Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image forming mechanism that forms an image on a recording medium in accordance with image data supplied thereto;
• and
• an image reading apparatus for converting an image of an original document into the image data,
• wherein said image reading apparatus including:
• a plurality of reading sensors each of which extends in a main scanning direction and separated from each other in the main scanning direction so as to be located in a staggered arrangement in which a part of one of the reading sensors in the longitudinal direction faces a part of adjacent one of the reading sensors in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction;
• a first connection member provided to the part of one of the reading sensors facing the part of the adjacent one of the reading sensors, the first connection member protruding toward the adjacent one of the reading sensors;
• a second connection member provided to the part of the adjacent one of the reading sensors facing the part of the one of the reading sensors, the second connection member protruding toward the one of the reading sensors, wherein said first connection member and said second connection member are brought into contact with each other by being urged by a first urging member.