Abstract: An opening and closing device includes a cover gear, a driving source, a cover, a biasing element, and a control portion. The cover gear is rotatably supported in both forward and backward directions. The driving source selectively provides rotation to the cover gear in both the forward and backward directions. The cover is rotatably supported to allow motion in both the forward and backward directions between first and second positions. The biasing element transmits the rotation of the cover gear to the cover while biasing the cover in a predetermined direction from the first position to the second position. The control portion stops the rotation of the driving source, in a case in which the driving source is rotated to move the cover in the predetermined direction, when the cover gear rotates in the predetermined direction by a predetermined angle after the cover has reached the second position.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a sheet detection apparatus that detects a sheet includes an actuator unit that is rotatable around a rotational axis so as to adopt any of a protruding position in which the actuator unit protrudes into a detection area for detecting the sheet and a retracted position in which the actuator unit is retracted from the detection area, and an operation unit that is capable of switching between a retracted state in which the actuator unit is set to the retracted position and a protruding state in which the actuator unit is set to the protruding position. An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the sheet detection apparatus, and the sheet detection apparatus is provided in a main body of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An embodiment of a paper feed apparatus is provided with a pressure varying mechanism that varies a load pressure of a pickup roller to originals. The pressure varying mechanism has a rotating lever that switches the load pressure, a rotating arm that contacts and presses against a swinging arm of the pickup roller, and a biasing portion that biases the rotating arm to the swinging arm when the rotating arm contacts to the swinging arm. When continuously reading a wad of originals in which different-size originals are mixed, due to a user operating the rotating lever, the load pressure to the originals is increased by making the rotating arm contact to the swinging arm such that the swinging arm is pressed by the biasing portion.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a sheet detection apparatus that detects a sheet includes an actuator unit that is rotatable around a rotational axis so as to adopt any of a protruding position in which the actuator unit protrudes into a detection area for detecting the sheet and a retracted position in which the actuator unit is retracted from the detection area, and an operation unit that is capable of switching between a retracted state in which the actuator unit is set to the retracted position and a protruding state in which the actuator unit is set to the protruding position. An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the sheet detection apparatus, and the sheet detection apparatus is provided in a main body of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A document reader includes an exterior panel covering a region of a document feed path including a second image read position from outside. The document reader also includes a first open/close member forming a region of the exterior panel including a portion opposed to the image read position. The document reader further includes a second open/close member positioned inwardly of the first open/close member to define a region of the document feed path including the image read position. The first and second open/close members are supported at respective different fulcrums for opening/closing movement about respective shafts extending perpendicularly to the document feed direction, thereby shielding the second image read position from extraneous light.

Abstract: A document reading device includes a movable member and a flexible document holder. The document holder is fixed at a first end to a free end of the movable member. The document holder is also fixed at a second end to the vicinity of a right-side end of a bottom surface of the document reading device. A portion of the document holder positioned immediately below a pivot axis of the movable member is not fixed to the bottom surface. When the movable member is pivoted to expose a portion of a document transport path, the document holder, except for the first and second ends as fixed to the bottom surface, hangs down without being folded.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is provided with a first image reading unit and a second image reading unit. The first image reading unit reads an image on a first side of a document that is transported in a predetermined direction on a document transport path, at a first image reading position. The second image reading unit reads an image on a second side of the document that is transported in the predetermined direction on the document transport path, at a second image reading position. A transport roller and a bent portion of the document transport path are arranged in this order along the document transport direction upstream of each of the first image reading position and the second image reading position in the document transport direction.

Abstract: An embodiment of a paper feed apparatus is provided with a pressure varying mechanism that varies a load pressure of a pickup roller to originals. The pressure varying mechanism has a rotating lever that switches the load pressure, a rotating arm that contacts and presses against a swinging arm of the pickup roller, and a biasing portion that biases the rotating arm to the swinging arm when the rotating arm contacts to the swinging arm. When continuously reading a wad of originals in which different-size originals are mixed, due to a user operating the rotating lever, the load pressure to the originals is increased by making the rotating arm contact to the swinging arm such that the swinging arm is pressed by the biasing portion.

Abstract: A document reading device includes a movable member and a flexible document holder. The document holder is fixed at a first end to a free end of the movable member. The document holder is also fixed at a second end to the vicinity of a right-side end of a bottom surface of the document reading device. A portion of the document holder positioned immediately below a pivot axis of the movable member is not fixed to the bottom surface. When the movable member is pivoted to expose a portion of a document transport path, the document holder, except for the first and second ends as fixed to the bottom surface, hangs down without being folded.

Abstract: A document reader includes an exterior panel covering a region of a document feed path including a second image read position from outside. The document reader also includes a first open/close member forming a region of the exterior panel including a portion opposed to the image read position. The document reader further includes a second open/close member positioned inwardly of the first open/close member to define a region of the document feed path including the image read position. The first and second open/close members are supported at respective different fulcrums for opening/closing movement about respective shafts extending perpendicularly to the document feed direction, thereby shielding the second image read position from extraneous light.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is provided with a first image reading unit and a second image reading unit. The first image reading unit reads an image on a first side of a document that is transported in a predetermined direction on a document transport path, at a first image reading position. The second image reading unit reads an image on a second side of the document that is transported in the predetermined direction on the document transport path, at a second image reading position. A transport roller and a bent portion of the document transport path are arranged in this order along the document transport direction upstream of each of the first image reading position and the second image reading position in the document transport direction.