Image reading apparatus and multi-functional apparatus having a plate-like pressing member

An image reading apparatus includes a transport path that is inclined downwardly as advancing from an upstream side to a downstream side, an image reading section disposed in a middle of the transport path, a cover member that is bent to cause downward inclination of a face on the downstream side of the transport path to be larger than an inclination of a face on the upstream side, a support member having a plate form, the support member disposed on a rear face of the cover member and protruding toward the upstream side from a proximity of a position where the cover member is bent in the face on the downstream side, and a pressing member in which another end is supported by the support member to cause one end to be contactable with the image reading section, thereby pressing the transported medium against the image reading section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus in which the size can be reduced, and also to a multi-functional apparatus having such an image reading apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, a multi-functional apparatus which has an image reading apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, and the like, and which can be used in various applications such as a scanner, a fax, a printer, and a copier is in widespread use. In an image reading apparatus mounted in such a multi-functional apparatus, in order to reduce the cost of the multi-functional apparatus, an expensive CCD image sensor is not used in an operation of reading an original serving as a medium to be read, and the reading operation is conducted with using a contact image sensor (hereinafter, abbreviated as “CIS”).

A CIS has a shallower depth of field than a CCD image sensor. In order to read an image without blurring, therefore, an original must be in close contact with a CIS during a reading operation. In an image reading apparatus, consequently, a member for pressing an original against a CIS placed in a transport path through which the original is transported is disposed. In JP-A-10-190939, for example, a white back roller is made press contact with a CIS to press an original that passes the press contact portion, thereby preventing the original from raising from the CIS.

In order to enable the white back roller to be in press contact with the CIS, a pressing force must be applied to a shaft of the roller. In order to prevent a failure from occurring in transportation of an original, moreover, the right and left sides of the shaft must be pressed in a balanced manner. Therefore, parts for respectively pressing the right and left sides of the shaft must be disposed, and the parts must be accurately attached. As a result, the number of used parts is increased, and the production process becomes complicated.

Inventors of the present invention have developed a configuration in which, in place of a roller, a swingable plate-like member is disposed and a pressing member such as a spring is disposed on the back face of the member, whereby operations of pressing the pressing member against the CIS can be simplified and the number of parts can be reduced. For example, a transport path for an original is disposed so that the original passes over the CIS. The CIS is disposed in the bottom face of the transport path, and the pressing member is swingably supported on the upper face of the transport path, so that the swinging end of the pressing member is contacted with and separated from the CIS. A spring is attached between the pressing member and the upper face of the transport path to give an urging force to the pressing member. At this time, a spring is disposed in the middle of the pressing member in a direction perpendicular to the swinging direction of the pressing member, so that the urging force exerted on the pressing member is uniform in the direction.

The supported end of the pressing member is disposed upstream in the original transportation direction from the swinging end, to reduce a load that is imposed when the tip end of the original butts against the pressing member. A support member for supporting the pressing member is formed as a pair of plate-like members in which the longitudinal direction coincides with the original transportation direction to maintain the strength, the plate-like members protrude from the upper face of the transport path toward the bottom face, and the end portions of the downstream side in the original transportation direction support the both supported ends of the pressing member, respectively.

Because of the recent tendency that the size of a multi-functional apparatus is reduced, in a configuration where an image forming apparatus is disposed in a lower stage and an image reading apparatus is disposed in an upper stage, it is preferable to cover the transport path with a cover on the upper face of the image reading apparatus, thereby reducing the thickness. In a configuration where an original is transported from the back face of a multi-functional apparatus to the front face, the transport path is preferably configured so as to be downward inclined in order to allow the user to easily set originals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When the transport path is inclinedly disposed in consideration of convenience of the user, however, the level difference is formed also in the cover that is substantially parallel to the transport path, and hence the total height of the multi-functional apparatus is increased because the image reading apparatus is positioned in the upper stage of the multi-functional apparatus. In order to further reduce the size of such a multi-functional apparatus (reduce the total height of the multi-functional apparatus), therefore, the inventors has bent the cover so that the downward inclination of the cover portion which is opposed to the upstream side of the transport path is smaller than that of the cover portion which is opposed to the downstream side. However, a problem has been arisen in that the upper face of the upstream side of the transport path is squeezed, and the support member of the pressing member disposed in the upper face is made close to the bottom face of the transport path, thereby causing a failure in transportation of an original.

In order to reduce the size of a multi-functional apparatus, the inventors have developed a configuration in which keys for operating the apparatus are disposed on the surface of the cover, and the cover is formed as one piece by injection molding so as to reduce the production cost. In this configuration, when the depressing direction of keys disposed on one of faces of the upstream and downstream sides of the bent cover coincides with the drawing direction of molds, the depressing direction of keys disposed on the other face does not coincide with the drawing direction of molds, and hence ribs for guiding the keys in the key depressing direction cannot be formed, thereby producing a problem in that a trouble is caused in operation of the keys on the face in which the depressing direction does not coincide with the drawing direction.

A wiring circuit board which conducts, for example, detection of depression of a key must be disposed on the rear face of the cover. Since the cover is bent, the size and position of the wiring circuit board are restricted, and electrical connections between a control circuit board of the main unit of the apparatus and the wiring circuit board, such as signal lines interfere with the original transport path. Consequently, there are problems such as that, in order to prevent a failure in transportation of an original from occurring, the signal lines must be fixed at intervals.

The invention has been conducted in order to solve the problems. An image reading apparatus and a multi-functional apparatus having such an image reading apparatus are disclosed herein, in which the total size of the apparatus can be reduced while preventing a failure due to a reduced height of the apparatus from occurring.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus including: a transport path through which a medium to be read is transported, and which is inclined downwardly as advancing from an upstream side in a transportation direction to a downstream side; an image reading section disposed in a middle of the transport path and reading an image formed on the medium to be read that is transported along the transport path; a cover member which is disposed to cover the image reading section and the transport path, and which is bent to cause downward inclination of a face on the downstream side of the transport path to be larger than an inclination of a face on the upstream side; a support member having a plate form, the support member disposed on a rear face of the cover member and protruding toward the upstream side from a proximity of a position where the cover member is bent in the face on the downstream side; and a pressing member in which another end is supported by the support member to cause one end to be contactable with and separable from the image reading section, thereby pressing the transported medium to be read against the image reading section.

In this configuration, the protrusion position of the support member for the pressing member disposed in the transport path which is inclined downwardly is improved, so that the inclination of the portion of the upstream side in the cover member covering the transport path is made smaller than that of the portion of the downstream side without causing the support member to squeeze the transport path. Therefore, the total height of the apparatus can be shortened, and the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus including: a transport path through which a medium to be read is transported, and which is inclined downwardly as advancing from an upstream side in a transportation direction to a downstream side; an image reading section disposed in a middle of the transport path and reading an image formed on the medium to be read that is transported along the transport path; a cover member which is disposed to cover the image reading section and the transport path, and which is bent to cause downward inclination of a face on the downstream side of the transport path to be larger than an inclination of a face on the upstream side; a key that is depressably disposed on a surface of the cover member; and a guide member that is placed on a rear face of the cover member to guide a depressing direction of the key disposed on one of faces of the surface of the cover member, the faces being respectively upstream and downstream in the transport path with respect to the position where the cover member is bent.

In this configuration, when the cover member is formed by injection molding, the depressing direction of the key in a portion different from the drawing direction of molds can be guided by the guide member. Therefore, the cover member can be formed as one piece. As a result, the production cost can be lowered, the operability of the apparatus is not impaired, and the miniaturization of the apparatus is not impeded.

According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus including: a transport path through which a medium to be read is transported, and which is inclined downwardly as advancing from an upstream side in a transportation direction to a downstream side; an image reading section disposed in a middle of the transport path and reading an image formed on the medium to be read that is transported along the transport path; a cover member which is disposed to cover the image reading section and the transport path, and which is bent to cause downward inclination of a face on the downstream side of the transport path to be larger than an inclination of a face on the upstream side; a wiring circuit board which is disposed on a rear face of the cover member, and which has a circuit for detecting depression of a key or conducting a display on a displaying section; and an intermediate circuit board which is disposed in an end portion of the rear face of the cover member, and which relays electrical connection between the apparatus and the wiring circuit board.

In this configuration, electrical connections between the wiring circuit board disposed on the rear face of the cover member and the apparatus can be conducted through the intermediate circuit board, and the intermediate circuit board can be placed in an end portion of the cover member. Therefore, it is possible to easily eliminate a failure which may occur in the electrical connection between the wiring circuit board and the apparatus when the size of the apparatus is reduced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image reading apparatus and a multi-functional apparatus having such an image reading apparatus in which the invention is embodied will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring toFIG. 1, first, the whole configuration of a multi-functional apparatus1will be described.FIG. 1is a central sectional view of the apparatus1. Hereinafter, the directions of −Z, +Z, +Y, −Y, +X, and −X are referred to as the front direction, the back direction, the upper direction, the bottom direction, the right side direction, and the left side direction, respectively.

As shown inFIG. 1, the apparatus1has a configuration in which an image reading apparatus10for reading an image formed on a medium to be read is placed in an upper portion in the sectional view, and an image forming apparatus50for forming an image on a medium to be recorded is placed in a lower portion. The apparatus1has: a scanner function due to the image reading apparatus10; a printer function due to the image forming apparatus50; and a copying function which is conducted by printing an image of an original read by the image reading apparatus10on a sheet by the image forming apparatus50. The apparatus1further has a facsimile function which is not shown, and a modem, an NCU, and the like which are known and not shown, and which are used for transmitting an image read by the image reading apparatus10as FAX data to a terminal apparatus in a communication destination via a public communication network. The image forming apparatus50can print an image based on FAX data received from a terminal apparatus in a communication destination.

The image forming apparatus50is configured as a so-called laser printer, which is known. In a substantially middle portion of the image forming apparatus50, an image forming unit58which forms an image on a sheet serving as a medium to be recorded is disposed. A sheet supply cassette51which stackingly stores sheets is placed below the image forming unit58, and a sheet discharge tray52onto which sheets bearing an image are discharged to be stackingly held. An S-like sheet transport path53is disposed in the image forming apparatus50so that a sheet picked up from the sheet supply cassette51is passed through the image forming unit58, an image is formed on the sheet, and the sheet is then discharged onto the sheet discharge tray52(in the figure, the sheet transport path is indicated by the two-dot chain line S).

The sheet supply cassette51is attached to a bottom portion of the apparatus1so as to be attachable and detachable from the side of the front direction of the apparatus1. A sheet supply roller54which feeds a sheet held in the sheet supply cassette51to the transport path53is disposed in the front face side of the apparatus1and above the sheet supply cassette51. When a printing process is to be conducted, the sheet supply roller54picks up a sheet and then feeds the sheet in the front direction of the apparatus1. In the vicinity of the sheet supply roller54, the transport path53is formed into a U-like shape so that the sheet guided by the transport path53is directed toward the back face of the apparatus1.

The image forming apparatus50is configured by: a laser unit55which emits a laser beam; a process unit56which forms a developer image by a developer such as a toner on the basis of the laser beam emitted from the laser unit55and which transfers the image onto the sheet; and a fixing unit57which fixes the image formed on the sheet by the process unit56, onto the sheet.

In the laser unit55, the laser beam emitted from a laser beam generating section which is not shown is scanned on the basis of print data in the main scanning direction (the direction perpendicular to the sheet transportation direction) by a rotated polygon mirror55a, and the laser beam is transmitted or reflected by plural lenses and mirrors to exposure scan the surface of a photosensitive drum56aof the process unit56.

In the process unit56, the photosensitive drum56a, a developing roller56b, a transfer roller56c, a charging device56d, and the like are disposed. The photosensitive drum56ais a drum on the surface of which an invisible electrostatic latent image is formed by a potential difference. The surface of the photosensitive drum56ais positively charged to a high potential (for example, +1,000V) by the charging device56dwhich is disposed upstream in the rotational direction. The laser beam from the laser unit55illuminates the surface. In only the portion illuminated with the laser beam, the surface potential is lowered (for example, +100V). As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed by high-potential and low-potential portions.

The developing roller56bis disposed downstream in the rotational direction from the position of the photosensitive drum56awhich is exposed to the laser beam, charges a positively chargeable toner housed in a toner box56e, and then supplies the charged toner to the photosensitive drum56aon which the electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing roller56bcharges the toner to a potential (for example, +400 V) which is between the high and low potentials on the surface of the photosensitive drum56a. At the position where the developing roller56bis close to the photosensitive drum56a, the toner carried by the developing roller56bis selectively transferred to the low-potential portion of the photosensitive drum56a.

The transfer roller56cis placed downstream in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum56afrom the developing roller56b. A nip portion between the transfer roller and the photosensitive drum56ais placed on the transport path53so that the sheet passes the portion. A bias is applied to the transfer roller56cso that the potential of the roller is lower than that of the low-potential portion of the photosensitive drum56a. Therefore, the developer image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum56ais electrostatically attracted by the transfer roller56cfrom the rear side of the sheet passing the nip portion between the transfer roller and the photosensitive drum56a, to be transferred onto the surface of the sheet.

The fixing unit57is configured by a heating roller57awhich gives heat of about 200 deg. to the sheet bearing a toner, thereby melting or softening the toner; and a pressure roller57bwhich is urged so as to be pressed against the heating roller57a. A nip portion between the heating roller57aand the pressure roller57bis placed on the transport path53. When the sheet is passed through the nip portion, the toner on the sheet is heated and pressurized to be fixed to the sheet.

The transport path53is formed into a U-like shape in a position where the path has passed through the image forming unit58, and guides the sheet to the sheet discharge tray52which is placed above the image forming unit58. The sheet that is transported in the image forming unit58in the direction from the front face of the apparatus1to the back face is guided by the transport path53so that the transportation direction is directed to the front face of the apparatus1, and then discharged onto the sheet discharge tray52. A pair of sheet discharge rollers59are disposed in the tail end of the transport path53, and the sheet is sent onto the sheet discharge tray52by the sheet discharge rollers59.

A transport path13which transports an original serving as a medium to be read in a direction from the back face of the apparatus1to the front face is disposed inside the image reading apparatus10(in the figure, the original transport path is indicated by the two-dot chain line M). A CIS14which reads the intensity of reflected light of light emitted from a light source (not shown) toward the original, and which digitizes the read intensity is disposed in a bottom face13bof the transport path13. An original tray11which stackingly holds originals and supplies the originals to the transport path13is disposed at a start end in the transportation direction of the transport path13. A discharge tray12which stackingly holds originals that have been subjected to the image reading process and discharged from the transport path13is disposed in the tail end of the transport path. The CIS14functions as an image reading section.

A supply roller16is disposed in the start end of the transport path13. An original held on the original tray11is picked up by the supply roller16to be fed into the transport path13. A pressing plate17is disposed above the CIS14, and urged toward the CIS14. When an original is passed above the CIS14, the original is caused to be in close contact with the CIS14by the pressing plate17, so that the CIS14having a shallow depth of field can stably read an image without blurring. The pressing plate17will be described later in detail. A pair of sheet discharge rollers18are disposed in the tail end of the transport path13, and the original is sent onto the discharge tray12.

An operation panel15through which the apparatus1is operated is disposed in an upper portion of the image reading apparatus10. The operation panel15functions as a cover of the upper face of the transport path13to cover the transport path13. When a failure occurs in transportation of an original, for example, the panel is swung about the rear end to open the front side, thereby enabling the transport path13to be exposed. In the operation panel15, plural keys15a,15c(seeFIG. 4) through which the user instructs the operation of the apparatus1, and an LCD15bon which a menu, messages, and the like are displayed to the user are disposed. The operation panel15and an intermediate plate described later function as a cover member.

Next, the internal structure of the operation panel15will be described with reference toFIGS. 2 to 7.FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view showing the internal structure of the operation panel15,FIG. 3is a view showing a manner of attaching a pressing plate17to fixing plates35,36,FIG. 4is an enlarged section view of main portions of the image reading apparatus10taken along the one-dot chain line IV-IV inFIG. 2,FIG. 5is a perspective view showing the appearance of a spacer15g,FIG. 6is a view showing a state where the spacer15gis attached to the inner face of the operation panel15, andFIG. 7is a view showing a state where keys15care engaged with the spacer15gattached to the inner face of the operation panel15.

As shown inFIG. 2, when the operation panel15is detached and seen from the bottom side of the apparatus1, the upper face13aof the transport path13is exposed. An intermediate plate22constituting the upper face13aof the transport path13is fixed to the inner face (rear face) of the operation panel15by screws or the like. Between the intermediate plate22and the operation panel15, disposed are a flexible circuit board23and the printed circuit board25which detect an input exerted on the keys15aand the like of the operation panel15, a display circuit board24which drives the LCD15b, and an intermediate circuit board26in which a wiring connector26afor connecting the circuit boards with a control circuit board (not shown) incorporated in the main unit of the apparatus1is disposed.

The keys15aand the like are disposed so as to be pressable from the outside of the operation panel15in the direction perpendicular to the operation face of the operation panel15. A rubber-made cap (not shown) is disposed in the front end of each of the keys15aand the like. The cap butts against the flexible circuit board23disposed inside the operation panel15, to give an urging force of restoring the pressed key15aand the like to the position before the pressing. An electrically conductive chip (not shown) is disposed inside the cap. Pairs of terminals23arespectively corresponding to the chips of the keys15aand the like are disposed on the flexible circuit board23. When the chip is in contact with the pair of terminals23a, the terminals are connected to each other, and the input of the key15aand the like is detected. In the flexible circuit board23, an electric circuit is printed on a film made of an insulator. In order to ensure an input of the keys15aand the like, pedestals are formed in positions of the intermediate plate22respectively corresponding to the terminals23aof the flexible circuit board23, so that the flexible circuit board23is prevented from being bent as a result of the pressing of the keys15aand the like.

The printed circuit board25is a circuit board having an electric circuit that detects the key15aand the like corresponding to the terminals that are made conductive by the flexible circuit board23. Unlike the flexible circuit board23, the printed circuit board is configured as a circuit board in which an electric circuit is printed on a hard board member. The flexible circuit board23is connected to a connector25athat is disposed in an end portion of the printed circuit board. The connector25ais fixed to an en edge of the printed circuit board25in a state where its insertion port is directed to the outside in the surface direction of the printed circuit board25so that the flexible circuit board23is inserted into the connector25ain the surface direction of the printed circuit board25. The flexible circuit board23and the printed circuit board25function as a wiring circuit board.

The display circuit board24controls the display on the LCD15b. The LCD15bis fixed to the circuit board. The display circuit board24is fixed to the inside of the operation panel15so that the display screen of the LCD15bis exposed to the outside of the operation panel15. The display circuit board24is connected to a connector25bwhich is disposed in an end portion of the printed circuit board25. The connector25bis fixed to an en edge of the printed circuit board25in a state where its insertion port is directed to the outside in the surface direction of the printed circuit board25.

The intermediate circuit board26is disposed in a rear end corner portion of the operation panel15, and used for fixing the connector26athat is to be connected with the control circuit board (not shown) of the apparatus1. The intermediate circuit board is placed in a position outside the transport route of the transport path13for an original (the transport width is within the length in the longitudinal direction of the pressing plate17), and hence does not affect transportation of an original. A harness26bfrom the intermediate circuit board26are connected to a connector25cof the printed circuit board25. The intermediate circuit board26transmits input signals from the keys15aand the like of the operation panel15to the control circuit board, and relays a display control signal to the LCD15b. In the intermediate plate22, a wiring hole22athrough which signal lines from the control circuit board and to be connected to the connector26aare passed is opened. In order to allow the signal lines from the control circuit board to be easily inserted into the connector when the operation panel15is to be mounted on the apparatus1, the connector26ais fixed to the intermediate circuit board26so that the insertion port is directed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface direction of the operation panel15. In the same manner as the connectors25a,25b, the connector25cof the intermediate circuit board26disposed on the printed circuit board25is fixed to an en edge of the printed circuit board25in a state where its insertion port is directed to the outside in the surface direction of the printed circuit board25. Namely, the harness26bwhich connects the intermediate circuit board26with the printed circuit board25is coupled with and decoupled from the connector25calong the surface direction of the printed circuit board25.

As described above, one face of the intermediate plate22is configured as the upper face13aof the transport path13. Fixing plates35,36which have a plate-like shape, and which are used for fixing the pressing plate17protrude from the upper face13a. The fixing plates35,36are paired so that the pressing plate17which is supported at a substantially middle of the upper face13ais supported in a direction (the X-axis direction in the figure) perpendicular to the original transportation direction in the surface direction of the upper face13a. The directions of the plate faces are substantially perpendicular to the upper face13a, and in parallel with the original transportation direction (the Z-axis direction in the figure). The longitudinal directions of the fixing plates35,36coincide with the transportation direction. The fixing plates35,36function as a support member.

The intermediate plate22has a shape in which, in a position where the fixing plates35,36are supported, the plate is bent in an L-like shape in a sectional view along the original transportation direction, in the protruding direction of the fixing plates35,36(seeFIG. 1). Each of the fixing plates35,36is configured by: a basal portion35aor36awhich is supported by the intermediate plate22in the vicinity of the position where the intermediate plate22is bent; an arm portion35bor36bwhich protrudes from the basal portion35aor36aso as not to be in contact with the intermediate plate22, toward the upstream side of the transport path13configured by the intermediate plate22; a gripping portion35cor36cwhich is disposed in the tip end of the arm portion35bor36b; and a boss35dor36d. The bosses35dand36dprotrude from the middles of the respective gripping portion35cand36cso as to be opposed to each other.

The pressing plate17is swingably supported by the bosses35d,36dof the fixing plates35,36. The end portions on the swinging side are placed on the downstream side in the original transportation direction. The pressing plate17is formed by processing, for example, a steel plate. The pressing plate17has: a plate face17dformed by obtusely bending an end portion close to one end in the widthwise direction of a plate face17cof a plate in which the lengthwise direction is perpendicular to the transportation direction; a plate face17eformed by further perpendicularly bending in the bending direction at a position further closer to the end; and a plate face17fformed by perpendicularly bending in an opposite direction in an end portion closest to the end. The plate face17cis largely cut away from the other end in the widthwise direction toward the one end, so that the plate face17chas a U-like shape. The ends in the longitudinal direction of the U-shaped plate face17care configured as plate faces17g,17hformed by perpendicularly bending in the same direction as the plate face17d. The support holes17a,17bwith which the bosses35d,36dof the fixing plates35,36are to be engaged are opened in end portions of the plate faces17g,17hclose to the other end in the widthwise direction of the plate face17c, respectively. The pressing plate17functions as a pressing member.

When the support holes17a,17bof the pressing plate17are engaged with the bosses35d,36dof the fixing plates35,36, the pressing plate17is swingably supported so that the plate face17dis contacted with or separated from the CIS14. In order to maintain the pressed state of the pressing plate17against the CIS14, a spring31is disposed between the plate face17dof the pressing plate17and the upper face13aof the intermediate plate22. The spring31is disposed so as to butt against a substantially middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the plate face17d. A pressing force is uniformly applied to the pressing plate17in a direction perpendicular to the original transportation direction. The bosses35d,36dfunction as support portions and as projections. The support holes17a,17bfunction as engaging portions and as fitting holes.

The portions of the fixing plates35,36excluding the basal portions35a,36aare not fixed to the upper face13aof the intermediate plate22. Namely, the fixing plates35,36have a shape in which the cutaways leaving the basal portions35a,36aat the intermediate plate22are formed. The pressing plate17is attached to the fixing plates35,36in the following manner. As shown inFIG. 3, the gripping portions35c,36cof the fixing plates35,36are gripped to be bent in a direction along which they are further separated from each other (the X-axis direction in the figure), whereby the arm portions35b,36bare bent. The distance between the bosses35d,36dis increased, so that the support holes17a,17bof the pressing plate17are positioned between the bosses35d,36d, the bosses35d,36dare engaged with the support holes17a,17b, respectively, and the pressing plate17is supported by the fixing plates35,36. At this time, the spring31butts against the plate face17d, whereby a pressing force is given in a direction along which the plate face17dof the pressing plate17is separated from the upper face13aof the intermediate plate22. The direction along which the plate face is separated from the upper face13aof the intermediate plate22coincides with that along which, when the operation panel15is mounted to the apparatus1, the upper face13ais directed toward a bottom face13b(seeFIG. 1) of the transport path13. Namely, the plate face17dof the pressing plate17is pressed against the CIS14disposed in the bottom face13b.

As shown inFIG. 1, the operation panel15is placed in the uppermost portion of the apparatus1. This configuration is employed in order to enable the user to easily operate the apparatus1. The transport path13which is disposed immediately below the operation panel15transports an original from the back face of the apparatus1to the front face. When the transport path13is inclined downward as advancing from the back face of the apparatus1to the front face, the user can set originals more easily onto the original tray11than the case where such an inclination is not formed. In the apparatus1in which this configuration is employed, the portion on the side of the back face of the operation panel15is placed in a level higher than that on the side of the front face. Therefore, the embodiment is configured so that the downward inclination of the portion on the side of the back face of the operation panel15is made smaller than that of the portion on the side of the front face, thereby suppressing the total height of the apparatus.

However, various wiring circuit boards and the transport path13are disposed immediately below the operation panel15. The space required by the wiring circuit boards cannot be omitted. In the apparatus1, therefore, the intermediate plate22is bent in accordance with the operation panel15, so that the upper face13aand the bottom face13bare made closer in the upstream side of the transport path13. When the intermediate plate22is bent, the placements of parts which are disposed upstream of the bent position in the transport path13are affected. For example, the fixing plates35,36which support the pressing plate17are made closer to the bottom face13bof the transport path13.

In the apparatus1, therefore, the fixing plates35,36are configured so that the basal portions35a,36aare disposed in the downstream side of the transport path13and the bosses35d,36dwhich support the pressing plate17are placed on the upstream side. If the basal portions35a,36aof the fixing plates35,36are placed on the upstream side from the position where the intermediate plate22is bent, the upper face13aof the transport path13approaches the bottom face13bin the upstream side, and hence the sizes of the basal portions35a,36amust be reduced in order to prevent a failure from occurring in transportation of an original. In accordance with the reduced sizes, the arm portions35b,36bare correspondingly thinned. As a result, the strengths of the fixing plates35,36are reduced. The basal portions35a,36aare placed on the downstream side from the position where the intermediate plate22is bent, because, in the downstream side, the distance between the upper face13aof the transport path13and the bottom face13bis not reduced and hence the basal portions35a,36ain this position can be configured to be larger in size than those in the upstream side. Since the fixing plates35,36support the pressing plate17with clamping the plate from both the sides in the longitudinal direction, the fixing plates35,36do not interfere with the swinging direction of the pressing plate17. Therefore, the arm portions35b,36band the gripping portions35c,36ccan be configured so as to have a large size, and the strengths of the fixing plates35,36can be enhanced.

The CIS14is placed on the downstream side of the transport path13from the positions of the bosses35d,36dwhich are support portions for enabling the fixing plates35,36to support the pressing plate17. In other words, the bosses35d,36ddo not exist in the movement range where the plate face17dof the pressing plate17is contacted with or separated from the CIS14, and hence the movement of the plate face17dis not restricted. If the support members (the bosses35d,36d) for supporting the pressing member are disposed in the movement range of the portion (the plate face17d) where the pressing member (the pressing plate17) is contacted with or separated from the CIS14, the movement range of the portion which is contacted with or separated from the CIS14is not restricted. Therefore, the portion in which the movement range of the pressing member and the support members interfere with each other must be configured so as to have a large size. By contrast, in the embodiment, the plate face17dof the pressing plate17is placed with being separated from the bosses35d,36dof the fixing plates35,36, and, even when they are configured so as to have a large size, their operations do not therefore interfere with each other. Moreover, the plate face17dwhich is contacted with or separated from the CIS14is positioned downstream in the original transportation direction from the bosses35d,36dwhich support the swinging operation of the plate face. Therefore, an original does not resist against the pressing plate17, and the original is smoothly transported.

The operation panel15is a resin-made panel produced by injection molding. As shown inFIG. 4, one face of the flexible circuit board23which is disposed on the inner face of the operation panel15butts against pedestals (not shown) of the intermediate plate22as described above, and the other face butts against electrically conductive chips (not shown) in caps disposed at the tip end of the keys15aand the like. In order to enhance the conductivity between the paired terminals23a(seeFIG. 2) by the chip, the depressing direction of the keys15aand the like disposed in the operation face of the operation panel15is substantially perpendicular to the other face of the flexible circuit board23. Each of the keys15aand the like is supported so as to be pressable from the outside of the operation panel15to the inner side in the direction perpendicular to the operation face of the operation panel15. The movement direction of each of the keys15aand the like when the key is depressed is guided by a guide hole15dof the key15aopened in the operation face of the operation panel15. The thickness of the operation panel15is increased by ribs15ewhich are disposed in edges of the guide holes15don the inner face of the operation panel15, and the movement direction of the keys15ais stably guided.

The pressing direction of the keys15aand the like is substantially perpendicular to the operation face of the operation panel15. Since the operation panel15is bent, the pressing direction on the upstream side from the bent position is different from that on the downstream side. In the process of injection molding the operation panel15, the panel is drawn from molds in one direction. In the embodiment, keys15awhich are placed on the downstream side from the bent position of the operation panel15(as shown inFIG. 2, keys15ain which an input operation is detected by the terminals23athat are terminals of the flexible circuit board23excluding terminals23b) are larger in number than keys15cwhich are placed on the upstream side (as shown inFIG. 2, keys15cin which an input operation is detected by the terminals23bof the flexible circuit board23). Therefore, the direction of drawing the operation panel15from the molds (the direction indicated by the arrow B in the figure) is set so that the ribs15eare disposed in the guide holes15dalong the pressing direction of the keys15a(the direction indicated by the arrow C in the figure). When the operation panel15is configured in this way, however, it is difficult to dispose ribs similarly in guide holes15falong which the pressing direction of the keys15cdisposed on the upstream side from the bent position is guided, along the pressing direction of the keys15c(the direction indicated by the arrow D in the figure).

In the embodiment, therefore, the spacer15gis attached from the inner face of the operation panel15, to the keys15cwhich are placed on the upstream side, to guide the pressing direction of the keys15c(the direction indicated by the arrow D in the figure) so as to be substantially perpendicular to the operation face of the operation panel15, thereby attaining a state similar to that where ribs are disposed in the guide holes15f.

In the embodiment, the keys15ccorrespond to the terminals23bof the flexible circuit board23inFIG. 2. The keys are small in number as compared with the whole keys, and placed in close proximity to each other. As shown inFIG. 5, therefore, the spacer15gis formed as one piece. The spacer15gis a flat spacer in which five guide holes15hand two positioning portions15ifor positioning to the inner face of the operation panel15are disposed. The guide holes guide five keys15cin which an input operation is detected by the seven terminals23bshown inFIG. 2(among the terminals23b, the two end terminals in the Z-axis direction) cooperate to detect the input state of one large key.

As shown inFIG. 6, the spacer15gis fixed by engaging the positioning portions15iwith two engagement projections15jdisposed on the inner face of the operation panel15. At this time, through holes in which the guide holes15hof the spacer15gcorrespond respectively to the guide holes15fof the operation panel15are formed. As shown inFIG. 7, the keys15care inserted from the side of the spacer15gtoward the operation face of the operation panel15. As a result, the movement direction of the keys15cwhen depressed is guided by the guide holes15hof the spacer15gas shown inFIG. 4. A sufficient depth in the movement direction of the keys15ccan be ensured by the guide holes15hand the guide holes15fof the operation panel15, so that the keys15care stably guided in the movement direction. As described above, the effect same as the ribs15eof the guide holes15dfor the keys15a, which cannot be disposed for the keys15cbecause of the drawing direction of the molds, can be attained simply by attaching one piece, i.e., the spacer15gto the operation panel15. The spacer15gfunctions as a guide member.

As described above, in the apparatus1, in order to suppress the total height of the apparatus, the angle of the downward inclination of the upstream portion of the operation panel15which is disposed along the original transport path13that is downward inclined in the uppermost portion of the apparatus is made smaller than that of the downstream portion. In accordance with this configuration, the intermediate plate22constituting the upper face13aof the transport path13is bent in an L-like shape in a section view. As a result, the upper face13aand the bottom face13bare made close to each other in the upstream side of the transport path13. However, the fixing plates35,36which support the pressing plate17disposed on the upper face13aprotrude from the downstream side of the transport path13toward the upstream side. Therefore, the basal portions35a,36acan be configured so as to have a large size. As a result, also the arm portions35b,36band the gripping portions35c,36ccan be configured so as to have a large size, and the strengths of the fixing plates35,36can be enhanced.

In order to enable the operation panel15to be integrally molded, the configuration in which the pressing direction of the keys15cdoes not coincide with the direction of drawing the operation panel15from the molds is employed. However, the spacer15gis disposed to guide the pressing direction of the keys15c. Therefore, the shape of the operation panel15is realized without impairing the operability of the keys15c, and the miniaturization of the apparatus is not impeded.

Since the attachment and detachment directions of the connectors which are disposed on the printed circuit board25and used for connecting with other circuit boards are made coincident with the surface direction of the printed circuit board25, the attachment and detachment directions of the connectors coincide with the surface direction of the inner face of the operation panel15, so that the height required for connecting portions of the connectors can be reduced. According to the configuration, even when the operation panel15has a bent shape as described above, it is not required to prepare a large space for the wiring circuit boards, and the miniaturization of the apparatus can be realized. Moreover, electrical connection between the control circuit board of the main unit of the apparatus and the printed circuit board25is conducted through the intermediate circuit board26, and the intermediate circuit board26is disposed in a rear corner portion of the inner face of the operation panel15. Therefore, the shape of the operation panel15is realized without impairing convenience of the attachment of signal lines to the connector26aof the intermediate circuit board26, and the miniaturization of the apparatus is not impeded.

In this embodiment, the position where the cover member is bent is located upstream in the transport path from a position where the cover member is opposed to the image reading section14.

Therefore, the one end of the pressing member17which is contactable with and separable from the image reading section14can be placed with being shifted from the position where the cover member is bent. When the other end of the pressing member17is supported in the position where the cover member is bent, the other end can be configured in a large size, and hence the strength of the other end can be enhanced.

Further, the support member35,36has a cutaway on the upstream side thereof to enable an end portion of the support member on the upstream side to be bent along the rear face of the cover member in a direction perpendicular to the transportation direction, the cutaway leaving an end portion of the support member on the downstream side which is coupled to the cover member.

Therefore, the pressing member35,36can be attached to the support member while bending the support member. Therefore, the attachment of the pressing member can be easily conducted.

In addition, the support member has two support members35,36separated in the direction perpendicular to the transportation direction, each of the support members has a support portion in the end portion on the on the upstream side which supports the pressing member, the pressing member17has engaging portions in the other end, the engaging portions being engaged and supported with the support portions of the support members, and the two support members35,36are caused to swingably support the pressing member by bending the end portions on the upstream side in opposite directions, and then engaging the support portions with the engaging portions of the pressing member.

Therefore, the pressing member17can be easily attached to the support members, and the number of parts can be reduced. Thus, the production process can be simplified and the production cost can be lowered.

Also, the support portions of the two support members35,36are projections which protrude toward respective opposed support members, and the engaging portions of the pressing member are fitting holes into which the projections of the support members are to be fitted.

Therefore, the structure for supporting the pressing member17by the support members can be simplified, and easily processed. Thus, the production cost can be lowered.

Furthermore, the apparatus10further includes a connector which is disposed on the wiring circuit board, and to which a harness for conducting connection with the intermediate circuit board is detachably attached, and the harness is attached to or detached from the connector in a direction along which a face of the wiring circuit board extends.

Therefore, the harness is attached to or detached from the connector in the direction along which the face of the wiring circuit board extends, and hence the direction along which the rear face of the cover member is made close to the face of the wiring circuit board is different from that of attaching or detaching the harness. Thus, the wiring circuit board can be disposed in close proximity to the rear face of the cover member, so-that the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

Further, the multi-functional apparatus1has the aforesaid image reading apparatus10and an image forming apparatus which is disposed below the image reading apparatus, and which forms an image that is read from the medium to be read by the image reading apparatus, on a medium to be recorded.

Accordingly, the total height of the multi-functional apparatus can be shortened, and the size can be reduced.

It is a matter of course that the invention can be variously modified. The fixing plates35,36are protruded integrally from the intermediate plate22. Alternatively, the fixing plates may be disposed separately from the intermediate plate22, and then attached to the intermediate plate22. The fixing plates35,36and the pressing plate17are supported by the bosses35d,36dand the support holes17a,17b. Alternatively, holes may be formed in these plates, and the plates may be supported by pins or the like.

The operation panel15is molded by molds, and the drawing direction coincides with the pressing direction of the keys15a. Alternatively, the drawing direction may coincide with the pressing direction of the keys15c, and a spacer for guiding the pressing direction may be disposed for the keys15a.

One end of the flexible circuit board23may be extended to be connected to the intermediate circuit board26, and the connection between the intermediate circuit board26and the printed circuit board25may be conducted with using the flexible circuit board23.

In the embodiment, the multi-functional apparatus1has been described as an example. The configuration of the image reading apparatus of the embodiment can be adequately applied also to a copying apparatus which is not provided with a facsimile function. The image forming apparatus50may be a known inkjet printer.

The invention can be applied to an image reading apparatus, a copying apparatus comprising an image reading apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, or a multi-functional apparatus comprising such apparatuses.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments described above, many equivalent alternatives, modifications and variations may become apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention as set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.