PURPOSE: To prevent entrance of light beams into the periphery of a book and, at the same time, to closely contact the book with a reading surface without damaging the binding of the book, by dividing an original holding section into three or more parts to a central part and both side parts and pushing the book against an original placing table with an elastic body, such as spring, etc.
CONSTITUTION: The front and rear covers of a book 2 are pressed down by a right and left original keeping plates 4a and 4b and the backbone of the book 2 is pressed down by a central original keeping plate 3. Since the keeping plates 3, 4a, and 4b independently make vertical movement, any books having any thicknesses and shapes can closely be contacted with an original placing table and can be copied clearly. Therefore, a sheet-like original can be fixed to the original platen without slippage. Moreover, since the backbone is not pressed by hands, the binding of the book is not damaged.
AKIYAMA YOSHIHIRO
URATA YOSHITO
