Patent ID: 8382277

Claim:
An image reading and recording apparatus, comprising: a lower chassis; an upper chassis joined to the lower chassis via a pivot member; a support member having (i) a connecting portion that is connected pivotally to the upper chassis when the upper chassis is pivoted apart from the lower chassis by the pivot member, (ii) a contact portion adapted to contact a counterface surface of the lower chassis facing the upper chassis, and (iii) a support column that positions the contact portion at a position a certain distance from the connecting portion such that a front edge of the upper chassis is held at a certain distance from the lower chassis, wherein, when the upper chassis is pivoted apart from the lower chassis by the pivot member, the support member enters inside of the lower chassis when the front edge of the upper chassis falls toward the lower chassis; a biased member that biases the support member in a forward direction with the connecting portion as an axis; and a stopping portion that is provided on the counterface surface and stops the contact portion from being displaced in a forward direction along the counterface surface when the contact portion contacts the counterface surface.