Patent ID: 8233161

Claim:
An image reading and recording apparatus comprising: a recording unit which records an image onto a recording medium; a reading unit which is openably and closably arranged for the recording unit and which has an original plate on which an original is put and an openable/closable pressure plate portion which presses the original onto the original plate; and a restricting unit which restricts the reading unit from being opened from the recording unit when the pressure plate portion is opened, and which releases the restriction by an action of closing the pressure plate portion; wherein the restricting unit includes: a rotatable restricting lever having a claw portion; a fixing hook which can be engaged with the claw portion; and wherein the rotatable restricting lever further has a projecting portion, and wherein when the pressure plate portion is opened, the projecting portion of the restricting lever is projected through the original plate and the claw portion engages the fixing hook, while when the pressure plate portion is closed, the projecting portion of the restricting lever is suppressed by the pressure plate portion to release the engagement of the claw portion with the fixing hook.