Patent ID: 8251363

Claim:
An image reader comprising: a separation roller configured to rotate in contact with a document sheet and to separate and feed the document sheet on a sheet-by-sheet basis to a downstream side on a feeding path; an intermediate feed roller disposed downstream relative to the separation roller on the feeding path, the intermediate feed roller being configured to rotate in contact with the document sheet separated and fed by the separation roller and to feed the document sheet to a downstream side on the feeding path so as to restrain a variation of a tensile force applied to the document sheet; only a single U-turn roller that is disposed downstream relative to the intermediate feed roller on the feeding path, and configured to rotate in contact with the document sheet fed by the intermediate feed roller and feed the document sheet; a U-turn path provided as a part of the feed path, the U-turn path being curved substantially in a U-shape around an outer circumferential surface of the single U-turn roller, wherein the single U-turn roller is configured to feed the document sheet in a U-turn manner around the outer circumferential surface of the single U-turn roller; a first reading unit that is disposed downstream relative to the U-turn roller on the feeding path, and configured to read an image from the document sheet fed by the U-turn roller; and a power source configured to drive the separation roller at a first velocity to feed the document sheet, the intermediate feed roller at a second velocity to feed the document sheet, and the U-turn roller at a third velocity to feed the document sheet, wherein the first velocity is less than the second velocity and the third velocity.