Abstract: If the user specifies a color mode, an image reader previously moves a read head to a position where a first read target position r and a read start position on an original are identical with each other. If the user specifies a monochrome mode, the image reader previously moves the read head to a position where a second read target position and the read start position on an original are identical with each other. After this, an image can be read from the same range without increasing the time required for image read processing.

Abstract: Feeding systems for documents or other sheet materials include: (a) an inlet; (b) an outlet; (c) a feed path extending between the inlet and outlet; and (d) a feed system that moves materials along the feed path. The systems further may include: (e) a bidirectional feed path extending from the feed path; (f) a supply system that moves materials to the feed path; (g) a bidirectional drive system that moves materials along the bidirectional feed path; and/or (h) a bidirectional feed path access control system. Drive systems may be provided for driving the feed system and at least one of the supply system, the bidirectional drive system, and/or the access control system such that operation of the feed system is independent of operation of the other systems and/or such that a single motor may be used to drive any or all of the systems.

Abstract: A document feeder includes a document feed unit that feeds a document along a document feed path extending from a document loading section to a document output section via a scanning position. The document feed unit includes a first feed roller pair nipping and feeding a document opposed to the scanning position at a position downstream in a feed direction from the scanning position, and a second feed roller pair nipping and feeding the document fed by the first feed roller pair at a document feed speed higher than that of the first feed roller pair at a position downstream in the feed direction from the first feed roller pair.

Abstract: A document feeder includes a conveying path extended from a document supplying position to a reading position, a first conveying roller pair provided upstream from the reading position and nipping and conveying the document, a second conveying roller pair provided downstream from the reading position and nipping and conveying the document faster than the first conveying roller pair, a post-reading conveying path extended downstream from a nipping position of the second conveying roller pair, the post-reading conveying path being located above a plane tangent to the second conveying roller pair at the nipping position running in a reverse sheet feed direction, and a third conveying roller pair provided on the post-reading conveying path and nipping and conveying the document conveyed from the second conveying roller pair at a conveying force equivalent to that of the second conveying roller pair.

Abstract: An image reading device has a CIS unit. The CIS unit is held by a carriage. A compression coil spring that presses the CIS unit toward a contact glass plate is disposed between the bottom surface of the carriage and the bottom surface of the CIS unit. An extension coil spring that pulls the CIS unit toward the carriage is attached between the bottom surface of the carriage and the center portion of the CIS unit.

Abstract: A carriage for an image scanning unit which scans an image on an object is provided with a light source, a reflecting member placed to face the light source and configured to reflect a light emitted from the light source toward the object to illuminate the image, a housing that contains the light source and the reflecting member, the housing having an opening which allows the light reflected by the reflecting member to pass through and proceed toward the object, and a radiation plate connected to the reflecting member so that heat is conducted from the reflecting member to the radiation plate, at least part of the radiation plate being exposed to outside the housing.

Abstract: In a document feeder, a driving control unit feeds a document by a switch-back feeding unit, guides again the document from a document feed path to a bidirectional feed path, and then discharges the document from the document feed path to a document discharging section, when the feeding of the document is in a double-sided scanning feeding mode and in a status during first side feeding. The driving control unit feeds the document by the switch-back feeding unit and then discharges the document from the document feed path, when the feeding of the document is in the double-sided scanning feeding mode and in the status during second side feeding. The driving control unit discharges the document from the document feed path without feeding the document in the switch-back manner, when the feeding of the document is in the double-sided scanning feeding mode and after the second side feeding.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder, which is capable of feeding a document for double-sided reading, includes a document feed path connecting an input tray and an output tray, a bidirectional feed path connected to a connection position of the document feed path, a bypass diverged from a branch position of the document feed path and connected to the connection position, a guide flap that changes a position thereof between a first guide position and a second guide position, and a guide flap that changes a position thereof between a third guide position and a fourth guide position.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus having a movable image reading unit, a locking mechanism locking the image reading device, and a position sensor. The image reading unit has an engaged portion. The lock mechanism has an engaging portion that engages the engaged portion. A first detected portion changes its position in accordance with the movement of the engaging portion. The position sensor detects the image reading unit when the image reading unit is in a first position, and detects the first detected portion when the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus including a housing; an image taking device which is provided in the housing; a power producing device which is provided in the housing and which produces a power to move the image taking device; a first reading control portion which controls the power producing device to move the image taking device relative to a first sheet placed on a first reading place, so that the image taking device takes the first image from the first sheet; a second-sheet feeding device at least a portion of which is provided right above the second reading place and which feeds a second sheet to a second reading place; and a second reading control portion which controls, in a state in which the image taking device is positioned at a position right below the second reading place, the second-sheet feeding device to feed the second sheet to the second reading place, and controls, when the second sheet is fed through the second reading place, the image taking device to take the second image from the second shee

Abstract: A carriage for an image scanning unit which scans an image on an object is provided with a light source, a reflecting member placed to face the light source and configured to reflect a light emitted from the light source toward the object to illuminate the image, a housing that contains the light source and the reflecting member, the housing having an opening which allows the light reflected by the reflecting member to pass through and proceed toward the object, and a radiation plate connected to the reflecting member so that heat is conducted from the reflecting member to the radiation plate, at least part of the radiation plate being exposed to outside the housing.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus, including a transparent plate, a positioning member which is provided on the transparent plate so as to define, on one of opposite sides of the positioning member, a reading place where a sheet having an image is placed, and which positions the sheet placed on the reading place, an image taking device, a housing which supports the transparent plate and accommodates the image taking device such that the image taking device is movable below, and along, the transparent plate, and a reading control portion which controls the image taking device to take, through the transparent plate, the image from the sheet placed on the reading place, while the image taking device is moved below, and along, the transparent plate. The positioning member is detachably attached to the housing.

Abstract: A document feeder includes a conveying path extended from a document supplying position to a reading position, a first conveying roller pair provided upstream from the reading position and nipping and conveying the document, a second conveying roller pair provided downstream from the reading position and nipping and conveying the document faster than the first conveying roller pair, a post-reading conveying path extended downstream from a nipping position of the second conveying roller pair, the post-reading conveying path being located above a plane tangent to the second conveying roller pair at the nipping position running in a reverse sheet feed direction, and a third conveying roller pair provided on the post-reading conveying path and nipping and conveying the document conveyed from the second conveying roller pair at a conveying force equivalent to that of the second conveying roller pair.

Abstract: A document feeder includes: an inlet; an outlet; an input transfer path configured to guide a document during transfer from the inlet passed a scanning point to an end point positioned above the inlet; an intermediate transfer path configured to guide the document during transfer from the end point passed the scanning point to the end point again; an output transfer path configured to guide the document during transfer from the end point passed the scanning point to the outlet; a sensor disposed at downstream of the scanning point; and a controller determine whether the document transfer, based on the signal of the sensor.

Abstract: A document feeder including a document feed unit that feeds a document along a document feed path extending from a document loading section to a document output section via a scanning position. The document feed unit includes a first feed roller pair nipping and feed a document opposed to the scanning position at a position downstream in a feed direction from the scanning position, and a second feed roller pair nipping and feed the document fed by the first feed roller pair at a document feed speed higher than that of the first feed roller pair at a position downstream in the feed direction from the first feed roller pair.

Abstract: In a document feeder, a driving control unit feeds a document by a switch-back feeding unit, guides again the document from a document feed path to a bidirectional feed path, and then discharges the document from the document feed path to a document discharging section, when the feeding of the document is in a double-sided scanning feeding mode and in a status during first side feeding. The driving control unit feeds the document by the switch-back feeding unit and then discharges the document from the document feed path, when the feeding of the document is in the double-sided scanning feeding mode and in the status during second side feeding. The driving control unit discharges the document from the document feed path without feeding the document in the switch-back manner, when the feeding of the document is in the double-sided scanning feeding mode and after the second side feeding.

Abstract: Feeding systems for documents or other sheet materials include: (a) an inlet; (b) an outlet; (c) a feed path extending between the inlet and outlet; and (d) a feed system that moves materials along the feed path. The systems further may include: (e) a bidirectional feed path extending from the feed path; (f) a supply system that moves materials to the feed path; (g) a bidirectional drive system that moves materials along the bidirectional feed path; and/or (h) a bidirectional feed path access control system. Drive systems may be provided for driving the feed system and at least one of the supply system, the bidirectional drive system, and/or the access control system such that operation of the feed system is independent of operation of the other systems and/or such that a single motor may be used to drive any or all of the systems.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder, which is capable of feeding a document for double-sided reading, includes a document feed path connecting an input tray and an output tray, a bidirectional feed path connected to a connection position of the document feed path, a bypass diverged from a branch position of the document feed path and connected to the connection position, a guide flap that changes a position thereof between a first guide position and a second guide position, and a guide flap that changes a position thereof between a third guide position and a fourth guide position.

Abstract: An image reading device has a CIS unit. The CIS unit is held by a carriage. A compression coil spring that presses the CIS unit toward a contact glass plate is disposed between the bottom surface of the carriage and the bottom surface of the CIS unit. An extension coil spring that pulls the CIS unit toward the carriage is attached between the bottom surface of the carriage and the center portion of the CIS unit.

Abstract: An automatic document transfer device or feeder for double-sided reading of a document is provided. An automatic document feeder includes an input tray configured to receive a document, an output tray positioned either above or below the input tray, transfer elements for transferring a document from the input tray to the output tray, an input transfer path configured to guide a document during transfer from the input tray passed a scanning point to an end point positioned above the input tray, and an output transfer path configured to guide the document during transfer from the end point passed the scanning point to the output tray. The document feeder may include an intermediate path configured to guide the document during transfer from the end point passed the scanning point to the end point again.