Automatic sheet transporting apparatus, and automatic document scanning apparatus with the automatic sheet transporting apparatus

An automatic document scanning apparatus comprising:

• an automatic document transporting apparatus comprising:
• a transporting unit comprising a discharge roller, the transporting unit being configured to discharge a sheet;
• a discharge tray configured to support at least one sheet discharged from the transporting unit in a stack, the discharge tray including an upstream end and a downstream end;
• a discharge guide positioned on a portion of the discharge tray closer to the upstream end than the downstream end in a sheet discharging direction, the discharge guide being configured to guide a subsequent sheet transported by the transporting unit to a position between the discharge tray and a bottom surface of a previously discharged sheet in the stack;
• and
• at least one rotating member positioned in another portion of the discharge tray closer to the downstream end than the upstream end in the sheet discharging direction, the at least one rotating member being configured to be driven to rotate by the discharge sheet when the discharge guide guides the subsequent sheet to the position between the discharge tray and the bottom surface of the previously discharged sheet in the stack;
• a scanning member configured to scan an image on the subsequent sheet at a scanning position;
• and
• a reversing member configured to reverse a conveying direction of the subsequent sheet from the scanning position to the sheet discharging direction,
• wherein the at least one rotating member comprises a plurality of rotating members spaced at a predetermined interval along the sheet discharging direction.

An automatic sheet transporting apparatus comprising:

• a discharge tray including an upstream end and a downstream end;
• a transporting means comprising a discharge roller for discharging a sheet onto the discharge tray;
• a discharge guide means positioned on a portion of the discharge tray that is closer to the upstream end than the downstream end in a sheet discharging direction for guiding a subsequent sheet transported by the transporting unit to a position between the discharge tray and a bottom surface of another sheet previously discharged onto the discharge tray;
• and
• at least one means for reducing frictional resistance applied to the subsequent sheet that contacts the subsequent sheet when the subsequent sheet is guided by the discharge guide means to the position between the discharge tray and the bottom surface of the previously discharged sheet, the at least one means for reducing frictional resistance being provided in another portion of the discharge tray closer to the downstream end than the upstream end in the sheet discharging direction,
• wherein the at least one means for reducing frictional resistance comprises a plurality of rotating members spaced at a predetermined interval along the sheet discharging direction.