An image scanner is provided and includes a case having a document
placement surface, two carriages which are mounted with optical
components and move by running on rails, a wire drive mechanism for
reciprocating the two carriages which are coupled to wires, and a
movement restricting member for restricting a maximum movement distance
of the first carriage in a stationary position mode to about 1.6 d or
less, d being a groove depth of pulleys in mm and the maximum movement
distance being a distance by which the first carriage is allowed to move
in the read scanning direction in the stationary position mode in which
the first carriage is kept stopped and fixed via the wires by moving the
second carriage by causing the wire drive mechanism to operate so that
the second carriage hits the fixedly disposed member to be stopped and
fixed.