Patent ID: 7604228
Filing Date: 2009-10-20
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A document feeder provided on an image reader having a reading device that reads an image of a document of a plurality of documents at a reading position, the document being conveyed in a predetermined conveying direction, the document feeder comprising: a substantially U-shaped document transporting pathway, through which the document can pass from a feeding tray to a discharging tray, which is provided above the feeding tray, via the reading position, including: a separating-transporting device that separates one of the plurality of documents stacked on the feeding tray and conveys the separated document in the first transportation direction, the separating-transporting device including a first rotation driving member and a first contacting member, which are capable of being contacted with each other with flexibility; a reverse transporting device that conveys the document, which is conveyed by the separating-transporting device, in the second transportation direction, the reverse transporting device including a second rotation driving member and a second contacting member, which are capable of being contacted with each other with flexibility; and an openable pathway cover that defines at least a part the second path, the pathway cover being capable of rotating about a rotational shaft that is provided closer to the discharging tray than the reverse transporting device and being capable of exposing at least the part of the second path, the pathway cover including at least the second contacting member among the first and second contacting members, wherein: when the pathway cover is closed, the first contacting member and the second contacting member are contacted with the first rotation driving member and the second rotation driving member, respectively, with flexibility; and when the pathway cover is opened, the first contacting member and at least a portion of the second contacting member are separated from the first rotation driving member and the second rotation driving member, respectively.