposed in the image-forming apparatus. At least one process cartridge is accommodated in the drawer. By pushing and pulling the drawer, the process cartridge can be installed in or removed from the image-forming apparatus. When the process cartridge is installed in the image-forming apparatus, the conductive contact points on the chip disposed on the process cartridge may be in contact with the conductive terminals disposed on the image-forming apparatus. However, during the process of installing the process cartridge, when the user lifts the drawer relatively high, other parts disposed on the process cartridge may be also in contact with the conductive terminals disposed on the side of the image-forming apparatus. Therefore, the conductive terminals on the side of the image-forming apparatus may be damaged; or after the process cartridge is scratched, debris may adhere to the conductive terminals, which may result in abnormal communication between the conductive terminals disposed on the image-forming apparatus and the chip disposed on the process cartridge. US 2016/139558 A1 describes a cartridge and an image forming apparatus using the cartridge. SUMMARY One aspect of the present invention provides a process cartridge. The process cartridge includes a cartridge main body; a rotating part, disposed on the cartridge main body, where along an axial direction of the rotating part, the cartridge main body includes a first end portion and a second end portion; a chip part, where the chip part is disposed on the cartridge main body and includes a contact point portion for being in contact with and electrically connected to an electrical contact portion of the image-forming apparatus; and a positioning portion, where the positioning portion is at the first end portion and configured to be supported on a moving part of the image-forming apparatus. When the process cartridge is installed in the image-forming apparatus, any point on the second end portion is configured as a reference point, a distance between projections of the contact point portion and the reference point along the axial direction of the rotating part is L1, and a minimum distance between projections of the reference point and a surface of the positioning portion away from the second end portion along the axial direction of the rotating part is L2, where L1>L2. The contact point portion and the positioning portion protrude from an end surface of the cartridge main body along the axial direction of the rotating part. Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a process cartridge assembly. The process cartridge assembly includes a moving part; and a process cartridge, applied to an image-forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes a cartridge main body; a rotating part, disposed on the cartridge main body, where along an axial direction of the rotating part, the cartridge main body includes a first end portion and a second end portion; a chip part, where the chip part is disposed on the cartridge main body and includes a contact point portion for electrical connection with an electrical contact portion of the image-forming apparatus; and a positioning portion, where the positioning portion is at the first end portion and configured to be supported on a moving part of the image-forming apparatus. When the process cartridge is installed in the image-forming apparatus, any point on the second end portion is configured as a reference point, a distance between the contact point portion and the reference point along the axial direction of the rotating part is L1, and a minimum distance between the reference point and a surface of the positioning portion away from the second end portion along the axial direction of the rotating part is L2, where L1>L2. The moving part is disposed with a limiting portion, and the positioning portion of the process cartridge is supported at the limiting portion. Another aspect of the present disclosure provides an image-forming apparatus. The image-forming apparatus includes a main body; and a process cartridge, applied to an image-forming apparatus. The process cartridge assembly includes a moving part; and a process cartridge, applied to an image-forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes a cartridge main body; a rotating part, disposed on the cartridge main body, where along an axial direction of the rotating part, the cartridge main body includes a first end portion and a second end portion; a chip part, where the chip part is disposed on the cartridge main body and includes a contact point portion for electrical connection with an electrical contact portion of the image-forming apparatus; and