PURPOSE: To attain a parallel copying mode while operabilities and needs for using are maintained by using a path inside an inversion part as the retreating path of a preceding original in a parallel reading mode.

CONSTITUTION: When page order is changed at the time of placing an original on a platen, as the retreating path of the preceding original, an inversion path is used. In detail, the preceding original is inverted two times, the next original is carried onto the platen while the second inversion is executed, and both originals are parallely carried. In other words, on this original feeder, the m-th page is tentatively retreated from the platen, and in this time, the (m-1)th page is sent onto the platen, and then, has the simultaneous carriage with the m-th page, so that the parallel copying mode can be executed. Further, the retreating position of the m-th page is in the path inside the inversion part. Thus, the parallel copying mode can be executed without complexing a device and hurting an operational sense.