The present invention discloses an image reading apparatus which enables high-speed
reading of an image transmitted through a transparent material such as a photographic
film or an image reflected by a reflective material. In the image reading apparatus,
a transparent material such as a photographic film is first conveyed in a conveying
direction thereof, and an image frame to be read is positioned at a reading position.
After the image frame is positioned, light emitted from a lamp is made into slit
light by a light diffusion box, a longitudinal direction of the slit light coinciding
with the conveying direction of the photographic film, and the slit light is irradiated
on a portion (line) to be read of the photographic film. Light transmitted through
the portion of the photographic film is imaged by a lens unit onto a light-receiving
surface of a line CCD (a reading sensor) which is disposed along the longitudinal
direction of the photographic film. The photographic film is moved by sub-scanning
means in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction the photographic
film is conveyed, and the position of a subsequent portion (line) to be read is
determined. In this way, an image recorded on the photographic film is read line
by line along a longitudinal direction of the image frame.
