SPRING MOUNTING STRUCTURE, SHEET HOUSING DEVICE, WASTE TONER CONTAINER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

A spring mounting structure includes a first structural member and a second structural member. The first structural member includes: a first abutting surface to abut on one end of a compression spring; and a temporary holding portion to temporarily hold the compression spring in an uncompressed state. The second structural member includes: a second abutting surface to abut on another end of the compression spring; and a tapered surface to, when the second structural member is assembled in a predetermined assembling direction intersecting a compression direction of the compression spring, guide the other end of the compression spring in the uncompressed state temporarily held by the temporary holding portion to the second abutting surface such that the compression spring is mounted in a compressed state between the first and second abutting surfaces.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-044244, filed on Mar. 20, 2023, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a spring mounting structure, a sheet housing device, a waste toner container, and an image forming apparatus.

RELATED ART

There is known a spring mounting structure for mounting a compression spring in a predetermined compressed state between a first abutting surface and a second abutting surface in a structural body in which a first structural member including the first abutting surface abutting on one end of the compression spring and a second structural member including the second abutting surface abutting on the other end of the compression spring are assembled in a predetermined assembling direction intersecting a compression direction of the compression spring.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-22361 discloses a structure, in which a terminal cover is slidably mounted to a battery mounting member to which a battery pack is mounted, of a charger for charging the battery pack which is used as a power source of a power tool. The terminal cover is slidable between a covering position where the terminal cover covers a connection terminal and an exposing position where the connection terminal is exposed to the outside, and is biased toward the covering position by a compression spring.

When the compression spring is mounted, first, the compression spring is temporarily held in a compressed state between a biasing receiving member (first abutting surface) of the terminal cover (first structural member) and a temporary fixing rib (temporary holding portion) of the terminal cover. Then, the terminal cover in a state where the compression spring is temporarily held is assembled to the battery mounting member from a direction (predetermined assembling direction) orthogonal to (intersecting) the compression direction of the compression spring. According to the movement at the time of assembling, a support base end (the other end) of the compression spring abutting on the temporary fixing rib of the terminal cover comes into contact with a guide inclined surface (tapered surface) of the battery mounting member, moves along the guide inclined surface to be compressed, and separates from the temporary fixing rib of the terminal cover. Then, when the support base end of the compression spring gets over the guide inclined surface of the battery mounting member, the support base end reaches a spring receiving rib (second abutting surface) provided in the battery mounting member (second structural member). As a result, the compression spring is mounted in a predetermined compressed state between the biasing receiving member of the terminal cover and the spring receiving rib of the battery mounting member.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a spring mounting structure includes a first structural member and a second structural member. The first structural member includes: a first abutting surface to abut on one end of a compression spring; and a temporary holding portion to temporarily hold the compression spring in an uncompressed state. The second structural member includes: a second abutting surface to abut on another end of the compression spring; and a tapered surface to, when the second structural member is assembled to the first structural member in a predetermined assembling direction intersecting a compression direction of the compression spring, guide said another end of the compression spring in the uncompressed state temporarily held by the temporary holding portion to the second abutting surface such that the compression spring temporarily held by the temporary holding portion is mounted in a compressed state between the first abutting surface and the second abutting surface.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a sheet housing device includes a sheet housing, a handle, the spring mounting structure, the compression spring, and a handle holder. The sheet housing houses a sheet. The handle is mounted to the sheet housing, with the handle being movable between a housing position and a pull-out position. The compression spring biases the handle from the pull-out position toward the housing position. The handle holder holds the handle mounted to the sheet housing in the sheet housing. The handle is the first structural member. The handle holder is the second structural member.

According to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, a waste toner container includes a waste toner storage, an opening-and-closing member, the spring mounting structure, and the compression spring. The waste toner storage stores a waste toner. The opening-and-closing member opens and closes a waste toner receiving port of the waste toner storage. The compression spring biases the opening-and-closing member from an open position to a closed position. The waste toner storage includes a spring mounting portion to which the compression spring is mounted. The spring mounting portion is the first structural member. The opening-and-closing member is the second structural member.

According to still yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, an image forming apparatus includes the spring mounting structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, as an image forming apparatus to which a spring mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied, an electrophotographic printer (hereinafter, simply referred to as printer) that forms an image by an electrophotographic method will be described.

The present embodiment is an example in which a spring mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied to a sheet housing device of the image forming apparatus, but the spring mounting structure can be widely applied to other devices and members (waste toner containers and the like) mounted on the image forming apparatus, apparatuses other than the image forming apparatus, and the like.

In other words, an embodiment of the present disclosure is applicable to a spring mounting structure for mounting a compression spring temporarily held by a temporary holding portion of a first structural member in a predetermined compressed state between a first abutting surface and a second abutting surface in a structural body in which the first structural member including the first abutting surface abutting on one end of the compression spring and a second structural member including the second abutting surface abutting on the other end of the compression spring are assembled in a predetermined assembling direction intersecting a compression direction of the compression spring.

FIG.1is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a printer100according to an embodiment.

A printer100illustrated inFIG.1is a monochrome printer, and an image former2is provided in a main body of the apparatus. The image former2includes a photoconductor1as an image bearer that bears an image on the surface, a charging roller as a charger that charges the surface of the photoconductor1, a developing device as a developer that visualizes a latent image on the photoconductor1, a cleaning blade as a cleaner that cleans the surface of the photoconductor1, and the like. In addition, a light emitting diode (LED) head array as an exposure unit for exposing the surface is disposed around the photoconductor1.

When an image forming operation is started, the photoconductor1of the image former2is rotationally driven counterclockwise inFIG.1, and the surface of the photoconductor1is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity by the charging roller. Based on image information input from an external device, the charged surface of the photoconductor1is irradiated with light from the LED head array, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor1. Thus, toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor1by the developing device, thereby developing (visualizing) the electrostatic latent image as a toner image.

When the image forming operation is started, a transfer roller7is rotationally driven, and at least one of a predetermined direct current voltage (DC) and alternating current voltage (AC) is applied to the transfer roller7, so that a transfer electric field is formed between the transfer roller7and the photoconductor1.

In a lower portion of the apparatus main body, a sheet feeding roller4starts a rotational drive, and a sheet P is fed from a sheet feeder3serving as the sheet housing device. The fed sheet P is conveyed by a conveying roller pair5, and the conveyance is temporarily stopped by a registration roller pair6. Thereafter, the rotational drive of the registration roller pair6is started at a predetermined timing, and the sheet P is conveyed to a transfer nip at the timing when the toner image on the photoconductor I reaches the transfer nip with the transfer roller7. Then, the toner image on the photoconductor1is transferred onto the sheet P by the transfer electric field. The residual toner on the photoconductor1that has not been transferred to the sheet P is removed by the cleaning blade.

The sheet P to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to a fixing device8, and the toner image on the sheet P is fixed to the sheet P in the fixing device8. Then, the sheet P is discharged to the outside of the apparatus by a discharge roller pair9and stocked on a discharge tray.

In addition, the printer100of the present embodiment is provided with a bifurcating claw10for changing the conveyance direction and a reversing roller pair12for feeding the sheet P to a reverse conveyance path11in order to form images on both surfaces of the sheet P. One roller of the reversing roller pair12also serves as the discharge roller pair9. The reverse conveyance path11is provided with a double-sided inlet roller pair13, a double-sided intermediate roller pair14, and a double-sided outlet roller pair15.

When an image is formed on both sides of the sheet P, the bifurcating claw10is rotated to switch the position of the bifurcating claw10before the sheet P is conveyed from the fixing device8to the discharge roller pair9. Thus, the conveyance path of the sheet P on which an image is formed on one surface is changed, and the sheet P is sent to the reversing roller pair12instead of the discharge roller pair9.

The sheet P sent to the reversing roller pair12is conveyed in the reverse direction at a timing when a rear end of the sheet P cannot be completely removed, and is sent to the reverse conveyance path11.

Then, the sheet P passes through the reverse conveyance path11and is conveyed to the transfer nip again in a state where the front and back sides of the sheet P are reversed by the double-sided inlet roller pair13, the double-sided intermediate roller pair14, and the double-sided outlet roller pair15on the reverse conveyance path11. Then, after the image is transferred to the other surface (back surface) of the sheet P, the image is fixed by the fixing device8and discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the discharge roller pair9.

Next, a configuration of the sheet feeder3as the sheet housing device in the present embodiment will be described.

FIG.2is a perspective view illustrating a state where a sheet feeding tray30constituting the sheet feeder3is housed in a printer main body101.

FIG.3is a perspective view illustrating a state where the sheet feeding tray30is pulled out from the printer main body.

The sheet feeding tray30is provided with a handle31. By gripping and operating the handle31, the user can bring the sheet feeding tray30into a state of being housed in the printer main body101as illustrated inFIG.2(a state where the sheet feeding tray30is closed) and a state of being pulled out to the front surface side of the printer main body101as illustrated inFIG.3(a state where the sheet feeding tray30is opened).

FIG.4is a perspective view illustrating the sheet feeding tray30according to the present embodiment.

The sheet feeding tray30mainly includes a tray member32as a sheet housing which is a basic structural body. The tray member32is provided with a tray cover33on the printer front surface side. The tray member32is provided with the handle31which is used when a user performs an opening or closing operation of the sheet feeding tray30. The handle31is slidably mounted to the tray member32along a pull-out direction A and a housing direction B of the sheet feeding tray30.

The sheet feeding tray30can load the sheet P such as a paper sheet, and includes an end fence34that restricts a position in a sheet conveyance direction of the sheet P loaded on the sheet feeding tray30, and side fences35aand35bthat restrict a position in a sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction. When the sheet feeding tray30is housed and set in the printer main body101, the stacked sheet P is lifted by a bottom plate36provided inside the sheet feeding tray30, abuts on the sheet feeding roller4, and becomes ready to be fed. The bottom plate36is raised by a driving force from a driving source such as a motor or a biasing force by a biasing member such as a spring provided at a lower portion of the bottom plate36.

FIG.5is a perspective view of a periphery of a lock mechanism of the sheet feeding tray30as viewed from below the apparatus.

FIG.6Ais a perspective view of the lock mechanism at a locked position as viewed from a side of the apparatus, andFIG.6Bis a perspective view of the lock mechanism at an unlocked position as viewed from the side of the apparatus.

FIG.7is a perspective view illustrating a configuration on the printer main body side that locks the sheet feeding tray30in a state of housing the sheet feeding tray30in the printer main body101in conjunction with the lock mechanism of the sheet feeding tray30.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the sheet feeding tray30is opened and closed along a rail102provided in the printer main body101. When the sheet feeding tray30is housed inside the printer main body101, the sheet feeding tray30is brought into a locked state where the sheet feeding tray30is prohibited from being pulled out from the printer main body101by the lock mechanism provided in the sheet feeding tray.

The lock mechanism of the present embodiment includes a lock lever37rotatably provided with respect to the tray member32, and a tension spring38mounted between a spring mounting end37aof the lock lever37and a spring mounting end32aof the tray member32. The lock lever37is rotatable between a lock position where a lock end37bof the lock lever37is raised (FIG.6A) and an unlocked position where the lock end37bof the lock lever37is lowered (FIG.6B). When the lock end37bis at the lock position in a state where the sheet feeding tray30is housed in the printer main body101, the lock end37benters a groove103aof a stopper103provided on the rail102of the printer main body101. Thus, in a case where the sheet feeding tray30is about to move in the direction of being pulled out from the printer main body101, the lock end37bof the sheet feeding tray30is caught by the stopper103of the printer main body101, and the sheet feeding tray30is brought into the locked state where the sheet feeding tray30is prohibited from being pulled out from the printer main body101.

The tension spring38of the lock mechanism biases the lock lever37to rotate the lock lever37in a direction in which the lock end37bof the lock lever37faces the lock position. The lock lever37rotates between the lock position and the unlocked position in conjunction with a sliding movement of the handle31with respect to the tray member32.

FIG.8Ais a bottom view illustrating the handle31at a housing position, andFIG.8Bis a bottom view illustrating the handle31at a pull-out position.

The handle31is mounted to the tray member32in a manner of being movable between the housing position illustrated inFIG.8Aand the pull-out position illustrated inFIG.8B. The handle31is provided with an abutment member31fthat abuts on the lock lever37.

When the user operates the handle31at the housing position illustrated inFIG.8Ain a handle pull-out direction A (the direction coinciding with the pull-out direction A of the sheet feeding tray30in the present embodiment), the handle31is pulled out to the pull-out position illustrated inFIG.8B. Thus, the abutment member31fof the handle31rotates the lock lever37against the biasing force of the tension spring38, and the lock end37bof the lock lever37moves from the lock position illustrated inFIG.6Ato the unlocked position illustrated inFIG.6B. Thus, since the lock end37bcomes out of the groove103aof the stopper103of the printer main body101, the lock end37bof the sheet feeding tray30is not caught by the stopper103of the printer main body101, and the sheet feeding tray30is brought into an unlocked state where the sheet feeding tray30can be pulled out from the printer main body101.

Next, a spring mounting structure in the present embodiment will be described.

FIG.9is a cross-sectional view of the handle31and the tray member32.

FIG.10is a perspective view of the structural body in which the handle31and a holder40are assembled to each other as viewed from an inner side (back side) of the printer main body101. That is,FIG.10illustrates a structural body in which the first structural member and the second structural member are assembled.

On the sheet feeding tray30of the present embodiment, the holder40as a handle holder that holds the handle31on the tray member32is mounted so that the handle31does not come off from the tray member32when the handle31is mounted to the tray member32. The holder40is disposed in a manner of sandwiching the handle31with the tray member32, and is fixed to the tray member32by a screw41illustrated inFIGS.8A and8B. Therefore, the holder40restricts the movement (displacement) of the handle31in the up-down direction.

As illustrated inFIG.10, the holder40is provided with protrusions40band40b,and the protrusions40band40benter the recess31bof the handle31when the handle31and the holder40are assembled to each other as illustrated inFIG.10. Thus, the holder40also restricts the movement (displacement) of the handle31in the left-right direction.

A compression spring42is mounted in a predetermined compressed state between a handle side pressing surface31a(first abutting surface) of the handle31as the first structural member and a holder side pressing surface40aof the holder40as the second structural member. The compression spring42of the present embodiment has a wound spring structure (spring coil structure) in which a wire material is spirally wound, but is not limited thereto.

The compression spring42biases the handle side pressing surface31aof the handle31in a handle housing direction B with respect to the holder side pressing surface40aof the holder40fixed to the tray member32. Thus, a biasing force toward the handle housing direction B is kept to be applied to the handle31, and the handle31is maintained at the housing position unless the handle31is operated in the handle pull-out direction A.

That is, in the present embodiment, when the user operates the handle31in the handle pull-out direction A, the handle31moves from the housing position illustrated inFIG.8Ato the pull-out position illustrated inFIG.8Bagainst the biasing force of the compression spring42. Thus, the lock mechanism is brought into the unlocked state as described above, and the user further operates the handle31in the handle pull-out direction A as it is to pull out the sheet feeding tray30in the pull-out direction A. On the other hand, when the user releases his/her hand from the handle31, the handle31moves from the pull-out position illustrated inFIG.8Bto the housing position illustrated inFIG.8Aby the biasing force of the compression spring42.

FIG.11Ais a perspective view of the structural body illustrated inFIG.10when the handle31is at the housing position as viewed from above, andFIG.11Bis a perspective view of the structural body illustrated inFIG.10when the handle31is at the pull-out position as viewed from above.

Holes40dand40dpassing through in the up-down direction are formed in the holder40, and the holder40is screwed to the tray member32through screws41and41in the holes40dand40d.

In addition, bosses40cand40care formed on the upper surface of the holder40. The bosses40cand40care inserted into positioning holes of the tray member32to position between the holder40and the tray member32. In addition, pull-out restricting members31eand31ewhich are holes passing through in the up-down direction are provided on the upper surface of the handle31, and the bosses40cand40cof the holder40are also inserted through the pull-out restricting members31eand31e.When the handle31is pulled out to the pull-out out position as illustrated inFIG.11B, the boss40cof the holder40abuts on an inner wall of the pull-out restricting member31eof the handle31, and the handle31is restricted to the pull-out position.

As described above, the holder40of the present embodiment functions to prevent the handle31from coming off and to restrict the position of the handle31.

Next, a mounting structure and a mounting method of the compression spring42in the present embodiment will be described. Here, the spring mounting structure in the present embodiment is a combination of the handle31for mounting the compression spring42temporarily held by the handle31in a predetermined compressed state and a structural portion of the holder40as described later.

In order to mount the compression spring42between the handle side pressing surface31aof the handle31and the holder side pressing surface40aof the holder40, work in a narrow place surrounded by the tray cover33and the tray member32is required, and thus workability is poor. In addition, since it is generally desired that a spring such as the compression spring42is installed at a location that cannot be touched by a user as much as possible, in the present embodiment, the compression spring42is covered with the holder40so that the user cannot touch the compression spring42. Therefore, it is difficult to mount the compression spring42after assembling the handle31and the holder40.

In the present embodiment, first, the compression spring42is temporarily held by the handle31. Then, the holder40is assembled to the handle31in a predetermined assembling direction C (a direction from the bottom to the top of the printer main body in the present embodiment) orthogonal to (intersecting) the compression direction of the compression spring42, and the compression spring42is mounted between the handle side pressing surface31aof the handle31and the holder side pressing surface40aof the holder40in a predetermined compressed state. According to this, the mounting of the compression spring42can be completed simply by performing the work of temporarily holding the compression spring42by the handle31and then performing the work of assembling the holder40to the handle31in the predetermined assembling direction C. Thus, when the compression spring42is installed at a location with poor workability as in the present embodiment, the work of mounting the compression spring42can also be easily performed.

However, in the work of temporarily holding the compression spring42by the handle31, the work of temporarily holding the compression spring42in a compressed state is troublesome for the operator. Specifically, for example, when the compression spring42is brought into a compressed state, the compression spring42may be restored and the compression spring42may be blown away from the hand of the operator, or when the compression spring42brought into the compressed state is mounted to the handle31, the compression spring42may be restored and the mounting may not be performed well, which may be troublesome.

Therefore, in the spring mounting structure of the present embodiment, the compression spring42is temporarily held in an uncompressed state by the handle31. According to this, the troublesome work of compressing the compression spring42at the time of temporary holding the compression spring42on the handle31is eliminated.

FIG.12Ais a perspective view of the handle31before the compression spring42is temporarily held as viewed from below, andFIG.12Bis a perspective view of the handle31in a state where the compression spring42is temporarily held as viewed from below.

As illustrated inFIG.12A, the handle31is provided with a spring mounting boss31cconstituting a temporary holding portion on the handle side pressing surface31aof the compression spring42. When temporarily holding the compression spring42, the operator fits one end of the compression spring42in the uncompressed state into the boss31c.Thus, as illustrated inFIG.12B, in a state where one end of the compression spring42is in contact with the handle side pressing surface31aof the handle31, the compression spring42is temporarily held by the handle31in an uncompressed state.

In particular, the boss31cof the present embodiment has an outer diameter slightly greater than an inner diameter of one end of the compression spring. Therefore, the inner diameter of one end of the compression spring42is slightly expanded and fitted into the boss31c,and the boss31cis clamped by a restoring force of the compression spring42against the expansion, and the temporary holding is stably maintained. According to such a configuration, the operator can temporarily hold the compression spring42in the uncompressed state by the handle31simply by performing a simple operation of lightly press-fitting the compression spring42.

FIG.13Ais a perspective view of the tray member32before the handle31is assembled as viewed from below.

FIG.13Bis a perspective view of the tray member32in a state where the handle31is inserted (unassembled state) as viewed from below.

FIG.13Cis a perspective view of a state where the holder40is assembled to the handle31and the assembly of the handle31with respect to the tray member32is completed as viewed from below.

First, as illustrated inFIG.13A, the tray cover33is assembled to the tray member32. Then, the handle31in a state where the compression spring42is temporarily held as illustrated inFIG.12Bis inserted into the tray member32from a hole33aof the tray cover33as illustrated inFIG.13B. Thereafter, as illustrated inFIG.13C, the holder40is assembled to the handle31inserted into the tray member32in the predetermined assembling direction C.

Note that the predetermined assembling direction C in the present embodiment corresponds to the direction from the bottom to the top of the printer main body101. However, at the time of assembling the holder40, it is preferable that the tray member32is in an upside down posture and the holder40is assembled from the top to the bottom toward the tray member32, which is excellent in workability.

FIGS.14A to14Care cross-sectional views illustrating the movement when the holder40is inserted and assembled along the predetermined assembling direction C from the top to the bottom toward the tray member32in the upside down posture and the compression spring42is mounted.

The holder40is provided with the holder side pressing surface40aon which the other end of the compression spring abutting on the handle side pressing surface31aof the handle31abuts when the mounting of the compression spring42is completed. The holder40is provided with a tapered surface40ethat guides the other end of the compression spring42in the uncompressed state temporarily held by the handle31to the holder side pressing surface40aat the time of assembling the holder40in the predetermined assembling direction C.

As illustrated inFIG.14A, an end side40e1of the tapered surface40elocated on the front side in the predetermined assembling direction C is located on the outer side in the compression direction with respect to the other end (the other end of the free length of the compression spring42) of the compression spring42in the uncompressed state temporarily held by the handle31, and is disposed at a position where the other end of the compression spring42in the uncompressed state is in contact with the tapered surface40eduring the assembling in the predetermined assembling direction C. Thus, when the holder40is moved along the predetermined assembling direction C, the tapered surface40eof the holder40comes into contact with the other end of the compression spring42in the uncompressed state temporarily held by the handle31, and then the other end of the compression spring42moves to the holder side pressing surface40aalong the tapered surface40e,and the compression spring42is gradually compressed until being pressed by the tapered surface40eto reach a predetermined compressed state. As a result, when the assembly is completed, the compression spring42is mounted between the handle side pressing surface31aof the handle31and the holder side pressing surface40aof the holder40in the predetermined compressed state as illustrated inFIG.14B.

By fixing the holder40to the tray member32with the screw41, as illustrated inFIG.14B, the biasing force in the handle housing direction B is kept to be applied to the handle31by the compression spring42, and the handle31is maintained at the housing position unless the handle31is operated in the handle pull-out direction A. On the other hand, when the user operates the handle31in the handle pull-out direction A, the handle31is pulled out to the pull-out position against the biasing force of the compression spring42as illustrated inFIG.14C.

FIG.15is an explanatory diagram illustrating a positional relationship between the compression spring42and the holder side pressing surface40aand the tapered surface40eof the holder40when the assembly is completed.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated inFIG.15, a boundary position40e2between the tapered surface40eand the holder side pressing surface40apasses through a central axis O of the compression spring42from the start of assembly to the completion of assembly. According to this, at the time of completion of assembly, more than half of the other end surface of the compression spring42can abut on the holder side pressing surface40a,and the posture of the compression spring42can be suppressed from collapsing due to falling of the compression spring42to the tapered surface40eside or the like.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated inFIG.15, a deformation restricting member31dserving as a deformation restrictor that restricts deformation of the compression spring42in a direction orthogonal to the compression direction (direction of the assembling direction C) at the time of assembling the compression spring42in the predetermined assembling direction C is provided on the handle31. As a result, in a case where the other end of the compression spring42temporarily held by the handle31is pushed in the direction of the assembling direction C by the tapered surface40e,the side surface of the compression spring42can also abut on the deformation restricting member31d,and deformation such as bending or buckling of the compression spring42can also be suppressed. Therefore, the compression spring42can be mounted in an appropriate posture between the handle side pressing surface31aof the handle31and the holder side pressing surface40aof the holder40.

In particular, it is preferable that a gap E between the compression spring42temporarily held by the handle31and the deformation restricting member31dis as small as possible in terms of restricting deformation. Specifically, it is preferable that the gap E is narrower than a length L of the tapered surface40ein the assembling direction C.

FIG.16Ais a perspective view of the holder40as viewed from above, andFIG.16Bis a perspective view of the holder40as viewed from below.

The holder40of the present embodiment is provided with restricting walls40hand40hserving as a movement restrictor that restrict the other end of the compression spring42from moving out of a predetermined position on the holder side pressing surface40a.The restricting walls40hand40hare disposed to sandwich the holder side pressing surface40ain a direction orthogonal to the predetermined assembling direction C, and when the other end of the compression spring42moves out of the predetermined position on the holder side pressing surface40aat the time of assembling, a side portion of the compression spring42abuts on the restricting walls40hand40h,and the movement is restricted.

On the restricting walls40hand40hof the present embodiment, guiding tapered surfaces40iand40iare formed at contact ends (the upper ends inFIG.16B) that come into contact with the other end of the compression spring42when the other end moves from the tapered surface40eto the holder side pressing surface40a.The guiding tapered surfaces40iand40ifunction as guide surfaces that guide the other end of the compression spring42toward the predetermined position on the holder side pressing surface40a.Therefore, in a case where the position of the other end of the compression spring42is displaced and the other end of the compression spring42comes into contact with the contact ends of the restricting walls40hand40hwhen moving from the tapered surface40eto the holder side pressing surface40a,the other end of the compression spring42also moves along the guiding tapered surfaces40iand40iand is returned to the position between the restricting walls40hand40h,and is guided to the predetermined position on the holder side pressing surface40a.

In addition, since the compression spring42of the present embodiment has a wound spring structure in which the wire is spirally wound, a wire end surface (end surface substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the wire)42alocated at the other end of the compression spring42faces the side of the compression spring42. Therefore, depending on the rotational position about the central axis O taken by the compression spring42, the wire end surface42alocated at the other end of the compression spring42may face forward in the moving direction (here, forward in the assembling direction C) when the other end of the compression spring42moves from the tapered surface40eto the holder side pressing surface40aduring the assembling. In this case, the wire end surface42aof the compression spring42is caught by the holder side pressing surface40a,so that the position of the compression spring42is displaced or the posture of the compression spring42is lost, and thus, the compression spring42may fail to be appropriately mounted.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS.17A and17B, when the wire end surface42aof the compression spring42faces forward in the assembling direction C, a groove40gis formed at a location where the wire end surface42apasses. Thus, in the case as described above, since the wire end surface42aof the compression spring42enters the groove40g,the wire end surface42aof the compression spring42is not caught by the holder side pressing surface40a,and the compression spring42can be appropriately mounted.

In addition, as illustrated inFIGS.16A and16B, the holder40of the present embodiment is provided with a viewing window40fwhich is a through hole for visually recognizing the compression spring42after completion of assembly from the outside. Without the viewing window40f,the compression spring42cannot be visually recognized after the holder40is assembled and it is difficult to confirm whether the compression spring42is appropriately mounted in this manner. By providing the viewing window40fas in the present embodiment, it is easy to confirm whether the compression spring42is appropriately mounted, whether the compression spring42is missing, and the like after the holder40is assembled.

In particular, as illustrated inFIG.17B, the viewing window40fof the present embodiment is provided in a manner that a contact portion between the other end of the compression spring42and the holder side pressing surface40acan be visually recognized, and thus, it is possible to visually recognize the state of the other end of the compression spring42abutting on the holder side pressing surface40aafter assembly. According to this, since the state of the other end of the compression spring42, which is particularly important for checking the mounted state of the compression spring42, can be visually recognized, it is easy to accurately determine whether the compression spring42is appropriately mounted.

In the present embodiment, the temporary holding of the compression spring42to the handle31is performed by light press fitting of the handle31to the boss31cof the handle31, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to this example. For example, as illustrated inFIG.18, instead of the boss31c,temporary holding restricting walls31gand31gthat restrict the position of one end of the compression spring42from the side (in the left-right direction) of the compression spring42may be provided. In this case, as in the embodiment described above, a procedure of causing the handle31to temporarily hold the compression spring42and then inserting the handle31into the hole33aof the tray cover33may be used, or another procedure may be used. For example, after the handle31is inserted into the hole33aof the tray cover33, the procedure of causing the handle31to temporarily hold the compression spring42may be used.

Further, as described above, a spring mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applicable not only to the sheet feeding tray30but also to other devices mounted on the image forming apparatus. For example, an embodiment of the present disclosure is also applicable to a waste toner container mounted on an image forming apparatus.

FIGS.19A and19Bare schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a waste toner container50to which a spring mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied.

The waste toner container50includes a waste toner box51as a waste toner storage that stores a waste toner, a shutter52serving as an opening-and-closing member that opens and closes a waste toner receiving port51aof the waste toner box51, a compression spring53that biases the shutter52from an open position to a closed position, and a spring mounting portion54that is provided in the waste toner box51and to which the compression spring53is mounted.

When the waste toner container50has been pulled out from the main body of the image forming apparatus, as illustrated inFIG.19A, the shutter52is positioned at the closed position by the biasing force of the compression spring53so that the toner in the waste toner box51does not leak from the waste toner receiving port51a.On the other hand, when the waste toner container50has been housed in the main body of the image forming apparatus, as illustrated inFIG.19B, the shutter52is positioned at the open position so that the waste toner receiving port51aof the waste toner box51communicates with a waste toner discharge port105of the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Specifically, while the waste toner container50is being housed along the housing direction B toward the main body of the image forming apparatus, the shutter52of the waste toner container50abuts on the waste toner discharge port105of the main body of the image forming apparatus, thereby restricting the movement of the shutter52in the housing direction B. As the waste toner box51further moves in the housing direction B in this state, the shutter52moves relative to the waste toner box51, and the shutter52is positioned at the open position. As a result, when the waste toner container50is housed in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the waste toner receiving port51aof the waste toner box51and the waste toner discharge port105of the main body of the image forming apparatus communicate with each other.

Also in the waste toner container50, the spring mounting portion54functions as the first structural member, and the shutter52functions as the second structural member, thereby implementing a spring mounting structure similar to that of the above-described embodiment. That is, also in the waste toner container50, when the shutter52is assembled to the spring mounting portion54in the predetermined assembling direction C intersecting the compression direction of the compression spring53, the other end of the compression spring53temporarily held in a spring housing space member (temporary holding portion) of the spring mounting portion54is guided to a shutter side pressing surface52awhich is the second abutting surface of the shutter52by a tapered surface52bof the shutter52. At this time, also in the present example, the compression spring53temporarily held by the temporary holding portion of the spring mounting portion54is in an uncompressed state. Therefore, the troublesome work of compressing the compression spring53becomes unnecessary at the time of temporary holding the compression spring53to the temporary holding portion of the spring mounting portion54. Also in the present example, the other end of the compression spring53in the uncompressed state temporarily held by the temporary holding portion of the spring mounting portion54is in contact with the tapered surface52bfrom the start of assembly to the completion of assembly in the predetermined assembling direction C, and then the other end moves along the tapered surface52bto the shutter side pressing surface52aand is gradually compressed until the compression spring53comes into the predetermined compressed state. As a result, when the assembly is completed, the compression spring53is mounted in the predetermined compressed state between a box side pressing surface54awhich is the first abutting surface of the spring mounting portion54and the shutter side pressing surface52aof the shutter52.

The embodiments described above are just examples, and the various aspects of the present disclosure attain respective effects as follows.

First Aspect

According to a first aspect, a spring mounting structure is for mounting a compression spring temporarily held by a temporary holding portion (e.g., the boss31cor the spring housing space member) of a first structural member (e.g., the handle31or the spring mounting portion54) in a predetermined compressed state between a first abutting surface (e.g., the handle side pressing surface31aor the box side pressing surface54a) and a second abutting surface (e.g., the holder side pressing surface40aor the shutter side pressing surface52a) in a structural body in which the first structural member including the first abutting surface abutting on one end of the compression spring (e.g., the compression spring42or the compression spring53) and a second structural member (e.g., the holder40or the shutter52) including the second abutting surface abutting on the other end of the compression spring are assembled in a predetermined assembling direction (e.g., the assembling direction C) intersecting a compression direction of the compression spring. The temporary holding portion of the first structural member temporarily holding the compression spring in an uncompressed state, and the second structural member has a tapered surface (e.g., the tapered surface40eor the tapered surface52b) to guide the other end of the compression spring in the uncompressed state temporarily held by the temporary holding portion to the second abutting surface when the second structural member is assembled in the predetermined assembling direction.

In the present aspect, when the first structural member and the second structural member are assembled in the predetermined assembling direction intersecting the compression direction of the compression springs, the other end of the compression spring temporarily held by the temporary holding portion of the first structural member is guided to the second abutting surface of the second structural member by the tapered surface of the second structural member. At this time, in the present aspect, the compression spring temporarily held by the temporary holding portion of the first structural member is in an uncompressed state. Therefore, when the operation of temporary holding the compression spring to the temporary holding portion of the first structural member is performed, the troublesome work of compressing the compression spring, which is necessary in the conventional spring mounting structure, is unnecessary. According to the present aspect, the other end of the compression spring in the uncompressed state temporarily held by the temporary holding portion comes into contact with the tapered surface from the start of assembly to the completion of assembly in the predetermined assembling direction, and then the other end moves to the second abutting surface along the tapered surface and the compression spring is gradually compressed until reaching the predetermined compressed state. As a result, when the assembly is completed, the compression spring is mounted between the first abutting surface and the second abutting surface in the predetermined compressed state.

As described above, according to the present aspect, in the spring mounting structure in which the other end of the compression spring temporarily held by the temporary holding portion of the first structural member is guided to the second abutting surface of the second structural member by the tapered surface of the second structural member when the first structural member and the second structural member are assembled in the predetermined assembling direction, the troublesome work of compressing the compression spring is unnecessary during the temporary holding operation of the compression spring.

Second Aspect

According to a second aspect, the spring mounting structure of the first aspect further includes a deformation restrictor (e.g., the deformation restricting member31d) to restrict the compression spring from deforming in a direction orthogonal to the compression direction when the second structural member is assembled in the predetermined assembling direction.

Such a configuration facilitates the compression spring to be mounted in an appropriate posture between the first abutting surface of the first structural member and the second abutting surface of the second structural member.

Third Aspect

According to a third aspect, the spring mounting structure of the first or second aspect further includes a movement restrictor (e.g., the restricting walls40hand40h) to restrict the other end of the compression spring from moving out of a predetermined position on the second abutting surface.

Such a configuration facilitates the compression spring to be mounted at an appropriate position between the first abutting surface of the first structural member and the second abutting surface of the second structural member.

Fourth Aspect

According to a fourth aspect, in the spring mounting structure of the third aspect, the movement restrictor has a contact end to contact the other end of the compression spring when the other end moves from the tapered surface to the second abutting surface. The contact end has a guide surface (e.g., the guiding tapered surfaces40iand40i) to guide the other end of the compression spring toward the predetermined position.

Such a configuration facilitates the compression spring to be mounted at an appropriate position between the first abutting surface of the first structural member and the second abutting surface of the second structural member.

Fifth Aspect

According to a fifth aspect, in the spring mounting structure of any one of the first to fourth aspects, the compression spring is a winding spring in which a wire is spirally wound, and the second abutting surface has a groove (e.g., the groove40g) at a portion that a wire end surface (e.g., the wire end surface42a) located at the other end of the compression spring passes when the wire end surface faces forward in a moving direction when the other end of the compression spring moves from the tapered surface to the second abutting surface.

According to the fifth aspect, the wire end surface of the compression spring does not enter the groove, and the wire end surface of the compression spring is not caught by the second abutting surface, and thus, the compression spring can be appropriately mounted.

Sixth Aspect

According to a sixth aspect, in the spring mounting structure of any one of the first to fifth aspects, a boundary position (e.g., the boundary position40e2) between the tapered surface and the second abutting surface passes through a central axis (e.g., the central axis O) of the compression spring from the start of assembly to the completion of assembly.

According to this, at the time of completion of assembly, more than half of the other end surface of the compression spring can abut on the second abutting surface, and the posture of the compression spring can be prevented from collapsing due to falling of the compression spring toward the tapered surface or the like.

Seventh Aspect

According to a seventh aspect, in the spring mounting structure of any one of the first to sixth aspects, the compression spring is a winding spring in which a wire is spirally wound, and the temporary holding portion is a boss (e.g., the boss31c) to insert into the compression spring from the one end of the compression spring. The boss has an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the one end of the compression spring.

According to this, simply performing a simple operation of lightly press-fitting the compression springs allows the compression spring to be temporarily held in the uncompressed state by the temporary holding portion of the first structural member.

Eighth Aspect

According to an eighth aspect, in the spring mounting structure of any one of the first to seventh aspects, the first structural member or the second structural member has a viewing window (e.g., the viewing window40f) to visually recognize the compression springs from the outside after the completion of assembly.

According to this, it is easy to confirm, for example, whether the compression spring is appropriately mounted after the assembly and whether the compression spring is not missing.

Ninth Aspect

According to a ninth aspect, in the spring mounting structure of the eighth aspect, the viewing window is disposed in a manner that a contact portion between the other end of the compression spring and the second abutting surface can be visually recognized.

According to this, since the state of the other end of the compression spring, which is particularly important for checking the mounted state of the compression spring, can be visually recognized, it is easy to accurately determine whether the compression spring is appropriately mounted.

Tenth Aspect

According to a tenth aspect, a sheet housing device (e.g., the sheet feeding tray30) includes: a sheet housing (e.g., the tray member32) that houses a sheet (e.g., the sheet P); a handle (e.g., the handle31) that is mounted to the sheet housing with the handle being movable between a housing position and a pull-out position; a compression spring (e.g., the compression spring42) that biases the handle from the pull-out position toward the housing position; and a handle holder (e.g., the holder40) that holds the handle mounted to the sheet housing in the sheet housing. The sheet housing device has the spring mounting structure of any one of the first to ninth aspects. The handle is the first structural member, and the handle holder is the second structural member.

According to the present aspect, it is possible to provide the sheet housing device that eliminates the troublesome work of compressing the compression spring during the temporary holding work of the compression spring.

Eleventh Aspect

According to an eleventh aspect, a waste toner container (e.g., the waste toner container50) includes: a waste toner storage (e.g., the waste toner box51) to store a waste toner; an opening-and-closing member (e.g., the shutter52) to open and close a waste toner receiving port (e.g., the waste toner receiving port51a) of the waste toner storage; a compression spring (e.g., the compression spring53) that biases the opening-and-closing member from an open position to a closed position; and a spring mounting portion (e.g., the spring mounting portion54) that is provided in the waste toner storage and to which the compression spring is mounted. The waste toner container has the spring mounting structure of any one of the first to ninth aspects. The spring mounting portion is the first structural member, and the opening-and-closing member is the second structural member.

According to the present aspect, it is possible to provide the waste toner container that eliminates the troublesome work of compressing the compression spring during the temporary holding work of the compression spring.

Twelfth Aspect

According to a twelfth aspect, an image forming apparatus includes the spring mounting structure of any one of the first to ninth aspects.

According to the present aspect, it is possible to provide the image forming apparatus that eliminates the troublesome work of compressing the compression spring during the temporary holding work of the compression spring.