Electrographic apparatus having an improved exit opening portion

An electrographic apparatus provided at its exit opening portion through which a record sheet with a copied picture image formed thereon passes with eaves for preventing a photosensitive body from being exposed to an exterior light entering from the exit opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to an electrographic apparatus and more particularly 
to an improvement in an exit opening portion through which a record sheet 
with a copied picture image formed thereon is delivered. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Various kinds of electrographic apparatus have been proposed and used in 
practice which make use of a photosensitive body on which is produced an 
electrostatic latent image corresponding to a manuscript to be copied. 
In such electrographic apparatus, the electrostatic latent image is 
developed into a toned image which is then transferred onto a record sheet 
so as to form a copied picture image thereon. In this case, it is 
particularly important to maintain a photosensitive characteristic of the 
photosensitive body for a long time in a stable manner. For this purpose, 
the photosensitive body must effectively be shielded from an exterior 
light. That is, if the photosensitive body is exposed to the exterior 
light, the premature fatigue failure of the photosensitive body becomes 
induced, the electrostatic latent image becomes deteriorated or erased or 
the like, thereby exerting an adverse influence on the copying 
characteristic of the photosensitive body. In order to obviate such 
drawback, in the conventional electrographic apparatus, it has been the 
common practice to surround the photosensitive body with a light screening 
member in an apparatus main body or to construct the apparatus main body 
without openings so as to prevent the exterior light from penetrating into 
the photosensitive body. 
But, it is very troublesome to surround the photosensitive body with the 
light screening member and the assembly thus obtained is complex in 
construction. In addition, even though the apparatus main body is 
constructed without openings, the apparatus main body must be provided 
with an exit opening through which is delivered a record sheet with a 
copied picture image formed thereon. As a result, there is a risk of the 
inside of the apparatus main body being exposed to exterior light 
penetrated through the exit opening. The exterior light is penetrated 
through the exit opening in each and every direction and particularly the 
exterior light substantially rectilinearly incident on the photosensitive 
body without being reflected on various kinds of members in the apparatus 
main body exerts a bad influence on the photosensitive body. This exterior 
light is penetrated through a record sheet feeding path into the inside of 
the apparatus main body and incident on the photosensitive body. That is, 
the photosensitive body is adjacent to the record sheet feeding path or is 
located on an extension line drawn from the exit opening in the record 
sheet delivering direction. 
In the conventional electrographic apparatus, it has been proposed to 
provide a tortuous record sheet feeding path or displace the exit opening 
into the apparatus main body such that the exterior light substantially 
rectilinearly incident on the photosensitive body from the exit opening 
can be shielded. 
But, the use of the former measures of making the record sheet feeding path 
tortuous results in a long record sheet feeding path and makes the 
apparatus main body complex in construction and large in size. The use of 
the latter measures of displacing the exit opening into the apparatus main 
body also makes the apparatus main body complex in construction and large 
in size. 
An electrographic apparatus for obtaining a plurality of copies from an 
electrostatic latent image corresponding to a manuscript image and 
produced on a photosensitive body has recently be proposed. Such apparatus 
can obtain a plurality of copies on the basis of the electrostatic latent 
image without subjecting the same manuscript to subsequent exposure 
scanning steps after the electrostatic latent image has been formed. The 
exterior light is directed substantially rectilinearly without being 
reflected on various kinds of members in the apparatus main body and does 
not exert a bad influence on the photosensitive body. This exterior light 
is penetrated through a record sheet feeding path into the inside of the 
apparatus main body and incident on the photosensitive body. That is, the 
photosensitive body is adjacent to the record sheet feeding path or is 
located on an extension line drawn from the exit opening in the record 
sheet delivering direction. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an electrographic 
apparatus which can eliminate the above mentioned drawback, that is which 
is small in size and simple in construction and which can effectively 
shield the exterior light which enters into a record sheet exit opening 
and passes through a record sheet feeding path and incidents on a 
photosensitive body. 
A feature of the invention is the provision of an electrographic apparatus 
comprising light shielding eaves located at an exit opening portion 
through which a record sheet with a copied picture image formed thereon 
passes and crossing over a delivery direction of said record sheet, said 
eaves being constructed such that the exterior light entering from the 
exit opening through a record sheet feeding path is prevented from being 
incident on a photosensitive body. 
Further objects and features of the invention will be fully understood from 
the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying 
drawings, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 shows essential parts of one embodiment of an electrographic 
apparatus according to the invention and FIG. 2 its front perspective 
view. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 designates an 
electrographic apparatus main body which is provided therein with a 
photosensitive body, means for producing, on the photosensitive body, an 
electrostatic latent image, a developing means and a transfer means, 
necessary for effecting a copying step. 
In the present embodiment, in order to make the apparatus as a whole small 
in size, provision is made of a substantially rectilinearly extending 
record sheet feeding path 2, thereby simplifying its construction. 
A record sheet with a copied picture image formed thereon (not shown) is 
fed through a pair of feed rollers 3 into a heat fixing device 4 where the 
copied picture image, that is, a toned image is fixed by fusing to the 
record sheet. 
In the present embodiment, the heat fixing device 4 is composed of a pair 
of containers each enclosing therein a heat supply source and arranged on 
both sides of the record sheet feeding path 2, respectively. The record 
sheet fixed by the heat fixing device 4 passes through a pair of outlet 
rollers 5 to an exit opening 6 from which is delivered into a copy tray 7. 
In the present embodiment, the exit opening 6 is provided in a cover plate 
9 rotatably mounted on a side plate of the apparatus main body 1 by means 
of a hinge 8. 
The free end of the cover plate 9 is detachably engaged with the side of 
the apparatus main body 1 by means of screw threaded knobs 10. The copy 
tray 7 is detachably mounted on a fitting members 11 inserted through the 
exit opening 6 into the apparatus main body 1 and secured thereto. 
After the copy tray 7 has been removed, the threadedly engaged knobs 10 are 
disengaged from the side plate of the apparatus main body 1 and then the 
cover plate 9 is downwardly rotated about the hinge 8 toward the outside 
of the apparatus main body 1. As a result, it is possible to easily 
restore the clogged condition of the record sheet feeding path to its 
normal condition. The cover plate 9 is provided at its upper portion with 
a louver window 12. 
FIG. 3 shows a pair of feed rollers 3 which are the same in construction as 
a pair of outlet rollers 5. These rollers are composed of large diameter 
portions provided on rotary shafts and spaced apart from each other, one 
of the rotary shafts being a driving shaft while the other rotary shaft 
being a driven shaft. The lower rollers made contact with that lower 
surface of the record sheet which is opposite to the copied picture image 
produced surface are driven so as to feed the record sheet. The rollers 
which make contact with the copied picture image surface are made small in 
width for the purpose of preventing the copied picture image from being 
damaged by the roller surface. As a result, both the pair of feed rollers 
3 and pair of outlet rollers 5 partly engage with each other. 
In the present embodiment, the cover plate 9 is provided at its exit 
opening portion 6 with a light shielding eaves 13 crossing over the record 
sheet feeding path 2 including the pairs of feed and outlet 7 rollers 3, 
5, heat fixing device 4 and spaces formed therebetween and projected from 
the cover plate 9 to the outside of the apparatus main body 1. The use of 
such eaves 13 ensures an effective shield of the exterior light incident 
in the direction of the record sheet feeding path even though the path 
extends rectilinearly, thereby preventing the photosensitive body from 
being exposed to the exterior light. As a result, the photosensitive 
property of the photosensitive body is effectively maintained for a long 
time and it is possible to effectively obtain a plurality of copies from 
the same electrostatic latent image. In addition, the light shielding 
eaves 13 are inclined with respect to the record sheet feeding path 2, and 
hence function to guide the record sheets delivered from the exit opening 
6 onto the copy tray 7 one upon the other in a stable manner. 
The record sheet feeding path 2 crosses over the eaves 13, so that the 
front end of the record sheet delivered from the exit opening 6 is fed 
along the inclined surface of the eaves 13. As a result, the record sheet 
delivered from the exit opening 6 advances toward the surface of the copy 
tray 7 by means of the delivering direction of the record sheet and a 
mutual relation between the inclined angle of the eaves 13 and an angle of 
the copy tray 7 inclined upwardly with respect to the apparatus main body 
1. Then, the front end of each of the record sheets makes contact with the 
copy tray surface and then advances therealong so as to be superimposed 
one upon the other. 
It is preferable to make a portion adjacent to the exit opening 6 and the 
eaves 13 black in color for the purpose of preventing a secondary 
reflective light or the like from penetrating through the exit opening 6. 
FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of an electrographic apparatus according to 
the invention. Referring to FIG. 4, reference numeral 21 designates an 
electrographic main body, 22 a substantially rectilinearly extending 
record sheet feeding path, 23 a pair of feed rollers, 24 a heat fixing 
device, 25 a pair of outlet rollers, 26 an exit opening, 27 a copy tray, 
29 a cover, and 31 a fitting member. All of these members are the same in 
construction as those shown in FIG. 1. In the present embodiment, eaves 33 
similar in construction to the eaves 13 shown in FIG. 1 are made integral 
with a cover portion 29' and rotatably mounted through the cover portion 
29' on the side plate of the apparatus main body 21 by means of a hinge 28 
such that the eaves 33 can upwardly be rotated so as to remove the 
clogging or the like of the record sheet in the record sheet feeding path 
22. In order to prevent the exterior light from penetrating through the 
lower side of the eaves 33 into the record sheet feeding path 22, the 
record sheet feeding path 22 may be provided at its lower side with a 
light shielding plate. 
In addition, the eaves 33 are coated on their lower surface which makes 
contact with the record sheet with an electrically conductive fiber or a 
cloth formed of the electrically conductive fiber 32, thereby permitting 
the electric charge on the record sheet to discharge and hence preventing 
the record sheets from being attracted with each other due to 
electrostatic attractive force. As a result, it is possible to deliver the 
record sheets through the exit opening 26 into the copy tray 27 in a 
positive manner. 
It is preferable to locally loosen or nap the cloth 32 formed of the 
electrically conducted fiber for the purpose of easily discharging the 
electric charge on the record sheet.