IP Library Granted Patent US 12,493,263
Granted Patent B2
US 12,493,263 · App. 18/515,429 · Granted Dec 9, 2025

Voltage conversion apparatus, image-forming assembly, process cartridge, and process cartridge group

Inventors: Zhe Shao (Zhuhai, CN); Shiquan Chen (Zhuhai, CN); Xiangchao Xia (Zhuhai, CN)
Assignee: Zhuhai Pantum Electronics Co., Ltd.
G03G21/1867G03G15/80G03G21/1652G03G2221/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,493,263
App. No.
18/515,429
Granted
Dec 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides a voltage conversion apparatus, an image-forming assembly, a process cartridge and a process cartridge group. The voltage conversion apparatus is applied to a process cartridge. The process cartridge includes a first image-forming member and a second image-forming member. The voltage conversion apparatus includes a voltage conversion module, where an input terminal of the voltage conversion module is configured to be electrically connected to the first image-forming member, and an output terminal of the voltage conversion module is configured to be electrically connected to the second image-forming member; and the voltage conversion module is configured to convert a first voltage received by the first image-forming member into a second voltage. The first voltage is a voltage required for the first image-forming member to operate, and the second voltage is a voltage required for the second image-forming member to operate.

Claims (56)

1 . A voltage conversion apparatus, applied to a process cartridge, wherein the process cartridge includes a first image-forming member and a second image-forming member, comprising:

a voltage conversion module, wherein an input terminal of the voltage conversion module is configured to be electrically connected to the first image-forming member, and an output terminal of the voltage conversion module is configured to be electrically connected to the second image-forming member; and the voltage conversion module is configured to convert a first voltage received by the first image-forming member into a second voltage, wherein:

the first voltage is a voltage required for the first image-forming member to operate, and

the second voltage is a voltage required for the second image-forming member to operate, and:

the first image-forming member is a charging member, and

the second image-forming member is a photosensitive member.

2 . The voltage conversion apparatus according to claim 1 , further including:

a circuit board, wherein the voltage conversion module is disposed on the circuit board.

3 . The voltage conversion apparatus according to claim 1 , further including:

a first conductive portion, wherein the first conductive portion includes a first input terminal and a first output terminal; the first input terminal is configured to receive the first voltage provided by a power supply unit, and the first output terminal is configured to be electrically connected to the first image-forming member; and the input terminal of the voltage conversion module is electrically connected to at least one of the first input terminal and the first output terminal; and/or

a second conductive portion, wherein the second conductive portion includes a second input terminal and a second output terminal; and the second input terminal is electrically connected with the output terminal of the voltage conversion module, and the second output terminal is electrically connected to the second image-forming member.

4 . The voltage conversion apparatus according to claim 3 , further including:

a third conductive portion, wherein the third conductive portion includes a third input terminal and a third output terminal; the third input terminal is electrically connected to at least one of the first input terminal and the first output terminal; and the third output terminal is electrically connected to the input terminal of the voltage conversion module.

5 . The voltage conversion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

the voltage conversion module includes a step-down circuit; and the step-down circuit is configured to step down the first voltage to obtain the second voltage, wherein an absolute value of the second voltage is less than an absolute value of the first voltage.

6 . A process cartridge, comprising:

a housing, a first image-forming member, a second image-forming member, and a voltage conversion apparatus, wherein:

the housing is disposed with an installation portion; and the first image-forming member, the second image-forming member, and the voltage conversion apparatus are respectively installed on the installation portion; and the second image-forming member is electrically connected to the first image-forming member via the voltage conversion apparatus; and

the voltage conversion apparatus includes a voltage conversion module; an input terminal of the voltage conversion module is configured to be electrically connected to the first image-forming member, and an output terminal of the voltage conversion module is configured to be electrically connected to the second image-forming member; and the voltage conversion module is configured to convert a first voltage received by the first image-forming member into a second voltage, wherein the first voltage is a voltage required for the first image-forming member to operate, and the second voltage is a voltage required for the second image-forming member to operate; and

the first image-forming member is a charging member, and

the second image-forming member is a photosensitive member.

7 . The process cartridge according to claim 6 , wherein:

the voltage conversion apparatus further includes a circuit board, and the voltage conversion module is disposed on the circuit board.

8 . The process cartridge according to claim 6 , wherein:

the voltage conversion apparatus further includes a first conductive portion; the first conductive portion includes a first input terminal and a first output terminal; the first input terminal is configured to receive the first voltage provided by a power supply unit, and the first output terminal is configured to be electrically connected to the first image-forming member; and the input terminal of the voltage conversion module is electrically connected to at least one of the first input terminal and the first output terminal; and/or

the voltage conversion apparatus further includes a second conductive portion; the second conductive portion includes a second input terminal and a second output terminal; and the second input terminal is electrically connected with the output terminal of the voltage conversion module, and the second output terminal is electrically connected to the second image-forming member.

9 . The process cartridge according to claim 8 , wherein:

the voltage conversion apparatus includes a third conductive portion; the third conductive portion includes a third input terminal and a third output terminal; the third input terminal is electrically connected to at least one of the first input terminal and the first output terminal; and the third output terminal is electrically connected to the input terminal of the voltage conversion module.

10 . The process cartridge according to claim 6 , wherein:

the voltage conversion module includes a step-down circuit; and the step-down circuit is configured to step down the first voltage to obtain the second voltage, wherein an absolute value of the second voltage is less than an absolute value of the first voltage.

11 . The process cartridge according to claim 6 , wherein:

the housing includes two end covers and two sidewalls; the two end covers are disposed to be opposite to each other; the two sidewalls are disposed to be opposite to each other; an end cover of the two end covers is connected to a corresponding sidewall; the first image-forming member and the second image-forming member are disposed between the two end covers; the voltage conversion apparatus is disposed on one of the two end covers; and the voltage conversion apparatus is electrically connected to end positions of the first image-forming member and the second image-forming member.

12 . The process cartridge according to claim 11 , further including:

a storage medium, wherein the storage medium and the voltage conversion apparatus are disposed on a same end cover of the two end covers.

13 . The process cartridge according to claim 12 , further including:

a plurality of conductive contacts, wherein the plurality of the conductive contacts and the voltage conversion apparatus are disposed on a same end cover of the two end covers; and the plurality of conductive contacts is configured to be electrically connected to electrical contact portions disposed on a main body of an image-forming apparatus to receive power provided by the main body of the image-forming apparatus.

14 . The process cartridge according to claim 6 , further including:

a fourth conductive portion, wherein the fourth conductive portion includes a fourth input terminal and a fourth output terminal; the fourth input terminal is electrically connected to the output terminal of the voltage conversion module; the fourth output terminal is configured to output the second voltage to an outside of the process cartridge; and the fourth output terminal protrudes from a sidewall of the process cartridge.

15 . The process cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein:

the fourth output terminal elastically protrudes from the sidewall of the process cartridge.

16 . A process cartridge group, comprising:

a first process cartridge, including a first image-forming member, a second image-forming member, a voltage conversion apparatus and a conductive portion, wherein:

the second image-forming member is electrically connected to the first image-forming member through the voltage conversion apparatus; the voltage conversion apparatus includes a voltage conversion module; an input terminal of the voltage conversion module is electrically connected to the first image-forming member; an output terminal of the voltage conversion module is electrically connected to the second image-forming member; the voltage conversion module is configured to convert a first voltage received by the first image-forming member into a second voltage, wherein the first voltage is a voltage required for the first image-forming member to operate, and the second voltage is a voltage required for the second image-forming member to operate; the conductive portion includes an input terminal and an output terminal; the input terminal is electrically connected to the voltage conversion module; and the output terminal is configured to transmit power to an outside of the first process cartridge; and

a second process cartridge, including a third image-forming member and a conductive unit, wherein:

the conductive unit includes an electric receiving portion and an electric outputting portion; the electric receiving portion is configured to be electrically connected to the output terminal to receive power transmitted by the conductive portion; and the electric outputting portion is electrically connected to the third image-forming member; and

the first image-forming member is a charging member, and

the second image-forming member is a photosensitive member.

17 . The process cartridge group according to claim 16 , wherein:

the input terminal of the conductive portion is electrically connected to the input terminal of the voltage conversion module; and the electric receiving portion is electrically connected to the output terminal to receive the second voltage transmitted by the output terminal; and

the conductive unit further includes a voltage conversion unit; the voltage conversion unit is electrically connected to the output terminal through the electric receiving portion to receive the first voltage transmitted by the output terminal; and the voltage conversion unit is electrically connected to the third image-forming member through the electric outputting portion.

18 . The process cartridge group according to claim 16 , wherein:

the conductive unit of the second process cartridge further includes a conductive connection terminal; the conductive connection terminal is electrically connected to the electric receiving portion or the electric outputting portion; the conductive connection terminal is configured to supply power to an outside of the second process cartridge; and at least a part of the electric receiving portion and the conductive connection terminal is installed outside a housing of the second process cartridge.

19 . The process cartridge group according to claim 16 , wherein:

at least a part of the output terminal is installed outside a housing of the first process cartridge.

20 . The process cartridge group according to claim 16 , wherein:

the voltage conversion module includes a step-down circuit; and the step-down circuit is configured to step down the first voltage to obtain the second voltage, wherein an absolute value of the second voltage is less than an absolute value of the first voltage.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2025
From: SHAO, ZHE; CHEN, SHIQUAN; XIA, XIANGCHAO
To: ZHUHAI PANTUM ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 073591/0939 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202211470377.4 · Nov 23, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240168431A1 · May 23, 2024
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