Patent ID: 8201818

Claim:
A sheet feeding apparatus, comprising: a sheet feeding tray to stack a sheet bundle configured with a plurality of sheets; a sheet feeding device to convey the plurality of sheets one by one from a top position of the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet feeding tray; a plurality of first air blow devices to flow air between the plurality of sheets by blowing air towards respective side edges of the sheet bundle so as to separate a sheet from the sheet bundle; and a plurality of sheet side edge regulation members to regulate the side edges of the sheet bundle, respectively; wherein each of the sheet side edge regulation members comprises: an air outlet to blow air from one of the first air blow devices to one of the side edges of the sheet bundle; and a plurality of exhaust outlets, which are provided on a side-edge-regulation wall surface of the sheet side edge regulation member, and which are disposed at an upstream side in a sheet feeding direction with respect to the air outlet, to exhaust air remaining between the sheet separated from the sheet bundle and the sheet bundle; wherein the sheet side edge regulation members are moveable to change relative distances with respect to the side edges of the sheet bundle in a width direction of the sheet which is perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction so as to contact the side edges of the sheet bundle.