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.

An image processing apparatus includes a reading device and at least one processor. The reading device reads a document into image data of a document image with a first resolution and a second resolution that are different from each other. The first resolution is used for reading the document in a main scanning direction. The second resolution is used for reading the document in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. One or more processors detect an inclination angle of the document image corresponding to inclination of the document, obtain a distortion angle of the document image based on the inclination angle and a ratio between the first resolution and the second resolution, and correct distortion of the document image using the distortion angle.

An image reading apparatus includes: a contact glass provided at an upper surface of a main body of the apparatus to set a manuscript thereon, an image sensor being positioned below the contact glass and having a reading surface on contact glass side for reading an image from the manuscript on the contact glass, a carriage supporting the image sensor accommodated in a sensor container formed to have a recess open to the contact glass side, a rail member slidably supporting the carriage, and a biasing member biasing the image sensor to the contact glass side via a biased portion adjacent to the reading surface of the image sensor. An upper end of the biasing member is positioned below the contact glass and above the lower surface of the image sensor.

An image forming apparatus includes a scanner and a printing apparatus, wherein the scanner includes a scanning window; a transport unit configured to transport a document to a top surface of the scanning window; a scan unit configured to obliquely irradiate light to a bottom surface of the scanning window to scan the document; a transport guide member configured to be disposed to face the top surface of the scanning window to guide a transport of the document; and a curved reflection member configured to be coupled to the transport guide member to collect the light irradiated from the scan unit and to reflect the collected light toward the scanning window.

An image sensor unit includes a light condenser that collects light from a reading target object; an image sensor that receives light and converts the light into an electric signal; an elongated housing that houses the light condenser and the image sensor; and an elongated rigid member attached to a side surface extending in the elongated direction of the housing. The side surface of the housing is provided with an attachment protrusion. The rigid member is provided with an attachment hole that penetrates from a surface facing the side surface of the housing to a non-facing surface on the opposite side, and the non-facing surface of the rigid member is provided with a concave. The attachment protrusion is inserted into the attachment hole, and a part of the attachment protrusion is fit into the concave.

Image scanning apparatus and method of operating an image scanning apparatus, the image scanning apparatus including a line scan detector and being configured to image a surface of an object mounted in the image scanning apparatus in a plurality of swathes, wherein each swathe is formed by a group of scan lines, each scan line being acquired using the scan line detector from a respective elongate region of the surface of the object extending in a scan width direction, wherein each group of scan lines is acquired whilst the object is moved relative to the scan line detector in a scan length direction.

A flatbed scanner document scanner includes a large format document scanner body accommodating a rectangular rigid frame with an upwardly facing plane face and a rectangular transparent plate for supporting a large format document. The rectangular transparent plate overlies the upwardly facing plane face all around the metal frame. The scanner also includes a movable carriage configured to move along and below the rectangular transparent plate and carrying a line camera extending across the rectangular transparent plate. The rectangular transparent plate and the metal frame are bonded together by a hard glue seam that runs on the upwardly facing plane face of the metal frame. A predetermined deflected shape can be formed when the bonded plate and frame are turned upside-down. The rectangular metal frame can deform under its own load to a cambered shape, a flat shape or a less deflected shape when turned upright in a normal 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.

A driving device of the present invention includes a drive wire and a drive pulley. The drive pulley has a fixing hole and a guide groove on a wire-winding surface thereof on which the drive wire is wound. The drive wire is disposed in the guide groove and fixed in a fixing hole by a fixing member. A bottom face of the guide groove has a curved face portion formed in a boundary region of the wire-winding surface and the guide groove.

An image reading device of the present invention includes a reading unit in which a lighting system and an optical system are mounted, a controller provided at a position where the controller does not transfer along with the reading unit, and a flexible flat cable that includes a curved portion and connects the reading unit with the controller. The lighting system includes an elongated light conductor extended in the main scanning direction and an end portion light source arranged at the end portion of the light conductor. The flexible flat cable is arranged on the outside of the optical system and on the lower side of the light conductor.