Toner cartridge and laser printer

Abstract

The invention provides a toner cartridge and a laser printer, which are used for realizing independent replacement of the toner cartridge and reducing the replacement cost. The powdered ink box comprises a box body, a powder bin, a first stirring rod, a first bin door, a first clamping hook and a handle, an open hole is formed in the first side of the box body, and a window is formed in the second side of the box body; the powder bin is arranged in the box body and used for containing powdered ink, and a supply opening exposed in the window is formed in the position, facing the window, of the powder bin; the first stirring rod is arranged in the toner bin and is used for conveying the toner in the toner bin to the supply port; the first bin door is arranged on the side, facing the window, of the toner bin in a sliding mode, a clamping groove is formed in the first bin door, and the first bin door can open or close the supply port when sliding; the first clamping hook is arranged on the second side of the box body and used for being connected with the clamping groove in a clamped mode when the first bin door closes the supply opening. The handle is slidably arranged on the side, opposite to the window, of the toner bin, penetrates through the open hole to be exposed to the outer side of the box body, and the handle is fixedly connected with the first bin door.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application. The original application has the application number 202111070829.5 and the original application date is September 13, 2021. The entire contents of the original application are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of printer technology, and more particularly to a toner cartridge and a laser printer. Background Technology

[0003] Laser printers are printing output devices that combine laser scanning technology and electrophotographic technology, offering advantages such as high printing speed and high image quality. The toner cartridges and drum units used in laser printers are generally either integrated or separate designs. For integrated designs, users need to replace the entire drum unit along with the toner cartridge, resulting in higher replacement costs and a poor user experience due to contact with the printer's internal structure. While separate designs allow for relative independence, replacing the toner cartridge often requires removing the entire assembly from the printer, detaching the depleted toner cartridge from the drum, installing the new cartridge, and then reinstalling the assembly. This process is cumbersome and less user-friendly. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a toner cartridge and a laser printer to improve the reliability of the toner cartridge and reduce the cost of replacing toner cartridges in laser printers.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a toner cartridge, which may include a cartridge body, a toner hopper, a first stirring roller, a first compartment door, a first latch, and a handle. The cartridge body may include a first side and a second side opposite to each other. The first side of the cartridge body may have an opening, and the second side may have a window. The toner hopper is disposed within the cartridge body for containing toner, and a refill port exposed within the window is provided on the side of the toner hopper facing the window. The first stirring roller is disposed within the toner hopper for conveying toner from the toner hopper to the refill port. The first compartment door is slidably mounted on the side of the toner hopper facing the window, and a latch may be provided on the first compartment door, allowing the refill port to be opened or closed when the door is slidable. The first latch is disposed on the second side of the cartridge body, and the first latch can engage with the latch when the first compartment door closes the refill port. The handle is slidably disposed on the side of the toner hopper facing away from the window, and the handle can pass through the opening and be exposed on the outside of the cartridge body, and the handle can be fixedly connected to the first compartment door.

[0006] In the above solution, the toner cartridge refill port can be locked through the first compartment door, thus preventing toner leakage and improving the reliability of the toner cartridge. Furthermore, since the toner cartridge does not contain components such as a photosensitive drum and developing roller, the cost of replacing the toner cartridge is relatively low for laser printers.

[0007] In some possible implementations, the first latch can be located on the side of the first compartment door facing the powder compartment. In this way, when the first latch is subjected to external force, it can retract into the inside of the box to unlock the first compartment door and thus open the supply port.

[0008] In some possible implementations, the first stirring roller includes a rotating shaft and multiple blades fixed on the rotating shaft. The multiple blades may be arranged in a spiral shape along the axial direction of the rotating shaft. When the rotating shaft rotates, the blades can drive the toner in the toner hopper to generate a spiral motion and transport the toner to the replenishment port.

[0009] For example, the blade can be an arc-shaped structure, with the arc segment of the blade positioned close to the inner wall of the toner cartridge, so that it can better match the shape of the inner wall of the toner cartridge, thereby achieving full mixing of the toner.

[0010] In some possible implementations, the included angle between two adjacent blades can be between 75° and 90°.

[0011] In some possible implementations, a first scraper blade may be provided on the blade. The first scraper blade is made of a flexible material, and its end extends beyond the side of the blade away from the rotating shaft and contacts the inner wall of the toner cartridge. When the rotating shaft rotates, the end of the first scraper blade can rub against the inner wall of the toner cartridge, thereby ensuring that the toner is fully agitated. In addition, since the first scraper blade is made of a flexible material, the friction between the first scraper blade and the inner wall of the toner cartridge can be reduced, thereby reducing the torque of the first agitation roller and reducing the load on the toner cartridge when delivering toner to the drum assembly.

[0012] In some possible implementations, a second scraper can be provided at the position of the rotating shaft corresponding to the replenishment port, and the end of the second scraper can contact the inner wall of the toner cartridge. When the rotating shaft rotates, the second scraper can transfer the toner at the replenishment port inside the toner cartridge to the outside of the toner cartridge, thereby improving the toner delivery efficiency.

[0013] For example, the second scraper can also be made of a flexible material, so that the end of the second scraper can also come into contact with and rub against the inner wall of the toner cartridge, thereby allowing the toner at the replenishment port to be fully stirred.

[0014] In specific settings, there can be two second scrapers, which can be arranged symmetrically with respect to the rotating shaft to further improve the toner delivery efficiency.

[0015] In some possible implementations, the handle may include a first slide rail, a handle body, and a connecting arm. The first slide rail may be located on the side of the powder hopper away from the window. The handle body is slidably mounted on the first slide rail. The connecting arm may pass through the gap between the powder hopper and the inner wall of the box and be fixedly connected to the first hopper door. Thus, when the user slides the handle body, the first hopper door can be slid synchronously to open or close the refill port.

[0016] In some possible implementations, a second slide rail can be provided on the side of the powder compartment facing the window, and the first compartment door can be slidably mounted on the second slide rail. Along the direction from the first side of the housing to its second side, the distance between the connection point of the connecting arm and the first compartment door and the second slide rail can be no greater than 2mm. The distance between the connection point of the connecting arm and the first compartment door and the second slide rail is the distance between the force-bearing point of the first compartment door and the second slide rail. The smaller this distance, the smaller the deflection torque on the first compartment door, and the more smoothly the first compartment door can slide on the second slide rail.

[0017] In some possible implementations, the first compartment door may be provided with a first opening. When the first compartment door slides to a position where the first opening is opposite to the position of the supply port, the first compartment door can open the supply port. When the first compartment door slides to a position where the first opening is opposite to the position of the supply port, the first compartment door can close the supply port.

[0018] Secondly, this application also provides a laser printer, which may include a housing, a drum assembly, and a toner cartridge as described in any of the aforementioned possible embodiments. The housing has mounting holes on its side, and the drum assembly is disposed within the housing. The drum assembly may include a compartment, and a receiving groove is provided on one side of the compartment corresponding to the mounting holes. The bottom of the receiving groove has a toner inlet communicating with the interior of the compartment. The toner cartridge can be assembled into the receiving groove through the mounting holes, with the toner cartridge's refill port opposite to the toner inlet, thereby allowing toner to be delivered to the drum assembly when the refill port is open.

[0019] In the above solution, the toner cartridge and drum unit are set up independently, allowing for individual toner cartridge replacement in laser printers. The replacement process is relatively simple. The toner cartridge and drum unit are arranged horizontally along the laser printer, which helps to reduce the height of the laser printer compared to the vertically stacked arrangement in existing technologies. When replacing the toner cartridge, it is only necessary to remove and install it through the mounting hole on the side of the laser printer, without opening the top cover. Users will not see any internal printer components other than the drum unit during operation, thus improving the user experience.

[0020] In some possible implementations, the toner cartridge assembly may further include a second compartment door, which is slidably disposed at the bottom of the receiving slot and can open or close the toner inlet when sliding. A rib is provided on the side of the second compartment door facing the toner cartridge. This rib can insert into a slot in the first compartment door when the toner cartridge is installed in the receiving slot. At this time, the first latch deforms under the pressure of the rib and retracts to the inside of the cartridge, thereby engaging the lock on the first compartment door. When the first compartment door slides under the action of the handle, the second compartment door also slides synchronously with the first compartment door based on the engagement of the rib and the slot. Thus, when the first compartment door opens the refill port, the second compartment door can also open the toner inlet, connecting the toner cartridge and the interior of the toner cartridge assembly.

[0021] In some possible implementations, the second compartment door may be provided with a second opening. When the second compartment door slides to the position where the second opening is opposite to the position of the powder inlet, the second compartment door can open the powder inlet. When the second compartment door slides to the position where the second opening is opposite to the position of the powder inlet, the second compartment door can close the powder inlet.

[0022] In some possible implementations, the bottom wall of the receiving slot may be provided with a second hook. This second hook may include an elastic arm, a hook body, and a protrusion. Both the hook body and the protrusion may be located on the side of the elastic arm facing the toner cartridge. The hook body can be used to engage with the second opening when the second compartment door closes the toner inlet. When the toner cartridge is installed in the receiving slot, the outer wall of the second side of the cartridge can press the protrusion, causing the elastic arm to bend away from the toner cartridge, thereby causing the hook body to bend in the same direction. This releases the second hook from locking the second compartment door, allowing the second compartment door to slide synchronously with the first compartment door.

[0023] In some possible implementations, a limiting arm may be provided at the bottom of the receiving slot, with a gap between the limiting arm and the bottom of the receiving slot. When the first compartment door slides in the direction that the refill port will open, the first compartment door can be inserted into the gap between the limiting arm and the bottom of the receiving slot, thereby using the limiting arm to limit the toner cartridge in the insertion direction of the toner cartridge and the receiving slot, preventing the toner cartridge from becoming loose or falling off during laser printer operation.

[0024] In some possible implementations, the sidewall of the receiving slot may be provided with a guide groove and a torsion spring. The guide groove extends along the depth direction of the receiving slot. One end of the torsion spring is fixedly connected to the cartridge body, and the other end has a bent portion that forms a limiting space with the bottom of the guide groove. The end of the cartridge body is provided with a limiting shaft that mates with the guide groove. When the toner cartridge is installed into the receiving slot, the limiting shaft is confined within the limiting space by the bent portion. This design allows users to easily identify whether the toner cartridge is installed correctly, and the bent portion also applies a certain resistance force to the limiting shaft, making the toner cartridge more stably fixed in the receiving slot.

[0025] In some possible implementations, a first gear may be provided at one end of the shaft of the first stirring roller, and the drum assembly may also include a drive motor and a gear set. The drive motor may be connected to the first gear through the gear set, thereby transmitting the driving force to the first gear through the gear set.

[0026] For example, the first gear may be disposed between the end of the toner cartridge and the interior of the cartridge body. The toner cartridge assembly may also include a gear shaft, one end of which is located inside the cartridge body, and the other end of which extends into the receiving groove from the end of the receiving groove. A second gear is disposed at the end of the gear shaft located in the receiving groove, and the second gear can automatically mesh with the toner cartridge after it is installed in place. A third gear is disposed at the end of the gear shaft located inside the cartridge body, and the third gear is connected to a gear set for transmission, so that the drive output of the drive motor can be transmitted to the first stirring roller in sequence through the gear set and the gear shaft. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 A partial structural diagram of a laser printer provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the internal structure of the laser printer.

[0029] Figure 3 An exploded view of the toner cartridge provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 4 A partial planar structural diagram of the toner cartridge provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first stirring rod provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 6 A partial structural side view of the toner cartridge provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 7 A partial structural schematic diagram of the toner cartridge provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the toner cartridge in one working state according to an embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the toner cartridge in another working state according to an embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 10 This is a partially exploded view of the toner cartridge assembly in an embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the toner cartridge assembly in one working state according to an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the toner cartridge assembly in another working state according to an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram showing the state of the first compartment door on the drum unit side when the toner inlet is open.

[0040] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the toner cartridge assembly after assembly with the toner box;

[0041] Figure 15 for Figure 14 A schematic diagram of a partial cross-sectional structure of the assembly structure shown at point AA;

[0042] Figure 16 for Figure 13 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the assembly structure at BB.

[0043] Figure label:

[0044] 1-Laser printer; 100-House; 200-Drum unit; 300-Toner cartridge; 211-Receiving slot; 110-Mounting hole; 120-Cover plate; 310-Cartridge body; 320-Handle; 330-Toner hopper; 340-First stirring roller; 350-First compartment door; 311-Front shell; 312-Cover body; 331-Refill port; 332-First end of toner hopper; 333-Second end of toner hopper; 3121-Window; 341-Spindle; 342-Blade; 3411-First fixing plate; 3412-Second fixing plate; 343-First scraper blade; 344-Second scraper blade; 360-First gear; 321-First slide rail; 322-Handle body; 323-Connecting arm; 313-Opening; 334-Second slide rail; 3231 - Groove; 352 Extension; 314 First hook; 353 Slot; 210 Chamber body; 220 Second chamber door; 212 Powder inlet; 2111 First end of receiving slot; 213 Second gear; 214 Third slide rail; 221 Second opening; 215 Second hook; 2151 Elastic arm; 2152 Hook body; 2153 Protrusion; 216 Second foam; 222 Third foam; 223 Rib; 217 Limiting arm; 315 Limiting shaft; 2112 Guide groove; 218 Torsion spring; 2181 Bending part; 2113 Limiting space; 230 Second stirring rod; 240 Replenishing rod; 250 Developing rod; 260 Developing scraper; 270 Photosensitive drum; 280 Charging roller. Detailed Implementation

[0045] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the application will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0046] A laser printer is a printing output device that combines laser scanning technology and electrophotographic technology, offering advantages such as high printing speed and high image quality. The basic working principle of a laser printer is as follows: it receives binary data information from a computer, converts it into a video signal via a video controller, then converts the video signal into a laser drive signal via a video interface or control system. The laser scanning system then generates a laser beam carrying character information, and finally, the electrophotographic system images and transfers the laser beam onto paper.

[0047] In laser printers, 70% of the imaging components are concentrated in the drum unit, and the print quality is largely determined by the drum unit. A drum unit typically consists of a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, and a toner cartridge. The toner cartridge is the component that supplies toner to the laser printer and is considered a consumable product. When the toner in the cartridge is depleted, it needs to be replaced promptly to ensure optimal print quality.

[0048] Currently, laser printers typically use either an integrated drum and toner cartridge design or a separate drum and toner cartridge design. Printers with an integrated drum and toner cartridge combine both into a single unit, requiring users to replace the entire cartridge along with the drum when replacing the toner cartridge. This results in higher replacement costs and a less user-friendly experience due to the user touching the printer's internal structure during the replacement process. Printers with a separate drum and toner cartridge design usually require removing the entire drum from the printer, detaching the empty toner cartridge from the drum, installing the new toner cartridge, and then reinstalling the drum. This process is cumbersome and less user-friendly.

[0049] In view of this, embodiments of this application provide a toner cartridge and a laser printer including the toner cartridge, so as to enable the toner cartridge to be replaced separately without removing the drum, simplify the replacement process and reduce replacement costs.

[0050] Figure 1 This is a partial structural diagram of a laser printer provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the internal structure of the laser printer. (See also:) Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the laser printer 1 provided in this embodiment may include a housing 100, a drum assembly 200, and a toner cartridge 300. The drum assembly 200 and the toner cartridge 300 are disposed within the housing 100 and are detachably connected. Specifically, the drum assembly 200 may have a receiving groove 211, and the side of the housing 100 corresponding to the receiving groove 211 has a mounting hole 110. The user can install the toner cartridge 300 into the receiving groove 211 through the mounting hole 110, so that the toner cartridge 300 delivers toner into the drum assembly 200. Since the mounting hole 110 only communicates with the receiving groove 211 of the drum assembly 200, the user will not see any internal components of the laser printer 1 other than the drum assembly 200 during the installation of the toner cartridge 300, resulting in a better overall user experience. A cover plate 120 may be provided on the side of the housing 100. The cover plate 120 can be hinged to the housing 100 via a hinge or other structure. When the user replaces the toner cartridge 300, the cover plate 120 can be opened to expose the mounting hole 110. After replacement, the cover plate 120 can be closed to cover the mounting hole 110 and the toner cartridge 300, thereby helping to improve the appearance quality of the laser printer 1. In addition, although not shown in the figure, the laser printer 1 may also include a laser, an acousto-optic modulator, a high-frequency driver, a scanner, a synchronizer, and an optical deflector. These devices are well-known and conventional functional components in the laser printer 1, and their specific structural arrangements will not be described in detail here.

[0051] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the toner cartridge provided in an embodiment of this application. (Reference) Figure 3 As shown, the toner cartridge 300 provided in this embodiment may include a cartridge body 310, a handle 320, a toner hopper 330, a first stirring roller 340, and a first door 350. The cartridge body 310 may include a front shell 311 with a receiving cavity and a cover 312. The cover 312 is detachably connected to the front shell 311 to close the receiving cavity. The toner hopper 330 is housed within the receiving cavity of the cartridge body 310 and can be used to hold toner. The first stirring roller 340 is disposed within the toner hopper 330 and can be used to stir the toner and deliver it to a specific location within the toner hopper 330.

[0052] Figure 4 This is a partial planar structural diagram of the toner cartridge provided in an embodiment of this application. (See also...) Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, a supply port 331 may be provided on the side of the powder hopper 330 facing the cover 312, which connects the interior of the powder hopper 330 to the outside. Specifically, the supply port 331 may be located near one end of the powder hopper 330 along its length, for example, near the first end 332 of the powder hopper 330. The cross-sectional shape of the supply port 331 is not limited; for example, it can be... Figure 4The shape shown is rectangular. Of course, in other embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the supply port 331 can also be circular, elliptical, or other regular or irregular shapes, which will not be elaborated upon here. Correspondingly, a window 3121 can be provided on the cover 312 at the position corresponding to the supply port 331. The cross-sectional shape of the window 3121 can also be rectangular, circular, etc., and this application does not impose any limitations on this. The cross-sectional area of ​​the window 3121 can be larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the supply port 331 to completely expose the supply port 331. At this time, the toner in the toner cartridge 330 can be transported to the drum unit through the supply port 331 and the window 3121. It is understood that the speed at which the toner cartridge 300 transports toner to the drum unit is related to the area of ​​the supply port 331. In this embodiment, the area of ​​the supply port 331 can be no less than 55 mm². 2 This is to ensure the toner supply during laser printer operation.

[0053] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of the first stirring rod provided in an embodiment of this application. See also... Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the first stirring roller 340 may include a rotating shaft 341 and blades 342 disposed on the rotating shaft 341. In some embodiments, a plurality of blades 342 may be spaced apart on the rotating shaft 341, and the plurality of blades 342 may be arranged in a generally spiral shape along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 341, so that when the rotating shaft 341 rotates, the blades 342 can drive the toner in the toner hopper 330 to generate a spiral motion, conveying the toner in the toner hopper 330 from one end to the other. It can be understood that the conveying direction of the toner in the toner hopper 330 can be determined by the rotation direction of the rotating shaft 341, so as to... Figure 4 Taking the first stirring roller 340 shown as an example, when the rotating shaft 341 rotates clockwise, the blades 342 are arranged in a spiral upward trend from the second end 333 of the toner hopper 330 to its first end 332, so that the toner can be transported from the second end 333 of the toner hopper 330 to the first end 332, and then transported to the supply port 331 of the first end 332.

[0054] The material of the blade 342 is not limited; for example, it can be plastic. Alternatively, the blade 342 can have an arc-shaped structure. In this case, the straight section of the blade 342 can be fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 341, and the arc-shaped section of the blade 342 is positioned close to the inner wall of the toner cartridge 330, thereby better matching the shape of the inner wall of the toner cartridge 330 and achieving thorough mixing of the toner. For example, the blade 342 can specifically be a semi-circular structure.

[0055] Figure 6 This is a partial structural side view of a toner cartridge provided in an embodiment of this application. See also... Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, in some embodiments, the rotating shaft 341 may include a first fixing plate 3411 and a second fixing plate 3412. The first fixing plate 3411 and the second fixing plate 3412 extend along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 341, and the two can be arranged perpendicularly to each other. In this case, the cross-sectional shape of the rotating shaft 341 is approximately a cross-shaped structure. Multiple blades 342 can be disposed on the first fixing plate 3411. In specific implementations, the straight section of the blade 342 can be provided with a notch, through which the blade 342 can be snapped and fixed on the first fixing plate 3411. In addition, among two adjacent blades 342, one blade 342 can be disposed on one side of the second fixing plate 3412, and the other blade 342 can be disposed on the other side of the second fixing plate 3412, so that multiple blades 342 can be arranged in sequence to form a spiral-like structure. In this embodiment, the included angle α between two adjacent blades 342 can be between 75° and 90°. For example, the included angle α between two adjacent blades 342 can be 75°, 80°, 83°, 90°, etc.

[0056] In addition, in this embodiment, a first scraper 343 may be provided on the blade 342. The first scraper 343 may be generally rectangular in structure, and the end of the first scraper 343 may extend beyond the side of the blade 342 away from the rotating shaft 341, that is, the end of the first scraper 343 may extend beyond the arc segment of the blade 342. The first scraper 343 may be made of a flexible material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). When connecting the first scraper 343 to the blade 342, the first scraper 343 may be fixed to the blade 342 by adhesive bonding or heat fusion. The material of the first scraper blade 343 is relatively softer than that of the plastic blade 342. When the shaft 341 rotates, the end of the first scraper blade 343 can contact and rub against the inner wall of the toner cartridge 330, thereby ensuring that the toner can be fully stirred. This avoids the toner delivery efficiency being too low due to the end of the blade 342 being squeezed against the inner wall of the toner cartridge 330 or not contacting the inner wall. In addition, it can also reduce the torque of the first stirring roller 340, thereby reducing the load on the toner cartridge to deliver toner to the drum assembly.

[0057] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 5 and Figure 6A second scraper 344 may also be provided on the rotating shaft 341. The second scraper 344 may also be generally rectangular in structure. In specific implementation, the second scraper 344 may be positioned on the rotating shaft 341 at a position corresponding to the replenishment port, so that when the rotating shaft 341 rotates, the second scraper 344 can convey the toner at the replenishment port in the toner hopper 330 to the outside of the toner hopper 330, thereby improving the toner delivery efficiency. For example, the material of the second scraper 344 may also be PET, so that the end of the second scraper 344 can also contact and rub against the inner wall of the toner hopper 330, thereby ensuring that the toner at the replenishment port is fully agitated. In addition, there can be two second scraper blades 344. The two second scraper blades 344 can be arranged in a centrally symmetrical manner relative to the rotating shaft 341. For example, the two second scraper blades 344 can be fixed on the first fixing plate 3411 and are respectively located on both sides of the second fixing plate 3412; or, the two second scraper blades 344 can also be fixed on the second fixing plate 3412 and are respectively located on both sides of the first fixing plate 3411.

[0058] It should be understood that in some other embodiments, the blade 342 can also be an integral spiral structure. In this case, the blade 342 can be directly arranged around the outer wall of the rotating shaft 341. This design can also achieve the delivery of toner. The details will not be elaborated here.

[0059] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the toner cartridge 300 may further include a first gear 360, which may be disposed between the end of the toner hopper 330 and the inner wall of the cartridge body, for example... Figure 6 The following description uses an example where the first gear 360 is located at the first end 332 of the toner cartridge 330. In this case, the first end 332 of the toner cartridge 330 may have a through hole, through which the end of the rotating shaft 341 extends to the outside of the toner cartridge 330 and is fixedly connected to the first gear 360. After the toner cartridge 300 is installed on the drum unit, the first gear 360 can be driven to rotate by the drive motor of the drum unit, thereby driving the first stirring roller 340 to rotate synchronously.

[0060] Figure 7 This is a partial structural diagram of the toner cartridge provided in an embodiment of this application. (See also...) Figure 2 and Figure 7As shown, in some embodiments, the handle 320 may be disposed on the first side of the housing 310, that is, the side of the front shell 311 opposite to the cover 312. Specifically, the handle 320 may include a first slide rail 321 and a handle body 322. The first slide rail 321 may be fixedly disposed on the side of the powder hopper 330 opposite to the cover 312, and the first slide rail 321 may be disposed along the length direction (x-direction) of the powder hopper 330. The handle body 322 is slidably mounted on the first slide rail 321. An opening 313 may be provided on the first side of the housing 310, extending along the x-direction. The handle body 322 may pass through the opening 313 and be exposed on the outside of the housing 310 for user operation. In addition, the handle 320 may also include a connecting arm 323, one end of which is connected to the handle body 322, and the other end can pass through the gap between the powder hopper 330 and the inner wall of the box body 310 and extend to the second side of the box body 310, that is, the side where the cover 312 is located.

[0061] The first compartment door 350 can be located on the second side of the housing 310. In this case, a second slide rail 334 can be provided on the outer wall of the powder hopper 330. The second slide rail 334 can also be arranged along the x-direction, and the first compartment door 350 can be slidably mounted on the second slide rail 334. It should be noted that the size of the window 3121 opened on the second side of the housing 310 can be larger than the size of the first compartment door 350. In this case, the first compartment door 350 can be slidably disposed within the window 3121 on the second side of the housing 310. The first compartment door 350 is provided with a first opening 351, the shape of which can be consistent with the shape of the supply port 331. Furthermore, a first foam 335 can be provided on the side of the powder hopper 330 facing the first compartment door 350. The first foam 335 can be compressed between the first compartment door 350 and the outer wall of the powder hopper 330, thereby improving the sealing effect of the first compartment door 350 on the supply port 331. It should be understood that the first foam 335 is provided with a through hole that matches the shape of the replenishment port 331 of the toner hopper 330 at the position corresponding to the replenishment port 331, so as to avoid blocking the replenishment port 331 when the first hopper door 350 opens, and to ensure that the toner in the toner hopper 330 can be smoothly delivered to the drum unit.

[0062] The first compartment door 350 is fixedly connected to the connecting arm 323. Specifically, the end of the connecting arm 323 away from the handle body 322 may have a groove 3231. The first compartment door 350 may have an extension 352 facing the first side of the box body 310. This extension 352 can be embedded in the groove 3231, thereby limiting the extension 352 in the x-direction using the inner wall of the groove 3231, thus achieving the snap-fit ​​fixation between the first compartment door 350 and the connecting arm 323. When the user operates the handle body 322 to slide along the first slide rail 321, the first compartment door 350 can move in the same direction along the second slide rail 334 under the drive of the connecting arm 323.

[0063] It should be noted that, in order to improve the connection reliability between the handle body 322 and the first compartment door 350 and the smoothness of the movement of the first compartment door 350, in this embodiment, the number of connecting arms 323 can specifically be two. The two connecting arms 323 are arranged opposite to each other and can respectively pass through the gaps between the toner cartridge 330 above and below and the cartridge body 310 to connect with the first compartment door 350. It should also be noted that the directional terms such as "upper" and "lower" used for the toner cartridge 300 in this embodiment are mainly based on the toner cartridge 300 being located at... Figure 3 The description of the display orientation does not constitute a limitation on the orientation of the toner cartridge 300 in actual application scenarios.

[0064] Additionally, please refer to Figure 7 As shown, in this embodiment, the end of the connecting arm 323 is positioned as close as possible to the second slide rail 334, meaning the engagement point between the connecting arm 323 and the first compartment door 350 is positioned as close as possible to the second slide rail 334. This reduces the distance between the force-bearing point of the first compartment door 350 and the second slide rail 334, thereby reducing the deflection torque applied to the first compartment door 350 by the connecting arm 323. This allows the first compartment door 350 to slide smoothly on the second slide rail 334, improving the stability of the first compartment door 350's movement. For example, the distance between the engagement point of the connecting arm 323 and the first compartment door 350 and the second slide rail 334 may not exceed 2mm.

[0065] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the toner cartridge in one working state according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the toner cartridge in another operating state according to an embodiment of this application. See also... Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Figure 9As shown, a first hook 314 may be provided on the housing 310. The first hook 314 may be exposed inside the window 3121 of the housing 310, for example, it may be exposed on the side of the window 3121 near the first end 332 of the toner cartridge 330. A slot 353 may be provided on the first door 350. When the first door 350 slides to the side of the window 3121 near the first end 332 of the toner cartridge 330, the slot 353 may engage with the first hook 314 to lock the first door 350 in that position. At this time, the first opening 351 of the first door 350 is misaligned with the replenishment port of the toner cartridge 330, and the first door 350 can close the replenishment port of the toner cartridge 330, thereby preventing toner leakage from the toner cartridge 330. When the first latch 314 disengages from the slot 353 under external force, the first compartment door 350 can slide within the window 3121 under the action of the handle 320. When the first compartment door 350 slides to the position where the first opening 351 is aligned with the refill port, the toner in the toner cartridge 330 can be sequentially delivered to the outside of the toner box 300 through the refill port, the first opening 351, and the window 3121. It is understood that when the first compartment door 350 is locked by the first latch 314, the handle 320 will also be locked in a certain position. At this time, the user cannot unlock the first compartment door 350 by sliding the handle 320, thus preventing toner leakage due to accidental operation.

[0066] It is worth mentioning that a limiting structure can be provided on the side of the first slide rail 321 away from the first end 332 of the toner cartridge 330. This limiting structure can be used to block the handle body 322 when the first compartment door 350 opens the refill port, so as to prevent the handle body 322 from continuing to slide and causing the first compartment door 350 to block the refill port again, thus ensuring that toner can be smoothly delivered to the drum assembly. Of course, in some other embodiments, a similar limiting structure can also be provided on the side of the second slide rail 334 away from the first end 332 of the toner cartridge 330 to block the first compartment door 350 when it opens the refill port. Specific details will not be elaborated here.

[0067] In some embodiments, there can be two first hooks 314, which can be arranged vertically, that is, side by side along the height of the toner cartridge 300. Correspondingly, there can also be two slots 353, which can be engaged one-to-one with the two first hooks 314, thereby improving the locking reliability of the first compartment door 350.

[0068] Figure 10 This is a partially exploded view of the toner cartridge assembly in an embodiment of this application. Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the toner cartridge assembly in one working state according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the toner cartridge assembly in another operating state according to an embodiment of this application. See also... Figures 10 to 12As shown, the toner cartridge assembly 200 includes a compartment body 210 and a second compartment door 220. The aforementioned receiving slot 211 for accommodating the toner cartridge is located on one side of the compartment body 210. A toner inlet 212 is provided at the bottom of the receiving slot 211, allowing communication between the interior of the compartment body 210 and the receiving slot 211, i.e., with the exterior of the compartment body 210. After the toner cartridge is installed in the receiving slot 211, the toner inlet 212 can be positioned opposite the toner replenishment port of the toner cartridge. Furthermore, a second gear 213 can be provided at the first end 2111 of the receiving slot 211. The second gear 213 can be connected to the drive motor of the toner cartridge assembly 200. After the toner cartridge is installed, the second gear 213 automatically meshes with the first gear of the toner cartridge, thereby transmitting the driving force of the drive motor to the first gear, causing the first stirring roller of the toner cartridge to rotate.

[0069] A third slide rail 214 is provided at the bottom of the receiving groove 211. The third slide rail 214 can extend along the x-direction, and the second compartment door 220 is slidably mounted on the third slide rail 214. The second compartment door 220 is provided with a second opening 221, the shape of which can be consistent with the shape of the toner inlet 212. When the second compartment door 220 is located on the side of the third slide rail 214 near the first end 2111 of the receiving groove 211, the second opening 221 and the toner inlet 212 are misaligned, and the second compartment door 220 can close the toner inlet 212. When the second compartment door 220 slides away from the first end 2111 of the receiving groove 211 until the second opening 221 is opposite to the toner inlet 212, the toner inlet 212 is opened, and the toner in the toner cartridge can enter the interior of the compartment body 210 in sequence through the second opening 221 and the toner inlet 212.

[0070] Additionally, a second hook 215 may be provided at the bottom of the receiving groove 211. For example, the second hook 215 may be provided near the first end 2111 of the receiving groove 211. The second hook 215 may include an elastic arm 2151 and a hook body 2152 and a protrusion 2153 provided on the side of the elastic arm 2151 facing away from the inside of the compartment 210. The hook body 2152 is located at the end of the elastic arm 2151 away from the first end 2111 of the receiving groove 211, and the protrusion 2153 is located on the side of the hook body 2152 near the first end 2111 of the receiving groove 211. When the second compartment door 220 is located on the third slide rail 214 near the first end 2111 of the receiving groove 211, the hook body 2152 can engage with the second opening 221 of the second compartment door 220, and the protrusion 2153 is located outside the second opening 221. At this time, the second hook 215 can lock the second compartment door 220 in this position to prevent toner leakage inside the compartment 210. When the protrusion 2153 is subjected to an external force towards the inside of the compartment 210, the elastic arm 2151 bends towards the inside of the compartment 210, thereby causing the hook body 2152 to also move towards the inside of the compartment 210, thereby releasing the lock on the second compartment door 220 and allowing the second compartment door 220 to slide along the third slide rail 214.

[0071] In some embodiments, a second foam 216 may be provided at the bottom of the receiving groove 211. The second foam 216 can be squeezed between the second compartment door 220 and the bottom of the receiving groove 211, thereby improving the sealing effect of the second compartment door 220 on the toner inlet 212. In addition, a third foam 222 may be provided on the side of the second compartment door 220 facing away from the interior of the compartment body 210. After the toner cartridge is installed in the receiving groove 211, the third foam 222 can be squeezed between the second compartment door 220 and the first compartment door, thereby reducing the risk of toner leakage between the toner cartridge and the drum assembly 200. Similarly, the second foam 216 has a through hole corresponding to the position of the toner inlet 212, matching the shape of the toner inlet 212. The third foam 222 has a through hole corresponding to the position of the second opening 221 of the second compartment door 220, matching the shape of the second opening 221, to avoid obstructing the toner inlet 212 when the second compartment door 220 opens.

[0072] Please refer to this as well. Figure 8 , Figure 9 , Figure 11 and Figure 12As shown, a rib 223 is provided on the side of the second compartment door 220 facing away from the interior of the compartment body 210. The size of the rib 223 is approximately equal to the size of the slot 353. After the toner cartridge 300 is installed in the receiving slot 211, the rib 223 can be inserted into the slot 353 of the first compartment door 350. The first latch 314 deforms and retracts into the inside of the cartridge body 310 after being squeezed by the rib 223, releasing the lock on the first compartment door 350. At the same time, the outer wall of the cartridge body 310 abuts against the protrusion 2153 of the second latch 215, thereby applying an external force towards the interior of the compartment body 210 to the protrusion 2153, causing the second latch 215 to release the lock on the second compartment door 220. At this time, based on the cooperation of the rib 223 and the slot 353, the first compartment door 350 and the second compartment door 220 are locked to each other in the x-direction. After the toner cartridge 300 is installed, when the user operates the handle to slide the first compartment door 350, the second compartment door 220 will also slide synchronously. In this way, when the first compartment door 350 slides to open the replenishment port, the second compartment door 220 will also slide synchronously to open the toner inlet 212, thereby connecting the passage between the toner cartridge 300 and the drum unit 200, so that the toner in the toner cartridge 300 can be smoothly delivered to the drum unit 200.

[0073] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram showing the first compartment door on the drum unit side when the toner inlet is open. Please refer to this diagram as well. Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown in this embodiment, a limiting arm 217 may be provided at the bottom of the receiving groove 211. The limiting arm 217 is located on the side of the third slide rail 214 away from the first end 2111 of the receiving groove 211, and there may be a certain gap between the limiting arm 217 and the bottom of the receiving groove 211. After the toner cartridge 300 is installed into the receiving groove 211, the user operates the handle to drive the first compartment door 350 and the second compartment door 220 to slide synchronously. When the replenishment port and the toner inlet 212 are opened respectively, the first compartment door 350 can slide into the gap between the limiting arm 217 and the bottom of the receiving groove 211. At this time, the side of the first compartment door 350 facing the toner cartridge 300 can abut against the limiting arm 217, thereby limiting the toner cartridge 300 in the insertion direction of the toner cartridge 300 and the receiving groove 211, preventing the toner cartridge 300 from loosening or falling off during the operation of the laser printer, and ensuring the working reliability of the laser printer.

[0074] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the toner cartridge assembly after assembly with the toner box. Figure 15 for Figure 14 The diagram shows a partial cross-sectional view of the assembled structure at point AA. (See also...) Figures 13 to 15As shown, in this embodiment, a limiting shaft 315 can be provided at the end of the cartridge 310 along the length direction of the toner cartridge 300, and a guide groove 2112 is provided on the side wall of the receiving groove 211. When the toner cartridge 300 is installed into the receiving groove 211, the limiting shaft 315 can be correspondingly fitted into the guide groove 2112, thereby limiting the insertion process of the toner cartridge 300 by the cooperation of the limiting shaft 315 and the guide groove 2112. In addition, a torsion spring 218 can also be provided in the receiving groove 211. One end of the torsion spring 218 is fixedly connected to the cartridge 210, and the other end has a bent portion 2181. The bent portion 2181 can be located above the guide groove 2112, and the bent portion 2181 can be bent toward the side away from the guide groove 211. At this time, a limiting space 2113 can be formed between the bent portion 2181 and the bottom of the guide groove 2112. As the limiting shaft 315 slides along the guide groove 2112 toward the bottom of the receiving groove 211, it undergoes elastic deformation under the abutment of the limiting shaft 315 when passing the bend 2181. This allows the limiting shaft 315 to pass under the bend 2181 and enter the rear limiting space 2113. The bend 2181 then returns to its initial position under elastic action, confining the limiting shaft 315 within the limiting space 2113. This design allows users to easily identify whether the toner cartridge 300 is properly installed, and the bend 2181 also applies a certain abutment force to the limiting shaft 315, ensuring the toner cartridge 300 is more stably fixed within the receiving groove 211.

[0075] Figure 16 for Figure 13 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the assembled structure at point BB. (Reference) Figure 16 As shown, the toner cartridge assembly 200 may further include a second stirring roller 230, a replenishing roller 240, a developing roller 250, a developing blade 260, a photosensitive drum 270, and a charging roller 280 disposed inside the chamber 210. The second stirring roller 230, the replenishing roller 240, the developing roller 250, and the photosensitive drum 270 are arranged sequentially away from the toner inlet 212, with the peripheral surface of the replenishing roller 240 in contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller 250, and the peripheral surface of the developing roller 250 in contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 270. The developing blade 260 is disposed on one side of the developing roller 250, for example, above the developing roller 250, and is in contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller 250. Thus, when the developing roller 250 rotates, the developing blade 260 can generate friction with the peripheral surface of the developing roller 250. The charging roller 280 is disposed on one side of the photosensitive drum 270, for example, it can be disposed above the photosensitive drum 270, and the peripheral surface of the charging roller 280 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 270.

[0076] When the replenishment port 331 and the toner inlet 212 are opened, the toner in the toner cartridge 300 is transported into the chamber 210 by the action of the first stirring roller 340. Under the action of the second stirring roller 230 located at the toner inlet 212, it continues to be transported to the left side of the chamber 210. Then, the replenishment roller 240 located to the left of the second stirring roller 230 rotates, coating its peripheral surface with toner. The structure of the second stirring roller 230 is similar to that of the first stirring roller 340, and will not be described in detail here.

[0077] The surface material of the developing roller 250 is charged rubber. Toner on the feed roller 240 is compressed and coated onto the surface of the developing roller 250 as it rotates in opposite directions. At this time, the toner is non-polar. When the developing roller 250 rotates carrying toner and is tangential to the developing blade 260, the tip of the developing blade 260 discharges, causing the toner to acquire a negative charge. Under the influence of the developing blade 260 and the magnetic field, a relatively thin and uniformly distributed toner mist forms on the surface of the developing roller 250.

[0078] The photosensitive drum 270 is a photosensitive device with the characteristic of conducting light. Before scanning exposure, the photoconductive coating on the surface of the photosensitive drum 270 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 280. When the laser inside the laser printer scans the photosensitive drum 270 with a laser beam in a dot matrix pattern, the scanned dots become conductive due to exposure, and the charge is rapidly released from the conductive base to ground. Unscanned dots retain their original charge, thus forming a latent image of potential difference, or electrostatic latent image, on the surface of the photosensitive drum 270. When the photosensitive drum with the electrostatic latent image rotates to contact the developing roller 250 carrying toner, it can attract the toner with the opposite charge from the surface of the developing roller 250 to the surface of the photosensitive drum 270, thereby forming a toner image.

[0079] As the photosensitive drum 270 carrying the toner image continues to rotate and reaches the image transfer device, the printing paper is simultaneously fed between the photosensitive drum 270 and the image transfer device. At this time, the image transfer device releases a strong voltage on the back of the printing paper, attracting the toner image on the photosensitive drum 270 to the printing paper. The printing paper carrying the toner image is then fed into a high-temperature fixing device for heating and pressurizing to melt the toner. After the toner melts, it is immersed in the printing paper, and finally the printed text or image is output.

[0080] It should be noted that the toner cartridge assembly 200 may also include a gear set and a drive motor. Specifically, the gear set may include multiple gears corresponding one-to-one with the photosensitive drum 270, developing roller 250, replenishing roller 240, and second stirring roller 230. These gears mesh sequentially. The drive motor can be connected to the gears at the photosensitive drum 270, so the driving force output by the drive motor can be sequentially transmitted to the photosensitive drum 270, developing roller 250, replenishing roller 240, and second stirring roller 230, thereby driving the entire toner cartridge assembly 200 to operate. Additionally, a gear shaft may be provided on the right side of the second stirring roller 230. One end of the gear shaft is located inside the housing 210 and meshes with the gear at the second stirring roller 230 through a third gear. The other end of the gear shaft can extend into the receiving groove from the end of the receiving groove, and the aforementioned second gear is located at this end of the gear shaft. Thus, the driving force transmitted by the drive motor to the second stirring roller 230 can continue to be transmitted to the right side of the gear shaft, ultimately reaching the first gear of the toner cartridge 300.

[0081] As can be seen from the above description, in this embodiment, the toner cartridge 300 and the drum unit 200 are independently configured and interlocked, allowing for individual replacement of the toner cartridge 300 in the laser printer. The replacement process is relatively simple, and since the toner cartridge 300 does not contain components such as the photosensitive drum 270 and the developing roller 250, the replacement cost is also low. Furthermore, the toner cartridge 300 and the drum unit 200 are arranged along the horizontal direction (e.g., length or width) of the laser printer, which helps to reduce the height of the laser printer compared to the vertically stacked arrangement of the toner cartridge 300 and drum unit 200 in the prior art. When replacing the toner cartridge 300, it is only necessary to remove and install it through the mounting hole on the side of the laser printer, without opening the top cover. Users will not see any internal printer components other than the drum unit 200 during operation, thus improving the user experience.

[0082] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A toner cartridge, characterized in that, Includes a box body, powder hopper, first stirring rod, first compartment door, first latch, and handle, wherein: The box body includes a first side and a second side that are positioned opposite each other. The first side of the box body is provided with an opening, and the second side of the box body is provided with a window. The toner cartridge is disposed inside the housing, the toner cartridge is used to hold toner, and the toner cartridge has a refill port exposed inside the window at the position facing the window; The first stirring roller is disposed inside the toner hopper and is used to transport the toner in the toner hopper to the replenishment port; The first compartment door is slidably disposed on the side of the powder compartment facing the window. The first compartment door is provided with a slot, and the first compartment door can open or close the supply port when it slides. The first hook is disposed on the second side of the box body and is used to engage with the slot when the first compartment door closes the supply port; The handle is slidably disposed on the side of the powder compartment facing away from the window. The handle passes through the opening and is exposed on the outside of the box body. The handle is fixedly connected to the first compartment door and is used to drive the first compartment door to slide.

2. The toner cartridge as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first hook is located on the side of the first compartment door facing the powder compartment.

3. The toner cartridge as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first stirring roller includes a rotating shaft and a plurality of blades fixed on the rotating shaft, the plurality of blades being arranged in a spiral shape along the axial direction of the rotating shaft.

4. The toner cartridge as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The included angle between two adjacent blades is 75° to 90°.

5. The toner cartridge as described in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The blade is provided with a first scraper, which is made of flexible material. The end of the first scraper extends beyond the blade to the side away from the rotating shaft and contacts the inner wall of the powder hopper.

6. The toner cartridge as described in any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, The rotating shaft is provided with a second scraper at the position corresponding to the supply port, and the end of the second scraper can contact the inner wall of the powder hopper.

7. The toner cartridge as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The number of the second scraper blades is two, and the two second scraper blades are arranged symmetrically with respect to the rotating shaft.

8. The toner cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The handle includes a first slide rail, a handle body, and a connecting arm. The first slide rail is located on the side of the powder hopper facing away from the window. The handle body is slidably mounted on the first slide rail. The connecting arm passes through the gap between the powder hopper and the inner wall of the box body and is fixedly connected to the first hopper door.

9. The toner cartridge as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The powder hopper is provided with a second slide rail on the side facing the window, and the first hopper door is slidably mounted on the second slide rail; Along the direction from the first side of the box to the second side, the distance between the connection position of the connecting arm and the first compartment door and the second slide rail is no greater than 2mm.

10. The toner cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The first compartment door is provided with a first opening. When the first compartment door slides to the position where the first opening is opposite to the position of the supply port, the first compartment door opens the supply port; when the first compartment door slides to the position where the first opening is opposite to the position of the supply port, the first compartment door closes the supply port.

11. A laser printer, characterized in that, Includes a housing, a drum assembly, and a toner cartridge as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: The side of the housing is provided with mounting holes; The toner cartridge assembly is disposed within the housing. The toner cartridge assembly includes a compartment body. A receiving groove is provided on one side of the compartment body corresponding to the position of the mounting hole. A toner inlet is provided at the bottom of the receiving groove. The toner inlet communicates with the interior of the compartment body. The toner cartridge can be assembled into the receiving slot through the mounting hole, and the toner cartridge's replenishment port is opposite to the toner inlet.

12. The laser printer as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The toner cartridge assembly also includes a second compartment door, which is slidably disposed at the bottom of the receiving groove. The second compartment door can open or close the toner inlet when it slides. The second compartment door has a raised rib on the side facing the toner cartridge. The raised rib is used to engage with the slot of the first compartment door when the toner cartridge is installed in the receiving slot, and to press the first hook to the outside of the slot.

13. The laser printer as described in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The second compartment door is provided with a second opening. When the second compartment door slides to the position where the second opening is opposite to the position of the powder inlet, the second compartment door opens the powder inlet; when the second compartment door slides to the position where the second opening is opposite to the position of the powder inlet, the second compartment door closes the powder inlet.

14. The laser printer as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The bottom of the receiving slot is provided with a second hook, which includes an elastic arm and a hook body and a protrusion disposed on the side of the elastic arm facing the toner cartridge. The hook body is used to engage with the second opening when the second compartment door closes the toner inlet. The second outer wall of the housing can press the protrusion when the toner cartridge is installed in the receiving groove, causing the elastic arm to bend toward the side away from the toner cartridge, thereby releasing the latch body from the second opening.

15. The laser printer according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that, The bottom of the receiving groove is provided with a limiting arm, and the limiting arm has a gap with the bottom of the receiving groove; When the first compartment door slides in the direction of opening the supply port, the first compartment door can be inserted into the gap between the limiting arm and the bottom of the receiving groove.

16. The laser printer according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that, The sidewall of the receiving groove is provided with a guide groove and a torsion spring. The guide groove extends along the depth direction of the receiving groove. One end of the torsion spring is fixedly connected to the chamber body, and the other end has a bent portion. A limiting space is formed between the bent portion and the bottom of the guide groove. The end of the cartridge is provided with a limiting shaft that cooperates with the guide groove. When the toner cartridge is installed into the receiving groove, the limiting shaft is limited within the limiting space by the bending part.

17. The laser printer according to any one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that, A first gear is provided at one end of the rotating shaft; The toner cartridge assembly also includes a drive motor and a gear set, wherein the drive motor is connected to the first gear via the gear set.

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