There are provided an image reading device and a printing apparatus that can reduce an influence of the shadows of suction holes. Suction holes, which are used to suck a sheet, are arranged on the peripheral surface of a drum that transports the sheet. The suction holes are arranged in grooves that are formed along a direction orthogonal to a transport direction. Accordingly, since an influence of the shadows of the suction holes can be reduced even in a case in which density unevenness is inspected on the basis of a read image, the false detection of density unevenness can be prevented.

There are provided an image reading device and a printing apparatus that can reduce an influence of the shadows of suction holes. Suction holes, which are used to suck a sheet, are arranged on the peripheral surface of a drum that transports the sheet. The suction holes are arranged in grooves that are formed along a direction orthogonal to a transport direction. Accordingly, since an influence of the shadows of the suction holes can be reduced even in a case in which density unevenness is inspected on the basis of a read image, the false detection of density unevenness can be prevented.

An assembly for transferring information to and/or from flexible sheet media in a highly advantageous curved configuration is disclosed. The sheet material includes a length and a width defining first and second opposing surfaces. The assembly includes support means for supporting the sheet the curved configuration across its width, having the first surface inwardly oriented with respect to the curved configuration. Thereafter, moving means moves the flexible sheet material so supported in a direction along a read/write path generally parallel to the sheet material length and transverse to the direction of curvature. A read/write arrangement is provided which is configured for reading and/or writing information across the width of the first surface of the sheet as the sheet is moved along the path in the curved configuration. In one feature, means is provided for rotationally moving the read/write arrangement in a predetermined way in the housing such that the read/write arrangement is in a confronting relationship with the first, inwardly oriented surface and cooperates with the movement provided by the sheet material moving means so as to cause the read/write arrangement to sequentially read information from and/or write information to the inwardly oriented, first surface of the sheet as the read/write arrangement traverses the width of the flexible sheet material while the latter is on the read/write path in the curved configuration. In another feature, a read and/or write operation may be performed on the second, outwardly oriented surface of the sheet material.