Patent ID: 8593652
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: B65H,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image reader comprising: a reading specifying device arranged to specify one of a double-sided reading and a single-sided reading as a reading method for a document; a route switching device arranged to, at a branch point between a first conveyance route for the double-sided reading and a second conveyance route for the single-sided reading, on a basis of the reading method specified by the reading specifying device, switch a document conveyance route; and a collision determination device adapted to determine a possibility of a collision between documents; wherein the first conveyance route includes: a first introduction path that conveys the document from the branch point to a reading position; a U-turn path that causes the document to make a U-turn, the document having entered from the first introduction path and passed through the reading position, and that causes the document to enter the reading position again from a direction opposite to the first introduction path; and a discharge path that conveys the document to a paper discharge tray, the document having entered from the U-turn path and passed through the reading position; and the second conveyance route includes: a second introduction path that, without passing through the reading position, conveys the document from the branch point to a merge point in the U-turn path; and upon the double-sided reading being specified, the route switching device switches the document conveyance route from the first conveyance route to the second conveyance route on a basis of a result of the determination by the collision determination device.