Patent ID: 8342514
Filing Date: 2013-01-01
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising: a feeder portion which is mounted to an image forming apparatus; a sheet containing portion which is detachably mounted to the feeder portion, having a sheet stacking portion movable up and down with sheets stacked thereon; a sheet feeding portion brought into pressure contact with an uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets on the sheet containing portion to feed out the uppermost sheet contacted therewith; a lifting and lowering mechanism which lifts and lowers the sheet stacking portion so that the uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets is brought into pressure contact with the sheet feeding portion to feed the sheet and is separated from the sheet feeding portion; an indicating lever including a pointer that indicates a remaining amount of the sheets on the sheet containing portion to an outside of the sheet feeding apparatus, the indicating lever is movable according to a lifting movement of the sheet stacking portion by the lifting and lowering mechanism; and a holding mechanism which holds the indicating lever so as to prevent the indicating lever from moving lower with a lowering movement of the sheet stacking portion by the lifting and lowering mechanism.