Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a document supporter, a guide, a carriage, and a reader. The carriage has a recessed portion. A first protrusion, a second protrusion, a third protrusion, a fourth protrusion, a fifth protrusion, and a sixth protrusion are provided on the recessed portion. Each of the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the third protrusion, and the fourth protrusion has a distal end portion in a protruding direction thereof, and the distal end portion is in contact with the guide when the carriage is mounted on the guide. A protruding amount of each of the fifth protrusion and the sixth protrusion in a protruding direction thereof is less than that of each of the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the third protrusion, and the fourth protrusion.

Abstract: Temperature-dependent motor control device, including: a motor controller configured to switch a motor control state among an activated state in which the motor is activated by a first current, an activation stopped state in which activation of the motor is stopped by stopping current supply, and an activation suspended state in which activation of the motor is suspended with a second current smaller than the first current kept supplied; and a temperature estimator configured to calculate an estimated motor temperature value and to perform a first calculation for gradually increasing the estimated value when the motor is in the activated state, a second calculation for gradually decreasing the estimated value when the motor is in the activation stopped state, and a third calculation for gradually decreasing the estimated value at a rate of decrease lower than that in the second calculation when the motor is in the activation suspended state.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a document supporter, a guide, a carriage, and a reader. The carriage has a recessed portion. A first protrusion, a second protrusion, a third protrusion, a fourth protrusion, a fifth protrusion, and a sixth protrusion are provided on the recessed portion. Each of the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the third protrusion, and the fourth protrusion has a distal end portion in a protruding direction thereof, and the distal end portion is in contact with the guide when the carriage is mounted on the guide. A protruding amount of each of the fifth protrusion and the sixth protrusion in a protruding direction thereof is less than that of each of the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the third protrusion, and the fourth protrusion.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a conveyor configured to convey a sheet in a conveying direction along a conveyance path; a first reading unit configured to read an image of a first surface of the sheet conveyed by the conveyor through a first reading surface; a second reading unit configured to read an image of a second surface opposite to the first surface of the sheet conveyed by the conveyor through a second reading surface; a first pressing member, which is made of a resin, is configured to face the first reading surface and is configured to urge the sheet passing through the conveyance path towards the first reading surface; and a second pressing member, which is made of metal, is configured to face the second reading surface and configured to urge the sheet passing through the conveyance path towards the second reading surface.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a conveyor configured to convey a sheet in a conveying direction along a conveyance path; a first reading unit configured to read an image of a first surface of the sheet conveyed by the conveyor through a first reading surface; a second reading unit configured to read an image of a second surface opposite to the first surface of the sheet conveyed by the conveyor through a second reading surface; a first pressing member, which is made of a resin, is configured to face the first reading surface and is configured to urge the sheet passing through the conveyance path towards the first reading surface; and a second pressing member, which is made of metal, is configured to face the second reading surface and configured to urge the sheet passing through the conveyance path towards the second reading surface.

Abstract: Temperature-dependent motor control device, including: a motor controller configured to switch a motor control state among an activated state in which the motor is activated by a first current, an activation stopped state in which activation of the motor is stopped by stopping current supply, and an activation suspended state in which activation of the motor is suspended with a second current smaller than the first current kept supplied; and a temperature estimator configured to calculate an estimated motor temperature value and to perform a first calculation for gradually increasing the estimated value when the motor is in the activated state, a second calculation for gradually decreasing the estimated value when the motor is in the activation stopped state, and a third calculation for gradually decreasing the estimated value at a rate of decrease lower than that in the second calculation when the motor is in the activation suspended state.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a conveyor configured to convey a sheet in a conveying direction along a conveyance path; a first reading unit configured to read an image of a first surface of the sheet conveyed by the conveyor through a first reading surface; a second reading unit configured to read an image of a second surface opposite to the first surface of the sheet conveyed by the conveyor through a second reading surface; a first pressing member, which is made of a resin, is configured to face the first reading surface and is configured to urge the sheet passing through the conveyance path towards the first reading surface; and a second pressing member, which is made of metal, is configured to face the second reading surface and configured to urge the sheet passing through the conveyance path towards the second reading surface.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a conveyor configured to convey a sheet in a conveying direction along a conveyance path; a first reading unit configured to read an image of a first surface of the sheet conveyed by the conveyor through a first reading surface; a second reading unit configured to read an image of a second surface opposite to the first surface of the sheet conveyed by the conveyor through a second reading surface; a first pressing member, which is made of a resin, is configured to face the first reading surface and is configured to urge the sheet passing through the conveyance path towards the first reading surface; and a second pressing member, which is made of metal, is configured to face the second reading surface and configured to urge the sheet passing through the conveyance path towards the second reading surface.

Abstract: A sheet conveyer device, including a roller to convey a sheet by rotating in a normal direction and a holder rotatably arranged on a roller shaft, is provided. The holder includes a roller gear system arranged on the roller shaft and having a roller driving gear to drive the roller, a shutter rotatably arranged on a shutter shaft to restrict access of the sheet to the roller, a shutter gear system to connect a path between the roller gear system and the shutter, a one-way clutch to disconnect the path between the roller gear system and the shutter when the roller rotates in the normal direction, and a torque limiter to allow the roller to rotate in a reverse direction. The holder rotates about the roller shaft in the same reverse direction as the roller when the roller rotates in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device to convey a sheet in a sheet path is provided. The sheet conveying device includes a separator roller, which is arranged to be rotatably in contact with the sheet to apply conveying force to the sheet, a pad assembly including a separator pad, which is arranged to be in contact with the sheet stack to apply convey resistance to the sheet stack, and a holder, which is swingably attached to a base member and holds the separator pad, the base member being in a fixed position with respect to the separator roller, a spring, which urges the pad assembly toward the separator roller, and a slidable member, which is attached to the pad assembly to be integrally movable with the pad assembly and to be slidably in contact with a first slidable section in the base member.

Abstract: A sheet conveyer device, including a roller to convey a sheet by rotating in a normal direction and a holder rotatably arranged on a roller shaft, is provided. The holder includes a roller gear system arranged on the roller shaft and having a roller driving gear to drive the roller, a shutter rotatably arranged on a shutter shaft to restrict access of the sheet to the roller, a shutter gear system to connect a path between the roller gear system and the shutter, a one-way clutch to disconnect the path between the roller gear system and the shutter when the roller rotates in the normal direction, and a torque limiter to allow the roller to rotate in a reverse direction. The holder rotates about the roller shaft in the same reverse direction as the roller when the roller rotates in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device to convey a sheet in a sheet path is provided. The sheet conveying device includes a separator roller, which is arranged to be rotatably in contact with the sheet to apply conveying force to the sheet, a pad assembly including a separator pad, which is arranged to be in contact with the sheet stack to apply convey resistance to the sheet stack, and a holder, which is swingably attached to a base member and holds the separator pad, the base member being in a fixed position with respect to the separator roller, a spring, which urges the pad assembly toward the separator roller, and a slidable member, which is attached to the pad assembly to be integrally movable with the pad assembly and to be slidably in contact with a first slidable section in the base member.

Abstract: A document feeder configured to feed a document in a first direction includes a tray configured to load a document or a set of documents on a loading surface thereof, first and second contact portions disposed to contact the document on the loading surface, and a detecting unit configured detect whether a document is loaded on the loading surface, the detecting unit including an actuator provided between the first contact portion and the second contact portion, the actuator projecting upward from the loading surface and being configured to be moved down due to contact with the document on the loading surface.

Abstract: A document feeder configured to feed a document in a first direction includes a tray configured to load a document or a set of documents on a loading surface thereof, first and second contact portions disposed to contact the document on the loading surface, and a detecting unit configured detect whether a document is loaded on the loading surface, the detecting unit including an actuator provided between the first contact portion and the second contact portion, the actuator projecting upward from the loading surface and being configured to be moved down due to contact with the document on the loading surface.