An image reading apparatus includes a housing; a transparent plate that is provided in an opening formed in an upper part of the housing and on which an original is placed; an image reading unit that is disposed inside the housing and that scans in a main scanning direction while moving in a sub-scanning direction to read an image of the original placed on the transparent plate; a flexible flat cable having one end that is connected to a control board on which an electronic component that is configured to process the image read by the image reading unit is mounted and the other end that is connected to the image reading unit, the flexible flat cable being configured to electrically connect the image reading unit and the control board, the flexible flat cable being disposed such that a width direction of the flexible flat cable crosses a surface of the transparent plate, the flexible flat cable being partially fixed to a side wall of the housing facing the image reading unit in the main scanning direction; and a holding portion configured to hold a part of the flexible flat cable, the holding portion holding the part between a part fixed to the side wall and the other end, of the flexible flat cable, the holding portion being formed on an end face of the image reading unit in the sub-scanning direction, wherein the holding portion holds the flexible flat cable such that a distance in the main scanning direction between a position at which the holding portion holds a lower end of the flexible flat cable in the width direction and the side wall is longer than a distance in the main scanning direction between a position at which the holding portion holds an upper end of the flexible flat cable in the width direction and the side wall.

A belt tensioning system is described, which comprises: a housing pivotable about a pivot point; a pulley supported by said housing, said pulley to rotate a belt and said pulley rotatable about an axis of rotation; a motor to drive the pulley; and a biasing element coupled to said housing and to apply a tension to said belt via said housing and said pulley; wherein operation of said motor to effect rotation of said pulley about said axis of rotation: in a first direction effects pivoting of said housing in a direction about said pivot point, which pivoting movement, in combination with said biasing element, effects translational movement of said axis of rotation of said pulley in a first translational direction to a first axis position to alter said tension in said belt; and in a second direction effects pivoting of said housing in an opposite direction about said pivot point, which pivoting movement, in combination with said biasing element, effects translational movement of said axis of rotation of said pulley in a second translational direction to a second axis position to alter said tension in said belt.

An example device includes a U-shaped body to be placed around a guide on which a scanner carriage is to be guided. A fixed leg of the U-shaped body is attached to a linearly translatable scanner carriage. A free leg of the U-shaped body is not attached to the scanner carriage and has inward facing ribs. The ribs on the free leg of the U-shaped body are positioned to come into contact with the guide to align the scanner carriage with the guide.

An image reading apparatus includes a housing; a transparent plate that is provided in an opening formed in an upper part of the housing and on which an original is placed; an image reading unit that is disposed inside the housing and that scans in a main scanning direction while moving in a sub-scanning direction to read an image of the original placed on the transparent plate; a flexible flat cable having one end that is connected to a control board on which an electronic component that is configured to process the image read by the image reading unit is mounted and the other end that is connected to the image reading unit, the flexible flat cable being configured to electrically connect the image reading unit and the control board, the flexible flat cable being disposed such that a width direction of the flexible flat cable crosses a surface of the transparent plate, the flexible flat cable being partially fixed to a side wall of the housing facing the image reading unit in the main scanning direction; and a holding portion configured to hold a part of the flexible flat cable, the holding portion holding the part between a part fixed to the side wall and the other end, of the flexible flat cable, the holding portion being formed on an end face of the image reading unit in the sub-scanning direction, wherein the holding portion holds the flexible flat cable such that a distance in the main scanning direction between a position at which the holding portion holds a lower end of the flexible flat cable in the width direction and the side wall is longer than a distance in the main scanning direction between a position at which the holding portion holds an upper end of the flexible flat cable in the width direction and the side wall.

An image scanning unit an image forming apparatus having the same to scan an image recorded on a document. The image scanning unit includes: a transparent window on which a document to be scanned is laid; an image sensor running straightly under the transparent window for capturing an image recorded on the document, a unit for driving the image sensor; a guide shaft for guiding the straight movement of the image sensor; and an image sensor carrier connected to the driving unit and the guide shaft for straightly moving the image sensor along the guide shaft when the driving unit operates. The image sensor carrier has an image sensor mounting surface on which the image sensor is mounted, and a guide shaft holder integrally formed with the image sensor mounting surface and mounted on the guide shaft.

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.

An image reading device includes an image reading unit that reads an image while moving in a sub-scanning direction, a casing that houses the image reading unit, a guiding member that is movable relative to the casing in the sub-scanning direction and guides the casing in the sub-scanning direction, and an endless member to which the casing is fixed and that endlessly travels between a starting position and a terminal position in the sub-scanning direction.

An image reading device includes an image reading unit that reads an image while moving in a sub-scanning direction, a casing that houses the image reading unit, a guiding member that is movable relative to the casing in the sub-scanning direction and guides the casing in the sub-scanning direction, and an endless member to which the casing is fixed and that endlessly travels between a starting position and a terminal position in the sub-scanning direction.

A device, e.g., multi-functional scanner (MFS), for handling a paper holder (folder) having an upper cover and a lower cover, the MFS including a control circuit, a platform configured to receive the paper holder, and a lifting mechanism comprising an adhesive member. The adhesive member is configured to removably attach to the upper cover of the paper holder. The lifting mechanism is configured to flip the upper cover of the paper holder open when the adhesive member is attached to the upper cover. The lifting mechanism is configured to detach from the paper holder and return to its original position away from the paper holder after the upper cover is flipped open. Also provided are methods of automatically opening a paper holder and processing (e.g., scanning, printing) the documents contained inside.

A driving device is used in an image reading apparatus, and reciprocates a scanning unit for reading an image on an original. The driving device comprises a pull member, a driving pulley which transmits driving force to the pull member, a following pulley which applies tension to the pull member and a pulley holder having a pulley axis which holds the following pulley rotatably. Then, the pulley axis has a lock pawl capable of locking an upper end portion of the following pulley and canceling engagement with the following pulley by being tilted toward a side of an axial center by elastic deformation. Furthermore, the lock pawl is arranged at a side of a tension acting direction from the pull member to the following pulley except the farthest position from the driving pulley among positions in a circumferential direction of the pulley axis. It is possible to attach and detach the following pulley easily at a time of maintenance or the like.