Abstract: An image processing apparatus has an original mount, a recording material mount for mounting recording materials, a supply roller, a separating unit, a reading unit for reading an image of the original, an original detection sensor for detecting the original on the original mount, and an original widthwise direction reference surface for being abutted by the original mounted on the original mount to position that original. The recording material widthwise direction reference surface is used to position the recording material so that a portion of the original does not superpose on the recording material having a maximum width and the original detection sensor detects that a portion of the original mounted on the original mount is not superposed on the recording material having maximum width.

Abstract: In IC-tagged printed matter 200, image data is printed on IC-tagged paper and the image data of the printed image is stored in the IC tag. MFP 100C makes a judgment whether the document set by ADF 141 is an IC-tagged printed matter or not by means of IC tag reader 143A, reads out the image data from the IC tag of the document on the ADF by means of IC tag reader 143A without transporting the document, and prints it on conventional paper or IC-tagged printing paper by means of printing unit 151, when it is the IC-tagged printed matter. If it is to be printed on IC-tagged printing paper, it writes the printed image data on the IC tag of said IC-tagged printing paper by means of IC tag writer 152 simultaneously. Thus, high quality copies in which the attribute information of the printed matter is reflected can be obtained from the electronically tagged printed matter.

Abstract: It is a first aspect of the present invention to provide a scanning device that includes a first imaging device adapted to convert contents of a first surface of a medium to a digital representation of the contents of the first surface of the medium, a scanning path adapted to guide the medium adjacent to the first imaging device, a first output path for guiding the medium to a first output tray, the first output path connected to the scanning path, a second output path for guiding the medium to a second output tray, the second output path connected to the scanning path, and a diverter guide adapted to direct the medium from the scanning path to one of the first output path and the second output path.

Abstract: In an image scanning apparatus, documents on a document tray are transferred one by one, and an upper surface height of the documents is lowered to turn off a height detection sensor. Different kinds of control modes are performed according to a document scanning mode. In an image-quality-priority scanning mode, a transfer unit suspends transfer of the document, the document tray is elevated until the upper surface height reaches a target height that is higher by a predetermined distance after the height detection sensor is turned on, and the transfer unit resumes the transfer of the document. In a speed-priority scanning mode, while the transfer of the document is continued by the transfer unit, the document tray is elevated until the document tray reaches the target height.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which is capable of performing a stable reading operation and matching a sub-scanning magnification with which an original image is scanned, between the front side of an original and the reverse side of the same. A CCD line sensor reads the front side of an original, and a CIS line sensor reads the reverse side of the same. A lead roller is disposed upstream of the CCD line sensor and conveys the original at a first conveying speed. A discharge roller is disposed downstream of the CCD line sensor and conveys the original at a second conveying speed which is higher than the first conveying speed. A CPU controls one main scanning time period of the CCD line sensor after the original is held by the discharge roller, such that the one main scanning time period becomes shorter than before the original is held by the discharge roller.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an original-sheet support table and reading an image on an original sheet supported by the original-sheet support table. The original-sheet support table includes: (a) an original-sheet support surface on which the original sheet is supported; (b) a contact surface which stands up from the original-sheet support surface and is contactable with one side of the original sheet supported by the original-sheet support surface; and (c) at least one guide mark which is provided in the contact surface. The original sheet is positioned on the original-sheet support surface in a state in which the one side of the original sheet is held in contact with the contact surface of the original-sheet support table and one end of the one side of the original sheet is aligned with the at least one guide mark.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder device 100 has a device body 110 disposed on a platen 210 of a document reading device 200 and pivotably openable relative to the device 200 by being hingedly connected thereto. The device 100 includes detectors 130, 140 for detecting a document-stack state of at least one of a feeder and an output tray 111, 112 provided on the body 110, a driver 160 for driving the body 110 to be pivotably opened in an upward direction from the platen 210, an instructor 179 for giving an instruction for the driving, and a controller 172 for, based on a detection result of the detectors 130, 140 in priority to the instruction, to permit or forbid the driving, or to control an amount of the driving. When the device body is automatically opened, documents in the feeder or the output tray are unlikely to fall off.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device, including: a first tray on which sheets to be fed are stacked; a second tray which is disposed above the first tray to provide a two-tier structure and on which the sheets after having fed from the first tray are stacked; a sheet-feed path extending from the first tray to the second tray; a sheet-feed mechanism which is operable to separate one of the sheets stacked on the first tray, to feed the one of the sheets into the sheet-feed path, and to discharge the one of the sheets to the second tray such that the one of the sheets slides under another of the sheets that has been discharged immediately before the one of the sheets; and at least one sheet guide which is configured to warp the sheets discharged to the second tray, in a direction perpendicular to a sheet-feed direction in which the sheets are fed.

Abstract: A method of conveying documents for an ADF includes steps of beginning a first conveying procedure of a next document after a preceding document passes through a scanning section during a first conveying procedure of the preceding document, performing a first inverting procedure and then beginning a second conveying procedure of the preceding document during the first conveying procedure of the next document, performing a first inverting procedure and then beginning a second conveying procedure of the next document during the second conveying procedure of the preceding document, performing a second inverting procedure and then beginning a third conveying procedure of the preceding document during the second conveying procedure of the next document, and performing a second inverting procedure and then beginning a third conveying procedure of the next document during the third conveying procedure of the preceding document.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image reading part configured to read image information on an original document, an image forming part configured to form an image on a sheet according to the image information, a sheet discharge part configured to discharge the sheet on which the image is formed from a front side to a backside of a main body, a sheet stack part onto which the sheet is discharged, and first and second supporters located outside the sheet stack part along a sheet discharge direction. The sheet stack part is located between the image reading part and the image forming part. The first and second supporters form a space between the sheet stack part and the image reading part. The second supporter is smaller than the first supporter in the sheet discharge direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a roller shaft, a paper-transporting which is coupled to the roller shaft and transports a document, a driving part to supply a rotational driving force to the paper-transporting roller, a driving wheel which is coupled to the roller shaft and rotates along with the roller shaft, and a clutch unit which includes a clutch shaft having an axial line deviated from an axial line of the roller shaft, a transmission wheel connected with the clutch shaft and which transmits the driving force to the driving wheel, and a rotation connecting part to selectively transmit the rotational driving force to the transmission wheel.

Abstract: A double-surface printing type facsimile device is provided with a storage configured to store image data of document data received by facsimile, a printing unit configured to print the image data stored in the storage in one of single-surface printing mode and double-surface printing mode on a recording sheet, the image data being printed on one surface and the other surface of the recording sheet subsequently when the printing unit operates in the double-surface printing mode, a backup memory configured to store only the image data to be printed on the other surface of the recording sheet, and a reprinting unit configured to reprint the image data stored in the backup memory in the single-surface printing mode.

Abstract: The display system includes the display apparatus and the scanner apparatus disposed so as to be drawable forward below the display apparatus. In addition, the upper unit is attached so as to be openable and closeable to the lower unit. Moreover, in the scanner apparatus, a sheet-like original, an image of which is read by the image reading device, can be fed from a front side of the upper unit. In addition, when the image of the sheet-like original is read by the scanner apparatus, the original is fed from the front face side of the scanner apparatus to read the original image, and when an image of a book original is read, the scanner apparatus is pulled out forward so that an image of the book original is read in a state where the upper unit is opened.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic sheet-feeding scanning apparatus having a movable guide rib device. The automatic sheet-feeding scanning apparatus includes a flatbed scanner and an automatic document feeder. The movable guide rib device is mounted in a housing of the flatbed scanner and includes a guide rib structure, at least one hollow portion, a plurality of elastic members and a fixing plate. The guide rib structure is movable upwardly or downwardly so as to avoid document damage even if the document is relatively large-sized.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus having a color line sensor and a monochromatic line sensor starts to read on the basis of the color reading start position when reading the image of a document in color and starts to read on the basis of the monochromatic reading start position when reading the image of a document in monochrome.

Abstract: A document feeder includes a document load tray, a duct, a ventilating section, and an ion generating device. The document load tray is a member for loading thereon a document to be read and has a hole extending therethrough to provide communication between a document load side of the document load tray and a reverse side of the document load tray which is opposite away from the document load side. The duct is placed on the reverse side of the document load tray continuously with the hole. The ventilating section is configured to feed air present outside an image forming apparatus into the duct through an opening of the duct. The ion generating device is disposed within the duct and configured to generate ions for cleaning up the air fed into the duct by the ventilating section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feed unit, a sensor, a control unit, a measuring unit, and a determining unit. The feed unit 1 conveys a sheet. The sensor detects the sheet being conveyed. The control unit controls to change the force acting on the sheet from that is in normal conveyance of the sheet. The measuring unit measures a measurement value related to conveyance speed of the detected sheet with the acting force changed. The determining unit determines whether there is an indication of abnormality in conveyance of the sheet on the basis of the measurement value.

Abstract: A scanning device scans both sides of a document. The document is fed between a first image sensor module and a second image sensor module. The second image sensor module is moved with respect to the first image sensor module so that a separation distance between the second image sensor module and the first image sensor module is based on a thickness of the document. A first side of the document is scanned using a first scan line located in the first image sensor module. A second side of the document is scanned using a second scan line located in the second image sensor module. When the document is fed between the first image sensor module and the second image sensor module, the document does not reach the first scan line and the second scan line simultaneously.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the same to improve a transferring path of a document to prevent curl from being generated in the document and to prevent interference between a document having both surfaces scanned and a previously discharged document. The image reading apparatus includes a scan path having one end connected to a document supplying unit and the other end connected to a document discharging unit, a scan unit to read information recorded on a document passing through the scan path, a two-sided document branch path to branch from the scan path so that the document whose first surface is scanned by the scan unit passes through the two-sided document branch path before the document is reversed for a two-side scanning process, and a two-sided document transferring path having one end connected to the two-sided document branch path and other end connected to the scan path.

Abstract: A scanning device may include a first structural member and a second structural member, a movable body that is configured to reciprocate between the first structural member and the second structural member, and a cable of which a first end is fixed to one of the first and second structural members and a second end fixed to the movable body. The cable may have a curved portion between the first end and the second end thereof. The scanning device may further include an elastic member of which a first end portion is fixed to one of the first and second structural members to which the first end of the cable is fixed, and a second end portion is engaged to the curved portion. The elastic member may be configured to elastically urge the cable in a direction opposite to the curving direction of the curved portion.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder is mounted on a platen cover, which is located on a housing of a manuscript scanning section and movable relative to the housing to have open and shut states. The automatic document feeder is provided with: a manuscript stacker adapted to have manuscripts stacked on it; an outer frame structure having the manuscript stacker movable to attain the open and shut states; and a handle section provided integrally with the outer frame structure and disposed anteriorly to the manuscript stacker. The space between the manuscript stacker and the platen cover serves as a manuscript discharging section. The handle section is formed in a shape so as to avoid narrowing the entrance for inserting a hand into the manuscript discharging section.

Abstract: The automatic document feeder includes a document tray, a document delivery tray, a document feed path, a feed roller, a housing member, and an ion generating unit. The housing member has at least an air intake portion and an air exhaust portion and is designed to accommodate a driving section therein. The ion generating unit is disposed laterally of the driving section within the housing member.

Abstract: In an automatic original conveying device, a motor rotates in a single direction and a driving force transmission mechanism transmits the driving force of the motor from a sheet feeding roller to a switchback roller. The sheet feeding roller conveys an original that stands by in a switchback conveying path to a second conveying path. A sorting unit sorts the original conveyed from a paper delivery path to an original delivery table or to the switchback conveying path. The switchback roller is provided between the sorting unit and the switchback conveying path and it is rotatable in a normal direction or a reverse direction.

Abstract: An image reading device and an image forming apparatus and methods thereof can achieve a duplex scanning operation and enable a user to easily arrange the scanned documents after being discharged. The image reading device may include a supply path coupled to a document supply port, a simplex document feeding path coupled to the supply path to first guide the document to the scan unit, a duplex document feeding path coupled to the supply path to second guide the document to the scan unit to scan a first surface of the document, and a duplex document circulating path to communicate with the duplex document feeding path and guide a second surface of the first surface scanned document to the scan unit.

Abstract: A scanning device includes a transparent platen, a scanning module, a sheet-feeding mechanism, a section and a pressing unit. The scanning module is disposed at a scan position and acquires an image of a document through the transparent platen. The sheet-feeding mechanism transports the document in a transporting direction across the scan position. The section is located downstream of the scan position, and has a low point at a level lower than that of an upper surface of the transparent platen. The pressing unit is disposed opposite the section and limits a distance between the document and the transparent platen. A contact portion between the pressing unit and the document is lower than the upper surface of the transparent platen.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic document feeder for feeding a document to a document read surface. The document feeder has a first carrying mechanism for feeding a document toward the document read surface, a document leading mechanism for leading the document after passing above the document read surface, a second carrying mechanism for carrying the document led by the document leading mechanism, in a downstream direction, and a housing equipped with the first carrying mechanism, the document leading mechanism and the second carrying mechanism. The housing can be opened and closed relative to the document read surface. The document leading mechanism includes a movable member having an inclined surface that extends obliquely downward to direct a distal edge thereof toward the document read surface. The movable member can maintain the distal edge of the inclined surface at a substantially constant height relative to the document read surface.

Abstract: An opening method for a double-sided scanner is provided. A light source of one particular color inside a first group of light sources and a light source of a different color (or the same color) inside a second group of light source are lit to scan the front and back surface of a scan document. Optical signals from the front and back surface of the scan document are received and converted into analogue electrical signals. Thereafter, the analogue electrical signals are converted into digital electrical signal. Finally, the digital electrical signals are output to a host computer. This invention utilizes two groups of light sources (for example, light-emitting diodes) to serve as light sources for the double-sided scanner. Because light-emitting diodes require no warm-up period and is quick to switch, double-sided scanning is simplified.

Abstract: When an original document is placed on the lift tray, a timer is reset and starts counting a predetermined time. Whether an alignment device is moved to adjust the original documents loaded on the lift tray in, for example, the widthwise direction transverse to the transportation direction is then determined. If a change in the detected width of the original documents is detected, the timer is reset and started again. If there is no change in the detected width of the original documents, a control waits for the timer to time out. If the timer reaches the predetermined time, the lift tray is driven up by the lift motor and rises until the top limit sensor turns on.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides an image scanner which can continuously transfer image data of one surface to an external device (image forming apparatus) without performing control such as interruption and resumption of an original scanning operation. The image scanner includes a size detection unit which detects an original size and a determination unit which determines whether or not the image data relating to an original of the size detected by the size detection unit can be stored in a storage unit. The image scanner also includes a control unit. The control unit is configured to set operation in a first mode when the determination unit determines that image data relating to the original can be stored in the storage unit, and the control unit is configured to set operation in a second mode when the determination unit determines that image data relating to the original cannot be stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: An automatic paper feed device is provided, including a cover member that has a paper insertion opening in a nearly rectangular shape, the paper insertion opening having a longitudinal direction perpendicular to both a transport direction of the paper and a thickness direction of the paper. The paper insertion opening includes a first end opening portion, a second end opening portion, and a center opening portion arranged in the longitudinal direction of the paper insertion opening. The paper insertion opening connects a placement unit, in which paper is placed, with a separation and transport mechanism, that separates paper placed in the placement unit and transports paper placed in the placement unit in the transport direction. The first and second end opening portions are each larger in size than the central opening portion.

Abstract: A sheet carrying apparatus, being applicable in (i) an automatic document feeding apparatus and/or (ii) paper feeding and conveying mechanism of an image forming apparatus, has an opening in that part of a curved guiding surface of a lower conveyance guide of a sheet conveyance guiding section constituting a curved conveyance path, which receives a front end of a document fed to the curved conveyance path. The opening has such a size in a guide width direction orthogonal to a document conveying direction, which is passable for a small size sheet not larger than a predetermined size. With this, the small size sheet passed through the opening is sorted out.

Abstract: An image reader includes two rows of image reading element arrays, that is, a first image reading element array and a second image reading element array, and a first rod lens array and a second rod lens array, disposed in correspondence with the first and second image reading element arrays and having different focal positions, in order to read an image on a transmission original in optimal focus with a CIS scanner using the rod lens arrays as when an image on a reflection original is read. The second image reading element array provides higher resolution, and has a shorter reading length. The focal length of the second rod lens array is greater than that of the first rod lens array.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a first reading unit that reads an image on a front side of a document being transferred along a transfer path; a second reading unit that reads an image on a rear side of the document; a reversing unit arranged downstream of the first and the second reading units that turns the document over and place it on the transfer path; and a controller that causes, when a error is detected in the first or second reading units, the reversing unit to turn the document over and place it on the transfer path, so that a reading unit in which the error is not detected reads the image on the side to be read by the reading unit in which the error is detected.

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: An automatic document feeder of an image forming apparatus capable of improving a duplex scanning or printing (copying) efficiency includes a single scan path having a document admission passage to admit a document to a document scanning part and a document discharge passage to discharge the scanned document, a duplex scan path having a first document reversing and waiting passage diverged separately from the document discharge passage on the single scan path at the rear of the document scanning part to reverse the document, one surface of which is scanned, and admit the reversed document again to the document scanning part, and a document re-reversing path having a second document reversing and waiting passage diverged separately from the document discharge passage on the single scan path at the rear of the document scanning part to reverse the document, both surfaces of which are scanned, again and send the re-reversed document to the document discharge passage.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder, for transferring a document through a scanning position three times, includes: a first transfer mechanism to reverse a given document via a reversing path, and transfer the same to a scanning position; a second transfer mechanism to transfer the given document from the scanning position to one of a switchback path and a document discharging part; a switchback mechanism to transfer the given document to a lay-by on the switchback path, and then transfer the given document towards the reversing path via a re-entry path; and a control unit to control the mechanisms so that a second original document passes through the scanning position a first time before a first original document passes through the scanning position a third time, and to pause travel of the second original document at the lay-by as the first original document is passed through the scanning position a third time.

Abstract: A duplex printing instruction is accepted. When duplex printing is performed in accordance with the single-side printing and duplex printing is performed for a job of one page is decided in accordance with a condition.

Abstract: A document feeder includes a bidirectional feed path having both ends connected to predetermined positions of the bidirectional feed path, respectively. A document is fed from a downstream side of the image reading position to an upstream side with leading end and trailing end being reversed. The driving force is not transmitted when the rotation of the rotating member of the driving source is switched from one direction to the other, while the driving force is transmitted when an actuator is operated based on the driving system being rotated in the other direction. The actuator is actuated when the driving system is rotated in the other direction and the document is drawn in the bidirectional feed path. If the rotated amount of the driving source during the actuation of the actuator is less than a predetermined value, the actuator is actuated by a predetermined period.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a document stacking tray on which documents are stacked, a feed roller for picking up, one sheet at a time, the documents that are stacked on the document stacking tray, a curved transporting path through which the document is transported, and a CCD reading unit and a CIS reading unit for reading images from the document. The document stacking tray includes a electric tray for raising or lowering the document within a range of a height of the curved transporting path, so as to feed the document to the feed roller. With such an arrangement, it is possible to provide an image reading device and an image forming apparatus that are capable of separating and transporting a large number of documents and efficiently reading images from the documents even when the documents are thick.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus equipped with an image reading apparatus unit (B) provided a platen (33) and reading means (31) that reads an original, a document feeder (A) provided conveyance paths (P1), (P2), and (P3) leading from a sheet supply tray (1) to a discharge tray (34) via the platen (33) on a top surface of the image reading apparatus unit (B), a hinge device (12) that openably connects the document feeder (A) to a top surface of the image reading apparatus unit (B), wherein an image reading unit (50) is equipped in the document feeder (A), and the image reading unit (50) is integrally connected to a support member fastened to the hinge device (12). This configuration prevents mispositioning or misalignment of a reading line of the image reading unit (50) caused by repeated opening and closing of the document feeder (A).

Abstract: A scanner device includes a function for generating image data by rotating an image scanned from an original document according to necessity. The scanner device includes a display processing unit and a confirmation accepting unit. The display processing unit displays a first image pattern indicating a set status of a scanned original document, and a second image pattern indicating a direction of image data when the original document under the set status in the first image pattern is scanned and rotated by a prescribed rotation condition. The confirmation accepting unit accepts a confirmation for executing an image data generation processing under a prescribed rotation condition.

Abstract: Provided is an image reading apparatus including a scanning unit having a flat glass plane and a scanning module, and an auto document feeder (ADF) having a contact member. The contact member has a body unit that faces the scanning unit while interposing the flat glass plane therebetween and biases the document toward the flat glass plane, and a plurality of elastic ribs that elastically bias the body unit toward the flat glass plane and which are integrally formed with the body unit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a sheet separator includes a bias that resiliently biases a first sheet engaging surface in a direction away from a second surface, wherein the second surface engages the edge of sheets upon movement of the first surface. In one embodiment, a method applies opposite forces to a stack of sheets, wherein one of the opposite forces varies based upon a characteristic of the sheets.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first unit configured to form an image, in a recording part, on a first surface of a recording medium being fed from a storing member for storing the recording medium, reverse the recording medium and feed it again to the recording part, form an image on a second surface of the recording medium, and eject the recording medium through an outlet; and a second unit disposed above the first unit. The second unit includes a first reading part, the first reading part being movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the recording medium. The first unit and the second unit form a first space therebetween, and a length from a front end of the first unit to the outlet is greater than or equal to a length of a maximum sized recording medium capable of being stored in the storing member.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes: a sheet-length detection member for detecting a length of a sheet; a transfer-length detection member for detecting a transfer length of the sheet; a double-feed detection member for detecting double feed of the sheets when the sheets are transferred while being overlapped with one another; and a control member for controlling the sheet-length detection member, the transfer-length detection member and the double-feed detection member; wherein the control member determines that double feed of the sheets has occurred, when the transfer length of the sheet is greater than the length of the sheet and a length obtained by subtracting a difference between the transfer length of the sheet and the length of the sheet from the length of the sheet is substantially equal to a double-feed length detected by the double-feed detection member.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus including: a circulating transport path for transporting an original document to circulate; plural reading sections for reading a single image plane on a same single face of the original document at plural times at plural positions in the circulating transport path, and for generating plural image data sets for the single image plane; and an image processing section for processing the plural image data sets generated by the plural reading sections, and creating one image data set for the single image plane.

Abstract: Disclosed are a sheet buffer module and a printing system incorporating the buffer module. The buffer module has parallel first and second sheet transport paths that extend in opposite directions across a frame. Sheet buffer paths connect the first sheet transport path to the second sheet transport path. In operation, a stream of sheets is fed by the first sheet transport path from a multi-color printing module to a monochrome printing module. During this process, selected sheets are diverted from the stream into the sheet buffer paths and held. After processing by the monochrome printing module, the stream is fed by the second sheet transport path back to the multi-color printing module for further processing and/or final output. During this process, the sheet buffer paths feed the buffered sheets into the second sheet transport path such that they are inserted at the proper locations back into the stream.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus including: first reading sensor to read an image of an original document at a first position; a second reading sensor at second position downstream; a circulating transport path; a first switchback provided between the first and second positions; a second switchback provided between the second and first positions; a first gate at a branching point of the first switchback; a second gate at a branching point of the second switchback; a sheet exit; a third gate provided at a branching point of the sheet exit; and a controller, which controls such that: the original document is transported through two switchbacks, both face images are read by the two reading sensors; and in another mode, the original document is transported through one of the two switchback sections, and both face images are read by one of the two reading sensors.

Abstract: A document feeder includes a reverse transporting mechanism that forms a substantially U-shaped document transporting pathway for carrying a document from a feeding tray located at a lower side to a discharging tray located at an upper side through a reading position, a pulling device, a separating transporting device and a openable pathway cover. The pulling device and the separating-transporting device are arranged at substantially the same horizontal level within the height that is occupied by the reverse transporting mechanism. The pathway cover is capable of opening and closing to cover on the pulling device, the separating-transporting device and the reverse transporting mechanism.

Abstract: A double side scanner module which consists of a U-shaped inversion device and two image information reading devices is provided for reading images on the two sides of an original in a single pass. The U-shaped inversion device has two ends for providing a paper feeding path and a paper output path respectively. The two ends are at the same side for the convenience of operation. At both of the two ends, there is a glass window. Beneath each of the glass windows, there is an image information reading device. When an original is fed into the paper feeding end and conveyed through the first glass window, the first image information reading device starts to read the image on the first side of the original. When the original is conveyed through the U-shaped inversion device, the scanned side will be inverted to the other side.