Patent ID: 7605957

Claim:
An original document transport device comprising: an original document loading member; an original document output member arranged at a first position below the original document loading member; an original document transport mechanism configured to transport individual documents from the original document loading member to an original scanning position; an original document feed roller mechanism disposed above the original document output member and the original document transport mechanism, the original document feed roller mechanism being arranged to transport the individual documents from above downward to the original document output member by way of the original document transport mechanism; an original document load detection member configured to detect when the original documents have been loaded onto the original document loading member; a drive mechanism connected to the original document loading member to move the original document loading member in a substantially vertical direction so as to create a variable distance between the original document loading member and the original document output member; and a control device configured to control the drive mechanism so as to position the original document loading member between the first position, a second position and a third position, the first position is for loading original documents onto the original document loading member, the third position is for removing discharged original documents from the original document output member, the third position being located at a maximum distance above the first position, and the second position is for transporting the original documents to the original document transport mechanism, the second position being between the first position and the third position.