An image reading apparatus including: a reading unit configured to read an image of an original in a main scanning direction; a housing configured to accommodate the reading unit; a guide member configured to guide a movement of the reading unit in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction; and a restricting member configured to restrict the movement of the reading unit in the sub-scanning direction and a movement of the reading unit in a vertical direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a scanner unit, an image forming unit, a frame, a first adjustment mechanism, and a second adjustment mechanism. The scanner unit has an image reading section. The image forming unit forms an image read by the scanner unit on a sheet. The frame includes a first support section and a second support section. The first support section supports the image forming unit. The second support section is positioned below the scanner unit. The first adjustment mechanism steplessly adjusts a distance in an up-down direction between the scanner unit and the second support section. The second adjustment mechanism gradually adjusts the distance in the up-down direction between the scanner unit and the second support section.

An image-reading apparatus includes: a light-receiving unit that receives reflected light from a recording material on which an image is formed; and multiple light-reflecting members that reflect the reflected light from the recording material toward the light-receiving unit. At least one light-reflecting member of the multiple light-reflecting members reflect the reflected light multiple times.

An original reading apparatus includes: a reading unit configured to read an original placed on a platen while moving in a predetermined direction in a housing; a sensor provided in the housing and configured to detect presence of the original in a predetermined position on the platen to identify a size of the original; a holding member movable in the housing and configured to hold the sensor and a cable extending from the sensor; and a cover configured to cover a predetermined space on a rear side of the platen mounted to the housing. A grip portion used by an operator to move the holding member is provided at one end of the holding member extending to the predetermined space through an opening portion in a wall on a rear side of the housing. When the cover is removed, the operator is allowed to grip the grip portion.

An image reading apparatus includes a for-still-document contact glass serving as a reading face for a placed document, a for-moving-document contact glass serving as a reading face for a document conveyed by an automatic document feeder, and an optical scanner unit to move in a scanning range of the for-still-document contact glass back and forth in a sub-scanning direction to scan the document. The optical scanner unit moves to a scanning range of the for-moving-document contact glass and scans the document in a static manner when the document is conveyed in an automatic manner, and the optical scanner unit includes a contact image sensor, a carriage that holds the contact image sensor in a movable manner in the sub-scanning direction, and a pair of end sliders arranged on both ends of a plane facing the reading face in a longer-side direction of the optical scanner unit.

An original image is read as an aggregate of a plurality of pixels in which adjacent pixels have different colors (R, G, and B) in a main scanning direction and in a sub-scanning direction, and the read pixels of the respective colors are stored in a line memory in association with information on relative positions of the pixels with respect to another pixel. Then, the stored pixels are sorted so that pixels having the same color are adjacent to each other, and an abnormal pixel (dust) not present in the original image is detected based on the state of the sorted pixels. With this, the dust not present in the original image is detected without increasing the cost, and the dust is corrected without forming a conspicuous trace of correction.

A guide mechanism guides a carriage from a first position to a second position in a sub scanning direction, guides the carriage from the second position to a third position that is different, in a main scanning direction, from the second position, guides the carriage from the third position to a fourth position in the sub scanning direction, and guides the carriage from the fourth position to the first position. A first interval maintaining portion maintains a first interval between the carriage and a platen glass when the carriage moves in a first driving direction in a scan range in the sub scanning direction. A second interval maintaining portion maintains a second interval between the carriage and the platen glass when the carriage moves in a second driving direction in the scan range, the second interval being different from the first interval.

An original image is read as an aggregate of a plurality of pixels in which adjacent pixels have different colors (R, G, and B) in a main scanning direction and in a sub-scanning direction, and the read pixels of the respective colors are stored in a line memory in association with information on relative positions of the pixels with respect to another pixel. Then, the stored pixels are sorted so that pixels having the same color are adjacent to each other, and an abnormal pixel (dust) not present in the original image is detected based on the state of the sorted pixels. With this, the dust not present in the original image is detected without increasing the cost, and the dust is corrected without forming a conspicuous trace of correction.

An original image is read as an aggregate of a plurality of pixels in which adjacent pixels have different colors (R, G, and B) in a main scanning direction and in a sub-scanning direction, and the read pixels of the respective colors are stored in a line memory in association with information on relative positions of the pixels with respect to another pixel. Then, the stored pixels are sorted so that pixels having the same color are adjacent to each other, and an abnormal pixel (dust) not present in the original image is detected based on the state of the sorted pixels. With this, the dust not present in the original image is detected without increasing the cost, and the dust is corrected without forming a conspicuous trace of correction.

A guide mechanism guides a carriage from a first position to a second position in a sub scanning direction, guides the carriage from the second position to a third position that is different, in a main scanning direction, from the second position, guides the carriage from the third position to a fourth position in the sub scanning direction, and guides the carriage from the fourth position to the first position. A first interval maintaining portion maintains a first interval between the carriage and a platen glass when the carriage moves in a first driving direction in a scan range in the sub scanning direction. A second interval maintaining portion maintains a second interval between the carriage and the platen glass when the carriage moves in a second driving direction in the scan range, the second interval being different from the first interval.