An image scanning apparatus which reduces misalignment of documents includes a scanning unit configured to scan images from a first document and a second document having a width that is smaller than a width of the first document, and a document transfer unit configured to automatically feed the first document and the second document. The document transfer unit includes a frame including a feed tray on which the first document and the second document are stacked, a pickup module mounted on the frame, and configured to pick up the first document and the second document and to transfer the first document and the second document, and an auxiliary guide installed in the frame, and configured to change a position according to a height of the first document stacked on the feed tray and to support one side in width direction of the second document.

A card feeding apparatus realizes random and selective feeding of cards of different types or kinds. This apparatus includes a card supplying device, a card holding and feeding device, and a controller. The card holding and feeding device includes a table set having tables on which cards from the card supplying device are held, a table set supporting structure (e.g., a frame), a table set moving device (e.g., a lifting mechanism), and a card conveying device that conveys cards held on the tables. In response to a card feeding signal, the table set supporting structure is temporarily stopped using the table set moving device such that a target table designated from the tables by the said signal is located at the card conveying position, and the card holding and feeding device is activated, thereby feeding a card on the target table by the card conveying device.

A static elimination apparatus includes a conveyance unit to convey a sheet along a conveyance path, a non-contact static elimination unit to eliminate static from the sheet, a first guide member including a contact portion to guide the sheet, and a plurality of openings arranged next to each other in a width direction. The plurality of openings expose the non-contact static elimination unit to a conveyance path. The contact portion includes a plurality of first ribs arranged on one side with respect to a conveyance center, and a plurality of second ribs arranged on the other side with respect to the conveyance center. The plurality of first ribs and the plurality of second ribs are inclined relative to the sheet conveyance direction so that the further downstream in the sheet conveyance direction each rib is, the greater a distance between each rib and the conveyance center is.

A static elimination apparatus includes a conveyance unit to convey a sheet along a conveyance path, a non-contact static elimination unit to eliminate static from the sheet, a first guide member including a contact portion to guide the sheet, and a plurality of openings arranged next to each other in a width direction. The plurality of openings expose the non-contact static elimination unit to a conveyance path. The contact portion includes a plurality of first ribs arranged on one side with respect to a conveyance center, and a plurality of second ribs arranged on the other side with respect to the conveyance center. The plurality of first ribs and the plurality of second ribs are inclined relative to the sheet conveyance direction so that the further downstream in the sheet conveyance direction each rib is, the greater a distance between each rib and the conveyance center is.

A medium conveyance device includes: a plurality of roller pairs arranged in a width direction of a recording medium, the plurality of roller pairs including at least two end-side roller pairs respectively located near two ends of the recording medium in the width direction and at least one center-side roller pair located near a center of the recording medium in the width direction, the plurality of roller pairs each including a pair of rollers that convey the recording medium while nipping the recording medium and are individually contactable with and separable from each other; and a contact and separation mechanism that moves a first roller of the pair of rollers of the at least one center-side roller pair in a thickness direction of the recording medium or moves a first roller of the pair of rollers of each of the at least two end-side roller pairs in the thickness direction of the recording medium, to make a difference in separation timing.