Patent ID: 7489424
Filing Date: 2009-02-10
Classification: B65H,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image reading device comprising: an optical reader for reading an original in a main scanning direction; said optical reader comprising a reading surface; a transporter for transporting the original in a sub scanning direction; and a transport path configured to guide, in an original transport direction, the original to an original eject slot, wherein the transport path comprises a lower guide surface and an upper guide surface, said lower guide surface also serving as a light-blocking portion, and wherein at least a portion of the lower guide surface is positioned above an extended plane of the reading surface of the optical reader; a first slant surface provided between the reading surface of the optical reader and the light-blocking portion; a cover surface provided around a substantial portion of a periphery of the transporter in such a manner as to face the transporter; wherein the transport path is arranged at a slant angle; wherein said transport path comprises a second slant surface adjacent said first slant surface; wherein the optical reader is arranged such that the reading surface has a slant angle approximately equal to that of the transport path, but partially at a different angle; wherein the second slant surface is an upward slant that may be formed to have a slant angle similar to a slant angle of the first slant surface and/or more gradual than the slant angle of the first slant surface; wherein, provided between said upper guide surface and said lower guide surface, is a predetermined distance that is narrow enough for an original to pass through without a paper jam; wherein, provided between the transporter and the cover surface, is a predetermined distance that is narrow enough for an original to pass through without a paper jam; wherein, provided between said upper guide surface and said lower guide surface, is a predetermined distance that prevents light incident through the original eject slot from being reflected inside the image reading device and entering the reading surface; wherein, provided between the transporter and the cover surface, is a predetermined distance that prevents light incident through the original eject slot from being reflected inside the image reading device and entering the reading surface; wherein the upper guide surface is configured to regulate the original transport direction and to prevent incident external light through the original eject slot from being reflected inside the image reading device and entering the optical reader; wherein the first slant surface intersects with the lower guide surface at an intersection; wherein said second slant surface is at least partially provided between the reading surface and the intersection of the first slant surface and the lower guide surface; wherein the cover surface intersects with the upper guide surface at an intersection; where said second slant surface is provided at the intersection of the cover surface and the upper guide surface; wherein a downward slant surface is provided between the second slant surface and the transporter; wherein a portion of the upper guide surface is substantially parallel to the lower guide surface at a point that is adjacent to the intersection of the first slant surface and the lower guide surface; wherein said second slant surface intersects said portion of the upper guide surface that is substantially parallel to the lower guide surface; wherein an intersection of the downward slant surface and the second slant surface nearly intersects an extended plane of the lower guide surface.