An imaging device includes a lens, a predetermined operation member configured to receive a predetermined instruction, a frame portion configured to form an opening, at least a portion of the frame portion being an opening and closing member. In the imaging device, the predetermined operation member and the opening and closing member of the frame portion are disposed so that the predetermined operation member and the opening and closing member do not overlap each other in an operation direction of the predetermined operation member, and the frame portion forms a portion of a housing of the imaging device.

An operation unit is provided on a front side of the image forming apparatus. A document feeding portion feeds a document supported by a document supporting portion in a document feeding direction from a front side of the image forming apparatus toward the rear side of the image forming apparatus. A document discharge portion discharges the document in a document discharge direction from the rear side toward the front side. The operation unit is disposed on one side with respect to an apparatus center of the image forming apparatus in a left-right direction orthogonal to a direction from the front side to the rear side. A conveyance center of the document feeding portion in the left-right direction is disposed on the other side with respect to the apparatus center in the left-right direction.

A document conveying device includes an inversion path, a lift member, a drive source, a conveying part, a detection part and a control part. The lift member forms an upper side face of the inversion path. The drive source moves the lift member upward and downward in the inversion path. The conveying part is pushed up by the uppermost document, and rotates to feed the uppermost document. The detection part detects a height of the conveying part. The control part executes an overload feeding mode in which whether the document is overloaded is determined based on a detection result of the detection part, when an overload is determined, the lift member is moved downward until the overload is not determined, the drive source moves the lift member upward until the conveying part is pushed up to an optimum feeding height, and then the uppermost document is fed.

Method and systems of automated document processing described herein include activating in sequence a plurality of illumination modules of an illumination source to illuminate a document, where the plurality of illumination modules are located at different positions relative to the document. The document can be imaged each time the document is illuminated by an illumination module to provide a plurality of images. A shadow profile of the document can be obtained based on the plurality of images. One or more of a boundary of the document and presence of a fastener attached to the document can be identified using the shadow profile. Any fasteners present may be removed using a robot arm.

An operation unit is provided on a front side of the image forming apparatus. A document feeding portion feeds a document supported by a document supporting portion in a document feeding direction from a front side of the image forming apparatus toward the rear side of the image forming apparatus. A document discharge portion discharges the document in a document discharge direction from the rear side toward the front side. The operation unit is disposed on one side with respect to an apparatus center of the image forming apparatus in a left-right direction orthogonal to a direction from the front side to the rear side. A conveyance center of the document feeding portion in the left-right direction is disposed on the other side with respect to the apparatus center in the left-right direction.

A system may include a robotic arm and a Bernoulli cup assembly powered by a vacuum source and coupled to the robotic arm. The Bernoulli cup assembly may lift a document, and the robotic arm may move the Bernoulli cup assembly with the lifted document to a document scanner for imaging the document. The system may further include an input bin, a base supported by a platform and disposed over an imaging surface of the document scanner, and an output bin. A method may include lifting a document from an input bin via suction pressure using a Bernoulli cup assembly, robotically moving the Bernoulli cup assembly with the lifted document to a document scanner, and scanning the document. The method may further include robotically moving the Bernoulli cup assembly with the lifted document away from the document scanner, and de-activating the suction pressure to release the document.

An operation unit is provided on a front side of the image forming apparatus. A document feeding portion feeds a document supported by a document supporting portion in a document feeding direction from a front side of the image forming apparatus toward the rear side of the image forming apparatus. A document discharge portion discharges the document in a document discharge direction from the rear side toward the front side. The operation unit is disposed on one side with respect to an apparatus center of the image forming apparatus in a left-right direction orthogonal to a direction from the front side to the rear side. A conveyance center of the document feeding portion in the left-right direction is disposed on the other side with respect to the apparatus center in the left-right direction.

Method and systems of automated document processing described herein include activating in sequence a plurality of illumination modules of an illumination source to illuminate a document, where the plurality of illumination modules are located at different positions relative to the document. The document can be imaged each time the document is illuminated by an illumination module to provide a plurality of images. A shadow profile of the document can be obtained based on the plurality of images. One or more of a boundary of the document and presence of a fastener attached to the document can be identified using the shadow profile. Any fasteners present may be removed using a robot arm.

An image reading apparatus includes a feed tray on which a medium is placed, a conveyance unit configured to convey, from the feed tray, the medium placed on the feed tray, an image reading unit configured to read an image from the medium conveyed by the conveyance unit, a discharge tray to which the medium from which the image was read by the image reading unit is discharged, and a housing. The feed tray and the discharge tray are capable of being pulled out in a pull-out direction, and, according to movement of one of the feed tray and the discharge tray in the pull-out direction, the other of the feed tray and the discharge tray moves in the pull-out direction.

An image reading apparatus includes a conveyance portion configured to convey a sheet on which an image has been formed, a reading unit configured to read the image formed on the sheet being conveyed by the conveyance portion, a transparent member provided between the reading unit and a position at which the conveyance portion conveys the sheet, a reference member, which is provided to the transparent member, and is to be read by the reading unit, support members configured to support the transparent member at both ends in a direction intersecting a conveyance direction of the sheet being conveyed by the conveyance portion, and a moving portion configured to move the support members.