Patent ID: 8608158

Claim:
A sheet feeding apparatus configured to individually feed sheets stacked in a stacking direction, the sheet feeding apparatus comprising: a supporting unit; a separation roller configured to rotate in contact with a sheet of the stacked sheets to apply a feeding force to the sheet; a pad assembly configured to pivot about a pivot axis between a first position and a second position, wherein at least a portion of the pad assembly is closer to the supporting unit in the first position than in the second position, wherein the supporting unit is stationary relative to the separation roller, the pad assembly including: a separation pad with a surface disposed facing the separation roller and configured to contact a sheet of the stacked sheets to apply a resistive force to the sheet; a holder holding the separation pad, the holder being pivotally attached to the supporting unit; a first engaging portion; and a slide portion having a rib; and an elastic member configured to press the pad assembly toward the separation roller, wherein the supporting unit includes an arm portion including a second engaging portion, wherein the first engaging portion of the pad assembly and the second engaging portion of the supporting unit are configured to engage each other at an engagement position to restrict the pad assembly from separating from the supporting unit more than a specified distance when the separation roller is separated from the separation pad wherein the engagement position is disposed farther from the pivot axis of the pad assembly, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis of the pad assembly and substantially parallel to the surface of the separation pad facing the separation roller, than any portion of the separation pad, and wherein the second engaging portion protrudes from the arm portion of the supporting unit toward the first engaging portion and is configured to, when the pad assembly pivots, slides on the rib of the slide portion of the pad assembly and urge the pad assembly toward the pivot axis, wherein the rib protrudes toward the second engaging portion and extends in a direction where the second engaging portion slides.