Patent ID: 7605955

Claim:
An image-reading device having a first end and a second end and comprising: a platen glass for supporting an original document; an end glass adjacent to the platen glass; a sheet member that connects bottom surfaces of the platen glass and the end glass; a feeder for feeding a document to the platen glass; a carriage arranged for movement relative to the platen glass and the end glass from the first end of the image-reading device toward the second end of the image-reading device; a rod lens array mounted on the carriage; a photoelectric transfer device for reading an image of the original document formed by the rod lens array; and a controller for driving the carriage at a first speed as it travels from said first end to said second end and for driving the carriage at a second speed that is slower than said first speed during a time the carriage is traveling near said second end; wherein the carriage includes a sliding member that is biased against the sheet member during a time the carriage is being driven by the controller at said second speed; and said second speed is less than one-half the maximum speed of the carriage.