Patent ID: 7551874

Claim:
A support structure for an image processing apparatus having an apparatus body, a base provided at a lower portion of the apparatus body for supporting the body, and an image processing unit disposed inside the apparatus body or attached thereto, the unit being capable of effecting at least either an image forming operation or an image reading operation, the structure comprising: at least three grounding portions secured to a bottom of the apparatus base for coming into contact with a contact-object surface to support said base parallel with said contact-object surface; an elastic projecting portion formed of a material having greater elasticity than a material forming said grounding portion; said elastic projecting portion having a ground-contacting face which projects from a bottom face of at least one of said grounding portions under a non-grounded condition of the support structure; and under a grounded condition of the support structure, said elastic projecting portion being elastically deformed, so that the at least three grounding portions are allowed to come into contact with the contact-object surface and said ground-contacting face of the elastic projecting portion also contacts the contact-object surface, thereby to together support said base of the apparatus body on the contact-object surface.