Opening and closing assembly, and multifunction device including the assembly

An opening and closing assembly includes: (a) a first casing body; (b) a second casing body pivotable to be selectively placed in open and closed positions relative to the first casing body; and (c) a support stand for supporting the second casing body to maintain the open position. The support stand includes (c-1) a proximal end portion pivotably connected to one of the first and second casing bodies and (c-2) a distal end portion slidably connected to the other of the first and second casing bodies. The other of the first and second casing bodies includes (i) a guide portion for guiding the distal end portion of the support stand, and (ii) first and second wall portions cooperating with each other for gripping the distal end portion of the support stand. The distal end portion of the support stand includes a gripped portion having a thickness that is increased in a direction away from the distal end portion of the support stand toward the proximal end portion of the support stand.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-168841 filed on Jun. 19, 2006, the content of which is incorporated hereinto by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an opening and closing assembly including an opening and closing mechanism and first and second casing bodies pivotable relative to each other, wherein the opening and closing mechanism is capable of maintaining an open position of the second casing body relative to the first casing body and opening and closing the second casing body relative to the first casing body in suitable manners.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Conventionally, there have been proposed various kinds of structures each of which is to be incorporated in an opening and closing assembly including first and second casing bodies pivotable relative to each other through a hinge and each of which is arranged to maintain an open position of the second casing body relative to the first casing body when the second casing body should be held in the open position. As an example of the opening and closing assembly incorporating such a structure, there is a so-called “multifunction device”, i.e., a device having multifunctions such as printer, scanner, copier and facsimile functions.

For performing the multifunctions, the multifunction device has an image recording unit operable to record an image on a recording medium and also an image reading unit operable to read an image carried on an original.

The image reading unit is provided by a flat bed scanner, for example. In some case, the flat bed scanner is provided with an automatic document feeder (ADF) that is arranged to automatically feed an original document. The flat bed scanner has a document setting table having an upper surface that is provided by a platen glass, and also a document cover for covering the upper surface of the document setting table and fixing the original document onto the platen glass. When an image carried on the original document is to be read by the image reading unit, the original document is set on the platen glass after the document cover is opened relative to the document setting table. The original document is fixed onto the platen glass, with the document cover is closed relative to the document setting table. The original document is scanned by an image sensor that is reciprocatably disposed inside the document setting table, i.e., below the platen glass, whereby the image carried on the original document is read based on an electric signal representative of the image.

In the multifunction device, it is common that the image reading unit is disposed on an upper side of the image recording unit, for facilitating setting of the original document onto the platen glass of the flat bed scanner.

On the other hand, the image recording unit of the multifunction device requires a maintenance work such as replacement of ink cartridges and removal of recording mediums jammed inside the image recording unit. For allowing an operator to access inside the image recording unit for carrying out the maintenance work, at least a part of a casing body of the image recording unit has to be exposed as needed.

The above-described opening and closing mechanism is employed to open and close the image reading unit relative to the image recording unit. It is preferable that the image reading unit is held open relative to the image recording unit during the maintenance work. To this purpose, as disclosed in JP-U-3093658 (Japanese Utility Model registered in 2003), the opening and closing mechanism has a stopper member that is disposed in a diagonal attitude for maintaining the open position of the image reading unit relative to the image recording unit

According to the disclosure of JP-U-3093658, the image reading unit (scanner casing body) is attached to the image recording unit (printer casing body), pivotably about a pivot axis that is provided in its end portion. Between the image reading unit and the image recording unit, the stopper member (scanner support stand) is provided to maintain a state in which the image reading unit is opened relative to the image recording unit by a predetermined angle. On a lower surface of the image reading unit, there is provided a pivot shaft receiver by which one of opposite end portions of the stopper member is pivotably received. On an upper surface of the image recording unit, there is provided an accommodating portion (scanner-support-stand accommodating hole) that is arranged to accommodate therein the stopper member such that the other of the opposite end portions of the stopper member is first introduced into the accommodating portion and then the above-described one of the opposite end portions of the stopper member is introduced into the accommodating portion. The above-described other of the opposite end portions of the stopper member includes an engaging portion that can be held in engagement with an opening of the accommodating portion and an elastic body that is elastically pressed against a periphery of the opening of the accommodating portion. With the engagement of the engaging portion of the stopper member with the opening of the accommodating portion, the image reading unit is held in its open position relative to the image recording unit. With disengagement of the engaging portion of the stopper member from the opening of the accommodating portion, the stopper member is accommodated in the accommodating portion whereby the image reading unit is placed in its closed position relative to the image recording unit. In an initial stage of a closing transition from the open position to the closed position and also a final stage of an opening transition from the closed position to the open position, the above-described elastic body is elastically pressed against the periphery of the opening of the accommodating portion whereby a load is applied against pivot motion of the image reading unit relative to the image recording unit. That is, in the initial stage of the closing transition and the final stage of the opening transition, the image reading unit is slowly pivoted. It is therefore possible to prevent a hand of an operator from being caught between the image reading unit and the image recording unit during a maintenance work, since the image reading unit is not rapidly pivoted from the above-described predetermined angle toward the closed position.

However, in the above-described arrangement disclosed in JP-U-3093658, the load can not be applied against the pivot motion in a final stage of the closing transition, i.e., in a stage until the image reading unit is completely closed relative to the image recording unit after the above-described initial stage of the closing transition. That is, in the final stage of the closing transition, the image reading unit could be rapidly pivoted toward the closed position due to its own weight, causing collision of the image reading unit with the image recording unit, and accordingly causing a risk of damages of the image reading and recording units.

JP-H01-29815Y2 (Japanese Examined Utility Model Application published in 1989) discloses an opening and closing mechanism arranged to open and close a cover body attached to a casing body that provides, for example, a data terminal unit. According to the disclosure of JP-H01-29815Y2, the cover body is pivotable relative to the casing body to which the cover body is connected via a guide member. The guide member is provided by an arcuate-shaped member that is arranged to extend from a side surface of the cover body toward the casing body. The guide member has a guide slot formed therethrough to be aligned with a position of a screw receiver hole that is provided in the casing body. A screw bolt is provided to pass through the guide slot and the screw receiver hole and to be screwed into a nut, so that the guide member and the casing body are gripped between a head of the screw bolt and the nut, for thereby maintaining a predetermined angular position in which the cover body is opened relative to the casing body by a predetermined angle. Further, in JP-H01-29815Y2, a torsion spring is provided in the casing body, so as to bias the cover body in a direction away from the casing body. In a final stage of the closing transition from the open position toward the closed position, the cover body is biased by the torsion spring in the direction away from the casing body. Therefore, in the arrangement disclosed in JP-H01-29815Y2, it is possible to prevent the cover body from being rapidly pivoted toward the closed position and accordingly to avoid the image reading and recording units from being damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the multifunction device, it is preferable that the image reading unit can be smoothly and quickly opened relative to the image recording unit, for facilitating the above-described maintenance work.

In the arrangement of JP-H01-29815Y2, the cover body is biased upwardly, i.e., in the direction away from the casing body only in the final stage of the closing transition and the initial stage of the opening transition, and the cover body is stopped in the predetermined angular position relative to the casing body. Therefore, a large force is required to cause the cover body to be pivoted relative to the casing body.

The present invention was made in view of the background prior art discussed above. It is therefore a first object of the invention to provide an opening and closing assembly in which a load applied against a pivot motion of a second casing body relative to a first casing body is increased in a closing transition from an open position of the second casing body to a closed position of the second casing body and is reduced in an opening transition from the closed position to the open position, namely, in which the second casing body can be smoothly and quickly opened relative to the first casing body while the second casing body is prevented from being rapidly closed relative to the first casing body. It is a second object of the invention to provide a multifunction device including the opening and closing assembly which has the above-described technical advantage. The first and second objects may be achieved according to first and second aspects of the invention, respectively, which are described below.

The first aspect of the invention provides an opening and closing assembly including: (a) a first casing body having a connected portion and a distant portion that is distant from the connected portion; (b) a second casing body having a connected portion and a distant portion that is distant from the connected portion of the second casing body, the second casing body being connected at the connected portion thereof to the connected portion of the first casing body, and being pivotable about the connected portions of the respective first and second casing bodies relative to the first casing body so as to be selectively placed in open and closed positions relative to the first casing body; and (c) a support stand configured to support the second casing body so as to maintain the open position of the second casing body when the second casing body is to be held in the open position, the support stand including (c-1) a proximal end portion that is pivotably connected to the distant portion of one of the first and second casing bodies and (c-2) a distal end portion that is slidably connected to the other of the first and second casing bodies, wherein the other of the first and second casing bodies includes (i) a guide portion configured to guide the distal end portion of the support stand, for permitting the distal end portion of the support stand to be slidable between the connected portion and the distant portion of the other of the first and second casing bodies, and (ii) first and second wall portions opposed to each other and cooperating with each other for gripping the distal end portion of the support stand that is interposed between the first and second wall portions, wherein the distal end portion of the support stand includes a gripped portion at which the distal end portion can be gripped between the first and second wall portions of the other of the first and second casing bodies, and at which the distal end portion can be brought into slidable contact with the first and second wall portions of the other of the first and second casing bodies, and wherein a thickness of the gripped portion, as measured in an opposed direction in which the first and second wall portions are opposed to each other, is increased in a direction away from the distal end portion of the support stand toward the proximal end portion of the support stand.

The opening and closing assembly constructed according to the present invention is advantageous, for example, where the gripped portion of the distal end portion of the support stand is wedged into between the first and second wall portions by a larger extent during a closing transition from the open position of the second casing body to the closed position of the second casing body during which the distant portion of the second casing body is forced in a direction toward the distant portion of the first casing body, than during an opening transition from the closed position to the open position during which the distant portion of the second casing body is forced in a direction away from the distant portion of the first casing body. That is, when the second casing body is being closed relative to the first casing body, a relatively large frictional force is generated between the gripped portion of the distal end portion of the support stand and each of the first and second wall portions of the above-described other of the first and second casing bodies, whereby the second casing body is prevented, owing to the large frictional force, from being rapidly pivoted relative to the first casing body in its closing direction. It is therefore possible to prevent a hand of an operator from being caught between the first and second casing bodies when the operator intends to place the second casing body into its closed position relative to the first casing body. On the other hand, when the second casing body is being opened relative to the first casing body, a relatively small frictional force is generated between the gripped portion of the distal end portion of the support stand and each of the first and second wall portions of the above-described other of the first and second casing bodies, whereby the second casing body can be easily pivoted relative to the first casing body in its opening direction.

According to an advantageous arrangement of the first aspect of the invention, the support stand is provided by at least two portions including a high friction portion which has a higher coefficient of friction than the other of the at least two portions, wherein the gripped portion of the distal end portion of the support stand has a contact surface which can be brought into slidable contact with the first and second wall portions of the other of the first and second casing bodies and which is at least partially provided by the high friction portion.

In this advantageous arrangement, when the second casing body is being closed relative to the first casing body, the frictional force generated between the gripped portion of the distal end portion of the support stand and each of the first and second wall portions of the above-described other of the first and second casing bodies can be made larger than in an arrangement in which the contact surface of the gripped portion is not provided by the high friction portion. Therefore, the second casing body can be more reliably prevented from being rapidly pivoted relative to the first casing body in its closing direction, thereby making it possible to more reliably prevent a hand of an operator from being caught between the first and second casing bodies when the operator intends to place the second casing body into its closed position relative to the first casing body.

According to another advantageous arrangement of the first aspect of the invention, the other of the first and second casing bodies is brought into contact at one of opposite side surfaces thereof with the one of the first and second casing bodies when the second casing body is placed in the closed position, wherein the other of the first and second casing bodies includes a portion in which a distance between the first and second wall portions of the other of the first and second casing bodies, as measured in the opposed direction, is reduced in a direction away from the one of the opposite side surfaces toward the other of the opposite side surfaces.

In this another advantageous arrangement, when the gripped portion of the distal end portion of the support stand is gripped between the first and second wall portions of the above-described other of the first and second casing bodies, a contact area of the gripped portion, which is held in contact with the first and second wall portions, can be made larger than in an arrangement in which the distance between the first and second wall portions is constant. The increase in the contact area of the gripped portion leads to an increase in the frictional force generated between the gripped portion of the distal end portion of the support stand and each of the first and second wall portions of the above-described other of the first and second casing bodies when the second casing body is being closed relative to the first casing body. Therefore, the second casing body can be more reliably prevented from being rapidly pivoted relative to the first casing body in its closing direction, thereby making it possible to more reliably prevent a hand of an operator from being caught between the first and second casing bodies when the operator intends to place the second casing body into its closed position relative to the first casing body.

The second aspect of the invention provides a multifunction device including the opening and closing assembly defined in the first aspect of the invention, wherein the first casing body of the opening and closing assembly provides an image recording unit configured to record an image on a recording medium, while the second casing body of the opening and closing assembly provides an image reading unit configured to read an image carried on an original.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the accompanying drawings, there will be described an opening and closing assembly in the form of a multifunction device (MFD)1that is constructed according to an embodiment of the present invention. The multifunction device1is arranged to perform various functions such as printer, scanner, copier, telecommunication and facsimile functions. As shown inFIG. 1, the multifunction device1has a main body10that is provided by a generally rectangular parallelepiped body. A height of the main body10is smaller than a width and a depth of the main body10. The main body10has a first casing body in the form of a printer unit2and a second casing body in the form of a flatbed scanner unit (hereinafter referred to as FBS unit)3. The printer unit2serves as an image recording unit for recording an image onto a recording medium, while the FBS unit3superposed on the printer unit2serves an image reading unit for reading an image carried on an original. In the following descriptions, a width direction of the main body10corresponds to a direction parallel to directions indicated by arrows “RIGHT” and “LEFT” in the drawings, a depth direction of the main body10corresponds to a direction parallel to directions indicated by arrows “FRONT” and “REAR” in the drawings, and a vertical direction of the main body10corresponds to a direction parallel to directions indicated by arrows “UP” and “DOWN”.

During performance of the printer function, the multifunction device1is connected to a computer (not shown), and the printer unit2is operated to record a desired image or script onto the recording medium, based on data which is transmitted from the computer and which represents the desired image or script. Further, the multifunction device1may be connected also to an external device such as a digital camera or a data storage medium such as a memory card, so that the printer unit2can be operated to record a desired image onto the recording medium, based on data which is transmitted from the external device or the data storage medium and which represents the desired image.

During performance of the scanner function, an image or script carried on an original is read by the FBS unit, and data representative of the read image or script is transmitted to the computer or is stored into the data storage medium such as the memory card. During performance of the copier function, the printer unit2is operated to record the image or script (read by the FBS unit2) onto the recording medium. During performance of the facsimile function, the data representative of the image or script (read by the FBS unit2) is transmitted via a telephone line (not shown) that is connected to the multifunction device1, and the printer unit2is operated to record an image or script onto the recording medium, based on data which is received via the telephone line. During performance of the telecommunication function, a voice can be received and transmitted via the telephone line. As shown inFIG. 1, a connecting portion14is provided in a side surface of the main body10, so that the telephone line can be connected to the multifunction device1via the connecting portion14.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 8, a control circuit board9is provided in a front portion of an inside of the printer unit2, so as to control operations of the printer unit2and the FBS unit3.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, a sheet supply tray20is provided in a bottom portion of the main body10. The sheet supply tray20is removable from the main body10and introducible into the main body10, by displacing the tray20relative to the body10in a forward direction and a rearward direction, respectively. The sheet supply tray20accommodates desired-sized recording sheets such as A4-sized paper sheets and B5-sized paper sheets that are stacked on each other. A sheet exist tray21is superposed on the sheet supply tray20, and is supported by the sheet exit tray21. The sheet supply tray20and the sheet exist tray21cooperate with each other to constitute a cassette tray assembly. When the cassette tray assembly is introduced into the main body10and is positioned in a predetermined position, the recording sheets can be sequentially drawn out by a sheet supply roller25rearwardly (as seen inFIG. 2) so as to be fed in a feed direction along a sheet feed path23toward an image recording unit24. That is, the recording sheets accommodated in the sheet supply tray20are supplied one by one toward an inside of the printer unit2so as to be subjected to an image recording operation, and are then discharged to a sheet exist tray21.

A slant sheet-separator plate22is disposed in a rear end portion of the sheet supply tray20. The slant sheet-separator plate22, which is inclined toward a rear side of the main body10, serves to separate an uppermost one of the recording sheets from the other sheets and to guide the separated recording sheet upwardly along the sheet feed path23. As shown inFIG. 2, the sheet feed path23extends upwardly from the slant sheet-separator plate22, and is then curved forwardly so as to extend toward a front side of the main body10. While forwardly extending up to the sheet exist tray21, the sheet feed path23passes through the image recording unit24. The recording sheets accommodated in the sheet supply tray20are guided by the sheet feed path23so as to make U turn and reach the image recording unit24. After having been subjected to the image recording operation performed by the image recording unit24, the recording sheets are discharged to the sheet exist tray21.

The FBS unit3is provided by an upper portion of the main body10. As shown inFIG. 2, the main body10has a document cover30which serves as a top board of the main body10and which is arranged to be freely openable. Below the document cover30, there are disposed a platen glass61and a contact image sensor (hereinafter referred to as “CIS”)81. The CIS81is disposed below the platen glass61, and is arranged such that its main scanning direction corresponds to the depth direction of the main body10. The CIS81is reciprocatable in forward and rearward directions (i.e., toward the front side of the main body10and the rear side of the main body10), so as to read an image carried on an original that is set on the platen glass61.

The main body10has an operator's control panel6so that the printer unit2and the FBS unit3are operable through the operator's control panel6. The control panel6is disposed on a front upper portion of the main body10, and includes various operating buttons6A and a liquid crystal display6B, so that the printer unit2and the FBS unit3can be operated in accordance with commands inputted through the operating buttons6A. Where the main body10is connected to a computer as an external device, the printer unit2and the FBS unit3can be operated also in accordance with commands supplied from the computer via a printer driver and a scanner driver, respectively, which are installed in the computer.

The main body10has a slot portion7that is disposed on a front side portion of the main10so that various small-sized memory cards as data storage media can be inserted into the slot portion7. With a predetermined operation being carried out in the control panel6, an image data stored in the small-sized memory cars (that are inserted in the slot portion7) is read out. Information relating to the read image data is displayed, for example, in the liquid crystal display6B, and the printer unit2is operated to record an image onto a recording sheet, which image is selected by operation of the operating buttons6A.

As shown inFIG. 3, the FBS unit3as the second casing body is pivotable relative to the printer unit2as the first casing body. That is, the FBS unit3can be pivotably opened and closed relative to the printer unit2, with its front end portion and rear end portion serving as a free end and a pivotal proximal end, respectively. In other words, the printer unit2has a connected portion provided by its rear portion and a distant portion provided by its front portion and distant from the connected portion, while the FBS unit3has a connected portion provided by its rear portion and a distant portion provided by its front portion and distant from the connected portion, such that the FBS unit3is connected at its connected portion to the connected portion of the printer unit2and is pivotable about the connected portions of the respective printer unit2and the FBS unit3relative to the printer unit2so as to be selectively placed in open and closed positions relative to the printer unit2. The printer unit2and the FBS unit3are connected to each other through a pair of pivot shafts73(seeFIG. 8) provided in the printer unit2and a pair of pivot shaft receivers63(seeFIG. 7) provided in a casing65of the FBS unit3. When the FBS unit3is opened relative to the printer unit2, an upper surface of the printer unit2is exposed. However, the control circuit board9is not exposed since the printer unit2is covered by a cover body8, as shown inFIG. 3. The cover body8has an opening through which a part of the inside of the printer unit2is exposed so that recording sheets jammed in the printer unit2can be removed through the opening. It is noted that the operator's control panel6is fixedly disposed in the printer unit2and is not movable together with the FBS unit3.

There will be described a construction of the printer unit2in detail.

As shown inFIG. 2, the sheet supply roller25is disposed above the sheet supply tray2, so as to separate one by one the recording sheets stacked on the sheet supply tray20and supply toward the sheet feed path23. The sheet supply roller25is rotatably held by a distal end portion of a sheet supply arm26that is vertically displaceable toward and away from the sheet supply tray20. The sheet supply roller25is rotated by a drive force transmitted from a motor (not shown).

The sheet supply arm26is pivotable about its proximal end portion for causing its distal end portion to be vertically displaced. While the sheet supply tray20is disposed in the main body10, the sheet supply roller25lowered by the sheet supply arm26is forced toward the sheet supply tray20. When the sheet supply tray20is removed from the main body10, the sheet supply arm26is pivoted by a biasing force of a spring (not shown) in a direction that causes the sheet supply roller25to be displaced upwardly. When the sheet supply arm26is pivoted in a direction that causes the sheet supply roller25to be displaced downwardly, the sheet supply roller25is brought into pressing contact with the recording sheets stacked on the sheet supply tray20. Thus, with rotation of the sheet supply roller25, an uppermost one of the recording sheets is moved toward the slant sheet-separator plate22, owing to a frictional force generated between a surface of the sheet supply roller25and the upper most recording sheet. The moved recording sheet is brought into contact at its leading end with the slant sheet-separator plate22, and is upwardly guided by the sheet-separator plate22so as to be fed to the sheet feed path23. In this instance, even if the second uppermost recording sheet were about to be fed together with the uppermost recording sheet due to a frictional force or static electricity generated between the first and second uppermost recording sheets, the second uppermost recording sheet comes into contact with the slant sheet-separator plate22whereby the feed movement of the second uppermost recording sheet is stopped by the sheet-separator plate22.

The sheet feed path23is defined by outside and inside guide surfaces that are spaced apart from each other, except its portions in which the image recording unit24and the other functional units are disposed. For example, the sheet feed path23includes a portion which is located in a rear side portion of the multifunction device1and which is defined between an outside guide member27and an inside guide member28that are fixed to a frame of the main body10. In a curved portion of the sheet feed path23, a feed roller29is disposed in the outside guide member27for facilitating the feed movement of the recording sheet, which is brought into contact with an inner surface of the outside guide member27in the curved portion of the sheet feed path23. The feed roller29is supported by the outside guide member27such that the feed roller29is freely rotatable about an axis parallel to a width direction of the sheet feed path23and such that a peripheral surface of the feed roller29protrudes from the inner surface of the outside guide member27.

FIG. 4is a plan view showing a main portion of the printer unit2. The image recording unit24includes a head carriage31which carries a recording head and which is reciprocatable in a main scanning direction. To the recording head, color inks such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (Bk) color inks are supplied from respective ink tanks (not shown) via respective ink tubes33. The recording head exposed in a lower surface of the head carriage31, and is operable to eject the color inks in the form of small ink droplets. With reciprocating movement of the head carriage31, the recording head is moved relative to the recording sheet that is fed on a platen34and performs an image recording operation onto the recording sheet.

As shown inFIG. 4, a pair of guide rails35,36are disposed above the platen34. The guide rails35,36extend in the width direction of the sheet feed path23and are spaced apart from each other in the feed direction of the recording sheets. The head carriage31is arranged to straddle the guide rails35,36so as to be slidable on the guide rails35,36. The guide rail35, which is an upstream one of the guide rails35,36as viewed in the sheet feed direction, is provided by a plate-like member having a length (as measured in the width direction of the sheet feed path23) that is larger than a scanning width of the head carriage31. The head carriage31is slidably held at its upstream end portion by an upper surface of the guide rail35.

The guide rail36, which is a downstream one of the guide rails35,36as viewed in the sheet feed direction, is provided by another plate-like member having substantially the same length of the guide rail35. The head carriage31is slidably held at its downstream end portion by an upper surface of the guide rail36. An upstream end portion37of the guide rail36is bent by substantially a right angle so as to upwardly extend. The upstream end portion37of the guide rail36is gripped between a pair of rollers (not shown) of the head carriage31. The head carriage31is slidably held by the guide rails35,36and is reciprocatable in the width direction of the sheet feed path23, with the end portion37of the guide rail36serving as a reference portion.

A belt drive mechanism38is disposed on an upper surface of the guide rail36. The belt drive mechanism38includes a drive pulley39and a driven pulley40that are disposed in respective widthwise opposite end portions of the sheet feed path23, and an endless timing belt41having tooth formed in its inside surface. The endless timing belt41is wound on the drive and driven pulleys39,40, with a predetermined degree of tension being given to the timing belt41. With rotation of the drive pulley39caused by a drive force of a motor that is applied to a shaft of the drive pulley39, the timing belt41is circulated.

The head carriage31is fixed to a portion of the timing belt41so that the head carriage31is movable on the guide rails35,36by the circulating motion of the timing belt41. The recording head carried by the head carriage31is reciprocatable together with the head carriage31in the main scanning direction, i.e., in the width direction of the sheet feed path23. The guide rail36is provided with an encoder strip42that is disposed on the end portion37of the guide rail37. The encoder strip42cooperates with a photo interrupter43(that is provided in the head carriage31and arranged to detect the encoder strip42) to constitute a linear encoder. The reciprocating movement of the head carriage31is controlled based on a detection signal supplied by the linear encoder.

As shown inFIG. 4, the platen34is disposed in a position opposed to the head carriage31in the vertical direction. The recording sheet passes over a central region of a stroke range of the head carriage31. The platen34is arranged to extend over the central range. It is noted that the platen34has a width sufficiently larger than a width of a maximum-sized recording sheet that can be used in the present multifunction device1so that widthwise opposite ends of the recording sheet pass over the platen34.

A purging device44and a waste ink tray45are disposed in respective positions outside a printing area (within which the recording head is moved for achieving the recording operation), namely, in respective positions corresponding to opposite end portions of the platen34(over which the recording sheet does not pass). The purging device44is operated to perform a purging operation for sucking poor-quality ink, bubbles and foreign matters so as to remove them from nozzles of the recording head. The purging device44has a purge cap46that is provided to cover a nozzle-defining surface of the recording head. The purge cap46is vertically movable by a movement device, toward and away from the nozzle-defining surface of the recording head. In a purging operation with the purging device44, the head carriage31is moved to position the recording head in a position right above the purge cap46, and the purge cap46is then moved upwardly to be brought into close contact with the nozzle-defining surface of the recording head so as to close the nozzles. With activation of a pump that is connected to the purge cap46, the ink, bubbles and foreign matters are sucked from the nozzles.

The waste ink tray45is disposed in one of the above-described positions that is opposite to the purging device44, so as to receive poor-quality ink which is flushed in a flushing operation, namely, which is ejected apart from the recording operation performed onto the recording sheet. The purging device44and the waste ink tray45cooperate to constitute a maintenance unit for removing mixed ink and bubbles from the nozzles and from an inside of the recording head.

From the above-described ink tanks, the four color inks are supplied to the recording head carried by the head carriage31, via the respective four ink tubes33. The ink tanks store therein the cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (Bk) color inks, respectively, independently of each other, and cooperate with each other to constitute an ink tank unit.

Each ink tube33is formed of a synthetic resin and has a flexibility to be bent so as to follow the reciprocating movement of the head carriage31. One opening end portion of the ink tube33is attached to a corresponding one of the ink tanks, while the other opening end portion thereof is attached to the head carriage31. The ink tube33extends in the width direction of the main body10from the corresponding ink tank to a widthwise central portion of the main body10, and is attached at its intermediate fixed portion to a suitable member such as the frame of the main body10. The ink tube33is not attached to the frame or the other member at its portion between the intermediate fixed portion and the above-described other opening end portion (that is attached to the head carriage31), so that a shape of the non-attached portion is changeable according to the reciprocating movement of the head carriage31. Described specifically, as the head carriage31is moved in a leftward direction as seen inFIG. 4, a radius of curvature of a U-shaped curved portion of the ink tube33becomes smaller. On the other hand, as the head carriage31is moved in a rightward direction as seen inFIG. 4, the radius of curvature of the U-shaped curved portion of the ink tube33becomes larger.

As shown inFIG. 4, a flat cable50is connected at its end portion to the head carriage31, and is connected at its other end portion to a control circuit board (not shown), so that the recording head can receive, from the control circuit board via the flat cable50, signals such as those required for performing the recording operation. The flat cable50is a thin strip-like member containing conductors which transmit electric signals and which are covered by a synthetic resin film such as polyester film so as to insulate the conductors from each other. The control circuit board and a circuit board provided in the recording head are electrically connected by the flat cable50. The flat cable50is led out of the head carriage31in a direction parallel to the reciprocating movement of the head carriage31, and includes a substantially U-shaped portion that is curved on a horizontal plane. The U-shaped portion of the flat cable143is not fixed to any other members, and accordingly changes its shape in accordance with the reciprocating movement of the head carriage31.

As shown inFIG. 2, a sheet feed roller47is provided on an upstream side of the image recording unit24. On a lower side of the sheet feed roller47, a pinch roller (not shown) is provided to be in pressing contact with the sheet feed roller47. The sheet feed roller47cooperates with the pinch roller to nip the recording sheet so as to feed the recording sheet toward above the platen34. Meanwhile, a sheet discharge roller49is provided on a downstream side of the image recording unit24. On an upper side of the sheet discharge roller49, a pinch roller is provided to be in pressing contact with the sheet discharge roller49. The sheet discharge roller49cooperates with the pinch roller to nip the recording sheet (that has been subjected to the recording operation) so as to feed the recording sheet toward the sheet exit tray21. Each of the sheet feed roller47and the sheet discharge roller49is intermittently driven or rotated by a motor, so as to feed the recording sheet, with an amount of each intermittent motion of the recording sheet corresponding to an amount of line feed. The sheet feed roller47and the sheet discharge roller49are rotated in synchronization with each other. A photo interrupter (not shown) is provided to detect marks or slits of an encoder disk (not shown) that is rotated together with the sheet feed roller47. That is, the photo interrupter and the encoder disk cooperate with each other to constitute a rotary encoder to generate signals corresponding to the detected slits of the encoder disk. The rotations of the sheet feed and discharge rollers47,49are controlled based on the signals generated by the rotary encoder.

There will be described a construction of the FBS unit3in detail.

As shown inFIG. 2, the document cover30of the FBS unit3is provided to be pivotable relative to the main body10through a hinge that is provided in a rear portion of the main body10. The document cover30constitutes a part of an upper surface of the multifunction device1in a state in which the document cover30is closed relative to the main body10. The document cover30may be provided with an automatic document feeder (ADF).

As shown inFIG. 2, with the document cover30being closed relative to the main body10, the platen glass61is covered by the document cover30. A lower surface of the document cover30is provided by a presser member (not shown) including a sponge and a white board. The plate glass61, on which an original document is to be set so as to be scanned, is provided by, for example, a transparent glass or acryl plate. The platen glass61has a size that permits the original document whose size is not larger than A4-sized sheet or legal-sized sheet, to be set thereon. The original document set on the platen glass61is fixed on the plate glass61with the document cover30that is closed relative to the main body10. While the original document is being thus fixed on the plate glass61, an image reader80(seeFIG. 5) is moved along the platen glass61whereby an image carried on the original document is read by the FBS unit3.

FIG. 5is a plan view showing an internal construction of the FBS unit3, with an upper cover of the FBS unit3being cut away therefrom.

The image reader80is disposed inside the casing65that is provided with a plurality of support ribs18for supporting the platen glass61. The support ribs18are positioned to surround an area within the image reader80is movable. The platen glass61is held horizontal by the support ribs18. With the above-described upper cover being attached, a portion of the platen glass61is exposed through an opening of the upper cover. The exposed portion of the platen glass61corresponds to an image reading area (in which an image is readable by the FBS unit3).

The image reader80includes a carriage82, a guide rod83and a belt drive mechanism84in addition to the above-described CIS81. Since the CIS81is used in the image reader80, the image reader80as a whole can be made compact in size with a light weight thereby making it possible to reduce a size and a thickness of the FBS unit3.

The CIS81has an elongated rectangular casing body85whose upper surface has an elongated rectangular shape as seen in its plan view. On the upper surface of the elongated rectangular casing body85, there is provided a light guide87extending in a longitudinal direction of the casing body85, for guiding a light of LED incorporated in the casing body85. The light of the LED is emitted through the light guide87toward the upper surface of the casing body85of the CIS81along the longitudinal direction. On the upper surface of the casing body85, a plurality of condenser lenses88are arranged in a row that extends in the longitudinal direction of the casing body85so as to be parallel to the light guide87.

Inside the case30, a plurality of light receiving elements are arranged, right below the respective condenser lenses88, in a row extending in the same direction as the direction of extension of the row of the condenser lenses88. The light emitted from the LED is reflected on the original document placed on the platen glass61, and the reflected light is condensed at the light receiving elements by the condenser lenses88. The light receiving elements are so-called photoelectric conversion elements which output electric signals in accordance with the intensity of the reflected light. The longitudinal direction of the casing body85of the CIS81corresponds to a main scanning direction in the image reading. The length of the casing body85of the CIS81in the main scanning direction, i.e., the longitudinal size of the casing body85, corresponds to a length of a maximum-sized original document that can be read by the CIS81. The CIS81performs image reading along a read line corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the casing body85of the CIS81and outputs electric signals for every read line. In the present embodiment, since A4-sized or legal-sized paper sheet can be set as the maximum-sized original document on the platen glass61, the read line has a length corresponding to the length of the A4-sized or legal-sized paper sheet.

The carriage82is provided by a vessel-like member that carries the CIS81disposed thereon. The carriage82has an upper opening end through which an upper surface of the CIS81carried on the carriage82is exposed. The carriage82is slidably fitted on the guide rod83, and is moved by the belt drive mechanism84to be slid along the guide rod83. The CIS81carried by the carriage82is held in close contact with the platen glass61, and is reciprocated by sliding movement of the carriage82along the guide rod83, in parallel to the platen glass61.

The belt drive mechanism84includes a drive pulley84A and a driven pulley84B that are disposed in respective longitudinally opposite end portions (in respective left and right end portions as seen inFIG. 5) of the FBS unit3, and an endless timing belt84C having tooth formed in its inside surface. The endless timing belt84C is wound on the drive and driven pulleys84A,84B, with a predetermined degree of tension being given to the timing belt84C. With rotation of the drive pulley84A that is caused by a drive force of a CIS drive motor84D that is applied to a shaft of the drive pulley84A via a transmission84E, the timing belt84C is circulated.

The carriage82is fixed to a portion of the timing belt84C so that the carriage82is reciprocatable along the guide rod83by the circulating motion of the timing belt84C. The CIS81carried by the carriage82is reciprocatable together with the carriage82in the main scanning direction, i.e., in the width direction of the sheet feed path23.

As shown inFIG. 5, a wire harness84A is connected at one of its opposite end portions to the CIS drive motor84D of the belt drive mechanism84. The wire harness84A extends out of the FBS unit3through a harness outlet86A that is provided in a rear left portion of the FBS unit3, so that the other of the opposite end portions of the wire harness84A is connected to the above-described control circuit board9(seeFIG. 3) that is provided in the front portion of the inside of the printer unit2. In the cover body8covering the printer unit2, there is formed an accommodating portion70A. The wire harness84A extending from the FBS unit3is accommodated in the accommodating portion70A, and is connected at the above-described other end portion thereof to the control circuit board9. Thus, the drive motor84D of the belt drive mechanism84and the control circuit board9are connected through an electric path through which drive signals and an electric power required for driving the drive motor84D are supplied from the control circuit9to the drive motor84D.

The CIS81has a connector portion81A that is provided in a longitudinal end portion of the elongated rectangular casing body85. The connector portion81A is electrically connected to the above-described LED and light receiving elements, so as to allow input and output of signals therethrough. A flat cable89B is provided to be connected at one of its opposite end portions to the connector portion81A. The flat cable89B is a thin strip-like member containing a plurality of conductors such as a conductor for supplying an electric power to the LED of the CIS81and a conductor for outputting electric signals from the light receiving elements. The conductors are covered by a film insulating the conductors from each other. The control circuit board and a circuit board provided in the recording head are electrically connected by the flat cable50. The flat cable89B extends out of the FBS unit3through a cable outlet86B that is provided in a rear right portion of the FBS unit3, so that the other of the opposite end portions of the flat cable89B is connected to the control circuit board9(seeFIG. 3) that is provided in the front portion of the inside of the printer unit2. In the cover body8covering the printer unit2, there is formed an accommodating portion70B (seeFIG. 3). The flat cable89B extending from the FBS unit3is accommodated in the accommodating portion70B, and is connected at the above-described other end portion thereof to the control circuit board9. Thus, the CIS81and the control circuit board9are connected through an electric path.

As described above, the cover body8is formed with the accommodating portions70A,70B for accommodating therein the wire harness89A and the flat cable89B, respectively. Further, the cover body8is formed with an opening72for allowing an operation for recovering from a trouble such as paper jam. Therefore, the accommodating portions70A,70B extends from a rear end portion of the printer unit2to the control circuit board9, bypassing the opening72. In a state shown inFIG. 3, the accommodating portions70A,70B are closed by respective cover members150,152. As described below in detail, the cover member150cooperates with a pivot-boss receiving portion130(seeFIGS. 8 and 9) as the above-described distant portion that is provided in an upper portion of the printer unit2, to support a proximal end portion of a support stand90such that the support stand90is pivotable relative to the printer unit2.

There will be described an opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the FBS unit3as the second casing body relative to the printer unit2as the first casing body.

The support stand90is provided between the printer unit2and the FBS unit3(seeFIG. 3), so as to maintain the open position of the FBS unit3when the FBS unit3should be held in the open position. The support stand90is provided by a generally flat plate-like member (seeFIG. 6) having a length that is slightly smaller than the depth of the main body10. The support stand90includes a proximal end portion that is pivotably connected to a front upper portion of the printer unit2as the above-described distant portion of the printer unit2, and a distal end portion94that is slidably connected to the casing65of the FBS unit3. While maintaining the open position of the FBS unit3, the support stand90extends in a diagonal direction, as shown inFIG. 3.

The support stand90is provided by a flat plate-like member formed of a synthetic resin. The support stand90is attached to the main body10such that a width direction of the support stand90is perpendicular to the width direction of the main body10. InFIG. 6as a perspective view showing the support stand90, there are indicated upper, lower, right, left, front and rear directions of the main body10in a state in which the support stand90is in a horizontal posture that allows the printer unit2to be placed in its closed position relative to the FBS unit3. The support stand90has, in its proximal end portion, a pivot boss98that projects from a left-side surface99A (seeFIG. 10) of the support stand90. The pivot boss98is received in the pivot-boss receiving portion130provided in the printer unit2, so that the proximal end portion of the support stand90is pivotably connected to the printer unit2.

The support stand90has, in its bottom portion, a rib95extending over substantially an entire length of the stand90, as shown inFIG. 6. The rib95projects from a bottom surface of the stand90in a thickness direction of the stand90, so as to constitute an extension of the bottom surface of the stand90. Owing to the rib95, a stiffness of the support stand90is increased.

The support stand90includes thick-walled portions96provided in its opposite side surfaces (left-side and right-side surfaces99A and99B) and protruding in the thickness direction, as shown inFIG. 6. The thick-walled portions96each having a triangular shape are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the stand90. Some of the thick-walled portions96, provided in the right-side surface99B (one of the opposite side surfaces) that is visible inFIG. 6, are arranged such that a base of the triangular shape of each thick-walled portion96is located on the side of the bottom surface of the stand90and such that a vertex of the triangular shape of each thick-walled portion96is located on the side of a top surface of the stand90. Although not being visible inFIG. 6, the others of the thick-walled portions96are provided in the left-side surface99A (the other side surface) of the support stand90.

The support stand90further includes thin-walled portions97provided in its opposite side surfaces and recessed in the thickness direction, as shown inFIG. 6. Like the thick-walled portions96, the thin-walled portions97each having a triangular shape are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the stand90. The thin-walled portions97and the thick-walled portions96are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the stand90. Some of the thin-walled portions97, provided in the right-side surface99B that is visible inFIG. 6, are arranged such that a base of the triangular shape of each thin-walled portion97is located on the side of the top surface of the stand90and such that a vertex of the triangular shape of each thin-walled portion97is located on the side of the bottom surface of the stand90. Although not being visible inFIG. 6, the others of the thin-walled portions97are provided in the left-side surface99A of the support stand90. The above-described some of the thin-walled portions97provided in the right-side surface99B are positioned in respective positions that substantially correspond to positions of the above-described other of the thick-walled portions96provided in the left-side surface99A. Meanwhile, the others of the thin-walled portions97provided in the left-side surface99A are positioned in respective positions that substantially correspond to positions of the above-described some of the thick-walled portions96provided in the right-side surface99B, respectively. The thick-walled and thin-walled portions96,97are thus arranged in a predetermined pattern, so that the support stand90has an improved appearance. It is noted that each of the thick-walled portions96is slightly larger than each of the thin-walled portions97such that each of the above-described some of the thick-walled portions96partially overlaps with a corresponding adjacent pair of the above-described others of the thick-walled portions96. Namely, in a zigzag-shaped boundary between the thick-walled and thin-walled portions96,97, there are exist parts of the thick-walled portions96in both of the right-side and left-side surfaces99B,99A of the stand90. Thus, the zigzag-shaped boundary constitute diagonal braces interconnecting the top and bottom surfaces of the stand90, the stiffness of the support stand90is further increased.

The support stand90has an engaged portion in the form of an engaged pin92that is provided in the distal end portion94. The engaged pin92has a circular cross sectional shape, and is engaged in an arcuate-shaped guide groove103(seeFIG. 12) formed through a load adjuster member100as a grooved member, so as to be guided by the guide groove103. The load adjuster member100is accommodated in an accommodating recess68that is formed in the casing65of the FBS unit3. The engagement of the engaged pin92with the guide groove103will be described later in detail.

The support stand90has a supporting portion91that is provided also in the distal end portion94(seeFIG. 6). The supporting portion91of the support stand90is held in contact with a supported portion112(seeFIG. 12) of the load adjuster member100while the FBS unit3is held in its open position relative to the printer unit2. Thus, the open position of the FBS unit3is maintained by the contact of the supporting portion91with the supported portion112.

FIG. 7is a perspective view of the casing65of the FBS unit3, as seen from a lower side of the casing65. InFIG. 7, there are indicated upper, lower, right, left, front and rear directions of the main body10in a state in which the FBS unit3is attached to the printer unit2. As shown inFIG. 7, the above-described accommodating recess68is formed in an end portion of a bottom surface of the casing65. The accommodating recess68is provided by a recessed portion of a bottom wall69of the casing65. The accommodating recess68has a predetermined width W as measured in the width direction of the main body10, and is elongated in the depth direction of the main body10. In the accommodating recess68, the support stand90and the load adjuster member100are arranged in the width direction of the recess68, as shown inFIG. 11. When the FBS unit3is closed relative to the printer unit2, as shown inFIG. 1, the support stand90lies down and is accommodated in the accommodating recess68.

The above-described harness outlet86A and cable outlet86B are provided in a rear left end portion and a rear right end portion of the bottom surface of the casing65, respectively, as shown inFIG. 7. As described above, the wire harness89A and the flat cable89B extend out of the FBS unit3via the harness outlet86A and the cable outlet86B, respectively. Each of the harness outlet86A and the cable outlet86B is located near a corresponding one of the above-described pivot shaft receivers63, which receive the respective pivot shafts73of the printer unit2, for connecting the FBS unit3to the printer unit2. The pivot shafts73are fitted in the respective pivot shaft receivers63, whereby the FBS unit3pivotably connected to the printer unit2.

As shown inFIG. 8, the proximal end portion of the support stand90is pivotably connected to an upper surface of the printer unit2. The above-described pivot boss98provided in the proximal end portion of the support stand90is connected to the above-described pivot-boss receiving portion130that is provided in the upper portion of the printer unit2. The pivot-boss receiving portion130is formed integrally with the cover body8that coves the printer unit1(seeFIGS. 9 and 10). A pivot-boss receiver hole131is formed in the pivot-boss receiving portion130, so that the pivot boss98provided in the proximal end portion of the support stand90is received in the pivot-boss receiver hole131. In vicinity of the pivot-boss receiving portion130, a receiving portion79is provided to receive or accommodate therein a supporting portion155of the cover member150. In a bottom wall79B (seeFIG. 10) of the receiving portion79, a cantilever beam74is provided in vicinity of the pivot-boss receiving portion130. The cantilever beam74is provided by an elongated resin spring that extends from a side wall79A (seeFIG. 10) of the receiving portion79toward the pivot-boss receiving portion130, and includes a deflection portion74A and a distal end portion74B that extends from the deflection portion74A toward the pivot-boss receiving portion130in an oblique upward direction. As shown inFIG. 10, the distal end portion74B of the cantilever beam74is spaced from an inside face130A of the pivot-boss receiving portion130by a distance C1. This distance C1is slightly larger than a distance C2, which is a distance between the inside face130A of the pivot-boss receiving portion130and the right-side surface99B of the pivot boss99when the pivot boss98is received in the pivot-boss receiving portion130.

As described above, in the upper surface of the printer unit2, the accommodating portions70A,70B are provided for accommodating therein the harness cable89A and the flat cable89B, respectively.

Referring next toFIGS. 8-10, the accommodating portion70A will be described in detail. It is noted that the accommodating portion70B is similar to the accommodating portion70A with respect to construction and that description of the accommodating portion70B is omitted since the present invention does not particularly relate to the accommodating portion70B.

In the present embodiment, the accommodating portion70A has a generally letter-L shape in its plan view, and is arranged such that a bent portion of the L-shaped accommodating portion70A is located in vicinity of the pivot-boss receiving portion130. The accommodating portion70A has an accommodating recess76, an opening portion77and an opening78. The accommodating recess76extends along a left end portion of the cover body8, from the pivot-boss receiving portion130to a left one of the pair of pivot shafts73(seeFIG. 8). Although not being illustrated inFIG. 9, the accommodating recess76accommodates therein the wire harness89A. The opening78is contiguous to the accommodating recess76, and extends rightward from the pivot-boss receiving portion130, so that the connector portion9A of the control circuit board9is exposed through the opening78. The opening portion77is contiguous to the accommodating recess76and the opening78. The above-described cover member150is attached to the opening portion77, whereby the accommodating recess76and the opening78are closed.

The cover member150serves to close the opening portion77of the accommodating portion70A, and is provided by a thin-plate member having substantially the same shape as the opening portion77of the accommodating portion70A in the plan view. In the present embodiment, the cover member150has a generally letter L shape. A main portion150A of the cover member150has engaged tabs153that are arranged in respective positions corresponding to positions of engaging portions77A that are provided in the opening portion77of the accommodating portion70A. The main portion150A of the cover member150is integrally formed with the above-described supporting portion155that protrudes in the forward direction of the main body10. The supporting portion155has substantially the same shape as the above-described receiving portion79provided in the cover body8that covers the printer unit2(seeFIG. 9), so that the supporting portion155can be received in the receiving portion79. The supporting portion155includes a contact portion151and an engaged protrusion154. The contact portion151is provided to be held in contact with the right-side surface99B of the proximal end portion of the support stand90, so as to prevent the support stand90from being removed from the pivot-boss receiving portion130. The engaged protrusion154is positioned in a position that is to be aligned with a protrusion receiving aperture75that is provided in the receiving portion79.

Referring next toFIGS. 5-10, there will be described a process of attaching the support stand90to the cover body8that covers the printer unit2. It is noted that, in the present embodiment, the support stand90is attached to the cover body8after the support stand90has been attached to the FBS unit3.

The attaching process is initiated with a step of fitting the pair of pivot shaft receivers63(provided in the casing65of the FBS unit3) onto the respective pivot shafts73(provided in the printer unit2) (seeFIGS. 7 and 8), for thereby causing the casing65of the FBS unit3to be pivotably connected to the printer unit2. In this instance, the wire harness89A and the flat cable89B extending out of the FBS unit3via the harness outlet86A and the cable outlet86B, respectively, are disposed between the casing65of the FBS unit3and the cover body8of the printer unit2.

Next, the wire harness89A is accommodated into the accommodating recess76of the accommodating portion70A, and an end portion of the wire harness89A is introduced into the opening78so as to be connected to the connector portion9A of the control circuit board9(seeFIG. 9). Then, the pivot boss98of the support stand90is inserted into the pivot-boss receiver hole131of the pivot-boss receiving portion130that is formed integrally with the cover body8, by moving the pivot boss98into the pivot-boss receiver hole131from the side of the inside face130A of the pivot-boss receiving portion130(seeFIGS. 9 and 10). In this instance, the deflection portion74A of the cantilever beam74is elastically deformed, as the pivot boss98is moved toward the pivot-boss receiving portion130while being in contact with the distal end portion74B of the cantilever beam74. When the pivot boss98is further moved to be completely inserted into the pivot-boss receiver hole131, the pivot boss98passes over the distal end portion74B whereby the elastic deformation of the deflection portion74A is released. Thus, the deflection portion74A restores its shape from the elastic deformation whereby the distal end portion74B is positioned to be opposed to the right-side surface99B of the proximal end portion of the support stand90, for thereby preventing the pivot boss98from being removed from the pivot-boss receiver hole131. It is noted that the operation for the connection of the end portion of the wire harness89A to the connector portion9A of the control circuit board9may be carried out either before or after the operation for the connection of the pivot boss98to the pivot-boss receiver hole131of the pivot-boss receiving portion130. Where the wire harness89A is connected to the control circuit board9after the pivot boss98has been connected to the pivot-boss receiver hole131, an operator can connect the wire harness89A to the control circuit board9with safety, since the pivot boss98is prevented from being removed from the pivot-boss receiver hole131, owing the provision of the cantilever beam74.

Next, the cover member150is attached to the opening portion77of the accommodating portion70A. For attaching the cover member150to the opening portion77, the engaging protrusion154of the supporting portion155of the cover member150is first introduced into the protrusion receiving aperture75of the receiving portion79(seeFIG. 9), and then the engaging tabs153are brought into the respective engaging portions77A. In this instance, the supporting portion155is received into the receiving portion79, with the contact portion151being brought into contact with the right-side surface99B of the proximal end portion of the support stand90. The pivot boss98of the support stand90is thus received into the pivot-boss receiver hole131of the pivot-boss receiving portion130, whereby the support stand90is pivotably connected to the printer unit2. Since the contact portion151of the supporting portion155is held in contact with the right-side surface99B of the proximal end portion of the support stand90, the pivot boss98is prevented from being removed from the pivot-boss receiver hole131.

With the cover member150being attached to the opening portion77of the accommodating portion70A, the supporting portion155is received in the receiving portion79so as to be positioned in vicinity of the side wall79A. That is, a rightward movement of the supporting portion155is limited by the side wall79A (seeFIG. 10), with which the supporting portion155is brought into contact when the supporting portion155is moved rightwardly. Therefore, even if the support stand90is moved rightwardly, i.e., in a direction away from the pivot-boss receiving portion130during pivot movement of the FBS unit3relative to the printer unit2, the right movement of the support stand90is inhibited by the contact portion151of the supporting portion155, since the support stand90is brought into contact with the contact portion151. That is, it is possible to reliably prevent removal of the support stand90from the pivot-boss receiving portion130. Further, since the engaging protrusion154of the supporting portion155is introduced in the protrusion receiving aperture75of the receiving portion79, a vertical position of the supporting portion150is fixed, namely, a vertical displacement of the supporting portion150relative to the receiving portion79is prevented. It is therefore possible to prevent removal of the cover member150even in a case where the support stand90is tilted in a rightward or leftward direction of the main body10, namely, even in a case where the cover member150is forced by the support stand90in an upward or downward direction of the main body10.

Further, owing to the provisions of the engaging protrusion154and the protrusion receiving aperture75, the operation for attaching the cover member150to the opening portion77is facilitated. Described specifically, with the engaging protrusion154being received in the protrusion receiving aperture75, the cover member150can be positioned substantially accurately relative to the opening portion77in the width and depth directions of the main body10. Therefore, the cover member150can be easily attached to the opening portion77, simply with the cover member150being pressed down onto the opening portion77while the cover member150is being received in the protrusion receiving aperture75.

As described above, the opening portion77of the accommodating portion70A in which the wire harness89A is accommodated, is covered by the cover member150. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the wire harness89A from being erroneously touched by the operator during a maintenance work such as removal of recording sheets jammed inside the printer unit2.

The pivot-boss receiving portion130is formed integrally with the cover body8that covers the printer unit2, while the cover member150covers the accommodating portion70A in which the wire harness89A is accommodated. These arrangements advantageously eliminate necessity of providing a member serving exclusively to maintain the connection of the support stand90with the pivot-boss receiving portion130, thereby making it possible to save a space required for provision of such an exclusive member and accordingly to reduce a space required for installation of the multifunction device1.

Further, also when a maintenance work is carried out with the main portion150A of the cover member150being removed, the pivot boss98is prevented from being removed from the pivot-boss receiver hole131since the distal end portion74B of the cantilever beam74(formed integrally with the cover body8covering the printer unit2) is positioned to be opposed to the right-side surface99B of the proximal end portion of the support stand90(seeFIG. 10). Therefore, the FBS unit3is prevented from being rapidly pivoted relative to the printer unit2in its closing direction. It is therefore possible to prevent a hand of an operator from being caught between the FBS unit3and the printer unit2. The prevention of rapid pivot movement of the FBS unit3toward the printer unit2leads to prevention of application of large impact to each of the units2,3as electronic devices, which could be damaged or fail in the event of application of large impact thereto.

Further, also in a case where the operation for the connection of the end portion of the wire harness89A to the connector portion9A of the control circuit board9is carried out after the operation for the connection of the pivot boss98to the pivot-boss receiver hole131of the pivot-boss receiving portion130, the pivot boss98is prevented from being removed from the pivot-boss receiver hole131since the distal end portion74B of the cantilever beam74is positioned to be opposed to the right-side surface99B of the proximal end portion of the support stand90. Therefore, during the operation for the connection of the wire harness89A to the control circuit board9, the FBS unit3is prevented from being abruptly pivoted relative to the printer unit2in its closing direction. It is therefore possible to prevent a hand of an operator from being caught between the FBS unit3and the printer unit2.

Further, the cover member150can be easily attached to the opening portion77, simply with the cover member150being pressed down onto the opening portion77while the cover member150is being received in the protrusion receiving aperture75, as described above, so that it is possible to carry out an operation for assuring the attachment of the support stand90to the pivot-boss receiving portion130, concurrently with the operation for attaching the cover member150to the opening portion77. Further, the attachment of the cover member150to the opening portion77does not require any fastener such as screw, thereby eliminating necessity of use of a tool and accordingly permitting the multifunction device1to be manufactured in a simplified process with high efficiency.

Further, since the supporting portion155is received in the receiving portion79so as to be positioned in vicinity of the side wall79A, as described above, the contact of the supporting portion155with the side wall79A prevents removal of the support stand90from the pivot-boss receiving portion130even in a case where the support stand90is tilted in the rightward or leftward direction of the main body10. Therefore, the FBS unit3is prevented from being abruptly pivoted relative to the printer unit2in its closing direction. It is therefore possible to prevent a hand of an operator from being caught between the FBS unit3and the printer unit2, for example, during a maintenance work such as removal of recording sheets jammed inside the printer unit2. The prevention of rapid pivot movement of the FBS unit3toward the printer unit2leads to prevention of application of large impact to each of the units2,3as electronic devices, which could be damaged or fail in the event of application of large impact thereto.

Further, the vertical position of the supporting portion150is fixed by the introduction of the engaging protrusion154of the supporting portion155in the protrusion receiving aperture75of the receiving portion79. It is therefore possible to prevent removal of the cover member150even in a case where the cover member150is forced by the support stand90in the upward or downward direction of the main body10. The reliable prevention of the removal of the support stand90from the pivot-boss receiving portion130provides advantages as described above.

There will be described construction of the distal end portion94of the support stand90.FIG. 11is a cross sectional view showing an inside of the accommodating recess68, taken in a plane perpendicular to the depth direction of the main body10. The distal end portion94of the support stand90includes the engaged pin92that protrudes in the leftward direction of the main body10. The engaged pin92has a circular cross section and a diameter D as shown inFIG. 11. The engaged pin92is engaged in the guide groove103of the load adjuster member100. The distal end portion94further includes a gripped portion in the form of a wedge-shaped portion93that is located in vicinity of the engaged pin92. As shown inFIG. 11, the wedge-shaped portion93has a thickness (as measured in the thickness direction of the support stand90) that is increased in a direction away from the distal end portion94toward the proximal end portion of the support stand. The wedge-shaped portion93having a wedge-like shape includes a peripheral portion that is provided by a high friction member93A as a high friction portion. The high friction member93A has a minimum thickness A1and a maximum thickness A2(A1<A2). The high friction member93A is made of a rubber or other material having a high coefficient of friction, and is provided to generate a large frictional force during sliding movement of the distal end portion94in the accommodating recess68. That is, the support stand90is provided by at least two portions including the high friction portion that has a higher coefficient of friction than the other of the at least two portions. The high friction member93A as the high friction portion is bonded to the other portion or portions of the support stand90by suitable means such as adhesive. In the present embodiment, the high friction member93A provides an entirety of the peripheral portion of the wedge-shaped portion93(that includes opposite side portions of the wedge-shaped portion93). However, the high friction member93A may provide at least one of the opposite side portions of the wedge-shaped portion93.

Referring next toFIGS. 11,12,13,14,15A,15B,16A and16B, there will be described construction of the load adjuster member100as the grooved member.FIG. 12is an elevational view of the load adjuster member100accommodated in the accommodating recess68and having the guide groove103for guiding the distal end portion94of the support stand90. InFIG. 12, there are indicated the upper, lower front and rear directions of the main body10in a state in which the support stand90is in a horizontal posture that allows the printer unit2to be placed in its closed position relative to the FBS unit3.FIG. 13is a cross sectional view showing a position of the load adjuster member100relative to the accommodating recess68when the load adjuster member100is placed in its non-fully gripping position.FIG. 14is a cross sectional view showing a position of the load adjuster member100relative to the accommodating recess68when the load adjuster member is placed in its fully gripping position. It is noted that each of the cross sectional views ofFIGS. 13 and 14is taken on a plane perpendicular to the width direction of the main body10.

The load adjuster member100is provided by a generally flat plate-like member that is made of a synthetic resin, for example, and is attached to the casing65of the FBS unit3such that a longitudinal direction, a width direction and a thickness direction of the load adjuster member100correspond to the depth direction, the vertical direction and the width direction of the main body10, respectively. The load adjuster member100has first and second engaged protrusions101,102that are located in one and other of its longitudinally opposite end portions. The load adjuster member100is fixedly accommodated in the accommodating recess68through the first and second engaged protrusions101,102that are held in engagement with first and second engaging holes58,59, respectively. The first and second engaging holes58,59are provided in a bottom68A of the accommodating recess68, as shown inFIG. 7, so as to be spaced apart from the depth direction of the main boy10by a distance corresponding to a length of the load adjuster member100. The first engaged protrusion101is inserted in the first engaging hole58, and is positioned in a position that is not substantially displaced relative to the accommodating recess68in a depth direction of the accommodating recess68. The second engaged protrusion102is inserted in the second engaging hole59that is an elongated hole elongated in the depth direction of the accommodating recess68, and is positioned in a position that is displaceable relative to the accommodating recess68in the depth direction of the accommodating recess68, as shown inFIGS. 13 and 14. Therefore, the load adjuster member100is pivotable about the first engaged protrusion101, and the second engaged protrusion102is displaceable within the second engaging hole59in the depth direction of the accommodating recess68. By the displacement of the load adjuster member100relative to the accommodating recess68, the load adjuster member100can be selectively placed in its fully gripping position and its non-fully gripping position. When being placed in its fully gripping position, the load adjuster member100is accommodated substantially in its entirety within the accommodating recess68. When being placed in its non-fully gripping position, the load adjuster member100partially protrudes out from the accommodating recess68. The part of the load adjuster member100, which protrudes from the recess68during placement of the load adjuster member100in the non-fully gripping position, includes a pressing contact portion106(seeFIG. 12).

As shown inFIG. 12, the load adjuster member100is elongated in a direction in which the distal end portion of the support stand90is slidable relative to the FBS unit3. The load adjuster member100has a thickness B1as measured in the width direction of the main body10(seeFIG. 11). The guide groove103formed through the load adjuster member100has the upwardly convex arcuate shape, and is extends in the above-described direction in which the distal end portion of the support stand90is sidable relative to the FBS unit3. The engaged portion92as the engaged portion of the distal end portion94of the support stand90is engaged in the guide groove103(seeFIG. 11).

The engaged pin92is slidable along the guide groove103and an engaged end groove104which is formed to be contiguous to the guide groove103and which is located in the distant portion of the FBS unit3. During an opening transition from the closed position of the FBS unit3(as shown inFIG. 1) to the open position of the FBS unit3(as shown inFIG. 3), the distal end portion94is slid in a direction away from the above-describe connected portion of the FBS unit3toward the above-described distant portion of the FBS unit3.

The guide groove103has a front end103A, an upper end103B, a rear end103C and a lower end103D, as shown inFIG. 12. The upper, lower and rear ends103B,103D,103C are defined by respective curved lines that are contiguous to each other. The front end103A is defined by an opening end at which the engaged end groove104is contiguous to the guide groove103and from which the engaged end groove104extends in an upwardly forward direction of the main body10.

When the engaged pin92is introduced into the engaged end groove104from the guide groove103and is then held in contact with an engaged end113(seeFIG. 12), the support stand90is held in a vertical posture for maintaining the open portion of the FBS unit3relative to the printer unit2. The load adjuster member100has, in its front end portion, a supported portion112(seeFIG. 12) that is to be brought into contact with the above-described supporting portion91of the distal end portion94of the support stand90. That is, the vertical posture of the support stand90can be reliably maintained, owing to the contact of the engaged pin92with the engaged end113and also the contact of the supporting portion91with the supported portion112.

In a boundary between the guide groove103and the engaged end groove104, there is provided a deformable protrusion105that is elastically deformable in a direction that increases a width of the guide groove103. The deformable protrusion105has to be elastically deformed for allowing the engaged pin92(that has been once introduced into the engaged end groove104) to return to the guide groove103. Owing to this arrangement, when the FBS unit3is closed relative to the printer unit2, the engaged pin92returning from the engaged end groove104to the guide groove103causes the deformable protrusion105to be elastically deformed, thereby enabling the operator to recognize displacement of the engaged pin92from the engaged end groove104to the guide groove103.

The guide groove103is sectioned into an opening side region107A, an intermediate region107B and a closing side region107C that are different from each other with respect to a positional relationship between the upper and lower ends103B,103D therein.

In the opening side region107A of the guide groove103, the upper and lower ends103B,103D are substantially parallel to each other (seeFIG. 12), and a distance114A between the upper and lower ends103B,103D is slightly larger than the diameter D of the engaged pin92(114A>D) (seeFIG. 11). Therefore, during sliding movement of the engaged pin92in the opening side region107A, the engaged pin92is smoothly moved along the guide groove103.

In the intermediate region107B of the guide groove103, the upper end103B is defined by an arc that is larger than an arc defining the lower end103D, and a distance114B between the upper and lower ends103B,103D is smaller than the above-described distance114A in the opening side region107A (seeFIG. 12). Further, in the intermediate region107B, the distance114B is smaller than the diameter D of the engaged pin92(114B<D) (seeFIGS. 15A and 15B). Therefore, during sliding movement of the engaged pin92in the intermediate region107B, the width of the guide groove103is increased by the engaged pin92that is slid along the guide groove103. That is, an upper surface111A of the load adjuster member100is elastically deformed in the upward direction as indicated by arrow F inFIG. 12, whereby the load adjuster member100has a deformed posture.

In the closing side region107C of the guide groove103, the upper end103B is defined by a substantially straight line such that a distance114C between the upper and lower ends103B,103D is gradually reduced as viewed in a direction away from a boundary of the intermediate region107B and the closing side region107C toward the rear end103C of the guide groove103(seeFIG. 12). Further, in the closing side region107C, a distance114C is larger than the diameter D of the engaged pin92(114C>D) (seeFIGS. 16A and 16B).

The load adjuster member100has an elongated protrusion portion110which is provided on its right side surface facing the support stand90and which protrudes toward the support stand90(seeFIGS. 12,15A,15B,16A and16B). The elongated protrusion portion110is located in a portion of the load adjuster member100that defines the intermediate region107B and the closing side region107C of the guide groove103, and extends along the upper side103B of the guide groove103. The load adjuster member100further has the above-described pressing contact portion106which is provided also on its right side surface.

The pressing contact portion106includes a thickness reduction portion106A, a flat thin-walled portion106B, a first uphill portion106C, a second uphill portion106D, a crest portion106E, a downhill portion106F and a foot portion106(seeFIG. 12). The thickness reduction portion106A is located in an opening side portion of the load adjuster member100that defines the opening side region107A, and is contiguous to the lower end103D of the guide groove103. The flat thin-walled portion106B has a small thickness and is contiguous to the thickness reduction portion106A. In the opening side portion of the load adjuster member100, a thickness of the lower end103D of the guide groove103is equal to the thickness B1of the load adjuster member100, while a thickness B2of the flat thin-walled portion106B is smaller than the thickness B1of the load adjuster member100(seeFIG. 11). The thickness reduction portion106A interconnects between the lower end103D of the guide groove103to the flat thin-walled portion106B. It is noted that the above-described thickness B1is defined as a thickness of an upper end portion of the load adjuster member100in which neither the above-described elongated protrusion portion110nor pressing contact portion106is located.

In the portion of the load adjuster member100that defines the intermediate region107B and the closing side region107C of the guide groove103, the pressing contact portion106has a generally mountain-like shape having slopes that are located on opposite sides of a crest portion106E.

Described more specifically, the first uphill portion106C is located in an intermediate portion of the load adjuster member100that defines the intermediate region107B of the guide groove103. The first uphill portion106C gradually bulges in the thickness direction of the load adjuster member100(more precisely in the rightward direction). The first uphill portion106C has a thickness B3(seeFIGS. 15A and 15B) that is gradually increased as viewed in a direction away from a boundary of the opening side region107A and the intermediate region107B toward a boundary of the intermediate region107B and the closing side region107C. The second uphill portion106D is located in a closing side portion of the load adjuster member100that defines the closing side region107C of the guide groove103. The second uphill portion106D is contiguous to the first uphill portion106C, and bulges in the thickness direction of the load adjuster member100(more precisely in the rightward direction) as the first uphill portion106C. The second uphill portion106D has a thickness B4(seeFIGS. 16A and 16B) that is gradually increased as viewed in a direction away from the first uphill portion106C toward the crest portion106E. The thickness B4of the second uphill portion106D is larger than the thickness B3of the first uphill portion106C (B4>B3). However, the second uphill portion106D is sloped more gently than the first uphill portion106C.

In addition to the second downhill portion106D and the crest portion106E, the downhill portion106F and the foot portion106G are located in the closing side portion of the load adjuster member100. In the downhill portion106F interconnecting the crest portion106E and the foot portion106G, the thickness of the load adjuster member100is reduced as viewed in a direction away from the crest portion106E toward the foot portion106G, so that the bulge is eliminated in the foot portion106G. The downslope in the downhill portion106F is steeper than the upslope in each of the first and second uphill portions106C,106D. The crest portion106E has a thickness B5that is a maximum thickness of the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100. The foot portion106G has a thickness corresponding to the above-described thickness B1. The downhill portion106F has a thickness B6which is reduced as viewed in the direction away from the crest portion106E toward the foot portion106G and which is smaller than the thickness B5of the crest portion106E and larger than the thickness B1.

In the present embodiment, the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100serves as a first contact portion, while a right-side inner wall66(seeFIGS. 11,15A,15B,16A and16B) of the accommodating recess68serves as a second contact portion that is opposed to the first contact portion in an opposed direction. As is clear from the above description, a distance between the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66(as measured in the opposed direction) is gradually reduced as seen in a direction away from the front portion (distant portion) of the FBS unit3toward the rear portion (connected portion) of the FBS unit3, at least in the first and second uphill portions106C,106D.

Further, as shown inFIGS. 15A,15B,16A and16B, the thickness of the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100is reduced as seen in a direction away from the upper surface111A of the load adjuster member100toward a lower surface111B of the load adjuster member100, at least in the first and second uphill portions106C,106D and the downhill portion106F. In other words, the distance between the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66(as measured in the opposed direction) is gradually reduced as seen in a direction away from a contactable one of opposite side surfaces of the FBS unit3(at which the FBS unit3is brought into contact with the printer unit2when the FBS unit3is placed in its closed position) toward the other of the opposite side surfaces of the FBS unit3.

As described above, while being placed in its fully gripping position, the load adjuster member100is accommodated substantially in its entirety within the accommodating recess68(seeFIG. 14). That is, during placement of the load adjuster member100in the fully gripping position, the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100is positioned to be opposed to the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68, with the distal end portion94of the support stand90being interposed between the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66, namely, with the wedge-shaped portion93of the distal end portion94being wedged into between the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68. Therefore, when the engaged pin92of the distal end portion94of the support stand90is slid along the guide groove103during the placement of the load adjuster member100in the fully gripping position, a frictional force is generated due to the sliding contact of the wedge-shaped portion93with the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66(seeFIGS. 15A and 16A). In this instance, an amount of the generated frictional force is changed depending on the thickness of the pressing contact portion106that is not constant as described above.

On the other hand, while the load adjuster member100is placed in its non-fully gripping position, the part (including the pressing contact portion106) of the load adjuster member100protrudes out from the accommodating recess68(seeFIG. 13). That is, during placement of the load adjuster member100in the non-fully gripping position, the wedge-shaped portion93of the distal end portion94is wedged into between the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68, by an extent smaller than during placement of the load adjuster member100in the fully gripping position (seeFIGS. 15B and 16B). Therefore, when the engaged pin92of the distal end portion94of the support stand90is slid along the guide groove103during the placement of the load adjuster member100in the non-fully gripping position, the frictional force generated due to the sliding contact is smaller than during placement of the load adjuster member100in the fully gripping position. As described above, the elongated protrusion portion110is provided to extend along the upper end103B of the guide groove103(seeFIGS. 12,15A,15B,16A and16B). Owing to the provision of the protrusion portion110protruding in the same direction as the pressing contact portion106, the engaged pin92of the support stand90is prevented from being removed from the guide groove103, when the engaged pin92is forced in a direction away from the guide groove103.

Referring still toFIGS. 11,12,15A,15B,16A and16B, there will be described a dimensional relationship between the width W of the accommodating recess68, the minimum thickness A1and the maximum thickness A2of the wedge-shaped portion93of the distal end portion94of the support stand90, the thickness B1of the upper end portion of the load adjuster member100(in which neither the above-described elongated protrusion portion110nor pressing contact portion106is located), the thickness B2of the flat thin-walled portion106B (located in the opening side portion of the load adjuster member100that defines the opening side region107A), the thickness B3of the first uphill portion106C (located in the intermediate portion of the load adjuster member100that defines the intermediate region107B) and the thickness B4of the second uphill portion106D (located in the closing side portion of the load adjuster member100that defines the closing side region107C). It is noted that each ofFIGS. 11,12,15A,15B,16A and16B is a cross sectional view taken in a plane that is perpendicular to the depth direction of the main body10.

In the opening side portion of the load adjuster member100that defines the opening side region107A, the thickness B2of the flat thin-walled portion106B is smaller than the thickness B1of the upper end portion of the load adjuster member100(B2<B1) (seeFIG. 11). Further, the thickness B2of the flat thin-walled portion106B is smaller than a value obtained by subtracting the maximum thickness A2of the wedge-shaped portion93from the width of the accommodating recess68(B2<W−A2). Therefore, even while the load adjuster member100is being placed in the fully gripping position, the wedge-shaped portion93is not brought into pressing contact with the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100and/or the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68, during sliding movement of the distal end portion94of the support stand90along the opening side region107A of the guide groove103. That is, the distal end portion94of the support stand90is smoothly slid along the opening side region107A of the guide groove103, without large resistance acting against the sliding movement of the distal end portion94.

As shown inFIG. 12, the thickness reduction portion106A interconnects the lower end103D (having the thickness B1) and the flat thin-walled portion106B (having the thickness B2). The thickness reduction portion106A and the flat thin-walled portion106B cooperate with each other to define a V-shaped surface (seeFIG. 11). Further, as described above, the wedge-shaped portion93including the high friction member93A has the thickness that is increased in the direction away from the distal end portion94of the support stand90toward the proximal end portion of the support stand90. Therefore, even if the support stand90is tiled in the rightward or leftward direction of the main body10, the high friction member93A of the wedge-shaped portion93is not brought into contact at its large area with the lower end103D and the flat thin-walled portion106B, so that the distal end portion94of the support stand90is smoothly slid without a large resistance acting against the sliding movement of the wedge-shaped portion93.

In the intermediate portion of the load adjuster member100that defines the intermediate region107B, the thickness B3of the first uphill portion106C is larger than a value obtained by subtracting the minimum thickness A1of the wedge-shaped portion93from the width of the accommodating recess68(B3>W−A1) (seeFIGS. 15A and 15B). Further, in the closing side portion of the load adjuster member100that defines the closing side region107C, each of the thickness B4of the second uphill portion106D, the thickness of the crest portion106E and the thickness of the downhill portion106F is larger than a value obtained by subtracting the minimum thickness A1of the wedge-shaped portion93from the width of the accommodating recess68(B4>W−A1) (seeFIGS. 16A and 16B).

Therefore, while the load adjuster member100is being placed in the fully gripping position, the wedge-shaped portion93is brought into pressing contact with the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68, namely, the wedge-shaped portion93is wedged into between the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66, during sliding movement of the distal end portion94of the support stand90along the intermediate region107B and closing side region107C of the guide groove103. That is, a frictional force is generated due to the sliding contact of the wedge-shaped portion93with the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66(seeFIGS. 15A and 16A).

When the load adjuster member100is placed in its non-fully gripping position, the part (including the pressing contact portion106) of the load adjuster member100protrudes out from the accommodating recess68(seeFIGS. 12,15B and16B). In this instance, a part of the distal end portion94of the support stand90also protrudes out from the accommodating recess68(seeFIGS. 15A and 16B), since the engaged pin92is held in engagement with the guide groove103of the load adjuster member100. Described more in detail, a part of the wedge-shaped portion93having the maximum thickness A2is removed from a spaced defined between the mutually opposed surfaces of the accommodating recess68. In other words, during placement of the load adjuster member100in the non-fully gripping position, the wedge-shaped portion93of the distal end portion94is wedged into between the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68, by an extent smaller than during placement of the load adjuster member100in the fully gripping position. Therefore, when the engaged pin92of the distal end portion94of the support stand90is slid along the guide groove103during the placement of the load adjuster member100in the non-fully gripping position, the frictional force generated due to the sliding contact is smaller than during placement of the load adjuster member100in the fully gripping position. In this instance, since only a part of the wedge-shaped portion93having the minimum thickness A1is located in the spaced defined between the mutually opposed surfaces of the accommodating recess68, the wedge-shaped portion93is not fully gripped by the pressing contact portion106C of the load adjuster member100and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68, an excessively large frictional force is not generated by the sliding contact of the wedge-shaped portion93with the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66.

Referring still toFIGS. 11,12,15A,15B,16A and16B, there will be described operations of the support stand90and the load adjuster member100during the opening and closing transitions of the FBS unit3.FIG. 11shows a positional relationship between the accommodating recess68and the opening side portion of the load adjuster member100when the load adjuster member100is placed in its fully gripping position.FIG. 15Ashows a positional relationship between the accommodating recess68and the intermediate portion of the load adjuster member100when the load adjuster member100is placed in its fully gripping position.FIG. 15Bshows a positional relationship between the accommodating recess68and the intermediate portion of the load adjuster member100when the load adjuster member100is placed in its non-fully gripping position.FIG. 16Ashows a positional relationship between the accommodating recess68and the closing side portion of the load adjuster member100when the load adjuster member100is placed in its fully gripping position.FIG. 16Bshows a positional relationship between the accommodating recess68and the closing side portion of the load adjuster member100when the load adjuster member100is placed in its non-fully gripping position.

The support stand90is pivoted about a center of the pivot boss98that is provided in the proximal end portion of the support stand90, when the FBS unit3is being opened and closed relative to the printer unit2. During the pivot movement of the support stand90, the engaged pin92of the distal end portion94of the support stand90is slid along the guide groove103of the load adjuster member100.

As described above, the load adjuster member100is accommodated in the accommodating recess68of the casing65of the FBS unit3, and is pivotable about the first engaged protrusion101that is provided in the front end portion of the load adjuster member100. When the load adjuster member100is pivoted about the first engaged protrusion101, the second engaged protrusion102provided in the rear end portion of the load adjuster member100is displaced within the second engaging hole59in the depth direction of the accommodating recess68. By the displacement of the load adjuster member100relative to the accommodating recess68, the load adjuster member100can be selectively placed in its fully gripping position and its non-fully gripping position. As long as any external force is not applied to the load adjuster member100, the load adjuster member100is lowered at its rear end portion due to gravity whereby the load adjuster member100is placed in its non-fully gripping position, as shown inFIG. 13, so that the upper surface111A of the load adjuster member100is separated from the bottom68A of the accommodating recess68and the part of the load adjuster member100protrudes out from the accommodating recess68. The part of the load adjuster member100, which protrudes from the recess68during placement of the load adjuster member100in the non-fully gripping position, includes the pressing contact portion106.

On the other hand, when an external force acts on the load adjuster member100in the upward direction, the load adjuster member100is pivoted in a direction that causes its rear end portion to be upwardly displaced against the gravity whereby the load adjuster member100is placed in its fully gripping position, as shown inFIG. 14, so that the upper surface111A of the load adjuster member100is brought into contact with the bottom68A of the accommodating recess68. In this instance, the pressing contact portion106is also accommodated in the accommodating recess68.

While the FBS unit3is completely open, the engaged pin92of the distal end portion94of the support stand90is held in engagement with the engaged end groove104. By the engagement of the engaged pin92with the engaged end groove104, the engaged pin92is limited from being moved relative to the load adjuster member100in the longitudinal direction of the load adjuster member100or the guide groove103, whereby the support stand90is held in a vertical posture, as shown inFIG. 3. Thus, the support stand90serves as a diagonal brace to maintain the open position of the FBS unit3relative to the printer unit2.

There will be described operations of the support stand90and the load adjuster member100that are performed during the closing transition of the FBS unit3(during which the front portion of the FBS unit3is forced in a direction toward the front portion of the printer unit2).

For placing the FBS unit3into the close position (as shown inFIG. 1) from the open position (as shown inFIG. 3), the front portion of the FBS unit3is once raised by an operator, for allowing the engaged pin92(having been once introduced into the engaged end groove104) to return to the guide groove103. Then, the front portion of the FBS unit3is pressed down for causing the deformable protrusion105to be elastically deformed in the direction that increases the width of the guide groove103, so as to allow the engaged pin92to return to the guide groove103. By further pressing down the front portion of the FBS unit3toward the front portion of the printer unit2, the engaged pin92is downwardly forced through the load adjuster member100, whereby the support stand90is pivoted to its horizontal posture from its vertical posture, and the engaged pin92is slid in a direction away from the front portion of the FBS unit3toward the rear portion of the FBS unit3.

In this instance, the engaged pin92engaged in the guide groove103is forced against the upper end103B of the guide groove103, by a reaction opposite to a force which is applied from the load adjuster member100to the engaged pin92and which downwardly forces the engaged pin92. That is, when the FBS unit3is closed relative to the printer unit2, the engaged pin92is slid while being forced against the upper end103B of the guide groove103, whereby the second engaged protrusion102of the load adjuster member100is moved upwardly within the second engaging hole59, so that the upper surface111A of the load adjuster member100is forced against the bottom68A of the accommodating recess68. That is, when the FBS unit3is closed relative to the printer unit2, the load adjuster member100is placed in its fully gripping position whereby the load adjuster member100in its entirety including the pressing contact portion106is accommodated in the accommodating recess68. Further, when the FBS unit3is closed relative to the printer unit2, the wedge-shaped portion93of the distal end portion94of the support stand90is forced to be wedged into between the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68.

In an initial stage of the closing transition from the open position of the FBS unit3to the closed position of the FBS unit3, the wedge-shaped portion93passes through the opening side portion of the load adjuster member100that defines the opening side region107A of the guide groove103. As described above, in the opening side portion of the load adjuster member100that defines the opening side region107A, the thickness B2of the flat thin-walled portion106B is smaller than the thickness B1of the upper end portion of the load adjuster member100(B2<B1) (seeFIG. 11). Further, the thickness B2of the flat thin-walled portion106B is smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the maximum thickness A2of the wedge-shaped portion93from the width of the accommodating recess68(B2<W−A2). Therefore, even while the load adjuster member100is being placed in the fully gripping position, the wedge-shaped portion93is not brought into pressing contact with the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100and/or the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68, during sliding movement of the distal end portion94of the support stand90along the opening side region107A of the guide groove103. That is, the distal end portion94of the support stand90is smoothly slid along the opening side region107A of the guide groove103, without a large frictional force acting on the distal end portion94.

In intermediate and final stages of the closing transition, the wedge-shaped portion93passes through the intermediate portion and closing side portion of the load adjuster member100that define the intermediate region107B and closing side region107C of the guide groove103, while the wedge-shaped portion93is being held in pressing contact with the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68. In the intermediate and closing side portions of the load adjuster member100, the first and second uphill portions106C,106D are provided to gradually bulge in the thickness direction of the load adjuster ember100(seeFIG. 12). The thickness B3of the first uphill portion106C and the thickness B4of the second uphill portion106D are gradually increased as viewed in a direction away from the front end portion of the load adjuster member100toward the rear end portion of the load adjuster member100. Therefore, during sliding movement of the wedge-shaped portion93along the first and second uphill portions106C,106D up to the crest portion106E, the frictional force generated due to the sliding contact is gradually increased whereby the FBS unit3is prevented from being rapidly pivoted in the closing direction.

In addition to the second downhill portion106D and the crest portion106E, the downhill portion106F and the foot portion106G are located in the closing side portion of the load adjuster member100. In the downhill portion106F interconnecting the crest portion106E and the foot portion106G, the thickness of the load adjuster member100is abruptly reduced as viewed in the direction away from the front end portion of the load adjuster member100toward the rear end portion of the load adjuster member100, so that the bulge is eliminated in the foot portion106G. Therefore, after the wedge-shaped portion93has passed the crest portion106E, the frictional force generated due to the sliding contact is reduced owing to the downslope in the downhill portion106F. In the foot portion106G in which the bulge is eliminated, the thickness B6of the downhill portion106F is substantially equalized to the thickness B1of the upper end portion of the load adjuster member100(in which neither the above-described elongated protrusion portion110nor pressing contact portion106is located). When the wedge-shaped portion93reaches the foot portion106G, the FBS unit3is completely closed relative to the printer unit2. Since there is no bulge in the foot portion106G, it is possible to prevent reduction in elasticity of the high friction member93A even where the FBS unit3is closed relative to the printer unit2for a large length of time.

As shown inFIGS. 15A and 16A, during placement of the load adjuster member100in the fully gripping position, the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100is positioned to be opposed to the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68, with the distal end portion94of the support stand90being interposed between the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66, namely, with the wedge-shaped portion93of the distal end portion94being wedged into between the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68. When the FBS unit3is closed relative to the printer unit2, the wedge-shaped portion93of the distal end portion94of the support stand90is forced to be wedged into between the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68. As described above, the thickness of the wedge-shaped portion93is increased in the direction away from the distal end portion94of the support stand90toward the proximal end portion of the support stand90. Therefore, as the wedge-shaped portion93is wedged into between the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66, the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68are forced away from each other, whereby a distance therebetween is increased. The wedge-shaped portion93is gripped between the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68by a reaction force acting against the increase of the distance between the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66. That is, during the closing transition of the FBS unit3, since the wedge-shaped portion93is moved along the pressing contact portion106while being gripped between the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66, a relatively large frictional force is generated. It is therefore possible to prevent the FBS unit3from being rapidly pivoted in the closing direction.

Further, as described above, the thickness of the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100is reduced as seen in the direction away from the upper surface111A of the load adjuster member100toward the lower surface111B of the load adjuster member100, at least in the first and second uphill portions106C,106D and the downhill portion106F. In this arrangement, the wedge-shaped portion93and the pressing contact portion106can be brought into contact with each other at an area that is larger than in an arrangement in which the thickness of the pressing contact portion106is constant as seen in the vertical direction while the thickness of the wedge-shaped portion93is also constant. Therefore, this arrangement makes it possible to generate increased resistance acting against the sliding movement of the wedge-shaped portion93and accordingly to prevent the FBS unit3from being rapidly pivoted in the closing direction.

As described above, in the intermediate region107B, the distance114B between the upper and lower ends103B and103D of the guide groove103is smaller than the diameter D of the engaged pin92(114B<D) (seeFIGS. 15A and 15B). Therefore, during sliding movement of the engaged pin92in the intermediate region107B, the width of the guide groove103is increased by the engaged pin92that is slid along the guide groove103. Further, when the FBS unit3is closed relative to the printer unit2, the upper surface111A of the load adjuster member100is forced against the bottom68A of the accommodating recess68by a pressing force. Therefore, a load is applied against sliding movement of the engaged pin92along the intermediate region107B of the guide groove103. In other words, the engaged pin92is gripped between the upper and lower ends103B,103D of the guide groove103by a reaction force acting against the increase of the width of the guide groove103. This arrangement makes it possible to prevent the FBS unit3from being rapidly pivoted in the closing direction in the intermediate region107B.

In the closing side region107C, the distance114C between the upper and lower ends103B and103D is larger than the distance D of the engaged pin92(114C>D) (seeFIGS. 16A and 16B). When the FBS unit3is closed relative to the printer unit2, the engaged pin92passes the closing side region107C along the upper end103D, i.e., along a path Y (seeFIG. 12) so as to be moved to the rear end103C. Therefore, a portion of the pressing contact portion106that is located on the side of the lower end103D is brought into contact with a proximal end portion of the high friction member93A of the wedge-shaped portion93of the support stand90. In other words, a portion of the pressing contact portion106that has a large thickness is brought into contact with the portion of the wedge-shaped portion93having a large thickness, whereby the pressing contact portion106and the wedge-shaped portion63are forced against each other by a large pressing force. Therefore, this arrangement makes it possible to generate increased resistance acting against the sliding movement of the wedge-shaped portion93and accordingly to prevent the FBS unit3from being rapidly pivoted in the closing direction.

There will be described operations of the support stand90and the load adjuster member100during the opening transition of the FBS unit3(during which the front portion of the FBS unit3is forced in a direction away from the front portion of the printer unit2).

When the FBS unit3is placed from the closed position (as shown inFIG. 1) into the open position (as shown inFIG. 3), the load adjuster member100attached in the accommodating recess68of the casing65is pivoted upwardly together with the FBS unit3.

Since the engaged pin92of the support stand90is engaged in the guide groove103of the load adjuster member100, the engaged pin92is raised upwardly by the load adjuster member100when the FBS unit3is opened. As the engaged pin92is raised upwardly, the support stand90is pivoted to be placed in a vertical posture, and the engaged pin92is slid along the guide groove103in a direction away from the read end portion of the FBS unit3toward the front end portion of the FBS unit3.

In this instance, the engaged pin92engaged in the guide groove103is forced against the lower end103D of the guide groove103, by a reaction opposite to a force which is applied from the load adjuster member100to the engaged pin92and which upwardly forces the engaged pin92. That is, when the FBS unit3is opened relative to the printer unit2, the engaged pin92is slid while being forced against the lower end103D of the guide groove103, whereby the second engaged protrusion102of the load adjuster member100is moved downwardly within the second engaging hole59, so that the upper surface111A of the load adjuster member100is separated from the bottom68A of the accommodating recess68(seeFIG. 13). That is, when the FBS unit3is opened relative to the printer unit2, the load adjuster member100is placed in its non-fully gripping position whereby the pressing contact portion106as the part of the load adjuster member100protrudes downwardly from the accommodating recess68. Further, when the FBS unit3is opened relative to the printer unit2, the wedge-shaped portion93of the distal end portion94of the support stand90is forced to be removed from between the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68.

In an initial stage of the opening transition from the closed position of the FBS unit3to the open position of the FBS unit3, the engaged pin92is moved while being forced against the lower end103D of the guide groove103. The engaged pin92is moved along the lower end103D in the closing side region107C in which the distance114C between the upper and lower ends103B,103D is larger than the distance D of the engaged pin92. That is, in the closing side region107, the engaged pin92is moved along a path X (seeFIG. 12). Therefore, the portion of the pressing contact portion106that is located on the side of the lower end103D is brought into contact with a distal end portion of the high friction member93A of the wedge-shaped portion93of the support stand90. In other words, the portion of the pressing contact portion106that is located on the side of the lower end103D is brought into contact with the portion of the wedge-shaped portion93having a small thickness, whereby the pressing contact portion106and the wedge-shaped portion63are forced against each other by a pressing force that is smaller than in the final stage of the closing transition in which the engaged pin92is moved along the path Y. Since the resistance acting against the sliding movement of the wedge-shaped portion93is thus reduced, the FBS unit3can be quickly pivoted in the opening direction.

When the load adjuster member100is placed in its non-fully gripping position, the part (including the pressing contact portion106) of the load adjuster member100protrudes out from the accommodating recess68, as shown inFIGS. 13,15B and16B. Further, since the engaged pin92is engaged in the guide groove103of the load adjuster member100, the wedge-shaped portion93also protrudes out from the accommodating recess68. Described more specifically, a portion of the high friction member93A having the maximum thickness A2is removed from between the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68. Therefore, when the engaged pin92of the distal end portion94of the support stand90is slid along the guide groove103during the placement of the load adjuster member100in the non-fully gripping position, the frictional force generated due to the sliding contact is smaller than during placement of the load adjuster member100in the fully gripping position. In this instance, since only a part of the wedge-shaped portion93having the minimum thickness A1is located in the spaced defined between the mutually opposed surfaces of the accommodating recess68, the wedge-shaped portion93is not fully gripped by the pressing contact portion106C of the load adjuster member100and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68, an excessively large frictional force is not generated by the sliding contact of the wedge-shaped portion93with the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66, whereby the FBS unit3is lightly opened.

As described above, in the intermediate region107B of the guide groove103, the distance114B between the upper and lower ends103B and103D of the guide groove103is smaller than the diameter D of the engaged pin92(114B<D) (seeFIGS. 15A and 15B). Therefore, during sliding movement of the engaged pin92in the intermediate region107B, the width of the guide groove103is increased by the engaged pin92that is slid along the guide groove103. That is, the upper surface111A of the load adjuster member100is elastically deformed to bulge in the width direction of the load adjuster member100(i.e., in a direction indicated by arrow F ofFIG. 12). As described above, the upper surface111A of the load adjuster member100is separated from the bottom68A of the accommodating recess68during placement of the load adjuster member100in the non-fully gripping position. That is, since the upper surface111A of the load adjuster member100is separated from the bottom68A during sliding movement of the engaged pin92along the guide groove103in a direction away from the rear end portion of the FBS unit3toward the front end portion of the FBS unit3, the upper surface111A can be easily deformed to bulge in the upward direction indicated by arrow F ofFIG. 12. Therefore, during the opening transition of the FBS unit3, the engaged pin92can be smoothly slid along the intermediate portion107B of the guide groove103.

When the FBS unit3is completely opened, the engaged pin92of the support stand90is introduced into the engaged end groove104from the guide groove103. By the introduction of the engaged pin92into the engaged end groove104, the sliding movement of the engaged pin92along the guide groove103in the longitudinal direction of the load adjuster member100is limited whereby the support stand90is held in a vertical posture for maintaining the open portion of the FBS unit3relative to the printer unit2, as shown inFIG. 3. Thus, the support stand90serves as a diagonal brace to maintain the open position of the FBS unit3relative to the printer unit2.

In the present embodiment, the load adjuster member100is placed in its fully gripping position when the FBS unit3is being closed relative to the printer unit2, and is placed in its non-fully gripping position when the FBS unit3is being opened relative to the printer unit2. Described specifically, during placement of the load adjuster member100in the fully gripping position, the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100is positioned to be opposed to the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68, with the distal end portion94of the support stand90being interposed between the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66, namely, with the wedge-shaped portion93of the distal end portion94being wedged into between the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68. Therefore, when the engaged pin92of the distal end portion94of the support stand90is slid along the guide groove103during the placement of the load adjuster member100in the fully gripping position, a frictional force is generated due to the sliding contact of the wedge-shaped portion93with the pressing contact portion106and the right-side inner wall66(seeFIGS. 15A and 16A). In this instance, an amount of the generated frictional force is changed depending on the thickness of the pressing contact portion106that is not constant as described above. On the other hand, while the load adjuster member100is placed in its non-fully gripping position, the part (including the pressing contact portion106) of the load adjuster member100protrudes out from the accommodating recess68(seeFIG. 13). That is, during placement of the load adjuster member100in the non-fully gripping position, the wedge-shaped portion93of the distal end portion94is wedged into between the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68, by an extent smaller than during placement of the load adjuster member100in the fully gripping position (seeFIGS. 15B and 16B). Therefore, when the engaged pin92of the distal end portion94of the support stand90is slid along the guide groove103during the placement of the load adjuster member100in the non-fully gripping position, the frictional force generated due to the sliding contact is smaller than during placement of the load adjuster member100in the fully gripping position. It is therefore possible to establish an opening and closing assembly in which the FBS unit3can be closed and opened relative to the printer unit2, slowly and quickly, respectively.

Further, the thickness B2of the flat thin-walled portion106B (located in the opening side portion of the load adjuster member100) is smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the maximum thickness A2of the wedge-shaped portion93from the width of the accommodating recess68(B2<W−A2). Therefore, even while the load adjuster member100is being placed in the fully gripping position, the wedge-shaped portion93is not brought into pressing contact with the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100and/or the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68, during sliding movement of the distal end portion94of the support stand90along the opening side region107A of the guide groove103. That is, the distal end portion94of the support stand90is smoothly slid along the opening side region107A of the guide groove103, without a large frictional force acting on the distal end portion94. Thus, the FBS unit3can be lightly pivoted in the initial stage of the closing transition.

When the wedge-shaped portion93passes the intermediate portion and closing side portion of the load adjuster member100while being slid along the guide groove103, the wedge-shaped portion93is pressed by the pressing contact portion106of the load adjuster member100and the right-side inner wall66of the accommodating recess68. Particularly, while the wedge-shaped portion93is passing the first and second uphill portions106C,106D, the resistance acting against the sliding movement of the wedge-shaped portion93is gradually increased. Thus, in the final stage of the closing transition, the FBS unit3is slowly pivoted and can be prevented from being rapidly pivoted in the closing direction. It is therefore possible to establish an opening and closing assembly in which the FBS unit3can be closed and opened relative to the printer unit2, slowly and quickly, respectively.

Further, in the downhill portion106F interconnecting the crest portion106E and the foot portion106G, the thickness of the load adjuster member100is abruptly reduced as viewed in the direction away from the front end portion of the load adjuster member100toward the rear end portion of the load adjuster member100, so that the bulge is eliminated in the foot portion106G, namely, so that the thickness of the foot portion106G is substantially equalized to the thickness B1of the upper end portion of the load adjuster member100(in which neither the above-described elongated protrusion portion110nor pressing contact portion106is located). Since there is no bulge in the foot portion106G, it is possible to prevent reduction in elasticity of the high friction member93A even where the FBS unit3is closed relative to the printer unit2for a large length of time.

In the intermediate region107B of the guide groove103, the distance114B between the upper and lower ends103B and103D of the guide groove103is smaller than the diameter D of the engaged pin92(114B<D) (seeFIGS. 15A and 15B). Therefore, during sliding movement of the engaged pin92in the intermediate region107B, the width of the guide groove103is increased by the engaged pin92that is slid along the guide groove103. That is, when the FBS unit3is closed relative to the printer unit2, the upper surface111A of the load adjuster member100is forced against the bottom68A of the accommodating recess68by a pressing force. Therefore, a load is applied against sliding movement of the engaged pin92along the intermediate region107B of the guide groove103, whereby the FBS unit3is prevented from being rapidly pivoted in the closing direction while the engaged pin92is in the intermediate region107B of the guide groove103. On the other hand, when the FBS unit3is opened relative to the printer unit2, namely, when the load adjuster member100is placed in its non-fully gripping position, the upper surface111A of the load adjuster member100is spaced apart from the bottom68A of the accommodating recess68. Since the upper surface111A of the load adjuster member100is spaced apart from the bottom68A of the accommodating recess68, the upper surface111A can be easily deformed to bulge in the upward direction. Therefore, during the opening transition of the FBS unit3, the engaged pin92can be smoothly slid along the intermediate portion107B of the guide groove103.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of the illustrated embodiment, but may be embodied with various other changes, modifications and improvements, which may occur to those skilled in the art.

For example, one of the upper surface111A of the load adjuster member100and the bottom68A of the accommodating recess68may protrude toward the other of the upper surface111A and the bottom68A. In this modified arrangement, when the load adjuster member100is placed in its fully gripping position, the upper surface111A of the load adjuster member100is brought into contact with the bottom68A of the accommodating recess68, whereby the width of the guide groove103is made smaller than when the load adjuster member100is placed in its non-fully gripping position. It is noted that, in this modified arrangement, the guide groove103does not have to include a portion in which the distance between the upper end lower ends103B,103D of the guide groove103is smaller than the diameter D of the engaged pin92.

Further, in the above-described preferred embodiment, the opening and closing assembly is constituted by the main body10of the multifunction device1, and the first and second casing bodies are provided by the printer unit2and the FBS unit3which is superposed on the printer unit2and which can be opened and closed relative to the printer unit2. However, the opening and closing assembly may be otherwise constituted. For example, the first casing body and the second casing body may be provided by a unit that is perpendicularly fixed to a wall surface and another unit that is pivotable relative to the unit, respectively.

Further, the main body10of the multifunction device1may be modified such that the pivot-boss receiving portion130is provided in the FBS unit3while the load adjuster member100is provided in the printer unit2and such that the pivot boss98of the support stand90is pivotably connected to the FBS unit3while the engaged pin92of the support stand90is slidably connected to the printer unit2through the guide groove103of the load adjuster member100that is fixed to the printer unit2.

Referring next toFIGS. 17A,17B,18A,18B and18C, there will be described another embodiment of the present invention.

In this another embodiment, a load adjuster member1100as the grooved member is different in construction from the load adjuster member100of the above-described embodiment. The load adjuster member1100includes a guide wall1116as the first wall portion, an opposed wall1066as the second wall portion, and an interconnecting wall11117interconnecting the guide wall1116and the opposed wall1066, so that the load adjuster member1100has a generally U-shaped cross sectional shape as a whole, as shown inFIG. 17B. The guide wall1116has a guide groove1103, while the opposed wall1066has a pressing contact portion1106. Like the above-described load adjuster member100, the load adjuster member1100is attached in the accommodating recess68through first and second engaged portions1101,1102that are provided in respective front and rear end portions of the load adjuster member1100. The load adjuster member1100is pivotable about the first engaged protrusion1101, and the second engaged protrusion1102is displaceable within the second engaging hole59in the depth direction of the accommodating recess68. By the displacement of the load adjuster member1100relative to the accommodating recess68, the load adjuster member1100can be selectively placed in its fully gripping position and its non-fully gripping position. When being placed in its fully gripping position, the load adjuster member1100is accommodated substantially in its entirety within the accommodating recess68. When being placed in its non-fully gripping position, the load adjuster member1100partially protrudes out from the accommodating recess68.

In this embodiment, the pressing contact portion1106is provided also in a portion of the opposed wall1066that is opposed to the guide groove1103, as shown inFIG. 17B. Therefore, even where the engaged pin92is moved along a path P indicated by arrow inFIG. 18Cwhen the FBS unit3is closed relative to the printer unit2, the high friction member93A of the wedge-shaped portion93is brought into pressing contact with the pressing contact portion1106, thereby generating a large resistance acting against the sliding movement of the wedge-shaped portion93. It is therefore possible to prevent the FBS unit3from being rapidly pivoted in the closing direction, even where the FBS unit3has a large weight, for example, in a case of provision of the automatic document feeder in the FBS unit3.

Further, in this embodiment in which the pressing contact portion1106is provided to be opposed to the guide groove1103, a vertical size of the load adjuster member1100(as measured in the vertical direction of the main body10) can be made smaller than in the above-described embodiment in which the pressing contact portion106is provided to be adjacent to the guide groove103. That is, by incorporating the load adjuster member1100into the main body10, the multifunction device1as a whole can be made small in its size, particularly, in its vertical size.