Abstract: A sheet feeder is provided that includes a driving roller, a driven roller configured to rotate in accordance with rotation of the driving roller and feed a sheet while pinching the sheet with the driving roller, an elastic shaft inserted through the driven roller and configured to rotatably support the driven roller, the elastic shaft including a protrusion formed on at least one end of the elastic shaft in an axial direction of the elastic shaft, the protrusion protruding outward in a radial direction of the driven roller, and two recess-shaped bearings configured to support two end portions of the elastic shaft in the axial direction, respectively, at least one of the bearings including a contact surface configured to contact the protrusion when the elastic shaft is supported by the bearings.

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: 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 processing device includes a housing with a sheet conveyor situated in the housing. An interlock mechanism includes a first engagement member extending from a second surface of a first cover; and a second engagement member extending from a second surface of a second cover. One of the first and second engagement members is engagable with the other of the first and second engagement members. When the first cover moves from a first position to a second position, the first and second engagement members engage to move one end portion of the second cover in response to a movement of the first engagement member away from the second cover, and when the first cover moves from the second position to the first position, the first engagement member engages the second engagement member to move the second cover to a first position.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus configured to read images of both surfaces of a document is provided. The image reading apparatus may include a first image reading device configured to read an image of a first surface of a document, a second image reading device configured to read an image of a second surface of the document, and a document conveying mechanism configured to convey the document from the second image reading device to the first image reading device. The first image reading device has a first reading range, and the second image reading device has a second reading range, which is smaller than the first reading range.

Abstract: An image scanning device has a sheet conveying roller conveying a sheet when a conveyed sheet scanning function is activated, a guide member defining a sheet feed path, a first gear transmitting a driving force to the sheet conveying roller, a first supporting shaft extending in a direction parallel with a width direction of the sheet feed path and supporting the first gear, a second gear engaging with the first gear, a second supporting shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to the first supporting shaft and supporting the second gear, a holder unit holding the second supporting shaft, the holder unit arranged at one end of the sheet feed path in the width direction, a reinforce member made of metal and extending in the width direction, first and second fixing units fixing longitudinal ends of the reinforce member to the holder unit and the guide member, respectively.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus may include a main unit and a cover unit pivotally attached to the main unit. The cover unit may include an image reading device configured to read an image of a document along a conveying path. The image reading device may include a contact image sensor, a sensor holder to hold the contact image sensor, an urging member, and a shock absorber. The contact image sensor is disposed below the conveying path. The sensor holder has an open top boxed shape and holds the contact image sensor in position inside. The urging member is disposed in an inner bottom surface of the sensor holder to urge the contact image sensor toward the conveying path. The shock absorber is disposed between a bottom surface of the contact image sensor and the inner bottom surface of the sensor holder, and is made of a porous material.

Abstract: An image scanning device has a sheet conveying roller conveying a sheet when a conveyed sheet scanning function is activated, a guide member defining a sheet feed path, a first gear transmitting a driving force to the sheet conveying roller, a first supporting shaft extending in a direction parallel with a width direction of the sheet feed path and supporting the first gear, a second gear engaging with the first gear, a second supporting shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to the first supporting shaft and supporting the second gear, a holder unit holding the second supporting shaft, the holder unit arranged at one end of the sheet feed path in the width direction, a reinforce member made of metal and extending in the width direction, first and second fixing units fixing longitudinal ends of the reinforce member to the holder unit and the guide member, respectively.

Abstract: A sheet feeder is provided that includes a driving roller, a driven roller configured to rotate in accordance with rotation of the driving roller and feed a sheet while pinching the sheet with the driving roller, an elastic shaft inserted through the driven roller and configured to rotatably support the driven roller, the elastic shaft including a protrusion formed on at least one end of the elastic shaft in an axial direction of the elastic shaft, the protrusion protruding outward in a radial direction of the driven roller, and two recess-shaped bearings configured to support two end portions of the elastic shaft in the axial direction, respectively, at least one of the bearings including a contact surface configured to contact the protrusion when the elastic shaft is supported by the bearings.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus configured to read images of both surfaces of a document is provided. The image reading apparatus may include a first image reading device configured to read an image of a first surface of a document, a second image reading device configured to read an image of a second surface of the document, and a document conveying mechanism configured to convey the document from the second image reading device to the first image reading device. The first image reading device has a first reading range, and the second image reading device has a second reading range, which is smaller than the first reading range.

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.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus having a lower unit with a controller and an upper unit rotatably attached to the lower unit to rotate about a rear end of the upper unit is provided. The upper unit includes a sheet conveyer, an upper image reader connected with the controller via a flat cable, and an external covering. A rearward-extending section of the flat cable extends rearward from the upper image reader and is drawn in an area below a part of a frame of the sheet conveyer and to a rear section of the upper unit to reach an inner surface of the external covering at the rear end of the upper unit. A widthwise-extending section of the flat cable extends from the rear end of the upper unit along the inner surface of the external covering in a direction orthogonal to reach an outlet of the upper unit.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus may include a main unit and a cover unit pivotally attached to the main unit. The cover unit may include an image reading device configured to read an image of a document along a conveying path. The image reading device may include a contact image sensor, a sensor holder to hold the contact image sensor, an urging member, and a shock absorber. The contact image sensor is disposed below the conveying path. The sensor holder has an open top boxed shape and holds the contact image sensor in position inside. The urging member is disposed in an inner bottom surface of the sensor holder to urge the contact image sensor toward the conveying path. The shock absorber is disposed between a bottom surface of the contact image sensor and the inner bottom surface of the sensor holder, and is made of a porous material.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus configured to read images of both surfaces of a document is provided. The image reading apparatus may include a first image reading device configured to read an image of a first surface of a document, a second image reading device configured to read an image of a second surface of the document, and a document conveying mechanism configured to convey the document from the second image reading device to the first image reading device. The first image reading device has a first reading range, and the second image reading device has a second reading range, which is smaller than the first reading range.

Abstract: A first rack of a pair of document guides slides in pressing contact against a pinion due to contact with a protrusion. As a result, the first rack is subjected to a larger sliding resistance than when the protrusion is not provided. When one of the document guides is operated, the operating force transmits directly to the first rack. Therefore, if a large force corresponding to the sliding resistance increased by the protrusion is applied, the first rack can be slid. When the other document guide is operated, the operating force transmits to the first rack through the pinion. Therefore, the sliding resistance increased by the protrusion increases due to the gear efficiency of the pinion.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus to read an image formed on a document sheet is provided. The image reading apparatus includes a sheet conveyer and an image reader, which is controlled by a controller and reads the image formed on the document sheet. The sheet conveyer includes movable parts, which are movably supported by a first supporting member. The image reader is supported by a second supporting member, which is detachably attached to the first supporting member. A cable with a connector connects the controller and the image reader with each other via the connector. The second supporting member is tied to the first supporting member by the cable when the cable connects the controller and the image reader via the connector. The second supporting member is releasable from the first supporting member when the connector is decoupled.

Abstract: An image reader is provided, which includes a reference position determining unit configured to, in a state where a bright area and a dark area are formed on a reflection surface when a light projecting unit projects light toward a part of the reflection surface, receive the light reflected from the reflection surface with a light receiving portion of a reading unit while restricting a light emitting portion of the reading unit from emitting light, detect a position of the bright area and a position of the dark area in a main scanning direction, and determine a reference position in the main scanning direction based on the detected positions of the bright area and the dark area.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus having a lower unit with a controller and an upper unit rotatably attached to the lower unit to rotate about a rear end of the upper unit is provided. The upper unit includes a sheet conveyer, an upper image reader connected with the controller via a flat cable, and an external covering. A rearward-extending section of the flat cable extends rearward from the upper image reader and is drawn in an area below a part of a frame of the sheet conveyer and to a rear section of the upper unit to reach an inner surface of the external covering at the rear end of the upper unit. A widthwise-extending section of the flat cable extends from the rear end of the upper unit along the inner surface of the external covering in a direction orthogonal to reach an outlet of the upper unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus is provided, including a separation roller configured to apply a feeding force to a sheet, a pad assembly configured to pivot about a pivot axis in a direction close to or away from a supporting unit, and an elastic member configured to press the pad assembly toward the separation roller. The pad assembly includes a separation pad disposed facing the separation roller configured to apply a resistive force to a sheet, a holder holding the separation pad, and a first engaging portion disposed on a side of a distal end. The supporting unit includes a second engaging portion. The first and second engaging portions are configured to engage each other to restrict the pad assembly such that the distal end is not separated from the supporting unit more than a specified distance when the separation roller is separated from the separation pad.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus may include a main unit and a cover unit pivotally attached to the main unit. The cover unit may include an image reading device configured to read an image of a document along a conveying path. The image reading device may include a contact image sensor, a sensor holder to hold the contact image sensor, an urging member, and a shock absorber. The contact image sensor is disposed below the conveying path. The sensor holder has an open top boxed shape and holds the contact image sensor in position inside. The urging member is disposed in an inner bottom surface of the sensor holder to urge the contact image sensor toward the conveying path. The shock absorber is disposed between a bottom surface of the contact image sensor and the inner bottom surface of the sensor holder, and is made of a porous material.