A document feeder provided on an image reader having a reading device that reads an image of a document of a plurality of documents at a reading position (Re), the document being conveyed in a predetermined conveying direction, the document feeder comprising: a substantially U-shaped document transporting pathway, through which the document can pass from a feeding tray to a discharging tray, which is provided above the feeding tray, via the reading position (Re), including: a first path, in which the document is conveyed in a first transportation direction; and a second path, in which the document is conveyed in a second transportation direction that is opposite to the first transportation direction; a reverse transporting mechanism (20, 21, 22, 23) that is disposed adjacent to the substantially U-shaped document transporting pathway and conveys the document in the substantially U-shaped document transporting pathway; a pulling device (15, 17) that draws the plurality of the documents stacked on the feeding tray; and a separating-transporting device (16, 18) that separates one of the plurality of the documents drawn by the pulling device (15, 17) and conveys the separated document to the reverse transporting mechanism (20, 21, 22, 23); characterized by: an openable pathway cover that covers the pulling device (15, 17), the separating-transporting device (16, 18) and the reverse transporting mechanism (20, 21, 22, 23) when the pathway cover is closed, wherein the pulling device (15, 17) and the separating-transporting device (16, 18) are aligned in the first transportation direction and are disposed within a range that is occupied by a height of the reverse transporting mechanism (20, 21, 22, 23). a substantially U-shaped document transporting pathway, through which the document can pass from a feeding tray to a discharging tray, which is provided above the feeding tray, via the reading position (Re), including: a first path, in which the document is conveyed in a first transportation direction; and a second path, in which the document is conveyed in a second transportation direction that is opposite to the first transportation direction; a first path, in which the document is conveyed in a first transportation direction; and a second path, in which the document is conveyed in a second transportation direction that is opposite to the first transportation direction; a reverse transporting mechanism (20, 21, 22, 23) that is disposed adjacent to the substantially U-shaped document transporting pathway and conveys the document in the substantially U-shaped document transporting pathway; a pulling device (15, 17) that draws the plurality of the documents stacked on the feeding tray; and a separating-transporting device (16, 18) that separates one of the plurality of the documents drawn by the pulling device (15, 17) and conveys the separated document to the reverse transporting mechanism (20, 21, 22, 23); characterized by: an openable pathway cover that covers the pulling device (15, 17), the separating-transporting device (16, 18) and the reverse transporting mechanism (20, 21, 22, 23) when the pathway cover is closed, wherein the pulling device (15, 17) and the separating-transporting device (16, 18) are aligned in the first transportation direction and are disposed within a range that is occupied by a height of the reverse transporting mechanism (20, 21, 22, 23). an openable pathway cover that covers the pulling device (15, 17), the separating-transporting device (16, 18) and the reverse transporting mechanism (20, 21, 22, 23) when the pathway cover is closed, wherein the pulling device (15, 17) and the separating-transporting device (16, 18) are aligned in the first transportation direction and are disposed within a range that is occupied by a height of the reverse transporting mechanism (20, 21, 22, 23).