Image reading apparatus having a steeply inclined paper transport path

Abstract

An improved image reading apparatus suitable for use with an image scanner which can read a large number of paper sheets successively and rapidly and cope with various paper sizes from a small size to a large size. The image reading apparatus includes a paper supply mechanism, a paper transport mechanism, an optical image reading mechanism for optically reading information on a paper sheet being transported by the paper transport mechanism, and a paper stacking mechanism. The paper transport mechanism includes a paper transport path including an inclined transport path and a paper reversing transport path contiguous to the inclined transport path, a plurality of paper transport rollers disposed in a spaced relationship from each other by a distance smaller than the length of a paper sheet in its transportation direction along the paper transport path, a roller driving mechanism for driving the paper transport rollers, and a roller driving mechanism control apparatus for controlling the roller driving mechanism. The optical image reading mechanism includes an optical image reading unit, and an image information extraction control apparatus for controlling extraction of image information obtained by the optical image reading unit.