Patent ID: 7953341

Claim:
An automatic document feeder, comprising: a document separation and feed unit configured to separate an original document placed on top of an original document stack on an original document stacker and feed the original document to be scanned; a document conveyance unit configured to convey the original document separated and fed by the document separation and feed unit to a scanning position on an image reader; a document discharging unit configured to discharge the original document conveyed to the scanning position by the document conveyance unit to a document discharging member; a first drive unit configured to include a first motor to drive the document separation and feed unit; a second drive unit configured to include a second motor to drive the document conveyance unit; a third drive unit configured to include a third motor to drive the document discharging unit, at least two motors of the first motor, the second motor, and the third motor disposed in a substantially in-line arrangement; a cooling member configured to supply a coolant to the at least two motors disposed in a substantially in-line arrangement, to the first motor, second motor, and third motor, in that order; and a document feeder main body connected to an image reader main body via a pair of hinging units, the pair of hinging units being attached to the document feeder main body via first and second hinging unit attachment members, the document feeder main body including an intake inlet configured to take the coolant into the main body of the automatic document feeder and disposed in a gap formed between the second hinging unit attachment member and the main body of the automatic document feeder, the discharge outlet being disposed in a gap formed between the first hinging unit attachment member and the document feeder main body, wherein a discharge outlet is disposed upstream from a motor of the first motor, second motor, and third motor which is disposed at an extreme downstream side in a direction of supply of the coolant to the motors.