Automatic document conveying device

Abstract

An automatic document conveying device comprising a paper-feeder for sequentially separating one document sheet from a stack of document sheets loaded on a document loading table and for sequentially transporting each document sheet to a standby position upstream of an image exposure section and for halting each document sheet at the standby position, the standby position being variably determined by the length of each document sheet. A conveyor conveys each document sheet from the standby position to an exposure position on the image exposure section on a glass surface of the document loading table, each document is discharged after it is scanned and exposed by the image exposure section. The image exposure section is controlled to scan and expose a first document sheet, and a second document sheet is halted at the standby position while the first document is being scanned and exposed. The first document sheet is discharged after it has been scanned and exposed, and the second document sheet is conveyed from the standby position to the image exposure position when discharge of the first document begins. A third document sheet is then conveyed to the standby position at least before the scanning and exposure of the second document at the image exposure position is completed. The paper-feeder, conveyor and discharge device are operated until the entire stack of documents loaded on the document loading table is scanned and exposed.