Document conveying apparatus and document conveying method

A document conveying apparatus comprising:

• a reading unit, which reads image information on a surface of a sheet-like document;
• a driving-side discharge unit, which conveys a document in a first direction, first image information on a first surface of the document having been read by said reading unit, in contact with said first surface of said document, and discharges at least a part of said document from said document conveying apparatus;
• a driven-side discharge unit, which is arranged so as to face said driving-side discharge unit, and receives transmission of a rotative force from said driving-side discharge unit, when being in contact with said driving-side discharge unit;
• a specific-direction conveying unit, which conveys the document conveyed from said driving-side discharge unit in a second direction, which is opposite to said first direction, so that said reading unit reads second image information on a second surface of the document, wherein:
• said specific-direction conveying unit includes a pair of conveying rollers, and
• said fourth direction and a direction from a position of contact, between said driving roller and said driven roller, toward a position of contact, between said pair of conveying rollers, form an acute angle;
• a pressing force applying unit, which applies a force in a third direction to said driven-side discharge unit so that said driven-side discharge unit is in contact with said driving-side discharge unit;
• wherein:
• said driving-side discharge unit includes a driving roller,
• said driven-side discharge unit includes a driven roller, and
• said movement control unit moves a rotary shaft of said driven roller in said third direction and in said fourth direction;
• a movement control unit, which moves said driven-side discharge unit in a fourth direction, which is opposite to said third direction, when said document conveyed by said specific-direction conveying unit is in contact with said driven-side discharge unit;
• and
• a torque limiting unit, which detects a torque exerted on said driving-side discharge unit, and restricts the transmission of said rotative force, when said torque is equal to or larger than a predetermined value.