Patent ID: 8098411
Filing Date: 2012-01-17
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image reading apparatus comprising: a document feeder which includes a feeder roller, and is configured to feed a document sheet with an image thereon, along an outer circumferential surface of the feeder roller; a transparent plate; a reading unit which is disposed under the transparent plate and is configured to read the image on the document sheet passing a reading position, wherein the reading position corresponds to a reading line present in an upper surface of the transparent plate and extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the document sheet is fed; a guide device which has a guide surface and is configured to guide the document sheet through a feed pathway to the reading position, the feed pathway being defined between the transparent plate and the guide surface; a clearance between the feeder roller and the guide device in an axial direction of a driving shaft of the feeder roller, wherein the axial direction of the driving shaft is parallel to the reading line, and an exposure preventer which prevents the clearance between the guide device and the feeder roller in the direction of the driving shaft of the feeder roller, from being exposed to the reading unit, wherein the outer circumferential surface of the feed roller includes a first opposed portion, the guide surface of the guide device includes a second opposed portion, and the exposure preventer includes a third opposed portion, and the first opposed portion, the second opposed portion, and the third opposed portion are aligned along the reading line; wherein the reading unit is configured to emit light onto the document sheet passing the reading line, and each of the first opposed portion, the second opposed portion and the third opposed portion reflect the light transmitted through the document sheet.