Abstract: The original documents of A4 or A3 format are selectively read by a scanning apparatus which is integrated into a system for producing and transmitting images. The originals of A4 format are normally positioned on a fixed exposure surface and the originals of A3 format are introduced into a separate device for transporting documents, which is adjacent to the fixed exposure surface. A carriage with lamps is slidable below the exposure surface to illuminate the A4 original while to illuminate the A3 original the carriage is positioned into a fixed position corresponding to the separate reading device where the original A3 is slid with respect to the carriage past an exposure zone. The reflected images of the originals are passed by means of mirrors mounted on the carriage to a lens which reflects them on to a photodetector device which converts the light rays into digital electrical signals.