Patent ID: 7307765

Claim:
An image reading apparatus for reading images on film, the apparatus comprising: an illumination device that illuminates the film; an image reader that reads images on said film illuminated by said illumination device at a reading position, said image reader outputting an image signal; a first insertion opening for inserting a cartridge enclosing a first type of film; a second insertion opening for inserting a second type of film that differs from said first type, the second insertion opening being defined separately from the first insertion opening; and a transporting device that transports the first type of film from the first insertion opening to the reading position through a transport path and that transports the second type of film from the second insertion opening to the reading position through the transport path, the transporting device including a first transporting device that introduces only the first type of film into the transport path, wherein said transporting device includes a second transporting device and a third transporting device, said second transporting device including at least one pair of opposing rollers arrange on opposite sides of a transport path, said at least one pair of rollers having a spacing wider than a thickness of said film, said spacing for receiving a holding means for holding said first type of film between said pairs of rollers and transporting said first type of film and said holding means to said reading position of said image reader, said third transporting device including a winding means for winding said second type of film using a roller of said at least one pair of rollers for transporting said second type of film to said reading position of said image reader.