Abstract: A first mounting member fastens to a lower unit such as an image reading apparatus, and a second mounting member fastens to an upper unit such as a document feeder; a rotary shaft (hinge pin) rotatably connects the first and second mounting members. The first mounting member is provided with a compression spring, and with a brake member having a cam surface that engages the spring. A shift mechanism vertically shifts the brake member, compression spring, and second mounting member unitarily. Alternatively, the shift mechanism adjusts the height-level position where a pressing engager provided on one end of the compression spring and the cam surface engage, and the axle-support position of the rotary shaft. A hinge open/closably connecting the upper unit and lower unit can by a simple structure be easily adjusted heightwise, enabling continually stable opening/closing operations without exerting changes to the spring or other hinge components.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder is provided with a reading unit disposed above a platen for reading an original. The reading unit includes a platen roller for transporting the original to the reading unit; a guide device arranged between the platen and the platen roller and formed in a curved original reading path; a pressing device for pressing the guide device against the platen roller; and a regulating device for creating a space between a surface of the platen roller and an upper surface of the platen. When the original is transported between the platen roller and the guide device, the original moves the guide device toward the platen.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder is provided with the first transport device and the second transport device for feeding an original at a reading position to read the original, and a curved reading path disposed between the first transport device and second transport device. The automatic document feeder is also provided with a reading guide unit including the first guide member disposed at an upstream side of the reading position in an original feeding direction for guiding the original to the reading position, the second guide member disposed at a downstream side of the reading position in the original feeding direction for guiding the original from the reading position, a flexible transparent film member extending between the first guide member and the second guide member for forming the reading path. The reading guide unit is detachably and rotatably supported on an apparatus frame of the automatic document feeder.

Abstract: A detection sensor detects a position of a level detection lever that touches an uppermost sheet of sheets stacked on a holding tray, and a computing device counts the number of sheets that have been discharged to the holding tray. A judging device judges the amount of sheets stacked based on a sheet surface level detection signal from the detection sensor and a count value of the computing device. The apparatus accurately judges that the maximum amount of sheets have been stacked in the holding tray according to the position of the level detection lever and a count value for a number of sheets. Also, the apparatus selects one of a plurality of values for an offset sheet count, which corresponds to the operating conditions, namely the transporting speed of sheets, the intervals between sheets, and the length of the transport direction of the sheets.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder is provided with a reading unit disposed above a platen for reading an original. The reading unit includes a platen roller for transporting the original to the reading unit; a guide device arranged between the platen and the platen roller and formed in a curved original reading path; a pressing device for pressing the guide means against the platen roller; and a regulating device for creating a space between a surface of the platen roller and an upper surface of the platen. When the original is transported between the platen roller and the guide device, the original moves the guide device toward the platen. A transparent film member formed in the curved path is pressed against the fixed platen roller. The transparent film member deforms to pass the original when the original advances into a nip between the platen roller and the transparent film member.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder is provided with the first transport device and the second transport device for feeding an original at a reading position to read the original, and a curved reading path disposed between the first transport device and second transport device. The automatic document feeder is also provided with a reading guide unit including the first guide member disposed at an upstream side of the reading position in an original feeding direction for guiding the original to the reading position, the second guide member disposed at a downstream side of the reading position in the original feeding direction for guiding the original from the reading position, a flexible transparent film member extending between the first guide member and the second guide member for forming the reading path. The reading guide unit is detachably and rotatably supported on an apparatus frame of the automatic document feeder.