Automatic document feeder

摘要

An automatic document feeder for feeding and discharging a document or documents to and from a document handling device such as a copying machine includes a document supply unit having a separation roller and register rollers, positioning unit and discharge unit, which are driven by a drive unit having a single reversible driving motor. The separation roller is operated to forward the document to a document reading portion when driving the driving motor in a first direction, and stopped when driving the driving motor in a second direction. The register rollers are operated only when driving the driving motor in a second direction. By slowing down the separation roller just before the document collides with the register rollers, the document can be transferred at high speed without being damaged.