A line scanning apparatus employing a multiplicity of linear arrays, the linear extent of which is less than the length of the scan line. To permit an entire line to be covered, the arrays are offset from one another in the direction of scan with adjoining array ends overlapped. To correct for the misalignment and redundancy introduced, the image data from the arrays is buffered until a line is completed when readout, is initiated. During readout, cross over from one array to the next is effected within the overlapped areas and the redundant data discarded.