Abstract: The invention provides a paper supply apparatus for an image reading apparatus, an image reading apparatus with a paper supply apparatus and a paper supply apparatus which can be used suitably with an image scanner wherein a large amount of paper sheets can be taken out one by one with certainty and read successively and rapidly. The paper supply apparatus successively supplies paper sheets accommodated therein to a paper transport mechanism along which an optical image reading mechanism is disposed, and comprises a paper supply hopper, a paper supply roller located above the paper supply hopper for forwarding the paper sheets accommodated in the paper supply hopper, a paper supply roller driving mechanism for rotating the paper supply roller, and a paper separation mechanism for preventing two or more paper sheets forwarded by the paper supply roller from being sent to the paper transport mechanism.

Abstract: The invention provides a paper supply apparatus for an image reading apparatus, an image reading apparatus with a paper supply apparatus and a paper supply apparatus which can be used suitably with an image scanner wherein a large amount of paper sheets can be taken out one by one with certainty and read successively and rapidly. The paper supply apparatus successively supplies paper sheets accommodated therein to a paper transport mechanism along which an optical image reading mechanism is disposed, and comprises a paper supply hopper, a paper supply roller located above the paper supply hopper for forwarding the paper sheets accommodated in the paper supply hopper, a paper supply roller driving mechanism for rotating the paper supply roller, and a paper separation mechanism for preventing two or more paper sheets forwarded by the paper supply roller from being sent to the paper transport mechanism.

Abstract: A flash lamp fixing with a simple structure, capable of obtaining an even distribution of high-level luminous energy over a large area on the surface of a paper sheet illuminated by a flash lamp. In the flash lamp fixing device, the half breadth L.sub.1 of the aperture of the reflector is set so as to satisfy the equation V/T.gtoreq.L.sub.1 .gtoreq.V/T-L.sub.2 /2, where V is the conveying speed of a paper sheet; T is the flash cycle of the flash lamp; L.sub.1 is the half breadth of the aperture of the reflector; and L.sub.2 is the length of an area in which fixing can be done by one flash of the flash lamp. Where .theta..sub.1 represents the included angle between a tangent which passes through one of aperture edges, being tangent to the flash lamp on the side of the aperture and the plane of the aperture; and .theta..sub.