PURPOSE: To use the same means for reading and recordng, and to decrease the cost, by using a light emitting element as reading element and recording element.

CONSTITUTION: In a light emitting element 15, its light emitting section P is illuminated sequentially at a prescribed period and a constant output level from P1 to Pn arranged in the sub-scanning direction every time a moving stand comes to a prescribed reading position of an original. The spot images from the P1 to the Pn formed with a prescribed reading resolution on the original 7 via an optical system are reflected on the original plane and made incident to a photo diode 17 with a prescribed period at a strength corresponding to the density of picture information. The picture signal for n-line's share is obtained at one scanning. When one scanning is finished, rollers 9 and 10 are rotated and the original 7 is moved toward the arrow 19 by the length for n-line's share.