Provided is a manufacturing method of a sensor unit, the sensor unit including: a rod-shaped light condenser that condenses light from an original; a frame that houses the light condenser; and a plurality of urging members that urge the light condenser toward the frame and mount the light condenser on the frame, the manufacturing method including: a light condenser housing step of housing the light condenser in the frame; and an urging member mounting step of pressing, by an assembly machine, the plurality of urging members against the frame.

An image reading device includes: a scanner glass; photo-sensors arranged at intervals in a main scanning direction to read a document conveyed in a sub-scanning direction; an adjuster that adjusts the size of an overlapping area between a first and second image obtained by neighboring photo-sensors, the overlapping area constituting a first area of the first image and a second area of the second image; a superimposing portion that shifts either one of images of the first and second area to the other one; a judgment portion that judges whether the images having different focal depths exist based on the degree of matching between the first and second area; and a detector that detects a foreign body on the scanner glass platen by detecting a continuous image stretching in a document conveying direction in both of the images having different focal depths, if the images having different focal depths exist.

An image reading device includes: a scanner glass; photo-sensors arranged at intervals in a main scanning direction to read a document conveyed in a sub-scanning direction; an adjuster that adjusts the size of an overlapping area between a first and second image obtained by neighboring photo-sensors, the overlapping area constituting a first area of the first image and a second area of the second image; a superimposing portion that shifts either one of images of the first and second area to the other one; a judgment portion that judges whether the images having different focal depths exist based on the degree of matching between the first and second area; and a detector that detects a foreign body on the scanner glass platen by detecting a continuous image stretching in a document conveying direction in both of the images having different focal depths, if the images having different focal depths exist.

According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a scanner unit, an image forming unit, a frame, a first adjustment mechanism, and a second adjustment mechanism. The scanner unit has an image reading section. The image forming unit forms an image read by the scanner unit on a sheet. The frame includes a first support section and a second support section. The first support section supports the image forming unit. The second support section is positioned below the scanner unit. The first adjustment mechanism steplessly adjusts a distance in an up-down direction between the scanner unit and the second support section. The second adjustment mechanism gradually adjusts the distance in the up-down direction between the scanner unit and the second support section.

A moving mechanism of a reading unit includes a driving pulley, a plurality of driven pulleys which are rotatably driven, an endless belt which is engaged and rotates between the driving pulley and the plurality of driven pulleys, and attracts the reading unit, and a biasing unit which applies tension to the endless belt, in the endless belt, an attraction section which is a belt section that extends along the auxiliary scanning direction, and which attracts the reading unit, is formed between a first driven pulley and a second driven pulley, the driving pulley is provided at a position separated from the attraction section in the main scanning direction, and a biasing force of the biasing unit is applied to the belt section excluding the attraction section in the endless belt.

An apparatus main body including a recording mechanism portion that performs recording on a paper sheet; and a reading mechanism portion which is linked to the apparatus main body to be rotatable in an upper portion of the apparatus main body, and reads a document, the reading mechanism portion includes a reading unit which extends in a main scanning direction, and moves in an auxiliary scanning direction intersecting with the main scanning direction, a motor which moves the reading unit, and a first linking portion and a second linking portion which are disposed on the outside of a moving region when the moving region of the reading unit is viewed in a plan view, and are linked to the apparatus main body to be rotatable, and the motor is disposed at least in any of the first linking portion and the second linking portion.

An image reading apparatus is provided. The image reading apparatus includes: a platen glass; a moving member; a reading section held by the moving member, the reading section having a reading surface, a light-receiving element, a substrate section, and a case section; a transmission member; and a first biasing section. The moving member includes a facing surface that faces the substrate section. The case section includes a first wall and a second wall. The transmission member includes a first contacting section, a second contacting section, and a connecting section. The first biasing section is disposed such that its one end makes a contact with the facing surface of the moving member and its other end makes a contact with the connecting section of the transmission member.

An image scanner includes an image sensor with a plurality of scanning elements arrayed in a main scanning direction, a carriage carrying thereon the image sensor, a pair of pulleys, a belt looped around the pulleys, a connector, and a restricting member. The connector protrudes from the carriage and is connected to the belt which is inserted in an entry port of the connector. When the belt is driven to rotate, the connector moves with the belt and moves the carriage in a sub-scanning direction. The restricting member contacts the belt when, in a state where the carriage is at a standby position, the belt shifts in a disengaging direction in which the belt tends to disengage from the connector through the entry port.

An image scanner includes an image sensor with a plurality of scanning elements arrayed in a main scanning direction, a carriage carrying thereon the image sensor, a pair of pulleys, a belt looped around the pulleys, a connector, and a restricting member. The connector protrudes from the carriage and is connected to the belt which is inserted in an entry port of the connector. When the belt is driven to rotate, the connector moves with the belt and moves the carriage in a sub-scanning direction. The restricting member contacts the belt when, in a state where the carriage is at a standby position, the belt shifts in a disengaging direction in which the belt tends to disengage from the connector through the entry port.

An image reading apparatus includes an image scanning unit that is provided with a holding portion holding a flexible flat cable. The holding portion is protruded toward an upstream side in a sub scanning direction, and provided with a second wall part. The flexible flat cable that is extended from a connector is brought into contact with the second wall part. As for the flexible flat cable, a downward movement is regulated by a lower holding portion and an upward movement is regulated by an upper holding portion. Accordingly, the flexible flat cable does not rise.