A reading apparatus includes: a reader that reads an image formed on a sheet; an opposed reading member provided opposite to the reader; a first feeding path that feeds a sheet on an upstream of the reader in a sheet feeding direction; a second feeding path that is continuous to the first feeding path and feeds a sheet between the reader and the opposed reading member; a pair of feeding rollers that feeds a sheet on the first feeding path to the second feeding path; a guide member that guides a sheet fed from the first feeding path to the second feeding path; and a roller that is arranged on the second feeding path and is rotatably driven, wherein the first feeding path and the second feeding path form a feeding path bent, a downstream end of the guide member is positioned in a first region.

In an image forming apparatus, a first motor causes a first rotor to rotate. The first motor rotates based on a first drive signal. A second motor causes a second rotor to rotate. The second motor rotates based on a second drive signal. A reading unit is provided between the first rotor and the second rotor. Based on a read signal, the reading unit reads a paper sheet being conveyed line by line. In a first period, a read signal generation unit generates the read signal in accordance with a frequency of the first drive signal. In a second period, the read signal generation unit generates, as the read signal, a signal for reading the paper sheet being conveyed at a reference speed.

A slide rack determination system for a digital slide scanning apparatus. In an embodiment, a motor drives a slide rack at a known rate toward an engagement surface. The elapsed time until engagement may be used to detect the presence or absence of the slide rack and/or the height of the slide rack. In addition, one or more sensors may detect one or more features of the slide rack, and these feature(s) may be used to determine the presence or absence of a slide rack, whether usage of the slide rack is supported or unsupported by the digital slide scanning apparatus, the orientation of the slide rack, and/or the manufacturer and/or model of the slide rack.

A reading device including a reader, a position reference member, and circuitry. The position reference member has a reference pattern along a first direction of the position reference member. The circuitry is configured to detect the reference pattern of the position reference member; determine coordinates of at least two pixels in the second direction, based on the detected reference pattern; calculate a first correction value based on the coordinates determined for the at least two pixels of the reader in the second direction; detect an outer shape and a position of an image pattern on the conveyed object based on data read by the reader; obtain a difference between an image of the conveyed object, of which a shape has been corrected, and an image of the conveyed object, of which a shape has not been correction; and set a second correction value based on the obtained difference.

An image forming device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes an image reader, a sheet conveyance passage, a transparent body, an opposing body, and multiple curved opposing portions. The image reader is configured to read an image formed on a target object. The sheet conveyance passage is a passage through which the target object is conveyed. The transparent body is disposed between the sheet conveyance passage and the image reader. The opposing body is disposed facing the transparent body on a side opposite the image reader. The multiple curved opposing portions have respective outwardly curving reference planes. The multiple curved opposing portions are sequentially switched and located at a predetermined image reading position at which the multiple curved opposing portions face the transparent body with a gap through which the target object passes the predetermined image reading position.

An image reading device includes a housing, a carriage, and a lock mechanism. The housing includes an exterior member and a document sheet placement surface. The carriage is configured to move in the housing along a predetermined specific direction. The lock mechanism is configured to lock the carriage to a lock position. The lock mechanism includes a supported portion and a locking portion. The supported portion is supported by the housing and provided between the exterior member and the carriage disposed at the lock position. The locking portion moves between a first position and a second position in response to a magnetic force of a magnet disposed at a specific position on the exterior member so as to, at the first position, engage the supported portion with the carriage disposed at the lock position, and at the second position, release engagement between the supported portion and the carriage.

An image reading apparatus, includes an image sensor, a drive mechanism configured to cause the image sensor to move in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, a reference plate, and a control unit configured to execute a first reading method of detecting a first reference position by driving the image sensor in the first direction and reading the reference plate, thereafter reading a document by driving the image sensor in the first direction, and a second reading method of detecting a second reference position by driving the image sensor in the second direction and reading the reference plate, and thereafter reading a document by driving the image sensor in the second direction.

A document scanning device includes first and second image sensors spaced along a document path and positioned to scan first and second sides of an input document. A first driven belt is configured to receive the input document directly onto a first surface of the first driven belt and transports the document past the first image sensor, where a first side of the document is scanned. A second driven belt, horizontally spaced from the first driven belt, receives the document after it has been scanned by the second image sensor and transports the document to an output. The device is suited to scanning of a variety of substrates and document sizes, such as normal, small, rigid, or delicate documents as the document path can be substantially straight and provide support for the document during scanning allowing delicate, small or rigid documents to be scanned.

In an image forming apparatus, a first motor causes a first rotor to rotate. The first motor rotates based on a first drive signal. A second motor causes a second rotor to rotate. The second motor rotates based on a second drive signal. A reading unit is provided between the first rotor and the second rotor. Based on a read signal, the reading unit reads a paper sheet being conveyed line by line. In a first period, a read signal generation unit generates the read signal in accordance with a frequency of the first drive signal. In a second period, the read signal generation unit generates, as the read signal, a signal for reading the paper sheet being conveyed at a reference speed.

In one example, a document scanner has a fixed-position scan bar and a built-in translatable calibration target. The scan bar has a linear array of imaging elements aimed in an imaging direction. The calibration target is spaced apart from and parallel to the linear array, and has a planar surface orthogonal to the imaging direction spanning the length of the linear array. The target is translatable during a calibration in a direction in a plane of the surface.