Abstract: In an image reader with an automatic document feeding (ADF) unit, even when various documents such as color multi-value, color binary, monochrome multi-value, and monochrome binary documents are installed in the ADF unit, the user need not beforehand conduct any setting operations related to the above attributes. The image reading apparatus includes an ADF unit for conveying a document sheet onto a document glass plate a light source for emitting a light beam onto the document, an optical system for receiving reflection light reflected by the document and producing a focused document image, a color image sensor for separating the focused document image into images respectively of a plurality of colors and thereby reading color images, an image read controller having a plurality of read modes, and a carriage for setting an image read position.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprises: a scanner portion, having a first line image sensor a carriage system carrying the first line image sensor; and an ADF unit, having a transporting pass for feeding a copy from a stacked copies and carrying the copy from a first end of a copy glass of the scanner and discharging the copy at a the second end of the scanner, the ADF unit further having an attribution detection portion, including a second line image sensor, for detecting an attribution of an image of the copy, such as a color image or monochrome image, or a multi-value image or binary image. According to the attribution, a reading condition such as a reading speed or the reading interval by the first line image sensor is changed. In the absence of a command signal indicative of the attribution, the first line image sensor is positioned at the second end and in the presence of the command signal, the first line image sensor is positioned at the first end.