TWO-SIDED IMAGE READING METHOD

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a two-sided image reading method and device, capable of reducing the image reading time of a document without enlarging a conveying mechanism.SOLUTION: The method includes a first conveyance process, a second conveyance process, and a third conveyance process. In the first conveyance process, the document S is passed so that one surface of the document S faces an image reading means 30 of an image reading unit within a conveyance unit 1 having a path 12 for passing the document S, and then returned to the upstream side of the image reading unit of the path 12 through a switchback conveyanace path 26 branched from the path 12. In the second conveyance process, the document S returned in the first conveyanace process is carried, the other surface of the document S facing the image reading means 30 is read by the image reading means 30, and the document is then returned to the upstream side of the image reading unit of the path 12 through the switchback conveyanace path 26. In the third conveyance process, the document S returned in the second conveyance process is passed and discharged so that the one surface of the document S faces the image reading means 30 of the image reading unit. In one of the first conveyance process and the conveyance process, image reading is performed, and, in the other, the image reading is not performed.