In accordance with an embodiment, an image reading apparatus comprises a carriage, a stepping motor and a processor. The carriage acquires an image. The stepping motor moves the carriage. The processor outputs a first clock signal for driving the stepping motor if a present position of the carriage is unknown and outputs a second clock signal, of which a frequency is higher than that of the first clock signal, for driving the stepping motor if the present position of the carriage can be recognized.

A scanner reads a document using a sensor group and includes an optical member. When a scanning resolution in a main scanning direction is D, and a resolution of the sensor group is S, the optical member causes the sensor group to image light from the document magnified by a magnification ratio n, where n is greater than or equal to D/S and is greater than 1. The sensor group includes a plurality of sensor portions that are arrayed in L rows in a sub-scanning direction, and L is greater than or equal to n and is an integer of 3 or more. Each of the sensor portions reads a magnified image that is magnified by the magnification ratio n at each corresponding position in the main scanning direction of the document and that is guided by the optical member.

An image reading apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a casing, a reading unit, a support shaft, a first cable, and a second cable. The reading unit includes a reading sensor configured to read an image of the sheet conveyed in the conveyance path through the transparent member. The support shaft supports the reading unit in a manner of moving in a moving direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the reading unit. The first cable is connected to a first connecting portion disposed in the reading unit, the first cable being held by the reading unit on one side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the support shaft. The second cable is connected to a second connecting portion disposed in the reading unit, the second cable being held by the reading unit on the other side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the support shaft.

An image reading apparatus includes a document supporter, a guide, a carriage, and a reader. The carriage has a recessed portion. A first protrusion, a second protrusion, a third protrusion, a fourth protrusion, a fifth protrusion, and a sixth protrusion are provided on the recessed portion. Each of the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the third protrusion, and the fourth protrusion has a distal end portion in a protruding direction thereof, and the distal end portion is in contact with the guide when the carriage is mounted on the guide. A protruding amount of each of the fifth protrusion and the sixth protrusion in a protruding direction thereof is less than that of each of the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the third protrusion, and the fourth protrusion.

An image reading apparatus includes: a contact glass setting a manuscript thereon; an image sensor extending in a first direction and having a reading surface which faces the contact glass for reading an image from the manuscript on the contact glass; a rail member extending inside the apparatus main body in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a carriage having a sensor container to contain the image sensor, a taper end portion formed in an end portion in the first direction to become smaller in height toward the end side, and an opening formed in the bottom of the sensor container on the taper end portion side; a biased portion adjacent to the reading surface of the image sensor in the second direction; and a biasing member biasing the image sensor toward the contact glass via the biased portion.

What is disclosed is an apparatus and method for calibrating an optical module of a document scanning device. In one embodiment, imaging sensors of an optical module of the scanning device are used to obtain an image scan of a calibration strip mounted on a surface of a platen on which a sheet to be scanned has been manually placed. The calibration strip has a first vertical line at a first distance from a right edge of the strip, a second vertical line at a second distance from a left edge of the strip, and a sloping horizontal line positioned between the first and second vertical lines. A slope of the horizontal line is non-zero. In a manner more fully disclosed herein, the image scan of the calibration strip is to obtain calibration measurements. The calibration measurements are, in turn, used to calibrate the scan head of the optical module.

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 reading apparatus includes: a contact glass setting a manuscript thereon; an image sensor extending in a first direction and having a reading surface which faces the contact glass for reading an image from the manuscript on the contact glass; a rail member extending inside the apparatus main body in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a carriage having a sensor container to contain the image sensor, a taper end portion formed in an end portion in the first direction to become smaller in height toward the end side, and an opening formed in the bottom of the sensor container on the taper end portion side; a biased portion adjacent to the reading surface of the image sensor in the second direction; and a biasing member biasing the image sensor toward the contact glass via the biased portion.

What is disclosed is an apparatus and method for calibrating an optical module of a document scanning device. In one embodiment, imaging sensors of an optical module of the scanning device are used to obtain an image scan of a calibration strip mounted on a surface of a platen on which a sheet to be scanned has been manually placed. The calibration strip has a first vertical line at a first distance from a right edge of the strip, a second vertical line at a second distance from a left edge of the strip, and a sloping horizontal line positioned between the first and second vertical lines. A slope of the horizontal line is non-zero. In a manner more fully disclosed herein, the image scan of the calibration strip is to obtain calibration measurements. The calibration measurements are, in turn, used to calibrate the scan head of the optical module.

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.