Abstract: The present invention provides a scanner apparatus provided with both a flatbed-type mechanism and an ADF-type mechanism. The ADF mechanism can be set at an arbitrary position with an arbitrary orientation for use, whereby convenience for the user is improved while ensuring freedom with regard to the setting place of the apparatus. Further, the scanner apparatus is made such that reading with the ADF unit and reading with the flatbed unit can be performed simultaneously. A movable coupling mechanism is provided at a joint portion between the ADF mechanism and the flatbed mechanism. The movable coupling mechanism does not fix the position and orientation of the ADF mechanism and enables the ADF mechanism to be freely moved and rotated. With this movable coupling mechanism, the ADF mechanism can be disposed at either of the left and right ends of the paper-pressing board of the flatbed unit or at an arbitrarily position in consideration of convenience for a user and the setting place of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scanner apparatus provided with both a flatbed-type mechanism and an ADF-type mechanism. The ADF mechanism can be set at an arbitrary position with an arbitrary orientation for use, whereby convenience for the user is improved while ensuring freedom with regard to the setting place of the apparatus. Further, the scanner apparatus is made such that reading with the ADF unit and reading with the flatbed unit can be performed simultaneously. A movable coupling mechanism is provided at a joint portion between the ADF mechanism and the flatbed mechanism. The movable coupling mechanism does not fix the position and orientation of the ADF mechanism and enables the ADF mechanism to be freely moved and rotated. With this movable coupling mechanism, the ADF mechanism can be disposed at either of the left and right ends of the paper-pressing board of the flatbed unit or at an arbitrarily position in consideration of convenience for a user and the setting place of the apparatus.

Abstract: An image reader (100) has a removable memory device (2) which stores authentication information for performing identity authentication of a user. An image reader body (1) has an authentication processing unit (6) performing the identity authentication to identify whether a user is the authorized person by checking authentication information (8) stored in the removable memory device (2) and registered authentication information (9) in advance in the image reader (100) with each other. Only when the authentication by the authentication processing unit (6) is successful, a document (3) is read by using the image reader (100), and a digital signature or approval information is added to image data (15) which has been read.

Abstract: The present invention enables automatic creation of filing folders, without requiring a user to create filing folders, before an operation of reading documents by use of a scanner and filing them. A folder configuration including folders for storing receipt data is created on mail software. A folder configuration analysis section obtains and analyzes the folder configuration (or data management configuration) of the mail software. A folder configuration comparison/creation section creates in a file system a folder configuration identical to the analyzed folder configuration, and performs file management. With this configuration, a user can execute filing processing for the folder configuration which is identical to the folder configuration on the mail software, which the user is accustomed to using. Therefore, the user can store files in proper folders without confusion.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus includes: a unit for receiving image data and information on the type of the image data: There is at least one data output port each or which is connected with a first recording device; and/or at least one second recording device. The facsimile apparatus further includes a recording device determining unit which determines one recording device among the first recording device and the at least one second recording device, based on the information. A selector unit outputs the received image data, based on the determination by the recording device determining unit, through one of the at least one data output port corresponding to the first recording device, or to one of the at least one second recording device. The facsimile apparatus may contain an image type determining unit for examining the received image data to determine the type of image data, instead of receiving the above described information.

Abstract: A sheet separator to separate sheets of documents supplied as a stack into a single sheet. The sheet separator has a first separating mechanism and a second separating mechanism, each of which has a separating roller. The second separating mechanism is provided at a position downstream from the first separating mechanism. The peripheral velocity of the second separating roller may be set lower than a peripheral velocity of the first separating roller.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus has an automatic document feeder and a flat bed, wherein a backing part which is read so as to ensure that a leading edge of an original is read is configured to have a white area and a gray area, either the white area or the gray area being read depending on a type of the original, and the original being read subsequently.

Abstract: A document transport apparatus has a box-shaped housing, or case, having first and second openings provided in a sidewall of the case, a hopper in a first drawer movable into and out of the case through the first opening, and a stacker part in a second drawer movable in and out of the case through the second opening. A transport mechanism transports a document sheet, in the closed position of the first drawer, from the hopper part, past an image reader/printer, for reading data from or printing data onto the transported sheet, to the stacker part, again with the second drawer being closed.

Abstract: A product catalog related to an image reading apparatus includes a recording medium having a first side and a second side, at least one description region provided on an arbitrary one of the first and second sides of the recording medium and including characters and/or graphics describing the image reading apparatus, and at least one image evaluation pattern provided on an arbitrary one of the first and second sides of the recording medium and including a pattern for evaluating a performance of the image reading apparatus which processes the pattern.

Abstract: An image reading method and apparatus enable a high-speed, efficient reading of a multicolor image and a monochromatic image. The image reading apparatus has a color image pickup unit, a first light source and a second light source. An output switching unit selectively switches to either a first output state, where plural kinds of read information from the color image pickup unit are all output as a result of an image reading, or a second output state, where only one kind of read information among the plural kinds of read information from the color image pickup unit is selected to be output as a result of an image reading. A lighting control unit controls lighting conditions of the first light source and the second light source. A switching control unit controls a switching condition of the output switching unit.

Abstract: A document transport apparatus has a box-shaped housing, or case, having first and second openings provided in a sidewall of the case, a drawer movable into and out of the case through the first opening and a hopper part accessible through the second opening. A transport mechanism transports a document sheet, in the closed position of the drawer, from the hopper part and past an image reader/printer, for reading data from or printing data onto the transported sheet, to the stacker part.

Abstract: In an image scanner having a flat bed type structure and an automatic document feeding type structure, the scanner includes: an image read unit at least including a lamp, a mirror and CCD sensors to read a manuscript which is put on the structure; an image control unit operatively connected to the image read unit to process an image read by the image read unit; a host computer operatively connected to the image control means; and the image control unit including a main printed-circuit board provided for the original functions of the image scanner, a main connector connecting the image control means to the host computer, a user printed-circuit board selectively provided by a user as an extended slot and the board being mounted within the image control unit, and a user connector connecting the main printed-circuit board to the user printed-circuit board.

Abstract: In an image scanner having a flat bed type structure and an automatic document feeding type structure, the scanner includes: an image read unit at least including a lamp, a mirror and CCD sensors to read a manuscript which is put on the structure; an image control unit operatively connected to the image read unit to process an image read by the image read unit; a host computer operatively connected to the image control means; and the image control unit including a main printed-circuit board provided for the original functions of the image scanner, a main connector connecting the image control means to the host computer, a user printed-circuit board selectively provided by a user as an extended slot and the board being mounted within the image control unit, and a user connector connecting the main printed-circuit board to the user printed-circuit board.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a box shaped case (10) having first and second openings (12) provided on arbitrary side surfaces thereof, a drawer (11) provided within the first opening (11), capable of opening and closing with respect to the box shaped case (10) and having a hopper part (1) on which a sheet (6) is placed, and a transport means (2) for transporting the sheet placed on the hopper part (1) within the box shaped case (10) to a stacker part (5) which is provided within the box shaped case (10) and communicates to the second opening (12).

Abstract: A reading apparatus serving as an input means for simultaneously reading printed image information from both the front and back of a document, converting the read information into digital data, and storing the digital data on a data recording medium, such as an optical disk, comprises document carrier mechanisms, a front reading sensor, a back reading sensor, a front size determining sensor, a back size determining sensor, a document size comparator, and a reading control circuit. These components are incorporated in the reading apparatus. The document carrier mechanisms carry documents inserted through a slot through the apparatus and eject them through an outlet. The front data reading sensor and back data reading sensor read printed images from the front and back of a document. The front size determining sensor and back size determining sensor are located upstream of the front data reader in the document carrier path, and detect the sizes of the front and back of a document.

Abstract: The image reading device including a light source for irradiating an original, an image sensor for reading information on the original to produce an image, and a platen adapted to contact the original at the reading station. The platen includes a first, black portion located under the original and a second, white portion located outside the original. The widths of the first and second portions are automatically changed. The platen is formed by an endless belt having a triangular black region and a complementary white region. The endless belt is moved so that the width of the triangular black region at the reading position corresponds to the width of the original. The platen is alternatively formed as a box-shaped member or of liquid crystal panel.

Abstract: An input receiving apparatus receives an input such as an order slip transmitted from a facsimile apparatus at a user terminal. The user makes a conversation reservation before the user transmits the image data of the order slip. After the input receiving apparatus receives the image data, the input receiving apparatus switches a connection line from a facsimile receiving apparatus to a facsimile transmitting apparatus within the input receiving apparatus within the same call upon receipt of the conversation reservation signal automatically transmits a switching signal to the facsimile apparatus at the user end and performs a character recognition by extracting a character portion from the image data, thereby preparing a return image data based on the character recognition. When the facsimile apparatus at the user end is ready for receiving the return image data, the input receiving apparatus transmits the return image data.

Abstract: A document reading device suitable for use for a personal computer, a facsimile, and a work station or the like, and comprises a reading means for reading the image information provided on a manuscript, a read controlling means for controlling the reading means in such a way that when the reading operation of the reading means is interrupted while reading said manuscript, a predetermined amount of the image information read by the reading means immediately before said interruption occurred, can be reread after the reading operation is restarted, and a processing means for processing both groups of the image information duplicately read by the reading means before and after the interruption thereof, respectively, by modifying them in such a way that a portion of the image information finally output and based upon the image information read by the reading means before the interruption, and another portion of the image information finally output and based upon the image information read by the reading means afte

Abstract: An image processing system for obtaining a binary signal from a multi-level signal read by an image scanner from an original document including mixed characters, ruled lines, and photos, and then obtaining a reproduced image from the binary signal, the image processing system including: a fixed slice processing unit for receiving said multi-level signal, and for slicing the multi-level signal by a predetermined fixed threshold level, and outputting the binary signal sliced by the fixed threshold level; a half-tone processing unit for receiving the multi-level signal, and for slicing the multi-level signal by a plurality of threshold levels defined by a dither method, and outputting the binary signal sliced by the plural threshold levels defined by the dither method; a character/photo separating unit for receiving the multi-level signal; and for detecting a pattern of the multi-level signal, separating either a character portion or photo portion based on the pattern, and outputting a selection signal; a select