According to detection results of a plurality of original document detectors, an image reading apparatus determines whether or not correcting skew of an original document is possible, controls a pair of a plurality of transport rollers in a case where it is determined that correcting the skew of the original document is possible, and corrects the skew of the original document by making transporting speeds of the pair of the plurality of transport rollers different from each other.

A PWM signal generation unit generates a PWM signal based on a driving voltage so that a midpoint of the longer period out of an H level period and an L level period in each PWM period matches a midpoint of the PWM period. FETs of a full bridge circuit (a driving circuit) are driven according to a PWM signal, and a driving current that corresponds to an A-phase is supplied to a stepping motor. A current detector detects a driving current flowing through an A-phase winding of the motor based on a voltage that is generated across a shunt resistor, at a fixed time point that is in each PWM period and in the H level or L level period that is at the center of the PWM period.

An image reading apparatus includes a main body unit, a sheet conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet, a conveyance path, a first image reading portion provided on the main body unit, and configured to read an image on a first surface of the sheet at a first reading position, a second image reading portion provided on the sheet conveyance unit downstream of the first image reading portion in a sheet conveyance direction, and configured to read an image on a second surface opposite from the first surface of the sheet at a second reading position, and a conveyance path securing portion arranged between the first reading position and the second reading position in the sheet conveyance direction, and configured to secure the conveyance path between an upper surface of the main body unit and a lower surface of the sheet conveyance unit.

An image reading device and an image forming apparatus. The image reading device includes an image reader to read an image of a document, and a color reference component arranged to face the image reader. In the image reading device, the image reader reads the color reference component at a prescribed timing to obtain color reference image data, and correction data generating processes are executed based on the obtained color reference image data to generate correction data used to correct data of the image read by the image reader. In the image reading device, wherein the color reference component is moved relative to the image reader in a direction orthogonal to a direction toward and away from the image reader. The image forming apparatus includes the image reading device, and an image is formed on a recording material based on data of the image read by the image reading device.

An image scanning method is applied in an image scanning device which includes an input tray and a paper feeding sensor. The method detects whether there are papers on the input tray in step one. If there are papers, step two is executed. Otherwise, the method ends and an error is reported. In step two, papers are separated and fed. Whether the papers contact the paper feeding sensor is detected in step three. The method executes step four if the papers contact the paper feeding sensor, and ends the method with an error message otherwise. In step four, the method scans and detects whether an image of a fed edge of each of the papers is abnormal. If the image is abnormal, the method ends and an error is reported. Otherwise, scanning continues.

An image processing apparatus includes a document table, an image reading portion, a cover portion, a presser sheet, and a sheet winding portion. The presser sheet is provided on the cover portion, and contacts the document on the document table when the cover portion is positioned at the closing position. The sheet winding portion allows a first portion of the presser sheet to extend along the document table while holding a second portion of the presser sheet in a wound state. The sheet winding portion can feed the second portion when an external force is applied to the first portion. In the cover portion, a retreat space is formed so that the first portion of the presser sheet and a portion of the second portion fed from the sheet winding portion can retreat into the retreat space.

A detachable document handler (having an outer casing) has a transparent platen as the casing bottom, and a document tray as the casing top. A moveable internal scanner is located within the outer casing, and is positioned to move past the transparent platen within the outer casing. The moveable internal scanner is in a location within the outer casing to optically scan items external to the outer casing through the transparent platen. A sheet feeder system are also within the outer casing. The sheet feeder system (within the outer casing) is positioned adjacent the document tray in a location to feed sheets from the document tray, internally within the outer casing, past the moveable internal scanner, and back to the document tray. A transparent member within the outer casing is located between the sheet feeder system and the moveable internal scanner.

A document feed portion of an image reading device is capable of feeding a document placed on a first document placement portion, to a predetermined reading position. A size detection portion detects a size of the document placed on the first document placement portion. A storage processing portion stores size information indicating the size of the document detected by the size detection portion, into a predetermined storage medium. An image reading portion performs a reading process of scanning a read surface of the document placed on a second document placement portion, to read an image. A setting portion sets the size information stored into the storage medium by the storage processing portion, as size information to be used for the reading process by the image reading portion.

An image forming apparatus includes a document conveyance portion, an image reading portion that performs feed reading-in in which a document as conveyed is read or table reading-in in which a document on a table is read, a job execution portion that, based on image data, performs a job, an operation panel that accepts setting of a destination, and a control portion. In a continuous read-in mode, the control portion performs control so that reading-in of a document as placed is continuously performed until an input to end reading-in is made. When an automatic continuous read-in condition is satisfied, the control portion performs control so that the image reading portion and the job execution portion automatically operate in the continuous read-in mode. The automatic continuous read-in condition is that table reading-in has been started in a state where a destination corresponding to a particular transmission method is set.

An information processing apparatus includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit for receiving light output from the light emitting unit, and includes a detection unit for outputting a light reception signal indicating that the light receiving unit has received light from the light emitting unit, a driving signal output unit for outputting a driving signal to the detection unit so that the light emitting unit intermittently outputs light, a detection signal output unit for outputting, based on the output driving signal and the output light reception signal, a detection signal indicating whether an object exists between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, and a control unit including an interrupt port to which the output detection signal is input and for returning from a power saving state in response to the detection signal being input to the interrupt port in the power saving state.