Patent ID: 7448613

Claim:
A sheet feeding apparatus, in which a sheet accommodating unit is demountably provided in an apparatus body, the sheet accommodating unit having a sheet accommodating member, a lifting plate pivotably provided in the sheet accommodating member, and a pushing member configured to push the lifting plate toward a sheet feeding unit, the sheet feeding apparatus comprising: a locking mechanism configured to perform regulation of the lifting plate at a position to which the lifting plate descends against a pushing force of the pushing member, the locking mechanism including a pivotable locking member configured to regulate the lifting plate and a pivotable lock releasing lever configured to turn the locking member; and a lock release member configured to release the regulation of the lifting plate by the locking mechanism in response to mounting of the sheet accommodating unit in the apparatus body, wherein when the sheet accommodating unit is mounted in the apparatus body, the lock releasing lever is turned by the lock release member and turns the locking member to release the regulation of the lifting plate, and wherein when the sheet accommodating unit is drawn out of the apparatus body, the lock releasing lever is turned by the lock release member independently in a state in which the locking member regulates the lifting plate.