PURPOSE: To read both sides of an original not requiring the turn-over operation, by providing a read means rotatable for a symmetrical position to the original supported to an original carrying means which can invert the direction of carriage.

CONSTITUTION: A reading optical system 1 illuminates an original O through original guide plates 2, 3 with a lamp 4 and forms an image on a CCD6 with a bar lens 5. The original O can be driven reversingly with feeding rollers 8, 9, 10 and 11. A gear 12a is provided around an end plate 12 supporting the optical system 1 and the guide plates 2, 3 and a drive gear 13 reciprocatingly rotates the optical system 1 and the guide plates 2, 3 by 180°. Thus, the reading of the front and back side of the original can be performed with a simple sequence and the turning-over operation of the original is not required.