Patent ID: 8720884

Claim:
A sheet loading device positioned in an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus being equipped with an image forming section that forms an image on a sheet, the sheet loading device comprising: a frame; and a loading plate located on an upper surface portion of the frame, the loading plate, in association with the upper surface portion, allowing the sheet to be loaded thereon, the loading plate includes a sheet loading member that supports a downstream side of the sheet in a sheet feed direction, and is able to be raised and lowered with respect to a sheet transportation path, and a cover member that is located between the sheet loading member and the upper surface portion and covers a gap formed between the sheet loading member and the upper surface portion when the sheet loading member is in a raised position, wherein the cover member is a plate-shaped member that extends in a sheet width direction and has a first end portion and a second end portion respectively located on an upstream side and the downstream side in the sheet feed direction, and wherein the first end portion is rotatably supported by the frame, and a lower surface of the second end portion overlaps an upper surface of an end portion of the sheet loading member.