Patent ID: 8109503

Claim:
A connection mechanism connecting a sheet feeding unit to an image forming apparatus or to a further sheet feeding unit, for supplying paper to the image forming apparatus or to the further sheet feeding unit, the connection mechanism comprising: a connection member disposed on a frame of the sheet feeding unit and rotatably supported on the frame; and an engaging member disposed on the image forming apparatus or on a frame of the further sheet feeding unit, wherein: the connection member is rotatable around a rotational axis between an engaging position where the connection member engages with the engaging member and a retracted position where the connection member disengages from the engaging member and retracts from the engaging position; the connection member is disposed on an upper part of the frame of the sheet feeding unit; the engaging member is disposed on a lower part of the image forming apparatus or on a lower part of the frame of the further sheet feeding unit; when the connection member is located at the engaging position, a part of the connection member protrudes outside from an upper part of the frame of the sheet feeding unit, and when the connection member is located at the retracted position, the connection member is stored within the frame of the sheet feeding unit; and while a sheet feeding cassette in the sheet feeding unit is pulled out, the connection member is movable to the engaging position or to the retracted position by rotating an end part of the connection member, distanced from the rotational axis, from inside the frame of the sheet feeding unit.