Image reading apparatus and sheet guide therefor

An image scanning apparatus comprising:

• a scanning surface having an upper side and a lower side;
• a sheet feeding mechanism configured to transport a sheet, with an image thereon, over a scanning position on said upper side of said scanning surface, said sheet feeding mechanism having a rotation member configured to urge said sheet toward said scanning surface;
• a scanner positioned below said lower surface and oriented to scan the image on said sheet when said sheet is at said scanning position;
• and
• a sheet guide having
• a base supported by said upper side of said scanning surface, and
• a side wall connected to said base and having an upper portion that extends away from said scanning surface, said side wall having
• a notch configured to receive the rotation member, and
• a sheet bearing edge configured to change a moving direction of said sheet while said sheet is being urged by said rotation mechanism.

A sheet guide comprising:

• a base having a front side, back side, first side, and second side, said base being configured to be supported by a scanning surface, having
• an upper surface having a back end and a front end, said front end having a beveled front edge that tapers toward said scanning surface,
• a lower surface having a planer back portion and a front foot projection formed at a front portion thereof, said front foot projection portion extending vertically toward said scanning surface and extending horizontally beneath said beveled front edge, said front foot having a flat bottom surface configured to contact the scanning surface;
• a first side wall connected to and extending vertically from said first side of said base, a depth of said first side wall being greater than a depth of said base and having
• a U-shaped notch having
• a rounded bottom portion between a rear vertical projection portion and a front vertical projection portion, said rear vertical projection portion being longer than said front vertical projection portion, and
• a flat bottom surface that connects to said front foot projection portion configured to be supported by said scanning surface,
• a back foot positioned at a back portion of said flat bottom surface and configured to be supported by said scanning surface,
• a sheet bearing having a curved shaped that extends from an upper portion of said front vertical projection portion and down to said beveled edge of said base, and
• a second side wall connected to and extending vertically from the second side of said base and having a same shape as said first side wall.

A sheet guide comprising:

• means for supporting a rotation member of a sheet feeding mechanism;
• and
• means for guiding the sheet from the sheet feeding mechanism to a scanning surface, comprising
• means for lowering an angle of incidence that a portion of the sheet makes with the scanning surface after the portion of the sheet is fed from the sheet feeding mechanism toward the scanning surface.