Patent Description:
Generally, there is known an image reading apparatus that radiates light onto an image or character information recorded on a document and reads reflection light thereof by an image pickup portion including an image sensor. In such an image reading apparatus, a document is placed on a platen glass with a reading surface of the document facing downward, and an image or character information on the document is read by the image pickup portion disposed below the platen glass while the image pickup portion is moving.

Conventionally, an image reading apparatus movably accommodating a light emitting diode lamp: LED lamp that radiates light onto a document and including a flexible flat cable connecting a control board included in an apparatus body to the LED lamp is proposed in <CIT>. The flexible flat cable will be hereinafter referred to as an FFC. The FFC transmits a control signal to the LED lamp while being warped in accordance with movement of the LED lamp, and slides on a bottom surface of a frame of an image reading apparatus when warped.

In addition, an image reading apparatus including a platen glass and a running body incorporating a contact image sensor: CIS that reads an image on a document placed on the platen glass is proposed in <CIT>. The running body is supported by a belt driven by a motor, and when reading the image on the document, the motor drives, and thus the running body moves along the document. The image read by the CIS is transmitted to a control board of an image forming apparatus including the image reading apparatus through an analog image signal transmission cable, an analog/digital converter: A/D converter, and a digital signal transmission cable. In addition, the motor and the control board are interconnected by a driving signal transmission cable that transmits a driving signal to the motor. The digital signal transmission cable and the driving signal transmission cable are constituted by flexible flat cables, and the digital image signal in the digital signal transmission cable is likely to be affected by an external noise. Therefore, a wall portion is interposed between the digital signal transmission cable and the driving signal transmission cable to suppress a noise, in the digital image signal, derived from the driving signal.

However, since the FFC disclosed in <CIT> slides on the bottom surface of the frame of the image reading apparatus when warped, in the case where the LED lamp and the bottom surface of the frame are close to each other, there is a risk that a large stress is applied to a bent portion of the FFC and an electrical wire in the FFC becomes broken. Therefore, it is required that a certain interval is provided between the LED lamp and the bottom surface of the frame, which leads to increase in the size of the apparatus.

In addition, the digital signal transmission cable and the driving signal transmission cable disclosed in <CIT> are separately provided in the apparatus, which leads to increase in the size of a space to provide the cables and increase in the number of connectors to connect the cables. Therefore, the size of the apparatus also increases. Further prior art can be found for example in document <CIT> disclosing a flat cable, electric appliances, liquid jetting device, and wiring method, in document <CIT> relating to a signal transmission cable with adaptive contact pin reference, in document <CIT> which concerns a multi flexible flat cable, in document <CIT> describing a flexible flat cable and image reading device, in document <CIT> disclosing a display apparatus with a flat cable and in document <CIT> addressing a flat conductor cable jumper.

The present invention provides an image reading apparatus according to claim <NUM>. Further features are described in the dependent claims.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to drawings. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a printer <NUM> serving as an image forming apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in <FIG>, the printer <NUM> includes an apparatus body <NUM> and an image reading apparatus <NUM> provided in an upper portion of the apparatus body <NUM>, and an image forming portion <NUM> that forms an image on a sheet is provided in the apparatus body <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the image forming portion <NUM> includes an image forming unit PU of an electrophotographic system and a fixing unit <NUM>. In the image forming unit PU, when start of an image forming operation is commanded, a photosensitive drum <NUM> serving as a photosensitive member rotates, and the surface of the photosensitive drum <NUM> is uniformly charged by a charging unit <NUM>. Then, an exposing unit <NUM> modulates and outputs laser light on the basis of image data transmitted from the image reading apparatus <NUM> or an external computer, and thus scans the surface of the photosensitive drum <NUM> to form an electrostatic latent image. This electrostatic latent image is visualized, or developed, as a toner image by toner supplied from a developing unit <NUM>.

In parallel with such an image forming operation, a feeding operation of feeding a sheet supported on an unillustrated cassette or manual feed tray to the image forming portion <NUM> is executed. The fed sheet is conveyed in accordance with the progress of the image forming operation performed by the image forming unit PU. Then, the toner image carried on the photosensitive drum <NUM> is transferred onto the sheet by a transfer roller <NUM>. Toner remaining on the photosensitive drum <NUM> after the transfer of the toner image is collected by a cleaning unit <NUM>. The sheet onto which the unfixed toner image has been transferred is passed to the fixing unit <NUM>, nipped by a roller pair, and heated and pressurized. The sheet on which the toner has melted and adhered and thus an image has been fixed is discharged by a discharge roller pair or the like.

Next, the configuration of the image reading apparatus <NUM> will be described in detail. To be noted, in the present exemplary embodiment, examples of the sheet include special paper sheets such as coated paper sheets, recording materials having special shapes such as envelops and index paper sheets, plastic films for overhead projectors, and cloths, in addition to regular paper sheets. In addition, a document also serves as an example of a sheet, and the document may be blank or have an image on one or each of surfaces thereof.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the image reading apparatus <NUM> includes an image reading portion <NUM> serving as an electronic apparatus that reads an image on a document, and an auto document feeder: ADF <NUM> openably and closeably provided with respect to the image reading portion <NUM>. The image reading portion <NUM> includes a platen glass <NUM> on which a document is to be placed and which transmits light, and a reading portion <NUM> serving as a first electronic device and as a reading unit that reads the image on the document. The image reading portion <NUM> is configured to be capable of reading the document by two methods called document fixed-reading and document feeding-reading. The reading portion <NUM> is configured to be movable in a sub-scanning direction, which is an arrow X direction in <FIG>, by a motor <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> that drives an unillustrated belt supporting the reading portion <NUM>.

In the document fixed-reading, the image reading portion <NUM> reads image information, line by line, recorded on the document placed on the platen glass <NUM> serving as a sheet support portion by scanning the reading portion <NUM> in the sub-scanning direction at a constant speed. In addition, in the document feeding-reading, the reading portion <NUM> is moved to a center position of a leading roller <NUM> of the ADF <NUM>, and a document on a document tray <NUM> conveyed by the ADF <NUM> is optically read.

The ADF <NUM> includes a document tray <NUM>, a feed roller <NUM>, a separation pad <NUM>, and a separation roller <NUM>. The document tray <NUM> supports a document bundle S constituted by one or more documents. The feed roller <NUM> is configured to be capable of ascending and descending via an arm, and is also configured to come into contact with and feed an uppermost document of the document bundle S supported on the document tray <NUM> by descending from a retracting position that is an upper position. In the case where a plurality of documents are fed by the feed roller <NUM>, one document is separated and fed from the documents by an action of the separation roller <NUM> and the separation pad <NUM>.

The document separated by the separation roller <NUM> and the separation pad <NUM> is conveyed to a registration roller pair <NUM> by pulling rollers <NUM>, and the document abuts the registration roller pair <NUM>. As a result of this, the document is warped in a loop shape, and thus skew of the document in the conveyance is corrected. A conveyance path to convey the document having passed through the registration roller pair <NUM> to a document feeding-reading glass <NUM> is provided downstream of the registration roller pair <NUM>, and the document conveyed to this conveyance path is conveyed to an image reading position by upstream reading rollers <NUM>. At the image reading position, the surface of the document is illuminated by an LED <NUM> incorporated in the reading portion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, reflection light thereof is guided to an image sensor <NUM> of the reading portion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, and thus a front surface image of the document is read line by line. For example, a contact image sensor: CIS, or a charge coupled device: CCD is used for the image sensor <NUM>.

Downstream reading rollers <NUM> are provided downstream of the leading roller <NUM> in a document conveyance direction, and the document conveyed by the downstream reading rollers <NUM> is discharged onto a sheet discharge tray <NUM> by sheet discharge rollers <NUM> in the case where only the front surface image of the document is to be read. In the case where a plurality of documents are present on the document tray <NUM>, the image reading apparatus <NUM> repeats the process described above until reading and discharge onto the sheet discharge tray <NUM> are finished for the final document.

In contrast, in the case of also reading a back surface image of the document, the document is stopped after reading the front surface image and before a trailing end of the document passes through the sheet discharge rollers <NUM>. Then, the document is conveyed toward the registration roller pair <NUM> through a duplex conveyance path <NUM> by rotating the sheet discharge rollers <NUM> in a reverse rotation direction, and the back surface of the document can be read by conveying the document in a similar manner to the time of reading the front surface image.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the reading portion <NUM> includes a printed board <NUM> on which the image sensor <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is mounted, and one end of a flexible flat cable: FFC <NUM> is connected to the printed board <NUM>. The FFC <NUM> is provided along a side surface 109a of a frame <NUM> of the image reading portion <NUM>, is guided to the outside of the image reading portion <NUM> through a hole <NUM> defined in the side surface 109a, and is connected to a controller <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> serving as a second electronic device and as a controller.

In the document fixed-reading, the reading portion <NUM> reads an image on a document placed on the platen glass <NUM> while moving from a home position illustrated in <FIG> to an end position illustrated in <FIG>. At this time, the FFC <NUM> is warped in the horizontal direction and moves together with the reading portion <NUM> while sliding on the side surface 109a of the frame <NUM>. The FFC <NUM> is supported by the side surface 109a, and thus dangling of the FFC <NUM> by the gravity is suppressed. To be noted, the FFC <NUM> does not have to be warped strictly in the horizontal direction as long as the FFC <NUM> is configured to be warped substantially in the horizontal direction.

<FIG> is a control block diagram of the present exemplary embodiment. The controller <NUM> provided in the image reading apparatus <NUM> is connected to an operation portion <NUM> and the reading portion <NUM>. A user specifies the size of the document and instructs start of the reading or the like through the operation portion <NUM>. The controller <NUM> includes a central processing unit: CPU <NUM>, a nonvolatile memory <NUM>, an FFC connector <NUM>, a power supply portion <NUM>, and an image processing portion <NUM>. The CPU <NUM> serves as a central computing device of the image reading apparatus <NUM>, and the nonvolatile memory <NUM> stores a control program of the CPU <NUM>.

The reading portion <NUM> includes the LED <NUM> and the printed board <NUM>. The LED <NUM> serves as a light source to radiate light onto the document. The printed board <NUM> includes an LED driving portion <NUM>, the image sensor <NUM>, an analog front end: AFE <NUM>, and an FFC connector <NUM>. The LED driving portion <NUM> controls lighting of the LED <NUM>, the image sensor <NUM> serves as an image pickup portion that receives light reflected on a sheet, and the AFE <NUM> serves as a conversion portion. The reading portion <NUM> and the controller <NUM> are electrically connected to each other by the FFC <NUM> interconnecting the FFC connectors <NUM> and <NUM>. The AFE <NUM> converts an analog image signal output from the image sensor <NUM> into digital image data.

Next, an operation of the controller <NUM> and the reading portion <NUM> in the document fixed-reading will be described with reference to <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, when an instruction to start a reading job is issued through the operation portion <NUM>, the CPU <NUM> controls the power supply portion <NUM> to output voltages of +<NUM> V and +<NUM> V in step S11.

The voltage of +<NUM> V output from the power supply portion <NUM> is supplied to the LED driving portion <NUM> through the FFC connectors <NUM> and <NUM> and the FFC <NUM>, and thus the LED <NUM> is turned on. In addition, the voltage of +<NUM> V output from the power supply portion <NUM> is supplied to the image sensor <NUM> and the AFE <NUM> through the FFC connectors <NUM> and <NUM> and the FFC <NUM>. The CPU <NUM> performs serial communication with the AFE <NUM> through the FFC connectors <NUM> and <NUM> and the FFC <NUM>. Predetermined settings are configured in a register in the AFE <NUM> by the serial communication, and thus the AFE <NUM> outputs a reading start signal and a driving signal to the image sensor <NUM>. As a result of this, driving of the image sensor <NUM> is started in step S12, and A/D conversion by the AFE <NUM> is started in step S13.

In this state, in step S14, the CPU <NUM> drives the motor <NUM> to move the reading portion <NUM> in the sub-scanning direction, and the reading portion <NUM> scans a document on the platen glass <NUM> while moving in the sub-scanning direction. The image sensor <NUM> outputs an image signal of the scanned document to the AFE <NUM>, and the AFE <NUM> converts the image signal output from the image sensor <NUM> into digital image data in accordance with the predetermined register settings configured by a serial signal. The image data is transmitted to the image processing portion <NUM> of the controller <NUM> through the FFC connectors <NUM> and <NUM> and the FFC <NUM>, and the image processing portion <NUM> performs predetermined image processing such as shading correction and transmits the image data to the apparatus body <NUM> or an external personal computer.

In step S15, the CPU <NUM> determines whether or not the reading of the document by the reading portion <NUM> has been finished. To be noted, while the reading portion <NUM> is reading the document, the serial communication with the AFE <NUM> is not performed, and the serial communication signal is fixed to a Hi level or a Low level.

In the case where it has been determined that the reading of the document has been finished, that is, where the result of step S15 is Yes, predetermined serial communication with the AFE <NUM> is performed, and thus the A/D conversion operation by the AFE <NUM> is finished in step S16. Further, in step S17, predetermined communication with the AFE <NUM> is performed, and thus driving of the image sensor <NUM> is finished. Then, the CPU <NUM> turns off the power supply portion <NUM> in step S18, thus the power supply of +<NUM> V and +<NUM> V is stopped, and driving of the motor <NUM> is stopped in step S19. The reading job is finished in this manner.

Next, the configuration of the FFC <NUM> will be described in detail. As illustrated in <FIG>, the FFC <NUM> includes terminals 108a and 108b on the respective end portions thereof in the longitudinal direction respectively connecting to the FFC connectors <NUM> and <NUM>. In the present exemplary embodiment, the dimensions of the FFC <NUM> are set to a length L of <NUM>, a conductor pitch P of <NUM>, a conductor thickness TP of <NUM>, a width W of pitch of <NUM> × <NUM> cores, and a thickness T of <NUM>. To be noted, the dimensions described above are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to this.

Although the terminals 108a and 108b of the FFC <NUM> each include <NUM>-core pins, the FFC <NUM> does not include conductors capable of transmitting electrical signals and power voltage at positions corresponding to the pins of the 25th core and the 26th core. The FFC <NUM> includes a plurality of conducting wires aligned in the width direction. In the present exemplary embodiment, <NUM> conducting wires are provided. These conducting wires will be referred to as conductors C1 to C50 in correspondence with the pins of the terminals 108a and 108b for the sake of convenience. To be noted, C25 and C26 do not exist. For example, these conducting wires are covered by being sandwiched by two resin films such as polyester film tapes from both sides.

The FFC <NUM> includes a slit SL having a length of <NUM> in the vicinity of the center of the FFC <NUM> in the width direction, that is, at a position corresponding to the 25th and 26th cores of the terminals 108a and 108b, and the two conducting wires are omitted to provide the slit SL. The slit SL is provided with intervals of <NUM> from the terminals 108a and 108b, and the FFC <NUM> is divided into two FFCs at the portion corresponding to the slit SL although the FFC <NUM> serves as a single FFC at both end portions thereof where the terminals 108a and 108b are provided. These two FFCs will be respectively referred to as a first region <NUM> and a second region <NUM>.

When manufacturing the FFC <NUM>, a plurality of conductors are aligned with the two central conductors missing and are sandwiched by resin films from above and below, and the resin films are bonded by applying heat and pressure. Then, the center part of the FFC <NUM> where no conductor is provided, that is, a gap between the conductor C24 and the conductor C27 is cut open by a member with a sharp end such as a needle, and thus the slit SL is defined.

Here, the distance between the conductor C24 serving as a first conducting wire and the conductor C23 serving as a third conducting wire and adjacent to the conductor C24 on the side opposite to the slit SL is the conductor pitch P = <NUM>. Similarly, the distance between the conductor C27 serving as a second conducting wire and the conductor C28 serving as a fourth conducting wire and adjacent to the conductor C27 on the side opposite to the slit SL is the conductor pitch P = <NUM>. In contrast, the distance between the conductors C24 and C27 with the slit SL therebetween is the conductor pitch P × <NUM> + the conductor thickness TP × <NUM> = <NUM>. Therefore, the interval between the conductors C24 and C27 is larger than the interval between the conductors C23 and C24, and the interval between the conductors C27 and C28.

<FIG> illustrates the numbers of the terminals 108a and 108b of the FFC <NUM> and signals transmitted through the conductors C1 to C24 and C27 to C50 in the present exemplary embodiment. To be noted, the conductors C1 to C24 are disposed in the first region <NUM>, and the conductors C27 to C50 are disposed in the second region <NUM>. Image data and image data transfer clocks output from the AFE <NUM> are assigned to the conductors C1 to C24. Since the AFE <NUM> outputs the image data and image data transfer clocks as differential signals, the image data transfer clocks are expressed by a pair of "CLK_P" and "CLK_N", and the image data is expressed by pairs of "DATA_n_P" and "DATA_n_N" in which n is an integer from <NUM> to <NUM>.

In contrast, four signals for serial communication for the CPU <NUM> to access the AFE <NUM> and the +<NUM> V and + <NUM> V power sources are assigned to the conductors C27 to C50. To be noted, "GND" represents the ground, and is used as a ground wire to prevent crosstalk between the conductors in which signals electrically interfere with each other and appear as noises.

Since image signals are transmitted while reading the document, the logic of signals changes during the reading of the document in the conductors C1 to C24 disposed in the first region <NUM>. In contrast, in the conductors C27 to C50 disposed in the second region <NUM>, the logic of the signals does not change in the period from the start of the reading of the document to the end of the reading of the document. Therefore, electrical crosstalk in a portion where the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> overlap can be suppressed.

Next, a cable routing method for the FFC <NUM> will be described. First, as illustrated in <FIG>, the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> of the FFC <NUM> are mountain-folded and valley-folded as illustrated, and thus the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> are caused to lie on top of one another. Specifically, the terminal 108b side of the second region <NUM> is valley-folded and mountain-folded at lines that are oblique with respect to the width direction and the longitudinal direction and apart from each other by <NUM>. That is, the second region <NUM> includes a mountain-folded portion 302a having a mountain-folded shape and a valley-folded portion 302b having a valley-folded shape. The mountain-folded portion 302a and the valley-folded portion 302b overlap with each other in the longitudinal direction of the FFC <NUM>. As a result of this, the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> at least partially overlap with each other when viewed in the thickness direction of the FFC <NUM>. The conductors C1 to C50 including the conductors C23, C24, C27, and C28 are arranged so as not to overlap in the thickness direction at both end portions of the FFC <NUM> in the longitudinal direction even in this state. In addition, the terminal 108a side of the first region <NUM> and the terminal 108a side of the second region <NUM> are each obliquely valley-folded. That is, the first region <NUM> includes a valley-folded portion 301a serving as a first valley-folded portion having a valley-folded shape, and the second region <NUM> includes a valley-folded portion 302c serving as a second valley-folded portion having a valley-folded shape. The valley-folded portions 301a and 302c overlap with each other in the width direction perpendicular to the thickness direction and the longitudinal direction of the FFC <NUM>. At a part where the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> lie on top of one another, the width of the FFC <NUM> is halved. Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, folding lines are formed on the part where the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> lie on top of one another. Noted that the way of valley-folding the second region <NUM> is that the crease is at the bottom and the second region <NUM> is folded forward into itself. Noted that the way of mountain-folding the second region <NUM> is that the crease is at the top and the second region <NUM> is folded behind itself.

<FIG> are perspective views of the FFC <NUM> attached to the FFC connector <NUM> provided on the printed board <NUM> of the reading portion <NUM> and to an unillustrated controller. The printed board <NUM> is attached to a side surface 106a of a casing <NUM> of the reading portion <NUM>, and the terminal 108b of the FFC <NUM> is connected to the FFC connector <NUM> from below. The FFC <NUM> whose one end is connected to the FFC connector <NUM> is provided along the side surface 106a, a bottom surface 106b, and a back surface 106c of the casing <NUM> of the reading portion <NUM>, and abuts the side surface 109a of the frame <NUM> of the image reading portion <NUM>. In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, the FFC <NUM> is attached so as to be slidable on the side surface 109a of the frame <NUM>, and is connected to an FFC connector <NUM> of the controller <NUM> through a hole <NUM>.

The present invention is configured as described above, and as illustrated in <FIG>, when the reading portion is at the home position, the FFC <NUM> is supported by the side surface 109a, and thus dangling of the FFC <NUM> is suppressed. However, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the reading portion <NUM> is at the end position, the contact area between the FFC <NUM> and the side surface 109a is small, and most of the part where the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> lie on top of one another is in the air. Therefore, the FFC <NUM> is likely to dangle by the gravity.

However, as a result of providing the slit SL in the FFC <NUM> and the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> lying on top of one another, the width of the part of the FFC <NUM> in the air is halved. Therefore, even when the FFC <NUM> is dangling by the gravity, the FFC <NUM> can be routed in a small space without the FFC <NUM> coming into contact with the bottom surface 109b of the frame <NUM>. Further, as a result of the width of the FFC <NUM> being halved, the height of the image reading portion <NUM> can be reduced by a corresponding amount without breaking the FFC <NUM>. The thickness T of the FFC <NUM> is preferably <NUM> to <NUM> to suppress the dangling and secure flexibility for routing.

To be noted, the lengths of the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> of the FFC <NUM> are designed to be slightly different depending on how the FFC <NUM> is folded. Therefore, the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> being warped in directions away from each other can be suppressed when the reading portion <NUM> moves between the home position and the end position.

In addition, since the overlap of FFC is caused by providing the slit SL at the center portion of the one FFC <NUM>, the number of the FFC connectors <NUM> and <NUM> remains smaller than the case of using two FFCs, and thus the size and cost of the image reading portion <NUM> can be reduced. Further, since the logic of signals does not change during reading of the document in the conductors C27 to C50 disposed in the second region <NUM>, the electrical crosstalk caused by the overlap of the FFC <NUM> can be reduced.

Next, a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second exemplary embodiment, the AFE <NUM> of the first exemplary embodiment is provided on the controller <NUM> side. Therefore, illustration of the same elements as in the first exemplary embodiment will be omitted or given with the same reference signs.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a controller 200A includes the CPU <NUM>, the nonvolatile memory <NUM>, the FFC connector <NUM>, the power supply portion <NUM>, the image processing portion <NUM>, and an AFE 208A serving as a conversion portion. In addition, a printed board 205A includes the LED driving portion <NUM>, the image sensor <NUM>, and the FFC connector <NUM>. The LED driving portion <NUM> controls lighting of the LED <NUM>. The AFE 208A converts an analog image signal output from the image sensor <NUM> into digital image data.

In the present exemplary embodiment, since the AFE 208A is provided in the controller 200A, the serial signal transmitted from the CPU <NUM> to the AFE 208A is not transmitted through the FFC <NUM>. In contrast, the reading start signal and driving signal for the image sensor <NUM> generated by the AFE 208A and the analog image signal output from the image sensor <NUM> are transmitted through the FFC <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the numbers of the terminals 108a and 108b of the FFC <NUM> and signals transmitted through the conductors C1 to C24 and C27 to C50 in the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in <FIG>, image signals output from the image sensor <NUM> and the reading start signal and the driving signal output from the AFE 208A are assigned to the conductors C1 to C24. Since the image sensor <NUM> outputs the image signals as differential signals, the image signals are expressed by pairs of "ANALOG_n_P" and "ANALOG_n_N" in which n is an integer from <NUM> to <NUM>. In contrast, the power of +<NUM> V and the power of +<NUM> V are assigned to the conductors C27 to C50.

As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the FFC <NUM> transmits the analog image signal output from the image sensor <NUM> in the first region <NUM>, and transmits the power voltage in the second region <NUM>. Whereas the analog signal transmitted through the first region <NUM> is more likely to be affected by crosstalk than a digital signal, the logic of signals of the power voltage transmitted through the second region <NUM> does not change during reading of the document. Therefore, electrical crosstalk can be suppressed even in the case where the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> of the FFC <NUM> lie on top of one another.

To be noted, in the first and second exemplary embodiments, the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> do not have to overlap with each other in the whole region thereof. It is preferable that the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> overlap with each other at a position where the FFC <NUM> is closest to the bottom surface 109b of the frame <NUM> when the FFC <NUM> is dangling by the gravity.

In addition, how the FFC <NUM> is folded is not limited to the example of <FIG> and <FIG>, and can be appropriately changed in accordance with the placement of the printed board <NUM> of the reading portion <NUM> or the placement of the controller <NUM>. In addition, the FFC <NUM> does not have to be folded such that a folding line coincides with the slit SL. Further, although the conductor thickness TP of the FFC <NUM> is set to <NUM> in the first and second exemplary embodiments, the conductor thickness TP is not limited to this value, and can be set to, for example, <NUM>.

In addition, although the FFC <NUM> is produced by omitting two conductors corresponding to the 25th and 26th pins in the first and second exemplary embodiments, the configuration is not limited to this. That is, the FFC <NUM> may be produced by omitting one conductor or three or more conductors to provide the slit SL at a position corresponding to an omitted conductor.

In addition, the FFC <NUM> may be provided in the apparatus body <NUM> instead of the controller <NUM> or the image reading apparatus <NUM>. The FFC <NUM> described above is not limited to be used for connecting the image reading portion <NUM>, and may be also used for, for example, connecting an exposing head of the apparatus body <NUM> to a relay board.

In addition, although the description has been given by using the printer <NUM> of the electrophotographic system in all the exemplary embodiments that have been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be also applied to an image forming apparatus of an inkjet system that forms an image on a sheet by ejecting an ink liquid through a nozzle.

Claim 1:
An image reading apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a reading unit (<NUM>) configured to read an image of a document placed on a platen glass (<NUM>) while moving along the document, the reading unit (<NUM>) comprising a light source (<NUM>) and image sensor (<NUM>), the light source (<NUM>) being configured to radiate light onto the document through the platen glass (<NUM>), the image sensor (<NUM>) being configured to receive light radiated from the light source (<NUM>) and reflected on the document and convert the received light into image data;
a control unit (<NUM>) configured to control the reading unit (<NUM>); and
a flexible flat cable (<NUM>) comprising image data transmitting wires (C4, C5, C7, C8, C16, C17, C19, C20 and C22) and power supplying wires (C38-C41 and C46-C48), the image data transmitting wires (C4, C5, C7, C8, C16, C17, C19, C20 and C22) being configured to transmit the image data from the reading unit (<NUM>) to the control unit (<NUM>), the power supplying wires (C38-C41 and C46-C48) being configured to supply power voltage to the reading unit (<NUM>),
wherein the flexible flat cable (<NUM>) is divided into a first region (<NUM>) and a second region (<NUM>) by a slit (SL), the first region (<NUM>) and the second region (<NUM>) being at least partially overlapped with each other in an overlapping portion of the flexible flat cable (<NUM>) when viewed in a thickness direction of the flat cable (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the image data transmitting wires (C4, C5, C7, C8, C16, C17, C19, C20 and C22) are provided in the first region (<NUM>) and are not provided in the second region (<NUM>), and
the power supplying wires (C38-C41 and C46-C48) are provided in the second region (<NUM>) and are not provided in the first region (<NUM>).