An image reading apparatus that reads an image formed on a sheet (S) and sends the sheet to an apparatus on a downstream side, comprising: a reading section configured to read the image formed on the sheet (S); a first conveyance roller pair that is provided on a downstream side of a reading position of the reading section in a conveying direction of the sheet and that is configured to convey the sheet (S); a second conveyance roller pair that is provided on a downstream side of the first conveyance roller pair in the conveying direction of the sheet (S) and that is configured to convey the sheet (S) in the conveying direction; and characterised in that the image reading apparatus further comprises: a conveying force lowering section configured to lower a conveying force exerted by the second conveyance roller pair on the sheet (S) to convey the sheet in the conveying direction when acceleration control for accelerating a conveying speed of the sheet whose image has been read by the reading section is performed in the apparatus on the downstream side, compared with a case in which the acceleration control is not performed, wherein either: the second conveyance roller pair includes a roller that is fixed on a rotation driving shaft via an idling mechanism and that idles through the idling mechanism when the acceleration control is performed, and wherein the idling mechanism is able to idle in the conveying direction; or the conveying force lowering section is configured to cause either roller of the second conveyance roller pair to move away from the other roller when the acceleration control is performed. a reading section configured to read the image formed on the sheet (S); a first conveyance roller pair that is provided on a downstream side of a reading position of the reading section in a conveying direction of the sheet and that is configured to convey the sheet (S); a second conveyance roller pair that is provided on a downstream side of the first conveyance roller pair in the conveying direction of the sheet (S) and that is configured to convey the sheet (S) in the conveying direction; and characterised in that the image reading apparatus further comprises: a conveying force lowering section configured to lower a conveying force exerted by the second conveyance roller pair on the sheet (S) to convey the sheet in the conveying direction when acceleration control for accelerating a conveying speed of the sheet whose image has been read by the reading section is performed in the apparatus on the downstream side, compared with a case in which the acceleration control is not performed, wherein either: the second conveyance roller pair includes a roller that is fixed on a rotation driving shaft via an idling mechanism and that idles through the idling mechanism when the acceleration control is performed, and wherein the idling mechanism is able to idle in the conveying direction; or the conveying force lowering section is configured to cause either roller of the second conveyance roller pair to move away from the other roller when the acceleration control is performed. the second conveyance roller pair includes a roller that is fixed on a rotation driving shaft via an idling mechanism and that idles through the idling mechanism when the acceleration control is performed, and wherein the idling mechanism is able to idle in the conveying direction; or the conveying force lowering section is configured to cause either roller of the second conveyance roller pair to move away from the other roller when the acceleration control is performed. <EOS>