Abstract: The image reading apparatus includes an operation unit operated by a user for detecting an instruction from the user, a transportation unit for transporting a read medium, a medium detector for detecting the read medium, a reader for reading the read medium, and an instruction detector for detecting the instruction from the user. The instruction detector is different from the operation unit. Moreover, the apparatus includes a controller for performing control, based on the instruction from the user. The instruction detector is valid between a time when the medium detector detects the read medium and a time when reading the read medium is finished.

Abstract: A movable guide is able to switch an attitude of a supporting surface of the movable guide relative to the reading unit between a first attitude and a second attitude. The second attitude is a state where a side to which the sheet is introduced is open more than in the first attitude. The movable guide is set to the first attitude during reading of the test pattern.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a holding surface that holds a first document, a conveyor unit that conveys a second document along a conveying path, a first contact surface that contacts a first side of the second document when the conveyor unit conveys the second document, a second contact surface that contacts a second side of the second document when the conveyor unit conveys the second document, and reading units. A first reading unit reads an image on a side of the first document held by the holding surface, and reads an image on the first side of the second document being conveyed by the conveyor unit. A second reading unit is disposed above the second contact surface and reads an image on the second side of the second document. The second reading unit is disposed not to overlap the first reading unit in an up down direction.

Abstract: A pressing unit configured to press a supporting surface for supporting a sheet, and a carriage configured to hold a sensor unit and to move on the pressing unit are integrated into one unit. There is provided a movement mechanism configured to move the unit between a first position in which the pressing unit presses the supporting surface during reading and a second position in which the pressing is released during movement of the sheet on the supporting surface.

Abstract: An image scanning unit an image forming apparatus having the same to scan an image recorded on a document. The image scanning unit includes: a transparent window on which a document to be scanned is laid; an image sensor running straightly under the transparent window for capturing an image recorded on the document, a unit for driving the image sensor; a guide shaft for guiding the straight movement of the image sensor; and an image sensor carrier connected to the driving unit and the guide shaft for straightly moving the image sensor along the guide shaft when the driving unit operates. The image sensor carrier has an image sensor mounting surface on which the image sensor is mounted, and a guide shaft holder integrally formed with the image sensor mounting surface and mounted on the guide shaft.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an ADF driven by a motor; an image reading unit transmitting charges accumulated in a photoelectric conversion element as a shift pulse to a shift register; and a shift pulse control unit controlling an output timing of the shift pulse based on rotation of the motor. When the rotation of the motor stops, the shift pulse control unit outputs the shift pulse to transmit the charges accumulated in lighting of a light source immediately before the stoppage of the motor.

Abstract: A scanning device includes a body, a paper-feeding module, a scanning module and two transmission modules. The body has a paper-feeding area and a scanning area stacked with each other. The paper-feeding module is disposed at the paper-feeding area in the body and the scanning module is disposed at the scanning area in the body. One of the transmission modules is disposed within the paper-feeding area and electrically connected to the paper-feeding module so as to convey a document from the paper-feeding area to the scanning area, while another of the transmission modules is disposed within the scanning area and electrically connected to the scanning module so as to drive the scanning module for scanning images on the document.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a sheet housing unit that houses a sheet; a sheet conveying unit that conveys the sheet; a sheet detection unit that detects presence or absence of the sheet in the sheet housing unit; a sheet nipping unit that nips the sheet housed in the sheet housing unit; and a control unit. The control unit controls the sheet nipping unit to reach a nipping state to nip the sheet in the sheet housing unit upon the sheet detection unit detecting a sheet-present state, executes a power saving mode to stop supplying power to at least a part of the electric mechanisms when no drive command is input for a predetermined time, and controls the sheet nipping unit to cancel the nipping state before execution of the power saving mode.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a sheet feed scanner including an auto document feeder, a flatbed scanner and a power-switching mechanism. The power-switching mechanism includes a first shaft, a power source, a clutch, a first gear, a second gear, and an elastic limitation structure. The clutch includes a first incline and a second incline. The elastic limitation structure pushes the first incline or the second incline of the clutch. When the first shaft is rotated in a first direction, the first incline is pushed by the elastic limitation structure so that the clutch is coupled to the first gear for driving the automatic document feeder. When the first shaft is rotated in a second direction, the second incline is pushed by the elastic limitation structure so that the clutch is coupled to the second gear for driving the flatbed scanner.

Abstract: An image reading recording apparatus includes a recording unit for recording an image on a sheet and a read unit. The recording unit includes a feeding port for feeding the sheet. The read unit includes a frame and a reading portion which movably scans in the frame to read an original. The read unit is movable relative to the recording unit between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the feeding port of the recording unit is closed by the frame. In the second position, the feeding port is not closed by the frame. The recording unit includes a first sheet feeder and a second sheet feeder, such that when the sheet is in the first position, sheet feeding from the first sheet feeder is prohibited, and a sheet is fed from the second sheet feeder.

Abstract: A duplex scanning apparatus includes a passageway, a first optical module, a second optical module, a transporting mechanism and an elastic pressing member. The first optical module is disposed on one side of the passageway. The second optical module is disposed on the other side of the passageway. The transporting mechanism transports an original sheet through the passageway and past a first scan position of the first optical module and a second scan position of the second optical module, and images of front and reverse sides of the original sheet are obtained, respectively. The elastic pressing member, disposed between the first scan position and the second scan position, pushes the original sheet towards an original supporting plane.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an automatic document feeding scanning device including an automatic document feeder, a flatbed scanner and a power switching mechanism. The automatic document feeder has a pickup arm and a feeding gear, the flatbed scanner has a scanning module and a scanning gear, and the power switching mechanism has two driving elements and a planet gear module. When the two driving elements rotate in the same rotating direction, the planet gear module is swung to a position near the scanning gear and engaged with the scanning gear such that the power switching mechanism transfers a driving power to the automatic document feeder. When the two driving elements rotate in different rotating directions, the planet gear module is swung to a position near the feeding gear and engaged with the feeding gear such that the power switching mechanism transfers a driving power to the flatbed scanner.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for the high speed digitization and cataloguing of large collections of objects. The objects are inserted into transparent pockets on an elongated belt, and the belt is driven rapidly past a high speed digital camera. A glare reduction means may be employed to avoid glare off the transparent pockets, and motion blur may be substantially eliminated through the use of high speed strobe illumination or a high speed shutter. The invention can be commercialized by having a customer load the belt with objects and deliver the belt to a processing location. Digital images of the objects may then be provided to the customer, and the original objects may be left in the pockets on the belt for convenient storage.

Abstract: In an illuminating apparatus including a plurality of rows of light source groups each having a plurality of light-emitting elements for irradiating light to an original that are arranged in a main scanning direction, the light-emitting elements in the plurality of rows of light source groups illuminate an irradiated face of the original at the same pitch within the same light source group and at different pitches from each other among the plurality of rows of light source groups.

Abstract: An automatic document feeding scanning device including an automatic document feeder, a flatbed scanner and a power switching mechanism is provided. The automatic document feeder has a pickup arm and a feeding gear, the flatbed scanner has a scanning module and a scanning gear. When the scanning module is moved and the movement of the scanning module is obstructed to enable the scanning module to take a first reacting force, the power switching mechanism is disengaged from the scanning gear in response to the first reacting force and transfers a driving power to the automatic document feeder. When the pickup arm is swung and the swing of the pickup arm is obstructed to enable the pickup arm to take a second reacting force, the power switching mechanism is disengaged from the feeding gear in response to the second reacting force and transfers the driving power to the flatbed scanner.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus includes a scanning module and a sheet size detecting mechanism. The scanning module is used for acquiring an image of a paper sheet. The sheet size detecting mechanism includes a first sheet guide part, a second sheet guide part, and a controlling unit. The first sheet guide part and the second sheet guide part are contacted with two parallel edges of the paper sheet, respectively. A light-emitting unit is disposed on the second sheet guide part. The light-emitting unit is used for projecting a light beam onto an optical sensing element of the scanning module. According to the light beam, the optical sensing element generates a sensing signal. According to the sensing signal, a distance between the two parallel edges of the paper sheet is acquired.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting blank pages among sheets of a document scanned on a multifunctional machine comprising a scanner, wherein said scanner: scans (S0) two pages of at least one sheet of a document to be scanned; carries out a basic detection (S6) of a blank page on each scanned sheet; selects (S7) each sheet not comprising at least one page detected to be blank during the detection (S6); compares (S9) the two pages of said selected sheet; and classifies (S9) a page as blank when it is similar to the other page of said sheet. The invention also relates to a multifunctional machine, the machine comprising a scanner for implementing a method according to the invention.

Abstract: An image reader is provided, which includes a first analog front end unit configured to perform A/D conversion for analog signals that are output via a first group of channels of a number resulting from rounding up, to a closest whole number, an average value between a number of at least one channel for a first image reading unit and a number of channels for a second image reading unit, among analog signals output from the first image reading unit and the second image reading unit, and a second analog front end unit configured to perform A/D conversion for analog signals that are output via a second group of channels other than the channels in the first group, among the analog signals output from the first image reading unit and the second image reading unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to start image formation in accordance with a second job while performing the image formation in accordance with a first job, each of the first job and the second job including information indicating one of paper feeding units; a detecting unit configured to detect whether a recording medium is stored in a paper feeding unit indicated by the first job; and an image formation control unit configured to cause the image forming unit to continue the image formation in accordance with the second job when the detecting unit detects that a recording medium is stored in the paper feeding unit, and cause the image forming unit to suspend the image formation in accordance with the second job when the detecting unit detects that no recording medium is stored in the paper feeding unit.

Abstract: An image reading device conveys a first sheet and second sheet in a conveying direction. The first sheet has short sides extending in the conveying direction and long sides extending in a main scanning direction. The second sheet has long sides extending in the conveying direction and short sides extending in the main scanning direction. The image reading device reads an image on a sheet at a reading position and detects the sheet at a detecting position. A distance between the reading position and the detecting position is smaller than a difference between the short side of first sheet and the long side of second sheet. The image reading device rotates the read image if a sheet is not detected when the predetermined length worth of image is read. The read image is not rotated if a sheet is detected when the predetermined length worth of image is read.

Abstract: An image reading device having an improved shading compensation capability and a method thereof are disclosed. The image reading device includes an automatic document feed unit to deliver documents along a document delivery path. A light source unit including a light source to illuminate a first criterion image at a first position within the image reading device, and to illuminate the documents delivered by the automatic document feed unit at a second position. The image reading device further includes a second criterion image arranged to opposingly face the light source unit when the light source unit is located at the second position. The second criterion image extends along a sufficient length to cover the scanning range of the light illumination by the light source unit along a main scanning direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a separation roller, a first conveyance roller arranged on a downstream side of the separation roller and conveys the sheet separated by the separation roller, a second conveyance roller further conveys the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance roller, wherein the separation roller and the first conveyance roller are driven exclusively of each other by a first motor, and a control unit controls such that, when a trailing edge of a sheet passes through the separation roller while the sheet is being conveyed by the first conveyance roller and the second conveyance roller, the first motor makes a conveyance speed of the first conveyance roller higher than the conveyance speed thereof before the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the separation roller, and that, when the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the first conveyance roller, the first motor drives the separation roller.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus for making a position deviation correction, a position deviation amount can be accurately calculated by stabilizing the detection result at position deviation detecting and considering an ideal correction amount and an actual correction amount to make the position deviation correction accurately. A forming unit forms a pattern for position deviation detection without making the position correction for less than one pixel by an image position correcting unit, to a pattern formed in the vicinity of a detection region of a detecting unit, and the position deviation amount is calculated by using a value of a position correction which is not made to the pattern for position deviation detection to be formed.

Abstract: A compact multi-functional scanning apparatus includes a sheet-fed scanner, a casing and a flatbed scanner. The casing is attached to the sheet-fed scanner and has a recess. The flatbed scanner is movable between a retracted position within the recess and a deployed position outside the recess. In the deployed position the flatbed scanner is enabled to perform a flatbed-scanning task. An open end of the recess is located on a lateral side of the casing, and the flatbed scanner is movable into and out of the recess through the open end.

Abstract: A linear scanning apparatus for scanning a bound volume is used to turn a page of the volume and scan the respective sides of the turned page. The apparatus includes front and rear portions, each having first and second support surfaces, to support the volume. As the volume moves along the linear scanner from the front portion to the rear portion, the page encounters a front guiding surface joined with the first front support surface that guides the page into a page turning channel within the linear scanner. As the volume continues to move along the linear scanner, an exit surface joined with the second rear support surface guides the page out of the page turning channel and onto the second rear support surface. Scanning devices disposed on the linear scanner digitally scan the sides of the page as the volumes moves along the linear scanner.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image reading unit arranged on a conveying path of a first medium and reading an image on the first medium, a conveying unit conveying the first medium and a second medium to the image reading unit, a width of the second medium being smaller than the first medium, and guide portions guiding the second medium introduced from a discharge port along the conveying path.

Abstract: Battery-powered portable sheet-fed scanner, comprising: a scanning unit (21-23) for scanning documents and forming digital representations thereof; a sheet feeder (28) for feeding a document past the scanning unit; a processor (20), communicatively connected to the scanning unit and provided for controlling the scanning operation; a plurality of embedded storage capabilities, each of which is communicatively connected to the processor and each of which comprises either an internal memory (26) for internally storing the digital representations or a communication link (24; 25) to an external storage medium for externally storing the digital representations. The processor is provided with an embedded routing application which is provided for routing the digital representations to a predetermined selection among the embedded storage capabilities.

Abstract: A scanner device includes a keyboard, a display, a control unit, and a storage unit, wherein the keyboard and the display are disposed so as to cover the top of the body of the scanner device, and the control unit includes an image reading unit that controls to read image data from original documents, an image storing unit that stores the image data read by the image reading unit in the storage unit, and a display control unit that controls to display the image data of any of the original documents on the display based on the image data stored by the image storing unit.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a screen processing unit and a correction processing unit. The screen processing unit executes screen processing for an image to be processed. The correction processing unit performs correction processing of correcting a distortion of an output image from an original image, based on the amount of the distortion, for (i) the image before the screen processing and (ii) the image after the screen processing. The correction amount relating to the correction processing for the image after the screen processing is a small value as compared with the correction amount relating to the correction processing for the image before the screen processing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for printing an original image indicated based on image data is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a paper feed portion that conveys, to a print position, paper having a size in a feed direction larger than a size of the original image, a region selection portion that selects, as an additional image, a band-shaped region that has a predetermined width and extends inwardly from an edge of the original image in a direction corresponding to the feed direction of the paper, and an image correction portion that adds the additional image repeatedly in such a manner that the additional image is placed adjacent to each other outwardly from the edge of the original image. A corrected image obtained by adding the additional image with the image correction portion is printed onto the paper.

Abstract: A multifunctional printer comprises a CCD for reading an image on one side of a document, a CIS for reading an image on the other side of the document, an image processing unit for processing the image of the side read by the CCD or the CIS, and a determining unit (S12) for determining which of the images of the sides read by the CCD and the CIS is to be processed first by the image processing unit.

Abstract: A printer with integral scanner obtains a digital signature from an article as it is printed. The integral scanner has a coherent source which directs a light beam to illuminate the article and a detector arrangement to collect data points from light scattered from many different parts of the article to collect a large number of independent data points. The digital signature derived from the data points is stored in a database with an image of what was printed on the article. The authenticity of an article purported to be the originally printed article can be verified by scanning the purported genuine article to obtain its digital signature. The database is then searched, to establish whether there is a match. If a match is found, the image is displayed with the matched digital signature to allow a further visual check that the article is genuine.

Abstract: Provided is a document conveying device, including: a conveyance guide member which is capable of being opened upward and closed with respect to a contact glass, disposed facing the contact glass along a conveying direction of a document, and guides the document to an upper surface of the contact glass; a reading guide member which is disposed along a width direction of the document, movably supported in an up-and-down direction with respect to the conveyance guide member, and guides the document to a position facing an image reading region in the upper surface of the contact glass; a protruding portion which is protruded outward from at least one end portion of the reading guide member in the width direction; a support portion which is protruded outward from the conveyance guide member along the width direction above the protruding portion; and elastic portions which are protruded downward from the support portion and sandwich the protruding portion so that the protruding portion is movable in the up-and-dow

Abstract: An image reading apparatus, including a driving unit, a separator unit, a conveyer unit, a reader unit, a reducer unit, a size detecting unit; and a controller is provided. The separator unit includes a drive shaft, a contact member, and a clutch. The controller manipulates the conveyer unit via the driving unit to convey the sheet at a first conveying speed when the size of the sheet detected by the size detecting unit is greater than a predetermined size. The controller manipulates the conveyer unit via the driving unit to convey the sheet at a second conveying speed, which is lower than the first conveying speed, when the size of the sheet detected by the size detecting unit is one of smaller than and equivalent to the predetermined size.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an acceptance unit that accepts an image of an original from an image reader having a conveying unit that conveys an original in sequence along a conveying path passing through a read position and an image read unit that reads the image of the original at the read position at read speed responsive to conveying speed of the original; an acquisition unit that acquires information concerning a stable read range in which the read speed in the conveying direction in the original becomes a stable state from storage in which the information is previously stored; and a registration unit that extracts feature information concerning a microscopic pattern that a surface of the original has from a registration area in the image of the original accepted by the acceptance unit and registers the feature information in association with position information concerning a position of the registration area.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprising: an imaging unit; a moving mechanism moving the imaging unit between a first position and a second position; a conveyance mechanism; a sun gear; a planetary gear that rotates by being meshed with the sun gear and having a rotation center configured to revolve around the sun gear; a first output gear meshed with the planetary gear and transmits a driving force to the moving mechanism; a second output gear meshed with the planetary gear and transmits a driving force to the conveyance mechanism; a load generation part increasing a rotational resistance of the first output gear when the imaging unit is located at the first position, and a meshing part being meshed with teeth of the planetary gear when the planetary gear revolves around the sun gear.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is provided. The image reading apparatus includes a first transparent section to have a first original sheet set thereon, a second transparent section to have a second original sheet conveyed by a sheet conveyer, a reader unit being movable in a sub-scanning direction to read the image on the original sheet being set on the first transparent section and to be maintained still to read the image being conveyed by the sheet conveyer, a white reference member, of which image is read by the reader unit and recognized as a reference white color, and a light reductive member arranged on an inner bottom of a casing to reduce an amount of incident light.

Abstract: In a case where it is determined after reading an original that an abnormal pixel is included in image data generated by reading the original, after the original is reversed by a reversing unit for re-reading of the original by a reading unit, the original is conveyed to a reading position of the reading unit and image data generated by the re-reading of the reading unit is corrected.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a conveyor unit that conveys a document along a conveying path for ADF-type image scanning including a curved path. The conveyor unit includes a conveyor roller that reverses a conveying direction of the document in the curved path. The device further includes a first contact surface that comes into contact with a first side of the document when the document is conveyed, a second contact surface that comes into contact with a second side of the document when the document is conveyed, a first reading unit that reads an image on the first side of the document, and a second reading unit disposed above the second contact surface and reading an image on the second side of the document. A part of the conveyor roller is disposed lower than the first and second contact surfaces in an up down direction of the image reading device.

Abstract: An image scanning device includes a scanning unit configured to scan, at a scanning position, an image of a document, a first discharge portion, a second discharge portion, a conveying unit configured to selectively convey the document along a first conveying path from the scanning position to the first discharge portion, and along a second conveying path from the scanning position to the second discharge portion, a driving unit configured to generate a driving force for driving the conveying unit, and a path switching unit configured to receive the driving force generated by the driving unit such that the path switching unit moves between a first position for guiding the document toward the first discharge portion, and a second position for guiding the document toward the second discharge portion.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems and methods for decoupling the mechanical drive systems of image scanners from the exposure system. A light source, such as an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), may be modulated in order to maintain a constant exposure for each scan-line, regardless of the document velocity. Accordingly, the present systems and methods allow for continuous document scanning at varying speeds. An automatic document feeder may dynamically adjust the velocity of a document without negatively impacting the exposure of the image scan. As the velocity of the document is changed, the modulation rate of the light source may be adjusted to maintain a constant exposure.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a document conveying unit, an image reading unit, a gradient calculating unit, a gradient comparing unit and a document discriminating unit. The image reading unit scans a document conveyed by the document conveying unit in a scanning direction orthogonal to a conveying direction and detects pixel values of color components of each pixel. The gradient calculating unit calculates a gradient of the pixel value of each color component in the conveying direction for each pixel based on the detected pixel values. The gradient comparing unit compares differences of gradients among color components for each pixel and extracts the pixel where the graduent difference is below a threshold value. The document discriminating unit discriminates whether each pixel is color or black-and-white based on pixel values using discrimination criteria different for the specific pixels extracted by the gradient comparing unit and other pixels.

Abstract: A position adjustment mechanism (90) includes a rack (91) fixed onto an upper surface of a second hinge member (87), a worm gear 93 that meshes with the rack (91), a handle (95) that rotates the worm gear (93), and a lever (97) that presses the second hinge member (87) against the first hinge member (85) to fix the second hinge member (87) to the first hinge member (85). The lever (97) is operated to release the pressure on the second hinge member (87) so that the handle (95) is operated, to thereby adjust a tilt of the document conveying device (27) with respect to the image reading portion (6) without using a tool and the like. After the adjustment, the lever (97) is operated to press the second hinge member (87), to thereby position the document conveying device (27) precisely at a position after the adjustment.

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 includes an original transport device to transport an original, and an image reading device including multiple image sensor arrays having image reading areas staggered relative to the transport direction of the original in such a manner that the multiple image sensor arrays are offset at least partially, in the main scanning direction of the original with a predetermined gap therebetween in the transport direction. There is at least one original transport speed detector to detect the transport speed of the original transported by the original transport device, a storing device to store a reference delay time period which is between when the image sensor arrays on the upstream side read a predetermined position relative to the transport direction and when the image sensor arrays on the downstream side read the predetermined position. Further, there is a misalignment amount calculator, and an image synthesizer to synthesize an image read by the image sensor arrays.

Abstract: A transported material transporting device including: a power transmission switching mechanism configured to switch the transmission of the power between the nip-release switching mechanism and the drive motor between a transmitted state and a blocked state; a detection unit provided in the reversing path and configured to detect the presence or absence of the material to be transported which enters the reversing path; and a blocked-state locking mechanism configured to lock the blocked state of the power transmission switching mechanism when the discharging roller is in the released state, wherein the locked state of the blocked-state locking mechanism is released and the power transmission switching mechanism is switched from the blocked state to the transmitted state upon detection of the position of the trailing end of the material to be transported entering the reversing path by the detection unit.

Abstract: An image forming device including a print unit having a housing and a scan unit disposed on the top surface of the housing. The scan unit is coupled to the housing such that the scan unit is operable to scan an image in an upright position and in a horizontal position. The coupling includes the scan unit slidingly engaging with the print unit along a first edge of the scan unit. A linkage member is pivotably coupled to the scan unit and the print unit for supporting the scan unit in the upright position.

Abstract: A duplex scanning apparatus capable of switching a scanning background includes a pair of glass plates, a pair of background boards pivoted to the glass plates and a driving mechanism. The glass plates are disposed in a frame and overlapped with each other. The two glass plates define two scanning areas face to face. A portion of the frame adjacent to an outer surface of the glass plate defines a first color area of the scanning background corresponding to the scanning area. One background board is positioned above one glass plate, and the other background board is positioned under the other glass plate and away from the one background board. Each background board defines a second color area of the scanning background corresponding to the scanning area. The driving mechanism mounted in the frame drives the background boards to turn over with respect to the corresponding glass plates.

Abstract: An image scanner includes a transparent plate, a scanning device, a driving device, a positioning member, a light absorbing portion and a white reference portion. The transparent plate has an original placing surface. The scanning device irradiates an original with light by means of a light source and scans reflected light from the original. The driving device reciprocates the scanning device along the transparent plate. The positioning member positions the original placed on the original placing surface of the transparent plate. The light absorbing portion, which is disposed on the original placing surface side of the positioning member and at substantially a central portion of the positioning member in moving directions of the scanning device, absorbs ambient light entering to the original placing surface side of the positioning member through the transparent plate. The white reference portion is provided to the original placing surface side of the positioning member.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which reads an image on a target includes a first housing, a transparent member which is provided on the first housing and has a placement face on which the target is placed, a positioning member on which the transparent member is placed, a second housing which is assembled on the first housing and biases the positioning member, and an engagement member which is provided on the second housing and engages with the positioning member. In the image reading apparatus, when the second housing is assembled on the first housing, the engagement member biases the positioning member so as to fix the transparent member to an attachment position.