Imaging device assembly

Abstract

An imaging device assembly that includes a first imaging module frame, a second imaging module frame, and at least one first attachment member including a base positioned within an interior of the first imaging module frame and at least one protrusion extending from the base through a first wall portion of the first imaging module frame to be exposed external to the first imaging module frame, wherein the at least one protrusion is releasably connected to a top portion of the second imaging module frame.

1 . A first imaging module frame comprising:
 a container including a first wall; and   a first attachment member comprising:
 a base portion positioned within the container and extending generally against a first surface of the first wall; and 
 at least one protrusion extending from the base portion, within the container, through the first wall to be exposed external to an opposite second surface of the first wall, wherein the at least one protrusion is releasably connectable relative to a first wall portion of a second imaging module frame. 
   
     
     
         2 . The first imaging module frame of  claim 1 , wherein via the at least one protrusion, the first imaging module frame is directly connectable to the second imaging module. 
     
     
         3 . The first imaging module frame of  claim 1 , wherein the first imaging module comprises at least one of a scanner frame and a printer frame. 
     
     
         4 . The first imaging module frame of  claim 1 , wherein the container is to contain at least circuitry and comprises an interior defined by the plurality of walls. 
     
     
         5 . The first imaging module frame of  claim 1 , comprising:
 an elongate reinforcement structure positioned within the interior of the container of the first imaging module frame, with the elongate reinforcement structure located between the base portion of the at least one first attachment member and the first wall of the first imaging module frame, wherein the elongate reinforcement structure has a length at least substantially the same as a length of the base portion of the at least one first attachment member.   
     
     
         6 . The first imaging module frame of  claim 5 , wherein the elongate reinforcement structure is made of a non-metallic material and the first attachment member is at least partially made of a metallic material. 
     
     
         7 . The first imaging module frame multifunction imaging device of  claim 6 , wherein the elongate reinforcement structure comprises a raised portion formed as part of the first wall of the first imaging module frame. 
     
     
         8 . The first imaging module frame of  claim 7 , wherein the elongate reinforcement structure includes a plurality of ribs defining a top portion of the elongate reinforcement structure. 
     
     
         9 . The first imaging module frame of  claim 1 , wherein container comprises a front wall and a back wall, with the first wall extending between the front wall and the back wall and the first wall defining a bottom wall, and
 wherein the base portion of the first attachment member comprises an elongate element extending between the front wall and the back wall of the first imaging module frame with the elongate element having a length that substantially matches a length of the bottom wall extending between the back wall and the front wall of the first imaging module frame.   
     
     
         10 . The first imaging module frame of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment member comprises a pair of first attachment members that are generally parallel to, and spaced apart from, each other, wherein the pair of first attachment members are located at an intermediate position between spaced apart side walls of the first imaging module frame. 
     
     
         11 . The first imaging module frame of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall comprises a non-metal external surface to define a nonmetal-to-metal slidable interface relative to a metal portion associated with the first wall portion of the second imaging module frame. 
     
     
         12 . The first imaging module frame of  claim 11 , wherein the metal portion comprises at least a portion of at least one second attachment member positioned on an exterior of the first wall portion of the second imaging module frame. 
     
     
         13 . A multifunction imaging device comprising:
 a scanner frame including a plurality of walls, including a bottom wall, defining an interior; and   a printer frame including a plurality of walls, including a top wall, defining an interior, wherein the top wall generally faces the bottom wall of the scanner frame,   a first attachment member to connect the scanner frame to the printer frame and including:
 a base portion within the interior of the scanner frame and extending generally against the bottom wall of the scanner frame; and 
 at least one protrusion extending from the base portion, within the interior of the scanner frame, through the bottom wall of the scanner frame to be exposed external to the bottom wall of the scanner frame, wherein the at least one protrusion is releasably connected relative to the top wall of the printer frame. 
   
     
     
         14 . The multifunction imaging device of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the bottom wall of the scanner frame comprises a non-metallic external surface to define a nonmetal-to-metal slidable interface relative to a metal portion associated with at least a portion of the top wall of the printer frame. 
     
     
         15 . The multifunction imaging device of  claim 13 , wherein the scanner frame comprises:
 an elongate reinforcement structure positioned within the interior of the container of the scanner frame and located between the base portion of the first attachment member and the bottom wall of the scanner frame, wherein the elongate reinforcement structure has a length at least substantially the same as a length of the base portion of the at least one first attachment member.   
     
     
         16 . The multifunction imaging device of  claim 15 , wherein the elongate reinforcement structure is made of a non-metallic material and the first attachment member is at least partially made of a metallic material. 
     
     
         17 . The multifunction imaging device of  claim 16 , wherein the elongate reinforcement structure comprises a raised portion formed as part of the bottom wall of the first imaging module frame. 
     
     
         18 . The attachment member of  claim 13 , wherein both the scanner frame and the printer frame are made of a non-conductive material, and wherein at least the at least one protrusion is formed of a conductive material to provide an electrical ground path from within an interior of the container of the first imaging module frame to an exterior of the second imaging module frame. 
     
     
         19 . An attachment member for a first imaging module frame comprising:
 a base portion positionable within a container of the first imaging module frame to extend generally against a first surface of a bottom wall of the container; and   at least one protrusion extending from the base portion to be positionable to extend from within the container, through the bottom wall to be exposed external to an opposite second surface of the bottom wall of the container, wherein the at least one protrusion is slidable releasably connectable relative to a top wall of a second imaging module frame.   
     
     
         20 . The attachment member of  claim 19 , wherein the first attachment member comprises a pair of first attachment members that are generally parallel to, and spaced apart from, each other, wherein the pair of first attachment members are located at an intermediate position between spaced apart side walls of the first imaging module frame.