Abstract: A flatbed scanner includes a carriage for reading an original while moving in a first direction; an acquisition portion for acquiring a size of the original in the first direction; and a control portion for reading the original while moving the carriage at a lower speed in a first case where the original is large than in a second case where the original is small.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a contact glass provided at an upper surface of a main body of the apparatus to set a manuscript thereon, an image sensor being positioned below the contact glass and having a reading surface on contact glass side for reading an image from the manuscript on the contact glass, a carriage supporting the image sensor accommodated in a sensor container formed to have a recess open to the contact glass side, a rail member slidably supporting the carriage, and a biasing member biasing the image sensor to the contact glass side via a biased portion adjacent to the reading surface of the image sensor. An upper end of the biasing member is positioned below the contact glass and above the lower surface of the image sensor.

Abstract: A paper-feeding device and a multi-functional printer are provided. The paper-feeding device includes a base, a driving axle, a position-limiting element and a retaining element. The base has a first assembling portion. The driving axle, the position-limiting and the retaining elements are all in the base. The position-limiting element has a second assembling portion and two position-limiting portions on radial directions of the second assembling portion between the inserting portion and the body. The retaining element includes a swing frame, a paper-separating element and a spring. The body of the swing frame is located between the two position-limiting portions. The first and second pivoting portions coaxial and connect the body are pivoted respectively to the first and second assembling portions. The inserting portion of the paper-separating element is sheathed by the body and the separating element leans against the driving axle.

Abstract: A rotary driving device includes a rotary shaft supported rotatably about an axis thereof on a predetermined supporting member, a rotary load body mounted on the rotary shaft to project radially outward from the rotary shaft in such a manner that the rotary load body can rotate integrally with the rotary shaft about the axis thereof, a driver for rotating the rotary shaft about the axis thereof, a disk mounted on the rotary shaft coaxially therewith for integral rotation with the rotary shaft, the disk having a mounting hole formed therein, a pendulum loosely fitted in the mounting hole, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a relative position relationship between a central axis position of the mounting hole and a center of gravity position of the pendulum under conditions where the disk is rotating.

Abstract: A rotary driving device includes a rotary shaft supported rotatably about an axis thereof on a predetermined supporting member, a rotary load body mounted on the rotary shaft to project radially outward from the rotary shaft in such a manner that the rotary load body can rotate integrally with the rotary shaft about the axis thereof, a driver for rotating the rotary shaft about the axis thereof, a disk mounted on the rotary shaft coaxially therewith for integral rotation with the rotary shaft, the disk having a mounting hole formed therein, a pendulum loosely fitted in the mounting hole, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a relative position relationship between a central axis position of the mounting hole and a center of gravity position of the pendulum under conditions where the disk is rotating.

Abstract: A control device and a method for controlling scanning speed of a scanner. The control device includes a decision device and a driving device. The decision device further includes an image buffer, an up-down counter and a comparator. The decision device receives the input image data and utilizes the up-down counter to compute data access volume inside the image buffer. The comparator decides whether to increase or decrease the scanning speed according to the data access volume and also outputs decision data to the driving device.

Abstract: A rotary driving device includes a rotary shaft supported rotatably about an axis thereof on a predetermined supporting member, a rotary load body mounted on the rotary shaft to project radially outward from the rotary shaft in such a manner that the rotary load body can rotate integrally with the rotary shaft about the axis thereof, a driver for rotating the rotary shaft about the axis thereof, a disk mounted on the rotary shaft coaxially therewith for integral rotation with the rotary shaft, the disk having a mounting hole formed therein, a pendulum loosely fitted in the mounting hole, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a relative position relationship between a central axis position of the mounting hole and a center of gravity position of the pendulum under conditions where the disk is rotating.

Abstract: A method of optimal focusing for a document scanner is disclosed. The scanner includes an optic module movable in a given scanning direction to perform scanning operation over an area of a document in a scan line by scan line manner by being driven by an optic module moving mechanism under control of a control unit. The control unit includes a best focus value memory for storage of the best focus value for each scan line. The method includes the steps of moving the optic module to one of scan lines of the document and retrieving the best focus value corresponding to the selected scan line. A focus adjusting mechanism is controlled by the control unit to move the optic module in a second direction to adjust the focus position of the optic module in accordance with the best focus value of the scan line. Once the optic module reaches the scan line, the operation of the optic module is temporarily suspended in order to have the vibration of the optic module damped out.

Abstract: A method of optimal focusing for a document scanner is disclosed. The scanner includes an optical module movable in a given scanning direction to perform scanning operation over an area of a document in a scan line by scan line manner by being driven by an optical module moving mechanism under control of a control unit. The control unit includes a best focus value memory for storage of the best focus value for each scan line. The method includes the steps of moving the optical module to one of the scan lines of the document and retrieving the best focus value corresponding to the selected scan line. A focus adjusting mechanism is controlled by the control unit to move the optical module in a second direction to adjust the focus position of the optical module in accordance with the best focus value of the scan line. Once the optical module reaches the scan line, the operation of the optical module is temporarily suspended in order to have the vibration of the optical module damped out.

Abstract: When the speed of carriages that are moved in an image processing device is increased in order to accelerate the processing speed, the acquired image data is degraded due to vibrations being transmitted to the carriages from a motor which drives the carriages. The present invention provides a vibration damping mechanism for such image processing devices wherein weights are provided at selected positions on the transmission paths of the vibrations from the motor to the carriages in order to damp the vibrations. Preferably, the weights are made of a permanent magnet material and the housing is made of a material, such as steel, that is attracted by a magnet. This enables the weights to be attached at any desired positions, such as on the housing base plate, on the lower housing, and at perimeter walls of the housing which support the carriages where vibrations, without the weights, would be excessive.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which enables a reduction of FCOT by omitting a home position search and a shading compensation after an input of a reading instruction for a succeeding original when reading different originals successively.

Abstract: A vibration inhibiting mechanism for a scanner including a base installed in a chassis of the scanner for resiliently biasing a roller support formed with a roller assembling portion on the top thereof; a roller being mounted on the roller assembling portion for abutting against a glass panel disposed on a top side of casing for receiving the chassis by an upward urging force exerted by the roller support, so as to prevent the chassis from vibrating along a direction perpendicular to the glass panel during the movement of the chassis and to prevent damage to or dislocation of the chassis during a drop test.

Abstract: An original scanning device can set a brake operation starting timing in a scanner backward movement to a predetermined timing, even if a scanning distance of the device is determined at any distance. To do so, a copy machine starts braking the scanning device when a sensor detects that the scanning device backwardly moved to a predetermined position.

Abstract: A drive control mechanism for an image reader having a controller, to control a drive current impressed to a connected stepping motor such that the impression of the drive current is carried out in a prescribed number of steps, and a changer, to change a largest value of a drive current in response to a scanning speed of a reading device of the image reader. Consequently, smooth rotation with little torque ripple may be obtained through microstep driving, and by changing a largest drive current, control of a drive torque becomes easier, thus making it possible to maintain an even balance between load torque and drive vibration when a high-torque motor is used to eliminate slider vibration.