Patent ID: 7543811

Claim:
A sheet feeding apparatus comprising: a feeding unit for feeding sheets stacked up in a sheet stock unit; a leading end regulating member for regulating the leading ends in a feeding direction of sheets stacked up in the sheet stock unit; and a driving mechanism for moving the leading end regulating member, wherein the feeding unit is free to contact with or depart from the sheets, the leading end regulating member is movable in a sheet feeding route between a regulating position for regulating the leading ends of the sheets, and a retreat position for releasing leading ends of the sheets from regulation by moving away from the sheet feeding route, and the leading end regulating member contacts with and supports the lower end of the feeding unit holding the feeding unit at a position apart from the sheets when the leading end and regulating member is at the regulating position, and brings the feeding unit into contact with the sheets releasing the support to the feeding unit without contacting with the lower end thereof when the leading end regulating member is at the retreat position.