Abstract: An apparatus body of an image reading apparatus is turnably provided to a body supporting portion. The apparatus body is turned so as to be switchable between a first posture and a second posture that forms an angle between a reading transportation path and a mounting surface being smaller than the corresponding angle formed in the first posture. A transportation path switching unit couples the reading transportation path to a reverse transportation path when the apparatus body takes the first posture, and couples the reading transportation path to a non-reverse transportation path when the apparatus body takes the second posture.

Abstract: A document conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance part, a document cover, a stopper and a restriction member. One end of the stopper is rotatably supported by the document cover, and the other end of the stopper is movably supported by an elongated hole formed in the conveyance part. The stopper supports the document cover with respect to the conveyance part at a fixed opening angle. The restriction member is attached to the elongated hole. When the restriction member is attached to the elongated hole on the side of the one end edge, a moving amount of the other end of the stopper along the elongated hole at a time of opening the document cover is restricted to be short so that the document cover is supported at an opening angle smaller than the fixed opening angle.

Abstract: A printer includes: a conveyor that conveys a printing medium; a printing device that prints an image; a roller provided downstream of the printing device in a conveying direction; an opposed member opposed to the roller; a motor; a coupling mechanism that power-transmittably couples the motor and the roller to each other and rotates the roller in a first direction during driving of the motor, the first direction being a rotational direction for conveying the printing medium downstream in the conveying direction; and a moving mechanism that moves the roller between (i) a first position at which the roller is power-transmittably coupled to the motor by the coupling mechanism, and the printing medium is nipped by the roller and the opposed member and (ii) a second position at which the roller is power-transmittably coupled to the motor by the coupling mechanism and separated from the printing medium.

Abstract: A printing device includes a discharging roller, opposing rollers opposing the discharging roller, a discharge motor, a first coupling mechanism, a moving mechanism, and a second coupling mechanism. The first coupling mechanism rotates the discharging roller in a direction where a tape is transported downstream when the discharge motor rotates forward (arrow R1). The moving mechanism moves the discharging roller to a nip position to hold the tape with the opposing rollers and a release position spaced from the tape. The second coupling mechanism includes a one-way clutch that couples the discharge motor and the moving mechanism in a manner drivable together when the discharge motor rotates reversely (arrow R2) and decouples the discharge motor from the moving mechanism when the discharge motor rotates forward (arrow R1).

Abstract: A printing device includes a discharging roller, opposing rollers opposing the discharging roller, a discharge motor, a first coupling mechanism, a moving mechanism, and a second coupling mechanism. The first coupling mechanism rotates the discharging roller in a direction where a tape is transported downstream when the discharge motor rotates forward (arrow R1). The moving mechanism moves the discharging roller to a nip position to hold the tape with the opposing rollers and a release position spaced from the tape. The second coupling mechanism includes a one-way clutch that couples the discharge motor and the moving mechanism in a manner drivable together when the discharge motor rotates reversely (arrow R2) and decouples the discharge motor from the moving mechanism when the discharge motor rotates forward (arrow R1).

Abstract: A reading apparatus includes a reader that obtains image data by reading a reading target, a platen on which a document to be read by the reader located at a first position is set, a first member read by the reader located at the first position if there is no document on the platen, a second member read by the reader located at a second position, which is different from the first position, and a determination unit that performs a determination process for determining whether the document is set on the platen on the basis of a first output, which is obtained if the reader located at the first position reads the reading target, and a second output, which is obtained if the reader located at the second position reads the reading target.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that eliminates the necessity for resetting a single-sided document even if a set error of the single-sided document is occurred. The automatic document feeder includes a switchback mechanism that inverts the front and back of the single-sided document to switch a surface of the single-sided document. The automatic document feeder control circuit controls to activate the switchback mechanism. When a blank paper is detected from the image data before inversion, the automatic document feeder control circuit controls to continue the activation of the switchback mechanism for a second document and succeeding documents of the single-sided document. Otherwise, when a blank paper is not detected from the image data before inversion, the automatic document feeder control circuit controls to stop the activation of the switchback mechanism for the second document and the succeeding documents of the single-sided document.

Abstract: An image-reading apparatus includes a housing having an insertion slot for inserting single medium or plural media, a conveying unit that conveys the single medium or plural media into the housing, an image capturing unit that captures an image of the single medium or plural media conveyed, a control unit that controls at least the conveying unit and the image capturing unit, and an image processor configured to generate a captured image including single medium image or plural media image, and clip a plurality of medium images that correspond respectively to media images in the plural media image off the captured image when the generated captured image includes the plural media image in a direction along a width direction of the insertion slot. The image processor outputs the plurality of medium images clipped in an order of insertion of the plural media.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of an embodiment includes a heating unit, first and second keeping units, and first and second transport units. The heating unit heats an image formed on a sheet. The first and second keeping units keep sheets. The first transport unit transports the sheet from the first keeping unit to the heating unit to form an image. The second transport unit transports the sheet from the second keeping unit to the heating unit by a transport distance shorter than a sheet transport distance of the first transport unit to erase the image.

Abstract: A printer device has a two-sided printing function and a circulatory transporting path for transporting a printing medium. The printer device is configured such that after creating a set of print data for a first recording surface to be printed with two-sided printing, the printer device adds a set of dummy print data for a second recording surface corresponding to a back side of the first recording surface to the set of print data for the first recording surface.

Abstract: Automatic document feeder includes a transport path member having a transport path surface configuring a transport path in a device body, a latching member that is mounted on a rotating shaft provided in the other end side, is urged in a first rotation direction latched to a latched portion, and holds the transport path member in closed transport path, and an operating member that is rotated up to an operating position by own weight thereof or urging force in a second rotation direction when the device body moves to an exposed position of the transport path member, and is mounted with allowance so that the latching member is rotated in the second rotation direction according to a further rotating operation in the second rotation direction from the operating position and the latching member is detached from the latched portion.

Abstract: A sheet sensing module and a duplex scanning apparatus having the sheet sensing module are provided. The sheet sensing module includes a first sensing arm, a second sensing arm, and an electronic sensor. The first sensing arm is partially exposed to a sheet feeding channel of the duplex scanning apparatus. The second sensing arm is partially exposed to an inverting channel of the duplex scanning apparatus. When a document is transferred through the sheet feeding channel to trigger said first sensing arm or the document is transferred through the inverting channel to trigger the second sensing arm, the electronic sensor generates a sensing signal.

Abstract: An automatic media feeder includes: a media stacker on which sheets are to be stacked; a discharged media stacker; a scanning position where the sheet is to be scanned; a first conveyance path from the media stacker to the scanning position; a feeding device configured to convey the sheet from the media stacker to the scan position along the first conveyance path; a discharging device configured to discharge the sheet that passed through the scanning position to the discharged media stacker; a first reverse mechanism configured to turn over the sheet conveyed from the media stacker toward the scanning position along the first conveyance path and return the turned-over sheet to the first conveyance path; and a second reverse mechanism configured to refeed the sheet that passes through the scanning position to the first conveyance path.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a feeding path and a plurality of feed roller sets. Through the feeding path, an original document is fed in one direction from a paper supply port to a paper discharge port. The plurality of the feed roller sets are arranged along the feeding path to be spaced apart from each other. When one side of an original document is scanned and when both sides of an original document are scanned, the plurality of the feed roller sets nip the original document to feed the original document along the feeding path. In this case, the plurality of the feed roller sets are all involved in feeding the original document.

Abstract: When a first elapse time ?t3 from time point t1 of stop of a transport motor reaches a first specified time S1, a registration roller electromagnetic clutch is engaged. At time point t2 at which the first elapse time ?t3 reaches 50 ms, normal rotation of the transport motor is started. At time point t3 at which a second elapse time ?t4 from the time point t2 reaches a second specified time S2 (a given length of time), a reverse roller electromagnetic clutch is switched from an engaged state to a disengaged state, rendering reverse rollers and sheet discharge rollers freely rotatable. At subsequent time point t4, a coil of a solenoid is de-energized, to separate the reverse rollers from each other.

Abstract: Disclosed is a document conveying apparatus including: a reading unit which read image information on a surface of a document; a driving-side discharge unit which conveys the document in a first direction in contact with the first surface, and discharges at least a part of the document; a driven-side discharge unit which receives transmission of a rotative force from the driving-side discharge unit, when being in contact with the driving-side discharge unit; a specific-direction conveying unit which conveys the document in an opposite direction to the first direction; a pressing force applying unit which applies a force in a third direction to the driven-side discharge unit so as to be in contact with the driving-side discharge unit; and a movement control unit which moves the driven-side discharge unit in an opposite direction to the third direction, when the document is in contact with the driven-side discharge unit.

Abstract: A duplex scanning apparatus includes a passageway, a first optical module, a second optical module, a transporting mechanism and an elastic pressing member. The first optical module is disposed on one side of the passageway. The second optical module is disposed on the other side of the passageway. The transporting mechanism transports an original sheet through the passageway and past a first scan position of the first optical module and a second scan position of the second optical module, and images of front and reverse sides of the original sheet are obtained, respectively. The elastic pressing member, disposed between the first scan position and the second scan position, pushes the original sheet towards an original supporting plane.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus including a main unit and an openable unit is provided. One of an upper-stream section and a lower-stream section in a sheet path with respect to a U-curved section is provided as an upper-level path, and the other of the upper-stream section and the lower-stream section is arranged in a lower-level path. The openable unit includes a movable piece arranged in a position along the lower-level path and is swingable to be close to and separated apart from the lower-level path. The movable piece is movable by its own weight from a closed position to an open position when the openable unit is moved to an open position. The movable piece serves as a part of a bottom surface of the lower-level path when in the closed position and exposes a part of the lower-level path when in the open position.

Abstract: An automatic document feeding device including a pick motor coupled with a pick assembly, a deskew motor coupled with a deskew assembly, a sensor assembly coupled with a main media path and the deskew motor, and a feed motor coupled with a feed assembly. The deskew motor drives the deskew assembly, the deskew assembly deskewing the media sheet and moving the media sheet from the pick assembly to the feed assembly, the deskew assembly moving independently of the pick assembly and the feed assembly. The sensor assembly includes a plurality of sensors. The sensor assembly senses the media sheet moving along the main media path and sends at least one signal to a computer. The computer, based on the at least one signal, sends, an activation signal to at least one of the pick, deskew and feed motors and the first scanner.

Abstract: A front-side image and a back-side image of a document are read using a plurality of image sensors mounted on a transfer path and are displayed on a display unit implemented by a touch screen, and a subsequent process of an image to be processed according to a selection of a user is performed. Accordingly, a user convenience in view of an operation to process a read image is improved.

Abstract: An image reader and document conveying method shorten times necessary for a discharge process that discharges a document in being conveyed and for an idle feeding process of a document that is left on a paper feed tray. If during double-sided reading, a stop key is operated to issue an instruction to cancel reading, a conveyance controller outputs a path specifying signal to select a single-sided path, and thereby a conveyance route is switched from a double-sided path to the single-sided path. For this reason, the discharge process that discharges a document being conveyed at the time of the reading cancellation to a paper discharge tray, and the idle feeding process that discharges a document left on a paper feed tray to the paper discharge tray are performed with use of the single-sided path that is shorter than the double-sided path, and therefore the times necessary for the discharge and idle feeding processes can be shortened.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fuser unit configured to make an image fused to a recording medium, a selecting unit configured to select a duplex scanning mode or a single-side scanning mode, a check unit configured to determine which one of the duplex scanning mode and the single-side scanning mode is selected, a duplex scanning unit configured to perform a scan when both sides of a document sheet are scanned upon the duplex scanning mode being selected, a setting unit configured to determine power supplied to the fuser unit upon determining, by the check unit, that the single-side scanning mode is selected, and a supply unit configured to supply the determined power to the fuser unit, wherein the determined power is equal to a sum of power consumed by the duplex scanning unit and power that is consumed by the fuser unit upon the duplex scanning mode being selected.

Abstract: When optically scanning a medium, scanning can proceed immediately even if the size of the medium is unknown. Before or when an optical reading device starts scanning to read all of a recording medium, the CPU 40 sets a scan block of a size that can always be scanned based on the output of media edge sensors 47 and the distance from the scanning position of the optical reading device to the detection position of the media edge sensors 47, and then scans the set scan block.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder with a drive system that can efficiently handle double-side scanning and accommodate more than one timing sequence for sequentially picking individual sheets from a stack using only two motors—a pick motor and a media motor. The automatic document feeder includes a pickup unit with a pick roller, a set of de-skew rollers, a main media path configured to guide a media sheet from the pickup unit to a scanning region and from the scanning region to an output tray, and a switch-back path configured to guide the media sheet back into the main media path. The drive system is operable to provide a high-speed picking mode and a delayed picking mode. In the high-speed picking mode, the pickup unit is driven by the pick motor to pull a subsequent media sheet from a stack of media sheet as soon as a previously pulled media sheet has passed the pick roller.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a document feed unit that can adopt a first attitude to sandwich a document against a document table and a second attitude to release the document. An attitude detection unit detects the attitude of the document feed unit. A document detection unit detects whether a document is on a placement section of the document feed unit. An input acceptance unit accepts a selection input indicating whether a document on the document table is a read object document when attitudes of the document feed unit have been detected in a second-to-first sequence by the attitude detection unit when a document is detected on the document placement section. A control unit sets a document on the document table as the current read object, when the input acceptance unit accepts a selection input indicating that the document on the document table is to be a read object document.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder of an image forming apparatus capable of improving a duplex scanning or printing (copying) efficiency includes a single scan path having a document admission passage to admit a document to a document scanning part and a document discharge passage to discharge the scanned document, a duplex scan path having a first document reversing and waiting passage diverged separately from the document discharge passage on the single scan path at the rear of the document scanning part to reverse the document, one surface of which is scanned, and admit the reversed document again to the document scanning part, and a document re-reversing path having a second document reversing and waiting passage diverged separately from the document discharge passage on the single scan path at the rear of the document scanning part to reverse the document, both surfaces of which are scanned, again and send the re-reversed document to the document discharge passage.

Abstract: A color conversion device includes an acquisition section and a correction section. The acquisition section acquires first color information of an image to be printed on a specific position in a first side of a recording paper and second color information of an image to be printed on a position corresponding to the specific position in a second side of the recording paper. The correction section corrects the first color information and second color information acquired by the acquisition section, based on combination information on color combination of images on the corresponding positions of the first side and the second side.

Abstract: A scanning device includes a transparent platen, a scanning module, a document transporting mechanism and a flexible pressing member. The scanning module is located in a scan zone and acquires through the transparent platen an image of a document. The document transporting mechanism transports the document along a passageway and across the scan zone. The flexible pressing member is disposed in the passageway, upstream of the scan zone or within the scan zone and located apart from the transparent platen by a gap. The flexible pressing member is deformed in a direction away from the transparent platen due to a force applied by the document transported across the scan zone.

Abstract: An image scanning method of an image scanning device, the method including: feeding multiply fed documents in a first path and scanning, by a scanning unit of the image scanning device, a first document of the multiply fed documents; outputting the first document through an exit unit; reversely driving the exit unit after the first document is output to reversely feed a second document of the multiply fed documents in a second path, and scanning the second document; and forming images of the first document and the second document, wherein the second path is used to reversely feed the second document to an upstream side of the scanning unit, in view of a feeding direction of the multiply fed documents.

Abstract: A sheet-fed double-sided document scanner is disclosed and includes a first image-capturing assembly, a second image-capturing assembly, a sheet-transporting mechanism, a power receiving interface, and a control circuit. The scanner switches scanning modes according to a power input. The sheet-transporting mechanism transports a document past the first image-capturing assembly and the second image-capturing assembly. The power receiving interface receives power. When a power level of the received power is less than a default threshold level, the control circuit controls the scanner to scan a first side and a second side of the document in a first mode. When the power level of the received power reaches the default threshold level, the control circuit controls the scanner to scan the first side and the second side of the document in a second mode.

Abstract: A document feeder includes a feed tray, a catch tray, a carrying path extending from the feed tray to the catch tray via a scanning position, a reversal path diverging from a point on the carrying path downstream relative to the scanning position and connecting to a point on the carrying path upstream relative to the scanning position, a switchback mechanism conveying a sheet back to front from the reversal path toward the scanning point, an ejection mode switching mechanism having a flap provided upstream relative to the catch tray movably relative to an ejection roller, the ejection mode switching mechanism switching an ejection mode by moving the flap between a first mode to eject the sheets on already-ejected sheets and a second mode to insert the sheets under already-ejected sheets. The flap forms part of the reversal path in the first mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus align an adjuster with an edge of media supported by a tray. The adjuster is operably coupled to a gauge that moves in response to movement of the adjuster. A sensor senses the gauge to detect a dimension of the media while the media is supported by the tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section for transferring a toner image onto a sheet; a fixing section for fixing the toner image on the sheet; and a reversing section for reversing the sheet front and back. A first pair of rollers conveys a sheet to which a fix processing is applied to the reversing section; a second pair of rollers feeds the sheet from the reversing section by reverse rotation; and a third pair of rollers transfers the sheet back to the image forming section so that an image forming is performed with respect to the back side of the sheet. One roller of the second pair of rollers has on its outer peripheral surface an arc-shaped surface and a non-arc-shaped surface receding inwardly from a circle drawn continuously from the arc-shaped surface.

Abstract: A document feeding device comprises a document input tray, a document output tray, a feeding mechanism provided for a feeding path connecting the document input tray and the document output tray via a scanning position to feed each document from the document input tray to the scanning position and to the document output tray, a turnover mechanism provided for a turnover path connected to the feeding path to return the document after passing through the scanning position to the upstream side of the scanning position while interchanging the front end and rear end of the document, and an ejection mechanism configured so that its document ejection mode can be switched between a first ejection mode for successively ejecting each document while stacking it on documents already ejected to the document output tray and a second ejection mode for successively ejecting each document while sliding it under the already ejected documents.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently scanning a duplex document in which a scan unit sequentially scans both sides of a sheet of a duplex document by moving the sheet across a reader, and a reverse output unit to output the sheet after turning over the sheet. Therefore, since the sheet of a document can be fed and scanned while the second side of the previous sheet of the document is scanned, scanning time can be reduced. Particularly, the reduction in scanning time is very useful when multiple sheets of a duplex document need to be scanned.

Abstract: A system and method for application in single-sheet-feed copiers that automatically tends to the handling of original sheets after they are sequentially and individually placed into the single sheet-feed copier, including depositing the original sheets in a receptacle in a collated manner, without the requirement of direct handling of the original sheets by a user to achieve the collation.

Abstract: In one implementation, a method scans a media to provide a first image and a second image. The method further subtracts the first image from the second image.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder of the present invention is provided with a turning/discharging path in a reversing path in order to read images on both sides of documents in lengths less than the main size and discharge in a discharging tray. Further, an aligning wall is provided to bump ends of documents discharged from the turning/discharging path against it. Thus, the documents of which both sides are read are discharged in the sequentially collated state at a high-speed and the aligned state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a duplex scanning apparatus. The duplex scanning apparatus includes a sheet input tray for placing a stack of documents thereon. For performing duplex scanning operations on the stack of paper sheets, the documents are successively scanned from the bottommost one to the uppermost one. As a consequence, the scanned documents are stacked in the sheet ejecting tray in the same order as that of the original stack.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus includes a reversal tray on which printable media are temporarily stacked, and a reverse roller installed inside a main body immediately before the reversal tray at a junction between the reversal tray and an end of a second moving path, which is driven in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions by power transmitted via a discharge roller to guide one of the printable media towards and away from the reversal tray along a second moving path, wherein a feeder, a pick-up roller, a scanning unit, a discharge tray, and transport rollers are installed on a first moving path in order to scan images from one side of the printable medium, and the reversal tray and the reverse roller are installed on the second moving path in order to scan images from the other side of the printable medium.

Abstract: It is a first aspect of the present invention to provide a scanning device that includes a first imaging device adapted to convert contents of a first surface of a medium to a digital representation of the contents of the first surface of the medium, a scanning path adapted to guide the medium adjacent to the first imaging device, a first output path for guiding the medium to a first output tray, the first output path connected to the scanning path, a second output path for guiding the medium to a second output tray, the second output path connected to the scanning path, and a diverter guide adapted to direct the medium from the scanning path to one of the first output path and the second output path.

Abstract: A double side image scanner includes a case having a medium guide track with a reference loading line, a main frame mounted inside the case, a first roll feed including a first feed roller mounted on a front side of the guide track and a first idle roller disposed above the first feed roller for cooperating with the first feed roller to load the medium, a second roll feed including a second feed roller mounted on a rear side of the guide track and a second idle roller disposed above the second feed roller for cooperating with the second feed roller to load the medium, a drive device for rotating the first feed roller and the second feed roller, first and second image sensors for scanning opposite surfaces of the medium to acquire image data, and a tracking device for biasing the medium toward the reference loading line.

Abstract: A document feeding device for handling and reverting double-sided document sheets to an original sequence is provided, including a housing unit and a switching unit. The housing unit includes a delivery passage, a flipping passage, a bypass area, a return passage and upper and lower turning passages. The switching unit, pivotally disposed in the bypass area, includes a first switching member, a second switching member connecting to a side of the first switching member, and a guiding passage between the first switching member and the second switching member. The switching unit switches between a first position and a second position. By the switching of the switching unit, the double-sided document is flipped, scanned and reverted to an original sequence.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a feed tray receiving sheets, a catch tray receiving the sheets ejected thereon, a feeding mechanism conveying the sheets from the feed tray to the catch tray, an ejection mode switching mechanism switching an ejection mode between a first mode in which the sheets are sequentially ejected on a stack of sheets already ejected and a second mode in which the sheets are sequentially ejected and inserted under a stack of sheets already ejected, an ejection detecting sensor detecting a sheet ejected on the catch tray, and a controller configured to, in response to an instruction to start feeding the sheets, forbid driving of the feeding mechanism when determining that the ejection mode is set to the second mode and determining with the ejection detecting sensor that a sheet is on the catch tray.

Abstract: A scanning device scans both sides of a document. The document is fed between a first image sensor module and a second image sensor module. The second image sensor module is moved with respect to the first image sensor module so that a separation distance between the second image sensor module and the first image sensor module is based on a thickness of the document. A first side of the document is scanned using a first scan line located in the first image sensor module. A second side of the document is scanned using a second scan line located in the second image sensor module. When the document is fed between the first image sensor module and the second image sensor module, the document does not reach the first scan line and the second scan line simultaneously.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the same to improve a transferring path of a document to prevent curl from being generated in the document and to prevent interference between a document having both surfaces scanned and a previously discharged document. The image reading apparatus includes a scan path having one end connected to a document supplying unit and the other end connected to a document discharging unit, a scan unit to read information recorded on a document passing through the scan path, a two-sided document branch path to branch from the scan path so that the document whose first surface is scanned by the scan unit passes through the two-sided document branch path before the document is reversed for a two-side scanning process, and a two-sided document transferring path having one end connected to the two-sided document branch path and other end connected to the scan path.

Abstract: In an automatic original conveying device, a motor rotates in a single direction and a driving force transmission mechanism transmits the driving force of the motor from a sheet feeding roller to a switchback roller. The sheet feeding roller conveys an original that stands by in a switchback conveying path to a second conveying path. A sorting unit sorts the original conveyed from a paper delivery path to an original delivery table or to the switchback conveying path. The switchback roller is provided between the sorting unit and the switchback conveying path and it is rotatable in a normal direction or a reverse direction.

Abstract: A document feeding device includes: a document placing tray; a document ejection tray disposed above the document placing tray; a feeding path; a separating mechanism; and ejection rollers. A nip position of the ejection rollers is arranged in a side opposite to a side where the document placing tray is arranged with reference to a vertical plane passing through a separation position of the separating mechanism.

Abstract: An image reading device and an image forming apparatus and methods thereof can achieve a duplex scanning operation and enable a user to easily arrange the scanned documents after being discharged. The image reading device may include a supply path coupled to a document supply port, a simplex document feeding path coupled to the supply path to first guide the document to the scan unit, a duplex document feeding path coupled to the supply path to second guide the document to the scan unit to scan a first surface of the document, and a duplex document circulating path to communicate with the duplex document feeding path and guide a second surface of the first surface scanned document to the scan unit.

Abstract: A double side scanner module which consists of a U-shaped inversion device and two image information reading devices is provided for reading images on the two sides of an original in a single pass. The U-shaped inversion device has two ends for providing a paper feeding path and a paper output path respectively. The two ends are at the same side for the convenience of operation. At both of the two ends, there is a glass window. Beneath each of the glass windows, there is an image information reading device. When an original is fed into the paper feeding end and conveyed through the first glass window, the first image information reading device starts to read the image on the first side of the original. When the original is conveyed through the U-shaped inversion device, the scanned side will be inverted to the other side.