Recording media path in a multifunction printer

1. A multifunction printer comprising:

a) a printing apparatus including:

i) a printer chassis having a media input region, a printing region, and a media support element;

ii) a carriage configured to move a printhead in a carriage scan direction along the printing region; and

iii) a plurality of rollers configured to transport a recording medium from the media input region, across the media support element and to the printing region; and

b) a scanning apparatus having a transparent platen for supporting a document to be scanned in order to convert an image into digitized data, the scanning apparatus including a base that is affixed to the printer chassis, wherein the base of the scanning apparatus comprises a guide for guiding the recording medium through the media transport path toward the printing region;

wherein the plurality of rollers includes a feed roller; the multifunction printer further comprising a biasing member configured to form a nip against the feed roller, wherein the biasing member is affixed to the base of the scanning apparatus.

2. The multifunction printer of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member includes a plurality of pinch rollers configured to press against the feed roller to form the nip.

3. The multifunction printer of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of springs that are configured to provide a biasing force on the biasing member to press the pinch rollers against the feed roller.

4. The multifunction printer of claim 2 , the biasing member including a first section and a second section, each section including at least one pinch roller, wherein the pinch roller(s) of the first section can be moved away from the feed roller independently of the pinch roller(s) of the second section.

5. The multifunction printer of claim 4 , the biasing member further including a joining portion wherein the first section is separated from the second section by a slot that extends from the pinch rollers to the joining portion.

6. The multifunction printer of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is pivotably affixed to the base of the scanning apparatus, so that the biasing member can be pivoted by at least ten degrees about an axis that is parallel to the carriage scan direction.

7. The multifunction printer of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is configured to be snap fitted to the base of the scanning apparatus.

8. The multifunction printer of claim 1 , the biasing member including a side facing the printer chassis, wherein the side facing the printer chassis is configured to guide the recording medium as the recording medium moves across a portion of the media support element.

9. The multifunction printer of claim 8 , wherein the side of the biasing member facing the printer chassis includes a plurality of ribs.

10. The multifunction printer of claim 1 , wherein the scanner base is formed of a single piece of plastic.

11. The multifunction printer of claim 1 , wherein the printer chassis is formed of a single piece of plastic.

12. A multifunction printer comprising:

a) a printing apparatus including:

i) a printer chassis having a media input region, a printing region, and a media support element’,

ii) a carriage configured to move a printhead in a carriage scan direction along the printing region; and

iii) a plurality of rollers configured to transport a recording medium from the media input region, across the media support element and to the printing region; and

wherein the media support element of the printer chassis includes a plurality of ribs;

b) a scanning apparatus having a transparent platen for supporting a document to be scanned in order to convert an image into digitized data, the scanning apparatus including a base that is affixed to the printer chassis, wherein the base of the scanning apparatus comprises a guide for guiding the recording medium through the media transport path toward the printing region;

wherein the guide of the base of the scanning apparatus includes a plurality of ribs.

13. The multifunction printer of claim 12 , and wherein the guide for the recording medium is disposed on a surface of the base.

14. A multifunction printer comprising:

a) a printing apparatus including:

i) a printer chassis having a media input region, a printing region, and a media support element;

ii) a carriage configured to move a printhead in a carriage scan direction along the printing region; and

iii) a plurality of rollers configured to transport a recording medium from the media input region, across the media support element and to the printing region; and

b) a scanning apparatus having a transparent platen for supporting a document to be scanned in order to convert an image into digitized data, the scanning apparatus including a base that is affixed to the printer chassis, wherein the base of the scanning apparatus comprises a guide for guiding the recording medium through the media transport path toward the printing region;

wherein the media input region being disposed proximate a bottom of the printer chassis, wherein the media support element is disposed above the media input region and the guide of the scanner base is disposed above the media support element when the multifunction printer is oriented in its operating position.

15. The multifunction printer of claim 14 , the plurality of rollers including a turn roller that is configured to move the recording medium along a pathway bounded below by the media support element and bounded above by the guide of the scanner base.