Multi-function device with image scanning unit and grip portion

According to aspects of the invention, there is provided a multi-function device, which is provided with a housing, an image forming unit accommodated in the housing, and an image scanning unit arranged above the housing. The housing includes a frame supporting the image forming unit, the image scanning unit being secured to the frame and an outer cover attached to outside the frame to form a side wall of the housing. The continuous surfaces extending in an up-and-down direction are defined by at least part of side walls of the image scanning unit and at least part of the outer cover, and first grip portions having first grip faces, which extend from the continuous surfaces toward inside of the image scanning unit, are provided on the side walls of the image scanning unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-254487 filed on Nov. 22, 2011. The entire subject matter of the application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

Aspects of the present invention relate to an MFD (Multi-Function Device).

Conventional Art

An example of a conventional MFD includes a housing, an image forming unit which is accommodated in the housing and configured to form an image on a printing medium, and an image scanning unit provided above the housing and configured to scan an image on an original sheet.

The housing has a frame, which supports the image forming unit, and the image scanning unit is secured to the frame at an upper portion thereof. The housing further includes an outer cover which is attached on an outer side of the housing and forms side walls of the housing. Handy-grip portions are provided making use of an inclined surface of the outer cover.

When the conventional MFD is moved to another place, user can grasp the grip portions to lift up the MFD.

SUMMARY

According to the above-described conventional MFD, however, when the user lifts up the MFD with gripping the grip portions of the outer cover, the weight of the image forming unit and the image scanning unit is applied to the grip portions of the outer cover. Therefore, the outer cover is required to have relatively high rigidity. However, the outer cover is a last part of an assembling procedure. Therefore, the outer cover may not be stably attached, and thus, in the conventional MFD as above there has been a problem that the outer cover tends to deform when lifted by a user.

On consideration of the above, aspects of the invention provide an MFD which is configured such that deformation of the outer cover when the user lifts the MFD can be suppressed.

According to aspects of the invention, there is provided a multi-function device, which is provided with a housing, an image forming unit accommodated in the housing and configured to form an image on a printing sheet, and an image scanning unit arranged above the housing and configured to scan an image on an original sheet. The image scanning unit has side walls. The housing includes a frame supporting the image forming unit, the image scanning unit being secured to the frame and an outer cover attached to outside the frame to from a side wall of the housing. The continuous surfaces extend in an up-and-down direction is formed by at least part of the side walls of image scanning unit and at least part of the outer cover, and first grip portions having first grip faces, which extend from the continuous surfaces toward inside of the image scanning unit, are provided on the side walls of the image scanning unit.

According to the MFD, by griping the gripping faces provided to the side walls, a user can lift the MFD. In this case, the weight of the MFD is directly loaded to the first grip faces. In this case, the weight of the image scanning unit is directly loaded to the first grip portions. Further, since the image scanning unit is fixed to the frame, the weight of the image forming unit is indirectly loaded to the first grip portions via the frame. Therefore, the weight of the image forming unit and the image scanning unit will be hardly loaded to the outer cover.

Therefore, in the MFD according to the embodiment, it is possible to suppress deformation of the outer cover when the MFD is lifted. Further, according to the above configuration, it is not necessary to make the outer cover have high rigidity, and thus design freedom for the outer cover can be increased.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, an embodiment according to aspects of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An MFD1according to aspects of the present invention is capable of executing a plurality of processes including an image forming process and an image scanning process. InFIG. 1, a side where an operation panel9is provided is defined as a front side of the MFD1, and a left-hand side of the MFD1when a user faces the operation unit9is defined as a left side of the MFD1. The other directions are defined based on the above definition. In other drawings, the directions are indicated based on the definition above.

Overall Configuration of MFD

The MFD1is provided with a housing10, an image forming unit20accommodated in the housing10, and an image scanning unit100provided above the housing10(FIGS. 1-3).

At a lower portion of the housing10, below the image forming unit20, a sheet cassette29is detachably provided. The sheet cassette29is configured to accommodate a plurality of sheets, on which images are formed, in a stacked state.

The image forming unit20is one having a well-know configuration and detailed description will be omitted for brevity. The image forming unit20may be an electrophotographic printer or an inkjet printer, which is configured to form a printing sheet that is fed from the stack of sheets accommodated in the sheet cassette29one by one.

Between the housing10and the image scanning unit100, a sheet discharging space90is defined. The sheet discharging space90is an inner space having a shape of right-angled parallelepiped having an opening toward the front side of the MFD1and recessed rearward. An opening width of the discharging space90, that is a length in the right-and-left direction of the sheet discharging space90is designed to be larger than the width of the sheets accommodated in the sheet cassette29. A sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit20is fed to make U-turn from the rear end of the image forming unit20and discharged to the sheet discharge space90. An opening height of the discharging space90, that is a length of the opening in the up-and-down direction of the opening is designed to be sufficiently large so that the user can insert a hand therefrom to pull out the discharged sheet easily. It is noted that, according to the exemplary embodiment, the right-and-left direction of the MFD1is a width direction of the MFD1.

The image forming unit100is of a well-known configuration and a detailed description thereof will be omitted for brevity. The image forming unit100includes a scanner main body150and an openable/closable unit160provided above the scanner main body150.

On an upper surface of the scanner main body150, a platen glass (not shown) is provided. The platen glass has a sufficient size so that an A4 size (210 mm×297 mm) original sheet can be placed thereon and scanned. In the scanner main body150, below the platen glass, an image scanning sensor (not shown) extending in the front-and-rear direction is arranged. The image scanning sensor is configured to be reciprocally slidable between the left side end and the right side end of the platen glass.

The rear end portion of the openable/closable unit160is rotatably supported at the rear end portion of the scanner main body150. When the front end portion of the openable/closable unit160is lifted, the platen glass provided on the upper surface of the scanner main body150can be exposed to outside. When the front end portion is put down, the openable/closable unit160covers the upper surface of the platen glass so as to urge an original sheet placed on the platen glass toward the platen glass. In this state, the image scanning unit100slides the image scanning sensor which extends in the front-and-rear direction (i.e., a main scanning direction) in the right-and-left direction (i.e., in an auxiliary scanning direction) to scan a two-dimensional image of the original sheet.

As shown inFIG. 1, the openable/closable unit160includes a sheet supply tray161and a sheet discharge tray162. The openable/closable unit160is also provided with a not-shown ASF (automatic sheet feeder). The sheet feed tray161is can be rotated to extend to a position indicated by two-dotted lines inFIG. 1, and a plurality of original sheets are placed. Then, the image scanning unit100feeds the original sheets placed on the sheet supply tray161one by one with the ASF so that each original sheet passes a position above the image scanning sensor which is located at a fixed scanning position defined below the platen glass. The image scanning unit100causes the image scanning sensor to scan an image of the sheet passing above the image scanning sensor, and then causes the ASF to discharge the original sheet onto the sheet discharge tray162.

The front end portion of the scanner main body150is protruded forward with respect to the openable/closable unit160, and an operation panel9is provided on the upper surface of the protruded portion. The user can cause the image forming unit10to executed an image forming process and/or the image scanning unit100to execute an image scanning process, by inputting commands through the operation panel9. Further, the user can obtain an operation status of the MFD1based on information displayed on the operation panel9. As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the housing10includes the frame and side covers80R and80L.

Frame

As shown inFIG. 4, the frame includes a main frame40and a joint cover50. The main frame40includes a pair of side frames41R and41L, and a connecting member42. The side frames41R and41L are plate-like resin members provided with a plurality of ribs, and each extends in the up-and-down direction and the front-and-rear direction. The bottom surfaces of the side frames41R and41L extend to a surface on which the MFD1is placed and defines lower ends1B of the MFD1(seeFIG. 4). Upper surfaces of the side frames41R and41L extend to a level substantially the same as the bottom surface of the discharging space90. The side frames41R and41L face each other, in the right-and-left direction, with the image forming unit20and the sheet cassette29located therebetween, and supports the image forming unit20and the sheet cassette29. As shown inFIG. 5, the front surfaces of the side frames41R and41L are exposed outside on the front surface of the MFD1and form a part of a front wall of the MFD1.

The connecting member42extends horizontally between the image forming unit20and the sheet cassette29and connects the side frames41R and41L. It is noted that, although not shown in the drawings, the main frame40has a reinforcing member which also connects the side frames41R and41L besides the connecting member42.

As shown inFIGS. 4 to 6, the joint cover50is a frame member made of resin and is configured to include integrally-molded pair of joint units51R and51L, the discharge tray52and the connecting unit53. The joint units51R and51L are spaced in the right-and-left direction and face each other. The discharge space90is defined between the joint units51R and51L. The discharge tray52is a planar plate-like member and arranged toward front side from the connection unit53, and connects the joint units51R and51L. The discharge tray52defines the bottom surface of the discharging space90. The connection unit53is a frame extending in the right-and-left direction and connects the joint units51R and51L at a rear side thereof.

As shown inFIG. 5, the front surfaces of the joint units51R and51L are exposed to outside on the front side of the MFD1and form a part of the front wall of the MFD1. As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the rear surface of the connection unit53is exposed outside on the rear side of the MFD1and for a part of a rear wall of the MFD1.

As shown inFIG. 7, on the lower surface of the right side joint unit51R, engaging members51A and51B which protrude downward are integrally formed. On the lower ends of the engaging members51A and51B, engaging hole and/or engaging claw are formed, respectively. As shown inFIG. 8, on the lower surface of the left side joint unit51L, engaging members51C and51D which protrude downward are integrally formed. On the lower ends of the engaging members51C and51D, engaging hole and/or engaging claw are formed, respectively.

As shown inFIG. 4, as the joint cover50is assembled to the main frame40from the above, the engaging members51A,51B,51C and51D of the joint cover50engage with engagement portions formed on the main frame40, respectively. As above, the joint cover50is rigidly secured to the main frame40. Although not shown, the engaging members51A,51B,51C and51D are secured to the engagement portions of the main frame with screws, respectively.

As shown inFIG. 6, on the upper surface of the right side joint unit50R, a circular recess51E is formed on the front side, and a square recess51F is formed on the rear side. Similarly, on the upper surface of the left joint unit51L, a circular recess51G is formed on the front side, and a square recess51H is formed on the rear side.

On the upper surface of the right joint unit51R, on the right side of the circular recess51E and the square recess51F, engagement parts51J and51K, each of which protrudes upward by a small amount and is bent to left so that an L-shape is formed, are integrally formed.

As shown inFIG. 9, on the lower surface of the scanner main unit150, a discharge space upper wall159, which is recessed upward to form an upper surface of the discharge space90, is formed. On the lower surface of the scanner main unit150, protruded parts151E and151F, which have cylindrical shapes and protrude downward, are integrally formed at front and rear positions on the right side of the discharge space upper wall159. Similarly, on the lower surface of the scanner main unit150, protruded parts151G and151H, which have cylindrical shapes and protrude downward, are integrally formed at front and rear positions on the left side of the discharge space upper wall150.

On the lower surface of the scanner main body150, at front and rear positions on the right side of the protruded members151E and151F, engaging parts151J and151K, each of which protrudes downward by a small amount and is bent rightward to form an L-shape, are integrally formed.

On the lower surface of the scanner main body150, at front and rear positions on the left side of the protruded members151G and151H, engaging parts151L and151M, each of which protrudes downward, are integrally formed. At lower ends of the engaging parts151L and151M, engaging claws are provided.

By moving the scanner main body150at a position where it is obliquely shifted in an upper left direction with respect to the joint cover50is moved rightward and downward, the right side engaging parts151J and151K engage with engagement parts51J and51K provided on the right side of the joint cover50, respectively, as shown inFIG. 7. At this stage, the left side engaging parts151L and151M of the scanner main body50engage with engagement parts (not shown) provided on the left side of the joint cover50.

Further, at this stage, the protruded members151E,151F,151G and151H of the scanner main body50are inserted in the circular recesses51E,51G,51H and the square recess51F of the joint cover50, respectively. As the cylindrical protruded parts151E,151G and151H are fitted in the circular recesses51E,51G and51H, respectively, the scanner main body150is accurately positioned with respect to the joint cover50.

As described above, the scanner main body150is rigidly secured to the joint cover50. The engaging parts151L and151M of the scanner main body150and the engagement parts of the joint cover50are engaged by screws (not shown), respectively, to prevent them from being disengaged.

As shown inFIG. 4, side frames41R and41L of the main frame40, the joint units51R and51L of the joint cover50form a pair of facing portions. The pair of facing portions extends in up-and-down direction to the lower end1B of the MFD1, and sandwich the image forming unit20in the horizontal direction. The discharge space90is also defined between the facing portions.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the right side wall157R of the scanner main body150forms the right side wall of the image scanning device100. The left side wall157L of the scanner main body150forms the left wall of the image scanner device100. The right and left lower ends159R and159L of the scanner main body150form the lower ends of the image scanning device100.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the side covers80R and80L are panel members made of resin. The right side cover80R is attached to the outside of the right side frame41R and forms a right side wall of the housing10. The left side cover80L is attached on the outside of the left side frame41L and forms a left side wall of the housing10.

InFIG. 5, the MFD1is shown such that the joint cover50is spaced from the main frame40, while the side covers80R and80L are coupled to the side frames41R and41L, respectively. When the MFD1is actually assembled, the side covers80R and80L are lastly attached to the side frames41R and41L after the main frame40, the joint cover50and the image scanning unit10are assembled. It is noted that the side covers80R and80L are attached side frames41R and41L with a well-known method (e.g., by engagement, by fastening screws, etc.)

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, a right wall157R of the scanner main unit150and the right side cover80R form a continuous surface P1R extending in the up-and-down direction. Similarly, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4, a left wall157L of the scanner main unit150and the left side cover80L form a continuous surface P1L extending in the up-and-down direction.

It is noted that a description “the planes P1R and P1L extend in the up-and-down direction” is intended that the “up-and-down direction” needs not be limited to a vertical direction but can be curved or inclined with respect to the vertical direction. Further, the term “continuous” is intended that the planes need not be limited to a smooth surface over the entire area of the continuous surfaces P1R and P1L, but can be planes having substantially smooth surfaces. For example, the continuous surfaces P1R and P1L could be bent slightly as shown inFIG. 4. Further, the continuous surfaces P1R and P1L may be formed with some protruded/recessed portions and/or grooves.

As shown inFIG. 4, the continuous surfaces P1R and P1L are inclined such that they approach the side frames41R and41L at the lower end1B side of the MFD1, and spaced from the joint units51R and51L of the joint cover50on the image scanner unit100side.

First Handy-Grip Recess

As shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 4, according to the MFD1, first handy-grip recesses110R and110L are formed on the side walls157R and157L of the scanner main unit150, respectively. The first handy-grip recesses110R and110L face the lower end sides159R and159L of the scanner main unit150. Further, as shown inFIG. 9, the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L are recessed upward from the lower end sides159R and159L, respectively, to define a vacant space having a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped flattened in the up-and-down direction.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 9, horizontal faces slightly recessed upward at the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L are first handy-grip faces111R and111L, respectively. The first handy-grip faces111R and111L extend from the continuous surfaces P1R and P1L toward the inside of the image scanner unit100. The first handy-grip faces111R and111L are formed to be directed downward so that a user can grip the same easily. As shown inFIG. 9, on each of the first handy-grip faces111R and111L, a plurality of lines of nonslip ribs105extending in the front-and-rear direction are formed.

As shown inFIG. 4, the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L are formed making use of spaces S1R and S1L at which the continuous surfaces P1R and P1L are spaced from the joint units51R and51L of the joint cover50, respectively. As the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L are recessed upward from the lower side ends159R and159L of the scanner main unit150, the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L are spaced upward with respect to the side covers80R and80L, respectively, and thus do not contact the same.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the side covers80R and80L have recesses81R and81L which face the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L from below, respectively. The recesses81R and81L are recessed from the continuous surfaces P1R and P1L toward the inside of the housing10, thereby forming spaces each having a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped below the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L, respectively.

As shown inFIG. 3, a length L1of the first handy-grip faces111R and111L in a direction extending horizontally along the continuous surfaces P1R and P1L (i.e., the length in the front-and-rear direction) and a length L2of the recesses81R and81L in the front-and-rear direction are the same.

Exchangeable Large Scanning Unit

The MFD1according to the embodiment is configured such that the image scanning unit100can be exchanged to a large scanning unit200(seeFIGS. 10?12). As described above the image scanning unit100has the platen glass of which the size corresponds to the A4 size (210 mm×297 mm) sheet. The large scanning unit200has a platen glass of which size corresponds to a legal size (215.9 mm×355.6 mm) sheet. Therefore, the large scanning unit200is larger than the image scanning unit100in its width direction (i.e., in the right-and-left direction).

The large scanning unit200is provided with a scanner main unit250and an openable/closable unit260provided above the scanner main unit250. The scanner main unit250is configured to be larger than the scanner main unit150of the image scanning unit100in the width direction (i.e., the front-and-rear direction). The openable/closable unit260is also configured to be larger than the openable/closable unit160of the image scanning unit100in the width direction. The configuration of the large scanning unit200other than the scanner main unit250and the openable/closable unit260is the same as the configuration of the scanner main unit150and the openable/closable unit160and description thereof will be omitted for brevity.

As shown inFIG. 13, on the lower surface of the scanner main unit250, a discharge space upper wall250, protrusions251E,251F,251G and251H, and engagement parts251J,251K,251L and251M are formed. The shape and relative positions thereof are similar to the protrusions151E,151F,151G and151H, and engagement parts151J,151K,151L and151M of the scanner main unit100of the image scanning unit100. With the above configuration, the large scanning unit200can be rigidly secured to the joint cover50by assembling the same as is done when the image scanner unit100.

As shown inFIGS. 10?12, the scanner main unit250has protruded parts257R and257L, which are protruded outward in the width direction, with respect to the side covers80R and80L, respectively. On the lower surfaces of the protruded portions257R and257L, second handy-grip recesses210R and210L are formed.

As shown inFIG. 13, the second handy-grip recesses210R and210L are respectively provided with second handy-grip faces211R and211L, which faces downward so that the user can grip the same. On each of the second handy-grip faces211R and211L, a plurality of lines of nonslip ribs205extending in the front-and-rear direction are formed.

As shown inFIGS. 12 and 13, on a lower surface259B of the scanner main unit250, rising parts220R and220L are formed to rise downward. The rising parts220R and220L are arranged to face the upper ends of the side covers80R and80L from the above, respectively. According to the exemplary embodiment, the rising parts220R and220L are thick planar plates rising downward and extending in the front-and-rear direction.

As shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, as the scanner main unit250is secured to the joint cover50, the rising parts220R and220L are inserted in the recesses81R and81L of the side covers80R and80L to close the recesses81R and81L, respectively. As a result, faces of the rising parts220R and220L facing outward in the right-and-left direction are arranged on substantially a same plane of the outer surfaces of the side covers80R and80L to form right and left walls of the MFD1, respectively.

In the MFD1according to the embodiment, the handy-grip recesses are not provided to the side covers80R or80L, but the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L are formed on the walls157R and157L of the scanner main unit150. With this structure, the user can lift the device by gripping the first handy-grip faces111R and111L when the user picks up the MFD1from a packaging cardboard box, when the user moves the MFD1, or the like. In this case, the weight of the image scanning unit100is directly loaded to the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L. Further, since the image scanning unit100is fixed to the main frame40and the joint cover50, the weight of the image forming unit20is indirectly loaded to the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L via the image scanning unit, the main frame40and the joint cover40. Therefore, the weight of the image forming unit20and the image scanning unit100will be hardly loaded to the side covers80R and80L.

Therefore, in the MFD1according to the embodiment, it is possible to suppress deformation of the side covers80R and80L when the MFD1is lifted. Further, according to the above configuration, it is not necessary to make the side covers80R and80L have high rigidity, and thus design freedom for the side covers80R and80L can be increased.

Further, according to the MFD1described above, when it is lifted, the main frame40and joint cover40supporting the image forming unit20are hung from the image scanning unit100. Thus, the main frame40and the joint cover50do not need to support the weight of the image scanning unit100. Therefore, according to the MFD1, deformation of the main frame40and the joint cover50can be suppressed in comparison with a case where, as in a conventional configuration, the frame supports the weight of the image forming unit and the image scanning unit when the MDF is lifted.

Further, according to the MFD1described above, since the first handy-grip faces111R and111L are formed to extend inward from the continuous surfaces P1R and P1L, and the first handy-grip portions (i.e., handy-grip recesses110R and110L) are not protruded from the continuous panes P1R and P1L in the width direction, it is possible to make the width of the MFD1narrower.

In the MFD1according to the embodiment, the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L face the lower ends159R and159L of the scanner main unit150, respectively. Further, the side covers80R and80L have recesses81R and81L which are recessed inwardly from the continuous surfaces P1R and P1L toward the inside of the housing10and face the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L, respectively. With this configuration, as the recesses81R and81L face the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L, sufficiently large spaces for gripping the first handy-grip faces111R and111L can be provided.

According to the MFD1, as shown inFIG. 3, the length L1of the first handy-grip faces111R and111L in the front-and-rear direction and the length L2of the recesses81R and81L in the front-and-rear direction are identical. With this configuration, the recesses81R and81L will not be made too large, and sufficiently wide space for gripping the first handy-grip faces111R and111L can be provided.

The MFD1has configured that the image scanning unit100can be exchanged to the large scanning unit200, which has a wider with than the image scanning unit100and secured to the main frame40and the joint cover50. On the lower surfaces of the protruded portions257R and257L of the large scanner unit200, the second handy-grip recesses210R and210L are formed, and the rising parts220R and220L are formed on the lower surface259B. With this configuration, for a single type of housing10, the image scanning unit100for scanning A4 sheets and the large scanning unit200for scanning legal size sheets are selectively coupled. Even if the large scanning unit200is coupled to the housing10, the second handy-grip recesses210R and210L serves similarly to the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L, it is possible to suppress deformation of the side covers80R and80L when the MFD1is lifted. Further, when the large scanning unit200is coupled, since the rising parts220R and220L cover the recesses81R and81L of the side covers80R and80L, respectively, it is unnecessary to use different side covers which are not formed with the recesses81R and81L. Therefore, as the number of members can be reduced by using the same members in different configurations, the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

In the MFD1, the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L are recessed from the lower ends159R and159L of the scanner main body150, and relatively large spaces can be provided for gripping the first handy-grip faces111R and111L, respectively.

Since the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L do not contact the side covers80R and80L, respectively. Therefore, load applied to the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L is not transmitted to the side covers80R and80L, respectively, and thus, deformation of the side covers80R and80L can be prevented.

In the MFD1, as the nonslip ribs105,205are formed, when the user grips the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L or the second handy-grip recesses210R and210L to move the MFD1, slipping of the users hand with respect to the first handy-grip faces111R and111L or the second handy-grip faces211R and211L can be prevented, and the user can move the MFD1relatively easily.

In the MFD1according to the embodiment, the main frame40and the joint cover50have a pair of side frames41R and41L, and a pair of joint units51R and51L, which are spaced horizontally and face each other. Between the joint units51R and51L, the discharge space90is formed. Further, the scanner main body150of the image scanning unit100is secured to the joint members51R and51L. With this configuration, since it is ensured that the image scanning unit100can be secured to the main frame40and the joint cover50, and transmission of load therebetween can be performed, although the discharge space90is formed below the image scanning unit100, deterioration of the rigidity of the MFD1can be suppressed.

According to the MFD1, since the continuous surfaces P1R and P1L are inclined such that they are closer to the side frames41R and41L at the lower end1B side of the MFD1, while they are farther from the joint members51R and51L on the image scanning unit100side located at an upper positions, the positions of the side frames41R and41L configuring the frame40can be made closer in comparison with the width of the MFD1. As a result, the installation area of the MFD1, which is normally determined based on positions of the side frames41R and41L can be made small with respect to the appearance of the MFD1. Further, as shown inFIG. 4, the first handy-grip recesses110R and110L can be provided easily at the spaces S1R and S1L at which the continuous surface P1R and P1L are spaced from the joint units51R and51L.

It should be noted that the above-described embodiment is an exemplary embodiment, and the invention should not be limited to the above-described configuration of the exemplary embodiment. Rather, the configuration can be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the first handy-grip recesses may not be the upwardly recessed portions. That is, the first handy-grip faces111R and111L may be shifted to the lower ends159R and159L of the scanner main unit150. Also in such a configuration, sufficient spaces for gripping can be provided as the recess81R and81L are formed to the side covers80R and80L, respectively. Alternatively, the first handy-recess portions may be provided by forming recessed portions each having a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and recessed inwardly toward the continuous surfaces P1R and P1L or toward the inside of the image scanning unit100, at an upper position spaced from the lower ends159R and159L of the scanner main body150. In such a configuration, the recesses81R and81L of the side covers80R and80L will become unnecessary.

Instead of the nonslip ribs105and205, various types of nonslip structures such as nonslip grooves or uneven surfaces having a plurality of protrusions and/or holes may be provided.