Abstract: A method/apparatus receives a user selection of a predetermined standard for scanning sheets of media through a user interface and optically detects marks on the sheets of media using a scanning device to produce electronic images of the sheets of media. The method/apparatus automatically determines if the electronic images comply with the predetermined standard using a processor to classify the electronic images as acceptable electronic images or non-acceptable electronic images. Then, first sheets of media corresponding to the acceptable electronic images are directed into a first sheet storage device and second sheets of media corresponding to the non-acceptable electronic images are directed into a second sheet storage device.

Abstract: A medium detection device includes: a sensor lever configured to rotate corresponding to a travel of a recording medium; a sensor configured to detect the rotation of the sensor lever; a stopper having a guide surface inclined with respect to the movement direction of the sensor lever and configured to stop movement of the sensor lever upon the rotation of the sensor.

Abstract: When optically scanning a medium, scanning can proceed immediately even if the size of the medium is unknown. Before or when an optical reading device starts scanning to read all of a recording medium, the CPU 40 sets a scan block of a size that can always be scanned based on the output of media edge sensors 47 and the distance from the scanning position of the optical reading device to the detection position of the media edge sensors 47, and then scans the set scan block.

Abstract: Top surfaces and inclined surfaces of prisms on a side opposite to a light source are formed such that, in a region on a light source side, light traveling in a light guide body toward the side opposite to the light source is sequentially reflected by the top surfaces and the inclined surfaces of the side opposite to the light surface of the prisms and approaches a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the light guide body. The height of the prisms can be the lowest in the longitudinally central portion of the light guide body, and gradually increases toward the light source side and the side opposite to the light source, from the central portion.

Abstract: In an image reading apparatus, cables may be used to connect reading units (e.g., scanning devices) to a controller or control circuit board configured to execute certain instructions and perform various functions. The cables may be routed between the reading units and the controller so as to reduce and/or eliminate noise. For example, the cables may be routed through contact prevention devices that may include ferrite cores. The cables may also be routed in a manner so as to maintain a predefined distance therebetween and to minimize interference. For example, the cables may extend downward from a corresponding reading portion, change course to a horizontal direction parallel to the rotation axis of an openable unit of the image reading apparatus and such that the cable extends toward the controller, and subsequently extend downward such that the flexible flat cable is insertable into a corresponding connector of the controller.

Abstract: A aspect of the invention is an image scanning apparatus including: a document feeder configured to sequentially feed document sheets stacked in the document feeder; an image scanning unit configured to scan the document sheets fed by the document feeder and to output image data thereof; a memory configured to store therein the image data; a detector configured to detect a failure of feeding the document sheets by the document feeder; a notifier configured to report the feeding failure when the detector detects the feeding failure; and a display unit configured to display the image data stored in the memory, upon detection of the feeding failure.

Abstract: A device, system and method for incorporating a multipage feeder into a keyboard scanner to allow continuous and sequential feeding of more than one page into a scanner housed in a computer keyboard. A multipage feeder may be for example integrated into or attachable to and detachable from a single page feeder also included in the keyboard housing.

Abstract: A scanning device is provided with a first transparent plate on which an original sheet to is placed, the original sheet being scanned statically, a reading unit arranged below the first transparent plate and configured to scan an image on the original sheet in the main scanning direction, the reading unit being movable in an auxiliary scanning direction, and a first reference member defining a reference position for scanning an image on the original sheet, in the main scanning direction and in the auxiliary scanning direction. The first reference member is arranged at an unused area of the first transparent plate, the unused area being an area which is within the original sheet placeable area on the first transparent plate and is not covered with original sheets of a plurality of predetermined different sizes placed on the first transparent plate with being positioned with respect to a predetermined positioning point.

Abstract: A document reading device (1) comprises a mounting surface (5) on which a page to be read (9) of a passport (7) is placed, a camera (13) for taking an image of the page to be read (9), an illumination light source (15) for radiating illumination light that will be reflected on the page to be read (9), and an ultraviolet light source (41) for radiating ultraviolet light to activate a fluorescent material on the page to be read (9). The illumination light source (15) is located at a position corresponding to a first edge (73) perpendicular to a binding edge (71) on the page to be read (9) and radiates illumination light in the direction intersecting with the first edge (73). The ultraviolet light source (41) is located at a position corresponding to a second edge (75) parallel to the binding edge (71) and arranged to radiate ultraviolet light in the direction intersecting with the second edge (75). The illumination light source (15) includes an infrared light source (21) and a white light source (31).

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a pair of cursor members movable in a width direction, and guide grooves configured to guide the cursor member to move in the width direction. The cursor member includes a cursor base, a cursor rising portion being in contact with or in proximity to an end of the sheet, and a connecting portion. The cursor base has a cursor plane extending in parallel to a sheet loading face with a difference of step with respect to the sheet loading face. An edge in the width direction of the cursor base extends linearly. The connecting portion extends from the sheet loading face side to a reverse side via the guide groove at a portion in the feeding direction of the inside edge of the cursor base. The connecting portion has a face connecting portion which connects the sheet loading face with the cursor plane smoothly.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus comprising: a first conveying guide; a second conveying guide which is arranged on a downstream of the first conveying guide; a plurality of first convex portions which is provided in the first conveying guide, extends toward the second conveying guide and is arranged in a sheet width direction; a plurality of second convex portions which is provided in the second conveying guide, extends toward the first conveying guide and is arranged in the sheet width direction, wherein the first convex portions and the second convex portions are alternately arranged in the sheet width direction; and a bent portion which is formed between the plurality of second convex portions in the second conveying guide, and bent in a manner such that an upstream end is arranged at a position farther from the sheet conveying path than a downstream end portions of the first convex portions.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet, a reading unit configured to read an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit, a calibration member including a white reference region for acquiring correction data for correcting image information acquired by reading the image on the sheet with the reading unit, and a driving unit configured to move the calibration member so as to locate the white reference region in a position where the reading unit can read the white reference region if the correction data is acquired, and to locate a region other than the white reference region in a position that faces the sheet to be conveyed and is not brought into contact with the sheet if the sheet is conveyed.

Abstract: A media separator includes air nozzles and separation plates to form a row of members, and is configured to separate a sheet conveyed from a fixing nip formed of a fixing member and a pressure member. In such a media separator, the plurality of air nozzles and at least one separation plate are disposed along a longitudinal direction of the fixing device, and the plurality of air nozzles are disposed at both lateral ends of the row of members in the longitudinal direction of the fixing device, whereby waving of the edge of the sheet in the printing of frequently used sheet can be prevented and the occurrence of jam may be prevented, and a stable sheet separation and conveyance can be realized.

Abstract: A sensor includes a photoelectric conversion unit including a first photoelectric conversion element array and a second photoelectric conversion element array, each having an array of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a predetermined direction, a storage unit configured to store a charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, a transfer unit configured to transfer the charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit to an outside of the sensor, a control unit configured to serially execute a first transfer control for transporting unit configured to transport a charge stored in the second photoelectric conversion element array to the transfer unit via the storage unit and a second transfer control for transporting unit configured to transport a charge stored in the first photoelectric conversion element array to the transfer unit via the second photoelectric conversion element array and the storage unit.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus includes: a transparent platen having a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, the first and second edges being separated along a scan direction; a frame including: a holder for the transparent platen; and a control panel located proximate the first edge of the transparent platen; a scan bar assembly including a scan element; a motor for moving the scan bar assembly along the scan direction; and a circuit board connected to the control panel, the circuit board including: a plurality of electrical components; a first edge located adjacent a side of the frame; and a second edge opposite the first edge, wherein the second edge of the circuit board is configured to overlap the first edge of the transparent platen.

Abstract: An image processing device is comprising: an input unit which inputs image data of a chart; and a streak detection processing unit which specifies an inspection region in the inputted image data, calculates a line average which is an average of all pixels on a line, for each line in a sub-scanning direction in the inspection region, calculates a width average value which is an average of the line averages of the lines corresponding to a series of main scanning pixels, the number of which is a specified width and whose center is a target pixel, for each target pixel, calculates a difference between the width average value, and the average of the line averages of the target pixel and a predetermined number of main scanning pixels, and determines that the target pixel is included in a streak when the difference exceeds the threshold value set in advance.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a determining unit configured to determine whether a malfunction of relative movement between a document and an image reading unit reading an image of the document occurs when the document is read by the image reading unit while at least one of the document and the image reading unit is moved, a specifying unit configured to specify a position in image data of the image read by the image reading unit corresponding to a position where the malfunction occurs if the determining unit determines that the malfunction of relative movement occurs, and a control unit configured to cause an image display unit to display an image based on the image data to enable a user to discriminate the position specified by the specifying unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first conveying path, a curved conveying path, a second conveying path, an upper cover, a first image reading section, a third conveying roller, a second conveying roller, a second image reading section, a first conveying roller, a fourth conveying roller and a control unit. The control unit controls to stop conveying the sheet when a back edge of the sheet passes the first conveying roller in the case where a length of the sheet is less than a first distance between the first conveying roller and the third conveying roller, and controls to stop conveying the sheet after conveying the sheet until the back edge passes the third conveying roller in the case where the length of the sheet is greater than the first distance and is less than a second distance between the third conveying roller and the fourth conveying roller.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus including: a feeding device; a first reading unit that scans an image of a first surface of the document fed by the feeding device; a second reading unit that scans an image of a second surface of the document fed by the feeding device, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface; a first processing unit that processes the image data read by the first reading unit when performing a double-sided reading; a second processing unit that processes the image data read by the second reading unit when performing the double-sided reading, and a control unit that, when a one-sided reading of a following document is performed while one of the processing units is performing a processing of a one-sided reading of a preceding document, controls the other processing unit to perform processing of the one-sided reading of the following document.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of reading an image recorded on a first surface and a second surface of a sheet, the image processing apparatus comprising a conveying path comprising a first conveying path formed in a substantially plate shape, a second conveying path disposed below the first conveying path and a curved conveying path disposed between the first conveying path and the second conveying path, a conveying mechanism configured to convey the sheet along a conveying direction from the first conveying path to the second conveying path through the curved conveying path, a first image reading section disposed below the first conveying path and comprising a first image sensor which reads the image recorded on the first surface of the sheet conveyed along the first conveying path at a first image reading position, a second image reading section comprising a second image sensor which reads the image recorded on the second surface of the sheet conveyed along the second conveying path from below the s

Abstract: A position of a leading edge of an original sheet should be accurately detected utilizing a shadow thereof, irrespective of thickness of the original sheet. In a scanner, an image sensor recognizes the shadow of the leading edge of the original sheet projected on a projection screen when a light source emits light to the original sheet being automatically transported on a glass plate. The original sheet is determined to have reached a reading position, when the original sheet is further transported by a predetermined distance after the shadow is recognized. The projection screen is located above the glass plate at a position spaced apart from the image sensor by a predetermined distance, and hence the timing that the shadow of the leading edge of the original sheet is projected on the projection screen is constant irrespective of the thickness of the original sheet.

Abstract: A document conveying device includes a document table on which a stack of document sheets is placed; a rotating shaft member detachably provided on a main body of the document conveying device; a feeding member configured to contact and feed a topmost sheet of the stack of document sheets, the feeding member being attached to the rotating shaft member via a driving force transmitting member; a separating unit configured to separate the topmost sheet from one or more sheets that are fed together with the topmost sheet, rotating members rotatably attached to the rotating shaft member; a holding member configured to hold the feeding member and the driving force transmitting member; and a rotating member position restricting unit configured to restrict a position of the rotating members other than the holding member to a given predetermined position with reference to a position of the holding member.

Abstract: In an image reader, the first reading unit outputs first image data corresponding to the image of the first surface of the original document. The second image reading unit outputs second image data corresponding to the image of the second surface of the original document. The image process circuit acquires at least one of a part of the first image data and a part of the second image data from the storing unit, and performs an image process on the image data acquired from the storing unit. When the image process circuit finishes performing the image process on either the first image data or the second image data, the initialization instruction unit instructs initializing either the first setting or the second setting corresponding to the either the first image data or the second image data and the image process circuit initializes the either the first setting or the second setting.

Abstract: An ergonomic, compact scanner operation is achieved by providing a flatbed scanner and a sheet fed scanner in a space efficient arrangement with optimal access features for users. Documents traverse the sheet fed scanner along a path that allows inclusion of an easily accessible flat bed scanner.

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 scanning device includes a housing, a scanning unit disposed inside the housing and configured to scan, at a scanning position, an image of a sheet, a conveying mechanism disposed inside the housing, and a cover. The conveying mechanism is configured to convey the sheet along a common path to the scanning position in a first direction, and to discharge the sheet having passed the scanning position selectively along a return path in a second direction and along a one-way path in the first direction. The cover is configured to receive the sheet discharged from the one-way path in an inclined position in which the cover extends upward from the one-way path and is inclined relative to the one-way path.

Abstract: One embodiment of a scanning stand for devices equipped with a digital camera comprising two inverted-V parts. One inverted-V part includes a sliding platform serving as a holder for a device equipped with a digital camera. Inverted-V parts are connected using nylon ribbons and the distance between inverted-V parts can be adjusted to accommodate documents of various thicknesses. A sheet of transparent acrylic or glass is included to provide means to flatten wrinkles or creases on documents and to straighten pages of bound material near the binding.

Abstract: A sheet detecting device including: an ultrasound generator; a transmitting side opening, which includes a first opening and a second opening to transmit the ultrasound; a transmitting side propagation unit, which is connected to the ultrasound generator and each of the transmitting side openings; a receiving side opening, which includes a third opening and a fourth opening to receives the ultrasound transmitted from the first opening and the second opening; an ultrasound receiver; a receiving side propagation unit, which is connected to each of the receiving side openings and the ultrasound receiver; and a first determining unit, wherein a first distance from the ultrasound generator to the first opening is different from a second distance from the ultrasound generator to the second opening, and wherein a third distance from the ultrasound receiver to the third opening is different from a fourth distance from the ultrasound receiver to the fourth opening.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first conveying path, a curved conveying path, a second conveying path, a first image reading section facing the first conveying path, a pair of third conveying rollers having a third nip point P1, a pair of second conveying rollers having a second nip point P4, a second image reading section facing the second conveying path, a pair of first conveying rollers having a first nip point P3 and a pair of discharge rollers having a fourth nip point P2. A distance between P1 and P2 is larger than a distance between P3 and P4. P3 and P4 are positioned in a first area defined by imaginary lines extending upward from P1 and P2 respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a scanner and more particularly pertains to a handheld portable scanner with integrated technologies which effectively combines lighting, electronics and mechanical technologies and has a small size and convenient portability, which comprises a scanner housing, a battery, scanning components and image processing components. The scanning components are composed of an optical scanning head and a scanning rod. The image processing components are composed of scan-speed testing components which are coupled with the scanning rod, a processing chip for processing of data scanned by the optical scanning head and image processing, and a scanner circuit. The present invention provides a handheld portable scanner which has a convenient portability and extensive functions.

Abstract: A rotatable scanner includes a scanner body and a document holder. The scanner body includes an exposure surface on which a document is placed. The document holder is provided above the scanner body to cover a document placed on the exposure surface of the scanner body, and includes a hinged side and a free side opposite the hinged side. A front upper edge of the scanner body is chamfered.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for the high speed digitization of large collections of thin, flexible sheets such as photographic prints. The sheets are inserted into transparent pockets on an elongated belt, and the belt is driven rapidly without stopping past a high speed digital camera. A glare reduction means is employed to avoid glare off the transparent pockets, and motion blur is 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 photographs (or other thin sheets) and deliver the belt to a processing location. Digital images of the sheets may then be provided to the customer, and the original sheets may be left in the pockets on the belt for convenient storage.

Abstract: An image scanning device and an image scanning method are provided. The invention is related to a miniaturized image scanning device and an image scanning method. The miniaturized image scanning device includes a housing, a first driving roller set, an entrance sensor, an image sensor, a reflective light source, a transmissive light source, and a control module. The housing has an entrance and an exit. The first driving roller set is disposed in the housing. The entrance sensor is disposed between the entrance and the first driving roller set. The image sensor, the reflective light source and the transmissive light source are disposed between the first driving roller set and the exit. The control module receives and processes signals outputted from the image sensor and the entrance sensor to control the operation of the image sensor, the first driving roller set, the reflective light source and the transmissive light source.

Abstract: A first feeder contacts a first surface of a first sheet held in a first tray and feeds the first sheet toward a recording unit. A second feeder contacts a first surface of a second sheet held in a second tray and feeds the second sheet toward the recording unit. An inner member is disposed above a standing plate. An outer member comprises an upstream portion opposing the standing plate, and a downstream portion opposing the inner member. The inner member guides the first surface of the first sheet and the first surface of the second sheet. The standing plate guides the first surface of the second sheet. The upstream portion of the outer member guides a second surface of the second sheet, and the downstream portion guides a second surface of the first sheet and the second surface of the second sheet. The standing plate moves relative to the outer member.

Abstract: A sheet conveyer including a first chassis and a second chassis, a conveying unit to convey a sheet in a conveying route between the first chassis and the second chassis, an emitter disposed on one of the first chassis and the second chassis and configured to emit ultrasonic waves toward the conveying route, a receiver disposed on the second chassis and configured to receive the ultrasonic waves and to output detecting signals, which are to be used to determine whether the sheet being conveyed in the conveying route includes multiple sheets, and a power source disposed on the second chassis and configured to supply power to the emitter, and the receiver, is provided.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance unit including a sheet tray on which a stack of sheets is placed, a sheet feed member to feed sheets from the stack of sheets, a separation/feed unit to separate a topmost sheet from the rest of sheets fed by the sheet feed member and feed the topmost sheet to a predetermined position, and a pre-separation unit disposed between the sheet tray and the separation/feed unit. The pre-separation unit includes a downward sloped portion to guide a leading edge of each sheet diagonally downward, and an upward sloped portion provided downstream from the downward sloped portion in a conveyance direction of the sheets to guide the leading edge of each sheet diagonally upward. Both ends of the upward sloped portion in a lateral direction are sloped upward more gently than the center of the upward sloped portion.

Abstract: An A4-size scanner capable of scanning an A3 document. The A4-size scanner includes a scanning part, a transferring roller member that is disposed at an upper side of the flat glass to be orthogonal to a length direction of the automatic document feeding unit and the scanning sensor so that the document having a double size of a scanning capacity of the scanning sensor and introduced onto the flat glass in the length direction of the automatic document feeding unit and the scanning sensor is transferred to a transferring roller, and a transferring roller member driving motor that is connected with the transferring roller which dividedly scans the document having a larger size than the scanning capacity of the scanning sensor; and an image processing part which performs an image processing for composing two images which are dividedly scanned through the scanning part.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus includes: a feeding unit; an upstream scanning unit that scans an image of one surface of the document; a downstream scanning unit, which is arranged at a downstream side, and which scans an image of the other surface of the document; a memory unit, which stores both data of the upstream scanning unit and data of the downstream scanning unit; and a control unit that controls the document feeding by performing one of a first feeding process and a second feeding process, wherein the first feeding process is a feeding process in which the upstream scanning unit starts to scan a following document while the downstream scanning unit scans a preceding document, and wherein the second feeding process is a feeding process in which the upstream scanning unit starts to scan the following document after the downstream scanning unit scans the preceding document.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a pair of pulleys between which a belt is stretched, and a pin that rotatably supports a driving pulley, of the pair of pulleys; a mount for fixing the pin; a housing; at least two first fastening parts, respectively including first bosses that extend vertically from a bottom portion of the housing and first fastening members that are inserted into the first bosses via the mount to fix the mount to the housing; and a second fastening part disposed on an opposite side to, the first fastening parts with respect to the pin in the scanning direction, including a second boss that extends vertically from the bottom portion of the housing and has a different height from the first bosses and a second fastening member that is inserted into the second boss via the mount to fix the mount to the housing.

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: An image processing apparatus is provided. The image processing apparatus includes a lower unit, an upper unit, a joint piece to connect the upper unit with the lower unit, a flat cable, and a holder piece, which is movable with respect to one of the upper unit and the lower unit when the upper unit is moved with respect to the lower unit. The holder piece includes a first opening, a second opening, and a path connecting the first opening and the second opening to hold the flat cable therein in a curved posture. When the upper unit is vertically moved, the holder member is vertically moved with respect to the one of the upper unit and the lower unit by shifting a range of curvature in the flat cable as the flat cable is pulled out of and withdrawn in the holder member.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus having a mechanism for adjusting an opening of a sheet passageway includes a first assembly, a second assembly and a driving mechanism. The first assembly is moveably disposed. The second assembly is disposed opposite the first assembly. The driving mechanism drives the first assembly to move in a vertical direction to adjust a distance between the first assembly and the second assembly. The driving mechanism includes a horizontally extending portion and a vertically extending portion. The horizontally extending portion is moveable in a horizontal direction. The vertically extending portion, connected to the horizontally extending portion, pushes against the first assembly. The vertically extending portion drives the first assembly to move in the vertical direction in response to the movement of the horizontally extending portion in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: Image data is stored in a RAM, and when recording media are fed from a paper feed tray for a time interval longer than a predetermined time interval, a CPU causes an image forming section to execute a correction process.

Abstract: An imaging system that includes a sheet media stack over a recording unit. Image data is generated in response to radiation received from a field of view encompassing sheet media edges of individual media within the sheet media stack. Edges of individual media are detected within the image data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cover member which is openable and closable with respect to main assembly of the image forming apparatus; and an image reading portion, movable to first and second positions, for reading an image of an original. The cover member is movable to first and second open positions with respect to the main assembly. The image reading portion is initially rested at the first position as the cover member is moved from a closed position to the first open positions, and then is movable from the first position to the second position in interrelation with movement of the cover member from the first open position toward the second open position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body having an image forming unit forming an image to a printing medium; and a plurality of mail box modules which are disposed to an output side of the printing medium in the main body, each mail box module respectively including a driving unit selectively outputting the printing medium from the main body, and a control circuit unit controlling the driving unit. The control circuit unit includes a shift register having channels corresponding to the total number of the plurality of mail box modules, and, if receiving an identifying ID information of the mail box module from the main body, turns on one channel of the channels corresponding to the identifying ID information; and a multiplexer which outputs an active signal to the driving unit if the channel turned on by the shift register corresponds to a predetermined identifying ID.

Abstract: An auto document feeder includes a lead path, a first reverse path, a second reverse path, and a both surfaces eject path. The lead path guides a document from a left side to a right side of a read position. The first and second reverse paths are connected to the lead path, and reverse the document to guide the document from the right side to the left side of the read position. A both surfaces eject path is connected to the first and second reverse paths and guides the document whose image information of a second surface has been read to eject further to the right side than the read position. A shared curve path shared by the lead path and the both surfaces eject path includes a portion between the read position and a portion in which a lead curve path protrudes the most.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a document feed unit that can adopt a first attitude to sandwich a document against a document table and a second attitude to release the document. An attitude detection unit detects the attitude of the document feed unit. A document detection unit detects whether a document is on a placement section of the document feed unit. An input acceptance unit accepts a selection input indicating whether a document on the document table is a read object document when attitudes of the document feed unit have been detected in a second-to-first sequence by the attitude detection unit when a document is detected on the document placement section. A control unit sets a document on the document table as the current read object, when the input acceptance unit accepts a selection input indicating that the document on the document table is to be a read object document.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a conveying roller that comes in contact with a sheet medium and causes a conveying force to convey the sheet medium in a conveying direction to act on the sheet medium contacting the conveying roller; an imaging unit that captures an image of the sheet medium that has been conveyed; a guide plate that is provided upstream of the imaging unit in the conveying direction, forms a part of a conveying path through which the sheet medium is conveyed, and includes a plurality of slits along a main-scanning direction perpendicular to the conveying direction; and a charging member that is chargeable, provided upstream of the imaging unit in the conveying direction, arranged separate, via the plurality of slits, from the sheet medium that is being conveyed, and charged at least when the sheet medium is being conveyed by the conveying roller.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.