Abstract: A document transport apparatus includes a sheet feeding device for feeding a document from a sheet feeding tray; a transport device for receiving the document from the sheet feeding device and transporting the document to a predetermined position on a platen of an image reading apparatus; a sheet discharging device for discharging the document to a sheet discharging tray; a switch back path for turning the document upside down and reversing a front end and a rear end thereof, and for subsequently guiding the document to the sheet discharging device; and sheet discharging path for turning the document upside down, and subsequently guiding the document to the sheet discharging device. A control device controls such that the document is transported to the switch back path and returned from the switch back path to the platen via the sheet discharging path.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a stacking tray for stacking a sheet, a sheet feeding device for feeding the sheet, a register device for aligning a leading edge of the sheet fed by the sheet feeding device, a recognition device for recognizing a state that the sheets stacked on the stacking tray have different widths, and a setting device for setting a feeding distance according to a result of the recognition device. A control device controls the sheet feeding device to feed the sheet for the feeding distance.

Abstract: The document feeder apparatus is equipped with a sheet supply unit including a sheet supply member for supplying an original to a reading position; a transport unit including a transport member for receiving the original from the sheet supply member and transporting the original to the reading position; a discharge unit including a discharge member for discharging the original read at the reading position; and a flat plate shape support frame for supporting the respective units. The sheet supply unit and discharge unit are mounted on one of front and rear sides of the support frame, and the transport unit is mounted on the other of the front and rear sides of the support frame, so that each unit is unitized. Further, a sheet supply opening for guiding the original from the sheet supply unit to the transport unit is established on one side of the support frame, and an opening for guiding the original from the transport unit to the discharge unit is established on the other side of the support frame.

Abstract: A sheet transfer apparatus transfers a sheet to a predetermined position. The apparatus includes a discharge tray; a support device for rotationally supporting the discharge tray; an interconnecting device that activates according to a rotation of the discharge tray; and a sheet regulating device engaging the interconnecting means to be movable between a regulating position for regulating a movement of the sheet and a retracted position for allowing the sheets on the discharge tray to move. A control device prevents the sheet regulating device from moving to the regulating position from the retracted position even though the discharge tray is rotated when a load greater than a predetermined value is applied to the sheet regulating device.

Abstract: A document transport apparatus includes a sheet feeding device for feeding a document from a sheet feeding tray; a transport device for receiving the document from the sheet feeding device and transporting the document to a predetermined position on a platen of an image reading apparatus; a sheet discharging device for discharging the document to a sheet discharging tray; a switch back path for turning the document upside down and reversing a front end and a rear end thereof, and for subsequently guiding the document to the sheet discharging device; and sheet discharging path for turning the document upside down, and subsequently guiding the document to the sheet discharging device. A control device controls such that the document is transported to the switch back path and returned from the switch back path to the platen via the sheet discharging path.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a stacking tray for stacking a sheet, a sheet feeding device for feeding the sheet, a register device for aligning a leading edge of the sheet fed by the sheet feeding device, a recognition device for recognizing a state that the sheets stacked on the stacking tray have different widths, and a setting device for setting a feeding distance according to a result of the recognition device. A control device controls the sheet feeding device to feed the sheet for the feeding distance.

Abstract: A sheet transfer apparatus transfers a sheet to a predetermined position. The apparatus includes a discharge tray; a support device for rotationally supporting the discharge tray; an interconnecting device that activates according to a rotation of the discharge tray; and a sheet regulating device engaging the interconnecting means to be movable between a regulating position for regulating a movement of the sheet and a retracted position for allowing the sheets on the discharge tray to move. A control device prevents the sheet regulating device from moving to the regulating position from the retracted position even though the discharge tray is rotated when a load greater than a predetermined value is applied to the sheet regulating device.

Abstract: A sheet transfer apparatus for an image reading apparatus includes a sheet supply tray for storing a sheet; a sheet supply device for drawing out the sheet on the sheet supply tray; a transfer device for receiving the sheet from the sheet supply means and placing the sheet at a predetermined position on a platen of an image reading apparatus for reading the image thereon; a discharge device for discharging the sheet on the platen after reading the image thereon; and a discharge tray for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge device. A switchback device is disposed above the platen for reversing the sheet when necessary, and includes a switchback path for receiving the sheet to reverse the same. The switchback path includes a first opening portion for opening a first area near an inlet side, and a second opening portion for opening a second area away from the inlet side of the switchback path. The switchback path is easily accessible when the sheet is jammed.

Abstract: The document feeder apparatus is equipped with a sheet supply unit including a sheet supply member for supplying an original to a reading position; a transport unit including a transport member for receiving the original from the sheet supply member and transporting the original to the reading position; a discharge unit including a discharge member for discharging the original read at the reading position; and a flat plate shape support frame for supporting the respective units. The sheet supply unit and discharge unit are mounted on one of front and rear sides of the support frame, and the transport unit is mounted on the other of the front and rear sides of the support frame, so that each unit is unitized. Further, a sheet supply opening for guiding the original from the sheet supply unit to the transport unit is established on one side of the support frame, and an opening for guiding the original from the transport unit to the discharge unit is established on the other side of the support frame.

Abstract: A sheet transfer apparatus for an image reading apparatus includes a sheet supply tray for storing a sheet; a sheet supply device for drawing out the sheet on the sheet supply tray; a transfer device for receiving the sheet from the sheet supply means and placing the sheet at a predetermined position on a platen of an image reading apparatus for reading the image thereon; a discharge device for discharging the sheet on the platen after reading the image thereon; and a discharge tray for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge device. A switchback device is disposed above the platen for reversing the sheet when necessary, and includes a switchback path for receiving the sheet to reverse the same. The switchback path includes a first opening portion for opening a first area near an inlet side, and a second opening portion for opening a second area away from the inlet side of the switchback path. The switchback path is easily accessible when the sheet is jammed.

Abstract: A document feeder is formed of a reading section for reading an original document while the original document is being transferred; a transfer roller having a transfer path therearound with an inlet located near the reading section and an exit so that the original document is transferred from the inlet to the exit through the reading section; and first and second rollers pressed against the transfer roller. The first and second rollers are located respectively in upstream and down stream sides of the transfer path relative to the reading section. A guide member is overlapped with the transfer roller at one end so that the original document from the second roller is guided from the one end to the other end.

Abstract: A document feeder of the invention is formed of a platen for reading and scanning original documents, a document tray for placing the original documents to be processed situated above the platen, and an ejection tray for receiving the original documents after being processed situated between the platen and the document tray spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction. A transfer path is formed for transferring the original documents from the document tray to the ejection tray through a reading position on the platen. An exit of the document tray, an entrance of the ejection tray and the reading position on the platen are arranged laterally in this order above the platen with a predetermined distance spaced apart from each other. A separating portion for separating the original documents one by one is situated between the exit of the document tray and the entrance of the ejection tray to be laterally spaced apart from each other. The document feeder is made compact in size.

Abstract: A document feeder is formed of a reading section for scanning an original document while the original document is being transferred at a predetermined speed; a feeding stacker for supplying the original document to the reading section; a transfer roller having a transfer path therearound for guiding the original document transferred from the feeding stacker to the reading section; and first and second rollers located respectively in upstream and down stream sides of the transfer path for transferring the original document. A sensing device is located in the transfer path between the first and second rollers for detecting a front edge of the original document. A driving device is connected to the transfer roller to control a rotational speed of the transfer roller based on a detecting signal of the sensing device.

Abstract: There is provided a transfer path for receiving a document fed, sheet by sheet, from a document placing device, and for leading the document toward a document reading portion for reading the document placed on a stationary platen of an image forming device. In a space between the document reading portion and the document placing device disposed above the document reading portion, there is provided a switchback path for leading the document ejected from the transfer path toward an inlet side of the transfer path by a switchback-transfer. Therefore, a structure of the image forming device can be compact, front and back surfaces of the document can be automatically reversed, and an image on the document can be read while the document is being transferred.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder for feeding and discharging a document or documents to and from a document handling device such as a copying machine includes a document supply unit having a separation roller and register rollers, positioning unit and discharge unit, which are driven by a drive unit having a single reversible driving motor. The separation roller is operated to forward the document to a document reading portion when driving the driving motor in a first direction, and stopped when driving the driving motor in a second direction. The register rollers are operated only when driving the driving motor in a second direction. By slowing down the separation roller just before the document collides with the register rollers, the document can be transferred at high speed without being damaged.