# US 2014/0153068 A1 · Image reading apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153068 A1 - Document ID: US20140153068A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/036,916 - Filed: 2013-09-25 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Huiging Xu; Daisuke Kozaki; Takashi Ohama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153068A1 ## CPC - H04N 1/00557: {Connection or assembly of components or elements (H04N1/00538 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/0083: {Arrangements for transferring signals between different components of the apparatus, e.g. arrangements of signal lines or cables (for control or supervision between image input and output device H04N1/32)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract The instant application discloses an apparatus including an image forming unit and an image reading apparatus. The image forming unit may be disposed adjacent to the base wall of the image reading apparatus. The image reading apparatus may include a base member including the base wall and a peripheral wall protruding orthogonally from the base wall to define an accommodation region; a movable member configured to reciprocate between one end portion of the accommodation region and another end portion of the accommodation region; a reading unit supported by the movable member; a cable having a first extending portion, a curve portion, and a second extending portion; and a contact reduction portion configured to reduce contact of the second extending portion of the cable with a side wall of the peripheral wall. Various embodiments of the contact reduction portion are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image reading apparatus, comprising: a base member comprising a base wall and a peripheral wall extending orthogonally away from the base wall to define an accommodation region; a movable member configured to reciprocate between one end portion of the accommodation region and another end portion of the accommodation region; a reading unit supported by the movable member, and facing a platen in the accommodation region, the reading unit configured to read an image on a medium placed on the platen while the movable member reciprocates; a cable comprising: a curve portion; a first extending portion extending along the base wall from a portion of the cable fixed to the base wall to the curve portion of the cable; and a second extending portion continuing from the curve portion and extending to an end portion of the cable connected to the movable member; and a contact reduction portion configured to reduce contact of the second extending portion of the cable with a side wall of the peripheral wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact reduction portion extends from the side wall of the peripheral wall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact reduction portion comprises a first inclination surface located between the base wall and the side wall, and inclines with respect to the base wall. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall protrudes orthogonally from the base wall to define an accommodation region, and the contact reduction portion comprises a first inclination surface located in a corner region defined by the base wall and the side wall, and inclines with respect to the base wall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first inclination surface is connected to the base wall and the side wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall extends orthogonally away from the base wall, and the contact reduction portion comprises a first inclination surface is connected to the base wall and the side wall, and inclines with respect to the base wall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The image reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a distance between a boundary line, where the first inclination surface meets the base wall, and the side wall in a width direction is approximately equal to a distance between an edge of the second extending portion and the side wall in the width direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The image reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first inclination surface comprises ribs disposed with a distance therebetween. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact reduction portion comprises an inclination surface that connects the base wall and the side wall and inclines with respect to the base wall, and is configured to contact a facing surface of the first extending portion that face the base wall. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image reading apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the inclination surface comprises ribs disposed with a distance therebetween. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The image reading apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the ribs are separated in a scanning direction in which the movable member reciprocates, and extend in a width direction that corresponds to a width of the cable and is approximately perpendicular to the scanning direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The image reading apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the ribs are separated in a width direction and extend in a scanning direction that is approximately perpendicular to the width direction, and a height of the ribs decreases in the width direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The image reading apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the base wall comprises a stopper thereon, wherein the stopper protrudes toward the platen from a portion of the base wall, and is configured to regulate movement of an edge of the first extending portion on a side of the cable opposite to the side wall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movable member comprises a regulating portion configured to regulate movement of an end portion of the second extending portion in a width direction toward the side wall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact reduction portion extends along an entire length of a range in which the curve portion moves in a scanning direction, which is a direction that the movable member reciprocates. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The image reading apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the base member comprises a wiring area disposed between the side wall and a reading area in which the reading unit reads the image, and wherein the first extending portion, the curve portion and the second extending portion are disposed in the wiring area. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The image reading apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the cable comprises a folded portion comprising: a first portion extending into the reading area by folding an end portion of the second extending portion toward the reading area with respect to the side wall; and a second portion disposed closer to the side wall with respect to the first portion of the folded portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The image reading apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the movable member further comprises a spacer positioned between the first portion and the second portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a platen facing the base wall, wherein the platen is supported by the side wall. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact reduction portion is further configured to reduce contact of the curve portion of the cable with the side wall. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a length of the first extending portion and a length of the second extending portion change as the movable member reciprocates, wherein changes in the length of the first extending portion and the length in the second extending portion complement each other. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the side wall extends in a scanning direction in which the movable member reciprocates. ### Claim 23 An apparatus, comprising: an image reading unit, comprising: a base member comprising a base wall and a peripheral wall extending orthogonally away from the base wall surface to define an accommodation region; a movable member configured to reciprocate between one end portion of the accommodation region and another end portion of the accommodation region; a reading unit supported by the movable member, and facing a platen in the accommodation region, the reading unit configured to read an image on a medium placed on the platen while the movable member reciprocates; a cable comprising: a curve portion; a first extending portion extending along the base wall from a portion of the cable fixed to the base wall to the curve portion of the cable; and a second extending portion continuing from the curve portion and extending to an end portion of the cable connected to the movable member; and a contact reduction portion configured to reduce contact of the second extending portion of the cable with a side wall of the peripheral wall; and an image forming unit configured to form an image on a medium and disposed adjacent to the base wall of the image reading apparatus. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first extending portion, the curve portion, and the second extending portion are disposed in a wiring area, and wherein the base wall comprises a recess in the wiring area.