Abstract:
An image reading device includes: a moving body that is disposed so as to be movable with respect to an image reading device body along a reading portion; a light emitting component that is disposed in the moving body and comprises a plurality of point light sources that are arranged in one row in a substantially orthogonal direction with respect to a moving direction of the moving body; and a light guide body that is disposed adjacent to the light emitting component in the moving body, is placed so as to guide light from the light emitting component to the reading portion, and transmits some light reflected from the reading portion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2009-168167 filed on Jul. 16, 2009. 
       BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an image reading device and an image forming apparatus. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    An image reading device pertaining to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a moving body that is disposed so as to be movable with respect to an image reading device body along a reading portion; a light emitting component that is disposed in the moving body and comprises a plurality of point light sources that are arranged in one row in a substantially orthogonal direction with respect to a moving direction of the moving body; and a light guide body that is disposed adjacent to the light emitting component in the moving body, is placed so as to guide light from the light emitting component to the reading portion, and transmits some light reflected from the reading portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a general diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus pertaining to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a general diagram showing the configuration of an image forming unit pertaining to the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a general diagram showing the configuration of an image reading device pertaining to the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a general diagram showing the configuration of a light irradiation unit pertaining to the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a perspective diagram showing the configuration of the light irradiation unit pertaining to the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective diagram showing the configuration of each configural part of the light irradiation unit pertaining to the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a perspective diagram showing the configuration of a bracket and a light irradiation component pertaining to the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a perspective diagram showing a state of attachment where the light irradiation component is attached to the bracket pertaining to the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a perspective diagram showing a state of detachment where the bracket pertaining to the exemplary embodiment is detached from a first carriage; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a side diagram showing a state of detachment where the bracket pertaining to the exemplary embodiment is detached from the first carriage; 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a side diagram showing a state where the bracket pertaining to the exemplary embodiment is in the middle of being attached to the first carriage; 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a side diagram showing a state of attachment where the bracket pertaining to the exemplary embodiment is attached to the first carriage; 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a plan diagram showing a state where the light irradiation unit is positioned in an initial position in a reading component of the image reading device pertaining to the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is a general diagram showing a state where the light irradiation unit is positioned in the initial position in the image reading device pertaining to the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  is a plan diagram showing the configuration of the light irradiation unit pertaining to the exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 16  is a perspective diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus pertaining to the exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Next, one example of an exemplary embodiment pertaining to the present invention will be described on the basis of the drawings. 
       (Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus Pertaining to Present Exemplary Embodiment) 
       [0022]    First, the configuration of an image forming apparatus  10  pertaining to the present exemplary embodiment will be described.  FIG. 1  is a general diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus  10  pertaining to the present exemplary embodiment. 
         [0023]    The image forming apparatus  10  is, as shown in  FIG. 1 , equipped with an image reading device  11  that reads an image of a document G and an image recording device  21  that records an image on a recording medium P such as paper sheets. The image reading device  11  is placed in the upper portion of the image forming apparatus  10 , and the image recording device  21  is placed in the lower portion of the image forming apparatus  10 . Arrow UP shown in the drawing represents up in a vertical direction. 
         [0024]    The image reading device  11  is configured to read an image of the document G and convert the image it has read into image signals. The image recording device  21  is configured to record an image on the recording medium P on the basis of the image signals that the image reading device  11  has converted. Below, the specific configurations of the image reading device  11  and the image recording device  21  will be described. 
         [0025]    (Configuration of Image Recording Device  21  Pertaining to Present Exemplary Embodiment) 
         [0026]    First, the configuration of the image recording device  21  pertaining to the present exemplary embodiment will be described. 
         [0027]    The image recording device  21  is, as shown in  FIG. 1 , equipped with plural recording medium housing components  80  in which the recording medium P such as paper sheets is housed, an image forming section  27  that forms an image on the recording medium P, a conveyance section  29  that conveys the recording medium P from the plural recording medium housing components  80  to the image forming section  27 , a first discharge component  69 , a second discharge component  72  and a third discharge component  76  to which the recording medium P on which an image has been formed by the image forming section  27  is discharged, and a control component  71  that controls the operation of each portion of the image recording device  21 . 
         [0028]    The image forming section  27  is equipped with image forming units  30 Y,  30 M,  30 C and  30 K that form toner images of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K), an intermediate transfer belt  32  that serves as one example of an intermediate transfer body onto which the toner images that have been formed by the image forming units  30 Y,  30 M,  30 C and  30 K are transferred, first transfer rolls  46  that serve as one example of first transfer members for transferring the toner images that have been formed by the image forming units  30 Y,  30 M,  30 C and  30 K onto the intermediate transfer belt  32 , a second transfer roll  60  that serves as one example of a second transfer member for transferring the toner images that have been transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt  32  by the first transfer rolls  46  from the intermediate transfer belt  32  to the recording medium P, and a fixing device  64  for fixing to the recording medium P the toner images that have been transferred from the intermediate transfer belt  32  to the recording medium P by the second transfer roll  60 . 
         [0029]    The image forming units  30 Y,  30 M,  30 C and  30 K are arranged in the vertical direction center portion of the image recording device  21  in a state where they are slanted with respect to the horizontal direction. Further, each of the image forming units  30 Y,  30 M,  30 C and  30 K has, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a photoconductor drum  34  that rotates in one direction (a counter-clockwise direction in  FIG. 1 ) as an image holding member that holds the toner image that has been formed thereon. 
         [0030]    Around each photoconductor drum  34 , there are, in order from the upstream side in the direction of rotation of the photoconductor drum  34 , disposed a charge device  36  that charges the photoconductor drum  34 , an exposure device  40  that exposes the photoconductor drum  34  that has been charged by the charge device  36  to light to thereby form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum  34 , a developing device  42  that develops the electrostatic latent image that has been formed on the photoconductor drum  34  by the exposure device  40  to thereby form a toner image, and a removal device (cleaning device)  44  that removes toner remaining on the photoconductor drum  34  after the toner image that has been formed on the photoconductor drum  34  has been transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt  32 . 
         [0031]    The exposure device  40  is configured to form the electrostatic latent image on the basis of image signals that have been sent from the control component  71  (see  FIG. 1 ). As the image signals that are sent from the control component  71 , there are image signals that have been generated by the image reading device  11  and image signals that have been acquired from an external device. 
         [0032]    The intermediate transfer belt  32  is, as shown in  FIG. 1 , placed on the upper side of the image forming units  30 Y,  30 M,  30 C and  30 K and is wrapped with a predetermined tension around a drive roll  48  that applies drive force to the intermediate transfer belt  32 , an opposing roll  50  that opposes the second transfer roll  60 , a tension applying roll  54  that applies tension to the intermediate transfer belt  32 , a first driven roll  56  and a second driven roll  58 . 
         [0033]    Rotational force is applied by the drive roll  48  to the intermediate transfer belt  32  such that the intermediate transfer belt  32  circularly moves in one direction (the direction of arrow A in  FIG. 1 ) while contacting the photoconductor drums  34 . 
         [0034]    In a position opposing the drive roll  48  across the intermediate transfer belt  32 , there is disposed a removal device  52  for removing toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt  32 . 
         [0035]    Further, above the intermediate transfer belt  32 , there are disposed toner cartridges  38 Y,  38 M,  38 C and  38 K that store toner of each color supplied to the developing devices  42  of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K). 
         [0036]    The first transfer rolls  46  oppose the photoconductor drums  34  across the intermediate transfer belt  32 . The areas between the first transfer rolls  46  and the photoconductor drums  34  are configured to be first transfer positions where the toner images that have been formed on the photoconductor drums  34  are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt  32 . 
         [0037]    The second transfer roll  60  opposes the opposing roll  50  across the intermediate transfer belt  32 . The area between the second transfer roll  60  and the opposing roll  50  is configured to be a second transfer position where the toner images that have been transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt  32  are transferred onto the recording medium P. 
         [0038]    In the conveyance section  29 , there are disposed feed rolls  88  that feed the recording medium P housed in each of the recording medium housing components  80 , a conveyance path  62  on which the recording medium P that has been fed by the feed rolls  88  is conveyed, and conveyance rolls  81 ,  90  and  94  that are placed along the conveyance path  62  and convey to the second transfer position the recording medium P that has been fed by the feed rolls  88 . 
         [0039]    The fixing device  64  is placed on the conveyance direction downstream side of the second transfer position and fixes the toner images that have been transferred at the second transfer position to the recording medium P. 
         [0040]    On the conveyance direction downstream side of the fixing device  64 , there are disposed conveyance rolls  66  that convey the recording medium P to which the toner images have been fixed. On the conveyance direction downstream side of these conveyance rolls  66 , there is disposed a switch member  68  that switches the conveyance path of the recording medium P. On the conveyance direction downstream side of this switch member  68 , there are disposed first discharge rolls  70  that discharge to the first discharge component  69  the recording medium P that is conveyed to one side (the right side in  FIG. 1 ) in the conveyance direction that has been switched by the switch member  68 . 
         [0041]    Further, on the conveyance direction downstream side of the switch member  68 , there are disposed conveyance rolls  73  that convey the recording medium P that is conveyed to the other side (the upper side in  FIG. 1 ) in the conveyance direction that has been switched by the switch member  68 , second discharge rolls  74  that discharge to the second discharge component  72  the recording medium P that is conveyed by the conveyance rolls  73 , and third discharge rolls  78  that discharge to the third discharge component  76  the recording medium P that is conveyed by the conveyance rolls  73 . 
         [0042]    On the side of the fixing device  64 , there is formed an inverted conveyance path  100  on which is conveyed the recording medium P that has been inverted by reversely rotating the conveyance rolls  73 . On the inverted conveyance path  100 , plural conveyance rolls  102  are disposed along the inverted conveyance path  100 . The recording medium P that has been conveyed by these conveyance rolls  102  is again fed to the second transfer position by the conveyance rolls  94 . 
         [0043]    Next, image formation operation of forming an image on the recording medium P in the image recording device  21  pertaining to the present exemplary embodiment will be described. 
         [0044]    In the image recording device  21  pertaining to the present exemplary embodiment, the recording medium P that has been fed from any of the plural recording medium housing components  80  is fed to the second transfer position by the conveyance rolls  81 ,  90  and  94 . 
         [0045]    In the image forming units  30 Y,  30 M,  30 C and  30 K, the exposure devices  40  form electrostatic latent images on the photoconductor drums  34  on the basis of image signals acquired from the image reading device  11  or an external device, and toner images based on those electrostatic latent images are formed. The toner images of each color that have been formed by the image forming units  30 Y,  30 M,  30 C and  30 K are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt  32  at the first transfer positions, whereby a color image is formed. Then, the color image that has been formed on the intermediate transfer belt  32  is transferred onto the recording medium P at the second transfer position. 
         [0046]    The recording medium P onto which the toner images have been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device  64 , where the toner images that have been transferred are fixed to the recording medium P by the fixing device  64 . When an image is to be formed only on one side of the recording medium P, then the recording medium P is discharged to any of the first discharge component  69 , the second discharge component  72  and the third discharge component  76  after the toner images have been fixed. 
         [0047]    When an image is to be formed on both sides of the recording medium P, then the recording medium P is inverted by the conveyance rolls  73  and fed to the inverted conveyance path  100  after an image has been formed on one side. Moreover, the recording medium P is again fed to the second transfer position by the conveyance rolls  94  from the inverted conveyance path  100  and an image is formed in the same manner as described above on the opposite side, whereby an image is formed on both sides of the recording medium P. As described above, a series of image forming operations is performed. 
         [0048]    The configuration of the image recording device  21  is not limited to the above-described configuration and may also, for example, be a direct transfer type image recording device that does not have an intermediate transfer body or an image recording device resulting from an inkjet system; as long as it is an image recording device that is capable of recording an image, it may be an image recording device other than the above-described configuration. 
         [0049]    (Configuration of Image Reading Device  11  Pertaining to Present Exemplary Embodiment) 
         [0050]    Next, the configuration of the image reading device  11  will be described. 
         [0051]    The image reading device  11  is, as shown in  FIG. 3 , equipped with a document feeding device  12  that conveys the document G and an image reading component  14  that reads an image of the document G conveyed by the document feeding device  12 . The document feeding device  12  is placed in the upper portion of the image reading device  11 , and the image reading component  14  is placed in the lower portion of the image reading device  11 . 
         [0052]    The document feeding device  12  is equipped with a document housing component  13  in which the document G is housed, a document discharge component  33  to which the document G is discharged, and a conveyance component  16  that conveys the document G from the document housing component  13  to the document discharge component  33 . 
         [0053]    The conveyance component  16  is configured to be equipped with a feed roll  315  that feeds the document G housed in the document housing component  13  from the document housing component  13 , plural conveyance rolls  25  that convey the document G that has been fed by the feed roll  15  to the conveyance direction downstream side, and discharge rolls  35  that discharge to the document discharge component  33  the document G that has been conveyed by the conveyance rolls  25 . The plural conveyance rolls  25  and the discharge rolls  35  are placed along a conveyance path  23  on which is conveyed the document G that has been fed from the document housing component  13 . 
         [0054]    The image reading component  14  is configured to read images of both a document G that is being conveyed by the document feeding device  12  and a document G that has been placed on a later-described first platen glass  43 A, and the image reading component  14  is equipped with a casing  41  in which each configural part is housed. 
         [0055]    In the upper portion of this casing  41 , there are disposed a first platen glass  43 A as one example of a first transmission member on which the document G is placed and which transmits light L for reading an image of that document G and a second platen glass  43 B that serves as one example of a second transmission member that transmits light L for reading the document G that is being conveyed by the document feeding device  12 . 
         [0056]    The document feeding device  12  is attached so as to be openable and closeable with respect to the image reading component  14  and is configured such that the document G is placed on the first platen glass  43 A in a state where the document feeding device  12  has been opened. 
         [0057]    The image reading component  14  is equipped with a light irradiation unit  17  that irradiates a surface-to-be-read, i.e., a reading portion (image surface) of the document G with the light L, a light guide unit (optical waveguide)  19  that guides the light L that has been reflected by the surface-to-be-read of the document G after the surface-to-be-read G has been irradiated with the light L from the light irradiation unit  17 , an imaging lens  24  that images an optical image of the light L that has been guided by the light guide unit  19 , and a detection component  26  that detects the optical image that has been imaged by the imaging lens  24 . 
         [0058]    The light irradiation unit  17  is equipped with a first carriage  18  that serves as one example of a moving body that is movable along the first platen glass  43 A, a light irradiation component  59  that is disposed in the first carriage  18  and irradiates the document G with the light L, and a first mirror  75  that is disposed in the first carriage  18  and reflects the light L that has been reflected by the document G. The specific configuration of the light irradiation unit  17  will be described later. 
         [0059]    The light guide unit  19  is equipped with a second carriage  22  that serves as one example of another moving body that is movable along the first platen glass  43 A, a second mirror  45 A that is disposed in the second carriage  22  and reflects the light L that has been reflected by the first mirror  75 , and a third mirror  45 B that is disposed in the second carriage  22  and reflects the light L that has been reflected by the second mirror  45 A toward the imaging lens  24 . 
         [0060]    The detection component  26  is configured by a photoelectric conversion element such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor that photoelectrically converts the light L that has been imaged by the imaging lens  24 . 
         [0061]    The electrical signals that have been obtained by the detection component  26  are sent to an image processing device  28  that is electrically connected to the detection component  26 . In the image processing device  28 , the electrical signals are image-processed, and the image-processed electrical signals (image signals) are sent to the exposure devices  40  (see  FIG. 2 ) via the control component  71  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0062]    (Configuration of Light Irradiation Unit  17 ) 
         [0063]    Next, the configuration of the light irradiation unit  17  will be described. 
         [0064]    The light irradiation component  17  is, as mentioned above, equipped with the first carriage  18  that serves as one example of a moving body that is movable in the slow scanning direction (the direction of arrow X in  FIG. 4 ) along the first platen glass  43 A (see  FIG. 4 ). This first carriage  18  moves along the surface-to-be-read of the document G in a state where the document G has been placed on the first platen glass  43 A. 
         [0065]    The first carriage  18  is, as shown in  FIG. 5 , equipped with a carriage body  47  that is formed in an elongate shape along the fast scanning direction (the direction of arrow Y in  FIG. 5 ) and a pair of support members  49  that are placed on both longitudinal direction end portions of the carriage body  47 . The pair of support members  49  are supported, so as to be movable in the slow scanning direction (the direction of arrow X in  FIG. 5 ) along the first platen glass  43 A, on a frame (not shown) that is disposed in the casing  41  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the image reading component  14 . The carriage body  47  and the pair of support members  49  are formed from sheet metal, for example. 
         [0066]    The carriage body  47  is equipped with: a pair of side plates  55 A and  55 B that are placed opposing each other an interval apart from each other in the fast scanning direction (the direction of arrow Y in  FIG. 5 ); and a side wall  39 , a first upper wall  51  and a second upper wall  53  that are placed between the side plate  55 A and the side plate  55 B and are formed integrally with the side plate  55 A and the side plate  55 B. 
         [0067]    The first upper wall  51  and the second upper wall  53  are placed an interval apart from each other in the slow scanning direction (the direction of arrow X in  FIG. 5 ) and are formed in elongate shapes along the fast scanning direction (the direction of arrow Y in  FIG. 5 ). Further, the first upper wall  51  and the second upper wall  53  are configured to oppose the second platen glass  43 B when reading an image of the document G that is conveyed through the document feeding device  12  and to oppose the first platen glass  43 A when reading an image of the document G that has been placed on the first platen glass  43 A. 
         [0068]    One slow scanning direction end portion of the second upper wall  53  on the first wall  351  side is folded such that a slanted surface  53 A is formed (see  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0069]    The interval between the side plates  55 A and  55 B in the fast scanning direction is larger than the width of an image formation area of the document G (see  FIG. 1 ) in the fast scanning direction. 
         [0070]    Further, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the light irradiation component  59  that irradiates the surface-to-be-read of the document G with the light L is attached to the side wall  39  of the first carriage  18  via a bracket  57  that serves as one example of an attachment member that is attached to the first carriage  18  so as to be attachable and detachable independent of other parts (e.g., a later-described light guide member  65 ) that have been attached to the first carriage  18 . The specific structure by which the light irradiation component  59  is attached to the first carriage  18  will be described later. 
         [0071]    The light irradiation component  59  is, as shown in  FIG. 6 , configured to be equipped with a circuit board  59 A that extends along the fast scanning direction (the direction of arrow Y in  FIG. 6 ) and light emitting elements  61  that serve as one example of light emitting components that emit light toward the surface-to-be-read of the document G. These light emitting elements  61  are placed on the circuit board  59 A at constant intervals along the fast scanning direction. 
         [0072]    As the light emitting elements  61 , for example, light emitting diode (LED) elements are used. The circuit board  59 A is supplied with power from the control component  71  (see  FIG. 1 ) via a flexible substrate  63  that is connected to one longitudinal direction end portion of the circuit board  59 A. 
         [0073]    The plural light emitting elements  61  are not limited to being placed at constant intervals and may also be placed such that the intervals are made narrower on both longitudinal direction end portions of the circuit board  59 A than in the longitudinal direction center portion. 
         [0074]    Further, the light emitting elements  61  are not limited to LEDs; organic electroluminescence (EL) elements, inorganic EL elements or other light emitting elements may also be applied. 
         [0075]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bracket  57  slants with respect to the first platen glass  43 A and the second platen glass  43 B and supports the light emitting elements  61 , and the light L that has been emitted from the light emitting elements  61  toward the document G is made incident from a diagonal direction with respect to the surface of the document G. 
         [0076]    Further, on the side of the light emitting elements  61  from which the light L is emitted, as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 , a light guide member  65  that guides the light L from the light emitting elements  61  to the document G is placed opposing the surfaces of the light emitting elements  61  from which the light L is emitted. The light guide member  65  is formed so as to be elongate in the fast scanning direction, and both fast scanning direction end portions of the light guide member  65  are supported by the side plates  55 A and  55 B. 
         [0077]    The light guide member  65  is placed inside the first carriage  18 . Specifically, the light guide member  65  is placed on the lower side of the first upper wall  51  and more on the side of a later-described reflector plate  79  than the side wall  39 . 
         [0078]    The light guide member  65  is configured by acrylic resin, for example, and is configured to totally reflect inside the light L that has been emitted from the light emitting elements  61  and to guide the light L from the light emitting elements  61  to as far as near the reading position of the document G (see  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0079]    The light guide member  65  totally reflects inside thereof the light L as described above, whereby the light guide member  65  allows the light L from the light emitting elements  61  to exit from a light exiting surface  65 A on the opposite side of the surface opposing the light emitting elements  61 , so that variations in the light quantity distribution at least in the fast scanning direction in the light exiting surface  65 A are suppressed. 
         [0080]    In order for the light guide member  65  to guide the light L made incident from the light irradiation component  59  as far as near the reading position, it is preferable for the light guide member  65  to be molded with a material where it is difficult for the quantity of light to attenuate. As other materials of the light guide member  65 , there are polycarbonate resin, polyimide resin, glass, etc. 
         [0081]    A diffuser plate  67  that diffuses the light L that has exited from the light guide member  65  is joined to the light exiting surface  65 A of the light guide member  65 . The diffuser plate  67  is formed by acrylic resin, for example, and concavo-convexities (a diffraction pattern) that diffuse the light made incident thereon from the light exiting surface  65 A of the light guide member  65  are formed in a surface of the diffuser plate  67  from which the light L exits. By changing the shape of this diffraction pattern, the light L exiting from the diffuser plate  67  is shaped into a circular shape or an elliptical shape. As other materials of the diffuser plate  67 , there are polycarbonate resin, polyester resin, glass, etc. 
         [0082]    In a position away from the diffuser plate  67  in the slow scanning direction, there is placed a reflector plate  79  that reflects some of the light L that has exited from the diffuser plate  67  toward the document G (see  FIG. 1 ). The reflector plate  79  is a mirror body that extends along the fast scanning direction, and the surface of the reflector plate  79  on the opposite side of the surface that reflects the light L is fixed to the slanted surface  53 A of the second upper wall  53  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0083]    Further, on the lower side of the light guide member  65  and the diffuser plate  67 , there is disposed the first mirror  75  that guides the light L that has been reflected by the document G to the second mirror  45 A (see  FIG. 3 ) of the second carriage  22 . The first mirror  75  is held as a result of both end portions thereof being inserted into hole portions formed in the side plates  55 A and  55 B (see  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0084]    The light irradiation unit  17  is not limited to the above-described configuration and may also be configured by a shape and configural parts other than those described above. 
         [0085]    Next, image reading operation of reading an image of the document G in the image reading device  11  pertaining to the present exemplary embodiment will be described. 
         [0086]    In the image reading device  11 , when an image of the document G that has been placed on the first platen glass  43 A is to be read, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the first carriage  18  of the light irradiation unit  17  and the second carriage  22  of the light guide unit  19  move in a moving direction (the direction of arrow X) at a moving distance ratio of 2:1. 
         [0087]    At this time, the surface-to-be-read of the document G is irradiated with the light L from the light irradiation component  59  of the light irradiation unit  17 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the light L is emitted from the light emitting elements  61  of the light irradiation component  59 , and the emitted light L travels through the inside of the light guide member  65  while being totally reflected and is diffused by the diffuser plate  67 . Some of the light L that has been diffused by the diffuser plate  67  passes through the second platen glass  43 B such that the document G is irradiated therewith, and of the light L that has been diffused by the diffuser plate  67 , the light L that has been diffused toward the reflector plate  79  is reflected by the reflector plate  79  and thereafter passes through the second platen glass  43 B such that the document G is irradiated therewith. In this manner, in the light irradiation unit  17 , the document G is irradiated with the light L from one side (the right side in  FIG. 4 ) and the other side (the left side in  FIG. 4 ) of the slow scanning direction. 
         [0088]    The light L with which the document G has been irradiated is reflected by the surface-to-be-read of the document G, is thereafter reflected in the order of the first mirror  75 , the second mirror  45 A and the third mirror  45 B, and is guided to the imaging lens  24 . The light L that has been guided to the imaging lens  24  is imaged on a light receiving surface of the detection component  26 . 
         [0089]    The length of the optical path of the light L from the surface-to-be-read of the document G to the detection component  26  does not change because the moving distance of the second carriage  22  is half the moving distance of the first carriage  18 . 
         [0090]    The detection component  26  is a one-dimensional sensor and simultaneously processes one line&#39;s worth of the document G in the fast scanning direction that intersects the slow scanning direction (the moving direction of the first carriage  18 ). In the image reading component  14 , after reading of one line in this fast scanning direction has ended, the first carriage  18  is moved in the slow scanning direction to read the next line of the document G. Reading of one page ends when this is executed across the entire document G. 
         [0091]    When an image of the document G that is conveyed by the document feeding device  12  is to be read, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the first carriage  18  and the second carriage  22  are positioned in a state where they are stopped in the solid-line reading position shown on one end portion (the left end portion in  FIG. 3 ) of the image reading component  14 . 
         [0092]    In this reading position, first, the light L that has been reflected by the first line of the conveyed document G is imaged by the imaging lens  24 , and an image is detected by the detection component  26 . That is, after one line&#39;s worth in the fast scanning direction has been simultaneously processed by the detection component  26  that is a one-dimensional sensor, the next one line in the fast scanning direction of the conveyed document G is read. Then, reading of one page of the document G across the slow scanning direction ends when the trailing edge of the document G passes the reading position of the second platen glass  43 B. 
         [0093]    (Structure by which Light Irradiation Component  59  is Attached to First Carriage  18 ) 
         [0094]    Next, the structure by which the light irradiation component  59  is attached to the first carriage  18  will be described. 
         [0095]    The bracket  57  for detachably attaching the light irradiation component  59  to the side wall  39  of the first carriage  18  has, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a cross section along the slow scanning direction that is formed in a partially inverted L shape in the fast scanning direction, and the bracket  57  is configured from sheet metal that is a plate body. 
         [0096]    Specifically, the bracket  57  is configured to be equipped with a support plate  85  that supports the light irradiation component  59  and attachment plates  86  that are formed integrally with the support plate  85  and are attached to the side wall  39  of the first carriage  18 . 
         [0097]    In the support plate  85 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , there are formed plural (in the present exemplary embodiment, four) screw holes  82  that are placed along the longitudinal direction of the support plate  85 . In the circuit board  59 A of the light irradiation component  59 , there are formed plural (in the present exemplary embodiment, four) through holes  83  in correspondence to the screw holes  82 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , bolts  84  that have been inserted through the through holes  83  are screwed into the screw holes  82 , whereby the circuit board  59 A of the light irradiation component  59  is fixed to the support plate  85 . 
         [0098]    The attachment plates  86  are configured to be equipped with an attachment plate  86 A that is placed on one longitudinal direction end side (the upper right side in  FIG. 9 ) of the support plate  85  and an attachment plate  86 B that is placed on the other longitudinal direction end side (the lower left side in  FIG. 9 ) of the support plate  85 . 
         [0099]    On the attachment plates  86 A and  86 B, there are respectively formed claw portions  92  that serve as one example of regulation members that regulate the movement of the bracket  57  toward other parts (e.g., the light guide member  65 ) when attaching and detaching the bracket  57 . 
         [0100]    The claw portions  92  formed on the attachment plates  86 A and  86 B are respectively placed on the longitudinal direction center side of the bracket  57 . That is, the claw portions  92  formed on the attachment plates  86 A and  86 B are formed on the attachment plate  86 B side of the attachment plate  86 A and on the attachment plate  86 A side of the attachment plate  86 B. 
         [0101]    The claw portions  92  respectively project upward from the lower end portions of the attachment plates  86 A and  86 B so that the side wall  39  of the first carriage  18  is inserted between the two claw portions  92  and the attachment plates  86 A and  86 B from the distal end portions of the claw portions  92 . 
         [0102]    The side wall  39  that has been inserted between the two claw portions  92  and the attachment plates  86 A and  86 B strikes the proximal end portions of the claw portions  92  such that further insertion thereof is regulated. 
         [0103]    Further, the side wall  39  that has been inserted between the two claw portions  92  and the attachment plates  86 A and  86 B is sandwiched by the two claw portions  92  and the attachment plates  86 A and  86 B such that movement of the bracket  57  in the thickness direction of the attachment plates  86 A and  86 B (movement toward the light guide member  65  in  FIG. 4 ) is regulated. 
         [0104]    In the state where the side wall  39  has been inserted between the two claw portions  92  and the attachment plates  86 A and  86 B, movement of the bracket  57  along the longitudinal direction of the side wall  39  is allowed. 
         [0105]    Further, on the attachment plates  86 A and  86 B, convex portions  91  that serve as one example of held portions are respectively formed on the longitudinal direction center portions of the attachment plates  86 A and  86 B. 
         [0106]    In the side wall  39  of the first carriage  18 , there are formed notch portions  95  that serve as one example of holding portions that hold the convex portions  91 . Open ends of the notch portions  95  are formed in the lower end of the side wall  39 , and the notch portions  95  bend toward one longitudinal direction side (the lower left side in  FIG. 9 ) of the side wall  39 . Thus, the notch portions  95  are configured to guide the convex portions  91  entering the notch portions  95  from the lower end of the side wall  39  toward the deep sides of the notch portions  95  that are on one longitudinal direction side (the lower left side in  FIG. 9 ) of the side wall  39  such that the bracket  57  moves in the fast scanning direction where regulation by the claw portions  92  is not performed. The convex portions  91  that have been guided to the deep sides of the notch portions  95  are sandwiched from above and below by the inner walls of the notch portions  95  in the deep sides of the notch portions  95  and are held in a state where movement toward one longitudinal direction side of the side wall  39  is regulated. Thus, the bracket  57  is positioned with respect to the side wall  39 . 
         [0107]    The holding portions are not limited to the notch portions  95  and may also be groove portions or elongate holes, for example; the holding portions may have a configuration other than the notch portions  95  as long as they hold the held portions. Further, the held portions are not limited to the convex portions  91 ; the held portions may have a configuration other than the convex portions  91  as long as they are held in the holding portions. Further, the notch portions  95  may also be formed in the bracket  57  as the held portions and the convex portions  91  may also be formed on the side wall  39  as the holding portions. 
         [0108]    Further, in the side wall  39  of the first carriage  18 , there are formed through holes  93  through which bolts  87  are inserted. 
         [0109]    In the attachment plates  86 A and  86 B, screw holes  89  are formed on end sides in the longitudinal direction of the bracket  57  (on the opposite sides of the claw portions  92  across the convex portions  91 ) in correspondence to the through holes  93 . In the state where the convex portions  91  are held in the notch portions  95 , the screw holes  89  and the through holes  93  become superimposed. Thus, in the state where the convex portions  91  are held in the notch portions  95 , the bolts  87  that have been inserted through the through holes  93  are screwed into the screw holes  89 , whereby the attachment plates  86 A and  86 B are fixed to the side wall  39 . 
         [0110]    The support plate  85  slants with respect to the attachment plates  86 , and when the attachment plates  86  are attached to the side wall  39 , the light emitting elements  61  are placed such that they slant with respect to the surface-to-be-read of the document G. 
         [0111]    On the longitudinal direction center portion of the support plate  85 , there is formed a support portion  97  that supports a vibration suppressing member  96  that contacts the first mirror  75  and is for suppressing vibration of the first mirror  75 . This support portion  97  is formed integrally with the support plate  85  and is configured so as to be attached to and detached from the side wall  39  integrally with the bracket  57 . As the vibration suppressing member  96 , for example, a porous member such as a sponge or an elastic member such as rubber is used. 
         [0112]    The bracket  57  is not limited to the above-described configuration and may also be configured by a shape and placement other than those described above. Further, the regulation members are not limited to the claw portions  92  formed on the bracket  57 , may also be members formed on the side wall  39 , and may also be configured by a shape and placement other than those of the claw portions  92 . 
         [0113]    Next, attachment operation of attaching the bracket  57  to the side wall  39  of the first carriage  18  will be described. 
         [0114]    First, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the bracket  57  in a state where it is detached from the first carriage  18  is moved upward from the lower end of the side wall  39  of the first carriage  18 , and, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the convex portions  91  are inserted into the notch portions  95  and the side wall  39  is inserted between the attachment plates  86 A and  386 B and the two claw portions  92  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0115]    When the convex portions  91  are inserted into the notch portions  95 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , the convex portions  91  strike the inner walls of the notch portions  95  on the deep sides (the upper sides in  FIG. 11 ) in the insertion direction of the convex portions  91  such that movement of the bracket  57  in the insertion direction (upward) is regulated. Further, when the side wall  39  is inserted between the attachment plates  86 A and  86 B and the two claw portions  92 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , the lower end of the side wall  39  strikes the proximal end portions of the claw portions  92  such that movement of the bracket  57  in the insertion direction (upward) is regulated. 
         [0116]    In the state where the side wall  39  has been inserted between the attachment plates  68 A and  68 B and the two claw portions  92 , movement of the bracket  57  along the thickness direction of the attachment plates  86  (the side wall  39 ) is deterred and movement along the longitudinal direction of the attachment plates  86  (the side wall  39 ) is allowed. 
         [0117]    Next, the first carriage  18  is moved toward one longitudinal direction side of the side wall  39  (the left side in  FIG. 12 ). Because of this movement, the convex portions  91  are guided to the deep sides of the notch portions  95 , and the convex portions  91  are held on the deep sides of the notch portions  95 . In the state where the convex portions  91  are held in the notch portions  95 , the through holes  93  and the screw holes  89  become superimposed, and the bolts  87  that have been inserted through the through holes  93  are screwed into the screw holes  89 , whereby the attachment plates  86 A and  86 B are fixed to the side wall  39 . 
         [0118]    In this manner, when the bracket  57  is to be attached to the side wall  39  of the first carriage  18 , movement of the bracket  57  along the thickness direction of the attachment plates  86  (the side wall  39 ) is regulated, whereby, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a situation where the light emitting elements  61  contact other parts (e.g., the light guide member  65 ) located on the thickness direction side of the side wall  39  as seen from the side wall  39  is suppressed. 
         [0119]    (Configuration for Suppressing Glare Resulting from Light from Light Emitting Elements  61 ) 
         [0120]    Next, a configuration for suppressing glare resulting from the light from the light emitting elements  61  will be described. 
         [0121]    In the present exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 , the light irradiation unit  17  (the first carriage  18 ) is, in an initial position, placed on one side (the left side in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 ) of the casing  41  of the reading component  14  that forms the device body of the image reading device  11 . The initial position specifically is a standby position where the light irradiation unit  17  stands by in a state where the image reading device  11  is not performing image reading of the document G. 
         [0122]    On one side (the left side in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 ) of the casing  41  of the reading component  14  as seen from the first platen glass  43 A, there is placed an abutment member  150  having an abutment surface  150 A for one end of the document G to abut against in order to place the document G in a predetermined position on the first platen glass  43 A. 
         [0123]    The initial position of the light irradiation unit  17  is configured to be a position where a length N along the slow scanning direction from an irradiated point S where the document G is irradiated with the light L (an optical axis L 1  of the light reflected from the document G) to the abutment surface  150 A becomes a predetermined length (e.g., 10 mm). 
         [0124]    Further, the light irradiation unit  17  is configured such that, in the initial position, when the document feeding device  12  that serves as one example of an opening/closing component that is opened and closed with respect to the reading component  14  (the first platen glass  43 A) is closed to a predetermined angle from an opened state (see  FIG. 16 ), the light emitting elements  61  emit light toward the document G, and the detection component  26  detects the light reflected from the document G and detects the width of the document G in the fast scanning direction (the direction of arrow Y in  FIG. 13 ). 
         [0125]    The one side (the left side in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 ) of the casing  41  is one side in the slow scanning direction and is the side where the light emitting elements  61  begin emitting light with respect to the image surface of the document G when the light emitting elements  61  emit light in order to read an image of the document G that has been placed on the first platen glass  43 A. 
         [0126]    Further, the light emitting elements  61  are, as mentioned above, oriented toward one side (the left side in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 ) of the casing  41  as a result of being supported on the support plate  85  of the bracket  57  and emit light upward of the one side of the casing  41 . Further, the light emitting elements  61  are, as shown in  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 4 , covered by the first upper wall  51  that serves as one example of a cover member that is placed above the light emitting elements  61 . 
         [0127]    Moreover, in the present exemplary embodiment, an operation component  152  for an operator H to operate the image forming apparatus  10  (the image reading device  11  and the image recording device  21 ) is placed on a different side than the one side (the left side in  FIG. 13 ) of the casing  41 . Specifically, the operation component  152  is placed on the lower right side in  FIG. 13 . It suffices for the operation component  152  to be placed on a different side than the one side (the left side in  FIG. 13 ) of the casing  41 ; thus, for example, the operation component  152  may also be placed on the right side in  FIG. 13  that opposes the one side (the left side in  FIG. 13 ) of the casing  41  or on the upper side in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0128]    Further, when the operation component  152  is placed on the upper side or the lower side in  FIG. 13 , it is desirable for the operation component  152  to be placed further on the right side in  FIG. 13  than the initial position. 
         [0129]    In the present exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 16 , on the opposite side (the upper side in  FIG. 13 ) of the side where the operation component  152  is placed, there are placed hinges  154  that support the document feeding device  12  such that the document feeding device  12  is openable and closeable. Thus, the document feeding device  12  is opened with its free end portion being the side where the operation component  152  is placed. 
         [0130]    Further, on the side where the operation component  152  is placed, as shown in  FIG. 16 , an opening/closing component  156  for opening the inside of the image recording device  21  is placed on a casing  21 A of the image recording device  21 . The opening/closing component  156  is opened such that parts inside the image recording device  21  may be replaced, maintained and inspected. 
         [0131]    Further, the recording medium housing components  80  of the image recording device  21  are configured such that they may be pulled out on the side where the operation component  152  is placed. In this manner, the image forming apparatus  10  is configured such that it is easy for the operator H standing on the side where the operation component  152  is placed to perform various operations, replacement, maintenance and inspection. 
         [0132]    According to the configuration of the present exemplary embodiment, when the light emitting elements  61  of the light irradiation unit  17  positioned in the initial position emit light, the one side (X 1  side of  FIG. 16 ) of the casing  41  is irradiated with the light. Further, even if the light from the light emitting elements  61  were to be diffused upward toward the opposite side (X 2  side of  FIG. 16 ) of the one side (X 1  side of  FIG. 16 ) of the casing  41  or directly upward, the light would be blocked by the first upper wall  51  (see  FIG. 15 ). 
         [0133]    Thus, as shown in  FIG. 16 , even in the state where the document feeding device  12  has been opened with respect to the reading component  14  (the first platen glass  43 A), a situation where the operator H feels that the light from the light emitting elements  61  is glaring is suppressed. 
         [0134]    The present invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments, and various modifications, changes and improvements are possible. 
         [0135]    The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.