Abstract: A movable assembly configured to move a table in a first direction is provided. The movable assembly includes a first link member including a first elongated member and a second elongated member coupled in an X formation, a second link member including a third elongated member and a fourth elongated member coupled in the X formation, a first frame member, a second frame member, and a rotatable member being a threaded rod. The first frame member includes a first supporting portion and a first guiding portion, which support ends of the first, second, third, and fourth elongated members on one side rotatably. The second frame member includes a second supporting portion and a second guiding portion, which support other ends of the first, second, third, and fourth elongated members located on the other side movably in the third direction.

Abstract: A movable assembly configured to move a table in a first direction is provided. The movable assembly includes a first link member including a first elongated member and a second elongated member coupled in an X formation, a second link member including a third elongated member and a fourth elongated member coupled in the X formation, a first frame member, a second frame member, and a rotatable member being a threaded rod. The first frame member includes a first supporting portion and a first guiding portion, which support ends of the first, second, third, and fourth elongated members on one side rotatably. The second frame member includes a second supporting portion and a second guiding portion, which support other ends of the first, second, third, and fourth elongated members located on the other side movably in the third direction.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a conveyor defining a conveyance path including an upper path, a lower path including a reference portion and a first and second inclined portions, and a curved path, and a first reading unit for reading an image of the sheet when passing the first inclined portion. The conveyor includes a chute member forming a guide surface. The chute member includes a first chute member forming a first guide surface defining the upper path and a second chute member forming a second guide surface defining the first inclined portion. The first chute member forms a third guide surface defining the second inclined portion.

Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes: a chute which has openings spaced apart from each other in a first direction and guides a sheet; a drive shaft; drive rollers mounted on the drive shaft and each partly protruding from the chute through a corresponding one of the openings; driven rollers each urged and contactable with a corresponding one of the drive rollers; an intermediate bearing disposed at a first position located between adjacent two of the drive rollers; and a holder provided on the chute to hold the intermediate bearing located at the first position. The intermediate bearing is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the drive shaft when located at a second position different from the first position. The intermediate bearing is slid from the second position to the first position in the first direction and held by the holder at the first position.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device, including: a conveyor; a first supporter configured such that, when located at its closed position, a first surface thereof partially forms an exterior surface of the device and such that, when located at its open position, a second surface thereof supports the sheet to be supplied to the conveyor; a second supporter configured such that, when located at its closed position, a first surface thereof partially forms the exterior surface of the device and such that, when located at its open position, a second surface thereof supports the sheet output from the conveyor; and a link configured such that, when the first supporter is moved from the closed position to the open position, the link transmits a force from the first supporter to the second supporter and thereby moves the second supporter from the closed position to the open position in conjunction with the first supporter.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveying unit configured to convey sheets along a predetermined conveyance path, and a cover member disposed at a position covering the conveying unit and constituting one of exterior surfaces of the sheet conveying device. The cover member includes a first base portion constituting one of the exterior surfaces, a second base portion facing the first base portion across a space, and a plurality of linking portions provided between the first base portion and the second base portion and linking to both the first base portion and the second base portion. The first base portion, the second base portion, and the plurality of linking portions are integrally formed of a resin material into one piece. The second base portion includes a plurality of ribs protruding from a surface of the second base portion opposite to the first base portion.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a first unit including a supporter and a first image reader; and a second unit. The second unit includes: a pressing member that presses a reading object onto the supporter; a contact member that contacts a conveyed sheet; a sheet holder opposed to the contact member; a second image reader disposed on an opposite side of the contact member from the sheet holder; and a cover spaced apart from the contact member at a second position. When the second unit is located at the closed position, movement of the cover to the second position is limited by the first unit, and the cover is located at a position opposed to the first unit and different from a position of the pressing member. When the second unit is located at an open position, the limitation of the movement is canceled.

Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes: a chute which has openings spaced apart from each other in a first direction and guides a sheet; a drive shaft; drive rollers mounted on the drive shaft and each partly protruding from the chute through a corresponding one of the openings; driven rollers each urged and contactable with a corresponding one of the drive rollers; an intermediate bearing disposed at a first position located between adjacent two of the drive rollers; and a holder provided on the chute to hold the intermediate bearing located at the first position. The intermediate bearing is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the drive shaft when located at a second position different from the first position. The intermediate bearing is slid from the second position to the first position in the first direction and held by the holder at the first position.

Abstract: A sheet supporting device, including: a sheet supporter having a support surface; a guide disposed on one side of the sheet supporter on which the support surface is provided and having a guide surface configured to come into contact with an edge, in a width direction, of a sheet on the sheet supporter; and a slider disposed on the other side of the sheet supporter, wherein the sheet supporter has an elongate opening, wherein the guide and the slider are coupled to each other through the elongate opening, such that the guide and the slider are movable together in the width direction of the sheet, and wherein the guide includes a first hook hooked on a portion of the sheet supporter and configured to be movable in the width direction of the sheet along the portion of the sheet supporter.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a conveyor defining a conveyance path including an upper path, a lower path including a reference portion and a first and second inclined portions, and a curved path, and a first reading unit for reading an image of the sheet when passing the first inclined portion. The conveyor includes a chute member forming a guide surface. The chute member includes a first chute member forming a first guide surface defining the upper path and a second chute member forming a second guide surface defining the first inclined portion. The first chute member forms a third guide surface defining the second inclined portion.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a separation roller having a circumferential surface that contacts a first sheet to be fed first among stacked sheets and picks up the first sheet and one or more second sheets adjacent to the first sheet, a separation arm that is closer to the circumferential surface of the separation roller downstream in a feeding direction and configured to apply higher frictional resistance to the second sheets than the first sheet to feed the first sheet ahead of the second sheets, and a guide member including a guide portion that has a lower-friction surface than the separation arm and extends from the separation arm with a distal end thereof in contact with or close to the circumferential surface of the separation roller. The guide portion guides the first and second sheets along the circumferential surface of the separation roller.

Abstract: A sheet supporting device, including: a sheet supporter having a support surface; a guide disposed on one side of the sheet supporter on which the support surface is provided and having a guide surface configured to come into contact with an edge, in a width direction, of a sheet on the sheet supporter; and a slider disposed on the other side of the sheet supporter, wherein the sheet supporter has an elongate opening, wherein the guide and the slider are coupled to each other through the elongate opening, such that the guide and the slider are movable together in the width direction of the sheet, and wherein the guide includes a first hook hooked on a portion of the sheet supporter and configured to be movable in the width direction of the sheet along the portion of the sheet supporter.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a first unit including a supporter and a first image reader; and a second unit. The second unit includes: a pressing member that presses a reading object onto the supporter; a contact member that contacts a conveyed sheet; a sheet holder opposed to the contact member; a second image reader disposed on an opposite side of the contact member from the sheet holder; and a cover spaced apart from the contact member at a second position. When the second unit is located at the closed position, movement of the cover to the second position is limited by the first unit, and the cover is located at a position opposed to the first unit and different from a position of the pressing member. When the second unit is located at an open position, the limitation of the movement is canceled.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveying unit configured to convey sheets along a predetermined conveyance path, and a cover member disposed at a position covering the conveying unit and constituting one of exterior surfaces of the sheet conveying device. The cover member includes a first base portion constituting one of the exterior surfaces, a second base portion facing the first base portion across a space, and a plurality of linking portions provided between the first base portion and the second base portion and linking to both the first base portion and the second base portion. The first base portion, the second base portion, and the plurality of linking portions are integrally formed of a resin material into one piece. The second base potion includes a plurality of ribs protruding from a surface of the second base portion opposite to the first base portion.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a conveyor defining a conveyance path including an upper path, a lower path including a reference portion and a first and second inclined portions, and a curved path, and a first reading unit for reading an image of the sheet when passing the first inclined portion. The conveyor includes a chute member forming a guide surface. The chute member includes a first chute member forming a first guide surface defining the upper path and a second chute member forming a second guide surface defining the first inclined portion. The first chute member forms a third guide surface defining the second inclined portion.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a support portion having a cover surface and an opposing first support surface, the support portion pivotable between open and closed positions, wherein in the closed position, the cover surface is an upper cover of the image reading device. The image reading device further includes a second support portion pivotable between open and closed positions, wherein in the closed position, the second support portion is positioned below the support portion.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device, including: a conveyor; a first supporter configured such that, when located at its closed position, a first surface thereof partially forms an exterior surface of the device and such that, when located at its open position, a second surface thereof supports the sheet to be supplied to the conveyor; a second supporter configured such that, when located at its closed position, a first surface thereof partially forms the exterior surface of the device and such that, when located at its open position, a second surface thereof supports the sheet output from the conveyor; and a link configured such that, when the first supporter is moved from the closed position to the open position, the link transmits a force from the first supporter to the second supporter and thereby moves the second supporter from the closed position to the open position in conjunction with the first supporter.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a conveyor defining a conveyance path including an upper path, a lower path including a reference portion and a first and second inclined portions, and a curved path, and a first reading unit for reading an image of the sheet when passing the first inclined portion. The conveyor includes a chute member forming a guide surface. The chute member includes a first chute member forming a first guide surface defining the upper path and a second chute member forming a second guide surface defining the first inclined portion. The first chute member forms a third guide surface defining the second inclined portion.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a conveying unit, an upper support portion, a lower support portion, and a read unit. The upper support portion and the lower support portion are positioned so as to at least partially overlap and be spaced apart from each other vertically. The upper support portion has a first upper support farthest from the conveying unit, a second upper support closer to the conveying unit than the first upper support, and a third upper support closer to the conveying unit than the second upper support. The second upper support is movable between a closed position and an open position, positioned to support a sheet in the closed position and to expose at least a part of the lower support portion in the open position, and having an upper surface in the closed position that lacks a sheet guide.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus having a conveyed document reading function and a placed document reading function includes: a moving mechanism for moving an imaging unit; a hinge mechanism for swingably connecting a document cover to a document platen; a conveyance mechanism provided to the document cover for conveying a document upon operation of the conveyed document reading function; a driving force transmission mechanism for selectively transmitting a driving force generated from a driving source to the moving mechanism or the conveyance mechanism; a first gear rotatable by receiving the driving force from the driving force transmission mechanism; and a second gear rotatable with being meshed with the first gear for transmitting the driving force to the moving mechanism or the conveyance mechanism, a rotating center line of which coincides with a swinging center line of the hinge mechanism.